We toss it over to morning joe. Of course, president obamas big speech on isis this evening. This morning, though, former president dick cheney will speak on the current and future state of u. S. Foreign policy, and then this. Well, we certainly know it has been on the table. We have been very opened and two weeks ago i acknowledged we didnt get this right. Thats my responsibility. Im accountable for that. Oh boy. Okay. That was a painful, painful interview. Its really disturbing when they realized there was all that tape out there. The thing is they knew the
paper is out there with. I talk to some security guys. I said, what happens, in a case like this, what happens . You have an incident, what do they do . They dont say, hey, just show me, get me the videotape that happened right after. They go, you know what they always ask for, all the video, give me all the video you got. What video do you have . Give it to me. They get it. Just show ble the part that doesnt show the crime, itself. Because what we want to see is what happened five minutes after the crime. Does anybody at this table, right, does any grownup in america when they step on to an elevator not know theyre being filmed . Can i just say . Especially at a casino. Especially at a casino. Does anybody, does it ever go through your mind, can i do whatever i want in this elevator, because there are no
cameras on from, guess who knows that, also, because hes an adult, Roger Goodell. Guess who else knows that, every security man and woman in the nfl that worked in law enforcement. That worked in the secret service, they all knew. He asked for it. He says they would not make it available to him. He asked for it. Thats just not true t. Commissioner said that. It was not made available to them. And i dont know how tmz got it. But i think you can back you and look at the initial video that was released. I think the problem here, i know you will get into another angle, but its related, is that the official video is pretty good. The initial video is very bad in and of itself. Im just saying. The nfl. He just needed to say. We royally, royally screwed up. Yeah. You know what, this is such a tragedy and it is a tragedy for so many people. I understand this is tragic from the beginning foray rices wife
janay. Ray rices battered wife spoke out yesterday. She actually blamed the media and she blamed an outraged public for quote taking something away from a man who she says worked his ass off his entire life. She continued and said, if your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take kau all our happiness away, you have succeeded. No, mrs. Rice the fault of these stars lie somewhere else, they actually lie with ray rice. Its not the medias fall. Its not the outraged publics fault. Its not your fault that you and the ravens have already apologized for your actions on the night where you were savagely assaulted and dragged out of the elevator like a rag doll. Mrs. Rice, the fault lies solely with the man who punched a defenseless woman so hard in the face that he could have killed her and the fact that some have blamed this crime for something someone else, i mean, and the fact that you are still doing it. Is deeply troubling. I think we all understand how painful this has to be for the family. For the entire family, but this isnt just about one woman or one punch. This is about women around this country who are victims of Domestic Violence and just as troubling as you blaming everybody else but your husband, as an nfl commissioner claims all he did to investigate the attack from inside the elevator. That claim is not credible. It cant possibly be true and that ridiculous defense why Roger Goodell looked so nervous yesterday because mr. Goodell,
mr. Rice the new jersey da who let rice walk and the entire nfl have something to be nervous about because this is a crime. Yes, its a crime. Its not going to neatly be swept away like tv series on espn that you just dont like. I think the media can often overplay things and make things worse or go with a cellatious video for the very reason that its cellatious in this case, in this case, unfortunately, i am very sorry for the rises, everyone seems to see in many other ways theyre good people. This, though, is a national epidemic. Unfortunately, the fact that we need a second piece of video to prove that Domestic Violence happened here is sort of sad and the story important because the leadership, every step of the way, let women down. Let women down and, willie, this is a league that has had a
problem, mass ogeney for a long time remember what Michael Irvin said when he got busted with strippers and coke, he said, hey, im an nfl star. They have a long running problem and all organizations have their own set of problems, but there is something that needs to be confronted and faced down. The nfl showed how it feels about Domestic Violence with that initial suspension. That said everything you need to know. He got two games for what everyone could see a was a horrible crime. Even before you saw what happened. Outside the elevator. You get four games for spoking a little weed, four games for taking a fertility drug because your wife cant get pregnant. Two games. That set the standard. When there was an outcry about that. Roger goodell said you will have six games. Only because of the initial outcry. Thats how you know how the nfl
feels. I hope to god this latest tape changes that. We were discussing before one of the most outrageous days in terms of domestic vika wlens in terms of spikes is on super bowl sunday. The most reported. You are right, the most reported incidents of Domestic Violence. Happened on super bowl sunday. You combine it with the fact, to willies point, how the number of women who watch nfl games and buy nfl paraphernalia and merchandising and how outraged these groups are, the commissioner, he doesnt understand the gravity and magnitude of this moment. Not only will it hurt him personally, owners will understand the impact that could have on their bottom line if mothers and aunts all stop watching. If you to your point, joe, if they instead of blaming the media and being so defensive is get on this issue as a family the rice family, just start
