. >> there is a connection. >> george will did go on record saying that the next president of the united states would be tim pawlenty, mitch daniels, or barack obama. he is in the position of backing barack obama. [laughter] >> i think he would probably argue with that. >> none of us are pure in the production department. >> tim pawlenty would have been a good candidate, and he was the first to go. >> huntsman does not show up in nevada. explain that. >> the fight was whether new hampshire would have to force the date to december. nevada did back off. >> last word. nevada backs off. see you next week. Ñco

this conversation comparing the tea party to the occupy wall street movement or all of a sudden george will comes out and says you know i wish them ample publicity and long life because they represent the spirit and the intellect of the american love you know i am not sure when george will started caring about the spirit of the intellect of the american left at some level he feels like unless he starts serving up a little less bloody red meat on the conservative menu where he might lose his job so he said serving up the war he can fair i think and that you know as you had mentioned that some have compared the occupy wall street movement to the tea party movement do you think the media is more sympathetic to the tea partiers. well i do i mean i think that there are a lot of people inside the tea party movement that were fooled that are genuinely angry as a government and the corruption that we're seeing for a lot of the same reasons that we're seeing on occupy wall street and all over the country but the tea party that we saw on television was much more like a political product than it was a

do you agree with george will on that? >> well, those are pretty tough words, wolf. all i can say is this is a time when this nation wants leadership. we've been looking for leadership for some time in the white house. we haven't found it. this is when the candidates need to stand up and show a little bit of leadership. you can't be a perfectly lubricated weather vane on the important issues of the day whether it's libya, whether it's the debt ceiling, whether it's the discussion around the bill in ohio where governor romney has been missing in action in terms of showing any kind of leadership. i do believe that the electorate this go around will be looking for clearly defined presidential leadership. i'm not sure that we're seeing it. we're putting out our own economic proposals. next week i'll have an energy speech that i'll be giving in new hampshire. we're calling for clear cut leadership positions for the united states to be taking us back on our feet. and it will secure the american century for the people of the united states. >> so when you say it's it's a per

so, it's catchy but is it really something that will work, george?the danger right now as laura says, the united states economy is driven by consumer spending which is fuelled by consumer credit. on the other hand, the american people consume too much and save too little. much tooly the hl. we got a savings rate 9% 1980s, 5% in the 90s and 2005 savings rate went negative. consumption went on because people took on the home equity loans in confidence that housing prices would not decline. that didn't work out well. >> math doesn't add up. about 200 billion short in revenue unless you keep part of the current tax structure, excise tax on cigarettes, beer and if you exempt used goods which i guess means a home and a car. >> this roundtable will continue in the green room. at abc news.com and coming up, a story of high stakes global intrigue. did the iranian government plot to assassinate a top diplomat on american soil? a story with far-reaching implications, next. >>> president obama urging american allies to turn up the heat on iran after an extraordi

george will, democratic stragest donna brazile, peggy noonan and matthew dowd.eorge s president obama going to rue the day he said that comment about not being better off four years ago? >> i think he will. he's missed some obvious things. one year ago, in the 2010 elections, if you saw barack obama in an ad, you knew it was a republican ad. he's threatening to go around the country, demanding pass this jobs bill now. republicans said, fine, let's vote. harry reid said, not so fast. we don't have democratic votes for the democratic president's own jobs bill. >> let's put up the graphic where we got some of these numbers. the new washington post/abc news poll, shows by a 15% margin that americans now trust president obama more than the congressional republicans to handle jobs. that's a huge jump. >> the best thing that barack obama has going for him is congressional republicans right now, the only place worst than him. the problem is, he's not going to be running against congressional republicans next year in these elections. he'll be running against a new republ

those are tough words from george will for a man who despite the new numbers in iowa seems to be the front-runner elsewhere. >> reporter: you know, conservatives are really worried, david, that the republicans are starting to settle on romney and that is really -- they are afraid they'll lose the general election so they don't want republicans to settle yet. >> but the bottom line, can anyone else jump in at this point? this is the field. >> reporter: you actually could. until we get to the convention somebody could join in but rick perry found out he had trouble getting in late. don't be surprised if the conservatives try to give him another look. >> all right, david kerley in washington, david, thanks to you. >>> we are learning more this evening about devastate ago tack that took so many american lives in afghanistan over the weekend. at least 12 americans, u.s. troops and contractors, are among the 17 people killed when a taliban suicide bomber rammed a car loaded with explosives into a nato bus in kabul. it's the single deadliest attack on americans in the afghan capital since t

