Hes not wanting that. You know ive got to check out that hug, utilizing nfls replay technology. Lets see. All right, hes walking in. There you go. Now the frenchnow, the french president goes with the open hands. I just want to touch hands. Keep it at this distance. Kerry says [ bleep ] that come on baby. Bring it in. Oh, were bros. Now the french president is saying, ive had enough. No. All right. Im done. Im done. Hollande tries to get out. Watch kerry says i tell you what, though i am never letting you go. Wow. Hes got a friend. You guys yesterday did not seem especially moved by that. Willie, they were just sort of staring at it. Were talking about moment in diplomacy. James taylor singing quoufyouve got a friend. But they did not have a friend. Its kind of like hey, oh, here lean back into me and fall to the floor listen i didnt catch you but heres j. T. Wow. Not a bad tradeoff though. Right . I dont know. Good of us to send him over there, though. Everybody loves j. T. Just a little awkward though. Good morning, everyone. Willie wasnt here yesterday, nor was i. Yeah, i noticed that. Incredible seattle end. Oh, my gosh. Can you believe they started seattle even . Actually seattle was a favorite. Had you been here yesterday we could have talked about it. Now its today. We couldnt about the odds though. This is my excuse. This is important. Why . That gives us smart guys who piled their money back on the patriots and now its back even. Two great games. Packers should have won but weve got two great teams. Who do you think is going to win . Who do i think is going to win . I have no idea. I think the seahawks of probably of a slight edge but i wouldnt bet against tom brady. I wont be betting on this game. Its too hard. Its a pickup. Basically now the odds are even . Yeah. There hasnt been an evenodd super bowl in at least a decade. Maybe more. You cant bet against the patriot. I know. Did you see the way they manhandled those colts . I just know my mom lives in madison, wisconsin. I called her yesterday. She was still too upset to talk to me. Ah no. Poor mom. Boy. All right. On this tuesday you can see we have jeremy john along with willie joe, and me here in new york. Willie is fascinated by tiger woods. Im sorry to digress. Tiger lindsay vonn broebl this incredible alltime record yesterday. Tiger surprised her. Tried to go incognito. What happened . He lost a tooth. And his representatives say in the scrum to get to lindsay vonn a cameraman knocked out tigers tooth. Do you think thats true . Or is there more complex . I have no reason to believe its not true. Is there a more complex story involved . Wow, toothless tiger. Thats something. Mika dont you think you should go to the news . Ive been trying. We have in washington julie pace with us as well. Welcome, everybody. We begin this morning in washington where we are just hours away from president obamas sixth state of the union itd. It will be his next to last one. And the first before a republicancontrolled house and senate. But president obama has voted to play quote, offense with slow down s looming over the Keystone Pipeline and immigration reform. Another deeply divided issue will be on full display. Relations with cue be. Alan gross, the maryland man who
spent five years in a cuban prison. On the other side House Speaker john boehner is one of at least three republicans who have invited cuban dissidents as their guests. Republicans are expected to oppose president obamas tax reform plan which includes credits for middle class families and College Students but also increases taxes on the wealthy and big banks. In a video previewing his speech president obama says the economy is ready to turn the page despite suggestions the country isnt out of the woods just yet. Anybody who is a sports fan knows that youve got to play the whole game. And over the last six years we have been weighed down by the legacy of the worst financial crisis since the great depression. And because of the incredible grit and resilience of the American People america is now in a position to really turn the page. Last year was the best job growth we had seen since the 1990s. The Unemployment Rate has now dropped to 5. 6 . Weve seen manufacturing come back. We have cut our deficits. Gas prices have dropped. And so we are well positioned for the future. But the key is making the right choices. Nice commercial. That was lovely. With soft music in the background. I like the music. Im sold. So you know, the American People not quite sold but Getting Better for the president when it comes to the economy. Theres brand new polling on how americans view leadership in washington, the governments impact on the voters own financial situation. The president has 46 Approval Ratings. Thats as high as since the gov shut down in 2013. At 49 , Economic Leadership is the strongest since its first year. Still hes upsidedown on Foreign Policy by 19 points. While fewer than half of those polled are satisfied with the economy, that still parks s marks the strongest number in a decade. Most people feel their financial situation is staying the same. Overwhelming 85 of americans say creating jobs is the absolute top priority for the white house in congress. Defeating isis reducing the deficit, securing border and addressing Irans Nuclear program. Entitlements taxes, health care rate lower on the list. And but this is interesting. The lowest issues of all rated in this very long list had to do with Global Warming and providing a pathway to citizenship for Illegal Immigrants. Gitmo i think . And gitmo is also actually rated the lowest. John john, a lot to take from these polls. One is the issues for the darlings for the left rank at the very bottom for americans. But on the other side of it the economy, americans are more
