reagan and all of the distinguished guests here, it's an honor for me to be here at the reagan library to speak with you today. i want to thank mrs. reagan for her gracious invitation. there's been a lot of thrilling things that have happened to me over the last 20 months. people kind become a little passe after a while about things that happen. i have a former law partner who's with me tonight, who majors in passe, my friend bill palatucci. i called him and said, okay, i said something that's going to impress you. [laughter] and i read him this letter over the phone, and i said it's signed by nancy reagan. he said, "okay, i'm impressed." [laughter] it's great to be here, mrs. reagan. thank you for your invitation. [applause] ronald reagan believed in this country. he embodied the strength, the perseverance, and the faith that has propelled immigrants for centuries to embark on dangerous journeys, to come here, to give up all that was familiar for all that was possible. he judged as good as things were and had been for many americans they could and would be better for more americans in

a simpler way to ship. >>> we're back to the reagan library. here, we will see the hosts of tonight, former first lady nancy reagan. there she is in red down there. she received tremendous applause as we came in earlier. >>> by the way, our panel is a great panel. we have about 12 minutes before the debate begins. i want to hear from you about the importance of this debate. the elections are decided not by the people who made up their minds but the people who make up their minds. that's the reagan democrats, if you will, who go back and forth. the michael smer smerconish crowd. what are they looking for? >> the reagan library, ron aeld reagan was able to speak to people, in philadelphia, pittsburgh, and i think is the city for some candidates to speak to those people. rick perry has it make an impression. and a name we haven't mentioned to night, jon huntsman. if he is going to have any clans of breaking through at all, he has to speak specifically to those people. otherwise, if he doesn't make an impression on a big network stage like this one,

it's the reagan library, the speech. he can easily either say it at the beginning or say it at the end if he wants to end this speculation or not. it will be interesting to see how he handles it. meanwhile, the president heads to denver, colorado, today, the last stop on a west coast fund-raising swing that the campaign hopes will net about $4 million. last night the president went hollywood, headlining a fund-raiser at the house of blues, a $250 person to get in. just $10,000 to get a picture with the president. his message to the soldout crowd -- i never promised you it was going to be easy. >> i never promised you easy. if you want easy, you wanted to campaign for barack hussein obama. what i promised was that there was a vision of america out there that we believed in. what i promised was that if we worked hard we could achieve that vision. what i promised was that i would wake up every single day fighting for you. >> going to delve into the president's relationship with hollywood later in the show. the president is

back to the debate and back here to the reagan library. is less focused on tonight's republican debate. instead, concentrating on tomorrow's job speech and we're getting more details about it today and the question is will the plan and its price tag get enough support to make a difference? we are joined by massachusetts governor duval patrick. governor patrick, thanks for joining me. >> thank you. >> let me start with the fact that it's $300 billion and i've talked to a lot of democrats who say, kind of timid. what do you say? >> i'm not sure it will end up being $300 billion and the president has a jobs plan already. it just needs greater focus and greater funding and it's the focus on innovation and infrastructure and it's a strategy that has made a difference in massachusetts where we are growing jobs faster than most other states and have a very friendly business climate. as distinct from my predecessor who has the republican nomination right now. >> i want to go back to what president obama has to do in his jobs speech. how much does h

with our coverage with david gregory, the moderator of nbc's "meet the press" here with me at the reagan library "the huffington post's" howard fineman also an msnbc political analyst and former ronald reagan speechwriter peggy noonan herself who is a columnist for "the wall street journal." and the number one reason to read "the wall street journal" each saturday morning. i want to go to my colleague david gregory because i think tonight is the next voice you hear. my old boss tip o'neill used to say ronald reagan's strength was not just that he spoke or what he looked like as a handsome fellow, rascal as clinton would say, but his voice had the timbre of self-confidence, common sense, middle america as well as being a conservative. it seems to me tonight rick perry's voice, everyone's going to be listening. does the man have it? your thoughts. by the way, he is a hard guy to get, isn't he, from the sunday shows? >> we're still trying. we're still trying. chris, i think you're exactly right. this is a big leadership moment. we're still early here. let's always remind people of that. rick perry

