Jonathan Chat News Today

Theres a democratic president and democratic majority in the senate that does not rise to 60 votes, so the flip of what we have now the republicans would force the democrats to go that route because what they did last year was much more radical than that and that wasnt just one event, right? mitch mcconnell has shown again and again and again that he believes in this kind of opposition and that he brought the republican party along so give than i seems to democrats presumption should be to say t...

Collaborated with obama care and collaborated with obama himself, youve really hit the two biggest emotional touchdowns in the republican party. >> and so final question to you, ryan. where does -- do you think the last weeks events leave mr. christie? >> well, i mean, you know, fundamentally, you know, the picture he presents is of an angry white man. and so as much as people try to tar him with the kind of moderate label, republican primary voters are going to be attracted to that position. be...

Moderate at all. >> jonathan, what do you think of the way chris christie has responded as he did to david gregory when he was asked point-blank, are you a moderate or a conservative? >> well, hes being very evasive. but i think hes got a lot of weaknesses here. i would love to be an adviser to the republican who has to run a campaign against christie for the nomination. because there is a lot to work with. the real source of christies political strength, and the thing that vaulted him above the...

How many new laws we create. we ought to be judged on how many new laws we repeal. >> and with that, the speaker made abundantly clear the republican approach to governing. remember when mitch mcconnell famously said the single most important thing we want to achieve is for president obama to be a one-term president? the speaker of the house hog tied by a radical right flank has now clearly stated that he wants to be judged not by how much he accomplishes, but by how much he unaccomplishes. in "...

>> then the president should be his partner if he does this. >> the president and boehner has sat down and boehner has returned with nothing because his caucus has basically undermined him. jonathan chait, id love your thoughts on this. when the speaker has broken the hastert rule, the sky has not fallen. he is able to pass legislation with some democratic support. if he brought the senates immigration bill to the floor of the house, it would pass tomorrow. but hes reluctant to do so because i t...

Catnip to a lot of their constituents. a lot of these republican members arent really afraid of whatever democratic challenges they get. theyre actually afraid of getting primary challenges. because theyve done too much. >> it goes both ways though. >> exactly. about 83% of the house doesnt have to worry about the other party. most of them have to worry about their own party. but these tea party types want to -- they want to get rid of speaker boehner, they ought to be careful what they wish for...

Around entitlement reform and it is probably some truth to that. that being said, this president has shown a real willingness to compromise and to find common ground in places particularly on issues that are prevalent in congress today from social issues and economic issues of immigration across the board to how we create jobs. the fact that republicans wont even bring an alternative to the floor -- and i think your point, jonathans point, they can repeal -- they have every right to try to repea...

Have been outlined before. when the american public sits back, and if nothing is done and we go into another hostage situation at the beginning of the fall over the debt ceiling, i dont see the blame falling on democratic shoulders. i think that what is happening. in the shohouse is so obvious t the american public, do you still think republicans have leverage to gain by this behavior? >> it is hard to say. i dont think john boehner thinks so. i think john boehner wants to get out of it but i th...

Which is real bold, i will quote, jonathan chat who says paul ryans budget even while employing fanciful projections didnt balance the budget until 2040. moving that up by 17 years changes the plausible level from level union corn to level unicorn being ridden by santa claus. your thoughts on that? >> theres a larger point. have republicans -- im not suggesting theyre not embracing austerity anymore, but theres an acknowledgment here. were talking about there used to be a time they wanted a bala...

To capitol hill and actually be an intimate player on all the policy issues. >> jonathan chat and john nichols, thank you for trying to lift the veil of mystery over paul ryan. we look forward to speaking to you again soon. >> look forward to it. coming up, the susan g. komen foundation faced blowback when it joined the fight against pl planned parenthood. now late tonight comes news that the group is making changes. and the war on women didnt do romney any favors with female voters, but rus...