Brain Trust - Dr. Stuart Butler

Dr. Stuart Butler, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Center for Policy Innovation at the Heritage Foundation, was the Matt Friedeman Show's Brain Trust interview today. He talked about the Heritage Foundation's plan to fix entitlements, balance the budget, and cut the national debt.

How soon can you balance the budget with this plan? 

Well I think first of all it's got to be done really quickly with the situation we're in.

Our plan balances the budget in 10 years.

Is it possible to get something like this passed? 

Paul Ryan already recognizes the difficulty of dealing with political issues like medicare and social security.

The truth is if you don't take action now, we'll be in the same situation of places you see like Greece.

Can your plan actually help America become debt-free? 

The debt as a proportion of a yearly economy is about 70%.

We get it down in twenty years to about 30%.

What things have to go? 

We have these programs like medicare and social security that give money to people who really don't need it.

What we say is let's start by looking at the big entitlement programs and say who needs these and who doesn't.

So we start with making some big decisions about what these programs are for.

If you do that, you can start getting back to a balanced budget.

We shouldn't cut defense, but are there other programs? 

We've got to decide first of all what the government should actually be doing.

We don't think the federal government should hand out huge amounts of money to states to build highways where the federal government wants them to.

The key is these large entitlement programs. These are now almost 2/3rds of the total budget.

The big problem is the medicare program in particular.

It's hard to make this sort of this happen in Washington. 

That's why it's important to get the discussion out of the Beltway.

We've got to talk to Americans and say, this is the situation...we've only got certain options.

Does the Heritage plan take away what people currently get? 

The issue is how much do people pay and how much people get subsidized.

The issue is, should someone like Warren Buffet go to get prescriptions and get 75% for free.

In our plan only the top 9% of Americans see any cut in subsidies for Medicare.

If we cut defense spending, but didn't touch entitlements, we're still sunk. 

Some people think defense is the biggest item in the budget, when it's actually Social Security.

Even if you thought it was a good idea to do, it wouldn't get you very far.

Putting the security of the United States on the line is not the way to solve the budget.

As a fifty-two-year-old should I plan on something other than medicare and social security? 

Let me be realistic with you. Under current law, those programs cannot provide you with the benefits Congress has promised you.

Under current law the federal government has to systematically reduce the checks. One way or the other something will happen.

Brain Trust - Matt Barber

On the Matt Friedeman Show's Brain Trust today: Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs with Liberty Counsel and Associate Dean with Liberty University School of Law. Barber commented on the GOP presidential field, Israel, and the Oprahfication of America.

 

The Republican presidential field is starting to firm up. Anyone you see who excites you?

You know, there are some good candidates - there doesn't seem to be a real rock star yet that we know of - I've been impressed with Herman Cain. Michelle Bachmann is a full conservative.

 

I'm kind of keeping my eye on Rick Perry from Texas as well.

 

Frankly, I think any one of these people who we have in the Republican field, none of them are particularly exciting. But that's not what the presidency is about.

 

I think any of them would be better than this secular socialist we've got in the White House.

 Anyone would be better. 

There are some dealbreakers. We can't have a GOP candidate who does not recognize the sanctity of life, who does not recognize the sanctity of marriage.

 

Whoever gets the nomination, conservatives and Christians need to rally around that person.

 Is it fair to dislike Mitt Romney based on his past views and positions? 

I think you're being perfectly fair.

 

Mitt Romney is one of those dealbreakers.

 

I think RomneyCare is a millstone around his neck.

 

Any other candidate he's going to face in a Republican primary, you're going to hear the word RomneyCare everytime he steps on the stage.

Is it fair to say that based on background, we can't consider Newt Gingrich? 

I want to see where he's at now more than where he was in the past.

 

How someone governs themselves can be an indicator of how they will govern and conduct themselves in higher office.

 

I'm not ready to write Newt completely off.

 Barack Obama went after Israel in a speech last week, then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded strongly. Then he received a rock star welcome when he spoke before Congress. Were you suprised by the 30 standing O's he received? 

I was heartened by that welcome after the welcome he got from Obama, getting thrown under the bus.

 

The only word that really applies here is anti-Semitism.

 

To see the two side by side, and the contrast in presence and oratory...you couldn't help see the contrast in true leadership. 

Oprah Winfrey's last show this week. How big of an impact has Oprah had on America? 

Unfortunately, I think she's had a bigger impact than people think.

