Transcripts For KYW Face The Nation 20150125

Good morning, it was just a few months ago that the administration was holding up yemen as model for fighting terror, that is by supporting partners on the ground in the u. S. Ground forces. At a News Conference in india this morning, the president declared that is still the right strategy. Yemen has never been a perfect democracy or a island of stability. The alternative would be for us to play whackamole every time there is side of any given country to deploy u. S. Troops. That is not a sustainable strategy. Schieffer were joined by the white house chief of staff Denis Mcdonough who is here in washington. Mr. Mcdonough i have to say while putting large number of u. S. Ground troops in to yemen may not have been the right strategy obviously the strategy that weve been employing has not worked. What happened . Did we just not see this coming . Bob thanks for the opportunity to be with you this morning, i sure appreciate it. Remind everybody what the president was saying when he made the remarks couple months ago that you were referring to, he was saying that given that al qaeda is going to hide in dark spaces, take advantage of tumultuous political situations and really press untrained Security Forces, president said, we should have Partnership Strategy that works for us to press government in places like baghdad and make sure that theyre making the right political choices. Ultimately these things get resolved as political deal among arab or muslim actors in the region. That is point one. Point two we got to make Security Forces more effective. That is what were doing. With these training programs, we have very good one in iraq right now that is working very effectively. And the third thing we have to do is have good intelligence, know that when some threat is manifesting is going to threaten our people, our interests or our country that we take action to do that, what the president was saying when he talked about doing that successfully in yemen, hes saying that were taking out terrorist leaders as we have in that country and elsewhere in the region if he has to act he will. Hes demonstrated that. Schieffer but the government fell, the strategy obviously didnt work. At least was this a surprise to u. S. Officials, i dont remember any talk about this in the state of the union. Weve been talking about yemen for a long time going back to earliest days of the administration. Very folk ised on Counter Terrorism efforts because of the brutality and the nefariousness of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, an offshoot of al qaeda central. We have Counter Terrorism strategy, thats what were trying to do to make sure that we keep them off kilter thats point one. You keep bringing back to the government. I think its very important to recognize that governance in yemen has always been difficult. We will continue to press on the ground to make decisions transparency, pursuant to a political agreement so that we can work with them to keep on offensive against al qaeda. But we cant be responsible for every government in the region we have to make sure that theyre doing that themselves. Schieffer i take your point on that. Were we surprised that this government collapsed . We werent surprised that this government collapsed we knew that this is ongoing challenge over the course of the last several months. Thats why weve been pressing on all the actors to take important steps to address the situation. Were continuing to do that today. Schieffer the president said this morning that reports one appeared yesterday in the Washington Post that the joint terrorism efforts that we had going with yemen have been curtailed. He said that simply not accurate. But how could they not be . The government that we were working with is just fallen how could that not affect our efforts to try to combat the terrorists . Important Counter Terrorism efforts continue, no doubt. We till ton to press he press that. Also make sure that we have the intelligence that we need to see threats as they manifest, that is second point. Third point is well continue to work on the political situation because we know that al qaeda hides in these dark tumultuous situations to ply their trade. Well continue to do that. Ultimately well need our partners in the region to help us clean those spaces out best way to do that is strong leadership well strong prance taint leadership well continue to look for that. Schieffer let me ask you about this, i think this is what bothers a lot of people and certainly is what the critics of this administration are talking about. It seems that once again we have been blindsided by offense whether it is the civil war in sear why whether it is the things that happened in gazi, the emergence of isis, it always seems to come as a surprise. Why is that . I use the premises of the question, weve been investing enormous effort in yemen as we have in iraq against isil in syria as well. The point here is bob, that we are going to continue to see tumultuous political situations, we have to make sure that were pressing on the leaders to resolve them transparency and well continue to do that. Well also continue to help them prepare, train and quip their Security Forces so they can take the fight to these forces in their own countries. After all theyre the biggest victims of their actions. The third thing well continue to do where we need to act to protect our own interests well do that, this president has proven hell do it, hell do it when he needs to bob you know what your critics say you