harold, what do you think? >> i hope he stays strong for the simple reason that if and when a deal is close to being done, he has some authority and influence within that caucus to bring a critical mass that may be needed to create a majority. i also think it's good in the political process for leaders to be strong. i won't always agree and probably find myself disagreeing with john a lot more on policy, but if he's weak and the president's strong, and you reverse the party construct, you well know it's hard to make deals and forge compromise and create progress when you have that kind of scenario. so i hope the article -- i hope the article is more accurate than not. >> all right. well, with 25 days to go until the year-end fiscal cliff deadline, president obama and speaker boehner spoke on the phone yesterday for the first time in days. both men agreed not to publicly characterize how the conversation went. but the stalemate in negotiations entered new territory yesterday with treasury secretary tim geithner

harold brown, you're watching -- dr. harold brown, you're watching "this week in defense news." >>> we're back and continuing our conversation with former defense secretary dr. harold brown. >> the administration, obama administration has made it a signature feature to reduce the size of the u.s. nuclear arsenal. up to 1,000 there's talk of 1,000 operational warheads. you know more about this than almost anybody else in -- in the united states. is that a good idea and are you going to a safer world with fewer nuclear weapons in it from the standpoint of the united states? >> yes. definitely yes. in fact, in 1977, when i first became secretary of defense, we prepared in the department of defense a plan for a nuclear arsenal of 1,000 nuclear weapons ready nuclear weapons. for us and the soviets. and wanted to submit it to the strategic arms limitation talks but the soviets rejected it out of hand before it was made. so 1,000 would have been good then. it's good now. and maybe even we could go down below that. although ther

>> i don't think it's political, i certainly don't think that harold is political. the short overtly political plays with language and a couple of ways but his place which is not the place of the theater to be political. i shouldn't be here tonight actually, you know. [applause] was on a critical of capital? i don't know if i was critical. i was driving a cab at the time i wrote most of those to get and i am not driving a cab anymore. [laughter] if you are writing the same play at 65 as you were at 19, you are doing something wrong. [laughter] >> i saw heather higgins raise her hand so why don't we get a microphone to her. >> thanks very much. when you talk about the doubt that is being suppressed by courage and a belief, and you have now come out of the political closet what are the doubts you find or the most fertile ground for you when you're talking with your colleagues trying to persuade them to have the same epiphany that you have had. what are the arguments? denied the arguments about what? >> when you are trying to explain your political transition and the u

harold. come on up, harold. (applause) >> now that i know i'm a city employee, i'm hoping for a big pay raise. [laughter] >> you know, any time you're in a room with ed lee, you know that there are going things going on. what a wonderful leader he is for the city of san francisco and the entire bay area. we're so very fortunate to have in this the best place on the planet, some of the best leaders on the planet, without any question. i got a call from joaquin torres saying ed lee wanted me to be part of this program. i told my wife, we'll start vacation later. [laughter] >> i am honored absolutely to be a part of this. when i am in the room with janice and cecil williams and rita semmel, it's hard to get better than that. i mean, these are people who have shown us the way, how to lead, how to put that compassion to very good work. so, i am honored to be here to say i want to make sure that all of you support the season of giving. we are only able to do the things we do as the red cross back at super storm sandy

>> i thought back to a time i was making a movie with harold, and we were shooting in white chapel, or as the jews of his era called it -- [inaudible] , and he started reminiscing about his life growing up over his -- >> [inaudible] >> yeah. he was reminiscing over growing up over his uncle morty's radio shop in the jewish area of white chapel, and his magnificent radio actor voice became yiddish and went back to 1938, and his face lit up remembering those days growing up in the warmth of the jewish ghetto of london. and i thought how can harold pinter, who i did and do revere, denigrate the west when if it weren't for the united states, he and every other jew many london would have been killed? i thought that was kind odd. i remember thinking when harold first started writing about politicsings, i was a young writer maybe in my 20s, he was probably 50 something, and i thought, isn't it a shame that this wonderful writer has turned into an old man, and all he can do is write about politics -- [laughter] >> well, ha ha. [laughter] but i think what happens, you know, one of our other gre

harold's got a box of them. it's available on itunes, we

and harold pollack joins us as well. welcome, gentlemen. first to you mr. pollack. what is the problem? is it guns, gang, both? what is it? >> i think that everything you mentioned is a problem. but i think that the immediate problem is getting a better handle on illegal guns. many of the murders that take place involve 18-year-old kids dealing with each other, having normal 18-year-old conflicts. and then you introduce a gun to that. and someone ends up dead. i think that helping kids deal with those conflicts more productively but also doing everything we can to deal with those illegal guns is critical to bringing the homicide rate down. >> this is exactly what cease-fire deals with, especially the gang issue. and you know from experience, you know this well. before i talk to you, do you remember back in 2009 in the summer, this was right after 2008 when it was high. you and i went and walked around all these really terrible neighborhoods. at one point, someone pulled a gun on us. you remember that? >> yeah, i remember it pretty clearly, don. somebody pulled a gun

