Meet The Press – January 26, 2014

Chuck Todd

Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)

Mike Murphy

Carolyn Ryan (NYT)

Michael Powell

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Jesselyn Radack (Snowden Legal Advisor)

Michael Chertoff

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Harry Smith

Billie Jean King

Gregory: OMG there was another

mall shooting in Maryland

Todd: Obama is not going to

talk about gun control but economics

Gregory: right

Todd: this is the last ever State of

the Union by Obama that anyone

will ever care about

Murphy: exactly – this is the

last one he will ever give

Gregory: right!

Sanchez: that's stupid – the President

has influence every day he is President

Gregory: good point Loretta –

but on the other hand I hate Obama

Sanchez: we all know that Fluffy

Gregory: let's stop talking substance

– I hate that

Ryan: there is a stampede of people

who don't think Obama is relevant

Gregory: Let me talk to a Republican –

Rand Paul you say Obama is immoral

Paul: I'm a tea partier and even I'm

amazed at how much you

hate Obama David

Gregory: really?

Paul: yes – I'm working with Obama

now on infrastructure spending and

other things we do agree on

Gregory: well I still love you

Paul: thanks Greggers

Gregory: how can we get you

elected President?

Paul: I want to cut spending and

give money to businesses

Gregory: but we have to fight Republicans

like Ted Cruz to get you the nomination

Paul: my Dad was a genuine guy

who was beloved by black people

Gregory: is the federal government a tyranny?

Paul: yes like when government 

does too much

Gregory: you called Edward Snowden a hero

Paul: no I said he honestly believed

he was right and brought abuses to

light but also people in intelligence

have to obey the law and keep secrets

Gregory: so how should he be rewarded?

Paul: he should be punished

but not with the death penalty

Gregory: so what should his punishment be?

Paul: I don't know but Clapper lied

to Congress which is also against the law

Gregory: Rep. Mike Rogers says

Snowden is a Russian spy

Paul: well he is in Russia which

has no privacy so that's suspicious

Gregory: but is he a spy?

Paul: I don't know what Mike Rogers 

is talking about

Gregory: Huckabee says Democrats

say women have an uncontrollable libido

Paul: I fought the war on women

and women won

Gregory: they did?

Paul: yes – my sister is an ob gyn

and I know a girl in veterinary school

Gregory: what about ladies' libidos?

Paul: women have a come a long way baby

– women in my family are doing great

Gregory: okay

Paul: we should extol their success

not attack them with basic health coverage

Gregory: you have an ongoing

feud with Chris Christie

Paul: he's the King of Bacon

Gregory: your feud is like the east coast

– west coast rap wars but with two

white guys battling to see who can

win over other angry white guys

Paul: ha ha

Gregory: do you think Chris Christie

could get the GOP nomination?

Paul: no

Gregory: why not?

Paul: because Republicans are 

fiscal conservatives!

Gregory: since when?

Paul: since January 2009

Gregory: right I forgot

Paul: we can't borrow money

from China just to help some

pathetic New Jeresyans hit by a hurricane

Gregory: if Hillary Clinton runs

for President will you bring 

up Monica Lewinsky?

Paul: yes because she was a 20 year-old intern

Gregory: please continue

Paul: Bill took advantage of a young girl!

Gregory: so you would use this 

against Hillary Clinton?

Paul: yes because of the

so-called war on women

Gregory: I see

Paul: if anyone in my community did

what Bill Clinton did he would be

shunned by decent society

Gregory: like someone who 

writes racist newsletters?

Paul: no fair!!

[ break ]

Gregory: Dick what about Monica Lewinsky?

Durbin: yes let's all revisit the impeachment

– that will certainly improve Republicans chances

Gregory: let's talk about Ed Snowden

Durbin: he ignited a debate but he

was also trusted with valuable 

information and violated his oath 

and we can't overlook that

Gregory: Mike Rogers says

Snowden might be a Russia spy

Durbin: I haven't seen any evidence of that

Gregory: what about bulk

collection of metadata?

Durbin: we have to come up with an alternative

Gregory: what can we expect

from Congress in 2014?

Durbin: a new era of bipartisanship

Gregory: are you kidding??

Durbin: yes – we have a budget now

and we might even get a farm bill

Gregory: dare to dream –

what about the debt ceiling?

Durbin: the government shutdown 

burned Republicans so hopefully 

they've learned their lesson

Gregory: when we come back – more Ed Snowden!

