To the Point

Democrat's Dilemma on Campaign Finance

As the Senate embarks on its second pivotal week of debate on campaign finance reform, the McCain-Feingold bill faces serious challenges from allies and enemies alike. With Washington ablaze in tactical gambits and debates over whether the cure is worse than what ails our political process, we examine efforts on campaign finance reform. Sharing their insight are Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center, former Arkansas Senator Dale Bumpers, political correspondents, and an Oxford historian with a European perspective. (Matt Miller guest hosts.) Newsmaker: Supreme Court to Consider Executing Mentally Retarded Killers - Spurred, perhaps, by a growing national consensus, the Supreme Court has agreed to revisit its 1989 ruling which permitted the execution of mentally retarded murderers. David Pike, of the Los Angeles Daily Journal, assesses the potential impact of a case which has long divided the court and could change the face of the death penalty for years to come. Reporter's Notebook: Bush Speech - President Bush gave a major address in Michigan today to bolster support for his economic plan and get ahead of critics who say his strategy isn't aggressive enough to combat the current slowdown. CNN's Bill Schneider says the upbeat Bush's expressed confidence in his plan to stimulate a "winded but strong" American economy.