'Special Report' Online: 11/4

" Welcome to another edition of Special Report on line on -- there we are having a few technical issues with our system now and you're probably able to see and hear me. But you can't logon with your questions or comments and we can't see them so it's a big. Issue. But we're gonna go through some of the topics we're gonna talk about anyway. And hopefully you'll still enjoy this little time we have after our broadcast show. Unfortunately can't do our vote for the lightning round on Friday the online poll so we'll figure out a way that deal with that later. Anyway back with the panel Fred Mara and Charles also we have James Rosen sent -- by. On Capitol Hill. And I wanna start with him James you talked about the CBO. Coming out with some new numbers today about the house. Reform bill healthcare reform bill what's. -- something about those that that we didn't get in the show."

" Well what's interesting is that the Congressional Budget Office released very late today a new figure 210 billion dollars. Over ten years the so called doctor fix. This is a piece of legislation that the Democrats in the house and the Senate card now. Of their respective health care reform bill so it kept totally separate. The original measure anyway and what it does I should point out the doctor fixes that protects Medicare doctors. Doctors -- participate in Medicare from steep cuts in their rate of reimbursement. Originally projections were close to 250 billion dollars so this is a modest gains for the Democrats. Unfortunately it still means that it's gonna be about 210 billion dollars. In deficit spending which is why when this measure came up separately in the Senate it was voted down by twelve Democrats. And Joe Lieberman who voted against it. Apparently what enabled this CBO figures to come in a little bit lower or in any case was connected to it. Was it ruled by the Health and Human Services. Department -- That went exactly opposite of the same way that HHS rule when this came up under the Bush Administration little bit of interesting trivia there."

" Yeah how are also getting some more details about this thing in our system here. That the CBO is saying that actually the house health care bill covers more illegal immigrants. Then the original HR through 3200. Which is another sticking issue that plus the abortion issue he's a real problem for some moderate Democrats."

" the abortion issue particularly yesterday we saw Henry Waxman the liberal chair of the house commerce and energy committee one of the committees that put forward -- version of health care reform. An influential player in all of this day. That the party had resolved its differences on abortion. I had come up with some compromise language that would ensure. As the federal law now requires that no federal funds can be used as a result of this health care reform measure. To subsidize abortions but not so fast today said representative Bart Stupak of Democrat of Michigan. Even though he's not in town he suffered a death in his family's back in Michigan. But he issued a statement Fox News today. In essence saying that he is not satisfied with the language that the Democrats have put forward on abortion. And -- bull whip his own colleagues into opposing it from getting to the floor. If it changes in May soon."

" Yeah and we should point out that Capitol Hill parlance for. We have this is try to move them in the direction of voting his way not actually whipping them -- tomorrow. Tell me about how significant these speed bumps are."

" I think every speed -- significant. Some of it the White House recently said to me time is the enemy of health care reform the longer it's out there the more speed bumps there are. And the more problems that have I mean it -- there was a res in the White House wanted this to be done by August that was the first deadline they set -- hope that. Both houses would pass something in my now we be in a conference committee. They don't like. To build the kind of out there. For a long time so people can learn more about it can develop their objections to let people can start. I'm becoming disenchanted with various things and these various coalitions against -- can start forming I think it's a problem and they also don't like the prospect of of dealing with in the 30. Election cycle that look that's why he wanted to. Originally passed through both houses by August. The 30 election cycle which now of course looks even more perilous for Democrats than it did may be two weeks ago is a problem. Health care and midterm elections are not a very good combination. And I do think you see a lot of nervous Democrats are probably gonna see them even more nervous after what happened yesterday. And that's a problem you know that's also one of the things about Harry Reid's new strategy which is to have the public option in the bill. And asked the moderate Democrats to take it outside on the floor. He I think he knows that there is not sixty votes for something with the robust public option in it. But by doing it this way. It allows more time. To develop opposition to end Charles so much for transparent."

" C and the other issue is. You know if if Democrats are so confident that everyone wants this health care reform. Why not take it and run with that for the 30 elections and say this is what we're running up. Because the back story is they don't have the moderate support."

