>>> WELCOME TO DONNYBROOK, NEXT UP.

AND OUR GUEST TONIGHT IS CONGRESSMAN, FORMER CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS.

WHO REPRESENTED THE 20, 19, AND 15 DISTRICT IN ILLINOIS OVER A 24-YEAR SPAN WITHOUT EVER MOVING.

THREE DISTRICTS.

IMPRESSIVE.

>> HOW ARE YOU?

>> GOOD.

>> AND FOUNDING MEMBER, BILL MCCLELLAN.

>> TO START OFF, GIVEN WHAT IS GOING ON THIS WEEK -- >> AND RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, AND RIGHT NOW.

HOW MUCH DO YOU MISS BEING A CONGRESSMAN, 10 BEING HAPPY AND 1 BEING SAD?

>> PROBABLY A 7.

I'M HAPPY.

WE HAVE ALL BEEN THROUGH POSITIONS IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE KNEW IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON AND YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOU CAN DO AND YOU WANT TO SMELL THE ROSES.

THE TIMING WAS RIGHT.

I'M GLAD.

I DON'T MISS WEEKLY FLIGHTS TO D.C. AND 6-HOUR CAR RIDES AS I REPRESENTED A THIRD OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

I DID MISS BEING IN THE CHAMBER WHEN ZELENSKY ADDRESSED OUR COUNTRY.

I HAVE DONE A LOT OF EASTERN EUROPEAN STUFF.

IT WAS A HISTORIC MOMENT AND I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE THERE.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

>> WHAT IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON NOW?

WHAT DO YOU THINK AND WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER?

>> I WAS THERE YESTERDAY AND FLEW BACK LAST NIGHT.

IT WAS FOR BUSINESS.

24 YEARS, YOU MAKE FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH VERY MANY OF THEM.

THE CONSTITUTION IS PRETTY CLEAR.

IT IS CLEAR THEY HAVE TO GET A SPEAKER.

AND ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF ON HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE AND BRING BILLS TO THE FLOOR AND THAT IS WHAT THE CHAMBER VOTES ON.

YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT.

I'M A CONSULTANT.

RIGHT?

WHEN THE HOUSE IS IN SESSION UNDER RULES, THEN CONSULTANTS OR LOBBYISTS LIKE ME CAN'T GO ON THE FLOOR.

WELL, THERE'S NO RULE ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE THERE'S NO SPEAKER.

SOME OF MY FRIENDS SAID WHY DIDN'T YOU GO ON THE FLOOR?

THERE'S NO RULES.

THEY HAVE TO RECONCILE THIS.

REPUBLICANS HAD A VOTE IN THEIR CONFERENCE, OVERALL MAJORITY FOR KEVIN MCCARTNEY MCCARTNEY.

THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS ON THE FLOOR HAVE TO VOTE FOR THE SPEAKER.

THESE 20 ARE HOLDING THE REPUBLICANS HOSTAGE AND HAVE A LIST OF DEMANDS THAT SOMETIMES YOU THINK THEY MAY BE ACCEPTED, SOME OF THOSE THAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO MOST OF THE MEMBERS.

>> WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

DID YOU THINK KEVIN WILL BE SPEAKER IN TWO DAYS?

DO YOU THINK THEY WILL HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE?

>> I THINK THEY WILL HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE.

HIS SUPPORTERS ARE INSTITUTIONISTS AND PEOPLE WHO LIKE HIM AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH THEM AGAINST THESE 20.

NOT ALL OF HIS SUPPORTERS REALLY LOVE THEM.

THIS IS A TEAM AND THE TEAM MADE THE DECISION.

KEVIN, I THINK, WILL HAVE TO SAY FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM, WE NEED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

AND THEN ALL OF FOLKS ARE FREE AGENTS, KIND OF, AND THEY WILL GRAVITATE TOWARDS SOMEONE, A GOVERNING CONSERVATIVE AND NOT -- A LOT OF THIS IS BAD BLOOD.

