howard fineman, thank you. up next, the white house is escalating its words with john boehner. this is back to safer ground.

howard fineman. as always, my best pal in this business. thank you, howard fineman. arianna huffington, congratulations again. way have done -- you built something. something grand. the "huffington post." >>> coming up as if things couldn't get any stranger in delaware, bill mahr found a video clip of republican senate christine o'donnell back in 1999. not a million years ago, admitted that she dabbled in witchcraft. can you undabble? that's the question. by the way is it as sinatra said, strictly taboo? when we come back, o'donnell and witchcraft. what kind of brew is she involved in? >>> plus brand-new poll numbers hot across the country. first exhibition of the "hardball" scoreboard. tonight coming back after this break. et allstate. [ dennis ] dollar for dollar nobody protects you from mayhem like allstate. [ dennis ] dollar for dollar how can you transform tonight's dinner from same old, same old into oh la la? just cook with campbell's. our soups contain surprising ingredients like a splash of sauterne wine, a drizzle of fresh cream, or a sprinkle of lower sodi

howard fineman. as always, my best pal in this business. thank you, howard fineman. arianna huffington, congratulations again. what you have done, you've created -- you've build something, something grand, the huffington post. >>> coming up -- as if things couldn't get any stranger in delaware, bill maher found a video clip of republican senate christine o'donnell back in 19 9, that's not a million years ago, admitted that she dabbled in witchcraft. can you undabble? that's the question. by the way is it as sinatra said, strictly taboo? when we come back, o'donnell and witchcraft. what kind of brew is she involved in? >>> plus brand-new poll numbers from hot races across the country. that's in our first exhibition of the "hardball" scoreboard. tonight coming back after this break. is performance about the joy of driving? or the importance... of surviving? to us, performance is not about doing one thing well. it is about doing everything well. because in the end... everything matters. the best or nothing. that is what drives us. see your authorized mercedes-benz deale

howard fineman and chris hays on giving the de-energized base an anvil. >>> gold line and the gold finger. >> here's the deal. call gold line, study it out, pray on it. if it's the right thing for you, then do it. >> you better pray. at the gold line congressional hearing. >> once people have been convinced by their fear and the lies to purchase these products, they are profoundly ripped off. >> our guest, congressman anthony wiener. all the news and commentary now on "countdown." >> the people that i trust are the people at the gold line. >>> good evening from new york. on this program last night, we revealed a list. that list is growing of massive, global well-known multibillion dollar companies whose owners benefit from so-called small business tax cuts republicans want to extend for the richest 2% of persons. president obama wants congressional democrats to take a stand so if republicans filibuster in the senate americans could see congressional democrats extending to extend just the middle tax cuts that benefit everybody but the rich. and also to see republicans holding those tax cut

i'm joined by howard fineman, and politico columnist roger simon. i want to keep up with you, rog. keep up with you, hour. let's look at these polling data here. this is what we call a generic poll, guys, which is how people will vote partywise. here it is. party prison, republicans lead only three points. they were up nine points as recently as august. it's down. these are likely voters, by the way. this is a very good poll for democrats. 37%, people are positive towards democrats right now, and that's higher than the support for either republicans or tea partiers. what do you make of that? i want to start with howard on that one. this sense of closure coming in, where democrats are getting much better off relative to where they were. >> i don't think it's a sense of closure, chris, i think it's a sense of opening up and more attention being paid for republican candidates. a month or two still lifetime in politics, and what happened is in places like pennsylvania, where i was yesterday, pat toomey, the republican nominee, very strong with the base and the republican party, but ver