" Be able to get it through and they saw what happened in August. And they saw what happened last night. There's great the resistance some of it is not articulated. In the most polite way into some of it happens in protest these great resistance to a government received accurately. As spending wildly taxing highly and being intrusive into American life. And the and Obama cares the ultimate expression of that and we saw -- a piece of that resistance yesterday expressed some -- these huge swings in independents. Again yes they work. Local issues but also it's it is a basic sense that the policies of the president. Not his personality but his policies are declining popularity and that's why the administration is essential hiring. And to get the bill passed because they don't want anyone to read it. Once you leave it any slimy and it's it's war and peace it is twice war and peace and it's you know it's it's it's incomprehensible as. As in the Russian -- it it it's it's it thousands of pages and -- every one you get new regulations new restrictions. And a war which as people discover it and is gonna be protest. The biggest problem I think is the overall cost and the doctor takes is the most egregious example. Simple chicanery in this it's hidden in the in the in the health care reform bill it's put in a separate. The bill as soon as it becomes talked about in public. It becomes I -- humiliation for the him if I mean James talks about it gone from 250 or whatever to to ten."

" But it still -- ten yeah any -- as a poignant Medicare Advantage Sunday plus. It almost doesn't matter how big it is once an overly certain size so it's not paid for and that's the injection everybody wants the doctor thinks he -- is that it's not paid for the."

" President Obama saw something if there's a separate bill that these 210 billion into the death."

" Element it's not the health care Melanie Marty said it would raise the deficits don't even that wouldn't be the deficit go up he can set aside. Did did you wouldn't be the first who have done that. That the buddies said no but he's certainly -- of millions of guys that claimed he was gonna change the business as usual in Washington well. Stuff like this is business as usual and why should it he's an accountant but I tell them and its. Bart Stupak a wanted to say something about him because he's a query very brave guy congressman Stupak -- from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He gains nothing from this I mean this is an act I think on his part -- on the abortion issue of conscience. Because the vast majority of the Democrats in the house of a garden that I don't agree with him. -- the leadership doesn't. He he has everything to lose in in terms of the internal politics of the House of Representatives and Democrats and yet he's pushing this. Now it gets an easy issue to solve. He does have that did have a rule that say nothing -- did there will be no -- no huge insurance program covered under this where people are subsidized for so long that will offer abortion. -- as a part of the insurance policy you can do the same thing with illegal immigrants you can say. Make it a felony for an an illegal immigrant to accept. Money a subsidy under the health care plan and for anybody offer it to the -- you can you could borrow it. And -- Democrats won't do."

" Yes James act quickly to wrap up do you sense there -- Capitol Hill. That there is a major. Herbal that the Democrats are gonna have to get over on this abortion issue on the illegal immigrant issue. And that it could potentially. Throw this thing up there."

" Well lead the choice for the democratic leadership in the house he is whether or not they want trying to steam roll over. The morally conservative members of their own party. Such as Bart Stupak who have made abortion issue. There could be some indications that that of the votes they picked up in last night's special house races. And the votes they can corral from some of the more liberal wings of the party the congressional black caucus the congressional Hispanic caucus and congressional progressive caucus. But could give them the 218 that they need. I just as a pure political matter that's professionals evaluating a professional I wonder what the panel would think. Of the of the conduct so far of house majority leader Steny Hoyer. Who has displayed all of these bumps in the road. I managed to keep this moving forward in a way that his. Our colleagues in the Senate have not we saw yesterday where. Harry Reid the Senate majority leader in essence acknowledged that they are not gonna make the deadline the President Obama said just three weeks ago for health care were."

" For light years then yeah tomorrow we easily led the show yesterday -- that because it was stunning to hear read say. We're into it would no deadlines or time lines but the president says he wants it this year it was for the united first deadline that they blown through but the question that's anywhere is a good 11 of all it is easier to manage a majority in the House of Representatives I mean you've got all sorts of other. Source of rules in your favor and you don't need sixty votes for everything it's harder in the Senate there's no doubt about it. But I think that health care even though it's it's. Hitting a lot of speed bumps they're planning ahead I don't think anybody can guarantee that the things actually going to get to the finish line I've been actually amazed. The fact that it keeps on -- forward step after difficult step. I mean it hasn't it's gotten farther than any other presidential effort on health care reform and I think it's still has a pretty good chance of something passing and being assigned to."