positive. Well, yeah and i think thats got to be the big headline here. You know those some other issues like immigration, the president is doing what he thinks is right and playing constituency politics. There are issues around ways stagnation. A lot of people arent feeling the recovery to the degree that people would want them to feel it. The president is the first time the president is giving a state of the union at a time when you can come in and say the state of the economy is strong. Its growing at a blistering rate. The stock market is high. Corporate profits are high. The mt. President has not been able to say that before from the well of the house. Jeremy this could be a time when things getting good for the president to reach out and try to compromise. He does seem pretty set on provoking one fight after another with the republicans. Now hes talking about going in with a massive tax increase. And weve seen this, you know with cuba weve seen it with
illegal immigration. He does seem determined to keep starting political fights. He and democrats in both the house and the senate are pretty much op the same page. If you listen to his tone especially if you listen to harry reids tone its almost very pagalistic. They are intent on not being a quiet opposition. Thats something thats relatively new is there an end became ga to this . End game is the 2016 election. I think youre at a point right now where the weird cycle in american politics where the both sides think that they can have a shot at taking back what they lost in two years. Youre telling me that right now, as everybodys getting sworn in theyve already decided that the next two years is just going to be fought over the next election . Its doing to be a campaign. Yes. If you listen to what
democrats say on capitol hill right now its all about 2016 how they take back the senate in 2016. Its all about making sure they keep the white house in 2016. And republicans are just as intent on keeping what they won a few months ago. So our nbc wall street journal poll is keeping tabs on the 2016 race for president. Just abouts one quarter of americans view mitt romney in a positive light. Thats down from back in september when the former republican nominee was not expected to jump in the race. What happens lit . Literally it just seems to turn. Jeb bush has seen a decline in misnumber, dropping seven points since actively exploring a 2016 run. Willie geist, this is a guy that people think presumptive frontrunner. Hes being crowned king by a lot of lets put those numbers back up for jeb bush. They both turned right when they opened their mouths. I will tell you ive been going around saying positive things about jeb bush for a very
long time. Ive been struck wherever i am every time people say, who do you like . I say, i like jeb bush. I get boos from the audience. People who dont even know jeb bush. Its pretty intense. Only a 19 favorable rating. Its a good reminder that enthusiasm from the donor class does not necessarily translate to enthusiasm from the general public or the idea that people would be interested in jeb bush because hes jeb bush or he or mitt romney would be energized just being having their names floated out there over the last couple of weeks. You look at these numbers and if youre ill put his name out there again, Chris Christie or someone like that doesnt this encourage you to say the country is not excited about mitt romney who some people think is a retreader, or jeb bush either people dont know or think is george w. Bush why wouldnt you jump in if you were Chris Christie . John, are you surprised by numbers . Im more surprised by the jeb
bush number than i am the mitt romney number. I think mika hes going through a little bit of the same thing as Hillary Clinton. They are much more when they are not seen as political figures and they seem to be on the sidelines. People look at them and say this is an admirable person doing the who cares about this country or his country. As soon as they become political and look like they are seeking office, people have a dimmer view of them. Jeb bush i would see that as proer troubling sign. Hes got nothing but good press really for the month that hes been aggressively putting himself out there. And yet with all that good press, all those people on television saying nice things about him, people still have a negative view. A i think a lot of that is that bush hangover. People still feel like do i want to go back or forward . Ier my jeremy peter, weve all seen the positive jeb press. Weve seen mitt romney, they cant stand him. I tweeted a couple of polls this
weekend that showed mitt romney way ahead of everybody else. I just tweeted and said, yeah you know what all of these experts are right. Nobody wants mitt romney to run except republican voters. And then jeb on the other side jeb has gotten such growing press and painted as the night in shining armor but ive been seeing polls for the past six months that show a real real skepticism of him. Not only in the base but also especially when you get to the general election. I think a lot of that is name recognition, frampg lynkly. This early on, this far away from november 2016. I think people thats kind of a quirk in these early, early polls that you have to take into account. I still dont see right now how mitt romney overcomes the baggage that he has with regard to his past and private equity especially when there is going to be an election at both sides
