Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
- Schumer is the Chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, Chairman of the Rules and Administration Committee, and is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Finance Committee.
- Schumer appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe earlier this month and gave his thoughts on the status of the supercommittee. He said, “I don’t think the supercommittee is going to succeed because our Republican colleagues have said ‘no net revenues.’ … [Democrats] are willing to move to the middle, but they are not willing to do any revenues.”
- Watch Schumer’s last appearance on MTP.
Grover Norquist
- Grover Norquist, dubbed by critics as the 13th member of the supercommittee and blamed for its failure, is the president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a taxpayer advocacy group. ATR is a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals and businesses opposed to higher taxes at the federal, state and local levels.
- In an opinion piece featured in The Guardian this week, Norquist wrote about the failure of the supercommittee and the 2012 election. He said, “The supercommittee failed, so the people will decide in 2012: do they want a European welfare state or a return to true America?”
- Norquist appeared on PRESS Pass on July 15, 2011, to talk about the debt crisis, the 2012 election, and his Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Watch the interview here.
Roundtable: Goodwin, Beschloss, Dyson, Meacham, Lowry
- Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book “Team of Rivals” is being made into a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg and entitled “Lincoln.” Goodwin also said that, “[Lincoln] was the most fascinating president of all time” at a recent speaking engagement. Watch her last appearance on MTP.
- Presidential historian Michael Beschloss wrote the introduction and historical annotations for the newly released book “Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy.” Beschloss said that “She was a very important part of the Kennedy administration.” Read the article featured in The Washington Post.
- Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson appeared on MSNBC recently to talk about Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain. Dyson said, “Part of the problem here is Herman Cain has been caught up in a whirlwind of an incredible magnitude that has focused on him and perhaps it’s revealing some of the flaws, some of the holes in his approach.” Watch his last appearance on MTP.
- Executive Editor at Random House Jon Meacham wrote a column featured in TIME this week. Meacham addressed the idea of American exceptionalism saying, “We are exceptional not because of who we are but because of what we do and how we put the ideals of human dignity, individual freedom, and liberty under law into action.” Watch his last appearance on MTP.
- In a column this week, Editor of the National Review Rich Lowry wrote about the performance of Republican presidential candidates in the latest debate. Lowry said of Newt Gingrich, “He was commanding, showing his decades of engagement with these issues…and at ease with his place of new prominence in the race.”
Follow these guests on Twitter:
- Chuck Schumer: @ChuckSchumer
- Grover Norquist: @GroverNorquist
- Jon Meacham: @jmeacham
- Rich Lowry: @RichLowry
- Michael Eric Dyson: @MichaelEDyson
Leave a Comment:
Excuse me, but why are we discussing the nation's tax policies with a lobbyist?? Especially one who deceptively gets new members of congress to sign a pledge to the American people when in fact the pledge is cleverly disguised a pledge to him. He is the enforcer "Thug" to those who break the pledge.
By the way have you noticed that when concertivies are caught or exposed, they cry like babies? But have not one hesitation to slam anyone that disagrees with them. They will outright lie, use haft truths and distortions – not a problem for them.
I would like to remind Meet The Press of what Newt Gingrich said during the Jack Abramoff lobby scandal. He made this comment on a national radio show. " True American Democracy no longer exists for the Average American. That privilege now only exists for those who have enough money to buy it." Since then the corruption in Washington has gotten worse not better. It is unfortunate, but perfectly understandable why Meet The Press does not call out Newt during one of the debates and ask him what he has done since he made those comments to improve our nation's democracy. But we Average American know the reason why that will never happen. It might have something to do with the Corporate owned media. Free speech and reporting the news is not what it should be is it?
I worry that his group hides the sources of its funds. That would make it extremely easy for a belligerent power to use Norquist as a front in a campaign to subvert the American legal system and create chaos. What say you Grover?
I think that is very dangerous to give an un-elected lobbyist this much power over Congress. It should be illegal for Members of Congress to sign pledges that would prevent them from doing their jobs and up holding the Constitutional powers given to them and from their loyalty to their constituents. Further more, it is a little disingenuous for David Gregory to give moral and ethical equality to the subject of entitlement versus, tax increases for those in the 1% of which he belongs, those making $750K per year. Those of us in the American Middle Class depend on Social Security, Medicare, Tricare and Medicaid as our safety net....we can't count on Corporate America, Wall Street or Congress to watch out for our interests and they continue to work against us and now even the wealthy and cowardly anchors in the press, want to give moral equivalence to tax cuts for the RICHEST AMERICANS vs....RETIREMENT and HEALTHCARE for Seniors, Veterans and those in our Society who have fallen on hard times....SHAME on you Mr. GREGORY and SHAME on the AMERICAN PRESS....
Norquist is an absolute idiot and he preaches lies, lies and more lies. He is a homegrown terrorist like his backers and they should all be treated the same way law breakers are treated in China.
The repubs have preached lies about the trickle down effect and lower taxes creates more jobs........pleeeease!!!!! This country has been going downhill since taxes were lowered. The proof is in the pudding.
These lying criminals are willing to let this country go to hell and everybody along with it. All they care about is protecting the wealthy!!!!!
Lower taxes, de-regulation and corp greed has got us here.
Jack the taxes on the RICH back to pre Regan era and we will all be better off!!!!
I believe that the Ultra Conservative Republicans are so desperate for a viable Presidential Candidate that they would consider Grover Norquist as a dark horse in the coming election. Multi-National Corporations use their First Amendment Rights to make political contributions. He has control of these funds, which give him dictatorial power over Congress and other members of out Government. We speak of Democracy when we help other countries. If we allow Grover Norquist to continue on his path his activities will be a destructive force on our country. People searching for change might wind up out of the pot and into the fire.
I'm a WW2 Vet and want my country to get back to normal.
It is too late in the past we had leaders they fought in wars even entertainers fought in wars now we have draft dodgers, womanizers and terrorists.
Has Norquist ever been ask why he did not ask the Republicans to sign a no spending increase pledge as opposed to a no tax increase pledge? Without spending discipline, there is no way to avoid having to go to the credit markets to fund deficit spending. Not bad, I guess, if you make your living off of the bond market, but not very good for the average American who has been saddled with repaying the principle plus interest. Most of the outstanding debt was accumulated while we had Republicans in control of both the House and the Oval Office. Once again, just like those who fight the wars, the middle class...what is left of it, gets stuck holding the bag.
iI am disgusted that NBC would put Eric Dyson on a show. This is a Racist Hater whom the Progressives PC's have put up as a Black leader. I am also disgusted that Geeorgetown would allow such Scum on it's campus nevermind as a teacher. This is why our Black youth cannot get educated, our public school systems are letting down NO Desroying Black youth Scum like Dyson. He should be arrested and tried for "Crimes Against Humanity" along with my Catholic Church for paying this Thug
NBC is a arm of the Democratic Party "Slobbering Love Affair with Obama"
How about a Real Story Maxime Waters Grand Larceny stealing TARP funds and giving them to her Banker husand She belongs in Prison.
Another Story RAJ goes to Prison for Insider Trading Congress not investigated. Why isn't Congress Guilty in Prison too.
NBC is the head of the Democratic Party Committee