Posted on 09/01/2006 3:44:27 PM PDT by Phsstpok
Preview and Analysis of the Weekend Talk Shows for 9/2 and 9/3/06
It's Labor Day weekend! The press can now concentrate (without feeling silly) on the Fall elections. Who cares if there's actual news that might affect the future of human existence, let alone the fortunes of the United States and all Americans? They get to report on the horse race!
Meet The Press starts off the Sunday shows in my area, so I'll talk about them first. Lil' Timmah is back and he's got a signature MTP event - live debates. He'll get to sit upright to ask questions of Casey and hunch over to his hearts delight when attacking asking questions of Santorum. This is an attempt to resurrect what appears to be a failing campaign for the Democrats. When all people knew was the name "Casey" they had good feelings, as this candidate is the son of a still "beloved" ex-governor. But as the voters actually learned about Jr. his polls began to dive. MTP will attempt to reintroduce their the Democrats' candidate and kick start his campaign
Face The Nation offers up a contrast of the steady, professional and honest Mitch McConnell versus the loony toons DNC chairman, Howard Dean. Guess who Bob Schieffer will be deferential to and who he will attack? Good guess. The DBM sees the nutroots as "the coming thing" and Dean as their pied piper. They even dream of gaining credibility with the Kos Kids and thereby restoring their credibility. McConnell will stomp all over Schieffer and Dean, but Schieffer and Dean will just not notice or care.
Fox News Sunday sets up the Republican and Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee chairs, Dole and Schumer, for a discussion of the Senate battle. Wallace will concentrate on how bad Dole did in recruiting and the conflict on the other side that the DSCC and the equivalent Democrat Congressional Campain Committee are having with the nutroots. And the breathless analysis will focus on the likelihood of the Republicans losing control. It's a horse race folks! Pay attention!
ABC This Week, has their own "horse race" story with their "on the road" segment, this time the Republican primary in Rhode Island. They're trying to set up a "throw the bums out" approach if Chaffee loses, and a "it's about his opposition to the Iraq war" one if he wins. Either way they hope to cast it as doom for the Republicans. They also offer up time for Joe Biden to strike back at the mean folks in the Bush administration for daring, (daring!) to compare opposition to the war on terror to the failure to challenge fascism in the 30s. In fact, it was so unfair of the Bush administration that ABC is giving ol' Joe free time without fear of any of his statements being challenged by anyone, because they don't have an opposing voice from the administration, and you know that Georgie won't say anything critical or challenging of a Democrat (at least not one in good standing). Oh, they also throw in Bo Derek for eye candy and animal rights appeal. Do you suppose she's promised to trash Bush, who she has supported, if they give her air time for her pet horse project?
CNN Late Edition offers up politics with Harold Ford Jr. as a possible Democrat pick up in the Senate (they hope) and Chris Shays as a potential Republican loss in the House (they hope), though they do probably give us Shays because he has turned on Bush over an Iraq pull out, so this could be a payoff, free face time as quid for his quo. We'll have to see how they treat the Deputy PM from Iraq and his work to get the economy going. I bet they only want to ask him about the latest "success" by the terrorists. The Lanny Davis segment could get interesting, since he was a Lieberman supporter, and he's had this amazing revelation about how mean the blogs can be. It's not clear that Matthew Dowd will be on in the same segment, but it is clear they are trying to tie Bush to Schwarzenegger in the California Governor's race.
Fox News Sunday gives us Dole vs. Schumer in the battle for the Senate. Elizabeth Dole appears to be the designated "fall gal" if the Republicans do lose the Senate. How much you wanna bet they don't ask Schumer anything about his call for the special prosecutor in what is now exposed as the Valerie Plame-out fraud? And then they turn to Arlen Specter, who isn't the leader of the Republicans in the Senate, to describe the upcoming Congressional Agenda. Huh? Excuse me? But all is right with the world. Brit is back and Juan is on the panel. Can you say "smack down?"
