. >> i want to bring informer edwards' campaign spokesman, chris and joe watkins.d morning, chris. >> chris, what do you think bill clinton's role is going to be in 2014? how important? how large a role? >> i think pretty significant. in terms of the health care plan, i think his speech yesterday -- he's just a really good speaker. let's just be honest. easy affective at being able to explain complex issues in a way that people understand it. i think he did that with the health care speech. in terms of the 2014 midterm elections, he's one of those rare political figures that can go to any state, moderate, liberal, any district and have an ability to have an impact. >> i think it would be fair that some republicans say he stay on the side lines. one person said this to politico. he's a large draw. he still has a very active group of friends that has deep pockets. his ability to come in and raise money for the candidates, raise money for the party cannot be underestimated. i mean, you've got to admit, the guy can put, as they say, fannies in their seats. the republic

chris kofinis and joe watkins, thanks to both of you. >>> let's check the news feed.ve realized this trial is still going on, but after 21 weeks closing arguments continue today at the michael jackson wrongful death case. the jackson family suing aeg live accusing the promoter of negligently hiring the doctor who administered michael jackson's fatal dose of propofol. >> basically he was incompetent and unfit. he caused the death of michael jackson. there's no dispute. they hired the doctor that caused the death. >> if the jury finds aeg responsible, they could have to pay hundreds of millions of dollars or what equates to lost earnings for that planned tour. >>> emotional testimony from jennifer garner and halle berry helped push california's paparazzi protection bill into law. the new law increases jail time and fines for harassing the children of celebrities and other kids who might get unwanted attention due to their parents' profession. berry issued a statement saying she hopes this is the beginning of the end for overly aggressive paparazzi. >>> 40 attorneys gene

we'll bring in to do that, republican strategist reverend joe watkins, former white house aide to presidentoy, and philip bump, writer at the atlanticwire.com. and kate nocera is still with us. joe, i'll start with you. there has been a lot of attention paid to that this week that kted cruz just said what w talked about him saying, lauding jesse helms. i think the setting to that to me is more significant. the reason that ted cruz was talking about jesse helms is because there is a jesse helms lecture series at the heritage foundation, this pillar of conservative thought, movement of conservativism and that is what compelled him to talk about jesse helms. it is not just one republican talking about him, it is the conservative movement deciding that a man who defined his political career really on racism and homophobia and many other things that they want to honor him and give him a place in the modern republican party. as a republican, how does that make you feel? >> i'm an african-american, and a republican, and certainly when i go places, people know my political party status, they know i

we have joe watkins and jimmy williams. they'll be joining us at 7:00 a.m. eastern time. then a number of perspectives from capitol hill. senators heidi heitkamp and john barrasso will join us at 7:40 eastern time and then senator bob corker will join us at 8:15. >>> the canadian ontario government will be selling nearly a quarter of their common shares in gm for $1.1 billion. for those who didn't raelsz, it's part of a longer term plan to shed the stock they had acquired back in 2009 when they helped the u.s. government bail out the automaker. you have to imagine there's going to be some pressure on that stock. this could be a good thing, this could be a bad thing, depending how you look at it. >>> texas instruments narrowing its third quarter forecast. revenue between $3.15 billion and $3.29 billion. analysts currently expect the company to post earnings on sales of $2el $3 billion. shares slid in extended trading. you can see there right there. >>> apple has been granted a license for its new iphones to run on the largest of china's mobile networks. but no deal with ch

we're going to welcome guest host and political pundit joe watkins.en, i've got to buy this guy lunch. i owe it to him, but looking forward to it, bob shrum, plus debbie wasserman schultz. >>> futures are down, we broke our five-day losing streak and we may resume it today, you never know. "squawk box" will be right back. >>> we have four days away from a possible government shutdown. and after that, lawmakers will have to deal with the critical issue of the debt ceiling. let's get right to the debate with our guests, bob shrum and joe watkins. also -- i hope you ate your wheaties. you've got shrum and representative debbie wasserman schultz, author of the new book "for the next generation: a wake up call to solving our nation's problems." good morning one and all. >> good morning. >> i'm just going to -- let's get them. i'm maybe a little bit more aligned with joe, but i want to see this as a smackdown, a tag team. why did you agree to this? you've seen debbie before, right? >> of course. >> she can smoke you alive. >> she's going to try. >> congress

so joining me joe watkins, golden taylor, and erin carmone. about 4 1/2 minutes. as we talk about style versus results, joe, the president saying today people are being critical of him for style, but he's been effective when it comes to substance on syria. isn't it the result that matters? >> yes, but what has hurt are the mixed messages that the public has gotten, certainly the world has gotten over the last several weeks. but results matter. if this thing works out so that this agreement works out, that's a good thing for the president and the united states. >> goldie, your reaction. >> diplomacy is messy and sometimes it involves bullets. if the president had not put the use of force on the table, syria would not have admitted they had chemical weapons and would be no treaty and russia certainly would not be at the table. so does substance matter over style? absolutely. >> and the president said he is less concerned about style and more concerned about getting the policy right. >> to the extent this is about who is a bigger macho guy, that i