olympia. the record-setting snow woman named for senator olympia snowe when built in western maine in 2008.pia snow. it became the world's largest snow, i guess, woman. her eyelashes were made of trees, her eyes from painted tire. if you have a question you want to be on the show, e-mail it to me. there are projects. and there are game-changers. those ideas that start with us rolling up our sleeves... ...and end with a new favorite room in the house. and when we can save even more on those kinds of projects... ...with advice to make them even better... ...that's a game-changer in itself. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. get this exclusive vanity with porcelain top for the new low price of just $99. [ sneezes ] [ male announcer ] if you have yet to master the quiet sneeze... ♪ [ sneezes ] [ male announcer ] you may be an allergy muddler. try zyrtec®. it gives you powerful allergy relief. and zyrtec® is different than claritin® because zyrtec® starts working at hour 1 on the first day you take it. claritin® doesn't start working until hour 3. [ sneezes ] [ male ann

the actual body politic, but i think if you look at individual senators like patrick leahy or olympia snowuck schumer, there so many individuals that i admire. i don't know why they can't seem to get things done, did you i know that senator snow is retiring because she said it was just too discouraging. >> how do you think president obama is doing? >> well, i think -- i thought it was interesting that he said he concentrated on policy. that makes sense to me with his character. one of the things that has come up with this show is to what extent any of these people are political animals. i have a feeling that for instance clinton, joson, maybe nixon, some of these people were real political animals. i don't think obama is. >> more legal animal. >> i think he is policy. i think he is trying sincerely to get the policy correct to support people. it's a different kind of political animal that puts it through. >> i think that's the best observation i have heard about this because keep asking politicians why the paralysis. that is probably why. you have to play the game in a smarter, more mallea

the only one to vote against it in the senate on the republican side was owe olympia snow who, of course, is leaving the senate. >> each night, rachel maddow takes on the biggest stories of the day with in-depth analysis and all sides of the issue. don't miss the rachel maddow show weeknights at 9:00 pm. >>> despite earlier reports, fbi officials tell the l.a. times they are not investigating any criminal wrong doing by members of the congress who were involved in unusual late-night swim in israel last summer. republican congressman kevin yoder of kansas admitted in a radio interview that he did go skinny dipping in the sea of gallilee. he said he was sorry calling it, quote, a regrettable incident. he was the only person in the congressional delegation who went in without clothing. >>> a portion of alabama's tough immigration law has been thrown out by a federal court. the appeals court ruling rejected part of the state law that required schools to check the citizenship status of new students. the new court decision says police in alabama can continue to check sit zit zinship for people

northeastern moderates have dwindled to a handful with retiring senator olympia snowe. even after the gop romped in the 2010 election, only two out of new england's 22 districts were in republican hands. they also look at who the party 's registered voters are. democrats versus republican, breaking it down by gender. white in the republican party versus african-americans in the democratic party. for republicans, -- what do you think about the unification of the republican party? where does it stand right now in your eyes? as we get your calls coming in, let's look at another piece about how the republican party may be affected by the ticket this year. for gen-x-ers, a wake-up call. he sprinkles the word awesome into daily speech and he works at the ultimate job at mcdonald's. the first member of generation x to appear on the republican ticket may inspire. this piece looks at how gen-x- ers are taking congressman paul for the vice presidency. let's go to victor in land. is the republican party unified? caller: yesterday, i went to see 2016 with my girlfriend in silver sp

current senator from the state of maine, republican olympia snowe. she and her fellow senator from maine, susan collins, both quoted as saying they believe mitt romney must separate himself from some of the more extreme position it is republican party has if he's going to win in november. how do you see that? >> well, i don't know what these extreme positions might be that the party takes because i frankly don't think we take extreme positions. you know, i've been a republican now for, oh, about 30 years. i grew up in a household full of democrats. and i don't see extreme views. now, do we have some members who are a little bit further right than others? yes. but as a party as a whole i don't think that's an issue there. >> ifill: one of the things both of them pointed to was the language in the platform that talks about abortion and doesn't mention any exceptions in the case of... >> mitt romney, myself, others who are very pro life, the american people today, a majority of them identify as pro life. but we all have exceptions for rape, insist, life

and at noon, olympia snow is clear as well saying congressman akin should not represent the republican party in this fall's election. just moments later. john mccain says this guy should drop out. ten minutes later, kelly ayotte says akin should step aside now. by 1:00, 45 minutes later, there's a new joint statement from one cities republican senator from missouri and four former republican senators in akin's state in missouri and they say "the right decision is to step aside." todd akin must put the nation and his future ahead of everything else and make the right conclusion. after initially only disagreeing with and then chastising him, after 36 hours of everybody else and their mother making a statement, the presidential nominee finally chimes in and says i think akin should exit the senate rate. after that at 5:30, we got a comment from pete sessions saying "i believe that winning the race would mean that todd would not be the that candidate would be on the candidate." in other words, get out. at 6:20, orrin hatch says says he should step out. do you notice a pattern of who is not