and mitt romney, george will might be the most read. it is the hard number of what we're seeing. let's talk about whether it's the rise of herman cain. is it cain or anti-romney? the more people in that iowa caucus who say they're less likely to go, the less happy they are with mitt romney. >> a straddle is not a political philosophy, it is what you do when you do not have one. it will be deflated by the nominee whose blurry profile only calculated trimming. here's herman cain at the press club. >> has worked at this club for 33 years and has some special coincidences with me and my campaign. his name is mr. andrew price. [ applause ] >> chuck, as they do the introductions at the press club, we don't want to miss anything he does have to say about these important allegations, but we continue to talk about this dynamic between romney and cain, and just as he was getting a big lift from the des moines register poll when you were talking to andrea salter a few moments -- >> if this thing is lethal campaign, and they can't figure their way

columnist and abc consultant george will said today that romney may be damaging the party. >> when you are a serial reviser of your opinions, you're going to have trouble in the general election whether you know it or not. just ask john kerry, who was for something before he was against something. >> and david kerley is with us from washington. those are some very tough words from george will, for a man who, despite the new numbers in iowa, seems to be the front runner elsewhere. >> reporter: you know, conservatives are really worried, david, that the republicans are starting to settle on romney and that is really -- they are afraid they'll lose the general election so they don't want republicans to settle yet. >> but the bottom line, can anyone else jump in at this point? i mean, this is the field. >> reporter: you actually could. i mean, until we get to convention, somebody could join in. but rick perry found out he had trouble getting in late. don't be surprised if the conservatives try to give him another look. >> all right, david kerley in washington, david, thanks to you. >>> we

the republican establishment even a george will effect luckett you'llt. >> those people in therimary got to off this stuff. [ laughter ] >> jon: did not see that coming. [ laug that people cause hurricanes robertson expressing concern republican party has gotten? >> they are forcing their leaders, the front runners into that will mean they lose the genera >> jon: pat, liberals are adown nazis robertson believes 9 republicans are staking out a position that may unappealingly extreme? this guy? >> if we take standards away in homosexuality what about the others? what about bestiality and ultimately what about the child d pedophilia? >> jon: that guy. that guy whose mind sees gay marriage, bestiality and pedophilia and draws an equal sign between them. that guy, pat the 2010 haitian was caused by a deal haitians made with devil#gñ todence from france robertson. that guy. did he say that, by way. listen to this.ey got together and swore a the devil. they serve you if you'll get us free from theory. >> jon: yeah, true a friend of myousintold me it was haiti and the devil and thel washt in

george will said that he's like a pretzel. i think he's like a wet noodle. but it's not even so much about the flip-flop. it's about where he lands. and where he's landing is on positions that are adverse, in many ways, to the middle class. >> there's a good chance he's going to land on the white house because he knows how to create jobs. i would say one thing about herman cain which is interesting. i agree with tom, these caucuses move very late. what that poll tells me is two things. romney is in striking distance to do well in iowa. he's in good situation in new hampshire. he wins two of two and he'll be a very strong front-runner. second, rick perry is going to go down in history for the all-time train wreck beginning. because private polling in iowa, 40 days ago, had him leading. now he's down, i think in that poll around 8%, 7% or such. i think it's still very fluid. the big question ought the campaigns are asking on the republican side is will the cain vote stick in iowa or start to melt away. the forces behind cain, less about him, more about kind of

george will said today that be damaging the party. trouble in have the general election, whether it arnott. just ask john kerry. >> conservatives are trying to the fellow republicans from selling on mitt romney. will have to explain how to explain his changing positions. shaping up race is thathe new allegations herman cain is facing. >> thank you for being here with us. to start with herman cain. story crossing today from some accusations about some advancesiate sexual that he might have made. allegation that were settlements when he was head of the national restaurant association with two women who had alleged some sort sexual impropriety, in a purpleperhaps gestures. that hisomething will have to answer for .nd has not yet this is something that was 1990's. history in the >> this was when he was head of the national restaurant association. this decision will not comment on it. >> i guess this is the sort of stuff that comes out when you're a front-runner. is a front-runner at least in outlatest poll that came in iowa.him on top rig

