now, these folks might have been opposed to the idea of john mccain being elected president. aigning against him. barack obama was running against him, but he weren't going to let the wing nuts run-off with this tinfoil-hatted idea mccain somehow wasn't eligible to be president. fake hysterical constitutional crisis, averted. now, wouldn't it be awesome to see the republicans doing the same sort of thing right now? in reality, the number of republican members of congress signing on to the birther legislation is growing. the latest is one from congressman at birthers is starting to become locally embarrassing to them. the houston chronicle today in an editorial lamented that five of the birthers signed on to "the whole thing is getting weirder than the tabloid stories about house cats giving birth to space allenes. it's time to say enough already." maybe oklahoma more conservative than texas, "the tulsa world" is editorializing against republican senator james inhofe who said he thinks the birthers ought to keep looking into their crazed fantasies about the president's citizens

we are with it with john mccain and steny hoyer. we begin with the former presidential candidate himself, senator john mccain. good to have you. what do you make of that? >> i know it is a liberal philosophy, but are not think the american people ought to be told -- that we will raise their taxes. the most important event today was the head of the cbo made a strong statement that will affect the debate. he said legislation does not have the sort of fundamental changes necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by significant amount, and he goes on to say that on the contrary, legislation significantly aspirant's -- expands the federal responsibility for health costs. that is the objective assessment by the congressional budget office. it contradicts all the things that democrats have been saying. there are no cost-saving measures in at the bill. neil: he recently sent some of the our costs are about one-and- a-half. >> it also leaves 33 million uninsured. neil: where will this lead us? where does this stand? >> i

. >> well, what th really happened there is that john mccain undercut his own argument. it was aboutarah palin, but in tainabout the campaign, keith, it was really more abou john mccain. john mccain's calling card to independents andentrists was, i'm e guy with more experience and better judgment. and of course, after theort of lost weekendn st. paul with sah palin, the next two months were the long hangoverthe long poticangover. and jo mccain's judgment was dermined by sarah palin's demonstrable lack of qualifications and preparedness to ba heartbeat away from the presidency. and so in that sense, e destroyethe et she was picked to save. >> with the number that was in that poll abt gop support for her, for the presidency in 2012, are we seeing, you know, in swimmingnd diving, scores are baseon degree of difficult this particur dive gets you a factor of six and this dive gets you a factor of 12 or whatever the numbers are. dimebody tell the republicans th each vote gets counted on a degree of diiculty basis, that if you ally, really, really like your candidate, it coun t

. >> well,hatth really happedhere is that john mccain undercut his o gument. it was about sarah palin, b in talking about the campaign, keith, it was rely more about john mccain. john mccain's calling card to indepeents and centrists was, i'm the guy with more experience and better judgment. and of course, after the sorof lost weekend in st. pa wh sarah palin, the next two months were the long hangover, the long polical hangover. and jn mcca's judgment w undermined by sarah palin's demonstrable lack of qualificions and preparedness to be a heartbeat away from the pridency. and in thatsense, she destroyed the ticket s was cked to save. >> with the nuer thawas in that poll abou gop support for her, for presen in 2012, are we seeing, you know, in swimming and diving, scores are based on degree of diffiy. this particur ve gets you a factor of six and this dive ge you a factor of 12 o whatever the numbersare. did somebody tell the republans that each vote gets counted on a degree of difficulty basis, that if you really, really, rlly like your candate, it counts twi

. >> it was 11 months ago that she injected an instant flash of energy into john mccain's presidentials a rock star at republican campaign events. but once she veered off script and was forced to answer questions, her image began to shift. >> you can actually see russia from land here in alaska. >> "saturday night live" turned the moment into a new full-time job for tina fey. >> and i can see russia from my house. >> and created clips palin must have wanted to delete from that dvr. >> this right here is water and that is russia. >> what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read? >> it didn't end there. >> i mean -- >> specifically, i'm curious -- >> all of them. any of them that have -- that have been in front of me over all these years. >> and then there was the vice presidential debate. >> that's a positive, that's encouragement and that's what john mccain meant. >> where she was given a hard time for her casual style. >> say it ain't so, joe. >> john mccain and i, we're a couple of mavericks. >> the parodies and one liners never let up. she remained mccain's attack dog on the