then the reagan library and the personal invitation of nancy reagan.him at his word, but you put it right. looks like a candidate to be. maybe he's not, but he looks like one at the moment. >> okay. see you in washington tomorrow. that does it for this edition of "andrea mitchell reports." we continue with the 2011 teacher of the year and live coverage of the president's back to school speech. tamron hall is here with a look at what's next on "news nation." >> they snuck up on it and great hour in the next hour. big story. michael jackson's death trial is just getting under way in the opening statements. jurors have seen an image of michael jackson's body at the hospital after he died and his slurred voice in the weeks before he died. michael jackson in his own words. andrea was talking about chris christie in a few hours. governor kristi is delivering a speech at the reagan library. the governor's brother as you heard speaking out. how close is his brother and why would your brother be telling you about your future? is he reliable? next on "news natio

laughter ] now, the candidates stood beneath the air force one that ronald reagan used to personally pilot steering with his balls. for the record, the reagan library is the only one where you can check out a 747. [ laughter ] you just have to stamp the sign-out card on the tail. [ laughter ] folks, this debate was so important that i did something most americans would be ashamed to admit: i watched msnbc. [ laughter ] of course, i didn't look directly at the screen. like a solar eclipse, i watched through a pinhole in a piece of cardboard -- which projected on your hand like that watch here like that which had the added benefit of not blinding me when newt gingrich's head blotted out the sun. [ laughter ] and folks, this debate proved any one of these people could be a better president than lame-duck fail-bama. [ laughter ] trademark. [ laughter ] now, just look at the man i used to endorse before he cancelled coming on my show: herman cain. the cain train delivered a bold idea on how to fix social security. >> social security, it needs fixing, not continuing to talk about it. i believe in the chilean model. [ laughter ] >> stephen: now, i have to

. >> go ahead, carl. >> can i address the earlier question you raised about why the gop and the reagan libraryd this event? i think it has to do with a behind the scenes fact is that a key executive politico is a key executive at the reagan library. and one interesting point raised by congressman mccotter, who is running and who has been excluded from these debates and not a factor in them, he said can you ever imagine the clinton library permitting fox news to moderate a democratic debate on those grounds? >> bill: i think it shows magnimity on the part of the republican party to do this, but it's like the old scorpion joke with the frog carrying across that thing. 20 seconds after the debate was over, there they are, they're all morons! there weren't even leaving the podium yet. >> i'm not sure who really expected -- >> bill: that was the msnbc people. as soon as they brought out al sharpton for objective analysis, you know -- we went to get popcorn. >> the death penalty and the reaction from the crowd versus what the moderators thought was very telling. >> bill: right. it was a a conservati

rachel and i are being attacked for calling him out for his reckless comments at the reagan library. now he's using our campaign, our words to try to make a quick buck on the campaign trail. i think he owes america an apology. >> our society did these things to -- it weakened our people. >> mark arubio is trying to punch his ticket by pointing out the big three. i called him on it. this week he called me the extremist. i will unleash my response to rubio,ç and they'll let me kno if i left anything out. political reports that john boehner freaked out when the drugster called him out, and that's why he asked to move his speech. tonight, dr. james peterson on the public disrespect for the president. >>> and the trumpster is reviewing dick cheney's new book. >> i don't like people who rat out everybody like he's doing in the book. >> daily show co-creator liz winstead are here to make sense of it. >>> the golden boy on every republican's short list for vice president is is trying to raise money by attacking cable hosts here on mnsnb. it started last week as senator mark arubio had his da

finders. >>> at the start of tonight's show we put a live picture of a podium at a stage at the reagan librarycalifornia where governor christie gaf a boil plate speech about president reagan. why some many cameras? the whole national media was tl to find out what governor christie would say after his prepared remarks. after a lot of renewed rumor he was getting in this week and after a lot of very, very, very rich republican donors came out of the closet this week and said they wanted him into the race, the first question to him was not about whether he was running. the first question was on immigration and education. the second question was, dude, are you running? here's how that went. >> governor christie, you're known as a straight shooter, one not playing games. can you tell us what's going on here? are you reconsidering, or are you still not? >> listen, i have to tell you the truth. you folks are incredible disappointment as an audience. the fact that that took the second question. shows you people are off your game. that is not american exceptionalism. listen, i really am succinct about

