The Journal Editorial Report: 9/5

" Coming up next President Obama make -- comeback from. From health care cap and trade a look at the prospects for -- domestic agenda and how he'll try to turn those sinking poll numbers are. And after that deadliest month of the war so far calls from the left. And the right. We'll withdraw from Afghanistan -- the president sell a new strategy there. How Muslim immigration has changed the face of Europe and the lessons there for the United States The Journal Editorial Report start."

" Welcome to The Journal Editorial Report I'm -- you go after a brutal August recess of angry town halls and slipping poll numbers. Democrats and President Obama return to Washington next week hoping to salvage what they can have a faltering domestic agenda the top priority. Health care reform and debate the president hopes to re frame. When he addresses a joint session of congress on Wednesday night so. Can -- make an -- come back joining the panel this week Wall Street Journal columnist and deputy editor Dan -- Opinion journal dot com columnist John fund and Washington columnist Kim -- well -- Our web we're gonna see a big different change of strategy for the autumn come back or not."

" What you know what that this White House is realizing that it does not have the support needs for some of its big grand health -- ambitions but it also understands that it would be deadly. To not have some sort of health care legislation having campaigned and worked on that's for so long. So here's the C you know you -- giving this address to congress are still gonna see a lot of town halls and and a push out their -- traded to gin up some corporate. What you're also seeing is a groundwork being laid where they can maybe step this back a little slit their talking about. We've been working with Republicans for smaller sort of -- something that would be more about subsidies for more subsidies for people may be. Rules saying that health insurers have to. To provide insurance to all Americans health -- exchange where everyone could look and compare health care plan. The question though is can they do this and had how to they deal with their left flank which is demanding the whole the whole month."

" All right on -- on that point did and the democratic left 83 members of the house sent a letter to the president this week backed up by speaker Pelosi saying. Any bill without a robust public option will not pass the house so caught between when Kim says. The demands of the larger country and the demands of the left which way this President Obama go."

" Well I think he ought to go right down the -- Look. He got elected. To the presidency on the basis of tremendous support from independent voters -- so for far they have given those people nothing in this presidency. Nothing at all he's been running as a progressive president that may be what he wants to do progressive in the sense of liberal president liberal left really. Big big government. Growth in the state -- the -- the response the economy. The nationalization. Of the auto industry all of these things I think of startled people in the center. And I don't not sure how the health bill gives those people anything other than to pull back on the public got on the --"

" I'm health -- built on the White House really believes that when the public understands the details support for it goes up and that there's the real problem here is confusion so the presence -- the Wednesday is gonna say. Look specifically this is what we're gonna do for you -- insurance. Do you think that that is a winning strategy I think the president's numbers will go up. And I think the president will have enough support them. To pass an animal bill. Insurance reform with massive subsidies to get powerful insurance -- insurance reform and massive subsidies SI -- bill that's a very big deal and we're talking about several hundred billion dollars worth of subsidies. Say 300 -- 400% of poverty that would be a huge victory. That's right and the left wing will be kicking and screaming and forced to vote -- they won't like it because it will have the public option exactly. But here's the problem and -- will vote for yes they will vote for but the president will invested so much time and energy passing his health care bill minimal or not. That I think he's going to lose the focus on the economy the people are expecting a -- unemployment is now nine point 7%. I think people are asking themselves we care about our jobs we care about losing our jobs why did you spend so much time -- health care I think that's been a long term cost of this."

" The former senate majority leader said the choice between complete legislative failure -- majority rule. Should not pose a dilemma for any democratic senator. Which backed up -- the editorial in New York Times and it said if the Democrats won a one act health care reform this year they appeared have to little choice but to adopt a high risk. Go it alone majority rules strategy which means ram it through one partisan votes if you have to do and maybe that means a more left wing bill. That would mean a more left wing -- when John is just."

" The White House though is -- Very very wary to use this process called reconciliation. Allows you to push through the Senate. With fifty votes instead of sixty. Because it is so against everything that -- Barack Obama said he was four and it. And we get -- is -- tone in Washington all of that yeah exactly discussion. And it's also not something that some of his senate Democrats who conference swing states wanna do either because it does look so partisan and it also -- It would it helps that going that way only. Kind of legitimize as -- Republicans in an argument that they need to -- stop that you know in and give them a little cover rather than saying their instructions okay VATICAN today. You but can that strategy succeed can they really ran it through on a partisan voter is this just bluffing. I think it's more bluffing right now than anything else because you know while you've got guys like Chuck Schumer rather saying -- reconciliation and the senator from New York you've got a lot of guys lake you know Kent Conrad -- North Dakota who say. I don't think my people -- like this and it's that the question whether they can even get fifty people to go with that."

