but the idea we're going to start shooting down russian planes in syria is madness. just about anywhere you can use splenda®... >> patrick buchanan, thank you as always. ...no calorie sweetener. >> thank you, michael. splenda® lets you experience... and, again, merry christmas. ...the joy of sugar... >> you too, sir. this and so much more to get ...without all the calories. into this week. and joining me, former mitt think sugar, say splenda® romney adviser, peter waner, now senior fellow at the ethics and public policy center. conservative analyst e.d. hill and democratic consultant, bob beckel. e.d., great to finally have you here. beckel, i love you. peter, i'm glad your son's soccer season is finally over so i can get you on my program. you're first, peter wayner. >> react to what you heard from buchanan about the experiment. what happens if it's a pure conservative? >> well, it depends on which the conservative. who the conservative you're talking about. marco rubio is a conservative, a product of the tea party. he's a person that is a traditional conservative. i don't know that it's so much the -- where they come down on the issues, because cruz and rubio are close on the issues. a lot of this has to do with disposition temperament. and i would say that ted cruz is