some big political talkers today, let's bring in the panel, bob franken, syndicated political columnisting features. kneea henderson is a political reporter for the washington post. rory is direccor 6 communications for the heritage foundation. let's start with michele bachmann's blooper machine. check out what they said in a radio interview just yesterday. >> there's a fear that the united states is in an unstoppable decline to see the rise of chaina be the rise of india, the rise of the soviet union and our loss mill tearily going forward. >> the soviet union. does she realize -- now this is a lady that's going to -- well, is running to be in charge of foreign policy. and she doesn't realize that it doesn't exist any more, that it dissolved in 1991. the same day bachmann justified her job at the irs. >> a chance to learn about the enemy. >> how many of you love the irs? no. it's time to change it. i went to work in that system because the -- the first rule of war is know your enemy. so i went to the signed to learn how they work because i want it defeat them. >> now, nia, when i ran,

another chance in 2014 run against al franken had his term's up. the governorship is also up, if he wants his old job back. probably thinking more about franken. what he doesn't want, vice president. he says that because he probably wants it. if you say you want it, you're he wants his old job back. sell, but i think it's better -- he's going to have to come up with something for the fall, and they said repeatedly they will. if he don't, that would be a big disappointment. given he doesn't have a policy now and no incentive to get anything done, to go out, communicate with people is better than doing nothing. >> rachel maddow, my successful colleague. talking about use a little jujitsu. go to the republican records. check the records of any job proposal they recommended in their district. fund it. take their stuff. take their stuff and -- michele bachmann wanted 3,000 jobs for bridge building. well, give her her bridge. your party wouldn't say no, would it? >> they wouldn't say no. >> they've been -- it's kind of -- >> that's the point. everybody h

another chance in 2014 run against al franken had his term's up. the governorship is also up, if he wants his old job back. probably thinking more about franken. has he doesn't want, vice president. he says that because he probably wants it. if you say you want it you're not likely to get it. >>> we'll be right back. ♪ i like dat ♪ ♪ i like dat, all right [ male announcer ] mio. a revolutionary water enhancer. add a little...or a lot. for a drink that's just the way you like it. make it yours. make it mio. he needs some gellin'. yeahhhhhhh. gellin' is like having a teeny tiny foot masseuse in your shoe. you like ? nice ! dr. scholl's massaging gel insoles. outrageous comfort, all-day long. >>> we're back. billionaire warren buffett, one of the richest men in history certainly in america says nearly $7 million he paid in federal taxes last year isn't enough. he wrote a "new york times" op-ed column today entitled "stop coddling the super rich" which read in part, our leader, asked for shared sacrifice, but when they did the asking they spared me. i

a man called al franken who started out in your field and proved on to a higher form of comedy. applause] he has a proposal that will really work. in that dodd-frank act, there is his provision that says the sec should study, he wanted to adopt it, but it only went through is the sec should study whether we should separate the payment of the rating agency from the selection of the rating agency, so that you can give the choice to investors and have the payment still come from the issuer. that could work, but all we're going to do is study it for one more year. >> jon: who fights it? do the ratings agencies fight this? do the corporations fight this? and why can't sovereign nations get in on that grave i have train? >> well, sovereign nations don't pay. they may have made a mistake in not paying. it's not so much corporations. it's bayically the investment banks. what happened over the last decade is all of these asset backed securitizations that you've some wheat heard about, they're all issued by maybe seven to eight investment banks. >> jon: and these are the c.e.o.s that took

another chance in 2014 run against al franken had his term's up.overnorship is also up, if he wants his old job back. probably thinking more about franken. what he doesn't want, vice president. he says that because he probably wants it. if you say you want it, you're not likely to get it. >>> we'll be right back. >>> we're back. billionaire, warren buffet, one of the richest men in history and certainly in america, says the taxes he paid last year isn't enough. he wrote a column today entitled, stop coddling the super rich. it says in part, our leaders ask for shared sacrifice. but when they did the asking, they spared me. i checked with my mega rich friends to see what pain they were having, they too were untouched. my friends and i have been cod elled enough by congress. it is time for them to get serious about like what barack obama has been saying, but can he get it done with a tea party? columnist for the washington post, also an msnbc political analyst. gene, what do you react to this, a guy who has a godly level of money saying tax me more.