" You know me you know one of the things themes of this presidency so far has been defer to congress particularly that are very liberal committee chairman of this you strategy -- different there -- as present -- gonna start to try to mold. This legislation these -- legislative priorities more himself."

" I think so Paul you know we always used to say -- the editorial page on foreign policy cannot have 535. Commanders in chief that's why the president is in charge of foreign policy. I think he's proving you cannot have 535. Policy makers on something as large as performing 70% of the economy."

" All right Dan thank you well if you think president Obama's poll numbers are bad to be taken a look at congress' lately. Approval is at at 24 year low of 37% according to a new pew poll. And that may -- thanks in part to folks like congressman Charlie Rangel as we reported the chairman of the tax writing Ways and Means Committee has some tax problems of his own. Earlier this month he amended his 2007 financial disclosure form to the tune of more than half a million dollars. In previously un reported assets and income. Well the New York Post reported this week that wrangles committee has quietly slipped into the health care bill broad new provisions cracking down on taxpayers. In their dealings with the I -- The legislation would strip away legal defenses. It increased penalties on corporate and individual taxpayers. Facing IRS scrutiny even if they aired in good faith. By the way democratic -- said this week that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi won't let -- keep his chairmanship despite the ongoing ethics probe. When we come back the president's got trouble on the foreign policy front as well after another bloody month in Afghanistan. Call from the left and the right to withdraw. Can the administration selling new strategy there. Doesn't get any better for the president on foreign policy -- August marking the deadliest month for US forces in Afghanistan since the war began there in 2001. Come as no surprise that liberals like Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold are beginning to question. The administration's military strategy but this week conservative columnist George will made the case for getting out of -- Afghanistan as well. Saying that quote. Forces should be substantially reduced to serve -- comprehensively. Revised policy America should do only what can be done from offshore. Using intelligence drones cruise missiles. Airstrikes and small potent special forces units concentrating. On the -- 1500 mile border with Pakistan. A nation that actually matters. We're back with Dan -- anger also joining the panel Wall Street Journal deputy editor and foreign affairs columnist Bret Stephens. And editorial features editor rob -- all right -- how serious is this revolt. Against the Afghanistan policy of the administration left and right."

" It's it's it's especially serious I mean you have. George will looking like -- carried the man who was for -- childish -- Before he was against but it's an it's an important point consistency here matters and when you start. When you go wasteful war it's important that you supported even through through -- through difficult times book two years ago we were in the exact same place. In -- you had a new general a new strategy and mounting calls from from high profile pundits and -- and congressman saying. This isn't gonna work we need to get out the experience of the search and tell us that the US can do counterinsurgency of Kansas City."

" And what -- are misunderstandings look we as Americans don't do nation very. Building very well which I think is is is is a powerful point we haven't done very well certainly not in the last decade or two from -- to Iraq or even Afghanistan second. We can achieve our strategic goals and Afghanistan from offshore we don't need to be on the ground we can take care of al-Qaeda. With more airstrikes and -- what do you think --"

" Well arguments are wrong for first of all we're not really doing nation building in Afghanistan to the extent that we can help build a nation create institutions. Above all build a large Afghan army that can -- and get into the fight effectively. That's important but that's not what we're there we're we're there to do were not there like in Somalia as a sort of humanitarian."

" They're fresh strategic interest -- where their first there's the strategic interest because this is where we were attacked and we don't wanna create a base against -- it to strike Pakistan or or or to strike. There were -- look at things a little bit wrong to say we're not there during nation building what is the counterinsurgency model from Iraq clear hold build. Enough yet what I've spent time in Iraq and spent time in Afghanistan I have to say I was pretty optimistic about the surge working in Iraq -- a lot less so about Afghanistan while it's a really primitive country it's -- there's just not much to build -- build on. There will look everybody -- went. Iraq is not that much more of it and an advanced staying much much. As it as it records and rich and -- and when you talk directives literate and India Iraq has a tradition of central government when you don't get ahead -- none of -- when you talk about Afghanistan and you have to bear in mind. That most of the countries appease the economy is in much of -- much of the country the economy is actually. Doing well we have a problem in the Pashtun belt and if you think going back to draw -- other point that offshoring is gonna work that's precisely what we were doing before of the Ford logo or tomorrow night in Iraq and at."

