outsiders insiders in the "new york times" magazine, please welcome former house majority leader dick armey[applause] >> speaking initially before leader armey's remarks will be c. boydon gray. [applause] >> well, after that introduction and all of you dick armey anyway so i don't want to take up any of his time. i just want to say how fond i am of him and how much i respect him. and just one little anecdote about my relationship back in the reagan-bush years. he was really, really helpful -- we plotted to try to get the line item veto back for the executive branch. think how different life would be if we had the line item veto and it involved possibly vetoing the congressional stamp authorization the congressional stamp for in return them giving the executive branch the veto back. it didn't work out but it was a great idea. and i think to use that anecdote to describe what dick does now and what this tea party movement is now is not that different than what reagan stood for and pushed for with dick's help back not so many years ago. it's said the tea party movement is a radical fringe. i t

a recent profile in the "new york times" magazine, please welcome former house majority leader, dick armey. [applause] speaking initially, before leader armey's remarks will be see boyden gray. [applause] >> after that introduction, then all of you know dick armey anyway so i don't want to take up any of his time. i just want to say how fond i am of him and how much i respect him, and just one little anecdote about my relationship back in the reagan-bush years. we plotted-- he was really helpful -- that we plotted to try to figure out a way to get a line veto back on the executive branch. and did involve possibly vetoing the congressional staff authorization for the congressional staff in return for giving executive branch the veto back. it didn't work out but it was a great idea and i think to use that and go to describe that what he does now and what this tea party movement is about now is not that different than what reagan stood for and pushed for with his help not so many years ago. it is said that tea party as some kind of radical fringe. i think it is mainstream reaganism myself and

nobody's heard of those guys, but it was actually the leadership, dick armey and tom delay who have been out peddling this. the leadership of that party with very, very few exceptions hold these very extreme views. i think it's the greatest disappointment in his presidency, when i interviewed him not too long ago, he said he really expected, perhaps naively, that is my word, not his, that when he got to washington, the other party would have some interest in governing. it turned out they did not have a shred of responsibility when it came to governing this country. >> does he think and was it reflected in the end game of health care thing, the recess appointments, has it been reflected he has gone from this idea that politics are still results driven. you didn't like the health care reform bill, wait until you see what happens in reality. some of you will support us. from the republican party. that is probably gone. we are probably post-bipartisan era at this moment, but does he still this as something if you go over the heads of the opposing party and the supporters and said this is wha

when dick armey house majority leader a real promoter of the teapartiers movement is quoted as one major rally as saying nearly every important office in washington d.c. today is occupied by some with an aggressive dislike for our heritage, freedom, history and constitution. when you stir them up hate and fear you are with forces that can get easily add of control. there was a report a few weeks ago to have the increase of the number of militia groups in the first year that is what i call the hate tree groups. one of the ideas and into a few folks is they believe they are defending the constitution against enemies foreign and domestic. the need to speak to them they think obama might be a domestic enemy as defined under the constitution you will see able come out in two weeks which i cannot reveal yet but it low at numbers to that. it is not insignificant and one of the of men the death threats the president got was from camp lejeune as the letter of intent to assassinate a bomb and he identified him as a domestic enemy of the constitution they have consequences and not in a vacuum. if w

on march 15th, we have dick armey chairman of the freedom works. second, i'd like to present our speaker, this is always the most exciting part of the program, with the traditional national press club mug. [applause] >> thank you. >> the final question has to do with looking ahead. i know you have been very busy, governor, with your book tour and believe in time for reflection and your family. vacation spots possibly in 2009. wondering if you are considering the morning, manchester, at cedar rapids, or c city? what could be your travel plans for the upcoming year? -- cedar rapids sioux city? [laughter] >> some of those places are lovely in the summer. this is a critical year for people like myself who are conservative. as a result, for people like myself and hopefully for a number of you in this room and others across the country, we're going to be working in our various states to elect people who share our views and values about the country. you can expect me to be in a lot of states. for this book i will be visiting 49 cities during book signing

and then we have dick armey.cond, i would like to present our speaker with the traditional national press club mug. [applause] >> used wrong for the big bucks. thank you. -- you sprung for the big bucks. >> i know you will be very busy on your book tour, and you also think about your family. are you considering destinations for vacation such as des moines, manchester, cedar rapids? what are your travel plans? >> some of those places are lovely and the summer. -- in the summer. this is a pretty critical year for people like myself that are conservative. as a result, for people like myself, and hopefully a number of you in this room and others across the country, we're going to be working in various states to let folks that share our views and values throughout the country. you can expect me to be an awful lot of states. i will be visiting 49 cities doing book signings and speeches. the book is about the challenges i think america faces, and my view that we have a stop apologizing for who we are and for what americ

