Jailing drivers who use cell phones?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
British drivers who get caught talking on their cell phones or sending text messages while driving can now be sent to jail. What a great idea.
A new law means people can now be charged with "dangerous driving", which carries a 2-year maximum prison sentence and an unlimited fine. Under the old law, motorists faced a lesser charge of "careless driving" which carried a $120 fine and three points on their license.
The new law came about because of growing public concern over drivers using hand-held phones, which were banned while driving back in 2003. Because of a lack of aggressive enforcement and relatively mild penalties, vast numbers of drivers ignored the law and continued to endanger themselves and everyone else on the road by yakking on their cell phones.
The British government says drivers are four times more likely to crash if they're holding a cell phone or sending a text message while driving.
And it's not just cell phones they're going after. The new measure also punishes other aspects of dangerous driving, things like smoking, racing, reading a map or newspaper and making sudden lane changes.
Here’s my question to you: Is it too harsh a punishment to jail people for using cell phones while driving?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
A GOP free-for-all?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
No more front-runner when it comes to the Republican presidential race.
At least that's according to a new poll. The Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey shows Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney tied nationally at 20%. Mike Huckabee is close behind them at 17%, followed by John McCain at 14% and Fred Thompson at 11%.
Just six weeks ago, Giuliani held a double digit lead over his closest rivals. Other polls also show Giuliani's lead shrinking in Florida, one of the states he's been building his campaign around.
Experts say they haven't seen a Republican race so fluid and in such turmoil for more than 50 years. There are several reasons for it, including President Bush's low approval ratings and the fact that this is the first campaign in a very long time that doesn't include an incumbent president or vice president. There's also the aging of the conservative coalition that Ronald Reagan created in 1980. We're now seeing economic, national security and social issues voters all vying for attention.
Here’s my question to you: Why has the Republican race for the presidential nomination suddenly become a free-for-all?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Obama’s cabinet: Hagel, Arnold?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has often talked about reaching out across the aisle if he becomes president.
And ABC News reports Obama is now naming names of some Republicans he'd consider putting in his cabinet.
Obama told voters at a town hall event in Manchester, New Hampshire, that it's premature to start announcing his cabinet and that he still has a long way to go. Nonetheless, some GOP names started to flow… including Senators Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel along with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Of Lugar, Obama said he's worked with him before on issues of arms control, that he's somebody who embodies the tradition of a sensible bipartisan foreign policy.
Obama said Hagel is someone who has a "similar approach" and that he respects in a similar fashion.
And, when it comes to Schwarzenegger, Obama described what he's done on climate change in California as "important and significant", adding that the governor has taken leadership on a tough issue and that we haven't seen that kind of leadership in Washington.
Here’s my question to you: Does it make Barack Obama a more appealing candidate when he says he’d consider Republicans like Chuck Hagel and Arnold Schwarzenegger for his cabinet?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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