are down playing these incidents because they dont conform to the narrative you would like to construct here that is that were winning this war on terrorism. Which you dont even call a war. We say were in a war against al qaeda just never say weve with in a war against terrorism which is a tactic unusual thing to say that were at war against a tactic. We are however at war against al qaeda. Its manifestations in yemen its manifestations in north africa and at war to ultimately destroy first defeat then destroy isil in iraq and syria. Bob, were not down playing anything. Were investing enormous amount of time and resources including enormous amount of resources that the American People make available to us and enormous amount of our troops in this effort. Well continue to do that. Schieffer what about this situation now with israel where john boehner, the speaker invited Benjamin Netanyahu to come and speak to a joint session of the congress, the white house again. Had no idea that this was coming. Some people in the white house are being quoted on background as saying israelis spit in our face on this. I would be careful thats a quote that was attributed to Administration Official not to the white house that is not something that either i am comfortable with. And not only do i not know who said it, but it does not reflect the views of this president or of this white house. Thats point one. Point two, the president has taken pains because of the importance of this relationship to make clear that it is above partisan politics. Well continue to do that. Third, the threat of this relationship goes from our important cultural values, shared values all the way through intelligence cooperation, defense and security. Schieffer that will continue. We own ale let us become an issue that is why the president was clear we should not meet to president netanyahu before his election. Schieffer was the president offended by this . Im not going to get in to the back and forth on that thats between the speaker and Prime Minister. Schieffer i bet he wish he hadnt have done it. I dont he spend lot of time wishing or hoping i confrontations im dealt with. Schieffer all right. Always good to have you. Great to see you bob. Thank you for having me. Schieffer now get to probably the other side of this story were going to phoenix and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, john mccain. Senator mccain you had chance to listen to mr. Mcdonough what is your reaction to what you just heard him say . Im afraid that he and the president lost touch with reality iran is on the march throughout in yemen its not its the hooties are backed and supported by the iranians. The iranians are dominant or extremely in knew enshall in iraq lebanon syria yemen, on the move in bahrain and they are winning. And there is did i not hear mr. Mcdonough articulate a strategy except that we will fight against these people, which is nice to know. But when you look at the map the iranians are on the march aqap and the isis in both iraq and syria are doing quite well. There is no strategy to defeat them. For example, we have been bombing cobani for months with the u. S. Air power they are still there. Isis continues to consolidate their position and attract thousands of young people from all over the world. And i agree with the director of British Intelligence m i5 who gave a speech who said that these young people mainly from here countries that are now in iraq and syria will are direct threat to the United States of america and great britain. So there is no strategy, it is delusional for them to think that what theyre doing is succeeding and we need more boots on the ground. I know that is a tough thing to say, a tough thing for americans to swallow but it doesnt mean the 82nd airborne it means air controllers, special forces, it means intelligence and it means other capabilities. For them to say we expect them to do it on their own theyre not doing it on their own. And they are losing. Schieffer senator you know and i know that if you walked up to two or three people standing on the street in any city in america chances are they would not be talking about what the latest news is from yemen. Its just something that people dont talk about all that much. But how important is this, whats happening . I think its extremely important because its part of the scenario where iranian influence is on the march the radical islam despite the fact that mr. Mcdonough still refuses to acknowledge it. They think theyre in a war with us. I dont see any reason why we wouldnt agree with the french that were in war against radical islam. And again they are succeeding. And i agree with you that most americans dont know much about yemen, but they do know what they see in these beheadings that are going on, both of americans and the latest with the japanese. We have seen American Public opinion dramatically grow as they begin to appreciate the nature of this threat. Id like to mention one other thing is ukraine. As many of us predicted Vladimir Putin trying to take a city that is major when you look at land bridge to crimea in eastern ukraine. The question is now does Vladimir Putin move over to mull diva. Hes putting pressure on the Baltic States we shamefully, shamefully refuse to give them weapons, ukrainians weapons to defend themselves while rockets obviously from the russians are now killing innocent men women and children in ukraine . I think this is another shameful chapter, im embarrassed frankly embarrassed. Schieffer do you think the administration is playing down some