Weekend Show *Preview* for 10/21 - 10/22/06 (not the live thread)

Network and Cable News Networks | 10/21/06 | Network and Cable News

[Phsstpok]

Preview and analysis for Weekend Talk Shows, 10-21-06 and 10-22-06

Just over two weeks left and the wheels appear to be coming off of the DBM/Dhimmicrat juggernaut.  Ford has imploded and probably provided the image of the election with his dismal stunt "confronting" Corker.  You can just see his world crumble as he stands there, and he knows it.  Lieberman is kicking MoveON butt in Connecticut and beginning to hint that he'll caucus with the Republicans if the Dhimmicrats don't give him his seniority.  Burns, who everyone counted out, is within striking distance in Montana and Steele is neck and neck in Maryland.  And then we have analysis of the polls (example 1, 2) that are starting to show up in the blogs and be discussed by the talking heads pointing out the absurd distortions of party affiliation.  The major polls are using "fudge factors" (in Zogby's case it's secret sauce) that have a 5 to 13 percent advantage for Dhimmicrats in their samples, while historically it's not been higher than 4 for either party in decades and is typically 2 or less on election day.

They're cooking the books and they know they're going to get caught.  I have a feeling a lot of them are beginning have some sympathy for how Ken Lay and his partners felt as it began to fall apart on them.

So how do I read the shows this week?  Very mixed.  Some last minute efforts to patch up the "narrative" they want to try to make us follow, countered with some carefully phrased hedging about how things can change.  There has also been a marked increase in stories in the DBM about GOP dirty tricks, doctored voting machines, hints of racism or unfair advantages (getting GOP voters to actually vote is an unfair advantage, dontcha know?).  They're preparing themselves for failure, not victory and it's a frightening prospect for them.

NBC Meet The Press may have the most emblematic show this week, what with the "great black Democrat hope," Barack Obama, in for a combined interview and anointing.  he is a rock star in the media's eyes and the more they hype him the more impact he can have when stumping for their candidates.  And he is being talked up as a serious contender for the Presidential nomination in '08 (or is he being positioned as Hillary's VP and token symbol magnificent gesture?).  I don't think that lil Timmah actually believes that Obama's a serious candidate for President after not even one full term in the Senate, but he's a perfect symbol to focus future hope on if things do fall apart for the Dhimmicrats on November 7.  And then their panel is made up of reliable voices of doom for the Republicans.  They have to beat that drum harder for the last two weeks!  It looks like a very confused show.

CBS Face The Nation has got attack dog Chucky Schumer and what they think is lap dog Libby Dole.  I know Schieffer has a handful of quotes about how poorly she has done running the Senatorial campaign and she's not an infighter, at least not in public.  CBS, true to their ideological roots, is going all out to patch up the holes in the Dhimmicrat campaign momentum and they construct their show for that purpose.  No back sliding or hedging for them.  I expect this to get nasty and personal fairly quickly, even if it is subtle.  Schieffer is very good at subtle.  The inclusion of a pollster who is predicting doom across the board for the Republicans displays the agenda nicely.  Amy Walter also has the advantage of not being a household name and not being one of the more recognizable pundits will be able to go out on a limb further than some of the others who are starting to hear footsteps.  Watch for her boss, Charlie Cook, to do a much more convoluted and "nuanced" dance on MTP.

Fox News Sunday continues to give the Senate undue deference, in my estimation, and they've assembled a panel of "experts" on foreign policy, all things military and the true state of the American electorate (whom they see two to 4 days per month).  The only thing that these guys truly have in common is that they all think they're not only the smartest person in the room, but they're the smartest people on the planet and way smarter than that rube in the White House.  All he has to do is listen to them!  Never mind that he did listen to them, all of them, in the run up to Iraq, and they all said the same thing.  And these four all went further than Bush in their rhetoric and dire warnings about Saddam's WMDs and they'd been doing it for years before Bush got to town.  All of them, even beagle face Levin.  But Chris Wallace will genuflect and elicit their wisdom about how wrong the President is and how they have a plan (each of them a different one) that will solve all of the problems everywhere.  And Sir Richard Branson is going to single handedly solve the Global Warming crisis, his good buddy Bill Clinton asked him to.  How many times do you expect Clinton's Global Initiative will be mentioned as an olive branch to his heinous?  I'm betting quite a few, not just today but for some time to come.  Daddy Wallace probably lectured Chris about "burning his bridges" once or twice since the interview.  The standard panel offers ample opportunity for smack downs what with only three shows before the election.  I expect Mara and Juan to be relentlessly "on message" from the faxes they no doubt got from the DNC.  It will be interesting to watch Kristol and Hume to see what line they take, based on the assumption that they know the White House talking points and might have some inside information on the polls Rove has.  If Brit begins to caution Mara and Juan on their positions or if Kristol begins to get that know it all smirk I'll know I'm reading the tea leaves pretty well.