analysis by howard fineman. how to handle the tough questions? avoid them. >> speak through fox news. >> 51 minutes later. >> thanks for being on the program. >> thank you very much. >> the democratic tax cut. john of orange still won't say he will vote against tax cuts only for the middle class. rand paul insists on tax cuts for the wealthy even without a way to pay for them. and lonesome roads issued a dress code for the tea party. >> maybe it's time to lose -- i don't know, the statue of liberty costume. you know, maybe no more dressing up. >> guess what glenn dressed up as today? the chef of the future. all the news and the commentary now on "countdown." >> get off your ass and bake some pie. >> good evening from new york with overdue promises to a once enthusiastic base with the midterm elections 47 days away with questions about what the obama white house considers worthy of a fight. in our fifth story tonight, the answer. democrats with the support of president obama will introduce the first step of immigration reform and two prominent gop

the latest machinations with howard fineman. the way around health care reform. new child-only insurance policies. our guest wendell potter. worsts. british police want you to be on the lookout for this man. the delaware senate race also known as -- seriously? o'donnell denies she spent campaign funds on rent. she defies description on her explanation of white house czars. >> the title of nobility shall be granted by the united states. there you go. so i would say to president obama that czar is certainly a title of nobility and, therefore, it is unconstitutional. >> so what about lady gaga or peter king? oh, and she pulled and angle. >> that was the one question i had. >> i answered it. >> no, you didn't answer it. >> all the news and commentary now on "countdown." >> i'm sorry i have to rush off. >>> good evening from new york. today republican senators blocked the defense authorization bill holding hostage funding for our troops over opposition to a repeal of don't ask, don't tell. the opportunity to end a 17-year-old discriminatory policy may have been missed

arianna huffington, her new book, and howard fineman. let's go to arianna. it's enormous. everybody goes there. >> i thought you were going to congratulate me on bringing howard on board. >> well, i was going to start with you in your greatness. let's talk about the news. you cover progressive news better than anybody. let's call it the progressive centrist coalition and some moderate high thinking -- who voted for obama. how do you hold that thing together? how do you blild the way blair built in britain. nobody does this better than mr. bill. >> i told the president last time i talked to him, i said, i don't think they're saying very many things they didn't say about me in '94. people just don't feel better and the democrats need to say, this is what we did, this is what happened and this is what we're going to do. their only chans is to shake their voters and respond to voter anger by saying, what's going to happen in the next two years, what do we need to do and who's more likely to do it. if that is the question, they can win that fight an be fine. if the election's ab

msnbc political analyst howard fineman in this transition period. i'm loosening you up for "huffington post." >> thank you very much. i need it. >> you've been loosened. thank you, howard. when the gop made that pledge, it forgot to mention how many people would lose their jobs if those policies were enacted. astonishing calculations next. >>> the rhetoric over the gop pledge is well and good. the numbers from the economic policies institute, though, are astounding. you may not believe just how many jobs his pledge would eliminate. she said there was no evolution because monkeys were not turning into people as she watched. i thought the reverse. has she ever seen that? >>> his last baseball documentary got pbs its highest ratings ever. his next premieres tomorrow night. on the other hand, i'm in it. >>> and this is a tombstone in a private, tiny muslim cemetery on private land in upstate new york. what local town leaders want to do to the dead bodies here you will not believe. looks like we're in for a bumpy ride. go ahead, ignore me. but in this tu

let's bring in a member of our team, howard fineman and plilt cal columnist, soon to make his home at the "huffington post." 71% of republicans to some degree or another are on board with the 53 r tea party. do they deserve nuancing or is it right as an overall barometer. >> pretty close and the republican pollster with newt gingrich in the old days with the contract of america. it probably does need to be unpacked a bit. there a lot more tea party people who come in and that's a reason the numbers know where it is. he cautioned that just because even republicans say they have a favorable view of the tea party doesn't necessarily mean they will vote for tea party candidates in specific places. like alaska where according to a new poll in time magazine, lisa murcowski is running neck and neck with the tea party candidate and in nevada sharon angle is really out there and same with christine o'donnell. you have to look at it more closely. >> the younger viewers may not remember the republican party we described and it was with that brief clip of william f buckley a different beast. >> i