there were questions about john mccain. had john mccain become president i remember then senator obama had to come out and say i don't think john mccain's eligibility to become president is an issue. he was able to put it to rest, but the fact is if john mccain had become president, you would be having this issue on the other side. if you want to go back, people thought barry goldwater was not qualified because he was born in the arizona territory and mitt romney's father, george romney, was not eligible to be president because he was born in mexico. so this is not a new issue. what this bill does is very simple. it's only looking forward, as you suggested, 2012 and beyond, and it just -- let me back up. you know, the constitution, as you know, there's -- most elements of the constitution have implementing legislation. this particular element of the constitution does not, and this is just implementing legislation. just saying before you run for president, let's make sure -- let's have you substantiate that you meet the cons

meant. >> where she was given a hard time for her casual style. >> say it ain't so, joe. >> john mccaina couple of mavericks. >> the parodies and one liners never let up. she remained mccain's attack dog on the campaign trail and ease up on the moments she couldn't control. >> i appreciate you. >> but after the election when she returned home to her beloved alaska, things just weren't the same. the beast that was the palin media phenomenon followed her. from the levy johnston scandal, to a seemingly endless of ethics complaints to the feud with david letterman. it was a constant companion. so she decided her state would be better off without her and all the costly scandals was getting in her job. >> with this announcement that i'm not seeking re-election, i thought it best to transfer the power to lieutenant governor parnell. >> the crowd was unsure why they were saying good-bye, but she has their vote. >> it breaks my heart because we voted for her and we believe in her. she's honest. and she was like a breath of fresh air. >> by the time she finally gave it all up yesterday and handed

sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge. >> greta: senator john mccain warmly greeted palin's expanding family. but it did not stop vicious spears. >> the down syndrome child trick that sarah is the mother of she is actually the grandmother of. >> greta: rumors that trig was not her baby but was her daughter's were shocking. >> your people were not involved in any way in this and they will not be and if i thought that there was somebody in my campaign that was involved in something like that they would be fire. >> i accept the call to help our nominee for president to serve and defend america and i accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election against confident opponents at a crucial hour for our country. >> greta: stay with us here on the fox news channel for more of our exclusive look at governor sarah palin. welcome home, man. >> greta: this will be an historic election of firsts. whether our country chooses senator john mccain or senator barack obama for our 44th president, voters will elect either the first african american as president or the first woman vice pr

it was aut sarah palin, but in talking out the campaign, keith, it was ally more about john mccain. john mccain's caincard to independents and centrists was, i'm the guy with more experience and beer judent. and of course, after the sorof lost wnd in st. paul with sarah palin, the next twmonths were the long hanger, the long political hangover. and john mccain's judgnt was undermined by sarapalin's qualifications and prereess to be a heartbeat away from the presidcy. and in that sense, she destroyed the tiet she was picked to save. >> with the number that was in that polabout gop support for her,or the presidency in 2012, are we seeing, you kno in swimming and diving, scores are based on degree diffilty. this particular gets you a faorf six and this dive gets you factor of 12 or whatever the numbers ar did somebody tell e republics thatach vote gets cound on a degree of difficulty basis, if you really, really, ally like your candidate, it counts twice >> well, the thing is, in lking to republicans here in washingtonnd around the uny, keith, political nsultants, people like craig shi

. >> john mccain lost. >> all of the ones you respect lose. i want to talk about the public approval ratings falling. a similar story also last week for three-days in a row for the first time mr. popularity obama's ratings fell below 50 percent for the first time. what was the big news story? >> healthcare. >> no the big news story was sarah palin. i think that demonstrates how powerful and important she is that the news media finds it more interesting when a former vice presidential candidate public approval ratings fall as opposed to mr. popularity obama for the first time below 50 percent lower than jimmy carter way lower than george bush. >> i have not seen that f particular poll. i am not saying it doesn't exist. >> juan williams joins us also. where are you? >> in kansas city right now. >> what do you think? can you fill at the top in to politics in america? >> you can be popular. she is invasely popular especially with the republican base shoes she speaks to the values she is quite attractiatt. if you look at the numbers republican men

