Coming up Wednesday
Starting Point live blog for Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
This morning, "Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien" is live at 7am Eastern. Today, Soledad talks with panelists TheBlaze.com contributor Will Cain, political comedian John Fugelsang and Actress Meredith Baxter. Our panel will be talking about the following top stories:
* Newt Gingrich to suspend his presidential campaign today
* China demands apology after escaped activist emerges from U.S. Embassy
* Obama vows to 'finish the job' in Afghanistan
Share your comments in the section below. If you're not by a TV, you can watch us here at CNN.com/Live. Let's get started.
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[UPDATED 7:06am ET] Senior political scientist Seth Jones says that the most important message America can send to the Afghans is that the United States will not abandon the country after 2014. Regarding the speech President Obama made yesterday, Jones asserts that Obama should have stressed that al Qaeda is not a defeated organization.
[UPDATED 7:41am ET] Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty reiterates Mitt Romney's reaction to President Obama's speech in Afghanistan, saying that the candidate feels that the trip was "fully appropriate" but that the focus should have been on strategic, on the ground objectives rather than a timetable for U.S. action. Pawlenty also says that Obama has been a "disaster of a president" in terms of his handling of the economy.
[UPDATED 7:52am ET] Jose Rodriguez, former director of the CIA's National Clandestine Service, calls the enhanced interrogation techniques outlined in his new book, including waterboarding, "pretty wimpy."
[UPDATED 8:07am ET] Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee Rep. Peter King says that he agrees with former CIA director Jose Rodriguez that the information obtained from the use of enhanced interrogation techniques has proven to be "extremely helpful" in the fight against terrorism.
[UPDATED 8:37am] New York Times bestselling author Grant Cardon, who recorded an iPad video on the Delta flight that had to make an emergency landing after birds got into one of the plane's engines, calls the FAA's warning letter to him about the use of his electronic device "ridiculous." Cardon insists that if these electronics are really dangerous to the American public, then they should be banned.
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Why are you giving Mr. Above-the-law a forum? The fool who shot the video on the plane because he knows better deserves nothing but silence and to be ignored. If the government doesn't want banks robbed ban money??? At least he's not a physician or an engineer operating a nuclear power reactor. Shame on you for wasting your audience's time!
Enhanced Interrogation: If Jose Rodriguez thought these techniques were legal why did he personally destroy 92 videotapes?
Soledad, I was really glad to see you back on CNN in the morning with a new show. In the beginning your new show seemed to have a lot of diversity i.e. African American men and women, Hispancs etc. Now, all I see are white males on the panel day in and day out. I am African American and I cannot watch your show any longer because of the lack of diversity on your show! I do not like Will Cain at all because I feel that he is a racist for consistently saying that he needs all the facts before he would comment on the Trayvon Martin case. Where are the women, African Americans, and Hispanics? Where is Roland Martin? This one-sided white men view on issues is disappointing and will not help your viewship with minorities at all. Bye Soledad!
I just wanted to correct John's statement regarding mention of homesexuality in the Bible. Leviticus 18:22: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Leviticus 20:13: "If a man lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination and they shall surely be put to death."
Enhanced Interrogation: Would Rodriguez still think the techniques (like water boarding) are 'wimpy' if the one being waterboarded was American?
Really Soledad? You love the wings at Hooters?
Perhaps you want to channel more kardashian-like behavior on national
TV? (You know the cute giggle-giggle when saying "but I love the wings!"
I guess your opportunity to be a serious newswoman isn't all that
important. Hooters, just the name alone is demeaning to women(do you have a daughter?) Don't worry Babe, you are sure to receive free Hooters ribs now that you have endorsed them...tee-hee
why isn't roland martin on this show anymore. Everything since the comment he made and apologized for we haven't seen in more than five times. I tried to watch this show but can't do it anymore. Something about the format. Too many stories and not enough time to talk to the guest