couple of weeks or referenced the proposal that senator dole and tom daschle and howard baker and george mitchell put together. we worked on it over a year ago. we released it last june. it has the support of all four of them, although mitchell had got off to solve the middle east. . . new mandates on business. they agreed to a number of preventive services, to a variety of things that essentially expose all of them to the opposite points of view. but essentially was a package that would have made major improvements. they did all the insurance reforms, some expansion of medicaid, some changes to the medicare program, both expansions as well as constraints. again, it has been out there. obama has referred to it a number of times. i have met with people on the house and senate side. there is some suggestion, and my guess is the three may do another op-ed piece. suggesting everyone stand down, back, and come back together, open-minded to changes. but the three of them were able to once again, across those barriers. >> one of the things that amazes me that i would like to ask you guys about -- i have

whether it was danny ioye, george mitchell, robert see byrd, tom harkin, and the disability work they had done, ted kennedy on voting rights. on the other side of the aisle as well as his own colleagues, there was an acknowledgement of change that would occur with his departure. >> what did you feel that day? >> for me, i would say it was shock, because i felt it more as a kansan. it was a palpable sense of loss for our state. i have learned enough by then that to know that, either the leverage, the power, the seniority that senator dole had brought to the congress in representing our state was so significant and probably would never be replicated. from that perspective, as a campaign operative, i frankly, was happy on one hand because i knew it would be easier to concentrate and focus on the general election that we were facing, which was an uphill battle to start with, but more is somebody from home, i felt a sense of loss of the representation that he had built up for our state over the years. one other thing i want to add in retrospect, it struck me that the example he set, not on

george mitchell worked hard but i think he had a lot of fun at it as well. you see many of these individuals stained with politics but without the pressure of going to bed at three in the morning, getting a put mine in the morning to continue the vote of the last 24 hours. so, the senate may be the acme of most of the senator's political career but it's certainly not the end. and also it raises questions about choosing to stay or choosing to leave. if in this congress that we have been talking about surface becomes too burdensome, if running for the reelection not just two years now as they would do it in the 1950's, for years governing and two years on the campaign trail today you are dialing for dollars almost like a house member the moment you win the election the next cycle is beginning. it's a six year cycle but you are also talking sometimes about tens of millions of dollars. the choice to leave because you can see this post senate career in the more attractive terms you are not getting a ball of your power. you're giving up a lot of grief it may well

. >> how would you assess the effectiveness of special envoy, george mitchell's efforts to resolve the issues between arab and palestinian scored and what more and should be done? >> i once had a discussion with the late the ativan no, you know was killed in 2003 the in baghdad kivas the u.n. special envoy who is a special representative of the secretary-general. and he observed in almost every conflict since the 1971. andy said the toughest negotiations he said were always with and between the parties in the middle east. so one cannot underestimate how difficult this has been for senator mitchell notwithstanding his enormous credentials and qualifications, which of course became the first set for this job. fish is so difficult for anyone undertaking this exercise. and so we think that understanding the many trips, we think he's laid the foundations for now the launching of discussions and i think that's something to be commended. >> and bringing the session to a close, there is one fact that he didn't mention in the introductory remarks and that is that they are our blocks of within t

the majority leader was george mitchell. two totally noncontroversial people. i would submit that nancy pelosi and harry reid are polarizing figures and people that are galvanizing republicans and conservatives in a way you've never seen. >> you had the house bank problem back then. >> '92. >> i would disagree a little bit. the standing of the president is more important than the standing of the congress or congressional leaders driving the midterm election. if obama is in the mid-40 range at the end of the summer -- >> that's your call. the "washington post" has -- >> gallup has them about 50. >> what do you think he is? >> cbs has him at 44. he's been 49 or 50 give or take two or three points. >> i think this country -- i think this country is teetering like this. what changes that are conditions. they get better he'll be better off. and if he shows signs of weakness. the ideological thing is right in the middle. >> who is going to show up? who is going to show up? >> there's also a differential. if he is around 50, that's where the democratic vulnerability i