ABC This Week offers up the most grotesque set up I think I've ever seen with selected and edited portions of Georgie Steponallofus' interview with President Bush, followed by a "rebuttal" by John F'n Kerry.  And you know Kerry's been given ample time to (have his speech writers) study the President's comments (and focus group test his responses).  He's been trying out some of his lines on the road this week, with several "zingers" I'm sure he's anxious to whip out.  Bush made a "gigantic blunder" in Iraq.  The Iraq war is manufacturing more terrorists.  North Korea built a bomb and we can't do anything about it because we've "lost leverage" and "credibility."  Never mind that he, his party and the DBM have been screaming at everyone about how they must not support Bush no matter what.  Or that the terrorists set off a bomb and then wait to see if the Dhimmicrats will slavishly march out to the waiting microphones to condemn Bush and not them.  Nope, that would make too much sense to view things that way.  It's all Bush's fault™.  And to top things off they trot out the "classic roundtable" of Bush haters to tout the impending doom of the Republicans, which is also all Bush's fault™.  I actually expect Will to defend Senate and House Republicans (at least the RINOs and elite, like himself).  If I'm right he'll try to set up any victory as being due to the RINOs bucking Bush and any failure as a referendum on Bush.

CNN Late Edition has their usual "cast of thousands" ranging from retiring Bill Frist to rising media star Andrea Koppel.  Like all of the shows this week they seem fixated on the Senate and appear to be looking to that body as the seat of wisdom in Washington.  Along with Frist they have Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Senator Jack Reed.  Hutchison has made statements this week that put her in the position of agreeing more with Reed than Bush, which will let Wolf try to corner Frist into some sort of admission about how bad things are in Iraq.  All of these shows are fishing for sound bites, but Wolf is one of the best in the pregame setup, IMHO.  In one of the weirdest twists we have both Zbigniew Brzezinski and Alexander Haig being trotted out as "experts" on how things should be handled around the world.  Funny, in dealing with the Middle East and things like North Korea I don't remember either of them being all that successful.  Both are cold warriors with believable credentials for discussions on super power relations, but Afghanistan or North Korea?  I don't think so.  But they'll both say that it's all Bush's fault™, so they'll earn their appearance fees.  The media types selected to deliver their collective wisdom, having never actually done anything but talk in their lives, are Ornstein, Allen and a second generation Koppel.  Koppel will probably be relatively neutral, as she's still the new kid and hasn't established herself yet.  She also doesn't strike me as one of the really strident hype ambitious types, but is more about building up a rep for solid work.  Orenstein is the bomb thrower in this crowd, with a new book detailing how the legislative branch of government is broken (and the Republicans broke it).  Mike Allen is the wild card, with an article that questioned the conventional wisdom about a Dhimmicrat sweep that came out right at the height of the feeding frenzy over la cage aux Foley.  Of course it was written before the Foley scandal broke and got drowned out by that scrum, but it's still out therr and, if he trots out some of the thinking put forward their he might just provide CNN with the cover to say that they were "fair and balanced."  Oh, c'mon.  You know they want to!

The Saturday shows offer up some interesting meat this week, starting with Mort and Fred apparently starting to hedge their bets and even daring to raise the Reid land deal.  Two primary possibilities related to Reid suggest themselves to me.  They're either confident that he won't be in a position to hurt them, whether because he's going down or because he'll lose power after November 7, or they're going to debunk and dismiss the charges as mere political dirty tricks by desperate Republicans.  I lean towards the latter but hold hope for the former.  Tim Russert matches the "let's all think about '08" of having Barack Obama on MTP by having John Edwards wife Elizabeth, on his CNBC show.  She's written a "profiles in courage" type of tome dealing with tragedy through the help of both friends and strangers.  It may be that it's a form of "it takes a village to survive cancer," but her shot at Hillary in a separate venue this week adds an odd dissonance to that notion.  I don't know when this show gets done, but if it was after that shot about Hillary not being happy due to her life choices I wouldn't put bets on lil Timmah asking about it.  Fox News Watch finally addresses the obvious slant in reporting on the election this year.  If they are true to form it will be a combination of "it's not real, we didn't do it and the bias is really in favor of the right wing."  That last will be from Neal.    And then the Journal Editorial Report gives us Mark Steyn.  Have I said I really like the Journal Editorial Report? 