The Saturday shows Give us their usual warm up for the main event on Sunday. Mort and Fred repeat their SNL routine ("Mort you ignorant slut"), this time focusing on both Labor Day issues and the Bush administrations latest counter to the incessant Bush bashing over Iraq. Mort will give his patented imitation of the Democrat talking points, which even he doesn't believe and Fred will still be unable to counter as he stumbles over forgotten names and affiliations. Fred, get a research assistant for names and organizations, have them write stuff down and then READ IT!!!!! You know this stuff, you just have an awful time dredging it up on camera. It ruins what you're trying to say. Russert's Saturday show on CNBC is a repeat filler as he preps for the "big debate," live, on his Sunday show. Fox News Watch continues to prove that they are totally ignoring their stated mission of critically examining the new media and instead going out of their way to defend or ignore the most outrageous fraud being pushed by the DBM. I've written them a screed to challenge their continued malfeasance, but I doubt it will do any good (I'll post the text on this thread, as well). And JER, as usual, provides a calm, reasoned analysis of the actual issues of the week. And the ratings just ain't there for them. Whose fault is that?
The web stuff was interesting this week. ABC, NBC and CBS, of all folks, had their stuff up by Thursday. CNN and Fox News Sunday were relatively late to the Sunday show party, but they both got their stuff posted by mid day on Friday. CNN still doesn't have anything other than the list of guests, but I can infer the topics from that. Any errors on that are strictly my fault, but I have little fear of where I think they're going. Following the pattern of the last couple of weeks the Saturday shows are getting their stuff up after most of the Sunday shows do. That may indicate the relative value the networks (Fox and NBC) put on their Saturday shows. That's a shame. Turn me loose on say Fox News Watch and I'll give them "must see TV" every week.
This is cross posted at my blog at Wizards.Townhall.COM. This post exists primarily as a heads up for who is on the weekend talks shows, what they've been invited on to push (based on their recent pronouncements) and the spin (meme) the DBM is likely trying to push based on that information. All of this is prep work for the weekly Sunday Morning Talk Show thread posted by Alas Babylon!. That thread provides a live commentary and analysis of the Sunday talking head shows, with rare insight and exceptional fact checking. we are the Jedi Council of FreeRepublic, at least in regards to these DBM gabfests. You wanna know what was said and what it meant, as well as where they messed up? Read that thread!
I will also post a link to Mark Kilmer's excellent preview over at RedState.COM when it is up.
I'll post a link to this Sunday's live thread here when it is up.
Don't you dare! We need you back on the thread, you've been goofing off to much anyway!LOL
This is the letter that I sent to Fox News Watch on Friday, 9/1/06
A profession in crisis
May I suggest that you are fiddling while your profession burns down around you? This week you feature yet more discussion of the Mark Karr non-story, while ignoring the continuation of massive fraud in coverage of Katrina, on display this last week for the anniversary. Why no critical commentary on the performance art we witnessed then? Will you, for once, examine the litany of false reports put out by the old media sources, particularly the hysteric reporting of Shepard Smith and Anderson Cooper?
I have a challenge for you. Provide me one month and access to all of the material broadcast by Fox during and after Katrina. Allow me to assemble a critique of that coverage and an examination of the claims made. Do you think Smith would come out such a review with an intact reputation? Do you think your role as commentators on news coverage would survive?
The hundreds of dead bodies in the Super Dome, the roving rape gangs, the snipers shooting at rescuers and, worst of all, the mantra of “the failure of the Federal Government to respond.” What do you call over 9,000 people rescued by the Coast Guard? That’s not a local agency. And it took 3 days to get material into New Orleans because the roads were damaged such that trying to move a loaded 18 wheeler over them would have been insane. Your profession broadcast and printed the wildest false rumors without bothering to check or even review them for plausibility, the more sensational the better. And you did it because it could be made to fit the preconceived notions of the uncaring and evil Bush administration inflicting harm on the poor and minorities in a Democrat stronghold.
The levees failed. That is a problem that took a century to develop and it is largely due to local graft and incompetence. Millions of dollars have been diverted from levee maintenance, a local responsibility of the multiple interlocking levee boards. It lined plenty a corrupt politicians pocket (dare I say Dixiecrat politicians?) and was diverted to pet projects, like casinos. Yet your colleagues continue to ride the same false narrative that “it’s all Bush’s fault™.”
