Posted on 04/07/2004 4:41:24 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Sometimes when things are at their worst for America, it seems that even the liberal media are hesitant to go for the Republican jugular.
That was the case this morning on the Today Show. I was bracing myself for a heavy focus on US casualties in Iraq, denunciations of the Bush administration, gloomy political outlooks, etc.
Instead, in fairness, the first half-hour presented a reasonably balanced picture.
I'd say the highlight was a couple statements by John McCain. I swear that the guy delights in keeping all sides off balance. Last week, he was giving Republicans conniptions with his musings about the GOP having gone too far while the Democrats were "a fine party."
Today he decided to turn the tables. First, he announced that Ted Kennedy was "over the top," and wrong in comparing Iraq to Vietnam. He pointed out that we were in Vietnam for nine years and lost 58,000 men. We've only been in Iraq one year and losses are much lower. Moreover, we could decide to leave Vietnam or Somalia, but we can't leave Iraq now.
Katie also asked the inevitable question: "there are rumors that the Kerry people have decided you'd be the strongest VP candidate and that you have been in discussions with them. Have you been in discussions with anyone from the Kerry campaign?"
McCain gave one of those phony politician laughs (right from the Hillary School of Phony Laughter). "No, I haven't been in any discussions. I will not be the VP candidate and no I am not leaving Kerry's VP candidate."
It actually sounded rather definitive.
By the way McCain was accompanied by Dem Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, who proved himself rather weaselly.
Here he had been invited on for the express purpose of discussing the situation in Iraq and specifically Ted Kennedy's outlandish allegations. But Bayh used the tired old dodge that he "hadn't heard" Kennedy's remarks. So he wasn't in the room at the time. Big deal. Does anyone believe he hadn't read the transcripts or seen the reporting?
In any case he claimed that he was worried that a credibility gap might be developing, and parrotted Kerry's line, fretting about a premature turnover of power to the Iraqis on June 30th.
Usiing another favorite Democrat warm 'n fuzzy phrase, he piously declared that "we need to have a conversation" about turning over power on June 30th. We don't want to appear to be vacillating but the most important thing is that we succeed.
McCain added in response to a question of whether more troops are needed that he had said that last summer and that "sadly, some units scheduled to rotate out might need to stay."
Tim Russert made an appearance. Mostly blah, blah, blah. But interestingly he suggested that Condi's appearance before the 9/11 Commission tomorrow probably won't produce any big fireworks. There's a perception that there's plenty of blame to go around, and while there will be some sharp questioning about differences between her and Clarke, all she wants to do is avoid a major mistake in her testimony.
All in all, the Today Show has had much worse days. With a dozen American soldiers killed yesterday, I believe they were hesitant to swoop in for the political kill. But let us not doubt that when the timing is right, the liberal vultures will descend.
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You know, that's struck me, too. About the media in general. Now that we're in a serious firefight and taking casualties, I expected the media to explode with I-told-you-so's, but no. Certainly, Iraq is the top news item, but they seem to be taking it pretty casually.
What gives?
Uh... his wife will bee the VP candidate?
Or perhaps a misquote?
And will again, I'm sure.
Thanks, shrinker. I suppose that, as of last week, I can rightly call myself a professional. I recently completed the manuscript of anti-terrorism thriller, and have received an offer from a bona fide literary agent to represent it. By the way, the book tells the story of a conservative Republican, a former international lawyer, who gets drawn into a central role in thwarting a plot by a combination of Al-Qaida and a Puerto Rican independence terrorist organization to kill the collective leadership of the Western world at a G-8 meeting. For those wanting to know more, and get placed on pre-publication list, please drop me a private message!
Thankfully Condi is a master at communicating.
Imus has gone off they deep end. The last couple of days he gets hysterical whenever anyone mentions how many soldiers we have lost that day. Someone should slap him and tell him to "get a grip". There are going to be good days and there are going to be bad days. His whole crew has turned into fair weather friends blaming the Rush Limbaughs of the world for what's going on in Iraq.
The White House called the libs' bluff. They expected Bush to continue to refuse to let her testify, and he pulled the rug out from under them, and now we will see the formidable, intelligent, articulate, attractive national security advisor on national television ripping Clarke to shreds. The libs and their media buddies are hastily back pedaling, trying to get people to believe that her testimony is no big deal. Yeah, right. That's why you were caterwauling about it for so long.
Reminds me of Kerry feigning ignorance of the whole San Francisco gay marriage thingy. What's with Democrat Senators? Can't they ever pick up a paper or turn on the news? Or if they're too busy, don't they have "people" who can read a paper or turn on the news?
Hey Evan! You should've grown a pair and b-slapped that fat drunken scuba diver from Hyannis!
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