do more appealing to children it's a coloring book for kids starring talismans barrett a friendly franken soros and his adventures around a pristine environment with. eileen sun at the animals and trees that the pictures depict but the only different thing between that fracking does the environment is produce a vibrant rainbow yes fracking causes rainbows according to talisman energy it know that overall i guess the friendly frack resource is a better p.r. strategy than touting how your company contaminates water supplies all over the country it's unclear if other industries plan to jump on board with similar campaigns i could see the nuclear industry as radioactive racoon be a big hit or b.p.'s oil yacht or. let's not forget that we had an apartheid regime. i think it may be the oil. we have the government says if you say get ready because freedom. you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else and you hear see some other part of it and realize that everything you saw. i'm sorry is a big. fight . for. what's going on in

family farms all around the american heartland where traces of genetically modified chemical covered franken crops have genetically contaminated organic or just plain non g.m.o. produce however monsanto's g.m.o. crop peddlers are starting to get a taste of their own medicine the minnesota court of appeals has ruled that organic farms can seek damages against nearby chemical covered farms if the contaminants are found on the property of the organic farms in the case of all of endeavor johnson's fifteen hundred acre organic farm and stearns county minnesota their organic crops were damaged by contamination from chemical pesticides a local pesticide cooperative the painesville farmers union was cited at least four times for damaging the johnson's harvest by irresponsibly spraying houses sites that landed on the johnson's property four times before they finally got fed up and took them to court the appeals court just ruled that particulate matter polluting pesticides herbicides and g.m. that's genetically modified particulate that contaminate nearby fields is considered illegal trespass finally

everybody but franken sarah seem to realize she was a knockout to stop traffic but she caught the attention of the next your neighbor dr. thomas mcdowell who was married and have a child was started to stalker to say i want to marry you. will divorce my wife and marry you which was absurd because in south carolina at that time did not allow divorce. in the meantime tried to hire his brother abbas the hit man to kill her wealthy father and mother and her. also zero this drama going on and off sin gets wind. >> so he goes to the doctor's office and knocks on the door and introduces himself because they have never met and says i understand you are making improper advances of someone in diane system that you stop and wrapped him on the head with his game. the doctor staggered back in reached into his pocket a.m. pulled out a gun that he was carrying and shot him dead in his office. he freaked out when he did that and got rid of that hat and the cane and threw them down in the privy tried to figure out what to do with it and then with the soil underneath the floorboards took his body and gm did

. >> joining us now, syndicated columnist, bob franken, liz sadoti and republican strategist ron kristyank you all for joining me. i want to read -- you heard mitt romney. i want to read a couple other republican candidates as they deal with the news in libya. rick perry, the crumbling of homer calledtyfy's reign is cause for cautious celebration. jon huntsman, i'm home fiscal, and michele bachmann, i opposed to u.s. military involvement in libya. none of those statements including mitt romney's mentioned barack obama, gave him any real credit. how do you deal with this if you're a republican candidate running for president? >> what are they going to say? gadhafi should have continued to reign? they have no choice but to say -- >> the wing strategy? >> that this is cautious optimism. i thought rick perry said was quite interesting, which was it's also what happens on the political front. we don't know what's being to happen with the rebels. we don't know what the political outcome is going to be. think about hamas. >> ron, is there a place for republicans to criticize the president obam

bob franken, is a former political correspondent and king feature syndicated columnist and matt lauerensr for the daily caller. let's talk first about rick perry for president, breaking news tonight, political news is that he is going to run. rick perry's prayer rally took place saturday night. he now appears to be moving closer and closer to a run, politico reports perry will give a speech in south carolina saturday and make it clear he is running for president. immediately following that, he heads to new hampshire for a party. then he's expected to go to iowa where his competitors will be this weekend for the straw poll. bob, is this bad news for the field? >> well, i think so. i mean, he can credibly claim that he has executive experience as the governor of texas. but at the same time the other ones who can make that claim are considered too moderate by the true believers in the republican party. i think that the problem really night be, when he was at reliant stadium in houston at that big rally on saturday, he said to all the conservative christians, he said, i am one of you. proble

