Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 4 June 2006

Various big media television networks ^ | 4 June 2006 | Various Self-Serving Politicians and Big Media Screaming Faces

[Alas Babylon!]

The Talk Shows

Sunday, June 4th, 2006

Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows:

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del.; former U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix.

FACE THE NATION (CBS): Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

THIS WEEK (ABC): Former Vice President Al Gore; author John Updike.

LATE EDITION (CNN) : Rice; Blix; Sens. George Allen, R-Va., and Carl Levin, D-Mich.

[Alas Babylon!]

As always, soliciting FReeper comments, observations, and opinions.

[DoctorMichael]

Morning all!

---

07:00 AM EDT 0:45 (est.) LIVE

Call-In Open Phones C-SPAN, Washington Journal

07:45 AM EDT 0:45 (est.) LIVE

Call-In Bipartisan Presidential Ticket C-SPAN, Washington Journal Gerald Rafshoon Douglass Bailey , Hotline, The

08:30 AM EDT 0:45 (est.) LIVE

Call-In News Review C-SPAN, Washington Journal Sheryl Gay Stolberg , New York Times

09:15 AM EDT 0:45 (est.) LIVE

Call-In Military Operations in Iraq C-SPAN, Washington Journal Tom Lasseter , Knight-Ridder News Service

12:00 PM EDT 3:00 (est.) LIVE

Call-In In Depth with Mark Bowden C-SPAN, BookTV Mark Bowden , Atlantic Monthly Mr. Bowden's 1999 book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, the story of the downing of a Black Hawk helicopter in Somalia in 1993, was made into a movie directed by Ridley Scott. Another of his books, Killing Pablo (2001), which covered the life and death of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, is currently being adapted for film. (Mr. Bowden is writing the screenplay). Mr. Bowden's latest book, Guests of the Ayatollah: The First Battle in America's War with Militant Islam, is about the 444 day Iran hostage crisis that began in November 1979. Mark Bowden's other books are: Doctor Dealer (1987), Bringing the Heat (1994), Our Finest Day: D-Day, June 6, 1944 (2002) and Finders Keepers (2002).

[Alas Babylon!]

Please check out Phsstpok’s EXCELLENT Thread. It provides an in-depth analysis of this week’s shows.

From the thread:
The most interesting guest to me will be Condi Rice. She is doing a blitz of multiple shows and it is clear she has a message to push. I am very interested in what it is and how hard the drive by media will try to ignore it. Hans Blix is doing a mini-counter blitz (a Blix blitz?) and I'll be interested to learn his (the UN/PLO/Al Qaeda's) talking points as well as the hagiography of Al Gore on ABC. Is he really the great white hope of the moonbats?

The dominant meme appears to be that Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS) is the only sane way to look at the world, oh, and appeasement is the most successful diplomatic tactic known to mankind (never mind the 100% failure rate)

[Laverne]

MTP looks like must-miss tv today; Looking forward to seeing Condi on FNS.

[Alas Babylon!]

From FReeper Snugs’ graphics shop, here are last week's winners:

[Morgan in Denver]

Good morning AB and thanks for the thread. Sure would like a solid Brit smack down today.

[Pusterfuss]

G'morning Alas. Interesting line-up this morning.

[Alas Babylon!]

WHAT? You mean you wouldn't want to partake of the wisdom of Senator Joe Biden? I'm sure Mr. Russert will have many wonderful questions for him! I mean, it's not like Senator Biden appears on the Sunday shows every Sunday......

And Hans Blix, international man of mystery! Grrrrrowl, Baby! Behave!

[Miss Marple]

Good morning! I went to Mass last night so I will be here for most of the morning, unless my husband hijacks the computer. I made him pancakes this morning so maybe he will let me have the computer..LOL.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I'm actually tempted to watch MTP this morning. The lineup of Biden, the Bloviator of the Senate, and Blix, the Mr. Magoo of weapons inspectors, promises some high comedy.

[johnny7]

Morning! What's with this Blix blitz?

[shadeaud]

My feelings are that the lefties want to re-open another debate on how the administration lied and shouldn't be trusted with the running of the house, senate and in '08 the Presidency.