with us today, "newsweek"'s howard fineman. msnbc's norah o'donnell, the "atlanta journal constitution"'s cynthia tucker and "time" magazine's michael duffy. first up, labor day is the official kickoff of the fall campaign. what a difference a year makes. this week last year, barack obama spoke to a joint session of congress to try to upgrade his popularity after a very tough august, getting beat up in those health care town halls. >> the time for bickers -- bickering is over. the time for games has passed. now is the time to deliver on health care. chris: that was the night a republican congressman called him a liar. by year's end, the white house was getting pounded for its handling to have cbs day bomber. scott brown won a seat on the republican side in january. but on the positive side, the economy seemed to be getting better, even fit seemed drearp. >> because of the bold, swift and appropriate action we took we can stand here today and say we prevented another depression. the economy that was shrinking by 6% a year ago is

i'm joined by howard fineman, and roger simon. i want to keep up with you, rog.he polls datas. this is what we call without -- how people will vote partywise. they were up nine points as recently as august. these are likely voters, by the way. this is a very good poll for democrats. and that's higher than the support for either republicans or tea partiering. what do you make of that? i want to start with howard on that one. this sense of closure, with democrats are getting much -- >> i don't think it's a sense of closure, chris, i think it's a sense of opening up and more attention being paid for republican candidates. a month or two still lifetime in politics, and what happened is in places like pennsylvania, pat toomey, the republican nominee, very strong with the base and the republican party, but very conservative on figures cal matters. the question is whether that's pennsylvania or not. he's very conservative, but stressed cultural issues. too many yik is a club for growth, small government conservative, cut taxes, cut government, questioning social securit

let's bring in a member of our team, msnbc political analyst howard fineman, "newsweek" senior washington correspondent and political columnist soon to make his home at the huffington post. good evening. >> hi, keith. this new poll 71% of republicans to some degree or another onboard with the tea party. does the figure deserve some nuancing or is it just about right as an overall barometer? >> no. i think it's pretty close but frank lutz the republican pollster who was with newt gingrich in the old days of the contract with america in the '90s told me that it probably does need to be unpacked a bit. there are a lot more tea party party who have come into the republican party. that's one reason the number is where it is. but he cautioned me to note that just because even republicans might say they have a favorable view of the tea party, doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to vote for tea party candidates in specific places. like alaska, where according to a new poll in "time" magazine, lisa murkowski is running neck and neck with joe miller, the tea party candidate. and maybe not i

msnbc political analyst howard fineman in this transition period. i'm loosening you up for "huffington post." >> thank you very much. i need it. >> you've been loosened. thank you, howard. when the gop made that pledge, it forgot to mention how many people would lose their jobs if those policies were enacted. astonishing calculations next. nationwide insurance, let me hear it. i've never had an accident. is there anything you can do for me ? yeah, i'm here with liz. i need a brilliant idea right now. guys ! i just gagged. here it is. deductible. take $50 off. wait. take $100 off for every year she doesn't have an accident... ... and call it vanishing deductible. hook, line, sinker. >>> the rhetoric over the gop pledge is well and good. the numbers from the economic policies institute, though, are astounding. you may not believe just how many jobs his pledge would eliminate. she said there was no evolution because monkeys were not turning into people as she watched. i thought the reverse. has she ever seen that? >>> his last baseball documentary got

>> "newsweek's" howard fineman, as always thanks. >> that's september 14th for now. i'm keith olbermann. good night and good luck. and now to discuss tonight's primaries and why a certain tea party past is about to catch up with her on msnbc, ladies and gentlemen, here is rachel maddow. good evening. who are your special guests tonight? >> my special guests tonight include -- >> chris matthews and lorenz o'donnell. >> keith olbermann and lawrence o'donnell and chris matthews all coming up in just a second. can you hold on for a moment before i come back to you? >> i'll just wait here. thanks for staying us with at home on what promises tock a very, very business election night. the last big night of primaries for this year's elections. tonight's the night we learn the final matchups. with news from new york, new hampshire, delaware, maryland, massachusetts, rhode island, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. will insurgent conservative movement candidates keep picking off the republican establishment? will the sharron angle and rand pauls of this election year hav