>> john mccain did not make joe the plusm plumber a voice? barack obama? >> john mccain invited joe the plumber onto the stage because barack obama had told joe the plumber that he wanted to spread the wealth, something that the obama campaign then disputed -- >> alealex, that is rich. the fact of the matter is this, meghan mccain's comments, her eloquence speak for itself. i can't answer mcen mccai her e. the problem is he stuck to the bottom of their show like a post-it note and then he became a noted foreign correspondent in israel reporting on circumstances over there. >> alex, one -- >> i think the irony is that barack obama is raising taxes just like he told joe the plumber he would when he said he would spread the waement. i think -- >> i think joe the plumber's business is getting a tax cut. people at that level is getting a tax cut. that's the whole point. >> but he hasn't. >> right, because -- >> come on. >> that's not going to create jobs. this is not going to create jobs. >> good grief. >> as we're seeing the unemployment rate con

first she was an awful choice for last year's john mccain's are an mate. an inexperienced governor of a small state, she lacked experience and brought nothing to the ticket. it was a centrality eejically awful choice. knowing everything you know now, would you pick her again? >> absolutely. in all due respect to those who like to kind of examine the entrails and look back washed, the fact is we were three points ahead on september 15th, and the stock market crashed, and we went seven points down. sarah palin ignited our party. we were winning, and we could have won, but i'm proud of the campaign, and i'm proud of the people around me. i'm grateful for their support. i love them. i am proud to have had the honor being the nominee of the party of abraham lincoln and theodore roosevelt and ronald reagan. i will remain so. >> is she ahead of the pack in terms of leaders of this party going forward? >> i don't know. recent poll i saw shows she and mitt romney and huckabee very tight. it's way too early. you might remember in 2007 my campaign was dead. >> rememb

it is disturbing. >> republican senator john mccain called for clarity. >> i think we should hear from the vice-president of the accusations. >> other gop lawmakers say this seems more like politics than justice. >> this comes on the heels of the unproven statement of speaker nancy policelosi about lies about the enhanced interrogation techniques. this sounds like the same thing. >> they are considering an independent investigation into c.i.a. invest -- interrogation techniques during the bush a ministration. in washington, i am brand new for wbal. >>> parents are complaining about the company that encouraged them to buy educational software. on monday, our reporter exposes the alleged scheme. >> every parent wants their child to do well on standardized tests. some parents claim an unscrupulous company is taking advantage of that. when a telemarketer called and promised to improve her son's s.a.t. scores, she was interested. >> as soon as he mentioned by sun and education, that was the key to get me to purchase it. i tried to return it but have not gotten a refund. >> she says the sale

john mccain's people have to blame someone for the reason they lost. so let's blame sarah palin. everybody is trashing her because they're afraid of her. host: more of the "vanity fair" article by todd purdum. "it seems to have been will deter and of that the next day she openly voiced disagreement with the mccain team decision to pull out of active competition in michigan. reporters from the headquarters began to complete with her own impulses. aides told me she simply did what she wanted to do. she basically came from alaska with todd. one mccain advisor said she was given a staff of 20, but it was probably too big of a staff. to be honest with you, she could not figure out who to trust. also, with young children traveling with her." arkansas, a republican line. caller: i enjoy c-span and it is the most information that you can get about everything that is going on in the united states. sarah palin would have made a wonderful president. why have heard other people say, she did not really have a chance. if she had been president, she would have never considered what obama has co

so why is governor palin stepping down -- she mentioned senator john mccain. what is she saying to you? >> hi, greta. i think she thinks it was the right decision. i did communicate with her yesterday. she feels good about the decision because she does believe is right for alaska and alaskans. she is not the kind to sit idly by and continue to watch money be spent needlessly on her, and she is proactive and once issues to be handled that are important to alaskans -- and wants issues to be handled. greta: what are her plans? >> well, i do not think she has been specific yet, and i think for good reason. i think on friday, her primary focus was alaska and alaskans, so i do not know if she has an abc list. she is a doer, a get it done person. if you look at what she have gotten done, it is astounding, and it is really more than most people can accomplish in two terms, so she will get out there and move the conservative agenda forward. greta: how does she combat the idea that she is a quitter? here is a woman that is a high- profile woman who has a very important

