joining me now, ryan grim and joan walsh. thank you both for being here. >> thanks, reverend. >> joan, as we await the president, did the first lady sum it up? is the political world watching and waiting to see just how serious republicans are about this impeachment talk? >> it cracks me up when i heard it, reverend al. i think that is partly what he is is alluding to in her own way. the president really should have a job for a while, but some people would like him not to. so i think that's what she was joking about. because as much as they tell us, the democrats are making up this threat and democrats are raising money off this threat. the impeachment talk just doesn't stop. >> ryan, this is the president's last press conference before he takes a short break. what does he need to say tonight? what does he need to say about both the global situation, about the summit, the sum that is closing down that he convened. and some of what is going on, not going on, in washington as it relates to his administration in the congress. wha

joining me now joan walsh and michael steele of the republican national committee. both are msnbc political analysts. joan, i will start with you. listen, we have a statement today. i think hillary's spokesman saying she plans to hug it out with president obama as the media blows it up. maybe i believe that. then i see the tweet from david axelrod and i say, no, she got under their skin in a real way. >> she did. i would like to be there to see them hug it out. i don't think i'm invited. i wrote a piece that was critical of secretary clinton. she went too far in a couple of statements substantively. i believe she's more of an interventionist than i would like to see in the democratic candidate. i think it's possible to exaggerate what she did here. there is almost nothing new in the interview. she's on the record in her book and her book tour as saying i wanted to arm the moderate syrian rebels. i wanted more soldiers going to afghanistan for the later surge. i wanted them to stay longer. i was very skeptical of pushing mubarak out of egypt. i didn't see a secular op

we like the excitement. >> i do, too. >> thank you, joan walsh.thank you, jonathan capehart as always. we'll be right back. r daily rou. so why treat your mouth any differently. brushing alone does less than half the job leaving behind millions of germs. complete the job with listerine®. kill up to 99 percent of germs. and prevent plaque, early gum disease and bad breath. complete the job with listerine®. power to your mouth™. also try listerine® floss. its advanced technology removes more plaque. it can help your business save money. false. the truth is when you compare our fastest internet to the fastest dsl from the phone company, comcast business gives you more for your money. why pay more for less? call today for a low price on speeds up to 150mbps. and find out more about our two-year price guarantee. comcast business. built for business. >>> let me finish tonight with this country, in august 2014. how are we doing? well, if you look at the stock market, we're going gangbusters, way up there, good for stockholders also with those with retire

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joan walsh, editor-at-large and the new york post opinion writer robert george. this primary have any implications with democrats nationwide? >> fno, it doesn't. not at all. >> no? >> it's a democratic primary. it's not indicative of a wave. yeah. >> okay. >> moving right along. in this interview with thomas friedman yesterday, president obama also compared our current domestic political situation to what's happening in the middle east. >> our politics are dysfunctional and something that i said earlier serves as a warning to us and that is societies don't work if political factions take the maximum positions, and i have to say here i've been speaking in generalities and trying not to be too political, but that ideologicalec treatmentism and max malist position is much more prominent in the republican party than the democrats. democrats have problems, but overall if you look at the democratic consensus it's a pretty common sense, mainstream consensus. it's not a lot of wacky, ideological nonsense and by the way, is generally fact based and reason based. >> the pre

joan walsh is the editor at large at salon.com. jonathan capehart is an opinion writer at the washington post, both are msnbc political analysts. joan, you're smiling. i didn't believe the reaction. i came up with the idea. a friend of mine brought it up and i said, you know, that's a good idea. if you want to go tit for tat, a perfect time to do it against a do nothing congress which i believe could be held liable for not doing anything. it has a job. they are paid to do it. they are not doing the simplest things. at what point does doing nothing not earn a suit? your thoughts. >> you touched a nerve. people are frustrated on both sides, particularly democrats. john boehner will enforce a provision of the law that makes little sense. they reached a low point when they couldn't get a draconian, not good border crisis bill through. then released a statement saying we think the president could do it with executive action when they are suing him for executive action. they have abdicated their responsibilities. it is clear john boehner

joining he now is joan walsh from salon.com the and clarence page from "the chicago tribune." thank you for being here. >> thank you, reverend. >> clarence, what's your reaction to president obama's review of the military gear in our police departments? >> i'm glad to see they are finally doing it. people have been saying for years do the local police departments need armored personnel carriers and -- not just humvees but the large mrats, mine resistant vehicles. they are helpful in a flood if you want to clear trees and timber and all that. but to haul out what looks like the 82nd airborne for a peaceful demonstration. i haven't seen that since 198 in chicago which was later called a police riot by reviewing commissions. we have learned a lot since the '60s. in ferguson we see a scene conservatives and liberals alike have been upset about. we see a new dialogue about maybe we went too far in the surplus weaponry we give to police departments. >> the white house review of the militarization of police would look at whether police departments should be receiving gear in the firs

joining me now, former pennsylvania governor ed rendell and salon.com's joan walsh. you both for being here. governor, isn't impeachment a big part of the midterms in the gop? >> there is no question. it's been part of the primary season. the primary season in many states isn't over yet. the more it's talked about in the primary season, the more i believe they might be a force to forget about measuring the drapes. the american people do not think the president has done anything that warrants impeachment. they think it is a crazy idea. they think a party promulgating the idea shouldn't be in office. i was down in louisiana, gave the speech to the jefferson jackson dinner on saturday. mary landrieu, if she gets support from those across the country it counter balanced the amount of money spent against her. i think she'll win big for the election. >> you know, joan, he mentioned the president hasn't done anything impeachable. help me out here. fox news and mike huckabee was asked about impeachment. i want you to listen to his answer. >> let me be very clear. i never sai

and thank you, joan walsh. >> coming up, tea party types are thrilled with the immigration breakdown. a lot of hand wringing among establishment republicans about how much party this will cause them in november. they're the nada party, standing for nothing. >>> also, the businessman on the stand, bob mcdonnell with his wife. while prosecutored showed notes with jonnie williams and mcdonnell to discuss a loan to mcdonnell. we're seeing a lot of quid pro quo stuff. >>> a democratic congressman talked about how he was duped by the bush administration into voting for the war on iraq. there's some powerful recent history. let me finish with my question for all time. when it comes to our involvement in the iraq war. how did we get talked into it? not me, a lot of people. this is "hardball," the place for politics. >>> well, the congress is already on track to become the least productive in history. now, everyone's about to head out for five weeks of august vacation. let's compare this congress with congresses in the past. back in 1948, when harry truman famously ran against the do-nothing 8

but congresswoman, karen bass, ryan grim, joan walsh, thank you for your time. and we will discuss tomorrow night a lot of other irissues. but today i think we should all acknowledge history was made. thank you. "hardball" starts right now. >> test of strength, let's play "hardball." >> good evening, i'm chris matthews in washington. president obama just finished a news conference after completing his summit with african leaders here in washington. the president touch had on many issues today from the war in gaza to republican charges that he's an imperial president to his relationship with the congress. perhaps the most noteworthy moment came this evening in the exchange over immigration. mr. obama's frustration with congress's inaction. nbc news out who correspondent cri kristin walker. and let's start with jonathan karl of abc news. this is news. let's watch. >> do you believe you have the power to grant work permits to those who are here illegally as some have suggested. >> what i certainly recognize and what i would expect with immigration reform, and i've