talking about it. Talk speaking about it. They have to face it. Become carolinas of the abuse. Thats the only option. And understand the gravity of what happened. And they could help a lot of people if they could stop being so defensive. Roger goodell said the league has been completely transparent about what it knew and when. Yesterday morning, i got into the office and our staff had come to me and said there is new evidence, there is a video that you need to see and i watched it then. Did you know that a second tape existed. Well, we had not seen any videotape of what occurred in the elevator. We assumed there was a video. We asked for video, but we were never granted that opportunity. So did anyone in the nfl see this second videotape before monday . No. No one in the nfl . No one in the nfl to my knowledge. I have been asking that same question t. Answer to that is no. What do you think, do you buy it, willie . I give nfl more security than that. As i said, we were high ranking enforcement guys are telling me they couldnt get a casino to cough up the tape . Im sorry. Its a joke. Maybe the commissioner didnt see it. Maybe they didnt want him to see it. It gives him deniability. Maybe he hasnt seen it with his own eyes. You are telling me, these guy, former secret Service Agents couldnt get the casino to hand over the tape . He was once afforded something that will not be aforwarded him. You are looking at the video that they have access to, where she is being dragged out like a rag doll. So what did they lie about what happened inside the elevator and the story was bought . No, no. Because there is nothing good
about that piece of video. So if they asked ray rice, did he say beng anything but i smacked my wife hard . The story was they were byun punching each other. That was his story to his teammates. The thing is, i know it wasnt okay. Nothing was okay. He should have been suspended. He should have been suspended for the year. He should have been gone. But they had there video. They could have gotten this video like willie said. Its all bad t. Baltimore ravens other than wrote a lengthy letter to stake holders for apologizing to fail to po pursue the video more vigorously, he says once they punished him, they stopped pursuing. We did not do all we should have done and no amount of explanation can remedy that. Thats what you should say. Thats what Roger Goodell should say. Exactly. He went on to say, seeing the full video changed everything. Now the head of the new Jersey State Senate is probing the prosecutors handling of the criminal case. That, too, is a big problem like i said at the top. They got to explain why a woman was punched in the face by a huge, powerful man and thats not a battery . All right. Lets move on. We will be talking about this more obviously throughout the three hours. But the president obviously delivering a big important speech tonight and i got to tell you, i keep seeing these folding coming in, i am struck by where america is, this is a war wary country. But they want to go after these beasts and i have got to tell you, i said it at the time, what the hell was isis thinking when they had the gruesome executions that they had . Seriously, you know, we were
down at an event like last night, tuesdays children, its a wonderful, wonderful group. Children born on or after 9 11 from victims. With their parents. As we were driving away, i looked up at the freedom tower, everybody that did that either got a bullet in their eye or got blown to bits or are roting away in jail and are executed. It always happens for people that attack us. Why do they think they will get away with it . They always get killed . We always track them down. They always die. When you screw with the United States of america that way you die. Isis has done this with these two beheadings that have galvanized the American Public in a way nothing else could have ever done it. Why were they such idiots . Well, in just a matter of hours, president obama will unveil his plans to confront Islamic State militants in iraq and syria. He will address the nation at 9 00 p. M. Eastern time. Top Administration Officials say hes prepared to authorize airstrikes against isis and syria. President obama has told congressional leaders he does not need law makers approval to talk strikes on militants. However, hes expected to ask congress to authorize the training and arming of more moderate members of the certain rebellion. All right. Lets bring in a White House Correspondent for the journal. Carole lee. Good to see you. What do we expect to hear from the president . We have been pointing out the poll numbers that show 70 or 75 of the american pub slick ready to go after isis. 90 believe isis is a twlet. Does that give the brought the check to go forward with what he wants to do . It certainly does. One of the most interesting things tonight is the country will face a hawkish than you seen the wall street journal poll showed a significant increase in the number of people
who support the u. S. Attacking isis and even some 34 who support a combination of airstrikes and Ground Troops, which is something the brought has said he will not do but the bottom line is that the president will talk to a country that is going to be much more receptive to him taking the kind of action we expect him to outline which is a stepped up campaign in iraq and thats going to significantly expand the administration. He is prepared now to authorize strikes going into syria and otherwise expand what we have seen and in the last month in taking on isis. You know, the other challenge for the president here is that he faces a real pressure, there is a real pressure on him because the public is so in tuned into this for him to really clarify his strategy. You guys have been talking about this for weeks that hes sent a lot of mixed signals about what exactly the u. S. Strategy is on