will any of the for the nation and msnbc contributor even long time congressional correspondent bob frankensyndicated columnist for "king features." melissa, corporations and obama is anti-american, corporations are people. i mean, how do you get a compromise with people that are preaching this and seemingly believing it. >> the supreme court of the united states basically did say that corporations are people. that was that horrible citizens united decision. in a certain way romney isn't completely inaccurate. i suspect part of what we are seeing here is the result of that. that once corporations are able to behave with such overwhelming influence on the electoral arena, you will see their interests cared for over citizens. i have to say, i'm slowly becoming convinced that if na congress shouldn't be in session that they should be out in the town halls. whenever i get really disillusioned by what is going on in washington, i find that the american people, even despite my disagreements with half of the population of course, that i just like how americans are willing to come out and say, look

and bob franken, king of feature syndicated columnist and josh tra vino of texas public policy foundation with you, nia, and josh. president obama in a very forthright way went after his opponents. he referred to them, particularly when he said, just now in iowa, that all of them agreed that they would not take the 10-1 deal. which he felt was putting party and politics over the country. how do you think, after both of you have been around rick perry, and mitt romney who was on that stage making that commitment, how do you think they will respond, nia? and how do you think the american public will see this that not only the president directly made this a campaign issue? >> i think you ceil that again and again. they will really frame that moment as the republican party pledging allegiance to the tea party. you saw from perry and romney it a certain extent, over these past couple of days frafling with him in new hampshire, you do see them talking about the tea party, lower taxes, lower government, regulation, lower litigation and lowering the bar for how people can sue people. so i think,

. >> senator franken. >> i can assure the ranking member that minnesota is hard at work in setting up the final rules. i know many states are as well. my of former -- is now deputy commissioner of health in minnesota. i keep in touch with her. she is hard at work in setting >> is the information out to the businesses? >> i think it is available. certainly available. i cannot speak to that. what you said was that you don't know if they are working on it. i want to assure you that they are. mr. withrow, in your testimony -- first of all, you have a beautiful daughter. >> thank you. >> you don't have to stand up again. you said there was a laundry list, in your testimony, of new medical procedures or care that was required. >> right. the lifetime maximum of children 26 years old, the insurance companies having to cover for anyone that does not get insurance because of a pre- existing condition, those benefits are what i was referring to is adding costs to the system. if we add cost, premiums will rise. >> ok. anyone has a pre-existing condition, any adult? >> what i know -- >> i don't th

joining me now onset, victoria dell fres cosoto, assistant professor at northwestern university and bob frankenured syndicated columnist. i know we were talking politics. i heard a lot of things in the last few minutes on this show we were not hearing. valerie jarrett, senior adviser to the president said that revenues can come back up. and i'm very concerned as you talked about this about revenue out of this, and that they cannot touch programs to the poor and cannot touch social security, medicaid, medicare. this does not sound like a tea party plan, though clearly i think the whole idea of putting the country on the brink to get any of this and a vote to get a balanced budget is atrocious to say the least. >> this is what barack obama is going to focus on, this is what we kept. kept unemployment insurance, protecting the elderly and protecting children. he's not going to focus on what he gave in to the tea party. the tea party can claim we were able to take that hostage and get more of that. but at the end of the day, barack obama will frame it like he wants to, he is an excellent framer and

that the rebels in who they were in uganda hinted the fact that they weren't just townspeople and franken found running around with pitchforks, but had a detailed critique of economics, which they've responded to them fairly harrowing ways. hamilton understood to these people were. and someone is far better than the jeffersonians in madisonian to patronize them. hamilton who is out to stop them in their tracks got what very swear. there were a few misconceptions about the whiskey rebellion want to use that as a way of getting at hamilton. the people have heard of it get a few things wrong because rove is trying to shoehorn the whiskey rebellion in what we think we know about founding history but if you just start looking at the whiskey rebellion, what we know of upcoming history starts to shake out a little differently. as one misconception that in some ways it was just a big misunderstanding but if everybody had been more communicative and clear and more sensitive, this whole thing would not have been. hamilton could be over the top, didn't get what the effect is going to be. they were a