So, a mixed bag this weekend with some attempts to shore up the most recent "master strategy that is guaranteed to win back Congress for the rightful masters of the little people™" and a bit of butt covering in case the plan doesn't work.  I actually think that the big story to come out of this election will be the fall out from the Dhimmicrats not winning either chamber, or even losing some ground.  The devastating impact on both the Dhimmicrats and DBM if that should happen will, I think, prove final and fatal for both institutions as we know them.  Someone mainstream is going to twig to that in the next two weeks and be able to make it a convincing argument.  That person will break out as the new "pundit extraordinaire."  Unfortunately, if I'm right that the DBM will be discredited as well as the Dhimmicrats, there may be nowhere for that new king of all punditry to go pontificate because we may see all of the screaming head shows replaced by reruns of Gilligan's Island and the syndicated version of Deal or No Deal.

Sorry to be so late posting this time.  I'm getting set to travel on business both this week and again the week after.  I should be able to put up next weeks thread, perhaps even sooner than today's, but the first Friday in November is probably right out.  I may not even get anything up before the Saturday shows are history.  But I'll try.

This will be cross posted to 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!

Here's a link to Mark Kilmer's excellent preview of the Sunday shows over at RedState.COM.  He beat me again this week.

I'll also post a link to this Sunday's live thread here when it is up.

have at it.

 

[Phsstpok]

Something new this week

I decided I didn't recognize who some of the people were this week, even after looking them up, so I went out and looked for pictures.  I thought that might help others too, so here are the faces to go along with the names for the Sunday Shows.  I avoided the worst editorial choices, but will admit to trying to be a bit playful in a couple of cases.  This may really annoy some people, so please let me know if it's worth doing or if I should drop it.  All or some of these may disappear or get blocked as I'm just linking to pictures already out there.  I did try to limit that to primarily large institutions or government sites.  I hope this works.

Fox News Sunday

Senator Richard Lugar	Senator John Warner	Senator Joe Biden	Senator Carl Levin	Sir Richard Branson
Chris Wallace	Brit Hume	Bill Kristol	Juan Williams	Mara Liasson

ABC This Week

President George W. Bush	Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass	Kelly Kulick
George Stephanopoulos	George Will	Cokie Roberts	Sam Donaldson

CBS Face The Nation

Chuck Schumer	Elizabeth Dole	Bob Schieffer	Amy Walter

CNN Late Edition

Bill Frist	Kay Bailey Hutchison	Jack Reed	Alexander Haig	Zbigniew Brzezinski
Norm Ornstein	Mike Allen	Andrea Koppel	Wolf Blitzer

NBC Meet The Press

Barack Obama	David Broder	Charlie Cook
John Harwood	Robert Novak	Tim Russert

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Saturday Shows for 10/21/06

Below are the topics and guests announced for these programs, along with my take on the "memes" that the shows are trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

The Beltway Boys (Mort Kondrake, Fred Barnes)

• Meme:
  • Remember how we told you last week that the Republicans in the House were doomed?  This we want to cover our behinds, just a tiny bit... just in case.
  • Okay, okay.  We'll talk about Dingy Harry, but our heart's not going to be in it (he's got friends we don't want to get mad at us).
• Topics:
  • What's the GOP plan to stave off major losses in Congressional races?
  • Have corruption charges against Harry Reid finally reached critical mass?
• Beltway Boys contact information beltway@foxnews.com
• The program airs on FOX News Channel Saturdays at 6 and 11:30 p.m. ET

CNBC's Tim Russert Show (Tim Russert)

• Meme:
  • A "profiles in courage" interview as part of the patented NBC build up of potential Democrat candidates and their families
• Topics:
  • Tim talks with Elizabeth Edwards about confronting breast cancer, coping with losing a child and her new book, 'Saving Graces'.
• Guests
  • Elizabeth Edwards
    • Author 'Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers'
• CNBC's Tim Russert Show airs Saturday at 7pm, 10pm & 1am ET

Fox News Watch (Eric Burns)