HATRED THAT THEY ARE DIGGING KEVIN FOR.

>> WOULD YOU VOTE FOR HIM?

>> I WOULD.

I'M A TEAM PLAYER.

THAT'S WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DECIDED IN A VOTE AND THEN I MEAN -- >> YOU WERE A HISTORY TEACHER BEFORE YOU WENT INTO POLITICS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND I KEEP HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, GEE, WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS KIND OF FIGHT SINCE THE 1850'S, BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.

HOW BAD ARE THINGS?

ARE WE ON THE VERGE OF A CIVIL WAR?

>>> THERE WAS ANOTHER TIME, 1923.

>> IT WASN'T AS LONG.

>> AND JOE CANNON FROM DANVILLE.

I USE TO REPRESENT DANVILLE.

IT WAS ANOTHER TYPE OF HARD-NOSED AND UP-RISING BY THE MEMBERSHIP.

I HAVE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND OUR DOCUMENTS.

YOU KNOW THE HISTORY; OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN THROUGH TOUGH TIMES, CIVIL WAR, GREAT DEPRESSION, UNJUST AND UNFAIR AND UNSUPPORTED WARS.

WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

BUT, I THINK WE CAN'T HAVE THIS POLLY-ANNE VIEW, I'M A CHRISTIAN BY FAITH.

WE HAVE TO CREATE A PERFECT GOVERNMENT.

IT IS NOT GOING TO DO IT.

WE HAVE TO STRUGGLE THROUGH IT.

>> TO FOLLOW-UP ON KEVIN, ASSUMING HE IS A CHOICE, I KNOW YOU ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO PREDICT, DO YOU THINK IT IS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS?

TECHNICALLY, YOU COULD BE A CANDIDATE.

>> I COULD.

MY WIFE WOULD KILL ME.

[LAUGHTER.]

>> SERIOUSLY, DO YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO BE AN EXISTING MEMBER OF CONGRESS?

>> I THINK IT WILL AND I THINK IT WILL BE A REPUBLICAN.

IT COULD GO TWO WAYS.

KEVIN CAN SAY I CAN'T GET THERE FOR THE GOOD OF THE PARTY AND GO THE OTHER WAY.

THE OTHER WAY KEVIN COULD TRY IS TO PULL TOGETHER VOTES EITHER BY JEFFREYS SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOW FOR THIS VOTE.

AND LOWER THE THRESHOLD OR GET -- >> THE DEMOCRATS WOULD WANT THINGS LIKE JOINT SUBPOENA POWER SO REPUBLICANS COULD NOT -- >> OH, THEY WOULD DO THAT.

>> AND SOME GUARANTEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WON'T SHUT DOWN.

I HEARD A REPUBLICAN TALKING ABOUT THIS ON CABLE TODAY THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO MOSTLY BE IN A POSITION TO MESSAGE WITH THEIR LEGISLATION.

THE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO, MOST OF THE AGENDA, WOULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE AND VISE VERSA.

IS THAT HOW YOU VIEW IT AS WELL?

>> I DO.

I FEAR FOR THE ISSUE ON THE DEBT LIMIT.

RIGHT?

THESE 20 COULD EVEN HOLD, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE HOSTAGE ON THAT.

SO, GOVERNING IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

AND THIS IS JUST A PRELUDE.

I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, I SERVE UP A LOT OF SPEAKERS.

MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN -- >> GO BACK TO NEWT GINGRICH.

>> HE HAD THE SIMILAR ENVIRONMENT.

ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM OR NOT AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE DETAILS AND I DID.

I'M A TEAM PLAYER.

THAT'S WHAT REPUBLICANS DO.

HE LEFT SCARRED.

AND DENNY LEFT BECAUSE WE LOST THE MAJORITY AND HE HAD OTHER ISSUES.

AND YOU HAVE JOHN, SCARRED.

PAUL RYAN LEFT SCARRED.