. >> how would you assess the george mitchell's bill -- efforts to move along the peace process and what more can be done? >> i had a conversation with the previous un special envoy and he had served in almost every conflict since 1971. he said that the toughest negotiations were always between the parties middle east. one cannot underestimate how difficult this has been for senator mitchell, notwithstanding his enormous credentials and qualifications which, of course, make him the perfect fit for this job. it is just so typical for anyone. we think he has laid the foundations for the launching of discussions on the final stages and i think that is something to be commended. >> in bringing this session to a close, one factotum i did not mention in the introductory remarks and that is there are blocks of countries within the united nations and there is an arab block for various needs and purposes but prior to the most recent election of the current incumbent of united nations, secretary general, all 22 arab countries voted for this individual to be their representative and their candidate

>> the administration is frustrated that after a year, george mitchell hasn't been able to get the twolk. the danger for the administration is that this is no longer just the palestinians and the israelis, now you have iran looming in the background as a complicating factor. and that this is the first time you've seen much of the arab world in agreement with israel on an issue. >> they're just as worried as the israelis are. >> absolutely. and talk to leaders particularly in the gulf who say we would like to be on the board with the israelis but we're not going to unless there's some movement on the peace process. so i think the administration feels that in large part because of iran there is greater need for resolution of this conflict because if it comes to the moment there's some kind of tension with iran, it then could very well play out as well in the arab-israeli front. >> we'll watch it together with you, robin. thanks very much for coming in. >> thank you. >> robin wright, always helping us understand what's happening notice middle east. >>> dining with al qaeda, we'll talk to

they both came home from world war ii, his long history with pat moynihan and george mcgovern, george mitchell, robert c. byrd, you know, tom harkin and the disability work they'd done, ted kennedy on voting rights -- i mean, there was -- on the other own colleagues. an acknowledgement of really a change that would occur with his departure. >> mike, what did you feel that day? >> for me it was more of a -- well, i would say it was shock. because in particular because i felt it more as a kansasan. and it was really a palpable sense of loss for our state. because i knew -- you know, i had learned enough by then to know that, you know, the leverage and the power of the seniority that senator dole had brought to the congress in representing our state was so significant. and probably would never be replicated. so from that perspective, it was -- as a campaign operative, i frankly was happy on one hand because i knew that it would be easier to concentrate and focus on the general election that we were facing, which was an uphill battle to start with. but, you know, more as somebody from home, i felt

george mitchell now the middle east envoy.ennis ross which whom you worked so closely in the clinton days. do you think they're still practicing a false religion? >> i told colin powell when i left government i would not criticize the administration's policy. that lasted about five seconds, frankly, after i left. >> you just said this administration doesn't have a policy. these are the players. >> absolute plip. there's no question that you're dealing with a group of extremely smart experienced and talent people. i think there are divisions within each administration. i think nine-tenths of barack obama's problem right now is that the israeli/palestinian problem about which he cares a great deal, about which he wants to see resolved is simply not tractable. the one part that is his problem has to do with how he is responding to the reality that there may well not be a solution. >> well, let me ask you in closing what do you do about some other issues in the region? the syrian deputy chief of mission was hauled into the state d

mideast envoy george mitchell arrived in tel aviv. he's trying to restart peace talks between israel and the palestinians. a state department spokesman said mitchell would not have gone unless he thought there was hope of moving things forward. in iraq, a u.s. military jury acquitted a navy seal in the beating of an iraqi prisoner. petty officer first class julio huertas was accused of failing to stop another seal from assaulting the iraqi. the prisoner was the alleged organizer of a brutal attack on four american security guards in 2004. this was the 40th anniversary of earth day. events were held worldwide to raise awareness of the need to protect the environment. a major rally is also planned for sunday on the national mall in washington. its focus will be on urging congress to pass climate change legislation. on wall street today, stocks rallied late, after being down most of the day. the dow jones industrial average gained nine points to close at 11,134. the nasdaq rose 14 points to close at 2,519. those are some of the day's mai

debose came home from world war ii, his long history with pat moynihan and george mcgovern and george mitchell, robert byrd, you know, tom harkin and the work they had done, ted kennedy on voting rights. there was a -- on the other side of the aisle as well as his own colleagues i think an acknowledgment of change that would occur with his departure. >> like, what did you feel that they? >> for me, it was more of a -- it was shocked. in particular i felt it more as a kansan and was a palpable sense of loss for the state because i knew -- i had learned enough by then to know that the leverage and the power seniority that sadr -- senator dole brought to our state was so significant and would never be replicated so from that perspective it was as a campaign operative i frankly was heavy on one hand because i knew it would be easier to concentrate and focus on the general election we were facing which was an uphill bell to start with. but somebody from home i felt a sense of loss of representation that he had built up for the state over the years. one other thing i want to add about that that's no