• Meme:
  • The public has noticed that all of old media is in the tank for the Dhimmicrats... quick, start the cover up!  Really, we knew nothing!
  • Is CNN morphing into the propaganda arm of the Jihadis?  What?  That's been the case for more than a decade?  Who knew?
  • And to prove that we can do tabloid crap too, here's Madonna!
• Topics:
  • Pessimistic predictions by the press about the midterm elections
  • Controversial call: Should CNN have aired insurgent video of snipers killing U.S. soldiers in Iraq?
  • Media cynicism surrounding Madonna's adoption plans
• The program airs on FOX News Channel Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. ET and Sundays at 2:30 a.m. ET
• Fox News Watch contact information Newswatch@foxnews.com

Journal Editorial Report (Paul Gigot) - FNC show page

• Meme:
  • It's Mark Steyn.  'Nuff Said.
  • Ford does too have a chance... oh, I hadn't seen that video before... never mind.
• Topics:
  • Opinion Journal web page: "On the Mark"
    • An interview with columnist Mark Steyn on his new book warning about the "torpor of the West" against the threat from Islamic fascism.
    • A special look at the surprisingly close Tennessee Senate race
    • Why the strong U.S. economy gets no respect.
  • Fox News Channel web page
    • 'America Alone': New book says U.S. will be last line of defense against growing tide of Islamic fascism
    • Will rising take home pay and stock prices boost the GOP?
• Guests
  • Mark Steyn
    • Author 'America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It"
    • SteynOnline web site | Wikipedia Bio
    • Mark Steyn: The 2 finalists for UnAmerican Idol (OCRegister, CA - Sep 24, 2006)
• Journal Editorial Report (at Fox News) contact information - jer@foxnews.com
• The program is from The Wall Street Journal and airs on FNC Saturday at 11 p.m. and again Sunday at 6 a.m. ET

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NBC Meet The Press (Tim Russert)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • The executive powers of the Presidency are inherently evil and must be constrained by the omniscient voices in the all wise US Senate
  • Obama is so cool!  He's even better than Bill Clinton!  Look, he really IS black!  Well, at least he's a whole lot blacker than Bill was.
  • Congress is broken and it's all the Republicans fault - everything was perfect when the Dhimmicrats ran things
  • The Republicans are so doomed... no we're not... yes you are!
  • We are in so much danger from the people that George Bush is fighting and labeled "the axis of evil" and it's Bush's fault™.
  • Everybody in the whole world hates GWB, does he know that?
• Topics:
  • Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), the man Time magazine dubbed "The Future of the Democratic Party" and the "man who could be the next president" on:
    • Domestic politics
    • Foreign policy
    • His new book, "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream."
  • With less than three weeks until the midterm elections, a new NBC Wall Street Journal Poll signals Republican troubles as the public's disapproval of Congress grows. We've assembled the best and brightest in political analysis for a special pre-election roundtable with David Broder, Charlie Cook, John Harwood, and syndicated c.
• Guests
  • Senator Barack Obama, Democrat - Illinois
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Author "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream."
    • Obama's a big draw in Seattle; should Clinton be worried? (Seattle Times, United States - Oct 20, 2006)
    • The Audactiy of Hope (by Barack Obama) Rising Star (Washington Post - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Obama’s Project Runway (Dowd Is Back And She Is Doing Better) (NY Times excerpt and FR thread - Oct 21, 2006)
    • Obama: Iran, Syria Should 'Take Ownership for Stability' of Iraq (NewsBusters - Oct 21, 2006)
    • Get-Out-The-Vote Rally with US Senator Barack Obama for Gov. Doyle (WisPolitics.com, WI - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Barack Obama: 9/11 fever has broken (Oct 20, 2006)
    • Barack Obama rallies for Menendez in New Jersey (Denver Post, CO - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Pondering The Dynamic Barack Obama (The Moderate Voice - Oct 17, 2006)
  • Roundtable
    • David Broder
      • Columnist, The Washington Post | Bio
      • Congress's Dismal Grades (Washington Post - Oct 19, 2006)
    • Charlie Cook
      • Columnist, National Journal
      • Editor and Publisher, The Cook Political Report | Bio
      • Category 5 Hurricane Heads for House GOP (Cook Political Report - Oct 13, 2006)
    • John Harwood
      • Chief Washington Correspondent, CNBC
      • Columnist, The Wall Street Journal | Bio
      • Why the Center Matters in This Election (Wall Street Journal - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Robert Novak
      • Columnist, Chicago Sun Times | Bio
      • Democratic committee chair selling access for late campaign donations (Chicago Sun-Times - Oct 15, 2006)
• What would you like to ask this week's guests? (web page for submitting questions for this weeks show)
• Meet the Press mailbox (web page for comments)