[snugs]

Good morning as as ever many thanks for putting the thread up

[Miss Marple]

My theory is that Blix will be shown as involved in the Oil for Food scandal and is doing a pre-emptive strike, so that his indictment can be blamed on "Bush getting revenge."

As you can see, I am very cynical about anyone involved with the UN.

[OldFriend]

Morning all. AFter a vacation from the computer I'm almost ready to suffer the fools on TV this morning.

Much as I hate ABC and Stuffinguphisnose, it's delicious to learn that his program is surpassing Russet's MTP.

[ncphinsfan]

"I mean, it's not like Senator Biden appears on the Sunday shows every Sunday......"

You are so right. I don't think there is a question that Senators Biden, Graham, McCain, Hagel, Schumer etc. haven't been asked and answered on television scores of times. We know everything they think, everything they're for and against, much more than we'd like to or need to know. How's about we try someone like Tom Coburn, Jeff Sessions or Richard Burr (from my state) for a change. I wonder what they think on a number of different issues.

[sweetiepiezer]

Al Gore, Sunday cartoons are back.

[anita]

Thanks, AB & Good Morning to everyone!

At least two networks have Time Magazine reporters on their panel. Their colleague who "broke" the Haditha soldiers story, was in collution with Taliban. Coincidence?

Haditha Reporter's Thanksgiving With The Taliban -> Sweetness & Light dutifully exposes the Time reporter's true connections. (Worth the Read)

Thanksgiving With the Taliban TIME correspondent Tim McGirk shares bread, raisins, and thoughts about the afterlife with some Taliban fighters, and finds some common ground.

[Miss Marple]

The Sunday shows are not interested in letting you know what those folks think. As far as the Sunday shows are concerned, the public needs MORE Biden!

We have become like the old Pravda watchers...you have to figure out what's going on by seeing who is NOT present on the shows and reading subtle signs, much like tea leaves.

[SAMS]

Another Sunday and now only 5 months 'til November and still no Hildeast. Not that I want to see/hear her, but I find it odd that our Senator from New York never makes it to the Sunday morning gab fests.....

[Morgan in Denver]

Morning Old Friend, welcome to the fray.

I'm interested to learn what Mr. Blix has to say as well.

[anita]

Russert comes into this sunday's Media Nuggets

###### Tim Russert gave a telephonic interview to Deborah Soloman for NYTimes Magazine on Mother's day - Saying nothing about his mother (inspite of pressing repeatedly), complaining about Fox on Air Force One & whining about Bushies dissing MTP - Russert's image didn't come up well. MTP boss was angry, ran to Wash.Post & whining that the interview was "misleading, callous and hurtful" to him.

###### Paper of Fiction - "Mr. Paulson and other executives expressed little interest in taking the post. ... They couldn't get someone from Wall Street because nobody wanted the job" -> per NYT-WH Reporter granting anonymity to secret sources inside WH. Within 2 days Mr. Paulson resigns as chairman of Goldman Sachs & stands with the Prez. accepting nomination as Treasury Sec. :-) The same reporter is still covers WH.

###### When unemployment is 6-year low(4.6%) with booming economy, Wash.Post is in doom and gloom -> 70 reporters, editors, photographers, newsroom employees & 100 employees outside the newsroom will be out of their jobs. Wash.Post acknowledges that Circulation has decreased in recent years. As misery loves company, Wash.Post points out they aren't alone & NYTimes, Tribune and other dailies face the same burden as them. Experts say that Wash.Post's biased reporting is the reason for it's sinking circulation & earnings.

###### Associated Press's chief political writer, Ron Fournier was famous for predicting the wrong results since Bush elected. He is not in AP anymore and quitting political reporting for good.

###### Ketchup Queen Heinz' 4Q Profit Fall, Plans to cut 2,700 jobs & exit 15 plants this year.

###### Da Vinci Code backlash? -> Films from MGM will no longer be distributed on video and DVD by Sony instead chose 20th Century Fox. Sony will lose $25 million to $30 million by this decision.

###### Profits are plummeting at Time Inc. Sports Illustrated and Fortune are suffering steep declines in advertising pages, while namesake title Time is seen as in danger of becoming obsolete.