number one being out there is the holy grail for a lot of republican folks at the reagan library. number two, he's going to be around a lot of powerful king makers within the party who will have his ear and hopefully be cutting some checks. he's got to be doing some fundraising out on the west coast as well. number three, what will he say? it's a prime opportunity to squash all the speculation. i doubt he will use that venue to do it. if he really wanted to squash the speculation, he could endorse somebody else, which he has yet to do. i think probably the text of the speech will very much focus on his continued vision for america, et cetera, et cetera. i don't think you'll see him affirm or deny. the fact of the matter is being around so many top republicans out there in such a seminal place for republicans is going to lead people to infer that perhaps he is kidsing the ring of the republican part big wigs out there. >> in the previous hour my colleague chris jansing had the opportunity to speak with the newark, new jersey, mayor chris booker weighing in on the christie speculatio

we'll be right back. >>> we're back at the reagan presidential library, you can see in simi valley, californiaair force one, the one that was the president's plane when president reagan was in office, the site of the republican presidential debate here tomorrow night on msnbc. the first time the new gop front-runner in our poll, rick perry, will take part in the debate and not only have something to prove also a target figuratively speaking on his back. what does perry need to defend himself and keep his position and what does mitt romney and michele bachmann need to do to stay in the race? and bring perry down a notch? joining me, michelle bernard and pat buchanan. let me start with pat on the front-runner. i want to get to this perry guy. he has to fill in the blanks. should he invoke the ronald reagan rule of thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow republican as a smart first move to cut them off at the pass? >> no, because he may have to do some real fighting before the night of over, what rick perry should do, chris, when he goes in there is he's sitting there and got them sort of locked up

don't miss the nbc news politico debate at the reagan library tomorrow at 8:00 right here on msnbc. you're watching "andrea mitchell reports" right now live from the reagan. beautiful library out here in simi valley, california. [ groans ] you okay? i'm not looking forward to my flight. try this. bayer aspirin? i'm not having a heart attack. it's my back. no, this is new bayer advanced aspirin... clinically proven to relieve tough pain twice as fast as before. what, did you invent this or something? well, my team did. i'm dr. eric first, from bayer. wow. look. it has microparticles. it enters the bloodstream faster and rushes relief right to the site of pain. better? great! thanks. [ male announcer ] new bayer advanced aspirin. extra strength pain relief. twice as fast. test our fast relief. look out for your coupon in this sunday's papers. test our fast relief. [ male announcer ] we went to germany's nurburgring to challenge ourselves on the most demanding track in the world. with us, in spirit, was every great car that we'd ever competed with. the bmw m5. and the mercedes-benz e63.

en down in trenton. >> you mean not give a speech at the reagan library? ething about his re-election for governor of new jersey. >> well, and some people are suggesting that given the budget cuts and the problems in new jersey where he's got some controversial decisions that he's made, he might have a better shot at running and winning the white house than winning the election. >> that is an argument that i'm told has been put to him. like if you wanted to be totally politically cynical about it, for his own political future, waiting till 2016, if republicans don't defeat the president, or 2020, if they do, is a long way off. you may be only a one-terminal governor of new jersey, never be able to win re-election. you know, there's so many ifs. and i think chris matthews uses this line, the galloping horse of history. sometimes it just goes right by you. and if you don't jump on, you'll never -- it will never come by again. >> exactly. we have a number of candidates or almost candidates who have experienced exactly that. chuck todd, thank you very much. >>

speaking at the reagan library last night when asked if he's considering running for the white houseestion and would only say he's touched and flattered by all the support. >>> a manhunt that spanned three continents in four decades is over this morning. george wright, is convicted killer and airline hijacker who forced fbi agents to deliver ransom money in only bathing suits was arrested in portugal sunday. >> that's different. how police got their big break? i mean, portugal? >> it's always the last place you look. isn't it? anyway, u.s. marshals had tracked him for about a decade and finally got a positive hit along with portuguese authorities arrested george wright in central portugal, about an hour from lisbon on the coast where he was living under an assumed name. the joint statement by law enforcement, the fbi agtd in charge said "even after 40 years the commitment of law enforcement is unwavering." the story is remarkable. in the early '60s wright was convicted of killing a world war ii veteran during a gas station robbery. 's he escaped from the new jersey prison in the ward