we're all in political rehab, harold. ask harold strasen. you keep running. political director and host of "the daily rundown" and the protector of nbc news/"wall street journal's" reputation on the line and on twitter, much like last night -- >> i know, i'm on fire today. >> -- at the end of "indiana jones and the last crusade," he's like that old knight. >> i'll be that guy, you're right. >> he chose wisely. >> choose wisely. >> i'm actually reading some of these tweets, this fight you're having with these people. i don't know exactly where they're getting their facts from -- >> i don't either. >> -- because you guys were dead right. nbc news/"wall street journal" poll, dead right. ppc, automated polling outfit, didtastic job. >> they did. >> cbs/"new york times," not quite as good, but they were up there. nbc news poll along with one one were the gold standards. >> they should be. we spent a lot of money. >> gallup, for the record, was a little behind coming in at 47. >> just a little bit outside. >> which begs the question, you know, i've always followed

and harold pollock joins us as well. welcome, gentlemen. what is the problem?it guns, gang, both? what is it? >> i think that everything you mentioned is a problem. but i think that the immediate problem is getting a better handle on illegal guns. many of the murders that take place involve 18-year-old kids dealing with each other, having normal 18-year-old conflicts. and then you introduce a gun to that. and someone ends up dead. i think that helping kids deal with those conflicts more productively but also doing everything we can to deal with those illegal guns is critical to bringing the homicide rate down. >> this is exactly what cease-fire deals with, especially the gang issue. and you know from experience, you know this well. before i talk to you, do you remember back in 2009 in the summer, this was right after 2008 when it was high. you and i went and walked around all these really terrible neighborhoods. at one point, someone pulled a gun on us. you remember that? >> yeah, i remember it pretty clearly, don. somebody pulled a gun out and told us to leave

harold's got a box of them.available on i tunes, we put a link on our web site and it comes with a very handsome set of steak knives as well. no, it doesn't. it doesn't. >> you don't give out guns? >> no, no, that will be fine. that is all for today. we'll be back next week. that is all for today. [ woman #1 ] i can't believe it's finally here! [ woman #2 ] it's the real deal! [ man #1 ] turn it around! turn it around! [ woman #1 ] over here! over here! [ woman #2 ] turn around! turn around! [ woman #1 ] i love you! i can't believe it's not butter! neither can i. turn the tub around! show us the back! [ man #1 ] turn the tub around! [ female announcer ] with zero grams of trans fat per serving, i can't believe it's not butter is a superstar! ♪ turn the tub around, and become a believer. executor of efficiency. you can spot an amateur from a mile away... while going shoeless and metal-free in seconds. and you...rent from national. because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle...and go. you can even t

harold. come on up, harold.ause) >> now that i know i'm a city employee, i'm hoping for a big pay raise. [laughter] >> you know, any time you're in a room with ed lee, you know that there are going things going on. what a wonderful leader he is for the city of san francisco and the entire bay area. we're so very fortunate to have in this the best place on the planet, some of the best leaders on the planet, without any question. i got a call from joaquin torres saying ed lee wanted me to be part of this program. i told my wife, we'll start vacation later.

harold's got a box of them. it's a

harold's got a box of them. tunes, we put a link on our web site and it comes with a very handsome set of steak knives as well. no, it doesn't. it doesn't. >> you don't give out guns? >> no, no, that will be fine. that is all for today. we'll be back next week. for now we want to wish you and we'll be back next week. [ woman #1 ] i can't believeand it's finally here! [ woman #2 ] it's the real deal! [ man #1 ] turn it around! turn it around! [ woman #1 ] over here! over here! [ woman #2 ] turn around! turn around! [ woman #1 ] i love you! i can't believe it's not butter! neither can i. turn the tub around! show us the back! [ man #1 ] turn the tub around! [ female announcer ] with zero grams of trans fat per serving, i can't believe it's not butter is a superstar! ♪ turn the tub around, and become a believer. omnipotent of opportunity. you know how to mix business... with business. and you...rent from national. because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle. and go. you can even take a full-size or a