going to be fought on economic pop pop populism. Didnt jeb work for lehman brothers. Barclays. And he has a long list of things he does as well. I think they cancel each other out in some ways. I dont know. I think to willies point, if you are Chris Christie or anybody scott walker or anybody else you look at these two guy, both of whom do have a lot of donors who like them do have a lot of establishment figures who like them, but you look at the way that the dynamics of the party are right now and if youre a Chris Christie or again, Scott Walker Bobby Jindal anybody else, either within of these guys is a prohibitive frontrunner, wow, that clears the field. Theres still obviously a lot of republicans who are going to be looking for someone who represents something new. I want to bring julie pace in. Im just wondering though, also, with Hillary Clinton you have the reactions that we have been sort of weighing here over the past few months to mitt Romney Jeb BushHillary Clinton, and everyones kind of getting tired
of them or thinking the book rollout didnt work out well. I feel like when these people come out on the National Stage it will be wawah for the republicans. Hillary clinton will excloed. Thats my gut. Julie pace clinton, meanwhile, one of the only contender to enjoy a net positive rating . Numbers have stayed within the mar margin of error. When people see her out there, they get excited, especially young girls. You have seen her Approval Rating fall as shes moved more to the political arena. I think it just reflects the different landscapes in the Party Heading into this election. On the democratic side there is just this clear frontrunner were seeingen strengthen around one person in a way you almost never see. On the republican side its a much more wide open field. I think that Fourth Quarter some voters they want to see who else is going to be out there, people dont want to just coalesce around a jeb bush or mitt romney
this early on because they feel like there are opportunities for other people to jump into this race. Certainly at this point. And they want to see what this field is going to look like. On the romney and bush numbers, i think the thing that you can really take away from this is that both of them have a lot of work to do with actual americans. They have to go out and sell their case give a rationale for running. Knowing who your donor class is going to be is important but that is not a rationale for running, being able to raise money. You say that young girls get very excited when hillary comes out. Families, women. Same thing for jeb and Chris Christie . Im just wondering. I think theyre going to fall flat. Like a one direction concert, right . I like mitt romney. I think theres a lot of potential to his campaign. But i think we are underestimating Hillary Clinton and bill clinton all over again. Not that i necessarily want to see it but i have a feeling i want to know who is going to get into the democratic race
against her because nobody wants to see one woman standing on stage alone at these debates. Are there going to be serious challengers to Hillary Clinton if Elizabeth Warren, lets say, doesnt get into the race . Will there be someone who can stand up to the left of Hillary Clinton and not give her a run for her money necessarily but put pressure on her in the primary . I think the biggest pressure shes going to face is going to be from Elizabeth Warren even though i dont think Elizabeth Warren is not going to run. But shes going to keep Hillary Clinton honest on the issues that they care about. You think about the rest of the democrats who are thinking or talking about running, actively talking about it. Birdie Sander Martin omalley. Theres not a jeb webb. Theres not a those are all credible people who have had real careers in Public Service but none of them are the equivalent of Chris Christie mitt romney, jeb bush like a battle of titans whereas in the Democratic Party, there will be some people who will run against her but they wont look like
that. I do think about this point it looks like an Elizabeth Warren run is unlikely. Enough people tell you to run for president you start thinking about doing it. I think we just probably cant say right now whats going to happen. But who knows. My gut is yes on her. Your gut has always been yes on her. Your gut has been that she would. Youve been saying that for months. I think she will be a really important part of the process. I wish she could be more. Everyone seems to discount her. They discounted someone else once about seven years ago. I think if she decided to run that would be a big deal. Yeah. Yeah. That would be a big deal. I remember being laughed off the set in new jersey by a bunch of guys when i said this obama guy, you guys better watch out. The republicans are not going to know what to do with him. We were actually just laughing because somebody that spends weekends in the south of france was stuck in new jersey. I dont know. With fake brick walls. Do you remember those . Im having flashbacks right
now. Please stop. Please stop. Should do nike a nostalgia for him. Off the set. All right. Still ahead on morning joe, Mike Huckabee will be here in our 7 00 hour. That will be good. Yeah. Well also speak with White House Press secretary josh earnest, comedian joy behar will be our 8 30 guest along with chef tom coucchio. And tomorrow we have reaction to the state of the union. Paul ryan Governor Scott walker, and senator Bernie Sanders. That should be so much fun. Still ahead this morning, pope francis brings his progressive ways to the usa. And he wants yall to just stop it if you know what im talking about. How he plans to make his american debut. Well be right back. You pay your Auto Insurance premium every month on the dot. Youre like the poster child for paying on time. And then one day you tap the bumper of a station wagon. No big deal. Until your Insurance Company jacks up your rates. You freak out. What good is having insurance if you get punished for using it . Hey