olympia snowe believes the question on whether to have an abortion is personal, moral and religious one>> you and i marinating on this. they have to make a dent in president obama's lead when it comes to female voters in the poll. what they have left is the convention and the debates. with this akin story sort of muddying the waters if you will at the convention, it's the debates. i can't wait to watch to see. >> i can't either. the numbers are incredible. if you look at the men versus women gender gap, if and how tight this is, if mitt romney can get that to move one or two percentage points, literally two per scentage points, if nothing else moves, can give him the election. >> candy crowley moderating. she's have tough questions, i'm sure. >> our pride. >> make sure you watch erin tonight 7:00 eastern only here on cnn. because we like space, it is a big day for nasa's mars rover curiosity. we have some cool new pictures and even, oh yes, animation of curiosity on the red planet. making its first parallel parking job, if you will. taking a spin. that is next with chad. tweet it be sur

from both parties who say dysfunction led to their retirement because of the tea party members olympia snoweu not feel like this is going to be ultimately totally damaging to republicans, and an opportunity for democrats? >> i think you're seeing it on both sides. you went over the list of republicans, and democrats are also stepping aside. i think it's the emergence of special interest and the amount of money that needs to be raised to fight the other side special interest. >> jennifer: i agree but there is no compromise. it's like compromise is a dirty word. that's 10-to-1 deal, would you have taken a 10-to-1 deal? >> sure, absolutely. >> and democrats have compromise where republicans won't. there are fewer moderates who walk into the democrat party and saying we're going to welcome you in. here is your voter registration form. just fill it out. >> i'm a proud republican. but really, if you look at the control of the special interests. here in california we tried to pass a bill to make it easier to get rid of teachers who have had sex with the students and the teachers' unions blocked it

ten minutes later, at noon, republican senator, olympia snowe is clear as well saying congressman akin should not represent the republican party in this fall's election. just moments later. speaking on a radio show, republican senator john mccain says this guy should drop out. ten minutes later, kelly ayotte fresh han from new hampshire says akin should step aside now. by 1:00, 45 minutes later, there's a new joint statement from one sitting republican senator from missouri and four former republican senators in akin's state in missouri and they say "the right decision is to step aside." two hours later, 3:00, rush limbaugh and old timy radio hour says todd akin must put the nation and his future ahead of everything else and make the right conclusion. at 4:10 p.m. after all that, after initially only disagreeing with and then chastising him, after 36 hours of everybody else and their mother making a statement saying this guy has to go, finally, 36 hours into it, mitt romney, republican presidential nominee finally chimes in and says i think akin should exit the senate race. after that

. >> you and olympia snowe served with every president going back to carter in congress.that there was a time there was a lot of world war ii veterans. you guys were a tight-knit group. was that a bond with the first president bush that you felt? >> yes. because he was flying at that time and, as you know, i was out in the pacific. i miss having world war ii veterans in the congress. >> there's three of you. >> there are three of us. so many things i think happened during that time that really changed our country for the better. >> quickly, president clinton. >> we had a good relationship. i laugh as i say we played golf. >> what did that mean. >> we enjoyed playing golf and we played as often as we could. he would call me at 11:00 and say, danny, can we play? i'd say, no, mr. president, i got to work. i just kept -- >> what kind of golfer is he? >> i smilingly say -- playing with him was slow, because he was so friendly, and whenever he played, all the workers on the course were out there someplace, he'd stop and shake their hands. >> always working it. >> there were two

. >> if you look at senators like patrick leahy or olympia snow, there so many individuals i admire.also my one-on-one interview with michael phelps. >> you want to be the best, you have to do things others are not willing to do. >> this is piers morgan tonight. >> as the olympics draw to a close, the games will be remembered for some of the most spectacular performances in history. michael phelps is a remarkable 22 medals in all, 18 were gold. we talked about the victories, mistakes both professional and personal. he speaks from the heart and holds back very little. >> michael, welcome. you said if you are ever tired, you get a bit grouchy and you can be very short. how are you feeling? >> i feel all right. >> grouchy and tired? >> not yet. maybe a couple of questions. >> you can answer the questions all day. then it will give me less time. >> i feel like a tape recorder though. >> london is my hometown. what is extraordinary is every american athlete i have interviewed, when i asked them about their role model, 90% said you. you are like a god-like figure. with that comes responsib

