Bringing just because we're doing our program here doesn't mean the volunteers are going away and only were talking about the pizza and so on that they had their field in fire. They're ready to work now and I might as well wear off some of those calories. So keep the phone's ringing mean while we're going to talk presidential politics. And you know, you don't get much of a chance here in Minnesota to do that this year Iowa political caucuses are now history more Iowa Republicans last night supported Bob Dole than any of the other eight candidates Dole was backed by 26% of the caucus scores last night, but second-place finisher Pat Buchanan did nearly as well with 23% of the vote Lamar Alexander finished third with 18% Steve Forbes who according to the polls indicated that he might do pretty. Well. Actually he ended up with 10% of the vote Phil Graham. We said he needed to finish third finished V instead with 9% of the vote now President Clinton was unopposed in the Democratic.Candidates now head to New Hampshire and next Tuesday is first in the nation New Hampshire primary unlike the voters in Iowa or New Hampshire for that matter those of us here in Minnesota will apparently not have the chance to get to know the candidates very well since Minnesota is not a priority. The candidates are doing very little or no campaigning here. So instead we've asked Time Warner and Sarah janecek to stop by to give us an overview of who these Republican candidates are and more importantly how they differ on the issues one from the other, courses are longtime Republican political commentator. Sarah is a republican activist lobbyist co-editor of the newsletter politics in Minnesota. They have been studying up are all set to go. So give us a call. If you have a question about the Republican presidential candidates now, this is a different number than the pledge number. Of course, our regular call in number is 227-6000 in the Twin Cities to 276 thousand or if you're callingOutside the Twin Cities you can reach his toll free at 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 800-242-2828. If you have a question about where one of the Republican presidential candidates stand on the issue issues rather and I should point out because somebody will ask her. Why aren't you talking about President Clinton while he is unopposed and he's been the president for four years. We have a fairly good idea of where he stands on the issues and is as the election season goes along will Zero in on Clinton versus whoever the Republican ass, but Sarah Tom. Thanks for coming by afternoon. Thank you for having us. Let me just a quick reading before we we get into the specifics on the issues a quick reading on the Iowa thing to that turn out Stan SLI different than you thought it was going to what it did for me. I really thought Forbes was going to come in second according to the poles ever done over the weekend for us was going to come in second althoughI learned today that the Christian coalition to the mailing a 500000 and I think that's what really helps to have. You can become number two. I was surprised that Alexander did as well as he did finish third. I think is a very strong showing for Rafa Kevin Alexander. You can and I think follow the trend that has long been established in Iowa. If you would call Pat Robertson did very well in 1988 when Bob Dole also Finish First and and in that your pet Robertson finished second, I think now though it gets to be a very very different kind of campaign not so much in the next week heading into New Hampshire, but after that starting after New Hampshire of March 5th with with the Minnesota caucus and other primaries and caucuses, they go through a two or three-week. Where they have more than 20 different states in which they have to be competing for delegates to run that kind of a simultaneous campaign in 20 different states. I think puts pressure on a BuchananTurn that that frankly I don't think it can sustain know. I understand that Phil Graham was expected to win. Most of the Minnesota delegates will have to still be the case. Even though he's he's have big trouble in Louisiana and Iowa or is he likely going to lose support here in Minnesota support will drop off particularly after Iowa and it's it's a pretty big thing here in Republican internal politics because Graham was the leader. He came in here for one fundraiser raised to $177,000. And where are those people go is absolutely The crucial question. I think in Minnesota Republican politics mean if nothing else grandmas been a realistic. He made it very clear that he felt that he had to win Louisiana and feeling that he felt that he had to finish in the top three places in Iowa. