then after the bush administration took office, and michael powell became chair of the f.c.c., therecame a new fine for a censored version, a cleaned-up version, a bleeped version of the real slim shady. then after people like you spoke out and said this is insane, they decided they weren't going to fine the radio station after all. what's going on there? well, i don't want to guess what they're thinking. i can only say that they didn't have any good legal right to stand on their ideals, and so they had to drop 'em, from what i can tell. that, i can assume, and i think that they were a little bit aggressive, and they--and they decided against their choice, and i think that it was going to be obvious that it was cultural, and since it's going to be cultural, and we're going to attack black kids for their language and culture, then we have to be careful how we do it, and so that was not a good vehicle to attack our freedom of speech because it was going to play out badly for them in the media and other places. they will pick better shots, but they will continue to take shots at us and

edward brook representing massachusetts in the 1970s, which had its former chair michael steele and, of course, general colin powell one of the most respect and admired americans today, i somehow don't think the republican party has an issue. i think janine garofalo and loony left have an issue. >> dave: that's an important point. take her acting. herman cain says she has been given too much credit by being called a march jingle bellly talented actress. let's now critique her acting. go back to the movies and tv shows. what do you think of that? >> well, movies? name one. i mean, her marquis career has a dim light at best. to be honest, janine garofalo is the kiss of tv death. her recent cbs series got cancelled. she was on the last season of the west wick, got cancelled. on the last season of 24. got cancelled. if i was anyone, i would keep janine garofalo off my screens. more importantly, i think we should look at keith olbermann's screen and current tv founded by former vice president al gore. they should be repudiating her repugnant statements. everybody, republican, democrat, independent, there is no place for

>> well, i don't mean to interrupt, but in the book i did with michael isikoff a few years ago we quoted powellbeing very upset. you know, he carries his burden that he was the only guy who put that statement out. he said, listen, it wasn't just me. it was bush. it was the vice president. but everyone always points to colin powell. he gave that u.n. speech, and so he's very embittered about that, and i think he holds it against dick cheney who is pushing the intelligence establishment to come up with any iota of evidence to back up his hyperbolic claims about iraq's wmds. >> is it partially, lynn, david, is it partially now vice president cheney looks at secretary of state colin powell as a turncoat for embracing president barack obama in the last cycle? >> basically called him a traitor, but from the political perspective, i think any time dick cheney is on tv, it's a good day for the democrats. you know, in poll after poll after poll, people still blame bush and cheney more than barack obama and joe biden for the bad economic mess we're having today. anytime dick cheney is out there, even to

powell. do republicans care about victims of natural disasters? 8% said yes, 92% said no. >>> time to go big. let's play some "hardball." >>> good evening. i'm michael smerconish in new york filling in for chris matthews. leading off tonight -- go for the bold. that's the advice president obama is getting from some people about his jobs speech next week. in other words, forget about trying to get something through congress. republicans will oppose anything simply because mr. obama proposes it. go big. even unreasonable. make a statement, take a stand and then campaign against republicans who just say no. will he do that? will it work? that's our top story. >>> plus, as if he didn't have enough problems, president obama suddenly finds himself having to worry about his base. african-americans and labor feel the president is taking them and their votes for granted. they won't vote republican but could stay home next november. >>> also, torture the law and dick cheney. the former vice president defended again waterboarding as an effective, necessary and humane method of interrogation. but wait until you hear his answer when matt lauer asks if it would b

powell for not aligning with president bush. my next guest says this is not a good time for this kind of back and forthment michael reagan joins meow, chairman of the reagan group and a political consultant. michael, thanks for being back here. it's been very fascinating because, apparently, mr. cheney said heads are going to explode in washington when people get a look at this book, and in particular he has harsh words for colin powell as well as condoleezza rice of whom he is critical in dealing with north korea. you say he's violating one of your dad's cardinal rules. >> yeah, don't speak ill of another republican. you know, it's interesting to watch this because, you know, i've been reading the excerpts and what have you. it's like somebody's writing about how the sausage is being made. the state department and the white house, the state department and defense department have always been at odds. listen, they were at odds with my father when he gave the speech at the branden burg gate, they were at odds with my father when he was in reykjavik, you know, this is just the way things happen in washington, d.c. and to take it as