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CBS Face The Nation (Bob Schieffer)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • The executive powers of the Presidency are inherently evil and must be constrained by the omniscient voices in the all wise US Senate
  • The Republicans are so doomed... no we're not... yes you are!
  • We are in so much danger from the people that George Bush is fighting and labeled "the axis of evil" and it's Bush's fault™.
• Topics:
  • The Midterm Elections
• Guests
  • Sen. Chuck Schumer, Democrat - New York
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
    • Dems and Deficit Spending (National Review Online Blogs, NY - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Attn: Chuck Schumer (National Journal, DC - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Sen. Chuck Schumer Gloats: We Can Win (NewsMax.com, FL - Oct 3, 2006)
    • Demonstrators Lay Coffins At Chuck Schumer’s Door (Canarsie Digest, New York - Oct 5, 2006)
    • A 'mother lode' of remains (New York Daily News, NY - Oct 21, 2006)
    • Administration OK With Iraq-Tet Offensive Comparisons (FOX News - Oct 19, 2006)
  • Sen. Elizabeth Dole, Republican - North Carolina
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Chair, Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee
    • Negative Nancies (Daily Colonial, DC - Oct 16, 2006)
    • Sen. Dole headlines Talent event (St. Louis Post-Dispatch,  United States - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Talent and McCaskill fight to the finish (MSNBC - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Senate race slings 'lobbyists' as mud (Seattle Post Intelligencer - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Importers Protest Anti-Dumping Commitment (Textile World Magazine, Georgia - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Graham, Dole Lift Hold on Vietnam Trade Bill (Women's Wear Daily - Sep 29, 2006)
    • Dole: A switch taught her lesson (Charlotte Observer, NC - Oct 2, 2006)
    • Democrats try to ride wave back to power (Kansas City Star, MO - Oct 17, 2006)
  • Amy Walter
    • Senior Editor, The Cook Political Report | Bio
    • Indiana GOP's safe seats now up for grabs (San Francisco Chronicle - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Plenty of time on the clock (Cincinnati Post, OH - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Inside Report for Oct. 19 (2TheAdvocate, LA - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Democrats try to ride wave back to power (Kansas City Star, MO - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Foley Case Is Campaign Fodder for Democrats (ktla 5, CA - Oct 8, 2006)
• Face The Nation contact information - ftn@cbsnews.com