of these episodes, because it doesnt fit the story they would like to be telling about how thing are going on the terrorism front . Anyone who just viewed mr. Mcdown thats purchase answer, im a friend of his i would certainly i think draw the conclusion that mr. Mcdonoughs description of events are certainly contradicted by the situation on the ground, particularly in the middle east. But again, in ukraine this is really very, very serious what putin has done its not the first time that a dictator because of domestic problems has committed acts of aggression to divert the direction of his people. In the middle east we have got to have boots on the ground, we have got to have training capability and one of the other things weve got to do is we captain train young people in syria and send them back in to to outside syria, send them back to syria to be bombed by bashir that is also immoral. We have to have a no fly zone and buffer zone if we are going to be able to prevail against isis and bashir adad. We are leaving them alone which is incredible. The man who is responsible for well over 200,000 people murdered. Schieffer can i ask you quickly, the situation with Benjamin Netanyahu. Where do you come down on that . I come down on relations inform have been worse between ourselves and the only genuine democracy in the entire middle east. They believe they are convinced that these negotiations with iran will lead to iranian acquisition of Nuclear Weapon which will nuclearize the entire middle east that will be direct threat to existence of the state of israel. I regret that the relations have deteriorated to this degree. But i do believe its important that Prime Minister net net speak to the American People by the way we need congressional ratification of any agreement that is made. This is do big to not be treated as a treaty. Schieffer all right. Senator john mccain new chairman of the senator Arms Services committee well be back with one minute with senator Dianne Feinstein ranking senator. Go go go hes challenging the very fabric of society. In a post cannonball world was it Grilled Cheese . Guilty the aquatic delinquency is a larger issue to this you did it again, didnt you . Yup. Schieffer back now with the top democrat, of course long time chairman when democrats were in majority, senator, you heard senator mccain and Denis Mcdonough where do you come down on all this . Oh, wow. I agree with some of the things that senator mccain said and mr. Mcdonough as well. Let me tell you why where i come down on it. I think our intelligence with respect to whats going to happen in many of these countries is weak. Whether its because we do not have adequate human intelligence or not i dont know. But we have seen, mccain is right, weve seen this happen a number of times. Certainly saw it with ukraine and taking of the crimea. Now what happened with the hooties. Schieffer in yemen. In yemen right. With respect there no one knows what is going to happen. The future is unknown. Which really should not be the case. We know that the hootis, said they would leave us alone net they say death to israel, deposed the president military has separated off. We have less than 300 Yemeni Military guarding our embassy. I think number of priorities there. One to see that our people are safe. The second is to take a good look at our policy with respect to yemen. Largely Counter Terrorism largely developed against al qaeda because al qaeda is coming after us. They tried to get four of these bombs that go through mag any tomorrow terse in to our country targeting leadership, trying to take that leadership out. That is what comes through to people. My concern is where is iran going. Iran has been supporting the hootis,. I dont know. But i think we have to think long term and i think we have to become much more developed human side rather than technical side. Do you think the president is too cautious on Foreign Policy . I think this is very difficult. Because the president to an extent is in difficult position. The American People dont want another war. One afghan war they dont see it. Its in a foreign land. Its far and apart from them. This is very difficult. I do think that we need to look more deeply and broadly in to what were doing and how were doing it. I think the deterioratend destroy of isil has had some victory. I dont know whether 6000 isil people have been killed or not. But that is the figure that is floating around. But that is not going to do it. And so where mccain is right i do think we need some special operations in these countries on the ground more than just advisors. And i think we need to protect our allies isreal, jordan, saudi arabia, and be more pronounced about it. Schieffer weve been focused on the middle east because of these latest incidents. But havent heard much about afghanistan lately. How are things going there . Well i happen to know the new president somewhat and he has called, i know dr. Abdullah. I think hes made a good start. However i think the taliban is going to try to come back and it look like al qaeda and pakistan now trying to come back in to averages. Im not ill be very candid, im one of the democrats that doesnt see a rapid pull out of american troops as being beneficial. The president has added some troops to the 9000 i guess up to around 10,800 remaining i think that is good. But i think they have to be very cognizant. A, of the taliban and b of al qaeda coming back. Schieffer and back to the middle east, do you envision we might have to put more have to put Ground Troops back in to the middle