" The question isn't -- want to get in on this can we achieve. Our strategic goals military goals of containing and defeating al-Qaeda strictly from offshore I don't have a problem -- let me just interject himself. We don't know what the -- general -- has submitted his plan to the White House but they won't release it so we don't quite know what were arguing about here -- nation building -- counter insurgency does seem to be -- counterinsurgency strategy again that is rooted in winning the support of the Afghan -- that's not quite the same -- nation no it is not the same -- nation building but does require the support the Afghan people might be providing them with security. And with a government that presumably. You know is credible enough and legitimate enough that will be a --"

" But let's hold up Willis a straw man here he goes way too far by saying take the war offshore but you've got to keep some number of troops -- in there. But the question is how Matt and I think when you look at it the political difficulties that President Bush and Republicans -- surging in Iraq. Adding it's getting. Almost impossible to conceive that Obama is going to be able to keep Democrats on board for a long surge in Afghanistan so we better have a plan B."

" That's all I'm saying there is a question of can you run a good counterinsurgency Brad and -- and I I tend to agree with you that we we we should make this effort but. -- crystal asked for 45000 more troops to do the job. And the president says sorry I can only politically give you fifty. Is that -- enough really to succeed."

" What you know but it's very difficult to make us to see that -- crystal presumably knows a lot better than we do yes -- for that anymore I don't support troops is of more troops aren't are important because part of it is securing large population centers particularly like Kandahar but you'll remember that part of what made the search unique. Wasn't simply be additional numbers of troops it was that he was a revolution in the way that we did counter insurgency in Iraq. By bringing over people who would previously been against us bringing them on our side there's every there's. Precisely that opportunity is with -- in Afghanistan because part of the probably -- that isn't simply the Taliban. It's also there are ethnic splits within it would we will among those who among the past June. And we can bring over those disaffected -- over to our side."

" All right this debate will continue gentleman back here and on Capitol Hill still ahead a new twist on the immigration the columnist Christopher Caldwell says. Muslim governments have changed the face -- Europe and not for the better he'll make his case and tell us what the United States can learn from Europe's experience. When we come back."

" In his controversial new book reflections on the revolution in Europe columnist Christopher Caldwell takes on the issue of Muslim immigration to the western argues that Islamist. Fundamentally challenging the European way of life. In the middle of the twentieth century there were almost no Muslims in Europe today there are as many as seventeen million. Making a -- about half of all newcomers there and Caldwell argues these immigrants are not integrating. But in fact supplanting European culture. And exhibiting attitudes consistent -- the people quote patiently conquering Europe city's street by street. I recently spoke with Christopher Caldwell and asked him what he meant by that."

" The -- my book is sound is not so much about conquest. As it is a boat. A Muslim population in Europe that is growing. Without ever really becoming part of of Europe it's not assimilating and that's not really -- not like you're not. I I think that did you you there's an economic explanation for it. Europe has a much more generous welfare state. Then we do and a lot of our assimilation I think happens in the -- place -- and and our our first generation immigrants are all in the world so it goes all rubbing shoulders like the lower levels of economic opportunity in Europe it's just not scary part because of the welfare state well yes and an end in and and their asylum policies which are big sticking point in Europe over the last. Ten years mean that in some countries immigrants are not allowed to work. So there. Superseded by asylum meaning people who were produced essentially political asylum from. Refugees and if you had -- from Somalia and Bosnia in the early ninety's who had been in from Iran are not allowed to work within Islam to work. And and and in the -- this. You'll never hear it even Americans who don't like immigration will never accuse the immigrants of not being. Hard working and how that you have a situation where in. In in Swedish housing projects you have. You know almost half the residents in the segregated housing projects are on welfare first generation. -- the same thing in Amsterdam. And it begins to subsidize a very different form of life so for instance. Two thirds of the."

" In the other part it is is -- cultural component you seem to argue for example that it's not just. The vigorous self confidence of Islamic culture. That is a problem here but it's also the weakness. Of western culture the lack of self confidence. By European liberals."

" I think I think that's right and in Houston area where I think my book. Differs a great deal from other treatments of this so I mean my book tries to be comprehensive it tries to cover. Everything from you know from religion -- economics to terrorism to philosophy -- after. Com. I think I differ from other writers on this in. Have -- generally positive. View of the role of Islam the religion in these communities I think one of the things that's happening in Europe is that there's no. Immigrants come from much more conservative backgrounds then then then we do in our modern. Economies there are a lot of people who are very traditional ideas about the family right you know about old daughter and then -- women abortion. -- The European tendency. -- to sort of rub this in the immigrants faces I mean the Dutch showed them a video that shows men kissing. And women bathing topless in the beach as a way to drive them away."

