Mark Salter is the former chief of staff to Senator John McCain and senior adviser to the McCain for President campaign.

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough talks to Mark Salter about The Last Best Hope, his timely new book on how to save the conservative movement. In a wide-ranging conversation, the host of Morning Joe offers opinions on gay marriage, the mistakes of the Iraq war, and Barack Obama—and extends an apology to John McCain.

Last year for St. Patrick’s Day, Mark Salter took a literary tour of Ireland and wondered why so many of the greatest Irish novelists are unknown in America.

In his first international speech, the vice president promised a new day and a new tone. But when it came to America’s policy on Iran, Russia, and the Middle East, he offered little more than atmospherics.

John McCain’s closest advisor Mark Salter wants Obama to achieve greatness, but thinks the new president has enough burdens without being compared to our greatest.