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he'll Grandma's no longer candidate by the time we get to the Minnesota caucuses include him on our list though. We had nine candidates all together andI think it's safe to say we can talk about five of them and the others I don't think really have much of a chance Luger keys or whatever. But let's talk about Bob Dole Phil Graham Lamar Alexander Pat Buchanan and Steve Forbes and try to get a better reading from from you folks on where are these gentlemen stand on on the issue specifically how they differ one from the other as opposed to Clinton a weave can assume they oppose Clinton on most issues are the major issues that they've been stressing in terms of their campaign Bob Dole five of them that right. Now you need to keep in mind that this is a campaign for the hearts and minds of Republicans. And in the issues that are important in there. They're in a lot of ways legitimate issues are very different during the primary season, then they will be when it's a repoCandidate against President Clinton right. Now that the issues that that separate the candidates have much more to do with side style over substance and and that's not to get back into the horse race kind of discussion because I think they're legitimate issues. A Bob Dole is out there saying I'm an experienced leader. I have the the history of of putting deals together of finding the middle ground on the issues. I think that's an important issue for Bob Dole to be campaigning on Bill Graham has has been say I'm the true conservative. I'm the one who will most closely adhere to traditional conservative values Alexander has has staked his campaign on that experience The Outsider if if that's not an oxymoron somebody who has been involved in government who understands politics, but who is outside the Washington Beltway Forbes probably is is one who would beThe most business-like president and has made that a centerpiece in and that's certainly reflected in his approach to what taxes and envy Canton is he angry white guy Buchanan is is dead. The Crusader who is made America First his campaign theme and while a lot of that does have to do with style that they are important distinguishing issues among the five candidates Amanda Tom's initial where we started from and that this is a battle for the hearts and minds of Republican voters, but it's also it's really a battle for the hearts and minds and souls and delegates Lots in San Diego in August. And therefore you have the classic political science 101 situation where you got everybody left of center and we know those are conservative people that will end up being delegates in San Diego. So it's over the heart and mind battle to see who can L conservative the other but the thing that I think isEnormously interesting to watch is whether you like Steve Forbes or not for someone to come and spend his own money and throw an issue on the table that used to be discussed only in the Wall Street editorial journal pages. And now it's being discussed by everybody. The flat tax is really something to watch when I think about these candidates I think about they're all kind of the same out there in the left and it's as time kind of summarized. They're sort of distinguishing themselves on one particular issue. I read somewhere before we get into some of the specific sweat some callers on the line as well. I read somewhere though that Lamar Alexander is being called a moderate kind of the moderate Canada know what would distinguish him. What would make him more moderate than any of the other candidates governor of Tennessee? He signed a number of tax increases and wisdom to be at that time your classica fiscal conservative social liberal and and since then and I tried to research this question because it was kind of interesting to me. I think he did sort of effectivelyFirst elected first entered electoral politics politics in sort of a pro-choice mode and was able to kind of glass over that and is now conservative on that issue where you see him moderate a his position is in some of the the social issues for example on an abortion, he and and Forbes probably have the most moderate positions Alexander has said that abortion is an issue that we ought to leave to the states and while he's opposed to it personally that ought to be a States issue. He also has been appointed out during his his term as Governor and in the Bush Administration very strong and education and it has recognized the role for government in in promoting education. It's those kinds of issues that allow him to lay claim to that moderate label keeping in mind that all terms are relative and moderate in the Republican Party during a primary season.I may be different from how others would divide moderate. Haha and Bob Dole would it be would it be fair to characterize him is kind of moderate or is he a pretty Rock rib conservative who's been painted as a wishy-washy guy by some of the other candidates, you know, I think Abdul as more than anything a pragmatic politician and his task and and what he has done very well in the United States Senate as chairman of the finance committee as minority leader and I was Majority Leader is two broke her that middle ground to find where Solutions in compromise exist and end to move issues along even if that moves incrementally, I think the in impart he has been unfairly card by the right as as somebody, you know that. Gingrich line is that the caretaker of the welfare state or some of the demonizing that has occurred of his chief-of-staff Sheila Burke who who people claim isA Democrat and Republican clothing. I think really mischaracterize Bob Dole who who has his recognized at his job as a legislator is to legislate to move issues along and he has done that very, well. I think Bob Dole the legislator would be very different from Bob Dole the president in regards to the welfare issue in which he's almost more conservative than than the rest of the pack and that is what he's a supporter of black grandson like like the others he is talking about privatizing pieces of welfare as well as Social Security and I would suspect that if he