. >> jim robinson. let me make an observation because today is in stark contrast with yesterday. we're here at brookings. we had the metro program. the focus of our mayors, focus on governs. and the feeling that it's a brookings moment, because we are having examples, significant examples of public, private initiatives, leadership by governors, mayors, to make a difference because they realize just what we're saying here. the federal government has gotten themselves to the point where they're irrelevant, at best irrelevant. at worst, which is what is happening, they're in the way. so, how do you deal with this paradigm? and it's got to happen at the local level in state and local and it is happening. i'm optimistic about that as much as i am pessimistic about the thought that we somehow are going to change and break that dynamic between the political process is counterproductive with economic development and job creation. >> i've lived in virginia for a long time. i just moved into maryland. it's been named top year after year after year. it has great business practices. and i th

and jim robinson is sitting here and he was on president reagan's advice council on federalism. we are a federal republic. washington doesn't really act like it's responsible for galvanizing. it sounds like it's an inward focus on the national government. should we be thinking of a race to the top? should we be thinking about saying to the states across advanced r and d, across inture, across export policy, across fbis since the states mostly do the direct enforcement. not the government. we want to challenge you to basically come forward to us with your own strategy. most likely the states would have a strategy and then the national government will have a strategy. is that something we should be thinking about given the political fiscal and otherwise? any initial response to that? >> i'm not just saying this, bruce, because you're up here. the next vital -- we should be heading to the state and city level. you'd have a better perspective on who's more open-minded. we've just seen three or four places where there is a huge appetite to actually do this. and when we think about it

robinson. >> thank you, jim. >>> up next, jeremy lin. ♪ okay, so who ordered the cereal that can help lower cholesterolnd who ordered the yummy cereal? yummy. that's yours. lower cholesterol. lower cholesterol. i'm yummy. lower cholesterol. i got that wrong didn't i? [ male announcer ] want great taste? honey nut cheerios. want whole grain oats that can help lower cholesterol? honey nut cheerios. it's a win win. good? [ crunching, sipping ] be happy. be healthy. can i try yours? >>> his star power is growing. tv networks in china are buying rights to televise the new york knicks, because of palo alto native, jeremy lin. he's such a fan favorite, his hand shake is creating buzz. along with one of his new york teammates. i don't know what they're doing. but everyone seems to love it. they've come up with a special handshake. and keep in mind, this is a high i.q. handshake. he's a harvard grad. and his teammate, is a stanford alum. >> 60 grand for you, a year. >> combined tuition, is 100 grand. the knicks have won three-straight games with jeremy lin in the starting lineup. >> that's what we're missing. a

coming up, we're going to be bringing in chris matthews, also eugene robinson, moderator of "meet the press," david gregory, and up next, jim vandehei is here with the politico playbook. we're going to have willie's "week in review," as well. this show is absolutely packed. speed dating with sam stein, and also -- secretary of housing is going to be coming in on a pretty darn big deal not about -- the mortgage settlement with the five big banks. but first, here's todd santos with a check on the weekend forecast. >> not so bad to start off the weekend for a few areas if you consider friday your weekend. friday afternoon, boston, new york, towards philly, snow showers going early saturday morning. and that could amount to something. new york city around 1 to 3 inches, boston around 2 to 4. that activity right now is still to the west of the mississippi river. you do notice a few snow showers to the northwest, great lakes, getting down into chicago with a quick 1 to 3 inches later this afternoon especially as the lakes get involved. northwest indiana could see a little bit more than that especially as we set up some of those l