. >>> up next, howard fineman and michelle nor rhys. [ male announcer ] if you've had a heart attackbe lurking, waiting to strike. a heart attack that's caused by a clot, one that could be fatal. but plavix helps save lives. plavix, taken with other heart medicines goes beyond what other heart medicines do alone, to provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke and even death, by helping to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming dangerous clots. ask your doctor if plavix is right for you. protection that helps save lives. [ female announcer ] certain genetic factors and some medicines, such as prilosec, reduce the effect of plavix leaving you at greater risk for heart attack and stroke. your doctor may use genetic tests to determine treatment. don't stop taking plavix without talking to your doctor as your risk of heart attack or stroke may increase. people with stomach ulcers or conditions that cause bleeding should not use plavix. taking plavix alone or with some other medicines, including aspirin, may increase bleeding risk, so tell your doctor when pl

msnbc analyst howard fineman in the transition president. i am loosening you up for "huffington post." you have been loosened. when the gop made the pleaj pledge, they forgot to mention how many people would lose their j job. >>> the rhetoric over the gop pledge is on the good side. the numbers are a strounding. you may not believe how many jobs his pledge would eliminate. she said there was no evolution because monkeys were not turning into people as she watched. how about the reverse? his last documentary got the highest ratings ever. the next documentary is tomorrow night and on the other hand, i'm in it. this is a tombstone in a private tiny muslim cemeteriy on private land in new york. what local leaders want to do to the dead bodies here you will not believe. all ahead. ♪ i had just turned 17 ♪ a harmonica and a box guitar ♪ ♪ in a canvas-covered wagon stuffed... ♪ [ male announcer ] while the world's been waiting on the electric car, maybe the whole time, the electric car has been waiting for this... the wattstation from ge. it's goin

. >> howard fineman of the "huffington post."lf. >>> up next, are the tea partiers destroying the republican party or reenergizing it in a way they haven't seen in a long, long time? and the 60-day handshake lives on, that five-finger bond that communicates trust, honor, follow-through, and follow-up. it's a promise that says go ahead and buy a ram 1500 or a heavy duty without a payment for 60 days. and if it doesn't do everything you ask it to do... bring it back. ram. bring it back. everyone has someone to go heart healthy for. who's your someone? campbell's healthy request can help. low cholesterol, zero grams trans fat, and a healthy level of sodium. it's amazing what soup can do. >>> new york's 23rd congressional district may be headed for another three-way race. in november, in september, he won the election on september 14th. but now, hoffman has pledged to stay in the race and run on the conservative party's ballot. that could mean bill owens could win again because conservatives plit the vote for the second time in two y

howard fineman, thank you. up next, the white house is escalating its words with john boehner. this is back to safer ground. let's talk about something really wonderful intermural american for once. boehner says he'd be willing to extend the tax cuts if that's the only choice. question is, is the senate going to be in the way of that decision? we'll ask our strategist what boehner's up to. what's the politics? he looks like he's softening up. is he just getting smarter? you're watching "hardball" on msnbc. stufy, make the call. ♪ [ dialing ] ♪ [ dialing ] [ female announcer ] think thousands of women can't agre challenge that with olay. in an independent study of 50,000 consumers presented by better homes and gardens, olay was voted best across facial cleansing and anti-aging categories. woman to woman - we think you'll agree. olay. >>> imam feisal abdul rauf the leader of the islamic group trying to build a center two blocks from ground zero, now says that he'd never have proposed if he knew that the backlash that was coming. he says changing the location now would send an upr