[ break ]

Gregory: what about the Clintons [ giggle ]

Powell: they are a galactic force! [ giggle ]

Gregory: what about Hillary!? [ giggle ]

Sanchez: she's a great Senator

Gregory: but Monica Lewinsky! [ giggles ]

Sanchez: she was a terrific Secretary

of State and by the way Bill Clinton 

is very popular

Gregory: but she's really old

Ryan: she comes from a dynastic family

Gregory: exactly all these Clintons

keep getting elected

Ryan: also populists want Wall

Street bankers arrested which

should hurt Hillary

Murphy: Bill Clinton is a terrible

problem because of all the sex he has

Todd: voters will be hungry to end

polarization and the Clintons are polarizing

Sanchez: polarizing?! Hillary is

popular among Republicans!

Powell: Hillary Clinton has been away

from politics for so long she missed

when gay people and pot became popular

Gregory: well who can win?

Powell: Chris Christie – we need

someone down and dirty

Gregory: we need someone dirty?

Powell: yes – Republicans wants

someone rough and a little criminal

Murphy: Christie didn't know

about Bridgegate – but he's tough

Todd: well is he tough and dirty

or clean and ignorant?

Gregory: let's stop and say nice

things about Mitt Romney for a few minutes

[ shows clip for documentary movie “Mitt” ]

Gregory: [ ha ha ha ha ha ]

I love him

Murphy: it show politicians are not caricatures

Sanchez: the movie shows how

hard politics are on the family

Ryan: he has a good sense of humor

Gregory: Anne Romney is so nice

Murphy: he's a wonderful man

Todd: if you're thinking of running for

President go watch this documentary

and then you won't

[ break ]

Gregory: when we come back

more Ed Snowden – I promise!

[ break ]

Gregory: Eric Holder says the DOJ is

willing to enter into conversations with Snowden

Radack: yes but he took amnesty off

the table which is disheartening

Gregory: I see

Radack: also Ed Snowden has

suffered a great deal already

Gregory: how so?

Radack: the government took away

his passport and he's being forced

to live in Russia

Gregory: Mike Rogers says he

might be a Russian spy

Radack: it shows the government

is desperate since the government

panel found NSA programs might

be illegal and ineffective

Gregory: okay

Radack: even the FBI says he acted alone!

Gregory: thanks – say to Eddie for me

[ break ]

Gregory: welcome Mr Chertoff –

how can we get Ed Snowden back to America?

Chertoff: how the hell should I know fluffy?

Gregory: is it irresponsible to call him a spy?

Chertoff: well now that depends

on if he is a spy

Gregory: hmmm interesting point

Gregory: some people like Snowden

and some don't

Chertoff: I don't like him and I don't like you

Gregory: his lawyers says he's

been punished enough

Chertoff: he's free in Russia and

regaling the world – he's not being punished

Gregory: can he get a fair trial?

Chertoff: of course he can

Gregory: I suppose so

Chertoff: but he would be found guilty

Gregory: see that's unfair because he

says under the Constitution every 

intelligence employee gets to decide 

which secrets to divulge

Chertoff: sorry I wasn't listening -- 

I was contemplating killing 

you right now

Gregory: what about security at

the Sochi Olympics?

Chertoff: we need cooperation 

with the Russians

Gregory: do we have that?

Chertoff: how the hell would I know?

Gregory: the Olympics are a hard target! [ grins fatuously ]

Chertoff: and people think I'm weird

Gregory: should we have barricades

in front of schools and malls?

Chertoff: you can't make a mall a

fortress but you can teach people

to shelter in place

Gregory: woot

[ break ]

Smith: Billie Jean King fought for equal

prize money which made her a rabble rouser

King: I was determined to fight for equality

Smith: she thrashed Bobby Riggs

King: lots of women went to

work the next day and asked for a raise

Smith: you were outed as a lesbian in 1981

King: I lost all my endorsements

but it led my to more truth

Smith: you're a pioneer

King: I am but never thought

of myself that way

Smith: is there a message

in your going to Sochi?

King: our very presence is a message

Smith: terrorists might hit Sochi

King: I'm not worried – we have to be there!

Smith: will we ever have female president?

King: sure – hopefully soon?

Smith: how about an openly gay President?

King: not in my lifetime

Smith: what's your message to the world?

King: stay true to yourself

Gregory: and that's another

episode of Meet The Press