stays visible in New Hampshire that people will really explore that particular issue Bill Graham. I'm sorry Alexander, we're talking with Sarah janecek and Tom Horner Republican analyst trying to I get a better reading on just where the Republican presidential candidates stand on some of the big issues of the day.Unfortunately, well, they haven't been here campaigning much at all. And it's unlikely they will at least for a while. And so we thought this would be a good way to sort through the names of the personalities that you just get a quick quick read on from the news stories better idea of where they stand on taxes and things like that. So if you'd like to join our kind of you got a specific question for Tom and Sarah give us a call to 276 thousand is our Twin City number outside the Twin Cities one. 800-242-2828 Jim. I'm a little a little down today. Although I did talk to one of the leaders of it and I think we're all standing Pat right now. But the question I had for for your your your panel there revolves around this what Ronald Reagan did successfully I think sometimes people forget Beyond his personality as he carefully put together the three main segments the Republican party, I would call them three separate cultures the corporate culture.The I'd say more libertarian Main Street culture and religious right culture. I was hoping that Phil Graham could do that. Also, he may not be able to that basically leaves us with either douleur Alexander really the only two possibilities of putting these three cultures together. My question for your guest. Is this what do you think Steve Forbes in the people behind him such as Empower America, where were they tend to go? Would they tend to take a chance with Alexander or were they rally behind Google? German got the key question. And I and I think your analysis is right and I think Graham just can't capture that Ronald Reagan tripartite Coalition because he's stressed himself as too much of a conservative. I think the swords people probably end up going to Dole because he is much more of the moderate type person again with I think the nobody really expected Alexander to do this. Well, and I would guess we'll be an incredible momentum on the part of that campaign to go over go after the Forbes constituency. I think those are two unanswered questions. And and I think if anything I will really highlighted the unanswered questions about Steve Forbes one is how deep is his support and here's a guy who really built his support around some 10 million dollars or more in advertising that that support as was reflected in Iowa tends to be very shallow. And in second, who are these did the people who do support Steve Forbes are they traditional Republicans or are they independent? Are they people groan disenchanted with Republican party and are looking for another home? I think it's those questions come into clear Focus. Then we can answer Jim's question of where they go. When I think Sierra makes a good point that goal would be a natural constituency on the other hand the deformed people might well be those who believe that it's time for a change of time for a fresh face. It's it's time to cast a different face on the Republican party and if that's the situation then I don't think Bob Dole as their candidate. I think Governor Alexander much more closely matches with with with the Forbes people might be in terms of the issue that most people identify Forbes with though the flat tax wouldn't matter much. What did I mean? All the candidates are no singing the Praises of the flat tax in one of their relation or another Alexander is saying quote unquote or quote. It's a Nutty idea en route. But I think as we can know that was early on in this process of of throwing the flat tax out there. So it'll be interesting to watch Alexander on that one. And and all of them has been a person who over his long career in the the house in the Senate has probably better understood the tax code and what it can and can't do than anybody else in an infected toe also has been skeptical of the the flat tax and instead has chosen to represent his tax policy more in terms of requiring a 3/5 a constitutional amendment that would require three-fifths majority of of Congress to increase taxes and look at act policy that would drive other issues savings for example dead duel always has been a big supporter of tax incentives like I are raised and in those kinds of tax-advantaged accounts, so in fact, I think one of Did the things that came out if I was that maybe the flat tax isn't the idea that everybody thought it would be Rachel a your question, please Louisiana and Iowa caucuses with the steel with nine candidates, but that's the old is going to have to be winter down pretty fast. Now over the next six weeks. I really enjoyed comes. Discussion about about the style of them are the various candidates and some of your time stands on issues. My question has to do with what should we be looking for in this winter going down. In the next few weeks. What should we be looking for as The Cutting Edge issues that will carry the weight and come and come to the couch survive and who doesn't Exciter and media in general that happens almost in every race is now with the change of the dynamic at the top three heard all Buchanan and Alexander and will be sort of a media feeding Feeding Frenzy in analysis, which I must confess time and I are sitting here at a