thank you, gene robinson, thank you howard fineman. interesting grooming. thanks.a from general mills big g cereals. they put a white check on the top of every box to let people know that their cereals have healthy whole grain, and they're the right choice... (announcer) general mills makes getting whole grain an easy choice. just look for the white check. oh! just come snuggle with mama. [ male announcer ] missing something? like 2 pairs of glasses fo$99.99 at sears optical, with bifocal lenses for just $25 more per pair. hurry in to sears optical today and don miss a thing. >>> brand new numbers just in from the "time"/cnn research poll. starting in nevada, sharron angle leads harry reid 42% to 41% in a statistical dead heat. maybe angle is right to skip out of that debate now she is inching ahead gender break down, reid 51/43 while men back angle, >>> in washington state, mat patty murray has a lead over rossi, up 53-44 a comeback there >>> in ohio, rob portman an 11-point lead of other democrat fisher for that senate seat of retiring george voinovich. >>> "hard

thank you, gene robinson, thank you howard fineman. i think you are with me. sure. >>> up next, sarah palin helped make christine o'donnell a win. what does that say about palin's power? what do you think? you are watching "hardball" here on msnbc. i mean, gimme a break. >> there's another woman i got to thank. you betcha. thank you, governor palin, for your endorsement. ional-ade research. and some of the most powerful, yet easy to use trading tools on the planet. it's investing with intelligence and cold hard conviction. e-trade. investing unleashed. i've been looking at the numbers, and i think our campus is spending too much money on printing. i'd like to put you in charge of cutting costs. calm down. i know that it is not your job. what i'm saying... excuse me? alright, fine. no, you don't have to do it. ok? [ male announcer ] notre dame knows it's better for xerox to control its printing costs. so they can focus on winning on and off the field. [ manager ] are you sure i can't talk -- ok, no, i get it. [ male announcer ] with xerox, you're ready for real

. >> howard fineman of the "huffington post."half. >>> up next, are the tea partiers destroying the republican party or reenergizing it in a way they haven't seen in a long, long time? >>> new york's 23rd >>> new york's 23rd congressional district may be headed for another three-way race. in november, in september, matt won the republican nomination on september 14th. well, doug hoffman wants the darling of the tea party movement has finally conceded to close primary contests but now hoffman has pledged to stay in the race and run on the conservative parent's ballot. he won that primary. that could mean that the democrat, bill owens, the incumbent could win again because conservatives split the vote for the second time in less than two years. remember that was a big history lesson. looks like history may repeat itself again and again in new york's 23rd district. if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, you may also have very high triglycerides -- too much fat in the blood. it's a serious medical condition. l

thank you, gene robinson, thank you howard fineman. i think you are with me.stine o'donnell a win. what does that say about palin's power? what do you think? you are watching "hardball" here on msnbc. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] every business day, bank of america lends billions of dollars, to individuals, institutions, schools, organizations and businesses. ♪ working to set opportunity in motion. bank of america. >>> brand new numbers just in from the "time"/cnn research poll. starting in nevada, sharron angle leads harry reid 42% to 41% in a statistical dead heat. maybe angle is right to skip out of that debate now she is inching ahead gender break down, reid 51/43 while men back angle, >>> in washington state, mat patty murray has a lead over rossi, up 53-44 a comeback there >>> in ohio, rob portman an 11-point lead of other democrat fisher for that senate seat of retiring george voinovich. >>> "hardball," back after this. today, there will be 15,920 accidents. and that's just cars. if you've got cut-rate insurance, that probably doesn't make you feel too good.

howard fineman is also "newsweek" magazine's senior washington correspondent. howard, good morning. it's great to see you. >> good morning, lester. >> republicans have been mocking the president saying what happened to that summer of recovery? you've seen the unemployment numbers, 9.6% last week. in the past the president has said, look, it took us a long time to get in this mess. it will take us a long time to get out of it. now he's saying at least we've stemmed the bleeding. what is he going to say to placate people who are still out of work? >> well, lester, i'd like to say that being a political worker here is like rocket science. it's not. the unemployment rate was 7.6% when he came into office. it's now 9.6%. eventually is now. for people in places like clefld, where i was last week, this is the time he's got to say, i'm going to act further than i have. it's not a good bumper sticker, lester, to say it would have been worse had i not been here. the president needs to say, here's what i'm going to do next, which is the infrastructure spending, the business tax cuts. he has to