at the reagan library, here on msnbc. dana, from having just read those two books and of what you know of rick perry, is he capable andic to immediately think on his feet and respond to the president after the. concludes his remarks? i think that will be a wildcard in the debate next wednesday night. there are questions about rick perry's intelligence, the ability to think on his feet. if you're a dumb guy, you don't get as far as he did in politics. i think he is very good with the one-liner, and i think he'll have the ability to react to that. unclear what happens in a more extended debate with the president, you know, in these large republican field president atdebates, everybody only gets a couple minutes anyway. he can probably hold his own, and certainly nobody is going to come out and try to make a big deal in a republican debate about some of his more provocative, socially conservative views. most of them hold the same ones. >> well, jon huntsman could. if he wanted to emerge from the pack, i would tell him to go f

at the reagan library in simi valley, california, as he roundly criticized president obama. >> still e paralysis that has made it impossible for him to take on the really big things that are so obvious to all americans and to a watching and anxious world. >> >> reporter: then during a question and answer session, christie found himself the target of appeals to enter the 2012 fray. >> i really implore you, as a citizen of this country to, please, sir, to reconsider. don't even say anything tonight. of course you wouldn't. go home and really think about it. please. [laughter and applause] do it pi my daughter. do it for our grandchildren. do it for our son. please, sir, don't... we need you. your country needs you to run for president. [cheering and applause] >> reporter: christie said he was flattered, but he gave no indication he would change his mind about running. >> i hear exactly what you're saying, and i feel the passion with which you say it, and it touches me, but by the same token, that heartfelt message you gave me is also not a reason for me to do it. that reason has to resi

they were all greeted here by the reagan presidential library by former first lady nancy reagan. shortly after that, it went right to the questions very quickly and not surprisingly it was the economy and jobs. mitt romney and governor perry who were sparring back and forth defending their own records in their individual states. take a listen. >> well, governor romney left the private sector, he did a great job of creating jobs in the private sector all around the world. but the fact is, when he moved that experience to government, he had one of the lowest job creation rates in the country. but the fact is, while he had a good private sector record, his public sector record did not match that. as a matter of fact, we created more jobs in the last three months in texas than he created in four years in massachusetts. >> let's widen this out and let's bring in mr. cane on one side -- >> wait a second. >> go ahead. i'll give you 30 seconds. >> states are different. texas is a great state. texas has zero income tax. texas has a right to work state, a republican legislature, a republica

bill: there were some funny moment at the reagan library last night. >> governor perry doesn't believe he created those things. if he tried to say that it would be like al gore saying he created the internet. >> if 10% is good enough for god, 9% ought to be good enough for the government. >> to my good friend, mitt47% ain't going to cut it not when you can be first. >> i was trying to get your attention. i'm a physician but you weren't going to ask me any medical questions. >> in terms of credentials. >> if he wants to write another book, i'll write anotherford anr foreward. bill: right before that ron paul had been cut off and not able to get an answer. last night shows the reason why these men and women spend a year in iowa and a marathon in new hampshire. it gives them a chance to talk to 6 to 8 different groups and hone their message. when they get in circumstances like this and the clock is running. they have to get it in or they will miss their opportunity. martha: i thought they put to rest the notion that the gop doesn't have a good candidate to run against the president. they

eight gop hopefuls are at the reagan library. plo mitt romney tops the polls for the republicans but the race can change dramatically tonight. stephan stephanie assista stephan stephanie stanton. >> brian williams is moderating the debate. the first question to rick pe y perry. he's in the lead in the polls. it was regarding jobs. the second question to mitt romney. although there are eight candidateses here tonight, many see this now as a two-man race. the stage is set at the reagan presidential library for tonight's gop debate with texas governor rick perry now squarely in the spotlight. devastating wildfires in texas have kept the governor off the campaign trail in recent days. tonight he'll be in the hot seat, taking the stage for the first time since declaring his candidacy and now surging in the polls. >> rick perry is the overwhelming the front-runner in the republican race for the presidential nomination on the republican side. >> the latest "wall street journal" poll shows perry with a 15-point lead over mitt romney. >> a