outside of john mccain, all of the once said they were not for changing the constitution.hn mccain said," governor is sitting down there, and i am not about to say no to him, because he would crush me" -- john mccain said," governor is sitting down there." -- said, "the governor is sitting down there." greta: and a body builder before entering politics. up next, a rare look at his office, movie memorabilia. office, movie memorabilia. plus, is his next job you all want to run your businesses more efficiently, so we've brought in a team of experts to help. one suggestion is to make your shipping more efficient with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. call or go online for a free supply and up to $160 in offers from authorized postage vendors. shipping's a hassle! weighing every box... actually, with flat rate boxes you don't need to weigh anything under 70 pounds. if it fits, it ships for a low flat rate. ok, but i ship all over the country. you can ship anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. ship international, too. yes, but i ship hundreds of thing

it made me feel sad for john mccain and the state of politics in the country now. >> it is fascinating. the article in "vanity fair." todd purdum, thanks. >>> sarah palin has been tweeting. she opened an account in april. go to our website for more on ac360.com. there is a live chat. you can join us at ac360.com. i'm not live tonight because my computer is not up. >>> president obama's full foreign policy plate. david gergen has that and david mcnamara who may have helped prevent a nuclear war with the ussr. the star-studded farewell to michael jackson, saying goodbye tomorrow to the king of pop. you have questions. who can give you the financial advice you need? where will you find the stability and resources to keep you ahead of this rapidly evolving world? these are tough questions. that's why we brought together two of the most powerful names in the industry. introducing morgan stanley smith barney. here to rethink wealth management. here to answer... your questions. morgan stanley smith barney. a new wealth management firm with over 130 years of experience. >>> president obama's t

there seems to be this never-ending feud between her and the people on the john mccain campaign. i notice senator mccain hasn't said anything. >> and i don't think you're going to hear him say anything all -- although i had heard from one of his operatives he had put out the word to say stop the back-biting the i think among the rank and file they look at the recrim inages as kind of a -- recriminations as kind of a washington parlor game. but at some point sarah palin is going to need support from her here's -- peers, mechanics of congress and governors and they pay attention to those kinds of stories and those stories could make them a guilty gun-shy about supporting her. gwen: we're going to have to continue our own washington parlor game next week. i never thought of it that way but i like it. this is good. i like those political mysteries. i think we'll do more. our conversation continues onleen with our web-exclusive washington week q.&.a.. check us out. then then keep up with developments on "the newshour with jim lehrer", including complete live coverage of supreme court c

no doubt that's why john mccain chose her.'s a complicated person in many ways. >> final word. >> i just think you know, a lot of her supporters here wear buttons that say, hottest governor, coldest state. i think it sets us back a little bit. >> thank you both. this doesn't make it right. i think the fascination with her is her snarkyness. when she looks in the camera and says i'm a pit bull with lipsti lipstick, bring it on, i think that's appealing to people. >> i don't want her running this country until -- >> i think her appeal is being a tough, attractive woman. >>> in the meantime -- >> still ahead, secrets of the taliban. >> we're going to go live to the pentagon to get a reaction. >>> and another topic that is bound to have the two of us going at it. we're going to see eye to eye on this one. life on c street. we're finding out more and more about this fraternity, if you will, in washington, d.c. this link to republican sex scandals, but there are new details that may put some democrats behind those doors. >>> also, r

outside of john mccain, all of the once said they were not for changing the constitution.hn mccain said," governor is sitting down there, and i am not about to say no to him, because he would crush me" -- john mccain said," governor is sitting down there." -- said, "the governor is sitting down there." greta: and a body builder before entering politics. up next, a rare look at his office, movie memorabilia. plus, is his next job cable news? gas and he has suggested for his co-anchor -- dennis koji as suggested? -- guess who he has suggested? well with us, it's the same flat rate. same flat rate. boston. boise? same flat rate. alabama. alaska? with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. dude's good. dude's real good. dudes. priority mail flat rate boxes only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. whether you consider it a cruiser or a clunker, you could turn it into cash. get to your dodge, chrysler, and jeep dealer, and get up to double the government's cash for your old car. now get

