Gen. Wesley Clark Says Purpose Of Afghanistan Mission Is To Prevent Emergence Of A Terrorist State

"What's the purpose in Afghanistan? Well, it's not to defeat Al-Qaeda because they're largely not there," said retired General Wesley Clark Tuesday. "It seems to me that what we seek there is to prevent the emergence of a terrorist state that would physically harbor Al-Qaeda and use it's diplomatic and legal authorities as weapons against the very international system of which it's a member." (0:33)
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Reform Key To Limiting What Folks Spend On Healthcare Says Minnesota Democrat

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) says Tuesday that she "always tell[s] people three numbers" that she got from Sen. Cardin: six, 12 and 24. Klobuchar explains that “the average American spent $6,000 on their health care just ten years ago. Now the average American family is spending $12,000, and in ten years from now, without any bending of the cost curve, they will be spending $24,000 a year.” (0:31)
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Retired General Wesley Clark Says Obama Administration Must Get Afghanistan Strategy "Exactly Right"

Gen. Wesley Clark (ret.) said Tuesday that it is important for the Obama administration to "get the strategy exactly right" when formulating their plans for Afghanistan.

"Figure out where you're going. How do we get out of here? Because our presence long term there is not a good thing. We're playing into the hands of people who don't like foreigners in a country that's not tolerant of diversity. And that's not going to change," Clark said. (0:22)
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Dodd's Financial Reform "Goes Too Far," Says New America Foundation Director

Anne Vorce, director of the New America Foundation's Fiscal Roadmap Project, says she thinks that the financial reform plan proposed by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) "goes too far." (0:38)
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Rep. Duncan Hunter Urges Congress To Listen To Afghanistan Veterans

Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-Calif.) urges Congress to listen to soldiers who have serve in Afghanistan, noting that it is important to hear about what it is like there for the troops. (0:47)
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Listen To The Commanders In Afghanistan, Says Vets For Freedom Chairman

Pete Hegseth, Chairman and Executive Director of Vets for Freedom offered his advice on developing a military strategy in Afghanistan, saying that commanders on the ground should be acknowledged.

"If there's anybody who knows how to kill bad guys, it's General [Stanley] McCrystal," Hegseth said. (0:55)
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Opposition To Obama's Spending Fueled GOP Victories In VA And NJ

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says in a press conference Wednesday that Republicans were able to pick up seats in key elections in Virginia and New Jersey yesterday by opposing President Obama on spending. (0:41)
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RNC Chairman Steele Says Elections Signal Republican Renaissance

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says Tuesday's election signals a "Republican Renaissance."

"The message was sent yesterday. It's not about the change we need, it's about the change we want." (0:27)
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Chancellor Merkel Says U.S. And Germany Share Symbols Of Freedom

German Chancellor Angela Merkel describes in German the Liberty Bell in Berlin, and the few times it was rang. She then goes on to describe in English how the Liberty Bell in Berlin is similar to the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, saying that the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is a "symbol which reminds us that freedom does not come about of itself. It must be struggled for and then defended anew every day of our lives." (0:33)
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Director of the National Vaccine Program Office Defends Safety Of H1N1 Vaccine

Bruce Gellin, Director of the National Vaccine Program Office, acknowledges that some Americans are concerned over the safety of the H1N1 vaccine. Gellin says there has been a robust vaccine safety system is in place and that enhancements have been made. (0:49)
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Pay Czar Reveals How He Examines Compensation Contracts

Special Master for TARP Executive Compensation Kenneth Feinberg - referred to by some as the White House Pay Czar - talks about the first thing he does when he examines an executive compensation contract. (0:57)
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Health Analyst Says There Are Better Ways To Expand Health Coverage Than Public Option

Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the CATO Institute gives recommendations for alternatives to the public option.

"If you reform the tax treatment to employer sponsored health insurance so that workers can control the $10,000 of their earnings that employers now control, and they can take that money and buy secure coverage from any source," said Cannon. "If you let people purchase insurance from across state lines, that could cover one third of the uninsured, without any new taxes or new government subsidies." (0:29)
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Health Analyst Warns Public Option Will Take Over Market Place, Even With Opt-Out Provision

Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the CATO Institute, says that even with the opt-out provision, the public option will dominate the health insurance marked.

"It doesn't matter when states have to exercise their opt-out method, and whether there's an opt-in or opt-out method, it will take over the market place." (0:37)
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Trigger Option Will Set Unattainable Goals For Private Insurance, Says Health Care Analyst

Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the CATO Institute, denies that the trigger option is a fair compromise in the health care reform debate.

"The trigger option will set unrealistic, unattainable goals for private insurance, with the expectation that private insurance will not be able to meet it," Cannon told TRNS. "It's not a question of whether the trigger will be pulled, as when it will be pulled." (0:38)
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Health Analyst Calls Public Option A "Ruse"

Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the CATO Institute blasted the public option Tuesday as a "ruse."

"The President and his allies in Congress want to create a new government run option for people under 65, but it's not a public option because the program will drive private insurers out of business, despite offering an inferior product," said Cannon. "What they call a public option is not really an option. So it's a 'ruse.'" (0:42)
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Health Analyst Calls State Opt-Out Provision "Political Suicide"

Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the CATO Institute, condemned the recently proposed opt-out provision added the public option as 'political suicide' for state officials.

"What Governor or state official is going to say, 'I know you're tax dollars are subsidizing this government program, but I'm not going to let you get your tax dollars back by participating in that program?' That would be political suicide for state officials," Cannon told TRNS (0:42)
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Napolitano Says Health Providers Have Plans On How To Handle Patients

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security says many health providers across the country have plans for how to handle patients outside the hospital so that the actual tertiary care is reserved for those who are in most need of it. Napolitano adds that this could include providing treatments in tents.
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"Yes Men" Group Leads Pro-Energy Reform Chant On The Hill

Members of the politically-charged prank troupe The Yes Men chant outside the Capitol on Tuesday. "It's hot in here, there's too much carbon in the atmosphere. Take action, take action, and get some satsifaction," they chant. (0:26)
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"Yes Men" Parade Around Hill In Costumes, Ridicule Chamber Of Commerce

A few folks, members of the political-pranking group The Yes Men, wearing Survivaball costumes explain how their costumes work. One of the members makes fun of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whom the Yes Men pranked earlier this week. (0:29)
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Baucus Responds To Claims Of Back Door Health Reform Negotiations

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) responds to a rumor that a few senators were drafting the health care bill in secret by saying that "the fact of the matter is that it's drafted by all senators." Baucus says that he has been speaking with senators about the health care bill and says that he has spoken especially with GOP'ers. (0:34)
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