AND WE HAD ANOTHER ONE RUNNING.

LIVINGSTON WHO STEPPED DOWN THE DAY WE WERE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM.

>> YOU ARE SEEN A COUPLE.

IT IS NOT LIKE NANCY PELOSI WHO SURVIVED.

>> I SAW A BOOK, MCCARTHY -- THE THREE YOUNG KNIGHTS.

>> YOUNG GUNS.

>> YEAH, YOUNG GUNS OF YEARS AGO.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> AMERICA -- YOU GUYS ARE OBSERVERS.

SOUTH ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI IS AN EXAMPLE.

THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE PARTIES HAVE CHANGED.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI IS A COMPETITIVE STATE.

AND ELECTED DEMOCRATS.

AND NOW LABOR, RURAL, GUNS, LIFE, SOCIAL ISSUES HAVE GRAVITATED TO THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND CHANGED THE DYNAMICS.

AND IS GERRYMANDERING.

BOTH SIDES DO IT.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE HYPER-SUPER PARTISAN DISTRICTS THERE ARE REPUBLICAN 27.

MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO ELECT THE REPUBLICAN.

OR CORY BUSH.

IT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DEMOCRAT.

AND THEN THE EMOTIONAL FAR LEFT OR FAR RIGHT, THEY SEIZE THOSE ELECTIONS AND THAT'S WOULD I HAVE WHERE WE ARE AT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NATURE OF NEW GUARD, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, THEY HAVE CHANGED THIS.

THE UNDERESTIMATED FACT OF THE 20, FREEDOM CAUCUS FOLKS, AND THEY ONLY REPRESENT HALF OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS.

YOU WERE NOT A MEMBER OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS.

>> I WAS NOT.

>> ONE FOURTH OF THEM, THIS IS THEIR FIRST ACT IN CONGRESS.

THEY ARE FRESHMAN.

THEY VOTED AGAINST THE SPEAKER BEFORE THEY WERE VOTED IN!

.

ZERO OF THE 20 WERE THERE WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

ONE WAS ELECTED 2010, ALMOST HAVE BEEN ELECTED SINCE TRUMP CAME IN.

YOU DON'T KNOW THEM AS WELL AS SOME OF THE MCCARTHY GROUP.

WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CONGRESS?

THEY HAVE THE NEW FOLKS THAT HAVE GONE A VERY DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTI DIRECTION?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

[LAUGHTER.]

.

>> NO, THAT'S FAIR.

>> IT IS A TWO PARTY SYSTEM THAT IS NOT DEFINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

YOU HAVE TO JOIN A TEAM AND BOTH PARTIES WANT A BIG TENT.

IT IS EASIER TO BE IN THE MINORITY WHEN YOU ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING.

WHEN YOU HAVE TO GOVERN, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE A COMPROMISE.

AND THE OTHER CHANGES WHEN I STARTED, WE HAD NEWSPAPERS AND LOCAL MEDIA.

WE HAD 5.

I HAD 5 PAPERS ON MY SIDE OF THE RIVER.

I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THEM AND DROP OFF PRESS LEASES.

IT IS ALL NATIONAL COVERAGE AND THESE PEOPLE CAN RAISE MONEY NATIONALLY BY BEING CRAZY.

>> HISTORIAN AGAIN.

HOW IS HISTORY GOING TO REMEMBER THE TRUMP ERA AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW ME, I AM NOT A BIG FAN.

I DID VOTE FOR HIM TWICE.

I CAN TELL PEOPLE WHY.

I AM NOT HIDING THAT.

IT WAS HIS PERSONAL BEHAVIOR.

I GOT TURNED OFF -- I WAS UNDER BILL CLINTON.

IMPEACHMENT WAS -- CHARACTER MATTERS.

NOW WE NO LONGER SAY CHARACTER MATTERS.

I REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THAT.

I UNDERSTAND HOW A RICH GUY HAS A GOLD HIGHRISE IN MANHATTAN.

