Posted on 10/04/2006 5:32:50 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
October 4, 2006 - 08:22
Perhaps there should be a new definition of 'RINO': Republican in NBC Only.
Went it comes to hiring Republicans, NBC/MSNBC has a pronounced predilection for those with no special love for the party of Lincoln. Guys like Pat Buchanan, who quit the GOP to run against George Bush and loves to lambaste him. Or Joe Scarborough, who this morning predicted Republican doom and suggested hurling Hastert to the wolves.
The former Republican representative from the Florida Panhandle, now host of his own MSNBC show, was Matt Lauer's guest on 'Today.' The two played 'Can You Top This?' when it came to foreseeing the worst for the GOP in light of the Foley fiasco. Examples:
Lauer: "Let's talk about Dennis Hastert. What troubles me here is a couple of high-ranking Republicans, John Boehner and Tom Reynolds, go to him, they say months ago, and they talk to him about the situation with these emails and Mark Foley, and Hastert according to them says 'I am aware of it, it's taken care of.' Now Dennis Hastert doesn't remember that conversation. That seems hard for me to believe."
Interesting that Lauer has heaved his reporter's hat and has now assumed the role of news analyst/editorialist, informing the world as to what "troubles" him and what he "finds hard to believe."
Sounding like a man eager to ingratiate himself with his bosses, Scarborough enthused: "You are right. You hit the nail the head. This is what hurts Dennis Hastert and Republicans more than anything else: You have a Speaker of the House that says he doesn't remember being told that a page, a young boy was targeted by a sex predator inside his Congress."
Joe continued to pile on: "When I went up to Congress, we were told there had been problem with the pages. Something Dennis Hastert knew. It was terrible and raises too many disturbing questions."
Lauer: "Let's say we believe Dennis Hastert. He doesn't remember this. Doesn't it at least raise questions about his oversight in an important matter?"
Scarborough: "No doubt about it. But here's the deal. But somebody is lying. Either Tom Reynolds the head of the Republican Congressional Committee who has a very difficult race in New York is lying or Hastert is lying."
Lauer goes on to cite some poll numbers showing a GOP downtick, and invites Scarborough to suggest the worst: "In other words, are you saying that the Republicans to turn those numbers are going to have to, for lack of a better expression, have to throw somebody under the bus other than Mark Foley?" Scarborough: "They will have to throw Dennis Hastert under the bus."
Lauer: "Do you think he should resign?"
Scarborough: "I think politically, the Republicans have to do something dramatic. . . I think whatever they do will be too little too late. This is the final straw that broke the camel's back. It's the base that's going to be upset by the Foley scandal that will end up dooming the Republican majority. I think Nancy Pelosi is the next Speaker of the House."
Lauer: "Interesting prediction."
Matt concluded by thanking Scarborough "very much." You can be sure of Lauer's sincerity toward his compliant guest.
Today Show/NewsBusters ping.
This no ratings idiot needs to be taken off TV.
Speaker Hastert takes full responsibility for not being Patrick Kennedy’s designated driver at the time of the late-night session.
Scarborough is a schizoid.
I fail to see the reasoning behind the RINO's knee-jerk reaction of calling for the resignation of Hastert. Many still haven't been able to shrug of the defeatist attitudes of the past I suppose.
It seems like they're convinced of a Dem takeover if the GOP base sits this one out. So if they don't does that mean they believe the Dems won't have much of a chance?
They did! FOLEY RESIGNED!
Carefull there Joe .. there are rumors as to why you left Congress
Scarborough works for MSNBC/NBC; a prequisite of which is to bow at the alter of the DNC and bash republicans. Joe long ago lost his objectivity; he has prostituted himself to remain in the press. He is a joke....referred to as their "conservative" spokesman. Joe long ago gave that up, again, in order to get a paycheck from his bosses at MSNBC. MSNBC should be renamed HSAL: hate speech and lies. Their shows are unwatchable.
Instead of "OHM", the liebral media's new TV mantra/chant is "Hastert, when did he know and how mu-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-ch"
Boycott everything NBC and General Electric.
Has Scarborough ever explained the discovery of a dead woman in his office?
When John Kasich starts pontificating I will positively go ballistic.
In the gayest voice I can muster, "that's wroooo-ong!"
Scarborough isnt even all that telegenic. How did he manage to get a show?? Just like a few years ago when CBS put the former Rep. Susan Molinari on a news show, and it tanked as I recall. They said she had a great TV persona but I thought she had a lousy voice, and looked out of place. She should have stayed in Congress.
In any case, even if these Republicans think Hastert should go, do they really think now is a good time for upheaval?? Even if a total Mr Clean came in as speaker there would not be time to repair the damage. It sure sounds like Joe and those guys want the GOP to lose their majority in 5 weeks.
Free Republic Opinion Poll: Should conservatives acquiesce to the Democrat/MSM's ridiculous demands to force Hastert to resign?
Composite Opinion
Not only no, but hell no! 74.7% 1,016
Are you out of your mind? 11.4% 155
I don't like your poll and am going to hold my vote and my breath until you make it fair. 9.6% 130
Yes, because I'm too stupid to vote. 4.3% 59
100.0% 1,360
Have you seen the FR poll? It's the funniest thing I've ever seen!
That's the bottom line here. Had Foley been a Democrat? I'm convinced he'd still be in Congress...because "it hasn't yet been proven that he broke any laws". Can't you just hear it?
I don't think so
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