george mitchell worked hard but i think he had a lot of fun at it as well.you see many of these individuals stained with politics but without the pressure of going to bed at three in the morning, getting a put mine in the morning to continue the vote of the last 24 hours. so, the senate may be the acme of most of the senator's political career but it's certainly not the end. and also it raises questions about choosing to stay or choosing to leave. if in this congress that we have been talking about surface becomes too burdensome, if running for the reelection not just two years now as they would do it in the 1950's, for years governing and two years on the campaign trail today you are dialing for dollars almost like a house member the moment you win the election the next cycle is beginning. it's a six year cycle but you are also talking sometimes about tens of millions of dollars. the choice to leave because you can see this post senate career in the more attractive terms you are not getting a ball of your power. you're giving up a lot of grief it may well b

senator george mitchell has been our adversary based on his experience in succeeding peace in the northerns go carefully in talking to the two parties, and only after getting concessions should we come in with bridging proposals of our own. a year later i think the administration is moving toward a decision that that approach just hasn't worked and it is time to be much more explicit about what the u.s. sees as the basic elements of the war. >> i have heard david ignatius from my own sources in the white house, they are frustrated by this. in the past they would want the palestinians and israelis to get close, then come up with a bridging gap and try to fix it that way. what i hear based on this extraordinary meeting that you said the president participated in recently at the white house is that at this same they would come up with a u.s. blueprint and then try to shove it down? >> i think the idea, wolf, is to do two things. first, to summarize the basic elements of agreement that have been merged since the 2000 camp david talks between the israelis and the palestinians that came close to

george mitchell is planning to travel to the region next week.he was here yesterday along with the secretary for important meetings with defense minister ehud arauca. they talked about a range of issues including the efforts that the israelis have undertaken on their side. sum of those areas rest within minister barack mac portfolio and the secretary thanked him for working with the policy authorities and humanitarian crisis in gaza and access to key goods there. the israelis have worked in recent months to remove some check points as talking about ways that much more can be done to open up greater space on the west bank. but george is planning to go next week. >> did anything outside of the specific portfolio come up? >> i am not going to get into any more particulars the map. i think you can rest assured, we talked about the full range of issues both within our efforts to get the israelis and the palestinians into proximity talks. we also talked about other regional issues from syria to iran. >> the reason i am asking the jerusalem question is

former senator george mitchell meeting with israeli and palestinian prime ministers. now demanding the prime minister dissolve parliament in 30 days and call new elections. on the bottom, the governor of arizona has until tomorrow to act on the nation's toughest illegal immigration bill. it would require police officer to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they may be illegal. jon: right now a manhunt is on in tennessee for a man cops say is very dangerous. they say he beat his in-laws nearly to death inside their own home. that's his picture. harris faulkner has more from the breaking news desk. harris: yeah, that is timmy lee roberts, 26 years old, and police are now hunting him with a k-t unit because they have reason to believe he may be on foot. they found his vehicle abandoned just a few hours ago, and they've searched the area where the car was, but they feel now that he may be on foot, and they're telling residents, commercial business owners if you see this guy, bypass the tip line, call 911. they consider him very dan

year is that the president launched the peace process rather significantly quickly by appointing george mitchellas special envoy on the first full day of the administration. by indicating both dan and subsequently that the peace process is an american national interest which is tied to the agenda of president obama. from that moment, however, the administration seems to have blundered into a number of steps, none of which have had any success in advancing the prospects of peace. let me look at three issues quickly and take an even quicker look at the receptivity for the thein moodi in region. the question that needs to be posed as the situation on the ground, is it right and conducive to having a peace process? one could make the argument that the situation is far from right. that the israeli government is now essentially a conservative or right-wing government that seems more interested in advancing the prospects of settlements of them a chance -- than advancing the prospects of negotiations. the atmosphere in both communities is relatively sour. one could say on the surface that the situation

guest: this is certainly an issue that president obama, secretary clinton, and george mitchell spend much of their day thinking about. the u.s. is a close ally of israel, as everyone knows. some would say that this is the antecedent problem of the stabilization in the middle east. many past presidents have tried to help broker an accommodation, the right kind of settlement, but we have been awarded so far, for many different reasons. i think the president is putting forward his central idea that to gain security for the u.s. and our allies and to create a more stable environment in the world generally, these conflicts have to be settled by people coming to the table and negotiating, as opposed to using military force. host: looking ahead to the united nations meeting, the next that in this review, i wanted to ask you about a side meeting with secretary of state clinton that you were involved in with the egyptian foreign minister to perhaps bring their concerns about israel going into the meeting. kaska this is not in egypt issue about israel -- guest: this is not in egypt issue about