he didn't do that last night at the reagan library speech. he never mentioned the speculation in his 30-minute speech. it was in the question and answer session that he was put on the spot about it. he had an interesting response to it. >> we've got that. i want to show folks. >> the message you gave me is also not a reason for this me to do it. that reason has to reside inside me. oh, please. please, please stop asking me to be leader of the free world. [ laughter ] it's such a burden. >> a little sarcasm there at the end there. but you were saying that his response last night did it sound genuine to you? >> it did although he didn't close the door on it. he made it clear that he would consider this a little bit and keep thinking about it. he said i feel it too. he feels like he owes it to a lot of the donors and conservative leaders and activists who have been pleading with him to run. he feels he owes it to them to consider this. that doesn't mean he's going to run. it looks like he probably isn't going to run. >> mitt romney was on morning

>>> and we're going to head back to the reagan library for tonight's big debate. the republican candidates to keep in mind past election match-ups. and it tabs both substance and tile to make a big impression on american voters. we're going to take a look back at what they might want to remember when it comes to tonight. boy, i'm glad we got aflac huh. aflac! oh, i've just got major medical... major medical. ...but it helps pay the doctors. pays the doctors, boyyy! [ quack ] oh yeah? what about your family? ♪ we added aflac, so we get cash! it's like our safety net... ♪ to help with the mortgage or whatever we need! so my family doesn't feel the pain too. ha! [ male announcer ] help protect your family at aflac.com. [ pigeons ] heyyy! hooo!!! and form a layer called biofilm so strong it survives brushing. thankfully, there's listerine® antiseptic. its triple-action formula penetrates biofilm, kills germs and protects your mouth for hours. fight biofilm with listerine®. setting that goal to become a principal. but, i have to support my family, so how do i go back to

. >> the title for governor christie's speech tonight at the reagan library, real american exceptionalism. lester, that's the kind of speech title that a presidential candidate might give. >> christie was in missouri yesterday. he travels to louisiana later this week. he still insists he's not running. >> it would be wiser just to sit back. he's got some time. but, look, it is chaotic in there. there say lot of people. it is cementing. y you could be president. that's big. >> that sounds like someone is dabbling, that's for sure. >> there is a big speech at the reagan presidential library tonight. republican fund-raisers across the country this week and word from friend and the former new jersey governor tom kean that christie is now seriously considering a late entry into the gop race. here is tonight's truth. he isn't running. and while he's listening closely, very closely, to friends and fund-raisers begging him to reconsider, the best bet is that governor christie stays on the sidelines. why? well, for starters, the governor's greatest strength as a politician is he's viewed as a stra

the tax increases that ronald reagan agreed to as governor. or as president of the united states. there he was in reagan's library. didn't mention a word about reagan, reasonably raising taxes and compromises with democrats. why did he leave that out? >> that's a good question. he did bring up reagan's attack on the unions and the airline industry. and, of course, that's a reference to his work against the unions in new jersey. and he brought that up at the top of the speech. >> now, matt, he is the darling right now of the republicans, but they don't know that much about him. i've been interested in what are the things that the republicans will be shocked to discover if he ever did decide to run for president? for example, christie on medica marijuana? >> there is a medical marijuana program about to be instated in new jersey. it was approved prior to his administration. he slowed it down, but it is going to happen on his watch. >> and is he in favor of people being able to carry any kind of gun they want when they buy their medical marijuana? >> gun control is not much of an issue in new jersey, but it did come u

the reagan campaign i strongly supported ronald reagan. >> the message of ronal reagan. >> ronald reagan made a deal. >> if president reagan were here. >> referencing president range. >> we're in the reagan library president range. >> president reagan. >> ronald reagan that would be ronald reagan. >> the reagan tradition. >> i'm with president reagan. >> wow. that's right. ronald reagan was the hot topic. how many times was the former president mentioned by the candidates throughout the evening? it seemed like more, but only 24 times. the only candidate to refrain, mitt romney with newt gingrich taking the lead. 24 times last night. lots of respect for ronald reagan last night. >>> up next, doubling down on social security as a "ponzi scheme" is that going to help now but hurt later? the hot one that started last night. twoo tweeted on it as soon as i ladder it. social security is a ponzi scheme. rick perry said that last night. >>> you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc. boxes from the postal service. if it fits it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. that is easy. best news i've heard all day! i'm soooo amped! i mean not amped. excited. well, sort of amped. really kind of in be