east . This is one thing that i tried to follow carefully. Particularly with respect to syria. And i dont see what were doing making a difference. So, i think we need to relook at this, and if we are going to tolerate asad as mccain said, i tend to agree, looks like is the case, thats a problem. Initially the point was to do this to the extent that you got both iran and russia to help us bring the syrians to the table and have a political solution. I think most people still believe a political solution is necessary but nobody is trying to affect it. Schieffer we have to end it there. Thank you. Schieffer thank you so much senator. Ill be back with personal thoughts in just a second. Push your enterprise and you can move the world. But to get from the old way to the new youll need the right it infrastructure. From a partner who knows how to make your enterprise more agile, borderless and secure. Hp helps business move on all the possibilities of today. And stay ready for everything that is still to come. When the flu hits, its a really big deal. The aches. The chills. The fever. 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I love many airline hours fantasizing about what my wife and kids would say if something from the catalog maybe the mounted squirrel head, showed up at our house. O, dad. For years i planned to buy the pink flamingos on a stick and plant them some night in the yards of chosen friends. But i never did now its too late. Time marchs on, i dont think catalogs latest edition even included flamingos. Im going to miss that catalog. Ive been called a control freak. I like to think of myself as more of a control. Enthusiast. Mmm, a perfect 177degrees. And thats why this road warrior rents from national. I can bypass the counter and go straight to my car. And i dont have to talk to any humans, unless i want to. And i dont. And national lets me choose any car in the aisle. Control. Its so, whats the word . Sexy. Go national. Go like a pro. You wouldnt do half of your daily routine. So why treat your mouth any differently. Brushing alone does less than half the job leaving behind millions of germs. Complete the job with listerine®. Kill up to 99 percent of germs. And prevent plaque, early gum disease and bad breath. Complete the job with listerine®. Power to your mouth™. Also try listerine® floss. Its advanced Technology Removes more plaque. Schieffer welcome back. If you have been within hundred miles of Television Set for radio you know theres another story thats been dominating the headlines this week, whether or not the new England Patriots deliberately deflated 11 of the footballs they used against the indiana colts in the afc championship game earlier this month. Patriots coach Bill Belichick told reporters yesterday the team had investigated and he says they did nothing wrong. At no time was there any intent whatsoever to try to compromise the integrity of the game or to gain an advantage. Schieffer so we turn now to jarrett bell the nfl columnist for usa today, he is in phoenix, the site of super bowl xlix and jarrett, i have to tell you we invited you just so i could ask you this question. Did his comments yesterday deflate this whole controversy . Not in the least. Because some people are now disputing his theory on scientific level, you have to wonder, bob, about the other teams footballs. Belichick has his explanation, on one level bob its interesting that they conducted their investigation, they came to that conclusion in three days, the nfl is still going to have this long drawn out investigation. So you kind of gave it to the league on that level. The fundamental question is, okay, if the weather conditions affected the patriots ball, what about the footballs used by the Indianapolis Colts . That is at the root of this issue. Going to be here all week, its super bowl, super bowl hype. Schieffer what are we going to have to do . Referees carry around those pressure gauges like we carry in our car to see if our tires are at the right amount of air . Basically what he was saying was that when the balls are inside where its warm, hot air expands. They weigh one thing when you get them outside in the cold weather they weigh Something Else. I dont know what to make of this. Yeah. Again, i think that somewhere to go when you start thinking about what really happened. Because remember, the officials i think it was interesting that belichick did point out that the officials are actually the ones who inflate the balls to 12. 5 pounds per square inch two hours before the game. And so thats their responsibility to make sure that the balls are in certain level. Then conceivably they did that they inspected these balls before the game and what happened from there we dont know. We just know that the patriots balls were supposedly differenting from the colts footballs. Explain that. Schieffer you know, maybe this is baseball fan in me coming out in baseball the umpires are responsible for the ball, when somebody has been cutting the ball or rubbing it up, the umpires are the one that calls that. Shouldnt the officials be the ones who decide if these balls were okay . Once the game starts actually the officials are the ones. If you remember what happened in the game they took one ball out of play and then went to half time to inspect the ball then for second half because all of the balls were up to snuff, if you will. Its interesting because you go back to 1999, bob when nfl changed this policy to allow the team to have more access to the footballs. Before 1999 the home Team Provided all of the footballs. There