THE POOR PEOPLE HAVE FELT LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT AND TALKED DOWN BY THE ELITES.

AND I -- THE PRESIDENTS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS I HAVE HAD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS.

OBAMA, AND CLINTON BUT TRUMP IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO RELATE TO.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GUYS GRABBING THEIR BIBLES AND MOCK THEIR LIFESTYLE, YOU LOSE THEM.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

REMEMBER, I HAVE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, IN THE CENTER OF THE STATE SOUTH.

BY BIGGEST CITY IS DANVILLE WITH 33 THOUSAND PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO ATTACH BACK TO THE RURAL AREAS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE TO START WINNING BACK IN THE SUBURBS AND THEY CAN'T DO IT BY WHAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW.

>> DO YOU THINK TRUMP WILL GET THE NOMINATION IN 2024?

>> I THINK HE IS RECENTLY SERIOUSLY DAMAGED.

AND REALLY, WHEN HE CAME OUT, THE TESTING POINT WAS TWO DAYS AGO.

WHEN HE SAYS VOTE IS FINE.

VOTE FOR HIM.

NOT ONE VOTE.

AND MEMBERS WERE SCARED OF HIM BECAUSE HE CAN TURN ELECTIONS.

HE DID.

AND IN PRIMARIES FOR SURE.

AND THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF THIS.

>> YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED THE THING THAT IS DRIVING PEOPLE IS PART IS GERRYMANDERING.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS AN INCH OF MORAL HIGH GROUND FOR ANYONE.

REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS ARE EQUAL IN TERMS OF THEY WILL GERRYMANDER SHAMELESSLY.

IT HAPPENS.

IT JUST DOES.

WHAT WOULD BRING US BACK?

IF YOU TALK TO THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ACROSS PARTY LINES, THE MAJORITY OF THEM WOULD LIKE THE PARTIES TO WORK TOGETHER MORE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S NO PAY WINDOW TO WORK TOGETHER.

AS YOU POINT OUT, 20 CONGRESSMEN ARE FUNDRAISER OFF OF THE ATTACKS OF MCCARTHY RIGHT NOW.

ALL OF THEM.

WHAT IS THE PATH BACK?

>> THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET PUNISHED BY THEIR CONSTITUENCIES.

THEY WILL RAISE MONEY -- >> THEY WILL RAISE MONEY.

>> NOT JUST MONEY, BUT THEIR VOTE TOTALS.

>> WHEN DICK DURBAN RAN AND I WON.

IT WAS COMPETITIVE.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO REPRESENT YOUR DISTRICT, YOU HAVE TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY.

THIS IS THE SECOND OPINION, AND MODERATE THE WAY YOU TALK, THE WAY YOU APPROACH.

WHEN YOU ARE IN MORE OF A STRONGER DRAWN DISTRICT, YOU WILL HEAR THOSE VOICES.

THEY REPRESENT NOBODY.

RIGHT?

THEY HAVE NO VOTING BLOCK TO REALLY -- I WAS RESPECTFUL.

I WOULD MEET WITH ANYBODY.

TO DO WHAT THEY ASKED ME TO DO WOULD HARM ME IN THE PRIMARIES OR MY NEXT ELECTION.

IOWA HAS THE PUBLIC -- THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO HAVE REVEFU REFERENDA REFERENDAMS.

>>> LET'S TALK ABOUT UKRAINE.

YOU SERVED IN IN THE ARMY IN GERMANY.

YOU ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS.

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH UKRAINE?

WHAT ARE THE REPUBLICANS GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT UKRAINE?

WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE?

>> YES, I FOLLOW IT CLOSELY.

MY HEART BREAKS AND WEEPS FOR LOSS ON BOTH SIDES.

PUTIN, THAT IS NOT UNEXPECTED FROM A DICTATORSHIP.

THAT'S WHAT IS GOING ON IN RUSSIA RIGHT NOW.