 

She's a likable person and a good entertainer.

 

But I've often talked about the Oprahfication of America that's emasculating us.

 

We've kind of lost our masculinity ...as males in America. And a lot of that has to do with Oprah.

How do we get our masculinity back? 

Listen, we need to get back to our founding roots.

 

We need to get in our Bibles.

 

Jesus cracked some whips - there is something called righteous anger. He turned over some tables.

 

We need to get tough again as leaders of Christ.

Presidential Campaign Interview: Michele Bachmann

Teaparty star Michele Bachmann has a lot of people excited about a possible presidential bid. Will she throw her hat into the ring? She talked about this and other issues on the Matt Friedeman Show.

Congresswoman Bachmann, welcome to the Matt Friedeman Show. Thanks for coming on.

Matt, it's my pleasure. Thanks for having me.

There are a lot of men trying to be our next president, but no women yet. Are you going to change that?

We've had enthusiastic support around the country.

The enthusiasm has been tremendous. We're very grateful, and we'll let people know in June either way.

Last week Obama threw Israel under the  bus. What should Obama have said?

He should have said, not last week, but years ago, that he will be like the other presidents of the United States that he will stand strong with Israel.

As you know, the Middle East is the most volatile part of the world, and Israel is alone.

Essentially he was saying to Israel the greatest act of betrayal to revert to indefensible borders.

And just two weeks ago we saw that Israel was once again attacked on three sides of its borders.

It wasn't that long ago Israel gave up Gaza to the Palestinians in exchange for peace.

We need to stand with Israel.

What kind of message does this send to other allies of America?

Unfortunately this is not the first time that's been true for Barack Obama.

On so many levels this president has proved himself unworthy of trust with other nations.

Do you think Obamacare can and will be repealed?

I believe it can be repealed, but I believe also, if we're serious about this, we have to elect a strong, bold, constitutional president.

Right now Obamacare is the law of the land. What is Obamacare? Government run healthcare.

We're not getting more doctors, more nurses, or cheaper run healthcare.

The president has no credibility on this issue.

I would actively repeal it.

What should be done about the debt ceiling? Is it a sellout of conservative principles to vote to raise it?

Yes it is.

We spend $1.7 trillion that we don't have (every year).

In one hour the United States will borrow $188 million.

What that means for us and our children is that we'll enjoy a lower standard of living.

China is on the upswing. America is not on the upswing economically.

We can reverse course, I'm very optimistic, but we have to stop spending money on the programs that aren't working anyway.

Presidential Campaign Interview: Rick Santorum

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum came on the Matt Friedeman Show to discuss his views on the issues facing our nation. A former senator and father of seven, Santorum brings a refreshing emphasis on social issues to the table.

While he hasn't officially declared his candidacy yet, you can learn more about Rick Santorum at his website.

You've got seven children! Congratuatlions. What is it about this country that most scares you about their future? 

Well that's actually one of the reasons I'm out here doing what I'm doing.

If you look at what's happening in Washington DC it's really something different than ever before.

I'm particularly alarmed at Obamacare.

Margaret Thatcher said the reason she failed and Reagan succeeded is the British national healthcare system.

Once we depend on the government, then freedom is lost.

I'm waiting for someone to bring their problem to a presidential candidate, and have that candidate tell them that the government shouldn't help.

This idea that the government will take care of everyone's problems is just not realistic.

My grandad worked in the coal mines digging coal until he was 72, but the difference between what's going on in the rest of the world and in America is freedom. 

What kind of candidate will it take to defeat Barack Obama in 2012? 

I think it's somebody who can paint a positive vision of what we can be like.

What we need is someone who believes in us, instead of someone who wants us to believe in him.

Why are so many Republicans scared of dealing with the social issues? 

I frankly don't know why, but they are.

You don't see many people talking about social issues; I do.

We're a group of people who believe in certain things.

We are endowed by our creator with rights. We are subjects of a sovereign...we are involved here in a moral enterprise.

We're not here to see how much money we can make...our purpose is a moral one.

You can't have a successful economy unless you have successful families. 

You probably disagree with a lot of what the president has done in the past two years. What are a few of his actions - legislative or otherwise - that you agree with?

The only thing he's done that I can think of that I commend him on is a couple of things on the international front Bush did.

He's kept Gitmo open which was important. Really other than that, everything he's done on the federal level, is to drive up debt. 