he seemed like a safer choice and they and john mccain who some people last is the two old? does this guy say on the day that lehman brothers collapses that the fundamentals of the economy are sound? whether they were or not. >> host: [inaudible] >> guest: by thank you john mccain mitt was forced to take positions he did not believe. and drill, a baby, a drill. said john mccain was really the first green republican in the past 25 years barack obama seems like a safe choice when i say that there are a lot of conservative friends and my mother say how can you say that? i am not looking through the ideological lens. this is about temperament. it is about russell kirk talking about how conservatives conserve and established social order. >> host: this is one guy who works on tv and hears about how things look and is seen and the impression given. sometimes i think the world and america understood george w. bush to be right wing, a super conservative but he seemed a super conservative because he seemed to like eight white male from texas who was a little bit like a mess. so he se

steve: which is at john mccain on.ot underestimate members of congress from the president's party. it might not happen before the august recess. it sounds like something is inevitable. >> i have to tell you something. of all the things that they are doing, this concerns me the most. i will tell you why. once the government gets into the health-care business, they are going to have health czar who is going to tell us who we can go and see. we could be on the way to government control madison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we all get sick. i do not want the government trying to take care of my health care. i think the people are going to speak out. democrats are getting nervous, including democratic governors who are warning the president about this bill but we cannot know how we're going to pay for it. steve: he would like to be the governor of ohio. once upon a time, he was a congressman from that state. >> i was a fox news man. do not forget that. fair and balanced. steve: thank you, john. 20 minutes after the top of the hour. a m

palin was john mccain's presidential runningmate. that's why her abrupt announcement yesterday that she is stepping down from the governor's office more than a year early has members of both parties still scratching their heads tonight. here's nbc's mike vikara. >> reporter: one day after her stunning announcement -- >> i will not seek reelection as governor. >> reporter: questions mount about the conflicting signals sarah palin sent on her plans for the future. >> superficial, wasteful, political blood sport. >> reporter: or did she tip her hand about a future run? >> we can effect positive change outside of government at this moment in time on another scale. >> reporter: or has the full story yet to be told? we'll soon attach info on decision to not seek reaection, palin said. john mccain installed her on the gop ticket said in a statement, i was deeply honored to have her as my running mate and believe she will continue to play an important leadership role in the republican party and our nation. at home in alaska today, a mixed re

. >> reporter: john mccain started hearing it during last fall's campaign. >> he's an arab. he is not -- >> no. >> no? >> no, ma'am. >> reporter: it hasn't gone away, becoming a staple of blogs and conservative talk radio. >> all the president of the united states has to do is produce a birth certificate. >> barack obama has yet to have to prove he is a citizen. >> reporter: and lawsuits challenging the president's citizenship have been filed in and thrown out of courts around the country. >> i, barack hussein obama -- >> reporter: legal scholars are in widespread grement that barack obama is fully qualified. the constitution says only a natural born citizen can be president. and though the supreme court has never said exactly what that means, legal authorities agree at the very least it covers any one actually born inside the united states. obama's campaign long ago released his birth certificate showing he was born in hawaii after it joined the union. state officials say hawaiian law blocks release of the document signed by doctors the day he was born, but issued a stateme

john mccain, born in the panama canal zone. barry goldwater born in arizona when it was a territory. and mitt romney's father, george, born in mexico. and in 1881, when chester a. arthur became president, his political opponents questioned whether he was actually born in vermont or somewhat further north in canada. brian. >> so many conspiracy theories, so little time. pete williams in our washington bureau tonight. thank you for that. when our broadcast continues along the way this wednesday night, they're supposed to help smokers quit. but now there is the question of how safe they are. >>> later, depending on where you were today turned into night before our very eyes. and some strange things happened. for my little issues? they're not that bad. summer's no time to put up with even occasional digestive problems. believe me, once they go away, it's amazing how good you feel. announcer: activia is clinically proven to help regulate your digestive system in two weeks. summer's a wastin'... take the activia challenge now. it wor