" Okay James thank you very much you wanna bring in senior White House correspondent Major Garrett. We also want to point out we apologize that we can't do the interaction with the questions and comments because of our tactical issues tonight. But we will imagine what your -- and and try to give major dancers. Major you know we were just talking about the races yesterday and you had interviewing. David Axelrod and when he focused on that New York point three race -- Bill Owens. The Democrat there who won he was a little. Little weak in the knees on the public option throughout this campaign I mean it is that a vote that they can count on house Democrats."

" Look at both days expected count for a couple of reasons vice president Biden was in the district yesterday. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee -- 150. Field operatives on the ground yesterday. To get out the vote. What the reasons Republicans believe Doug Hoffman the conservative didn't -- across the finish line is that though he was an insurgent campaign he did not have. Let us say the party apparatus of party machinery on the get out the vote side of the equation. Which in a mid term election with a lighter turnout is really crucial the Democrats had the operatives on the ground. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Run by Nancy Pelosi the speaker will be supervised quite aggressively by her major those operatives were there. And politics being what it is the speakers and expect a good deal agree loyalty from. Mr. Owens once he gets here in the house to White House is certainly counting on one extra vote one voted didn't have on Monday. Being -- for healthcare reform. The larger issue though is. Do the Democrats on the house side have the votes. There was talk here at the White House and elsewhere the president let it go up tomorrow to the hill to meet with the house Democratic Caucus that off until Friday why. Does not quite ready yet and if it's ready Friday the president will go up but didn't every time there's a sense that things might be ready and set to go. There's a bit of a delay and it will be interesting to see what's ready for the president to talk about on Friday that the rate of vote on Saturday or Monday. Or whenever when I asked David Axelrod today. Does the president expect this to be done by Christmas said we hope it will be done by Christmas I said is that a firm deadline or a soft prerogative he said well I just wanna get it done."

" He had. I mean -- you remember when senate majority leader Harry Reid then blamed us in the media for setting the deadline. When he came out -- so it we've seen these deadlines as mark mentioned slip throughout this whole process is there a sense though at the White House and they're still gonna get this thing through."

" It's all about hope. -- could change it's all about hope they're really is I mean they can read the calendar just as well as the rest of us can. And you start getting close to Thanksgiving. That's a very difficult time to do substantive legislative work then you have a couple of precious weeks the beginning of December. The Senate is still waiting for scoring when that thing hit the floor of the healthcare bill it's gonna take two weeks maybe three weeks we'll suddenly were right on top of Christmas. Even if you get passes the Senate. You can talk all about all work out all the differences in a pre conference to conference quickly I'm telling them more look at the calendar and the -- the White House looks at the calendar. What they say it's possible this could slip in the 2010. And -- 2010 then we're talking about another State of the Union Address -- when to February. And for the opposition party the Republicans the longer this goes into 2010. The better set up for -- it's not a certainty yet but the calendar is certainly not on the side of the White House or congressional Democrats."

" Yes -- Republicans tomorrow they're gonna roll out this alternative plan Charles. That they say will reduce. The health care premiums they say ideals of medical malpractice. A whole list of things that they'll they'll have a big event about as you look at. Dead the Congressional Budget Office analyzing the house democratic plan and finding these problems. Do the Republicans have a shot to make some points here with this alternative even though it's probably not gonna gain a lot of votes yeah."

" Or it won't get a lot of attention and remedial repeated the Republicans have no alternative. That they were one or two or three really simple clean steps. That you can do with health care uncomplicated. Which would reduce the cost to maker and and and and reduce. Difficulties in obtaining number one tort reform. Extremely simple. Number two allowing you to purchase health care across state lines. You know Democrats argue because premiums are high if you wanted to bring them down you have to establish a public option of bureaucracy a whole new set of organizations. Controlled at a Washington which is absurd you simply. Abolish the ban on purchasing a -- stabilizing getting huge reduction -- it. Competition lastly and no one is problematic and that the Republicans will probably stay away from. Is what McCain proposed last year and for which he got whacked which is if you eliminate the I'm novelists. Tax deduction for employer provided health care benefits an accident a little to wage and price control. Those three steps alone would completely change health care without bureaucracy you have a huge stream of income. And you could insured millions of uninsured so in principle yes there are real it turns out they're easy to understand and know what have a lot of support. The last one is politically poisonous or suspected when it's not going to be included yeah I want."