part of and and I think the thing to watch is to the common threads that keep happening and where in where the media goes and trying to dissect these candidates and I'm not quite sure what those issues will be although I suppose I suspect as I fight earlier that it will be a closer look at the welfare policies and the other other issues other than abortion and other than taxes cuz we talked about those and let's talk about the other issues now. The great Temptation in primary politics is to run campaigns of divide and conquer to to isolate your core vote and polarize everybody else and it takes a lot of that in Iowa and certainly and in Louisiana before I look at the candidates and in what I would look for is who's the first one who can start to articulate a positive Vision can be the healer who can not just focus on all the things that that may be wrong with the government and what the economy but but rather those things that are right with with the country and those things that we ought to build on as we head into the 21st century and I think that applies not just to the field of Republican candidate, but the President Clinton into any of the independent candidates as well. It's time to start focusing on where we ought to be going as opposed to where we've been Richard Lugar is Well, we stole the race I guess he's in all the other and basically we love foreign policy issues play any role whatsoever in determining who who will move ahead here and do the candidates differ at all. And on major foreign policy issues. Are they all in the same as a great deal of difference when they talk about the Taps real Buchanan is very much an isolationist. He's anti Napa and I got and I thought that's a good question. I think that people will start focusing on foreign policy Alexander, of course has no foreign policy record and Dives been pretty mainstream just at the flag into the earlier colored question what the final think I think to watch for is as these candidates compete against each other will one of the make that mistake of trying to capture the ultra-right nothing you're trying too hard and in and really turn off main screen Builders, you know, if there is absolutely right that the foreign policy has been defined not by what what we ought to think of for. Also that is how does the United States right relate to other countries another government. But but rather by those issues that the are focused and word. I mean it is Buchanan. Let's throw up walls around the United States and not let anybody in and presumably not let anybody out and everybody else either is silent on the issue or follows the different themed the same theme and talks about foreign policy in terms of immigration or sometimes prayed. It's unfortunate because we're at a point where there are a lot of changes occurring in the world again and and would not very sensitive to them. If you look at what's happening in in Russia, right beneath Yeltsin and there's a strong Resurgence of the Communist Party in in the leadership positions. And in a lot of of nationalistic talk in in Russian, a lot of eyes toward the the republics that have gone their separate ways. Is the Russia maybe is is going to reassess its its relationship with him in a lot of turmoil in the world that we ought to be paying attention to and end this campaign is not going to focus on any of those issues and I won't expect that to change frankly all the way through the general election on the line now from Osceola, Wisconsin. Thanks for calling your question place. I'm a self-proclaimed liberal and I'm attracted to Luger for number of reasons and I like to analyze why his campaign is gone nowhere so far. I think that he could do something cuz he's positive experience being the most qualified candidates Republican field. But whatever you bring them off and I'm serious in this age of the money and politics in the mudslinging a clean low-budget campaign has no name recognition or first of all before it before you answer his specific question for those of us who aren't following us all as closely a thumbnail sketch of Richard ludger's position, you know the kind of his big his main issues. He's a United States senator from Indiana and he was chair of the Foreign Relations Committee very middle-of-the-road type of Republican person. And I think the answer to defense question is that he's in that mushy middle on a lot of issues plus he's he's taken certain Senate votes that are absolute red flags for for conservative people not the least of which is the he voted against there was a vote on the senate floor by year ago, I guess to cap the Welfare benefits of an unwed mother having more children and that was that's one of the top 10 Christian Coalition key votes and if you vote against that you're sort of dead in the water with the folks that are likely to be telling us. They think an answer to his question dick Lugar is a lot like Bill Bradley are Paul Tsongas in the Democratic party is in in that very decent honorable people. I don't know that that dick Lugar is the best qualified of the Republican candidates. I think it's hard to say that as long as of Bob Dole is in the the brace frankly, but certainly very qualified the problem that alugar has is that very flat personality. He doesn't excite anybody and in this day and age for better or worse. That's a Criterion of becoming elected and secondly as we just discussed his issue that the one