isis. This is a moment where he will command the attention of the nation thats clearly paying attention. You showed in our poll that showed 94 of the americans were aware of the beheadings of these two american citizens. Thats been the real game clanging event for him. So the stakes are pretty high for him to get if line with the public which seems to be ahead of him in terms of his willingness to accept military action overseas. Well, lets look at this backdrop a little bit, joe, can you come in, 47 of americans say were less safe tan before the attacks of 911, the highest number since 2002, when it comes to the terror group isis, more than 60 say its in our countrys interest. We had the Washington Post poll that said 70 . 40 support only airstrikes to curb the isis threat. But as carole said, 34 also support some combination that includes boots on the ground in
iraq. Is that not unbelievable . I mean, these numbers are high. The president right now, of course, suffering low numbers, the wall street journal has the president s approval at 40. Disapproval at 54. Foreign policy 32 approve. 62 disapprove. Those are defb stateing footballs that i suspect are going to turn around as the president delivers his speech tonight. Goes on the offensive and starts, i think those numbers are low because you have an American Public that wants to see action. I dont remember these numbers. I dont either. Not only in iraq, i dont remember these numbers if afghanistan. Im for support for military action. I remember the outrage across the board. In my 44 years of life have i ever seen a president who has not been entirely clear about his goals and his Strategic Thinking about Foreign Policy enjoying this kind of when they call it enjoy may not call it
enjoy they have this kind of support for military action to be taken. This is historic and unprecedented in many ways. It will be interesting to see the president tonight in his heart hoff hearts is not reluctant as a warrior we would want our president to be. He has a public thats ready to act and seek retribution for what happened to those two american journalists. Mica, we always say the pundits always say the politicians always say the think tankers say the president needs to educate the public on the danger of isis. The public is ahead of him. The pub slick far away from this president. Way ahead of this brought. Thats why the numbers have sunk the way they have sunk. He will catch up with the American People. These numbers upsidedown will change, if we go to war in a way with ache i airstrikes, i dont think boots on the ground will do it. If we go to war against the Islamic State and in a way that
that is smart that, is focused that, is limited, it will be supported by the American People. Well, in that way. But its got to be focused. We can talk about this more as we break out our conversations coming up. In some ways, he has played it just right looking at the numbers. If you look at his numbers, i find im upsidedown 30 Percentage Points in the polls, i am not right. In terms of support, he has played it right. Let me just say, if you were sitting at the table playing poker bluffing, hes the best bluffer ever. I think being methodical and discerning about the choices you make and letting people also come along with you to make them is a lot better than dragging a nation into war under bad preconditions. I have been supportive of a lot that the president has done. He did not plan this. I mean, but that said, he is in a much better, what was that look about . What was that look about . I didnt say he planned it. I think being methodical, though, is a way of actually pumping everybody along. There is methodical and there is ploting. The president cannot be plotting. Tonight he has to be aggressive. He needs to look forward and tell americans how we will destroy this threat. We will look forward to hearing that. Still ahead, gubernatorial candidate wendy davis will be joining us on set in our next hour. We will talk about the ray rice story and his team to watch the season, teams to watch this nfl season. Plus, Sir Richard Branson will join us in our 8 00 hour. Up next, will you be buying an apple watch, joe . No. No. No apple watch . We will break down owe glow just an iphone that works. Thats what im hoping for. Plus a big announcement, rob ford gets an announcement that may tip torontos election in his favor. Yes. A scary scene forth of las
vegas how dangerous flash floods can be. You are watching morning joe. Well be right back. Last night in Lower Manhattan you and i spoke at the event to raise funds for tuesdays children, which are children born on or after 911 victims and their families. A lot were counterfits gerald. They do such great work. These kids are so inspired. As we talked last night, taking the story that theyre the face of and owning it and making something incredible out of it. Terry sears right there to the left. An old friend of mine has been wanting us to come down there
what a voice that girl has, amaze zblk they are helping the families up in new town. Its a great organization. I heard you talking about something you saw in the news that its stunning. Now the president of the United States we heard went back to washington, labor day weekend. I said, thats really great. Hes not golfing anymore, right . But its come out. There is a reason he wasnt golfing. Its a report from wnbc. The Investigative Reporter who reports, im reading, i want to get the clubs right that Trump National golf club, wing foot and willow ridge all here in the west clefter area turned the president down. He wanted a tee time. They only gave him a days notice, wanted to play, brought in secret service and cleared the place out. These three clubs according to jonathan deans refused the president. Its labor day weekend, our neighbors play x amount of dollars. Im not going to shut it down. He went back to d. C. Just for the night and came back to new york for a wedding the next day. So the president is like the rest of us. Sometimes its hard to get on
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