laura flanders is the author of "blue grit."amal simmons, democratic strategist and john fehry, republican strategist. jamal, what does the president have to do tonight? he's been visible a lot lately. nine out of the last ten appearance he's been talking about health care and now press conference. what does it mean? >> the white house has clearly stepped up their game. i think he's done three network appearances including "nightline." he'll connect this to the 14,000 people losing their health care every day he'll talk about cost and quality. he'll talk about choice and the fact that we've got to get this done. the costs are killing us. people are going to maintain the care they have, but also keep the quality. >> doesn't it give the president a lot of ammunition when one of the health care providers reports a quarterly profit up 155% from a year ago. i'm a profit guy. i'm in a couple of businesses. i like profit. but doesn't that take us down the road of yes, it is a monopoly. doesn't this help the president's sdmies. >> i don

for more on today's hearing, let's turn to laura flander, democratic strategist todd webster with usublican strategist john feary. are republicans taking a black eye in maybe going in the wrong direction with the judge, what do you think? >> i don't think. >> i think they've been mostly very respectful in their questioning. this is a questioning fight. they're asking the questions on the republican side, the kinds of questions that democrats asked of joj roberts and alito on the democrat side. there's not a whole lot of major headlines out of this confirmation hearing. lindsey graham said she's probably going to get confirmed. >> i'm a little worried about the target practice card you have up there. but with bullet crimes at the capitol and hate triem krooims, i think it's in poor taste. but moving on, this has been a lot of sound and fury signifying the go sp really nervous but not a whole lot. this will concern you, ed, what had to be said about the endless grand standing in the supreme court nomination hearings might delay the schedule sufficient to put off that vote we all want o

laura flanders is host of gri grittv.org. what do you make of these numbers? >> i'm concerned but what do you expect when the lobbyists are spending $1.4 million a day to try to get the public to misunderstand. you're one of the few helping the public understand what's in the bill. >> is steny hoyer spinning? >> are they losing the pr battle? >> it's temporary. the grassroots is going to make the difference. people need to hear from their constituents. the house needs to hear from their constituents. the only thing killing people out there right now is the status quo. >> sam stein, the president has been out on the campaign trail. this has been his conversation piece for the last three weeks. barack obama losing ground, what's happening sneer. >> what i found remarkable in the poll numbers is that as the president tried to extend a bipartisan hand, much to the chagrin of aggressives he's become more of a partisan figure. more people are disinclined to support his health care plan despite the fact that he's been open. more people aren't sure fit's going to impr

joining me now is laura flanders author of "blue grip" and host of grit tv at grit tv.org.hanks so much for your time tonight. >> it's great to be with you, governor. >> what is the point of targeting the leadership who are in safe seats rather than the followers who are vulnerable in the next election? >> well, first off it's a great ad can we just say? it's good to be reminded some of these republicans shouldn't be trusted any more when they talk about money than some should be trusted when they talk about their marriages. you know? so i think there is something to be said for going on the offensive, going on the attack and a loft the democratic base will be happy to see the dnc showing some sign of life and really pushing back. it's outrageous. it's an epidemic. the republicans who are now claiming credit for some of the stimulus money that they, themselves, opposed. i saw a picture the other day of bobby jindel in licenouisiana. he went to present a region with a huge, jumbo check with his name at the bottom. the check was partly at least thanks to federal stimulus fund