. >> olympia snowe said it yesterday. it is all about women. he has to broaden the appeal to women. the republicans and romney have isolated women. and pushed them away. this week is important. >> i know the republicans get mad. you are not focusing on the economy. >> if he takes the first step what i called the living room threshold, can this country live with him for the next four years? >> shameless plugs. i'm start with you jonathan. >> the '72 campaign. "the 18 day running mate." that ill-fated pick. he was eventually dumped, of course. >>> jill barsh at "the washington post." >> we all used to work for jill. >> is the national journal panel series. i'll be on thursday. >> and a little tv show on msnbc at 10:00 p.m. several nights a week. it won't be on for the next couple of weeks. >> that is if for this edition of "the rundown." we have another packed show for tomorrow. charlie crist. stick around. all day coverage for the republican national convention. we will have the update on tropical storm isaac. i got in on time. bye-bye. when the unexpected happens, there's one brand

and maine senator olympia snowe said akin's comments were repugnant and outland i shall. karl rove's crossroads gps pac announced it would pull millions of dollars in funding for akin telling cbs news that the act speaks for itself. and there were many other republican voices who are now calling for akin to get out. the reason -- well, this isn't really just about todd akin. it is about these guys. mitt romney and paul ryan who share extreme abortion views with congressman akin. ryan and akin co-sponsored legislation that limited what could be considered rape. the no-taxpayer funding for abortion ad said public funding could only be used for, quote, forcible rape. and ryan also co-sponsored a bill in a would force a woman to receive a forced ultrasound before having an abortion. akin was with them on that one, too. and together, again, akin and ryan were co-sponsors of a -- amendment that would define life as starting at conception. that would ban abortion in any circumstances even in rape and incest. and it would ban some forms of con are a exception and ban in vitro fer

>> add to that list, republican senators john mccain, olympia snowe and kelly ayotte releasing statements urging akin to call it quits. should he stay or should he go in tons of questions to put through the spin cycle. steve, you say he stays? >> i get why republicans want him out. i don't get why he would want to plae along with them. >> embarrassment? public shame? >> also -- >> there's plenty of reasons. >> 50% chance if he ends up staying in the race he ends up a united states senator. >> you think he can win? >> absolutely. at end of the day, missouri is a republican-friendly state where there's a strong desire in poll after poll among vote to get rid of claireccaskill. think back 2010, it cost them a winnable senate races, sharon engel, ken buck in colorado. >> o'donnell. >> that's different because it's delaware. i'm talking about swing states. look in 2010 the marriagen in colorado for all of ken buck's problems less than a point. for all of sharon engels problems in nevada, less than five points. missouri is a republican friendly state than colorado and nevada. the desire of vote

. >> if you look at senators like patrick leahy or olympia snow, there so many individuals i admire.t to be the best, you have to do things others are not willing to do. >> this is piers morgan tonight. >> as the olympics draw to a close, the games will be remembered for some of the most spectacular performances in history. michael phelps is a remarkable 22 medals in all, 18 were gold. we talked about the victories, mistakes both professional and personal. he speaks from the heart and holds back very little. >> michael, welcome. you said if you are ever tired, you get a bit grouchy and you can be very short. how are you feeling? >> i feel all right. >> grouchy and tired? >> not yet. maybe a couple of questions. >> you can answer the questions all day. then it will give me less time. >> i feel like a tape recorder though. >> london is my hometown. what is extraordinary is every american athlete i have interviewed, when i asked them about their role model, 90% said you. you are like a god-like figure. with that comes responsibility. are you aware of that? what do you feel about that re

the only one to vote against it was olympia snowe who is leaving the senate. so there's no there there for people who would stand with romney/ryan if they wanted to take the disingenuous position that they support exceptions on abortion. >> i don't even know what happens tomorrow on this let alone in the long run because we do have them saying now with romney/ryan administration would allow abortion for rape victims, even though that's plainly in contradiction from their previous stances. ? >> and they don't believe it. they would never enforce it. it's the same thing as when romney said, rush limbaugh had a bad choice of words. >> i wouldn't have said slut. >> i wouldn't have said slut. it's a figure leaf that they hope will, you know, fool these mythical i think largely, independents that are so easily fooled. i don't think people are so easily fooled. i don't think they're fooling republicans, democrats, independents, or anybody. it's a desperate attempt to put this back on the back on the eve of the republican convention. >> where the fight is going to hap