. >> you are welcome, senator franken.me senator kohl to the hearing, and i'll take this opportunity to introduce our first witness, benjamin tucker is deputy director of the office of national drug control policy. overseeing ondcp's high intensity drug trafficking areas, drug-free communities and national youth anti-drug media campaign programs. he's previously served in numerous positions in federal and local government including as deputy director for operations at the u.s. department of justice office of community-oriented policing services and with the new york city police department. he received his master's from the fordham university school of law, and we are delighted to have mr. tucker with us today. mr. tucker, please, proceed. your entire statement, which if read would take considerably more than five minutes, will be made a part of the record so that you can make a shorter statement orally here today. >> thank you very much, senator. chairman whitehouse, ranking member kyl and distinguished members of the subc

i have some additional questions for all of you. >> senator franken? >> i can assure the ranking member that minnesota is hard at work in setting up its exchange. the deputy commissioner of health in minnesota is hard at work in setting up the exchange. the fact that there are no rules is not slowing it down. >> is this information out to the public? >> it is available. i cannot speak to that. what you said was you do not know if they are working on it. i wanted to assure you that they are. mr. withrow, in your testimony -- first of all, you have a beautiful daughter. you said there was a laundry list -- i can remember what you said -- of new medical procedures required. >> the lifetime maximum of children to 26 years old. insurance companies having to cover anyone who does not get insurance because of a pre- existing condition. those benefits are what i was referring to. they are adding costs to the system. if we add costs to the system, premiums are going to rise, in my opinion. >> anyone who has a pre-existing condition, any adult? >> what i know of

the order on our side is senator franken first. you, mr. chairman. notice that former congressman jim branstad is here. i would like to recognize him, too, for his leadership in parity andlth care today for treatment of addiction. minnesota has actually been the leader in addiction treatment, and we are very proud of that. minnesota, we have seen drug courts do very good things. when you talk to return on -- you talked to return on investment in your opening statement and in your response to senator kohl, and part of this is recidivism. we have found that in minnesota, participants in drug courts are less than half as likely to be arrested for another crime as offenders who are prosecuted in traditional courts. this, of course, is the equivalent kind of a rest, etc. i want to know if you are seeing now a nationwide -- get trend nationwide in drug courts in terms of recidivism? >> with respect to recidivism, senator, we are seeing them nationwide. in fact, drug courts -- one of the primary things that make them effective is the impact on the participa

and al franken are here.im walsh, keith ellison are also here. [applause] the secretary of the department of agriculture tom vilsack is here. [applause] and i want to thank the mayor of canyon falls for organizing perfect weather. robbie robinson is here. [applause] so i am very pleased to be out of washington. [applause] [no audio] >> we are having some problems bringing you the feed from minnesota of the president's minnesota tour today. as we try to fix the feed, we want to let you know he is setting out on a three-city bus door to talk about the economy, jobs. today he is in cannon falls, >> think about it, over the past six months we have had a string of bad luck speak. there were some things we could not control. there was an arab spring that promises more rights and more democracy, but it also drove up gas prices. did you have the situation in europe where they are dealing with all sorts of the challenges. we had a tsunami in japan, and that broke supply chains and created difficulties for the economy

applause] two senators oregon -- working on behalf of veterans every single day, a meko guitar and al franken[applause] congressman keith ellison, this is his district. [applause] minneapolis mayor, a great friend. [applause] to all the other members of congress and minnesota-elected officials who are here, welcome. it is wonderful to be back with the american legion. you know, back in illinois, my home state -- [cheers and applause] hey, illinois is in the house. [laughter] we worked together to assure veterans across the state were getting the benefits that they earned. when i was in the u.s. senate, we worked together to spotlight the tragedy of homelessness among veterans and the need to end it. as president, i welcome that jimmy and your leadership to the oval office, to hear directly from you. [applause] and i have been honored to have you by my side when i signed advanced the preparations to protect veterans health care from the budget battles in washington. [applause] when i signed legislation to give new support to veterans and their care givers. most recently when i propose new init

over 70% backed the war including liberals like al franken and the 29 democratic senators who voted for the war authorization bill including senators chuck schumer, dianne feinstein, and john kerry, and the "new york times" editor and others all supporting the war. the times ran many bogus front page stories about how hussein had weapons of mass destruction. they later apologized for their cheer leading of this war, but the damage had been done. they had given bush the cover he needed and the ability to claim if a liberal paper like the times says so, it must be true. it must be true. here it was, the fourth night of a very unpopular war, and my film, bowling for columbine was up for an oscar. i was not allowed to talk to the press going into the theater. there was fear someone might say something and in wartime, we need everyone on the same page. the actress dianne lane red the list of nominees for best documentary. the envelope was opened, and she announced i had won. on the main floor the actors, directors, writers gave me a standing ovation. i invited my nominees 20 join me -- to jo