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Fox News Sunday (Chris Wallace)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • The executive powers of the Presidency are inherently evil and must be constrained by the omniscient voices in the all wise US Senate
  • We are in so much danger from the people that George Bush is fighting and labeled "the axis of evil," is it Bush's fault?
  • The Republicans are so doomed... maybe... maybe not?
• Topics:
  • The the four most powerful members of the U.S. Senate regarding military affairs and foreign policy discuss whether current American policies adequately address current national security threats?:
    • Escalating violence in Iraq
      • The administration awaits the conclusions of a committee of experts led by former Secretary of State James Baker regarding U.S. strategy in Iraq
      • Is Senator Biden's plan to create autonomous regions in Iraq part of the solution?
      • What are the prospects for U.S. troop withdrawals in 2007?
    • Continued North Korean threats in the wake of last week's nuclear test
      • The prospects for confronting the rogue state's nuclear capabilities.
      • Last week's U.N. Security Council Resolution
      • Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's trip to Asia
      • Has the U.S. built a unified coalition to effectively deal with Kim Jong-Il?
      • Will the U.S. be able to force North Korea to give up nuclear weapons and bring the state back to the negotiating table, or will we have to learn to live with an nuclear-armed North Korea?
  • With 16 days until election day the FOX News Sunday panel will discuss the impact of the week's events on the midterm elections and GOP's chances of maintaining control of the House and Senate.
  • Complete essay Coming Up on 'FOX News Sunday'
• Guests
  • Senator Richard Lugar, Republican - Indiana
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Disillusionment with GOP scares lawmaker (Seattle Post Intelligencer - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Shoo-in Lugar shares wealth with GOP (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Indiana races could help tip balance of Congress (Fort Wayne News Sentinel, IN - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Lugar Expects North Korea To Be Vexing Problem (WAVE, KY - Oct 10, 2006)
    • REBUILDING RWANDA, ORGANIZING FOR DARFUR (USC Center on Public Diplomacy, CA - Oct 15, 2006)
    • Lugar, Bayh on opposite sides of terrorism vote (WTHR, IN - Sep 29, 2006)
    • White House May Appoint John Bolton Deputy UN Ambassador with Pay Cut to Keep Him at UN (Huffington Post - Sep 23, 2006)
    • National eyes fixed on our race (South Bend Tribune, IN - Oct 14, 2006)
    • Hoosier senators introducing bill requiring hospitals to report on meeting safety standards (Terre Haute Tribune Star, IN - Oct 19, 2006)
    • Sen. Lugar hosts summit, outlines expanded energy plan (Biodiesel Magazine, ND - Oct 16, 2006)
  • Senator John Warner, Republican - Virginia
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Allen and John Warner team up in TV spot (The Free Lance-Star, VA - Oct 16, 2006)
    • Warners on the Stump (Washington Post, United States - Oct 16, 2006)
    • Mark and John Warner prove popular proxies in Va. Senate race (WDBJ7.com, VA - Oct 16, 2006)
    • Sen. John Warner: Iraq War 'Drifting Sideways' (NewsMax.com, FL - Oct 6, 2006)
    • Finally, Republican realists form Iraq policy (Jacksonville Daily News, NC - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Warner takes issue with McGavick remarks (San Jose Mercury News,  USA - Oct 16, 2006)
  • Senator Joe Biden, Democrat - Delaware
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Delaware Sen. Joe Biden politicks around the state (Boston Globe, United States - Oct 14, 2006)
    • Who Is Joe Biden? Republican Party Asks - and Answers (CNSNews.com, VA - Oct 5, 2006)
    • White House in tight spot over Bush's Iraq war comments (ABC Online, Australia - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Yen Stems Losses After Kim Apologizes to China for Nuclear Test (Bloomberg - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Iraq threatens to derail Republicans (Globe and Mail, Canada - Oct 20, 2006)
    • The UN's Rigged Standards (FrontPage magazine.com, CA - Oct 19, 2006)
  • Senator Carl Levin, Democrat - Michigan
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Key Senate Democrats Call For US - North Korean Talks (Voice of America - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Talk of deadlines will encourage insurgents (Mobile Register, AL - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Levin calls for altering Iraq plan (South Bend Tribune, IN - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Clip shows big-time lobbyists getting cozy with Democrats (Boston Globe, United States - Oct 19, 2006)
    • Defense appropriations fund WMU research (WMU News, MI - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Saddam verdict expected Nov. 5 (Coos Bay World, OR - Oct 16, 2006)
  • Sir Richard Branson
    • Founder of The Virgin Group | Bio
    • Live from DMA06: Sir Richard Branson Dishes on Virgin’s Brands (Multichannel Merchant, CT - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Richard Branson comes to the aid of little Ellie (Worcester News,  UK - Oct 16, 2006)
    • Richard Branson pledges $3 billion to tackle global warming (ABC Online, Australia - Sep 22, 2006)
    • Richard Branson targets 25 pct cut in world aviation emissions (Life Style Extra, UK - Sep 27, 2006)
    • Richard Branson unveils spaceship design (CBC News, Canada - Sep 28, 2006)
  • Roundtable:
    • Brit Hume
      • Managing Editor, FOX News | Bio
      • From last night's Brit Hume panel: (National Review Online Blogs, NY - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Bill Kristol
      • Editor, The Weekly Standard | Bio
      • Friday Night Fights: Shepard Smith vs. Bill Kristol (NewsBusters - Sep 30, 2006)
    • Juan Williams
      • Senior National Correspondent, NPR | Bio
      • Juan Williams deserves the heat for his new book blaming blacks (St. Louis Post-Dispatch,  United States - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Mara Liasson
      • National Political Correspondent, NPR | Bio
      • Republicans Scramble to Save Congressional Majority (NPR - Oct 20, 2006)
• Fox News Sunday contact information - FNS@foxnews.com