george will calls him the human pretzel. ouch. today he's getting tagged as a flip-flopper. it's getting impossible to keep track of his positions. >> when the facts change, i change too, madam. what do you do? >> i need reinforcements to try to help us understand where willard really stands. so i'd like to welcome a very special guest to "politics nation." welcome, rev. >> hello, al. >> glad i could join me. let's start off with the issue of abortion. i think we can be sure how he feels. listen. >> i will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose, and i do take exception to shannon characterizing my view as being any different than hers in this regard. >> i will preserve and protect. it's pretty hard to argue with that kind of conviction. >> for you, it is. but for willard? it's as easy as argyle. >> i'm and i believe in the saintity of life from the beginning to the end. >> you learn something new every day. rev, what about guns? that's a no-brainer, we all know where willard stands. >> i believe they help protect us and provide for our safety. >> i won't chip away at

george will, jake tapper, republican strategist nicolle wallace and democratic strategist mark penn debate that, plus all of the week's politics on our roundtable. >>> then this week marks ten weeks since the start of the afghan war, america's longest. martha raddatz reports on what has been achieved and at what cost. >>> good morning, and welcome to the program. we have lots to get to today. but first, some news since your morning papers. more than 700 demonstrators protesting corporate greed, morning other issues, were arrested last night on the brooklyn bridge in new york city. the grass roots movement has swamped wall street for more than two weeks now. >>> president obama last night blasted the republican candidates who didn't react as members of a debate audience booed a gay soldier serving in iraq. the president spoke at the annual gala of the human rights campaign, the nation's largest gay rights organization. >> we don't believe in the kind of smallness that says it's okay for a stage full of political leaders, one of whom could end up being the president of the united states, bei

. >> george will is writing this weekend -- "romney is not only less electable, he might damage gop chances of capapturing the senate. reblicans may have found their michael dukis." >> georgrge will has a particularly passionate feelings about abortioion and his opposition to abortion. i think romney's flip-floon that issue cuts very deep. it is simple to understandoo that he has flip flop that. that is why this thing in ohio is damaging. i don't know why he was there. this was a calling center about that initiative. if he did not want toake that position, don't go there, fined a dodge, stay out of it. he looked foolish. >> ifot rney, w who? >> there is nobody ee. newt gingrich, ion't think so. rick santorum, i don't think so. perry is turning out to be blow hard bully. >> perry doesn't want to debate? hodoes that with republicans? >> he wants to fight when there is nobody there for a far fight. >> i congressman said that if he doeses not debate, he will come across as a coward. >> he is a great retail campaigner. he hason 10 elections in texas. we are not seeing that. >> you cannot be enti

>>george: the freeway is completely shut down. this will affect southbound 101 and the inbound central freeway from the octavia street expressway and the upper deck of the bay bridge westbound 80 from east bay and from downtown san francisco. the closure of the freeway is right here. no traffic can get south on 101 from the octavia street expressway or downtown san francisco or any of the on ramp or upper deck of the bay bridge. all of the on route have been shut down. the traffic is being forced off at fremont, sits or night street. they are not even letting traffic get to the central freeway. you could also use army cesar chavez as an on ramp there were injuries from the other vehicles that have been involved in the crash. there could also be damaged on the roadway. again, avoid the westbound bay bridge. here, you can see traffic is backing up towards the incline section of the bridge but it is solid all the way from yerba buena island. >>erica: i am going to keep things on the bay bridge traffic is a virtually stopped. we do not recommen

george will be was a sadist roaming the streets amongst us. sharon frazier was a prostitute with a 6-year-old daughter. george willoughby was evil incarnate. when sharon frazier got into his car, she had no idea that she was in the presence of a monster. after he raped her, sodomized her, and terrorized her, he took her to a tree and hired her by her left and -- by her neck and ankle to the tree. he set her on fire, and she died hopping around on her right leg on fire. that night, her 6-year-old daughter became an orphan and was left with no one. sharon fraser's story is important because like the over 1000 unsolved murders in san francisco, i reopen that case, and with the use of dna evidence, the dna that he left on the road that night, solve the murder. that gave closure to sharon frazier's family. you will hear a lot throughout the campaign about our dna labs, the state it is in, which is a failing state, and our dap's inability to address it either as police chief or as d.a.. i wanted to give you this issue because in the 21st century, dn

