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Former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese on the 2012 Presidential race and the need to cut government spending in an effort to reduce the deficit.
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It's gears of war blatant politics -- -- -- and that is the of those marine and -- Paul Ryan has been getting.
For his latest -- Proposal.
On -- draconian by any means he wants it sort of slow the growth had in in Medicare.
I'm not eradicated of -- would be that as a -- it's sort of -- throw granny off the cliff.
Apart to.
And that.
Mitt Romney supporting that effort and and supporting.
Ryan in general.
And Ryan he.
Is -- joined that -- hit what do you make.
Well I think that both.
Governor Romney and and that congressman Ryan realize.
That we have got to do something if we're going to have any kind of fiscal responsibility.
And if we're gonna deal with the deficit.
I think the issue now is for them to explain in more detail.
And in terms of people can understand why this is necessary and why this is a -- budget.
And this is as you point out this is by no means to draconian budget.
Particularly when we had this president increase the budget.
By as such it phenomenal amount as he is also -- because the bid being increasing the deficit.
So that there's plenty of room in that budget remember we we expanded the budget from 2008.
To where it is today.
By a tremendous increase.
They said it was the stimulus but the stimulus was one year in the subsequent years they didn't go back to the original base budget they just lard and on other things.
If you go back and take the 2008 budget as a baseline.
And then move from -- I think you'll find plenty of room to cut without harming anyone.
And without harming any the good of the nation as far as that but what programs that are necessary really are concerned.
But what about the harm that Mitt Romney has been taking in the polls -- probably heard these battleground state polls so.
The president now has moved back out front -- depending are on the state an average of eight to nine to ten points.
The last time these Gallup was taking the same survey of these states and it's a constant.
It was Mitt Romney up by a couple of points.
What's happened here what what what explains this fall.
Well I think what you've had -- two things one.
You've had a very strong criticism coming from among the Republican candidates themselves so I Romney's opponents.
And the other thing is there -- there's been almost a no attempt.
To really get at President Obama and go after at his deficiencies and the things of these done wrong.
And so I think this is it a matter of timing I think once -- and depending whoever the nominee is once you get a Republican nominee.
And people know who that is then I think the way in which they are able to.
Described to the public what -- President Obama has done what he is doing and what he might do if re elected.
But are they -- that the -- -- I'm sorry but I eight went when Ronald Reagan ran against Jimmy Carter and then a lot of Republicans A -- disguise another Jimmy Carter.
They -- do things one thing -- Jimmy Carter.
Was very unpopular with the -- the precedent likened this this president is quite popular with the press they still love it.
And what's more is Jimmy Carter didn't have any of this that this president speaking or charismatic -- -- we -- -- it might because medic to some.
But it does seem to resonate to many.
Then the last issue as.
Mitt Romney.
Is no Ronald Reagan and that that no offense to Mitt Romney.
That rule was something that that Jimmy Carter didn't appreciate in in in the guise of Ronald Reagan back then.
On and this president appreciates.
Very much in as a -- right now that he is not a Ronald Reagan what do you make of that that that at that.
Is the clear difference.
Well I think there obviously some differences that there that that that nobody is a Ronald -- the same as Ronald Reagan it.
In a lot of his oratorical skills.
But there -- a couple of things but one is remember -- this time.
Ronald Reagan as a candidate even when he got the nomination was way behind Jimmy Carter.
When he started the campaign in September and really was fine of up until really the last a couple of weeks of the campaign it's true -- I don't second look.
So secondly I think one of the things is.
Jimmy Carter as bad as his record was it's nowhere near as bad as this president.
Either in domestic policy in economic policy or even in foreign policy.
You have a -- get out about look at it you know we have plus numbers in front of these plus size of a lot of these numbers you don't have that would Jimmy Carter.
And and we were in the middle of something bad -- -- Your -- right to say that the analogy of a weak economy resonates but I think it's fair to say to Jimmy Carter.
Was in the a down slow on this this president could argue release -- off the -- Well I I think that one of the things to you look at the polls.
And you find that there's a big difference between the polls -- -- look at and all of voters.
And those -- and the polls that show the where Romney is vis -- -- Obama on the among.
Those most likely to vote.
And that's so you have quite a -- a discrepancy here and in Romney's favor in those among those people most likely to vote.
And I think that his ability.
And certainly in his recent speeches but they've been a lot more factual a lot more to the point and I have great confidence -- if he is the nominee.
For that matter whoever they -- But only need to -- anymore part of the year -- boss had that ability to throw the facts in the air but also to give you some of the heart.
And then no offense again and -- -- ride for -- a great deal of respect for.
-- that that that that showing the heart disease or something it's tougher and to do we're just won't do it.
Well I I think we have to wait -- we see what happens in the general election campaign.
And I believe you you'll probably see more -- you need to have this and in what has been a very tough.
Primary campaign period.
So you -- conservatives who.
-- lucky this -- nothing like databases -- -- will be rally around the fact that he units.
I I think I think the answer is yes and I think one of the reasons is that we're he is facing.
They whoever the nominee is will be facing the most dangerous president we've had in my lifetime and I think that's going to be a big factor.
Much more of a factor than it was just in a failing presidency of Jimmy Carter.
All right let -- is always a pleasure where we want along -- -- -- -- went by an appliance thank you could see you again.
-- the former attorney general these United States.
-- front row seat its optical the Reagan revolution that when Mitt Romney.
Wants to say.