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ABC This Week (George Stephanopoulos)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • The executive powers of the Presidency are inherently evil and must be constrained by the omniscient voices in the all wise US Senate
  • Bush says there are similarities between Vietnam and Iraq (we left out the part about it being the treason committed by folks like John Kerry and the DBM)
  • We are in so much danger from the people that George Bush is fighting and labeled "the axis of evil" and it's Bush's fault™.
  • Everybody in the whole world hates GWB, does he know that?
  • Listen to John Kerry, he has a plan!
• Topics:
  • Never-before-seen portions of their exclusive, one-on-one interview with President Bush.
    • Beyond the headlines on North Korea and an acknowledgement of one comparison between Iraq and Vietnam
    • Bush sounds off on
      • Dissension in the Republican ranks
      • His disappointment with unethical behavior in Congress
      • His legislative agenda for the last two years of his administration.
    • Plus, the personal side of the presidency — has President Bush read the books written about him?
  • 2004 presidential nominee and 2008 presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., gives the Democratic perspective on:
    • The president's reaction to the comparison between Iraq and Vietnam
    • The administration's handling of the crisis in North Korea. What would he do differently? Do Democrats have a better plan?
    • The fight for control of Congress
  • Voices Segment: Kelly Kulick discusses her passion for bowling and the challenges of being the first woman to qualify for a full season on the professional tour
• Guests
  • President George W. Bush
    • George W Bush, Antichrist (Pulse of the Twin Cities, MN - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Black Angels set their sights on George W. Bush’s war machine (Georgia Straight, Canada - Oct 19, 2006)
    • George.W. Bush Thinks Christians Are Idiots (NewsBlaze, CA - Oct 17, 2006)
    • What Would Benjamin Franklin Say to George W. Bush? (John Birch Society, WI - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Eroding freedom: From John Adams to George W. Bush (Online Journal, FL - Oct 12, 2006)
    • Deranging consequences of 9/11 (Times Online, UK - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Iraq complicates US mid-terms (ABC Online, Australia - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Bush meeting again with commanders in Iraq as Democrats increase pressure (Mainichi Daily News, Japan - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Administration OK With Iraq-Tet Offensive Comparisons (FOX News - Oct 19, 2006)
    • In Congress, some supporters are wavering on war issues (Kansas City Star, MO - Oct 21, 2006)
    • The genteel revolt that is remaking US policy on Iraq (Guardian Unlimited, UK - Oct 20, 2006)
    • White House Upbeat About GOP Prospects (Washington Post, United States - Oct 14, 2006)
    • A GOP Surprise Courtesy of Investors? (U.S. News & World Report, DC - Oct 20, 2006)
    • GOP panic over midterm elections ends at White House front door (Seattle Times, United States - Oct 15, 2006)
  • Sen. John Kerry, Democrat - Massachusetts
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Kerry criticizes Bush's record on budget (Boston Globe, United States - Oct 20, 2006)
    • John Kerry stumps for local, state Democrats (Beaufort Gazette, SC - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Dems Pressure Kerry, Bayh to Give To DSCC (National Journal, DC - Oct 19, 2006)
    • John Kerry Says He Deserves Second Chance Presidential Bid (LifeNews.com, MT - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Kerry: Bush Assurances on Iraq a Blunder (Los Angeles Chronicle,  USA - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Kerry Continues Pounding Bush's Handling of War (The Conservative Voice, NC - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Transcript: Senator John Kerry on 'FOX News Sunday' (FOX News - Oct 16, 2006)
    • Iraq war worsening terrorism, John Kerry charges (Reuters AlertNet, UK - Oct 13, 2006)
    • John Kerry's consistent inconsistencies (Town Hall, DC - Oct 16, 2006)
  • Roundtable
    • George Will
      • Political commentator, ABC News
      • Syndicated columnist | Bio
      • Prosperity Amid the Gloom (Washington Post - Oct 19, 2006)
    • Cokie Roberts
      • Political commentator, ABC News
      • Contributing Senior News Analyst, NPR | Bio
      • The return of the mommy vote Cokie ROBERTS Steven V. ROBERTS & (The Argus, CA - Oct 9, 2006)
    • Sam Donaldson
      • Political commentator, ABC News | Bio
      • ABC on Barney Frank Scandal: No Political Hay for GOP, He's 'Truly Gifted' (NewsBusters - Oct 5, 2006)
  • Voices Segment: Kelly Kulick
• ABC This Week comment web page

[Phsstpok]