this time from conservative columnist george will. eir michael dukakis, a technocratic massachusetts governor who takes his bearings from data. has conserve tom come so far, surmounting so many obstacles to settle at a moment of economic crisis for this?" joining me from boston, glenn johnston, a political editor for the "boston globe's" website. glenn, good morning to you, sir. you've covered massachusetts politics for more than 20 years. you've covered mitt romney as governor, his presidential campaigns, both of them. what's your take on what george will said about mitt romney in his column? >> i'm not sure who's going to be more insulted by that line, whether it's michael dukakis or mitt romney. on a surface level, yes, you can make the comparison between the two that they are both sort of in the weeds, in the ledger kind of leaders. it's an easy comparison to paycheck, but they are quite different personalities. >> how so? how are they different? besides the obvious -- obviously, politically, but besides that? >> well, you know, mi

. >> reporter: george huguely will be back in court.t they are trying to prove about the murder he of yard lee love coming up. >>> and showers are possible this afternoon. but more likely as we go into the night and tomorrow. how long will the rain stick around in and when will the cold air invade? all coming up. >>> the beltway is slowing done on northwest side. 95 south through rosedale we will take a closer look when "good morning maryland" continues. >>> and good wednesday charlee crowson time for your abc2 news to g linda is live downtown -- to go. linda is live downtown with the occupy baltimore protesters and corinne is following developments in the murder of a lacrosse player and snow live pictures from denver, colorado. and the bottom right hand of the screen you see the live reporter but it's snowing in denver. and they are expecting 6 to 12 innchts metro area but first let's go to lynette charles because don't think we have snow? >> no snow and people are not liking me to say the s word. if justin was here he would jump for j

george will be rubbing elbows with anne hathaway, ben affleck and michelle williams. >> i'm burstingith pride to tell you, drum roll, please, that our own nancy o'dell is hosting for the first time. you got it worked out what you're going to wear? >> i'm going to wear the green dress or possibly the black one or the blue. >> you have work ahead of you. you'll get it all sorted out. you're going to get backstage scoop for us. >> i am, a lot of big stars there. speaking of big stars. eddie murphy has a lot of time to rehearse. 125 days until hollywood's biggest award ceremony, the oscars on sunday, february 26. our christina mclarty talked to eddie about how he's getting ready. >> congratulations. you are hosting the oscars. are you so excited? >> i am excited. looking forward to it. i'm going to wear a powder sky blue tuxedo. >> got an exclusive here. >> in his role as first time host, eddie is already warming up. >> clint eastwood. >> eddie is already warming up. eddie and ben star in tower heist, the film out november 4th is directed by brett ratner who is co-producing the oscar cer

i think george will's analogy really ge to the point here. not sure what the position is going to be. he's evolved on social issues, he's evolved on abortion, he's evolved on health care. so the concern is we're not sure what he's going to evolve into next. and here's the thing. he knew he was going to be running for president this time around, so i am wondering why he didn't spend the time that's necessary to warm up to the social conservatives. i do take issue with the fact that george will says competence as opposed ed td to ideology, somehow competence and ideology are juxtaposed. i mean that's a bit of a problem. i think the problem here with romney is that people are not in love with him because he hasn't given us a reason to be in love with him. he's more central casting than real. he tried to of course break away with that absolutely ridiculous performance at the debate. that didn't work. >> so you said a whole lot there but let me get back to this idea that you think, chris, he wasted some time in not trying to reach out to conservat

will for more reaction on vick to breach case let's talk to investigative journalist george matt. george is joining us live in new jersey thanks for being with us now do you think the jurors will be able to ignore all the u.s. media hype that surrounded this case in the previous months well it's very hard to say i was unable to be in there today i will be there tomorrow the rest of the week i spoke to all of twenty five minutes ago she was out on a lunch break from a jury selection. but. that's the big question if you can get a fair fair trial a fair jury i think will be absolutely innocent but at the big question there's been so much media campaign smearing him for years so it's very difficult well there are some who say that the whole case was drawn up against u.s. intelligence now if there's any credence to these allegations what would be the motivation behind all of this. ok they definitely were drawn out he was he was as wayne madsen said he was rendition from thailand that you know not extradited he was kidnapped illegally his court was dope in the thai court case in court s