" As a modern secular European culture is is -- is so -- teen in the center just let people who live and let them."

" That's right and an -- in they tend to look at immigrants is backwards. -- backward at the same time. Immigrants don't have a rude into mainstream. European politics the way of conservative. Us from Latin America who objects to abortion say. Would we find his -- occupations reflected at the national level. So they make their own they go back to Islam they do have their daughters wearing the veil and and that sort of hard -- what is so lessons. From Europe for America and how to handle immigration especially Islamic great well you know there there's certain things we have in common. One thing is that when you commit to immigration. You commit to immigration over the long term they're going to be here this yes and they're gonna -- an ever increasing numbers because we talk about. You know immigrants doing the jobs that Americans. Won't do well. Those in immigrants if things work out are gonna become Americans and then they will no longer do the jobs that Americans won't do. Europeans are having a very hard time -- that. With that concept do we do a better job than Europeans of assimilation absolutely -- in part it's because we went through this before we went through this found a 10050. Years ago we are now a country of -- of immigrants. They are not and they're having a hard time. Adjusting to it but there's another difference which is one we became a country of immigrants -- a lot of people examining where the United States was going. What was happening to the country. In Europe. There are so many taboos about talking about what's happening to Europe that they haven't had any real discussion and they haven't been. Ordering it and it's partly to break those taboos that I wrote this book. The would you say that there's a real difference between. -- Mexican immigration which is the dominant kind in the United States and Islamic immigration. Is there. Yes there it would you would you put a limit on the last. When I put I'm not -- European so why I idea and I I have not suggested anything but in the United States would you want. And I you know again I'm not a politician but. I I do think that it will be more problematic for us to assimilate over the over the long term. And Mexican immigration the Mexicans come to communities that have religious institutions that -- already. Belong to they speak a European language they speak a language that Americans learn in high school it's it's much less of a gap. All right Chris Caldwell thanks so much for coming. Thank people."

" to take one more break when we come back. Our hits and misses of the week."

" Time now for our hits and misses of the weekend first you."

" I hit to big oil Paul in fact really big oil. Oil major BP announced a tremendous fine in the Gulf of Mexico this week -- a place thought to be more bonds meanwhile China's state oil company petrochina said it's investing one point seven billion dollars in Canadian tar sands. We already know about the tremendous -- of -- occurred recently off the coast Brazil. All of which suggests that the peak oil theories are wrong and the -- is going to be around for at least the next fifty years and I think our policy makers ought to start taking this in."

" To a -- all right -- This is a big miss another mess from Omar Qaddafi he recently introduced a motion in the UN calling for the abolition of Switzerland. Now why is he doing that. The Swiss -- rested his son Hannibal the aptly named Hannibal. About a year ago because apparently Hannibal was badly abusing some of his staff put him in jail for a couple days let him go. Qaddafi retaliated by holding Swiss citizens hostage threatening an oil embargo on Switzerland. Anyway when I think of Switzerland I think of great watch is great thanks beautiful scenery fabulous. Cities when I think -- I think of dictatorship oil and terrorism so -- abolish any country I don't think it ought to -- Switzerland --"

" Rob -- well it's Reverend Wright all over again except this time is working in the White House you remember all those green jobs President Obama talks about creating was green jobs are as a guy called Van Jones is -- radical leftist and -- has been caught on tape saying things like. -- polluters steer poison in the minority communities he signed a petition calling on the New York State attorney general to investigate whether the Bush Administration allowed nine elevenths to happen and so as a pretext for war makes you wonder when these people are gonna stop popping up around mr. Obama. All right -- Stossel."

" This is that a -- for the news that New York a former New York governor Eliot Spitzer is debating a comeback. Maybe even running for the US -- I'm all for political -- but this -- a guy who only eighteen months ago resigned and humiliation because he was involved in a prostitution scandal. -- New Yorkers are not happy with their current crop of politicians surely surely there has to be some new blood in the states. You know so he may want to -- in the study got a new job he's going to be teaching his City College in New York. New that. Of course called a lot law and the public policy may go here -- to learn something from."

" All right Kim thanks so much and remember if you have your -- hit a -- please send Abbas said JER at foxnews.com. That's it for this week's edition of the journal. Editorial report thanks to my panel and -- apology go see right here. Next week."