Republicans control the White House, both houses of Congress, and dominate state houses and legislatures throughout the country. While party stalwarts such as Senator John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Arnold Schwarzenegger take to the stage this week to present a united, moderate front for the party, some powerful ghosts from conventions past will be standing in the shadows. The different influences of Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, are never far from the podium as the party prepares to make its best case for four more years.
Guests:
Byron Shafer, professor of political science, University of Wisconsin and author of “The Two Majorities and the Puzzle of Modern American Politics”
John Micklethwait, coauthor of “The Right Nation, Conservative Power in America” and Washington correspondent for the Economist;
Congressman Patrick Toomey(R-PA), member of Congress since January 1999 who recently lost Republican primary challenge to Senator Arlen Specter