the man who largely put palin on the national map, john mccain offed offered support saying, quote, i have the greatest respect and affection for sarah, todd and their family. i was deeply honored to have her as my running mate and believe she will continue to play an important leadership role in the republican party and the country. a similar note from top republican in the house, john boehner. >> i was as surprised as anyone by governor palin's announcement. if i had gone through what she has been through the last nine months i would want to break from it as well. i wish her well. >> reporter: many national republicans are highly critical like alaska senator lisa murkowski. the daughter of the man palin beat in the republican primary for governor. i'm deeply disappointed that the governor has decided to abandon the state and her constituents before her term has concluded. sean, the fbi says they are clearly not investigating. why would they come out and make that statement? >> yeah. that is an unusual move. the reason they are doing it, the blogs are out there. and a lot of people h

sean: barack obama takes a page from john mccain's playbook. major news on the soldier who questioned the president's citizenship. hanoi jane is back to her old ways. details on the white house czar with a communist past. a lawsuit to ban the pledge of allegiance from the grounds of the u.s. capitol. all of that plus congressman j.c. watts, pollster frank luntz and supermodel kim alexis. "hannity" starts right now. the universal health care nightmare is knocking at your door. yesterday, house democrats unveiled sweeping legislation that would slam almost every business with a penalty equal to 8% of their payroll if they fail to provide health insurance for their employees. now, it also slaps additional taxes on the country's highest earners. it looks like the democrats are using every political issue in this country as an excuse to hike your taxes. and that is our headline this wednesday night. playing politics with your health. now, today, the senate health committee passed a $1 trillion health care overhaul. and get this, it's called the "aff

john mccain and carl levin teamed up and strip that money from the defense spending bill.ne. >> it appears so. this was the big fight, to keep this open. now it seems this particular spending bill will not have any more money for f-22s. jon: speaking of the military, we will see a bold move and afghanistan. the pentagon is sending thousands of troops to help with major initiatives to drive the taliban out. recruiting efforts and reasons behind it. also, a first look at live pictures from the event about to get underway a rose garden. we're pretty sight there at the white house. we're waiting for the president to address all of us about health care. after he speaks to the media he will be meeting with some democrats who are opposed and have plenty of concerns about plans circulating capitol hill. you have questions. who can give you the financial advice you need? where will you find the stability and resources to keep you ahead of this rapidly evolving world? these are tough questions. that's why we brought together two of the most powerful names in the industry. introducin

today john mccain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a hearteat away from the presidency. said bill burton, though conceding mccain had already won. >> i've appreciated the 1 years in elected office i've had to give me good experience and to get ready for this job. it's been good experience. >> reporter: palin supports the idea of drilling in alaskan wilderness areas but she has battled the oil companies and convinced the state legislature to give every alaskan a $1,200 energy rebate. her approval rating in alaska stands at 80%. >> i think it's absolutely fabulous. she looks like a very intelligent woman and the glass ceiling, i just love it, she's breaking it. it's fan tas iing. >> reporter: that's the other reason mccain chose palin, not just her potential it fire of conservatives. there's also her potential appeal to women. >> this is perfect. >> reporter: which she herself alluded to. >> hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in america but it turns out the women of america aren't finished yet and we can shatte

she and john mccain were two mavericks. >> right. exactly. you're right. let me tell you something, not to just assume this would be an easy road if she wanted to run for president because her poll numbers are way down even among republicans. there are huge doubts whether she understands complex issues. abc/"washington post" poll 57% people think she doesn't understand complex issues. she did not help herself by quitting a job with 18 months left to go, an elected job. but i've seen so many turn arounds, i mean, just go back to john mccain when we all sort of wrote him off and the next thing you know he is the nominee. it is tough to write people off. >> candy, can you stick around. i want to get to the person on the ground. sarah palin about to take the stage in fairbanks. chris welch is at pioneer park. >> the audience is quiet. the invocation is taking place. looking at the program on the rundown. the national anthem, honor guard and palin will have her address. >> while they are doing the invocation and anthem we will come back to you. do we have candy