with which he is most comfortable foreign policy is the issue that right now not many people care about I suppose. We were in a situation where we're more people felt that the tragedy of Bosnia directly affected them. Maybe dick Lugar would have a stronger platform for his candidacy. But but short of that dick Lugar just just the wrong person at the wrong time with the wrong issue. I know this is Minnesota Public Radio on supposed to be serious, but I think it's important to point out that Senator Lugar is shorter than wellstone Republic are with us today. As we are trying to give us a review here. Where are the presidential candidates the Republican presidential candidates stand on the issues Visa V each other first President Clinton is basically unopposed and we're familiar with his record today. We thought we would try to get a better reading on who these men are who want to be president who are Republicans you keep hearing about them. We get the occasional news stories, but the thought the day we could work our way through. Some of the issues as the presidential campaign really gears up. Now. What was the Iowa caucuses history? It's on the New Hampshire and so on. If you have a specific question about the candidates, give us a call to 276 thousand is our Twin City number to 276 thousand outside the Twin Cities 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 802-422-8028 delange on the line from Fargo High. I'd like to ask your analyst how much of the Roman Catholic does that project possibly a stance for Patrick Roman, Catholic position on issues. I don't have an answer for that specifically. I don't know how well he has been doing specifically among Roman Catholics. Generally his base is Christian conservatives and 4/4 at constituency. His issues are very well suited strong on on the issue of abortion on welfare on small government on family rights on she's been little government involvement in education and and Pat Buchanan always has done very well with those issues playing too that constituency again, and you can't help but let the reality of politics interfere even a bit with with this lofty discussion of substance. But the reality for Pat Buchanan is that he is a candidate who works very very well on the retail level that is when he can get into a state and and work delegates and and caucus Gore's on a one-to-one basis. Where there's not a lot of competition for for attention, he does very well and that's why he went to last and why he won Louisiana and because he has a strong base in and I one month Christian conservatives. He does. Well what I don't think Pat Buchanan can do very well simply because he doesn't have the organization and he doesn't have the funding is run 20 campaign simultaneously. That's the challenge he faces right after New Hampshire when starting with March 5th through March 26th, there are some 20-plus caucuses and primaries Each of which is important that the totally will select about 75% of the delegates to the Republican convention in in August. Pappy Cannon, simply doesn't have the resources to run that kind of a campaign and I would think that his star is going to pretty quickly start to fade will religion and morality play that much of a role in who ends up getting the nomination. I was just thinking here food for 35 years ago and John F. Kennedy ran and the fact that he was Catholic was important point out to me how far we've come in 35 years and I would be hard-pressed off the top of my head right now to name the religion of the key contenders for the Republican nomination, which I said which I think says a lot about where we are today in politics. What about the military records of the candidates are they have they all served in the military publicans like to beat Clinton up for his lack of military service Lena, Bob Dole certainly has tried to make an issue of that tune and given his his service record an issue that is very much a part of of his character again you I think that's the kind of issue because of a running against Bill Clinton that gets played out. If you're about Abdul who has a demonstrable service record, but but other than that is pretty much of a neutral unless something goes horribly wrong in Bosnia or someplace else where Military experience maybe as is relevant. But do we know about the other ones you have they had. In fact been in the service. Now, they have not been in the service any the tap really 5 we've been talking about I just double-checked. However, there are Rumblings and I can't recall which particular candidate of somebody else that may have tried to avoid the draft of that kind of thing. So if I'm a a tabloid news TV reporter, I would certainly be looking at that issue in the next few weeks here as both any anyone else try to Dodge Service Forbes was National Guard and he would have been of the Vietnam War era Graham. I don't think he has any military service and and frankly, I don't know about just Apple chat we had her to do and Alexander began is no military service. Rosemary still on the line. I was wondering what you thought of the statement Pat Buchanan made this morning feeling that he was the only candidate that could be Clinton because of his continual a position to get and NAFTA which we interpret as jobs and also because of his own waffling position on right to life and he's being two issues which will not go away. Well. Am I say my personal belief is that