HE CAN'T STOP.

BECAUSE IF HE STOPS, HE IS OUT OF POWER.

AND SO THAT'S WHY ZELENSKY IS RIGHT.

THEY HAVE TO WIN ON THE BATTLE FIELD AND THEY NEED WESTERN SUPPORT.

THERE ARE VOICES WE HEAR IN THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE, THEY ARE SMALL.

THEY WILL NOT EFFECT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

>> JOSH HAWLEY WAS THE LONE VOTE ADMITTING SWEDE AND FIN LAND TO NATO.

HIS LOVE FOR PUTIN IS STUNNING.

AT LEAST HIS WILLINGNESS TO DO WHAT PUTIN WANTS HIM TO DO.

I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU IN A BAD SITUATION.

CAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BE COUNTED ON TO KEEP THE SKEPTICISM FOR RUSSIA THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR OUR ENTIRE LIVES?

>> YOU HAVE RAND PAUL AND I HAVE MET HAWLEY A FEW TIMES.

I'M A BIG NATO SUPPORTERS.

PUTIN IS USING THIS, AND THERE WAS TALK ABOUT RUSSIA JOINING NATO.

IF IT IS A DEFENSE ALLIANCE.

PUTIN DIDN'T CALCULATE RIGHT.

AND SWEDEN THEY ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO GET IN.

THEY ARE WANTING IN FOR US TO HELP DEFEND THEM.

WE SHOULD WELCOME THEM WITH OPEN DOORS.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING THROUGH THE WINTER?

>> THEY WILL GET THROUGH THE WINTER.

IF THE GROUND FREEZES, THEY HAVE NOT HAD THEIR HARD FREEZE YET.

THE TANKS NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ON THAT.

THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH THAT, IN THE MUD.

AND THEN THE THAW.

ZELENSKY WANTS TANKS AND MORE AIR COVER.

THIS BOMBING OF SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS -- THE WORLD SHOULD BE OUTRAGED.

I THINK MOST OF THE WORLD IS.

THE GREATEST THING WE HAVE SEEN IS HOW EUROPE HAS RALLIED AND SUPPORTED UKRAINE.

I DON'T THINK PUTIN EXPECTED IT.

>> YOU THINK UKRAINE CAN WIN ON THE BATTLE FIELD?

>> I THINK THEY CAN KEEP FROM LOSING.

I DON'T THINK PUTIN WILL EVER GET IN THERE.

IT WILL BE A STALEMATE.

HE WANTS THE TERRITORIES BACK.

I SUPPORT THAT.

HE IS GOING TO HAVE BEAT PUTIN ON THE BATTLE FIELD.

AND THEY ARE A MUCH LARGER COUNTRY.

UKRAINE HAS JUST BLOWN THE SOCKS OF ANALYSTS AND HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.

>> I HAVE TO BRING IT CLOSER TO HOME.

YOU ARE AN ACTING SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

>> I AM AT THE LUTHERAN SCHOOL.

ONE THAT MY DAD WENT TO, I WENT TO.

>> IT HAS BEEN POLITICAL, TALK ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY, MY SIDE OF THE FENCE CAN'T IDENTIFY WHERE IT IS BEING TAUGHT.

WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS BEING AN ISSUE?

DO YOU THINK THERE IS -- DO YOU THINK THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION OR PRIVATE AS TO HOW WE TEACH HISTORY?

>> I'M A PROUD HIGH SCHOOL GRAD.

THE FRIENDS THERE LIVE A MILE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY WERE AT A BASKETBALL GAME THERE.

I THINK BECAUSE OF COVID-19 AND THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND MORE PARENTS ARE GETTING INVOLVED.

WHICH THEY SHOULD.

REELECTED OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.

WE WANT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.

I DO THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE WHAT IS BEING SAID, IF THEY CAN, THE PRIVATE AND SCHOOLS ARE GROWING.