was a push to allow visiting teams to bring their balls and the teams like to break these balls in during practice, you dont want brand new football. That was kind of the impetus for setting it up the way it is now. So many unexplained questions to this still despite what belichick said. I think this whole story obviously relates to the fact that the patriots have pushed the envelope so many times over the years a number of different levels. Not all of them illegal but lot of things that have raised questions about whether or not they will do anything at any cost to win. The big one is spy gate which they were found guilty of violating nfl rules. Schieffer i think i am like coach belichick agree, im ready to move on from this story and my sense is i guess this gives us an idea of the role and football plays in American Culture these days. Thank you very much for being being with us this morning. Well be back with our panel in just a minute. Schieffer turn now to our panel, suesage paige is Washington Bureau chief for usa today. Dana and Jeffrey Goldberg National Correspondent for the atlantic. Also joined by Michael Crowley Senior Foreign Affairs correspondent and cbs news political director John Dickerson. Michael, let me just start with you. This situation in yemen how could we not have seen this coming . Well, bob there are so many moving parts in yemen. Im sympathetic to administration trying to keep their arms around country that lot of experts describe as a failed state. For several years now weve been primarily worried about al qaeda franchise in yemen known as al qaeda in the peninsula. Perhaps most dangerous terror group. They put the underwear bomber on a plane in 2009 inspired other near miss attacks had ties to the massacre in paris. We were focused on Counter Terror against aqap now this insurgency that has little to do with america has to do with internal tribal and sectarian dynamics in that country. And i think it just came faster and harder than we expected the government was more fragile than we expected. Now those Counter Terror operations against al qaeda as result of the government appear to be on hold or close to it. That has real consequences for american security. Jeffrey goldberg, that is the way it always seem to be lately. It always happens then were surprised. Right. Mosul fell in iraq to isis, we were shocked, people said it was coming for a year before that. Theres broader question here is that what we see over and over again in the greater middle east is more and more countries are becoming ungoverned spaces. Yemen has al qaeda problem now the entire country could fall under group of control that could use that to plot attacks against americans. We have that across syria right now, pakistan and afghanistan are problematic it will be of course collapsing on its. We have situation which the president could be leaving office in january of 2017 with hundreds of thousands of square miles of the greater middle east under the control of terrorist plotting against the west. Terrible problem. Schieffer is this the example of what the president s critics are calling leading from behind . It could be. The president would very much like to talk how how the economy is Getting Better Affordable Care act is work can for some americans but hes forced to deal with these Foreign Policy crises. We heard not only criticism from senator mccain in your interview but from senator feinstein another democrat saying concern about the fact that in ukraine and elsewhere. Schieffer go ahead. Think about the extraordinary disconnect we saw this week. We began with the state of Union Address that was about broadband and community colleges. Didnt mention the word al qaeda or saudi arabia or yemen gave all of 65 words to Counter Terrorism at all. Then you see its been completely overtaken. As president said tuesday night he wants to turn the page, saying the crisis, shadow of cruise is passed but you cant make it so by saying it. You see it by Islamic State and beheading by saudi kings death and snuck back in by yes, maam glenn also in the state of union the president talked about his Foreign Policy as being deliberate. Measured, a little bit smarter than maybe his critics had suggested. What those critics are say saying this deliberation he boasted about in the state of the union there is a sleep at the switch quality. He mentioned yemen talking about u. S. Operations in iraq. And syria, he held yemen up as the model and so what critic are now saying, youre holding up country that is now fallen. You just are not aware of what is going on. They also point to other instances where he referred to isis, the threat from those kinds of terrorists as being like the jc team. That is where this is particularly damaging because question of really whether Administration Knows what is going on. Schieffer you know, jeffrey, the president said just this morning in his News Conference in india, he said that these reports that we are having to tougher tail some of our efforts against al qaeda in yemen he said those reports are simply not accurate. How could they not be accurate. When the government working with just fallen . They might not be accurate at this moment. But in the coming days and weeks its going to be harder and harder for the u. S. To operate in yemen the force that seems to be taking over is a proiranian force that is, although fighting al qaeda come out against the use of drones, antiamerican, things like that to america in the streets. Going to be harder to maintain an embassy and maintain any kind of presence