to move things through the senate in a really quick manner, i think it tends to make those two dick armey used to say that the pain is inevitable but the suffering is optional. if the majority in the senate is going to do exactly what the majority in the house is going to do, why go the suffering of the than waiting? that is something to keep in mind. filibusters' to have a cost for the majority in terms of transacting of partisan agenda quickly, but that is where we have to widen the lives -- lens. we have to look at what the senate is trying to accomplish, is a quick legislative change or quick policy change? does it create more programs are roles? does it just create legislative accomplishments? how the people in the senate have changed are the senators are more partisan now. political scientists talk about this concept of team production, that now when the congress -- now in the congress there is a lot of emphasis on team production, a more partisan and polarized senate. but, you know, so are the only overarching goals here to get things done quickly? i'm not sure it is. big issues li

former majority dick armey, one of my favorite political philosophers used to say, you know, the painis inevitable but the suffering is optional. and i think, you know, if the majority in the senate is going to do exactly what a majority in the house is going to do, you know, why go through the suffering of even waiting? so i think that's something to keep in mind. filibusters do have their costs for the body itself in transacting quickly. but again this is i think where we need to kind of widen the lens. i think that there are other things -- other values that we should look at in terms of what the senate is trying to accomplish. you know, is it, you know, quick legislative change or quick policy change? is it creating more programs or more rules? is it just creating legislative accomplishments? i think one of the things, you know, to norm's point about how the people in the senate have changed or the senators themselves are more partisan now, political scientists like gary cox and matthew talk about this concept of team production that now in the congress there's a lot of emphasis o

i know firsthand newt gingrich and dick armey were great in the minority, they were great when they werew, this sort of rebellion against washington and they got in there and we ran a pretty sloppy house. >> i wouldn't give up on them yet. >> i wouldn't either. >> i think this president's having the same problem right now. >> he's up against it, no question. >>> coming up -- we'll continue this conversation -- is reconciliation a dirty word? why democrats are rebranding the term. will it help push a health care bill through congress? >>> plus, breaking news involving senator blanche lincoln's re-election effort. it's all next in the politico playbook. >>> and "law & order" returns tonight with two new episodes. we'll talk to one of the stars of the nbc drama, anthony anderson. you're watching "morning joe," brewed by starbucks. [ children laughing ] look in the glove box. [ children laughing ] suitcase? huh? ♪ where do gummy bears hide? under the seat. look! yeah! ♪ [ telephone rings ] [ male announcer ] the all new chevy equinox. [ man ] guess who? dad! [ man ] enjoy the trip! okay, dad

on march 15 we have dick armey, the chairman of freedom works. on april 15, douglas schallman, the commissioner of the internal revenue service will be talking about the tax code. and on april 15, actor dennis quaid will just the prevention of potentially deadly medical errors. second, i would like to present our guest with the traditional obligatory and could have vetted -- coveted national press club mug. so now for our final question, which was actually mentioned in your introduction, remarks, ambassador kirk, how are you going to make it up to your wife given that her birthday was the dominant thing on your mind earlier today? will you need to work some of that ron kirk magic? >> my wife is blessed to know she's the first thing on my mind every day. we had a great weekend together in new york and hopefully she'll be back up this weekend. i know all of you that know her will call and help share the love with me and help rescue me from this faux pas. >> thank you for coming today, ambassador kirk. i would also like to thank the national press c

and then we have dick armey. second, i would like to present our speaker with the traditional national press club mug. [applause] >> used wrong for the big bucks. thank you. -- you sprung for the big bucks. >> i know you will be very busy on your book tour, and you also think about your family. are you considering destinations for vacation such as des moines, manchester, cedar rapids? what are your travel plans? >> some of those places are lovely and the summer. -- in the summer. this is a pretty critical year for people like myself that are conservative. as a result, for people like myself, and hopefully a number of you in this room and others across the country, we're going to be working in various states to let folks that share our views and values throughout the country. you can expect me to be an awful lot of states. i will be visiting 49 cities doing book signings and speeches. the book is about the challenges i think america faces, and my view that we have a stop apologizing for who we are and for what ame