Buchanan is not speaking for the mainstream of where most of the voters are and I think it if if anything and I think times like the issue earlier but pointing out the Roberts came in second in the last Iowa caucus that these are the kinds of issues that appeal to certain people in the Republican party in their hot button issues for those people. But in this winnowing process now that we will start at the field Narrows and people think about will G who really would be the right person to run against Clinton. It'll become clear that the buchanans issues on the weekends views on the issues the collar a numerator Just simply don't stand the test of where America's at, you know, if you go back to the 1992 Republican convention in which Pat Buchanan delivered his his fire and brimstone speech that speech frankly scared the Dickens out of a lot of Republicans not just a lot of of Democrats and independents and I think that really reflected how a lot of people feel about Buchanan. I just think that that did the Moor Pat Buchanan expand Beyond his natural constituency with with the statements and and issues the more his support the roads in terms of an issue have the candidates are any of the candidates said much about this. Oh, I don't know what you called economic security issue or lack of security growing income gap in America people live free fearful for their jobs are going to lose her job. So on so forth it at the Kansas going to dressing. Not at all and are there any differences between the approaches they're taking you know, they have it and I think that's primarily an argument Democrats maker that the glowing reported growing a disparity between the classes and I think what's interesting is that it's going to be difficult for the Democrats to make that argument this time because economic indicators have been good lately and Clinton will want to take credit for the economy. So why do you know what's really talked about Economic Security issues? Because that's not the audience or Republicans. I think you do find some candidates Prime did find it areas in in Economic Security that they can exploit. I find it interesting that the most conservative of all the candidates Buchanan maybe has been the one who has launched the strongest attack on the business community and he's he's taking his flat tax proposal and said we got to charge a 17% flat flat tax on large corporations. I'm he really has tried to exploit that the disenchantment in the even anger that than a lot of people feel with the the AT&T 40,000 layoffs in those kinds of of headlines in and I think it's done it with with some degree of success. The other candidates are are more in the mainstream of Republican ideologies in and how they approach Economic Security. It's reduce the Regulatory and tax burden on corporations and allow them to create jobs. And so there's there's pretty consistent views and reducing capital gains tax for example and lessening the other regulatory burden Alexander has talked a lot about the Need For Education and Training programs. So they've all can a nip the way at the edges of it. But again back to the earlier collars question, would you look for one of the things that I would look for is who's out there creating a vision test? We've done pretty well. Yes, a lot of people are suffering. Yes, we have problems that we have to resolve but we have a lot of pranks in the economy right now and we've gone through this horrible shaking out. Now it's time to build on that and then to expand the benefits to everybody. I brought your question, please. Yeah, thanks for taking my call. I wanted to ask your guests about the position of the Republican candidates on environmental issues. I think that's environmental issues are going up invisibility little bit with President Clinton and his State of the Union message, and I'm just wondering if the Republicans are going to address any of the issues like clean water Wetlands protection safe drinking water clean air. And what are there any differences among the candidates or if they're all from what I can tell you have a kind of a dismal outlook on the environment? You know, I think it's really a tragedy for we Minnesota Minnesota Republicans who have come from such a strong tradition of good environmental involvement me look back to to Elmer Anderson and Harold levander and in more recently to Dave durenberger and and some of the leadership they have shown over the years. Environmental Protection, and and I think it's such a tragedy that the reality is that the candidates haven't dealt with with environmental issues because in a Republican primary, they don't have to it's not an issue. The only way they they deal with environmental issues is to go about beating up on on regulatory excesses as they see it and I think that's a great Misfortune and and a great lost opportunity for the Republican party. Besides talking about the regulatory burden. A lot of these candidates are talking about an issue that we're seeing here in Minnesota for the last few years. And that's the whole property rights debate if the government takes your land or limit your use that would be qualified as a taken as well for environmental reasons. There should be just compensate compensation. That's a real Buzz issue along with abortion and some religious issues for the conservative right and they pretty much all Agree in that van where it has points on the takings issue. It