###### New Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke WAS sympathetic to journos. Not anymore. After his private conversation with Maria Bartiromo was deliberately leaked, taking cue from his WH experience he CANCELLED the Fed Fourth of July party with Washington's A-list reporters permanently.

###### Fox News Business Channel could launch as soon as this month. [Who will take-over Cavuto's time now?].

###### Media shareholders alert! - Associated Press , NYTimes, LATimes, Wash.Post, and ABC News are paying $750,000 to Wen Ho Lee as settlement fees for not revealing the name of Clinton admn. official who slandered the scientist. NYTimes faces another big libel suit from Stephen Hatfill in anthrax slur.

[Miss Marple]

We also need to pay attention to George Allen and see how he does against Wolf Blitzer.

[OldFriend]

Blix has been out and around warning the US not to be threatening Iran.

Guess it will be more of the same from him.

Corrupt to his core.

Am about to start the book about the UN by the FNC reporter.

[FreedomNeocon]

I predict the shows don't mention one word about Iran.

Hot Topic of choice: Haditha

[snugs]

Looks like the Marple household is in need of a second computer and a wireless network.

[Morgan in Denver]

Agreed. I hope Allen does well this morning. He needs the positive image.

[Miss Marple]

I would be happy if the business block on Saturday morning moves to another Fox channel. It has deteriorated into uninformed political commentary and has little to do with business as such.

[Miss Marple]

The Marple household needs other things, too. We are facing putting new windows in, and so a computer will have to wait until a bonus check arrives from Mr. Marple's boss.

[freema]

Here's a second vote on your theory.

[Morgan in Denver]

I admit it's hard to watch Blix, just as it is Kofi Annan. When he's on it all I can do to listen and not yell.

[Miss Marple]

Well, if I am right an indictment or devastating article should be arriving in the next couple of weeks, at which point I will claim credit for my reading of the tea leaves. HA!

[DoctorMichael]

MTP looks like must-miss tv today

Biden & Blix? Now THERES a balanced program.

[Peach]

Good morning.

When Hans Blix and others start talking about how the administration lied and there were no WMD in Iraq, remember this:


Last month Moshe Yaalon, who was Israel's top general at the time, said Iraq transported WMD to Syria six weeks before Operation Iraqi Freedom began.

Last March, John A. Shaw, a former U.S. deputy undersecretary of defense for international technology security, said Russian Spetsnaz units moved WMD to Syria and Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

"While in Iraq I received information from several sources naming the exact Russian units, what they took and where they took both WMD materials and conventional explosives," Mr. Shaw told NewsMax reporter Charles Smith.

Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Michael DeLong was deputy commander of Central Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In September 2004, he told WABC radio that "I do know for a fact that some of those weapons went into Syria, Lebanon and Iran."

In January 2004, David Kay, the first head of the Iraq Survey Group which conducted the search for Saddam's WMD, told a British newspaper there was evidence unspecified materials had been moved to Syria from Iraq shortly before the war.

"We know from some of the interrogations of former Iraqi officials that a lot of material went to Syria before the war, including some components of Saddam's WMD program," Mr. Kay told the Sunday Telegraph.

Also that month, Nizar Nayuf, a Syrian journalist who defected to an undisclosed European country, told a Dutch newspaper he knew of three sites where Iraq's WMD was being kept. They were the town of al Baida near the city of Hama in northern Syria; the Syrian air force base near the village of Tal Snan, and the city of Sjinsar on the border with Lebanon.

In an addendum to his final report last April, Charles Duelfer, who succeeded David Kay as head of the Iraq Survey Group, said he couldn't rule out a transfer of WMD from Iraq to Syria.

"There was evidence of a discussion of possible WMD collaboration initiated by a Syrian security officer, and ISG received information about movement of material out of Iraq, including the possibility that WMD was involved. In the judgment of the working group, these reports were sufficiently credible to merit further investigation," Mr. Duelfer said.

In a briefing for reporters in October 2003, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James Clapper Jr., who was head of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency when the Iraq war began, said satellite imagery showed a heavy flow of traffic from Iraq into Syria just before the American invasion.