john mccain running on everyone at this. a senator's embarrassing twitter moment., and president obama talks about dad jeans. >>> then on "hardball," chris matthews looks at whether the gop has a problem with its base. the far right fringe who think president obama is not a u.s. citizen. >>> that's running on empty by jackson browne and a story about that song is one of the things we thought you should know. >> browne has settled a lawsuit over use of that song that got john mccain in trouble during last year's presidential campaign. browne sued senator john mccain, the republican national committee, and the ohio republican party last year over use of the song in a web ad. financial details of the settlement have not been announced, but the deal does include a pledge by the gop not to use any musicians work without proper permission in future campaigns. browne says he hope that is will benefit other artists. >> i think it will. >>> tweeting when tired can be dangerous as we all know. senator claire mccaskill learned that the hard way. while expressing her views on

greta: how about your colleague from arizona in the senate, senator mccain? >> john and i both opposed to the stimulus, and senator mccain had a couple of really good alternatives to the stimulus that he offered on the floor of the senate at that time. so when he heard about this, he obviously fired off a letter a comics letter for john mccain in support of my position. -- a calm letter for john mccain. greta: it does sound like blackmail. we are going to put some money from his state so you expect with constituents, and the best way to do that is to fire off a letter to the governor and put him in the corner. is it blackmail? >> if i were susceptible to that, i might reach that conclusion. i am not. i just attribute it to a very silly, ill considered decisions, probably from lower level people who did not explain it to their higher level of losses. greta: -- to their higher level bosses. greta: how about the president? >> no need to talk to him about it. he is probably not even aware of it. greta: ok, the second thing to talk about is that we may have a new supreme

would it be a repudiation of what john mccain was in favor of during the campaign?ks a little bit like that. it's like before his campaign, one of his signatures as a compromiser was he was for cap and trade. it was fundamentally a good plan. she is, i almost would caution against saying she wants her future to be in ideas. she wants her future to be in opposition. it's what she knows what to do. it isn't the country so much that she's popular with as the media. when she quit she said the problem is engaging with the media is taking too much time from my job. now the first thing she does is publish in my paper. it seems a bit like the real problem was that her job was taking too much time from engaging with the media. >> ezra klein, very smart points. ezra writes an online column for "the washington post." thanks so much for joining us. nice to see you. >> thank you. >>> metaphors aside, we do not often hear about sharks on capitol hill. but today a group of shark attack survivors lobbied to protect the razor-toothed ocean predators that injured them. coming up next

seemed like a safer choice than john mccain with some people asked is he too old? does this guy that says on the day lehman brothers collapse and market goes into free fall that the fundamentals of the economy are sound, whether they were or -- >> host: does it seem more serious than mccain? you know what i mean? >> guest: i think so only because john mccain bulls forced -- i think he'd believes by his republican pace to take positions he didn't believe. drill baby drill. john mccain, the first green republican in the past 25 years of the samet to step forward and make some great steps forward on the green issue. but barack obama seemed like a safe choice. when i say that there are a lot of my conservative friends and my mother said how can you say that? again, i am not looking through an ideological lines. this is about temperament. this is murky and. it's about russell kirk talking about, talking about how conservatives concerts, how conservatives established social order, and how americans don't want you going to far one way or another. >> host: this is a guy th

thing to note about john mccain is he's up for re-election in 2010. he already has a primary challenger from a person who was one of the founders of the minutemen. immigration will be a very, very big issue issue. in arizona there's a large hispanic population. does he vote for her, or does he oppose her and try to protect himself in a tough primary? >> donny was saying earlier he thinks the president needs to pull back a little bit and not be such a face of health care reform. >> being the face but not too much. >> not too much the face of what we're seeing. >> exactly. last week obviously didn't work that well for the administration. sometimes they're doing better when they're multitasking on so many different issues, the sonia sotomayor is one example where it keeps the republicans all these different moveing targets. the opposition has been able to hone in on one target on health care. we'll see if they turn to more issues this week and next. >> thank you very much. great talking to you. check out first read first thing every morning. it's updated

only because john mccain was forced -- i think he believes by his republican base to take positions he really didn't believe. drill, baby, drill. john mccain, the first green republican in the past 25 years in the senate to step forward and make some great steps forward on the green issue, but barack obama seemed like the safe choice. when i say that, there are a lot of my conservative friends and my mother, said, how can you say that? i'm not looking through an eye delodgal lens. this is about russell kirk talk about how conservative conserve, how conservatives establish social order and how americans don't want you darting too far one way or another. >> host: this is a guy who works and cares about how things look and seen and the impressions given. sometimes i think the world and america understood george w. bush to be right-wing, world superconservative as opposed to how you characterize him, that the world saw him as right wing and superconservative because he seemed like someone -- a white male from texas, as you were saying, who had -- was a little chippy or a little -- >> guest