to say that's already been tackled -- >> has politics changed, harold?wayne lapierre as you heard him to in sync with the political class on both sides of the aisle today? >> no, he's not in sync with the country. the argument i heard my friend lindsey graham make the argument i have a big gun at home and i'm responsible. it's like saying the speed limit is 55 miles an hour, people should trust me to drive 90. if you don't have magazines that allow you to shoot 40, 50, 100 times, that won't happen. we should all be willing to say for the safety of the country, do i real need a magazine that shoots a hundred round? can i be satisfied with one that shoots six or seven? can that still hunt? we talk about entitlements and tax reform, i think that has to be part of the conversation. i think the majority would say wayne lapierre, you're wrong. let's accept and embrace a different standard. >> you've got 35 states that don't cooperate with the fbi on background checks. you've got states now that permit gun, conceal guns in elementary schools, you've got such a

if approved the development would transform the block long harold way there in berkeley.he project is expected to face opposition from pest veryvationist. the developer wants to tear down the back of that. >>> former president george h.w. bush is in guarded condition at a houston hospital. a spokesman says he is alert talking with staff and surrounded by his family. he was moved to the intensive care unit on sunday and been in the hospital since last month for complications related to bronchitis. >> they don't put you in icu because things are going well, we are hoping the medicines and the treatments can help him turn things around. >> mr. bush has a high fever and is now on a liquids only diet. his wife barbara and sons former president george w. bush and jeb bush have all been visitors to the hospital. >>> two law students were charged with crimes today for killing and decapitating an exotic bird in vegas, the two 24-year-old students are dustin and eric, police say on october 13th, the two attacked and killed a foul at the flamingo resorts wildlife attraction, today h

harold ford jr. still with us. is former treasury official and "morning joe" economic analyst, steve rattner. also with us from chicago, former senior adviser to president obama, now the director of the institute of politics at the university of chicago, david axelrod. good to have you all at the table this morning. all right. >> david axelrod, putting on your hat as institute of politics guy and not barack obama communication guy, what the hell happened last night? >> well, a whole lot of nothing, obviously. >> we're trying to figure out how john boehner botched this the way he did and caused further damage to my party. >> yeah. no, they went from plan "b" to plan see you later is what happens. and i really don't know the answer to what happened. obviously, you saw eric cantor. they had confidence. they had votes. and you know, it was largely a symbolic vote anyway. because that plan wasn't going to fly, wasn't going to fly in the senate. the president wouldn't accept it. but the fact that they couldn't even pass

please welcome sir harold evans. [applause] >> thank you. my contribution to my grandfather was electorate. and never forget the time my father was reading the daily times which i was the netting. my father was a steam train driver who left school at 11 per love reading. he flung the paper on one side. he said, isn't it amazing that you are editing this paper and your grandfather could not have read a word of it. and so that was the influence really of reading my father and then my mother who left school at 11 and went to work in a cotton mill. so the rest of this. we are going to have a discussion on how we can actually get people to read. there was no question obviously. you can find all about her in the program. distinguished librarian. i was greatly taken when she referred a book to me that i had never heard before. i had been fretting the last 30 years about a disappearance of the book. the difficult life. part copy. anyway, redeemed my faith. here is somebody else. refugee from publishing. not doing good work. and. well, a very importa

. >> msnbc political analyst, harold ford jr. is here. >> good morning.>> you do play hurt. what do you play? >> hurt. >> so is that the policy if there's a christmas party the night before, we don't have to come to work the next day? >> it is if you're t.j. >> i'm out of here. >> because my uncle frank's getting some people together tonight. >> we have to prepare, actually. >> so, yeah. so i won't be here tomorrow. t.j., what are you doing? >> he's phoning it in. not that we don't love dave. dave's great. >> alex, was it fun? >> how was it? >> he can't talk. he's too tired. >> can you find the button? can somebody get -- >> what does he do for a living? >> it's not working. >> good lord. >> hold on. hold on. >> the moment's passed. >> hold on. let's just stop right now. because something, i think, very instructive just happened. >> what? what? >> so we start the show. >> yeah? >> chris licht's our v.p. five years ago. immediately we walk out, and chris licht goes, where am i going to be sitting? >> on the set. >> on the set. >> he thinks he's talent some

david, mark and carl, and harold. [cheers and applause] [inaudible] your assistant coaches. shawn dun can, dave stone and the there will will clark. [cheers and applause] . and the manager for the past 54 years the legendary one, mike murphy. [cheers and applause] and we would also like to extend a warm welcome to all of the giants alumni that we have here today including former giants manager feleap laua and five of our hall of famers. gay lord perry, orlando si pirra, jaun, lily misconnie, and willy mays. [cheers and applause] we also want to acknowledge congresswoman nancy pelosi along with her husband. thank you so much for being here. we know how busy you with the election just a few days away so a round of applause for all of our vip and special guests. and now at this time we would also like to thank the city and county of san francisco and our community partners. we must acknowledge them. can't do it without them. bank of america, dignity health, miller coors, diamond foods, virgin america, pg&e, and sales force to help to make this civic celebration possible. we tha