looks like probably that Alexander is probably of the the ones that were classifying is remaining in the field right now. Probably the most pro-environment. Next question is from her but I place a tax proposal got so much publicity as well as Buchanan and no one seems to mention ludger's proposal for a national sales tax, which would truly eliminate the IRS. I'll hang up. Thank you three words, 20 million dollars. I mean the fact is Steve Forbes put a lot of money and making flat tax an issue and he had the money to spend dick Lugar simply hasn't had the resources to to raise the visibility around the the sales tax issue have any of the candidates other candidates responded to that sales tax proposal of losers. I think it's the flat tax issue again because Forbes had $29 to spend to to throw that issue in the race Flags a much deeper feeling on the part of most people that our tax system is grossly unfair and that the people that benefit or Archer Daniels Midland and then huge conglomerate so they can pay. Well he with lobbyists to get them special loopholes and I think certainly the next several years will see major tax reform Elder your question place. I guess I've always been puzzled as to why did sex education was introduced in the public schools. And apparently it hasn't been successful since Clinton has established a new cabinet. I don't know if it's nothing but I'll position for addressing teenage pregnancy. So apparently at I was wondering if there were any A candidates were addressing this issue. It seems to me like he's perhaps is the only one who has the address this issue. You don't mind that the five major candidates that really about the only way they ever get to that issue is through through welfare, the discussion of welfare and a number of them Forbes in included have proposed some variation of requiring unwed teenage mothers to live at home not allow welfare benefits to them so that they they could live independently and end they try to to get to the issue that way the other is I'm have to have pretty much duck the issue in the discussion of any other topic. Yeah, I think sounds right that the only way it has come up through his welfare. And I guess I would view discussions of a sex education in case through 12 if Dole and Alexander and you can it will be Canon does talk about that. But if the more mainstream Republican candidate start talking about that, it's time to really Reassess how hard how how much effort they're putting into capturing the far right in terms of welfare. Are there any welfare policy of there any significant differences between the candidates or are they all pretty much on the same page on that? No, it's all the differences are pretty incremental all of them want to return welfare to the states some of them in a block ramp some of them and direct payment some of them as a trade-off with with Medicare or Medicaid, excuse me, but but all of them would get the the welfare responsibility back to the state and all of them two to one degree or another would propose some limitation on the recipients of of welfare cut him off after 2 years or after 5 years require unwed teen mothers to live at home with her parents require welfare recipients to actively be engaged in looking for a job. And if they don't find a job after a certain. Of time, they're they're cut off. All variations on the same thing. The only thing I have to add there as if you can and would end all the block grants to the states after 5 years and you also get some variation and how they would treat immigrants. Some of them would wood bar sir. I think they all would bar services to to the illegal immigrants. Some of them would extend that to to borrowing services to even some legal immigrants Forbes probably has been the most moderate on that issue and end. It has said pretty openly that he believes the Republican discussion of immigration policy at best is is divisive and at worst says racist, unfortunately, we're out of time appreciate your you know, the old racehorse I got to ask I got to ask the right. I got to ask to race Wars question who's going to who's going to win a New Hampshire? I'm sorry, or I think bill is going to win. I think it was going to win too and I think forbes' hasn't had a taste of it and I think he will spend tens of Millions. Rivertown money just in the next few months. But by the time we get to California in late March, I would expect Bob Dole's going to be the nominee. Thanks for joining us today to take a look at the Republican candidates for president where they stand on the issues. Hope you found it informative. We certainly did and I'd like to thank all of you who been with us through the hours specially those of you who called in or tried to call in with your questions and comments Crowder Cunningham Joann just now Greta. Yes. I've been keeping the seat warm for you over here. Hoping to hear from many people today as our membership Drive hits almost a half way Mark II to 72811 is a number in the Twin Cities or one eight hundred two two seven 2011 anywhere in the Minnesota Public Radio listening area to people on the phone right now. You can hear a little jingle in the background. That means another person is becoming a member of Minnesota Public Radio. They're pledging their support. They enjoy the hour-long specials on where did it come to you five days a week and they enjoyed Gary eichtens. Rapier wit a program to do 72811 