. >>>>> rsrst,enator john mccain. lclce back to "meet the press." >> thank you davidid. you fo having mee bacack here again. >>alalys happypy to have you hehe. want to o stt t wi breaking news th morning. the fronon story in thehe new y sometimes isis that formericice president ck cheney kept ngress in the da, his ders, to keep c coress in the dadarkbout a cia progogm.m. it's a program t that a a rector pineta has nowow shut down a iefed congress about it.t. what's your reactionon titit? >> a anot on the intelligencnce coittee. i don'n't kn w wt the details of this o t t vice president, i i think,k, shoddbviously be hrd fromomff allegations a a lvevel in hisis dirtiti. clearly,y, t r replicans did not sisign aetetr apparently that wawritten alleging this,s,o o i think it's f fnknklyoo early for me to acach any conclusisi.. >> it doesn't apappears s any linenes rere cssed in your dgment? >> i ionon'tnow, because, again, lolot this is anonymous soururceanand is is -- if i know shington, this is ththe bebeginng g a pretty involved and detatailedtoto, and i don't have enough

campaigned for the democratic candidate, endorsed the democratic candidate, did so at a time to destroy john mccain. how can a man who went all the way in the bank for the democratic candidate is the ideal republican? how can it be said that that is where we build our base? show me the book in the library of great moderates in american history. moderates don't have an opinion until where they decide where the consensus is. if that is the future of the republican party, that is where there's been talk of a third- party. let colin powell and whoever else, let them lead the republican party -- leave the republican party. i don't know with what he agrees or disagrees with on a bomb as policies. -- on obama's policies. greta: next, russia says that someone is terrified of sarah palin and is trying to -- rush says that someone is terrified of sarah palin and is trying to destroy her. (announcer) roundup extended control does two jobs... at once. one: kills weeds to the root. two: forms a barrier, preventing new ones for up to four months. roundup extended control. preventing new ones for up to four month

john mccain ask terp. -- john mccain asked her.ressed in there and had, what, two days to get ready for a speech -- so she was thrust in there? greta: quitting the office, resigned in the office -- resigning the office, we have had lots of men resigned. but we told her to a higher standard. -- we have had lots of men resign. but we hold her to a higher standard. >> i think that was the wrong decision politically. i am not sure she cares about her political future. i think she is someone who does things sort of from the hip, and she just felt like "i have had it. i do not want to do this anymore. i am not being effective the governor or taking good care of my children or family." drag and beat up by the media. it is not a pleasant thing to go home and have to face your family and have to read a nasty things about them in the paper -- dragged and beat up by the media. it is not a pleasant thing to go home and after fischer family and have to read nasty things about them in the paper -- to go home and face your family. greta: she coul

it got attention, but it got -- >> overwhelmed john mccain. wasn't getting the coverage -- >> it got disapproval because she didn't say a word about governing the united states and not one sentence, not one sentence about the economy. >> you may be right about those things, but at the time that mccain needed it, she got the spotlight back on the republicans. >> spotlight is not polling numbers and is not votes. >> i agree with you. i agree with you, but they were in their last gasp, and had the economy not plummeted, i wonder if some of those, what some might call demagoguic remarks she made might have worked, might have worked. they were able to use her -- and i'm with you on half of this -- use her to play into what might have grabbed america at the end. >> my last point, she's not good enough. if you try to make a demagogue out of her, it ain't going to work because she's not good enough -- >> not when the economy's in shambles. >> but if you're going to judge everybody on their cerebral ability, there are a lot of people who don't measure