former majority dick armey, one of my favorite political philosophers used to say, you know, the pain is inevitable but the suffering is optional. and i think, you know, if the majority in the senate is going to do exactly what a majority in the house is going to do, you know, why go through the suffering of even waiting? so i think that's something to keep in mind. filibusters do have their costs for the body itself in transacting quickly. but again this is i think where we need to kind of widen the lens. i think that there are other things -- other values that we should look at in terms of what the senate is trying to accomplish. you know, is it, you know, quick legislative change or quick policy change? is it creating more programs or more rules? is it just creating legislative accomplishments? i think one of the things, you know, to norm's point about how the people in the senate have changed or the senators themselves are more partisan now, political scientists like gary cox and matthew talk about this concept of team production that now in the congress there's a lot of emphasis

on march 15, a week from today, we have dick armey, the chairman of freedom warriors. on april 5, the commissioner of the internal revenue service, will be speaking to us as the clock ticks on your tax returns. for a second item, the moment we of all been waiting for. i would like to present our guests with the traditional and coveted national press club mog. [laughter] >> my goodness. i will have to check with ethics officials. >> regardless of whether you can accept it, we thank you for coming today. >> thank you. >> i would also like to think the national press club staff including its library and broadcast center for organizing today's events. our last question is, in the program "the some sense," the environmental protection agency is portrayed as an agency with no fear controversies than the one today. -- that is in "the simpson's." would you put a bubble over the city like they do in the show and what is your feeling toward the to trail of the agency in that program? >> first, i love that show. lisa sims and rocks. when i first came in, last april 1, i called al

on march 15, we have dick armey, the chairman of freedom works.ld like to present our speaker with -- this is always the most exciting parts of the program -- with the traditional national press club and mug. -- press club mug. [applause] the final question has to do with looking ahead. i know you are very busy with your book tour and i know you believe for time with reflection for your family as well. vacation spots possibly in 2009. i am wondering if you are considering destinations such as des moines, manchester, cedar rapids. what could be your travel plans for the upcoming year? >> thank you. some of those places are lovely in the summer. [laughter] frankly, this is a pretty critical year for people like myself who are conservative. as a result, for people like myself, and hopefully for a number of view in this room and others across the country, we're going to be working in our various states to let folks who share our views and values. you can expect me to be in a lot of states. i am going to be visiting 49 cities during book signings and s

on march 15 we have dick armey, the chairman of freedom works. on april 15, douglas schallman, the commissioner of the internal revenue service will be talking about the tax code. and on april 15, actor dennis quaid will just the prevention of potentially deadly medical errors. second, i would like to present our guest with the traditional obligatory and could have vetted -- coveted national press club mug. so now for our final question, which was actually mentioned in your introduction, remarks, ambassador kirk, how are you going to make it up to your wife given that her birthday was the dominant thing on your mind earlier today? will you need to work some of that ron kirk magic? >> my wife is blessed to know she's the first thing on my mind every day. we had a great weekend together in new york and hopefully she'll be back up this weekend. i know all of you that know her will call and help share the love with me and help rescue me from this faux pas. >> thank you for coming today, ambassador kirk. i would also like to thank the national press c

on march 15, a week from today, we have dick armey, the chairman of freedom warriors. the commissioner of the internal revenue service, will be speaking to us as the clock ticks on your tax returns. for a second item, the moment we of all been waiting for. i would like to present our guests with the traditional and coveted national press club mog. [laughter] >> my goodness. i will have to check with ethics officials. >> regardless of whether you can accept it, we thank you for coming today. >> thank you. >> i would also like to think the national press club staff including its library and broadcast center for organizing today's events. our last question is, in the program "the some sense," the environmental protection agency is portrayed as an agency with no fear controversies than the one today. -- that is in "the simpson's." would you put a bubble over the city like they do in the show and what is your feeling toward the to trail of the agency in that program? >> first, i love that show. lisa sims and rocks. when i first came in, last april 1, i called all my manager

on march 15 we have dick armey, the chairman of freedom works. on april 15, douglas schallman, the commissioner of the internal revenue service will be talking about the tax code. and on april 15, actor dennis quaid will just the prevention of potentially deadly medical errors. second, i would like to present our guest with the traditional obligatory and could have vetted -- coveted national press club mug. so now for our final question, which was actually mentioned in your introduction, remarks, ambassador kirk, how are you going to make it up to your wife given that her birthday was the dominant thing on your mind earlier today? will you need to work some of that ron kirk magic? >> my wife is blessed to know she's the first thing on my mind every day. we had a great weekend together in new york and hopefully she'll be back up this weekend. i know all of you that know her will call and help share the love with me and help rescue me from this faux pas. >> thank you for coming today, ambassador kirk. i would also like to thank the national press c