"I think the people below Saddam Hussein and his sons' level saw what was coming and decided the best thing to do was to destroy and disperse," Lt. Gen. Clapper said.

You haven't heard much about these reports, because they contradict the meme that Saddam either had no WMD, or destroyed it well before the Iraq war began.

A man who had been deputy chief of Saddam Hussein's air force claimed Iraq moved weapons of mass destruction into Syria before the war began.

Special Republican Guard brigades loaded yellow barrels with the skull and crossbones sign on each barrel onto two airliners from which the seats had been removed, Georges Sada said. There were 56 flights in all.

The captured files of the Iraqi intelligence service, still mostly untranslated, could shed light on what did happen to Saddam's WMD.

[anita]

Completely agree with you Miss Marple, it is nothing but a shouting match. Even more agravating, it's promotion with clueless wordings.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Looks like it will be both, at least on Timmy's show. Here's the topic summary from the Meet the Depressed website:

"How will allegations that U.S. Marines killed innocent Iraqis in the town of Haditha affect the American effort to win over Iraqis' "hearts and minds"? How soon can we expect a drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq? And looking toward Iran, can diplomatic incentives help curb the country's nuclear program? We will ask potential 2008 Democratic presidential candidate and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Joe Biden (D-DE)."

[OldFriend]

Since I had a visitor from Denver for five days, it was wonderful to keep the computer off for the most part.

Kept my blood pressure down too!

Am sick of all the bloviating from both sides.

[snugs]

As I am Miss Marple I often wonder when politicians have to address that body do they often feel the same but Political Correctness means they have to pretend otherwise.

By the way did you see the photos I put on the dose of Laura addressing the UN on Friday?

And talking to John Bolton

And of course for all the men out here a photo of Barbra

U.N. General Assembly during the High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS at the United Nations in New York June 2, 2006

[Morgan in Denver]

Found this on FR this week on Katrina. Don't know what was going on at the time that it got so few posts but the information on Katrina is pretty good if anyone is interested.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1589978/posts

[OldFriend]

Good morning Peach. Once again you are at the ready with inconvenient (to the media) facts about Iraq's WMD.

[snugs]

I bet she is terried of misstepping or getting misquoted or worse getting quoted correctly.

[Laverne]

Thank you for the media nuggets -- I always enjoy them. The article about Russert is very revealing.....he claims that Deborah Soloman presented a misleading representation of his interview. How ironic -- Russert who misleads every Sunday, and indeed every time he appears on tv, is complaining about a misleading story about him. It gave me a good Sunday morning giggle -- thank you for posting!!!

[Alas Babylon!]

Thanksgiving With the Taliban TIME correspondent Tim McGirk shares bread, raisins, and thoughts about the afterlife with some Taliban fighters, and finds some common ground.

Common ground? Let me guess.....hmmmmmm....

We hate Bush!
Death to America!
Jews are pigs!
Death to Israel!
Destroy infidel Christians!

[snugs]

Typical Tim Russert does not say no to Fox when it comes to pushing his book. Though even then he got a whine in about the VP not being willing to come on MTP.

[Peach]

Good morning.

We too have house guests so I've not been on FR much and it's been quite relaxing not to worry about the world of politics :-)

It's unlikely any of the shows will feature the terrorist arrests in Canada and Britain; they were all building bombs and making WMD. The MSM sure doesn't want to remind viewers there is a world of danger out there.

[Bahbah]

Well, here is Mr. Potato Head. He says one of his issues is atrocities in Iraq. I guess he's going to talk about the terrorists blowing up innocent civilians...Right?

[anita]

Journalists Core Values

Innocent until accused.

How to use the word "alleged" and still get your point across.

Finding a quotable Congressman to say what you mean.

Top-notch news analysis in a word: Vietnam.

[stopem]

Anxious to hear what Allen will say if anything since his return from Iraq. I am getting more interested in him as candidate in 2008.

[Morgan in Denver]

What a quality lady Mrs. Bush is. I have to resist the temptation of first lady comparisons to Hillary because Mrs. Bush so far outshines the NY Senator that it's not a fair comparison.

[snugs]

:0)