the invitation was given to abbas by mideast envoy george mitchell in the region, trying to restart peacehs ago over construction of settlements in east jerusalem. the top official in mexico is recovering from injuries after convoy was attacked. ten wounded after safety. the gunman escaped and former president clinton speaking in mexico city, called for more cooperation between the u.s. and mexico in fighting drug traffickers. a big rig in corpus christi, texas takes a big rig on a chase. the rig was impounded after the man was caught driving with a suspended license and police finally caught up with him and had to drag him out of the front seat. and on a happier note let's take a look at sports. >> let's talk a little sports, not happy if you're from las vegas. a shocker last night in the nba and a series many thought would be a wesweep, is going to game five. kevin durant and the thunder, hosting kobe bryant and the lakers. two of durant's 22. and boy has the scoring champ come along. kobe bryant 12 points on the night. not even close, 110-89 your final and suddenly very crucial game fi

year is that the president launched the peace process rather significantly quickly by appointing george mitchell as special envoy on the first full day of the administration. by indicating both dan and subsequently that the peace process is an american national interest which is tied to the agenda of president obama. from that moment, however, the administration seems to have blundered into a number of steps, none of which have had any success in advancing the prospects of peace. let me look at three issues quickly and take an even quicker look at the receptivity for the thein moodi in region. the question that needs to be posed as the situation on the ground, is it right and conducive to having a peace process? one could make the argument that the situation is far from right. that the israeli government is now essentially a conservative or right-wing government that seems more interested in advancing the prospects of settlements of them a chance -- than advancing the prospects of negotiations. the atmosphere in both communities is relatively sour. one could say on the surface that the situation

. >> how would you assess the effectiveness of special on by george mitchell's efforts to move the peace process between israel and the palestinians forward? what more can and should be done? >> i once had a discussion. in baghdad, he was the u.n. special envoy. he had served in almost every conflict since 1971. he said, the toughest negotiations were always between the parties in the middle east. one cannot underestimate how difficult this has been for senator mitchell. notwithstanding his enormous credentials and qualifications, which make him the perfect fit for this job. it is just so difficult for anyone. we think that he has laid the foundations for the launching of discussion in the final stages and i think that is something to be commended. >> in bringing this session to a close, there is something i did not mention in the introductory remarks. there are blocks of countries within the united nations and there is an arab bloc for various needs and purposes. but prior to the most recent elections of the current incumbent of the united nations , all 22 arab countries voted for this

president's launched the peace process approached rather significantly and quickly by appointing george mitchelldds a special envoy literally in the first four days of the administration. by indicating it then and subsequently, the peace process is an american national interest which is high on the agenda. from that moment, the administration seems to have blundered into a number of steps, none of which have had a success in advancing the prospect for peace. let me look at three issues quickly and take a quick look at the receptivity and mood in the region with particular interest in israel-u.s. relations which is part of the mandate that i have been asked to address. the question that the supposed is is the situation on the ground right? is it can do to reject conducive to having a peace process. one could say that the situation is far from right. the israeli government is now essentially a conservative or right wing government and seemed more interested in advancing the prospects of settlements than enhancing the prospect of negotiations. the palestinians are at a difference politically and ge

mitchell every night on hln. >>> prosecutors in prince georges, take a look at this. officers seen. the gentleman in this case walking up to an officer on his horse. and then look what happens. that's a university of maryland student than was beaten with nightsticks. you can see it there. it happened march 3rd during the sell bragtss that following the maryland back team beating duke. this video was shot by another student. a police officer is a pended and they're looking into documents that police filed in this case. those documents allege the student and another suspect hit the mounted officers and their horses. now, you just saw this video. a policeman tells cnn those claims aren't supported by this video. here it is again. you can see it for yourself. charges against both suspects have been dropped. it's not clear whether the suspended officer wrote the charging documents. authorities are still working to identify all of the officers there in that video. >>> boy, a chaotic scene at virginia's james madison university. riots erupted at the annual springfest party on saturday. an