" Cardinals were gonna say it is -- and McCain didn't explain very well the idea is you take away that. And -- tax deduction and and Andy and everybody buys individually by your own health insurance and when that deductions gone and it's not given by other companies there wages will go off as a result. Now the problem is that the American people overwhelmingly politeness Jerry -- A system of employer but healthcare benefits. And changing that would begin said the is I think what most people think. Would be a -- very radical. -- turn of events that and there are not -- I think the system that McCain proposed makes a lot of sense the but the public doesn't wanna go there was that many."

" Enough to go that way every expert to testify before congress was for this particular change and the Senate finally included a version on its -- Which was the Cadillac virgin which it was stupid and tax health insurers. For certain. High value plan."

" Us which unions didn't like major I want to turn to foreign policy very quick you asked that David acts throughout about the situation with Iran. And what the administration is doing with this. I mean we've got a lot of developments on Iran and these protests you've got the seized weapons by the Israelis and you've got this nuclear back and forth. What what is the administration take on the wrong."

" You know Axelrod was not I would say. Forward leaning. Very much on this question of Iran because I know I I consider the diplomatic here. And I I ticked off and on line. It's -- well I think I'm not likely that wouldn't happen. I picked up -- for those things that you mentioned credit to look. You we -- administration cannot get a straight answer from your audience or the international atomic energy agency about what they are going to do about a proposal they put on the table people forget that months ago -- put this proposal on the table now the Russians agreed to the United States agreed to -- the French agreed to it. On taking out their low enriched uranium sending it to rush haven't re manufactured sent back through France. Another Iran is for weeks now can't give a straight answer about whether they supported -- whether they oppose it. And -- the Israelis intercepting these weapons believed to go for Hezbollah the other protest going on the streets of Tehran. Well administration is watching all this David -- to -- we have no illusions about what we're dealing with cable we want Iran to make the right choices. Well they've been waiting for quite some time now for -- to make the right choices and I said David. If there any sense that they're not gonna make the right choices and you're gonna have to make different choices of what we need to get this time well. The time clock continues to go and it to the minds of Charles and other critics it's gone way too long and it begins to look as if the United States is letting. The Iraq audience played that tune here. Administration believes that this diplomatic outreach has built up strength of an international community do something at some point in the future what that is and what it will occur that would --"

" Yes Charles I mean this clock is ticking. It's now there's no doubt about we talk about it all the time when we come back to the subject I'm amazed at how big -- story it is potentially. As we get closer to the end of the year. It's captain hook every day it's it's really a -- everybody is looking at the Clark. The UV Boca Raton scientist he's -- a clock on the cover the midnight. You know it's been moving and it's not you know Armageddon that is going to be the acquisition of nuclear weapons. And and most likely preceded to them by an Israeli attack. Which could precipitate a regional war I mean this this is it could be an unbelievable. A huge world event of which we are paying very little attention. -- deadlines -- regarding Iran and negotiate in Europe are are not as hard and fast as our deadlines in our healthcare negotiations. You know it may mean nothing in other words -- loss there was the end of September. Right yet and the September and then October 1 are beginning of negotiations he had to show something. The Iranians -- then there -- what given a deadline of I think a Friday. A week ago Friday would slipped again. Look it's obvious here that that this administration is that serious about it deadlines he wants anything it's on bended knee. It says please give us some things so that we can justify. The policy of engagement and it's pathetic."

" And mark with this plus you have the Afghanistan decision that is pending. Days. Weeks we don't know whether that's gonna happen."

" Afghanistan is a piece of cake compared to Iran I mean this seems amazing to you he's. Say that. And Iraq I have denizens of decision that was within the president's control is asked for review he's gotten -- now is decide if he wants to give the generals the number of troops they want or some other number. Iran is something that's a really difficult problem it's out of his control you know. -- that the promise not so much that the talks the talks are gonna get us anything it's what is plan B what is the president prepared to do. After it's cleared every one is that Iran is not going to respond -- to this these negotiations yeah and Russia and China. And that's not gonna help."