. >> in an ep ed in "the washington post" your colleague from maine, olympia snowe acknowledged and i'muoting her -- her argument, senator, is that mitt romney should in his speech vigorously reassert that no abortion exceptions for rape or incest in the platform are not his views. is she right? >> well, i think that he has said what his position is, and i think people need to accept that. >> does he need to assert it at this critical time in front of a huge national audience in a way that he hasn't had the opportunity before? >> chris, i think he needs to assert that we're going to turn this country around. people are worried about their jobs. you know, middle-class income has gone down an average of $4,000 a year. our home values are down 12%. our unemployment rate hasn't gone under 8% since obama took office, and we've got obama care looming out there with taxes and fines and breaking down our health care system. that's what i hope he's talking about. because we need a change in this country. people feel it in their bones. we've just got to make sure that they understand that the onl

i'm not sure i entirely agree because you have republican senators like olympia snowe who might be identifiedy the party as more left leaning of the right side. but these are moderate republicans who, you know, find they have no latitude to say, you know, you can be pro life or pro choice but there are other issues on the table that are more pressing. so what we hear from a lot of our readers who interestingly, i mean, women's magazines often get tarred and feathered as sort of devices of the left. but in fact more and more of our readers are identifying themselves as republican and they're saying i don't understand why this is the issue this season. i don't get it. i don't buy into it. this is not what i want to be talking about. i want to be talking about why i can't pay tuition into my -- i'm still paying tuition and health care and unemployment and why am i still struggling to find a job two years after i have graduated? those are the issues they want to talk about. >> of course. >> isn't there also an image issue here where you have the image of a predominantly male party presuming to kn

olympia snowe, also a republican senator from maine, said this is not where i hoped my party would beoday the republican party faces a clear challenge, will we rebuild our relationship with women, thereby placing us on the road to success in november, or will we continue to isolate them and certainly lose this election. and on sunday, texas republican senator kay bailey hutchison said abortion cannot be a central part of the republican party. >> mothers and daughters can disagree on abortion. we shouldn't put a party around an issue that is so personal and also religious based. >> as republicans try to make the case that their party is not hostile to women, a conservative group is honoring the wife of sheldon adelson with a women's pavilion in tampa. according to salon.com, the pavilion includes salon services, complimentary women's products in bathrooms and a woman's suffrage museum. never mind the women got the right to vote 92 years ago. perhaps sometime in the year 2065, 92 years after roe versus wade, the republican party will finally celebrate a woman's right to make decisions r

. >> and just this morning, senator, your former colleague, oh olympia snow from that state writes an op ed where she says that the comments from a kin suggests that we are of paramount concerns to women. how big of a hole did mr. akin put the republican party in? >> it's a problem. if you abuse that privilege, you are not eligible to keep it. what he said was unacceptable and we republicans have to consider all options and, to start with, making sure that mr. akin knows he will not have the support of the mainstream republican party or any of our organizations. it's one of those things. but, you know, david, you were talking about it earlier, what the republicans have to do. i'm surprised that we are -- that we, romney/ryan ticket are neck and neck in the polls right now, particularly given a couple of the setbacks that we are experienced. which monieans to me that this attack strategy of obama not being able to defend his record is wearing thin with the american people. so i'm overall optimistic. i, like others, urge mr. akin to abandon his quest for the united states senate because

current senator from the state of maine, republican olympia snowe. she and her fellow senator from maine, susan collins, both quoted as saying they believe mitt romney must separate himself from some of the more extreme position it is republican party has if he's going to win in november. how do you see that? >> well, i don't know what these extreme positions might be that the party takes because i frankly don't think we take extreme positions. you know, i've been a republican now for, oh, about 30 years. i grew up in a household full of democrats. and i don't see extreme views. now, do we have some members who are a little bit further right than others? yes. but as a party as a whole i don't think that's an issue there. >> ifill: one of the things both of them pointed to was the language in the platform that talks about abortion and doesn't mention any exceptions in the case of... >> mitt romney, myself, others who are very pro life, the american people today, a majority of them identify as pro life. but we all have exceptions for rape, insist, life

. >> just this morning, senator, your former colleague, olympia snowe from maine, republican from that state who's now left the senate, writes an op-ed in which she says the comments from akin reinforce the perception that we in the republican party are unsympathetic about issues of paramount concern to women. how big a hole did akin dig that romney now has to dig out of? >> it is a pretty big problem. mr. akin should realize having the nomination of your party is a privilege and if you abuse that privilege, you are not eligible to keep it. what he said was unacceptable and we republicans have to consider all options. and to start with, make sure mr. akin knows he will not have the support of the mainstream republican party or any of our organizations. it's one of those things. but you know, david, you were talking about it earlier what the republicans have to do. i'm surprised that we are -- "we," romney/ryan ticket -- are neck and neck in the polls right now particularly given a couple of the setbacks that we have experienced, which means to me that this attack strategy of obama not