please welcome sir harold evans. [applause] >> my contribution is that my grandfather was illiterate and all never forget the time my father was reading the daily times which i was then editing and if other was a steam train driver who left school at 11. but loved reading. he flung the paper to one side and he said, is that amazing that you are reading the newspaper in your grandfather could not have read a word of it? that was the influence really of reading, first marmite father and then my mother who left school at 11 and went to work in the cotton field. we are going to have a discussion and a wonderful start with walter dean and how we can actually get people to read. there is no question. this is carla hayden. you can find out all about her in the program. i was greatly taken when she referred to the book to me in a way i'd never heard it referred to before. she said of the container. i've been fretting about the last 30 years about the book aside and know it. i am used to hard copy of books and anyway karla ha

&p3 11:36:222""hey lost christmas - and this is all that's lefttof the harold family home - on ashwood:06 "a lot of fire. a lot of smooe., evvrything was filled wwth smoke lasttniggt."monday evening - around 6:00.... twoo - childree - ges 13 nd nine... -3 were hooe iiside.... whennthey fire brrke out.they raa outside - then calleed9-1-- - tthmsslves.... as neighbors rushed to heep....some... &snapped ppctures of the flames....11:48:00 "a lottof smoke started commng up and then popping the windows." vania victorinoowas hooe wwtt -3 her momm- who reeorded cell phoonevideo... of the -& heartbreaking scene.after all rare on this quiet street... -3 11148:08 ""oithing happens around this neeghborhood. & really good.. really calm."but in a neighborhood of awaa....11:37:14 "that's the best thing abouu our &community. everyone helps each less than 4 hours."friends - like beth pierto - went online.... creating a websste toocollect donatioos... including toys, clothing.... - people donate they cannsend a & messaae."11:55537 "like alecia my thoughts and prayers are with you... i hope this will hel

pero una en harold texas lleva aÑos protegiendo a sus alumnos a su manera. >>> las personas harmarmadasdesde tri distrito escolar donde las maestros portan armas de fuego >>> a una semana de la masacre de la primaria sandy hook, legislador nosotros oklahoma, oregon, dakota del sur, tenness tennessee, minnesota y la florida estÁn considerando la mismo, mÁs armas no es la respuesta dijo hoy duncan el secretario de educaciÓn. me pregunto quÉ hubiese pasado si el asesino de connecticut no hubiese tenido sesacceso a una a de fuego. >>> en la florida no es soluciÓn armar a los maestros si no invertir en la salud mental de los alumnos y en la seguridad de los colegios >>> en ves de invertir en darle armas a nuestros maestros, debemos hablar de mÁs sicÓlogos y mÁs entrenamiento psicolÓgico para nuestros maestros y el blae empleados >>> pero en un paÍs aÚn de luto hay estados que no quieren arrier arriesg arriesgarse a partir de enero policÍas armados vigilan toda la escuela de new jersey, y este estado estÁ evaluando poner ventanas a prueba de balas en sus colegios en miami angie sandoval telem

you know, harold, all of the employees that i'm hiring have to take a pay cut. [laughter] >> so, be prepared. you know, we often refer to our city as a world class city. we have world class parks, world class restaurants. we have world class sports teams and events. people from all over the world come and they seek out this great, great city. we also want to make sure people know that we are developing world class hearts in our city. and i can't think of anyone other than a couple who has been working on this world class heart for many, many years, have i think one of the best representations of that. that's william and janice. thank you for being here. please say a few words. (applause) >> stay right there, be comfortable. >> okay, thank you very much, mr. mayor. ed lee is first class, no doubt about it. his perception, his understanding, his work ethics, what he does for this city is unbelievable. and he will continue to do that. we know that. there's no doubt about it. the season of gifts is so critical because what we do is reach people that are unreachable

harold will think. i need to get closer and closer to the herring and call to him in this way. hello mr. herring. the herring will think. that is strange, if you want to catch me, why is he getting further away. i don't understand. do you under stand? actually i'm going to be getting closer and closer to the herring and i make my voice smaller and smaller, so the herring will think i'm going away. it's very interesting and what will happen next. i sneak up just behind the herring and i say, what. what will you say? i can't hear anything. >> that's idea i make my voice smaller until i make no sound at alright. so the herring will think, he's gone. well, no fun today i guess but any way i am safe. and at that moment i capture him. what do you think of my wonderful idea. great. very good. very interesting. i'd like to see you try it. thank you and can you suggest a good place to catch and find many snow herrings. sure. into the temple. why don't you go there. thank you. i go now. going into the temple, the temple gate is closed for the night and the temple wall is too high for me