Paul Ryan has offered a plan to reform Social Security and medicare. Do you agree with Ryan's Road Map for America?

I do. I support it wholeheartedly. The only problem is it doesn't go far enough fast enough.

If the leader of a country says this isn't necessary...of course you want to  believe it. But it's not true. It's a lie!

We need to have leaders who will stand up there and paint a picture of what's going to happen.

It's the duty of every American to leave the country better than when we found it. 

Last week the president stirred up a lot of controversy over the US's stance toward Israel. You have extensive experience in US-Israeli relations. What approach should America take, towards Israel and peace in the Middle East?

It was completely slap in the face to the people of Israel, and our best ally in the world.

If you are an ally of America, it seems now, watch out. If you were one of America's friends, I guess you're just as wrong as America. 

Brain Trust - Jeanne Monahan

Jeanne Monahan, Director of the Center for Human Dignity with the Family Research Council, was featured on the Matt Friedeman Show today talking about anti-abortion laws.

Talk to us about recent pro-life legislation.

Just over the weekend, Kansas governor Sam Brownback signed an incredible bill with all kinds of pro-life implications, including fetal pain. 

One that was not signed, but hopefully will be in the next few days, has to do with the de-funding of Planned Parenthood. 

We've just had an incredible amount of pro-life bills and pro-life laws. I think it's trickling down from the federal level to the state level. Almost all of the states are now enacting stricter laws. 

Pennsylvania, for all practical purposes, actually had a decent law about abortion but they weren't enforcing it. So it's not only getting laws passed, but also making sure they are followed.

Of course, you can pass a bill, but it's hard to make sure it's absolutely carried out. It can be tricky.

What can voters start doing?

Start calling your pro-life legislators and let them now that you support the stance they are taking, and urge them to take strong steps against abortion.

Also, let them know that you are grateful to them for standing up for unborn children.

Brain Trust - Kevin McCullough

Huckabee is out. What happens now?
It's interesting you ask, Matt, because I've done a lot of coverage on this lately.
He had the kind of character I wanted to see exhibited in the next person we picked as the lead er of the free world. I think that job should be done by someone who is a trustworthy, honest, decent human being.
Every time I have spent time with him, he treated whoever we were with as the most important person in the world. There was no one beneath or above him.
It was a tough blow to me when he dropped out, because I want to see that godly character in office. He has a lot of influence with people who do believe in lower taxes and a smaller government.
He is going to be a influential character in this election, even though he's not a candidate.

Are there bad feelings between Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney?
Huckabee was asked about that on FOX on Sunday. He made very sure to say that Mitt was the first to call and wish him well after he dropped out.
 I don't think there was personal animosity.
I think the operatives int he two campaigns were very much at odds. It think his camp is the problem.
I've interviewed Gov. Romney multiple times. I've found him to be an immensely likable guy.
It's gonna be a steep climb for him now, though, since he wrote the legislation that Obamacare was modeled after.

It's been said that It's down to three guys: Obama, Mitch Daniels, and Tim Pawlenty.
I don't agree with that. I think it's much too early to say it's a three-man race.

Brain Trust - Kathryn Jean Lopez

Kathryn Jean Lopez, Editor-at-large for National Review Online, came on the Matt Friedeman Show today to assess the GOP presidential contenders from a social conservative viewpoint.

Who are the viable possibilities for social conservatives in 2012?

It's really hard to tell.

I don't think it's an implausible possibility that Tim Pawlenty could win.

But I don't think that's a given by any chance.

There are plausible scenarios where Romney could the the nominee. And I think there's a reasonable amount of evidence that he would be a social conservative.

The way that Trump talks about being a prolifer is so hard to believe.

People are talking about Mitch Daniels, but he's driving people crazy, including myself, by talking about calling a truce on social issues.

It could be a chaotic primary. It could also wind up being a fairly mundane primary.

George Will was on Meet the Press, saying it could be Obama, Daniels, or Pawlenty. Do you agree?

No, I don't.

I think Pawlenty is very plausible. I think Daniels, if he got in could be plausible too.

I sort of worry that a Chris Christie candidacy could be like a Fred Thompson candidacy.

I wouldn't be as confident as George Will, saying it would be Pawlenty or Daniels, though I think that's plausible.

Is there value of Herman Cain being in the race?

I predicted before the debate started that he'd win, and that's how it turned out.

There's just a serious experience problem.