IT IS DRIVING PARENTS TO TRY TO RECLAIM SOME CONTROL THAT THEY LOST THROUGH COVID-19 AND WHATEVER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM.

A WAY OF NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY -- >> YOU HAVEN'T LOST YOUR FORMER SKILL SET.

YOU DIDN'T ANSWER THAT LIKE A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

[LAUGHTER.]

.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRATS, WHO IS GOING TO RUN AGAINST JOSH HAWLEY.

MAYBE WE CAN GET JAY NIXON.

YOU ARE A RETIRED POLITICIAN.

DO YOU MISS IT AT ALL?

DO YOU THINK -- WHAT IS THE CHANCE OF GETTING A RETIRED PERSON WHO SEEMS HAPPY IN LIFE TO GO BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

>> I MET JAY A COUPLE OF TIMES.

AND WHEN HE LOSS SOME OF THE RACES AT THE SCIENCE CENTER.

HE HAD KIDS AND HE HAD KIDS.

NOW MY KIDS ARE OLD AND HIS KIDS ARE OLD.

THERE IS MOTIVATION WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 33 COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS AND FLYING BACK AND FORTH TO WASHINGTON.

AND THEY HAVE THE WHOLE STATE AND 6-YEAR TERM.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO MOVE AS FAST AS A HOUSE MEMBER.

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE TO ENCOURAGE ME TO JUMP BACK IN.

IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO CONVINCE MY WIFE.

>> NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER.

[LAUGHTER.]

>> NOT IN THAT ORDER.

>> DO YOU HAVE CANDIDATE THAT WE CAN GET OUT OF USE?

GET NEXT UP ON THE NEWS, THE NAME OF ANY PERSON IN THE CONFERENCE THAT YOU THINK MAY BE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE.

>> I'M BIASED BECAUSE I'M CLOSE TO SOME OF THESE FOLKS.

YOU CAN LOOK AT ANY LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP THAT IS NOT NO BY THIS GROUP OF 20.

>> MY ROOMMATE AND CLOSE FRIEND, STEVE -- A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

HE HAS BEEN ONE HUNDRED PERCENT TOTAL LOYAL TO KEVIN WITH NO INDICATION OTHER THAN I'M WITH YOU DOWN TO THE END.

BUT, HE WOULD BE AN ATTRACTIVE -- SHOULD KEVIN DECIDE I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE -- PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT STEVE.

PATRICK -- I KNOW DONALD VOTED FOR A SECOND TIME.

HE IS A SECOND-TERMER.

>> FIRST TERM.

HE IS A FRESHMAN.

>> AND STEFONIC.

>> IS THAT DISQUALIFYING?

THE SAME PROBLEM WITH YOUR FRIEND -- STEVE, THAT HE WAS IN LEADERSHIP.

>> NO, I THINK -- >> YOU CAN THINK OF -- >> IF YOU COULD, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET 16.

YOU MAY LOSE 4 VOTES THAT WAY.

YOU CAN STILL MAKE IT.

>> WE ARE ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

WE RESPECT TO THAT YOU -- WE THANK YOU FOR COMING ON AND DOING THIS.

>> OH, YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> WHEN I SAW YOU TODAY, ARE YOU STILL A CONGRESSMAN?

OH NO.

WOULD YOU LIKE -- IT SEEMS TO ME THE TITLE PRINCIPAL SUITS YOU.

>> THE KIDS ARE GREAT.

I CAME FROM A 7TH GRADE BASKETBALL GAME AND WE WON.

THERE IS A TOURNAMENT ON.

>> OKAY.

>> I'M A DISCIPLINARY.

THERE IS A TIGHTER SHIP.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT THEY ARE REALLY GOOD KIDS AND CARING FAMILIES.

THEY ARE ALL OVER.

>> ALL RIGHT, JOHN SHIMKUS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND YOU ARE WELCOME HERE ANY TIME.

>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT DONNYBROOK, THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

GOOD NIGHT!