it is the reagan library. what's this guy all about? can he sustain whatever comes from the questions? >> yeah, but also see the saints versus the packers on a thursday night. let's not downplay that. the opening night of the nfl season is a big draw. i don't think the white house wants to go against that. they're trying to plan around that, telling that in his own right, viewers will be drawn to football. i just happen to disagree with both of you on this one. they've always looked good when contrasted with republicans. even republicans going right at them. back to the famous baltimore area town hall event they does when obama was in the lion's den. comes out always looking like the adult in this one. i imagine he has as much proposals that are unveiled in the jobs plan very much in line with what republicans suggested in the past. i think he wants to put it out there and see them oppose their own ideas. >> isn't the big -- >> enjoy the game, sam. >> isn't the takeaway from this that if they can't get their schedules together, if this i

again last night at the reagan library he repeated that he will not be running for president. it certainly hasn't stopped those questions, though. some analysts question whether chris christie has the restraint, he's pretty outspoken, to run a successful campaign. republicans, it appears, are looking for more. there are concerns about flaws in the frontrunners rick perry and mitt romney. in fact, perry kicked off his washington campaign last night, but there are some concerns that he may not be able to stay this race. meantime, president obama realizes he's in for a tough one on the other side. in fact, david axelrod, his top adviser, has admitted re-election could be a titanic struggle. >> tracie potts for us in washington. thank you. >>> elsewhere, israel has announced it has given the go ahead for building 1100 new jewish housing units in east jerusalem, a move drawing international criticism. the decision is being condemned by palestinians who demand an end to such construction in order to resume peace talks. also expressing disappointment, the united nations, the european

supporters beg chris christie to run at the reagan library. sarah palin says the shackles of a campaign might be too much. so, will they jump in? or stay out? >>> "gma" exclusive. the sisters of amanda knox make what they hope will be their last visit to her in prison, as she waits to learn if she'll finally go free or stay behind bars. >> they join us this morning. >>> and what a dog's tale. a pooch who brought an entire interstate to a standstill, all caught on tape. mango the dog's great escape. and what finally brought her home. >>> lock the door in mango's house today. that was something else. >> it was. >> on the west coast. but what a start also to that michael jackson trial. just hearing that tape is so eerie. and the prosecutors came right out of the box with that horrifying picture of michael jackson dead. the entire courtroom shocked and transfixed. >> there was no warning. boom. it was up so quickly. >>> and a major development in another story we've been tracking. the husband of susan powell, losing custody of his two sons to his m

which is the same time the republican debate at the reagan library. the president asked the speaker to assemble the congress wednesday. the speaker said wednesday wouldn't work. he suggested thursday. that's when the stand off began. when is the president going to unveil his jobs plan? this is another problem for the president. it is now set for the following night, thursday september 8th that is the opening night at -- of the nfl season. the packers take on the saints. not great timing for the president. we'll have more on this first we asked donald trump what he thinks. >> they keep playing games, both sides, not just the president. we need jobs. we don't need speeches. he loves making speeches. i don't think he loves producing jobs many he hasn't produced jobs. i think people are tired of hearing his speeches. get he's been critical of the gamesmanship and republicans likewise of him. republican gop debate has been scheduled for sometime. his request just went in today. >> i think it is terrible. they could have waited one night or done it the night

. >> like the one before that nbc did at simi valley, it was the reagan library and was chosen by theple who are in that part of the word and who in that part of the world politically. >> jon: right. >> but the nationally televised presidential and vice presidential debate run by the commission and they are... there's strict rules. there's no hollering, no shouting, none of this stuff. >> jon: right. >> because it's all done for the audience, it's not done... i mean for the television audience, not for the folks there. they're not rallies. >> jon: what are the negotiations like amongst the candidates camps? because off story about how you guys... you were having a presidential debate, you decided on the format and peter jennings said "i've gotten a idea, let's throw caution to the wind and make these guys talk to each other" and everybody was like "we can't do that!" >> well, my... i had a very self-righteous view of that and i talked peter jennings out of that on the grounds that, look, we agreed to moderate under these rules and i've gotten a obligation. and if for some reason the c