over 70% backed the war, including liberals like al franken and the 29 democratic senators who voted for the war authorization bill, including senator chuck schumer, dianne feinstein and john kerry. plus, future maritimes editor, bill keller in the editor of the liberal magazine, "the new yorker," all supported the war. the times ran many bogus front-page stories about how saddam hussein had weapons of mass destruction. he later apologized for their cheerleading of this were. but the damage had been done. he had given bush the cover he needed and the ability to claim it's a liberal paper like the times says so, it must be true. it must be true. so here it was, the fourth night of a very unpopular war and my film, "bowling for columbine" is up for an oscar. i went to the ceremony, but was not allowed to talk to press on the red carpet going into the kodak theater. there was fear that someone may see some team and in wartime, we need everyone on the same ph. the actress diane lane read the list of nominees for best documentary. the envelope was up and she announced that one. on the mai

over 70% backed the war, including liberals like al franken and the 29 democratic senators who voted for the war authorization bill, including senator chuck schumer, dianne feinstein and john kerry. plus, future maritimes editor, bill keller in the editor of the liberal magazine, "the new yorker," all supported the war. the times ran many bogus front-page stories about how saddam hussein had weapons of mass destruction. he later apologized for their cheerleading of this were. but the damage had been done. he had given bush the cover he needed and the ability to claim it's a liberal paper like the times says so, it must be true. it must be true. so here it was, the fourth night of a very unpopular war and my film, "bowling for columbine" is up for an oscar. i went to the ceremony, but was not allowed to talk to press on the red carpet going into the kodak theater. there was fear that someone may see some team and in wartime, we need everyone on the same ph. the actress diane lane read the list of nominees for best documentary. the envelope was up and she announced that one. on the mai

senator franken, you are next please.d, sir. >> as i begrudgingly healed to senator durbin. >> thank you is your chairman. i want to especially thank the witnesses who have shared their personal stories with us and what you are doing here is very important. not just for the millions of americans directly affected i the so-called defense of marriage act but for our entire nation. doma is an injustice and an immoral and discriminatory law. our nation was founded on the premise that all people are created equal. and that all person should receive equal treatment under the law. our society may be different than it was then, that these principles remain the same. that is why i am an original co-sponsor of of the respect for marriage act and that is why a think the day we repeal doma will be a great day in this nation akin to the ratification of the 19th amendment and the passage of the civil rights act. i think that congressman lewis' present here spoke to that in a very powerful way. mr. chairman i would like to answer the re

amy klobuchar and al franken. congressman keith ellison, this is his district. [applause] minneapolis mayor r.t. rybak, a great friend. to all the other members of congress and minnesota elected officials were here, welcome. it is wonderful to be back with the american legion. back in illinois, my home state -- [applause] hey. illinois is in the house. we work together to make sure veterans across the state were getting the veterans benefits they have turned. when i was in the u.s. senate, we work together to spotlight the tragedy of homelessness among veterans and the need to end it. as president i welcomed jimmie and your leadership to the oval office to hear directly from you. i have been honored to have you by my side when i signed advance preparations to protect veterans health care from the budget battles in washington -- [applause] when i signed legislation to give new support to veterans and their care givers, and, most recently, when a proposed new initiatives to make sure the private sector is hiring our talented veterans. so, american legion, i think

churchman, senator enzi, senator franken, senator murkowski. i have been concerned about the affordability of health insurance. of course as you look at health insurance around the world, you see it that no country has the size of large for-profit radical insurance companies that the united states of america does. if you go further, you see that the 99 the average premiums for family coverage has risen 100 dirty 1% of medical inflation, which should guide this rose to 31%. two years ago in 2009, 57% of people attempting to purchase insurance in the individual market found it difficult or impossible to afford coverage. now as before it the health care plan, while the cost of health insurance continues to rise for individuals, insurance companies, particularly for 10 large for-profit companies enjoy unprecedented profits. in the first quarter of this year, 2011, the five largest for-profit health insurance companies recorded a net profit in a quarter of $3.9 billion. that is another 16% increase from the same quarter the year before. ceo paid for