Rathergate and the current fauxtography scandals (including Katie’s miracle diet) are only the tip of the iceberg that has managed to break through and give a hint of the utter corruption and incompetence of reporters editors and producers worldwide. The fraudulent stories being spoon fed to Reuters in the Middle East and published without even minimal critical examination are the most upfront examples of how reporters operate today, repeating what favored sources dictate to them, so long as it forwards their leftist, particularly anti-American and anti-Israeli, agendas.
And we come to your second topic, the kidnapped Fox journalists. Your listed topic is “are risks greater than ever?” You mean are the risks to reporters greater. You should be asking instead about the risks to the honest communication of the truth. Steve Centanni has been emphasizing how sympathetic he is to the Palestinian cause and how their message deserves to be heard. By definition he is not a reporter but an advocate for one side, the murderous terrorist's side, and should never be allowed to cover that region again. Your counterparts at CNN admitted that they covered up Sadam’s crimes that they knew about so that they could keep their bureau open in Baghdad. Why? What value did it serve except as a propaganda outlet for a mass murderer? And what did Fox or the other news agencies agree to do or to not report on this time?
Your job is to report on events, who, what, when, where, why and how. If you can’t do that because of fear then you should say so and leave the area. If you won’t do that and instead substitute politically biased diatribes and outright fakery, then your “profession” has already died.
I heard from a Democrat this morning. They still believe Wilson was right about President Bush, Rove and Cheney. These people are delusional at best and crazy at worst. Because they would do all the things they say Republicans do, they have talked themselves into wild conspiracy theories that make no sense but fit in their heads as true.
Meanwhile, David Corn is trying to keep his butt out of the fire, from all his wild accusations, and the Democrats are hanging on to his every word hoping for more excuses to justify their behavior.
We may still here about the Wilson fiasco on FNS this weekend but don't expect any apology, regret or contrition coming from the left.
thats better.
I heard a little of Rush's comments too. It will be interesting to see if this is touched on by any network or pundit. Probably not.
All I can say is all this needs to be talked about and used to further expose the duplicity Democrats are guilty of. Most voters don't like being hoodwinked over things like this.
Great letter...hopefully they read it ...but I doubt it.
Posted at 3:49pm on Sep. 2, 2006
The Sunday Morning Talk Shows - lineup
MTP, FNS, FTN, TW, LE
By Mark Kilmer
For Sunday, September 3, 2006
Meet the Press (NBC): Host Tim Russert hosts a faux-debate between Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and his Dem opponent, Treasurer Bobby Casey, Junior. If you get a chance to listen in, don't expect much from Junior. He won't say anything other than what he has memorized, so expect Russert to keep it on script. If you ever feel like slapping Junior, don't feel bad; it's completely natural.
FOX News Sunday (FNS): Host Chris Wallace talks to the chiefs of the parties' Senate campaign committee: Chuckie Schumer and Liddy Dole. (I suspect Wallace will ask her why the heavy effort for Linc versus Laffey. If she says it is to keep Republicans in the majority, she ought to be asked why she didn't recruit someone competent to run against Bill Nelson down in Florida.) Then he'll talk to Snarlin' Arlen about the "Congressional agenda."
Face the Nation (CBS): Host Bob Schieffer talks to Howard Dean and Mitch McConnell. Since Dean refuses to appear with Ken Mehlman, there's no way he will appear at the same time as Mitch.
This Week (ABC): Host George Stephanopoulos has Joe Biden on to talk about "Rumsfeld [and] Cheney," two surnames.
Late Edition (CNN): Host Wolf Blitzer chats with Chris Shays and Marty Meehan (who were the House of Representatives McCain and Feingold, though I doubt Wolf wants to chat about campaign finance harrassment); Iraqi deput Prime Minister Barham Salih; uber-Dem Lanny Davis; Labor Secretary Elaine Chao; GOP strategist Matthew Dowd; some Iranian dude; and Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa (another Junior).
----- <snip>(Phsstpok) has his preview of the shows live at Free Republic. He asks: "And, notice, not one word about the Wilson / Plame-out fraud from the DBM."