He's a good man, a successful businessman. Nothing hurt by having him in the mix.

Rick Santorum, I think, adds a lot to the race. I don't know if he's going to win in the end, but he brings up issues that others wouldn't normally deal with.

Brain Trust - Mindy Belz

Today's Brain Trust segment featured Mindy Belz, Editor of World Magazine. On the agenda? Osama Bin Laden, especially the reaction - both from Christians and in general - to his death.

Where are most people beginning to come out on Bin Laden's death?

Well, I would say that most people are beginning to come out on the side of being thankful that Osama Bin Laden is no longer with us.

As we're learning about more information about what Bin Laden was up to, we've got a lot of information...we're learning so much about the very valuable strategic role that he was playing in Al-Qaeda.

We realize that probably and hopefully a lot of lives can be saved.

Is there another way the Bin Laden mission should've turned out?

Certainly it's possible. But it's hard for me to imagine that we could've seen Osama given the routine that was applied to Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

The atmosphere is so different now...I think the administration would find itself frozen in how we can treat someone like Osama Bin Laden.

You talked to a lot of pastors, what were some of these guys saying?

It's interesting that there was almost scripture wars.

There were those who wanted to quote passages like Matthew 5:44...then there were others who would find other passages to quote about the value of justice and the value of dealing with someone who's demonstrably evil.

I like what D.A. Carson said. “He is an evil man, and he must be stopped, but he is a man, and we should take no pleasure in destroying him. Vengeance is the Lord’s alone. Do not offer the alternative, ‘Should we weep for Osama bin Laden or hold him to account for his genocide and prevent him from carrying out his violent intentions?’ The right answer is yes.”

I think that's where we have to land. And I should say, for the others out there.

But we should also not shrink from doing what we have to do.

Are we safe or more in danger?

Well that's always a really difficult question that you've hit on.

I'd like to think that we 're safe in so much that hopefully we're smarter.

I think we have a tremendous challenge ahead, rightly understanding the roots of this conflict.

And the people who want to promote global jihad are doing it because they want to adopt an ideology from the Quran that is very militant.

How safe are the missionaries?

Well the ones that I know about are certainly being more careful.

We've been in touch with a lot of Christians in Pakistan.

The government even took the step the day after Bin Laden was killed to say, please close your churches, please close your institutions.

They've been targeted in the past and they will face it in the future.

Brain Trust - Warren Smith

Warren Smith, Associate Editor of World Magazine and member of the Matt Friedeman Show Brain Trust, on Terrorists, Presidential hopefuls, and Republicans.

The AP is calling for the release of the Bin Laden death photos, Yes or no?

I'm usually in favor of transparent government.

If the government has a document, I think we should be able to see it - I have that vein in me.

This particular situation is...unusual in that if this photo is released it will undoubtedly incite Muslims around the world.

The end of Al Qaeda?

Well, the death of Osama Bin Laden, no question about it, is important. I think it sends a strong message to bad guys around the world.

On the other hand...it was also a signal that no matter how long itakes, the United States will get the bad guy.

Willl it be the end of terrorism? I don't think so.

Will it be the end of Al Qaeda? I don't think so.

The Al Qaeda cells around the world are pretty self sufficient and even self funded.

So they will probably remain active. But the thing we're learning in the last few days...is that Osama Bin Laden did exercise a serious amount of control.

And that coordination will go down.

Mitch Daniels is considering a presidential bid. Will he run?

I think Mitch Daniels is very seriously considering running.

I know that becaue I spoke to him personally and he said that.

He's got some concerns. He understands the impact it has on his family. But yeah, I think Mitch Daniels is seriously considering, and I think he would have a good chance at winning the Republican nomination.

Here's the bottom line. The bottom line is the bottom line...Barack Obama will raise $1 billion.

A lot of Republicans are wondering, "Why get in the fight?...I can wait around for four years."

John Boehner says GOP is talking about trillions, not billions, in cuts. Is this anything more than talk?

Boehner is talking a good game, but politics is the art of the possible, not the art of what you want to get on any given day.

Boehner remembers what happened during 1995-1996 (Gingrich/Clinton fiasco).

He's one of these guys afraid of shutting down the government, whereas a lot of these young Teaparty guys weren't there. They feel like this situation is different.

I think that the real interesting political battle is going to be no necessarily between the Republicans and the Democrats, but between Republicans and Republicans to see who will win the heart and soul of Republican voters.