is never the Twin Cities one 800-227-2811. Welcome back to the place to go get Mom to be back. You don't have my glasses on but it looks to me like we're getting close to 450 a memory that they are and we are 30 min away from 4:50 today listeners out there, I think so. I think we can Rouse them due to 72811 is a number of the Twin Cities one 800-227-2811. Let's say hello to some of these midday listeners. Let's say thank you to Nick from St.Paul. Thank you so much, Denise and Eric Johnson of Faribault, Minnesota. Thank you for your support today. Appreciate hearing from you. Dan Colleen and Patricia Aloha Laura. Thank you for becoming members of Minnesota Public Radio and Steven Bauer in Edina. Thank you. So Also thanks to Brian O'Brien from when we're not sure where Ryan is from actually has location Rochester calling us as well at 2 to 7:20 at 11 or one 800-227-2811 just about well less than 5 minutes to go before we go out to Talk of the Nation and we really would like to get you signed up because we need to get you signed up. No commercials here on Minnesota Public Radio, as you know, instead if you like to listen to programs like midday Talk of the Nation. Well, we need your membership support to pay for them. And yes, we are talking to you. I know it gets tedious and tiresome to listen to us way. And we will at the end of the week, but right now we need to hear from you. If you haven't called us yet. It's very simple and they need is real to to 72811. 1-800. 227-2811 is the number to call one caller on the line everybody who listens to midday those of you listening to talk of the Talk of the Nation getting ready for that program had a huge huge crowd out there. If you enjoy listening to Ray Suarez or Gary eichten Now's the Time to tell our volunteers that you really appreciate their hard work by calling 227-2011 in the Twin Cities or one 800-227-2811 anywhere in the Minnesota Public Radio listening area near this many people are are quite a pensive Bunch. They have to think things over at the mullet over before they take some action, but time is running out. We've got about two minutes left and we'll go back to the programming grab your Visa. Mastercard or American Express or Discover card and give us a call membership is the single most important source of income would make up two people right? There are listening to do. So, please wear Tim member short of 450 and we'd like to wrap that up before we end. Midday here. That's $2 on the line. We're about eight short. If you want to eat people who hasn't called us yet do so. Please do to 72811 in the Twin Cities or one 800-227-2811 eight people if you're one of eight new hasn't called in yet with a new membership or if it's time to renew. If you want have eight people. Give us a quick call here as we finish up this this hour of midday get ready for Talk of the Nation eight people to to 72811 step forward lead lead here. We need a leader Greta. What happens if one person calls then the excitement builds. Then we get there we go. There's a person there's your leader calling us right now to to 72811 less than a minute to go here will get back to the programming to go get in under the wire one 800-227-2811 three people on the line right now Gary. Let me in 7 more people look for people on the line. We can do it 5 now a227 28115 more of you and we'll be right on track here five more if you've not yet call to renew or take out a new membership to 27208 11 or one 800-227-2811. Just four more of you. Let me do a quick credit here three more to go three more at 2 to 7:20 at 11. Let me read this you keep us posted here programming a Minnesota Public Radio is supported by shots Paquin Lockridge grindal and Holstein with offices in the Twin Cities in Washington DC how many we got to go here Greta? You and your friend can call and make us reach our goal of 450-227-2811 or one 800-227-2802 more. Midday listeners is all it will take me one of them. Thanks for all of you by thanks to all of you rather who would already called and keep those phones ringing. I'm Andrei codrescu. Join me John Raby and the Washington crew for the news and long looks into the human soul. It's all things considered everyday at 3 on the FM news station k n o w FM 91.1 You're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. Sunnysky 35 degrees the wind chill though is 15 at the FM news station kalw FM 91.1 Minneapolis-Saint Paul Twin City weather forecast calls for partly cloudy Sky through the afternoon with a high in the mid to upper 30s still waiting for those two calls, by the way. It's one From National Public Radio in Washington. I'm Ray Suarez and this is Talk of the Nation. The European Diplomat managing must are in Bosnia trying to get Croatan Muslims to live together after years of tension. Mr. Coach Nick propose to have the center of the city mixed again with Muslims and cross the cross were furious at this. They actually ransacked his office. They jumped up and down on his car while he was inside it and a curfew eventually had to be imposed overnight NPR's Andy Bowers in Bosnia diplomacy is that difficult search for solutions that work and when you can doing the right thing to weather making peace in the Balkans tracking nuclear materials in the old Soviet Union or pressure in Nigeria for Democratic change. The state department has a lot on his plate these days deputy secretary of state strobe Talbott joins me after the news.