in yemen and going to be ungoverned space. I think its going if its not true at the moment its going to be true of thing to come. Those operations had already been slowing down. We conducted 56 drone strikes and airstrikes in yes, maam in in 2012, last year the number was 17 or 19. I believe there have been three since mid september. So as that government destabilizing already our cooperation with their military in this Counter Terror effort was slowing way down. Schieffer back to you jeffrey, because i think you are one of the most informed people that i know of, certainly among reporters on isreal and the situation there. What do you make of this thing of john boehner apparently with the help of the u. S. Ambassador who, by the way used to be on the staff of Newt Gingrich before he became an israeli citizen, inviting Prime Minister netanyahu to come here, the white house again, totally blindsided by all of this. Is this a serious thing . Is it just something that is serious is bogged down both domestic politics there and here or what is this all about . We know for awhile that the relationship between netanyahu and obama is like the marriage from hell, they cant get out of it and stuck with each other. This has been a very, very strange episode. As if Israeli Government forgot that john boehner is not the commander in chief. Theyre treating boehner as if he has control over u. S. Foreign policy and National Security policy. It makes absolutely no sense. I think that at this point were looking at a situation which the relationship between netanyahu and obama who of course is the guy who is going to ultimately have to defend israel if the iran wakes is out of control. Is frayed beyond repair and so its inexplicable to me why theyre going down this path. Extraordinary consequences to this. People across america may think whats the big deal. Consequences for the u. S. Israeli relationship. Consequences to the boehnerobama relationship. This is extraordinary breach of the way thing are supposed to work when it comes to Foreign Policy in this country. Lets not forget that netanyahu is going to lobby for a bill that is before congress on tougher iranian sanction, that is the president has threatened to veto that is extraordinary for foreign leader to get in battle before the American People, before the american legislature. This is really consequential. Schieffer lets take a brick here well come back talk some more about this. Also about american politics John Dickerson has been out in iowa for that extraordinary show. And well see what he has to say about that. Narrator gas prices are down helping middle class families. But now, the white house wants to impose title ii regulations on your internet meaning new government taxes and fees. Every month youd pay more. 11 billion dollars a year in new taxes and fees. Internet freedoms can be protected with the white house and Congress Working together, but imposing new tax increases through public utility style regulations will hurt middle class families lets protect the internet we love without regressive taxes and fees. No to title ii. Seriously considering the positives why do you people keep inviting me back. It cant be mitt bus mitt ran and failed. He failed. The last thing we need is another bush. I am seriously thinking of running for president. Ive been thinking a little bit about 2016. Lets take the oval office. No girls allowed. Im pleased to be here in iowa today im going to come back many more times in the future. My name is mike lee im from utah. Im not running for president. Schieffer he may the only person in the United States senate to make that statement. You were out there john. It was a big event. There were 20 speakers. Absolute conservative part of the Republican Party it was kind of a skymall political event, lot of variety, wasnt sure how everyone fit in. Donald trump gets a big reception there. He says a lot of exciting things. Hes not likely to be president. The most interesting part about this is who did the best for themselves in terms of what they actually have to do in the long march. Two years away really until the election. The caucuses in iowa, that kickoff event is a year ago. All the major candidates are scrambling for staff. Scott walker did himself probably the best at this event because he spoke to the crowd, they were very excited to larry about wisconsin record. The conservatives liked him. Nothing that he said will show up later and seem out of touch. That is challenge for any candidate talking to the base of the base because you say thing they love. But which hey not play all the way to general election thats challenge for any party particularly Republican Party. How to have the base like the candidate but have that candidate go all the way through to november of 2016. Schieffer the chairman of the Republican Party has been very worried about this large field because felt like that these candidates choose themselves up the last time. This looks like you closed your eyes awakened in heaven. When i saw donald trump might run i had that feeling. It is like skymall in the large number, but also exotic offerings of you have the suit of armor and flamingo and big foot out there. Who is the big foot . Couple of people vying for that. Im not going to make a Chris Christie joke. This is the cantaloupe caucus. For the first major event of this election season the guys name on the lecturn steve king, this is the guy who said that the dreamers were these drug mules with calves the size of cantaloupes. Likened immigrants to dogs. Talked about a woman