Read More »
He provides some additional brief analysis of the shows and guests as well, which I have snipped, so that folks will go to RedState to read it. I'm a member there too and I don't want to lift his work entirely. Follow the Read More link to catch his comments. They're worth it. Plus, if you go to the link you get to see my real name (it's pronounced "like a ringing bell," according to my first ancestor in this country, Ninian, from the 1600s), which I have replaced above with my FR screen name. I'm not trying to hide behind a "secret identity. I just don't want to confuse folks unnecessarily (like I normally do). <g>
Well....it sounds like you have a very hard decision to make...but, I am glad the surgeon is giving you choices...rather than rushing you into another surgery.
Phsst..I wish I could say/do anything to help you. It is very hard for the people that care about you to feel so helpless...BUT, I appreciate you sharing his with us.
It is a good reminder for me...when I start feeling sorry for myself for much, much less than what you are going through..and you DON'T wallow in self pity...you work harder.
I know if it were MY decision, I would never want to turn down a change to be wined and dined...and to schmooze and hear gossip....
Besides, Santa Claus can find you wherever you are..and recuperating then, might be a good time...it will be slower in politics and such..hopefully, there won't be any national catastrophe...so, if you need to sit out the weekend preview a few weeks..you won't be missing anything that important.
Just my opinion, re: what I would do....don't mind if you take it or leave it....just recycle what you don't use..
Oooooo!!!!
it's about halfway through Beltway Boys on Fox and they've just said they'll be talking about Armitage!!!!!!
Their tease is "Who is this man and why isn't he making headlines?"
I was listening. The most astounding thing to me...Kondracke said that Fitzgerald told Armitage to keep his information to himself. It is my opinion that his career should be ruined. He should be fired immediately.
What sleuth said (when you can't improve on something, adopt it without shame).
There's a problem with Kondrake's statement. Armitage apparently was told to "keep quiet" by "the prosecutor," but when Armitage came forward to his bosses and the Stete Department told the Justice department that they had information about the person who originally talked to the press Fitzgerald wasn't yet appointed. Was it Fitzgerald who told Armitage to "keep quiet?" If so that would have been several months down the road to the debacle that is Fitzmas.
Let's assume that it was Fitzgerald who told him not to talk. That means he left the Bush administration in the dark, despite his oath of office, without any injunction from the prosecutor, for several months. And Colin Powell reported directly to the President and knew the truth and didn't say anything during all that time.
I think we know why Colin wasn't invited back.
LOL..you are a very nice person.
Nor should he have been. I think it's pretty clear that Armitage and Powell (whose reputation should be in the commode)were content to let the President and other completely innocent people in the Administration twist in the wind for years. That was a horrible, inexcusable thing to do. And I'm rethinking Mort's statement in light of your comments. As I have said in previous discussions, I don't think that a prosecuter has an enforceable power to tell someone not to talk. A judge would, but would be unlikely to impose a selective gag order outside of a national security issue. But assume for a moment that Fitz actually did something like that, how does it look in light of his complaint that Libby was "throwing sand" in the eyes of the investigators. Oh what a tangled web we weave....
Okay....I think I may have to rethink starting the Phsstpok fan club...anyone agreeing with Neal is suspect...LOL
BTW..Since I know you saw the show...did you hear the ditzy Jane Hall say that the media probably went to the Gaza to report, thinking it would be SAFE???
Riiiight...it had only been the site of fighting for YEARS, but journalists beg to go there because they are safer there...sheesh, Jane..get a clue.
Also...they were attempting to make the JonBenet subject the "most embarrassing moment for the media"...but, then went the WHOLE show without once even mentioning the disclosure that PLAMEGATE is more like Rathergate than anyone even knew...AND, the major newspapers, and CNN and MSBNC have had whole shows that have obsessed about that case for 3 YEARS!
They also needed to point out that all last week, while the media was predicting that Ernesto was going to wipe out Houston, then New Orleans, then the panhandle of Florida..and instead it ended up RAINING on the East Coast..
BAJA California and the west coast of Mexico was getting the Sht beat out of it by Hurricane John..and NO ONE NOTICED until it was too late do get reporters there...LOL
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