senator franken? >> thank you issue mr. chairman, thank you, mr. larsen for your terrorism. rising health care costs in this country are unsustainable for the federal government, for states, and for consumers. during the health reform debate, i looked to minnesota for ideas to bend -- to implement the cost curve and instructed me ensurer were offering high value products in minnesota where most of the dollars were going directly to health care services, but it wasn't that way everywhere. in some states, the so-called medical looses ratio for individuals and small group policies were 50% or 40% meaning insurers spent 40% of their dollars from premiums on health care services based on minnesota's experience. i introduced a bill that was ultimately included in the health reform requiring ensurers to spend at least 80 on small group and individual markets and 85% of insurance premiums on actual health care services in the large group market. during a hearing before this committee in march, you testified you already saw premiums go down due to mlr. can you walk us through some ex

. >> steve: didn't al franken have that satellite dish. >> brian: did you mention him on our show? you thinking? >> steve: meantime, we've got headlines for you on this wednesday. two-thirds of democrats and one half of republicans in congress not holding town hall meetings this month as they're off. that's because perhaps the congressional disapproval rate is 81%, according to a new fox news poll. that's not the case with arizona senator john mccain. he held a town hall meeting last night and reminded us about the importance of having them yesterday at "fox & friends." >> i've been having town hall meetings and there is a poll that you showed on fox that 10% of the american people approve of congress. not one person in that poll has yet to come to my town hall meetings. i know you're out there. please come. >> steve: and they did, last night. he had a town hall where he got grilled about social security. >> juliet: vice president joe biden wrapping up his trip to asia, blasting rumors that he's calming fears in china. but yesterday he told troops, quote, i didn't come to explain a

the last thing you need, no offense to c-span, has been on tv every day fighting with ernie franken maxine waters overcomes an abortion. you need to get on the commerce committee. i once saw chairman hyde and sharon as he invited me to join the committee. for seven flattered. the answer is no. i took it on the commerce committee. i'll be with you on the votes that matter. i'm a social are good, but i don't be taken in to all the in place. at the next year he kept approaching me saying this you are just the kind of guy one on the committee. i kept rebuffing him in a nasi. for a dance of my first year he's on my achilles' heel. he said you've got most of those hollywood movie studios in your district, the entertainment industry. their lifeblood is intellectual property. he said we have an intellectual-property set committee on the judiciary committee. that would be really good for your district tv could be back there protecting their economic interests, with net? is that it would. okay, we have no openings, but we will in a year and a half when we get the next congressman and you're my guy f

[applause] two senators who are working every day, amy and al franken.ongressman keith ellison, this is his district. and the minneapolis mayor. to wall of the other members of congress and minnesota-elected officials, welcome. it is wonderful to be back with the american legion. in fact, in illinois, my home state -- illinois is in the house. hot we worked together to make sure veterans across the state were getting the benefits they had earned. we have worked together to spotlight the homelessness issues and the need to ended. as president, i have welcomed jimmy and the oval office to hear directly from you, and i have been honored to have you by my side when i signed the advanced appropriations for the veterans' health care for the budget battles in washington. when i signed legislation to give new support to veterans and their care givers, and most recently when i proposed new initiatives to make sure the private sector is hiring our talented veterans, so, american legion, i think you for your partnership. i appreciate the opportunity to talk with yo

the last thing you need, no offense to c-span, has been on tv every day fighting with ernie franken maxine waters overcomes an abortion. you need to get on the commerce committee. i once saw chairman hyde and sharon as he invited me to join the committee. for seven flattered. the answer is no. i took it on the commerce committee. i'll be with you on the votes that matter. i'm a social are good, but i don't be taken in to all the in place. at the next year he kept approaching me saying this you are just the kind of guy one on the committee. i kept rebuffing him in a nasi. for a dance of my first year he's on my achilles' heel. he said you've got most of those hollywood movie studios in your district, the entertainment industry. their lifeblood is intellectual property. he said we have an intellectual-property set committee on the judiciary committee. that would be really good for your district tv could be back there protecting their economic interests, with net? is that it would. okay, we have no openings, but we will in a year and a half when we get the next congressman and you're my guy f