in the first ladys box at the state of the union being deportable. This is why jeb bush isnt there and mitt romney isnt there. Is this really the way they want to kick off their 2016 by poisoning the well with the most important Demographic Group in america. Think about the person who wasnt there jeb bush, gave us very serious speech in california about his laying out his position say he wants to have adult conversation. The only problem with that, i was trying to remember the also time canned candidates had an adult conversation that won. That would be like bruce babbitt. The adult conversation does not usually get up the base of the ayer party, i wonder about the problem that jeb bush might face with bush fatigue. There was focus group about two weeks ago that doesnt swing voters in denver. There was lot of feeling that they were tired of jeb bush, they were tired. The people they liked were rand paul and elizabeth warren. Saying having an adult conversation or need to have adult conversation what youre saying that the conversation everybody else has is a conversation of children. These are activists not disposed to jeb bush or mitt romney, just call them children excites their anger. Which Chris Christie was trying to do, hes not going to win over that audience, i talked to a lot of people there who were highly skeptical. Hes showing that he add least respects their views, hes trying to build a bridge to those people that usually the ticket. You have to not be somebody who takes all of their anger and during yesterday in that, mitt romney and jeb bush not the anger in the Chris Christie. Schieffer my favorite event of the week was larry king may not be on cnn any more, but he runs in to mitt romney in the airport and romney tells him that hell decide in two weeks whether or not hes going to run. That is legitimate news here. Hes still at it. Shoe leather reporter. Hes feeling his oats, did i story on this, romney key part of his case that hes been vindicated in his terms on Foreign Policy. He says, i was poutin is a huge threat i got made fun of for talking about a new cold war. Time magazine had cover, cold war ii several months ago he was saying that, president obama was too confident about the retreat offal da just as dangerous a as ever. Really interesting to see the Foreign Policy debate here particularly because feet voters care more now than they did in the last election cycle, more salient issue. Schieffer let me tell you Something Else or come back to republicans. But turning to the democratic side theres no question that Hillary Clinton is overwhelming favorite. But you know what, people are telling me that joe biden is really seriously looking and trying to figure out some way to run, is telling people he thinks he can raise 3050 million dollars. I talked to someone close to biden just last night said if Hillary Clinton runs theres no way joe biden runs. If she doesnt run, no way hes not going to run. Hed like to be much like mitt romney would like to be anointed. This looks the way its shaping up, the way the economy is going, look to be a very good year for the democrats if it continues the way it is and whole line up of them, whoever it is is going to be very strong. I would say as a profession we of course praying for joe biden. Want some excitement on the democratic side. And bernie sanders. Of course. But i would say that it does look like good year, except if this situation that weve been talking about from that across the country to libya to yemen to afghanistan if that goes south in some terrifying way, these republicans who are sounding as you point out very steroidal theyre going to have much more to go with. One thing from iowa, like Hillary Clinton to be president they like her to have challenge they got lot better when she was going against barack obama. If she doesnt have a test, everybody in iowa wants everybody to run means they come to iowa and governor of iowa, finally yesterday when he was pressed he said, good for the economy. They all want them to come there and all about ethanol. They want Hillary Clinton to have a challenger to have good strong message for the general election. A major overseas crisis could derail everything shaping up for the democrats. Obamas numbers are plummeting on Foreign Policy but overall numbers are still rising. Not just president of the congress, americans dont care about Foreign Policy. Schieffer thats the question i think we have to ask. We see these horrible things that are happening. One after the other. But will that be a part of the campaign . I think americans feel they want the president they care more about the economy than Foreign Policy they want the president to be up to the job of leading the United States in a difficult world. You think about what jimmy carter more than anything that was Foreign Policy crisis not domestic although he had domestic troubles. Schieffer finally, if this conversation we found out during one of the commercial breaks that someone actually did one time buy something from the skymall catalog and it was our own Jeffrey Goldberg. Thank you for outing me. I bought it actually twice to be honest with you. I bought polyurethane Ten Commandments that was fantastic weighs about 30 pounds. I use it as a prop in our pass oversad cher is very effective carried down the stairs. By the way indestructible. Out lives skymall. If i could interject as representative of the media empire the yard flamingos are available on amazon. Schieffer we have to end it there. Thank you all. 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