" Out and and the brits and the Germans and the French you know who the EU three that we're trying to get. But we've since 2003. Trying to get the Iranians to back off and the building nuclear weapons there. Invented their pressure I don't think it's taken seriously by the Iranians -- ratings major said you know it it -- it might begin to look like the Iranians are playing the tune. Of course they are playing the tune it's clear that they're playing it very well they've they've got. And they wanna do something and they'll drag this out drag out the negotiations. As long as late as long as they possibly can so they can achieve it. Without any serious. In eruption you mentioned Afghanistan you know what I'm looking for on Afghanistan that I think really matters -- the once talked about. And that is for the president once he decides on his policy which I don't think it's gonna be a surrender policy it'll be one where he says he wants to go prevail in Afghanistan. But then he needs to talk about it and he is going to come on I'm not I'm just once and yeah conference I mean good speech after speech I gender is speech and say look. Here's what we have to do here to try to. Tell the world if he doesn't speak about the world's gonna say. He's not serious who doesn't mean I think the White House understands only had to get up and how we make selling job to do with his own party first. And then with the world to show that he really is serious and he's gonna to stick with whatever threat when given you know in March he announced this new strategy. And then never talked about major final warm welcome to the end here what some that we should be looking at for the rest this week obviously we've. Gotten over the hump of the elections. What you would be looking for the White House not sure about the rest."

" Week -- preparations are being made for a national address on Afghanistan once that decision is made. Secondarily and I invade the panel can do with -- very rapidly one thing the administration talked about with a ramp. As they say that. They believe there's enough to normal there's enough instability within the Iranian population. With its own political future that they believe that something that they wanna let -- let let's sort of bubble up if you will and they don't do anything that looks provocative or that looks undermining of the efforts to -- obtain. Toward democracy in Iran and they factor that always in these negotiation never asked about deadlines -- sanctioned or doing something. Tough to say well you know that this all his internal political calculation going on around we don't wanna -- that. That apple cart that's one of the rationale they have this policy that has left Lebanon."

" Yeah I -- the president wasn't exactly forward leaning when the first protests. Happened as far as his comments about that he. I believe there it is -- administration is thinking right in fact the way it's acted it has it has. Put it's finger on the thumb on the scale leader in in favor of the regime and against the protesters because. It immediately recognize the results of the election it speaks with great garnering uses on terrific in addressing. The grand Ayatollah as the supreme leader so it accepts its negotiating he's engaging with Iran as a legitimate government. So in essence it's negated and opposed everything that they -- mysteries mysteries are trying to do. We -- which is super regime change. By its bid for the actions of its already undertaken have fun."

" Yeah that other administrations including Ronald Reagan's managed to negotiate with the Soviets while supporting dissidents in the Soviet Union that. It's a it's a tricky balance to strike you've got to figure out a way to support. The damage in the democratic opposition forces at the same time continue to does not have to find a way."

" Do you have your mouth you can talk you can defend them you can speak out when Ronald Reagan went to well Moscow in 1988. He had a reception for all the dissidents who came to the American Embassy. You know these things -- not. It's not get the hunt around to find some way to support them and they won't tell you. The other dissidents and Russia -- they any Communists in Eastern Europe the dissidents in China label Alltel the thing that helps them the most. Is to have visible loud support from the United States for freedom and democracy. And that is not the Obama policy and."

" Not -- Sharansky says that when they heard in the glove from the speech at Reagan had made it wishing you could lead to vast facility uses evil empire. There -- cheers."

" look through that prism yeah. Pretty powerful stuff major as always thanks from the north lawn. We figured out a way to get people to weigh in on the first topic of the lighting around this Friday because our. System was down here's the deal go to my blog. Post -- comment. And say what you want the first topic of the lightning round. To be this Friday and that the most comments about anyone topic. Maybe I'll post a list of the have a choice and we're confident to the White House which won't boot and it -- up but there's he had just Special Report. Blogs foxnews.com. And then outpost a choice there I'll put him up on the blog and you can make a choice of the ones that we've listed the that's online for this week -- we promise to work out the kinks for next week. Thanks a lot CNN."