CNN Late Edition (Wolf Blitzer)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • The executive powers of the Presidency are inherently evil and must be constrained by the omniscient voices in the all wise US Senate
  • Congress is broken and it's all the Republicans fault - everything was perfect when the Dhimmicrats ran things
  • The Republicans are so doomed... no we're not... yes you are!
  • Cheney says it was premature to say we were "over the hump" in terms of violence in Iraq (we left out the part about the how the violence is being committed in order to get the Dhimmicrats and the DBM to react the way they do)
  • We are in so much danger from the people that George Bush is fighting and labeled "the axis of evil" and it's Bush's fault™.
  • Everybody in the whole world hates GWB, does he know that?
  • We must listen to the people who messed up the world 20 and 30 years ago about what needs to be done to fix it now... wait a minute...
• Topics:
  • With only 16 days until the midterm elections, will Republicans maintain control of Congress? 
  • The strategy debate about Iraq.
• Guests
  • Senator Bill Frist M.D., Republican - Tennessee
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Senate Majority Leader .
    • Frist says local issues will decide Senate races (Nashville City Paper, TN - Oct 19, 2006)
    • Bill Frist: The world must stand firmly against North Korea’s nuclear ambitions (Examiner.com - Oct 16, 2006)
    • Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Passage of Terror Detainee Bill (FOX News - Sep 29, 2006)
    • Frist Bashes McCain Bill in GOP Rift on Detainees (Los Angeles Times, CA - Sep 20, 2006)
    • Frist Wants Vote on Immigration Bill (Washington Post, United States - Sep 24, 2006)
    • SEN. FRIST'S KIN REAPS $135M (New York Post, NY - Oct 20, 2006)
    • FRIST SILENT AFTER ONLINE GAMBLING BILL SIGNING (Online-Casinos.com, Denmark - Oct 15, 2006)
  • Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican - Texas
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Hutchison: WMD Info Swayed Vote on Iraq (Washington Post, United States -  Oct 20, 2006)
    • EDITORIAL: Our picks in the down-ballot races (Lufkin Daily News, TX - Oct 19, 2006)
    • Senator backed by former first lady (Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Through Ticketing Now At Love Field (KXAN-TV, TX - Oct 19, 2006)
    • Bush meeting again with commanders in Iraq as Democrats increase pressure (Mainichi Daily News, Japan - Oct 21, 2006)
    • In Congress, some supporters are wavering on war issues (Kansas City Star, MO - Oct 21, 2006)
    • The genteel revolt that is remaking US policy on Iraq (Guardian Unlimited, UK - Oct 20, 2006)
  • Senator Jack Reed, Democrat - Rhode Island
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Member, Senate Armed Services Committee
    • A Conversation on Iraq and Afghanistan with Sen. Jack Reed (D- RI) (U.S. Newswire (press release), DC - Oct 17, 2006)
    • Pressure Mounts on Iraqis to Quell Violence (NPR - Oct 21, 2006)
    • Sen. Jack Reed: Pakistan Must Stop Taliban (NewsMax.com, FL - Oct 6, 2006)
    • Key Senate Democrats Call For US - North Korean Talks (Voice of America - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Delegation from RI condemns N. Korea (Providence Journal, RI - Oct 11, 2006)
  • Alexander Haig
    • Former Secretary of State | Bio
    • Smart Circle International to appear on Alexander Haig’s World Business Review TV Series, on CNBC (Business Wire (press release), CA - Oct 19, 2006)
    • President Bush, I'm Glad You're No JFK (Human Events, DC - Oct 19, 2006)
    • "Strategic Consensus" Redux? (ZNet, MA - Oct 10, 2006)
    • Reprocessing Dan Halutz (Arutz Sheva, Israel - Oct 10, 2006)
    • Tough talk over Bush's handling of threats (International Herald Tribune, France - Sep 24, 2006)
  • Zbigniew Brzezinski
    • Former National Security Adviser | Bio
    • Counselor and trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies | Bio
    • A Consensus Develops: Leave the Course (Antiwar.com, CA - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Nixon knew Rumsfeld was not the one (San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - Oct 15, 2006)
    • CNN’s John Roberts: 'Some' Fault Bush For 'Increasingly Islamophobic Language' (NewsBusters - Sep 20, 2006)
  • Norm Ornstein
    • Scholar, American Enterprise Institute | Bio
    • Author of "The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track"
    • The Way Out (Huffington Post - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Reynolds Confident in GOP Prospects Despite Polls (AXcess News, NV - Oct 19, 2006)
    • Could Pelosi, Bush get along? (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Moderate Republicans at risk Nov. 7 (Albuquerque Tribune, NM - Oct 18, 2006)
    • Hurricane or Not, Democrats Have Wind Behind Their Backs (AXcess News, NV - Oct 13, 2006)
    • Is the legislative branch broken? (Marketplace, CA - Oct 2, 2006)
    • Bush rejects minimum experience to lead FEMA (Times Picayune, LA - Oct 7, 2006)
  • Mike Allen
    • White House Correspondent, Time Magazine
    • Exclusive Interview: Cheney on Elections and Iraq (TIME - Oct 20, 2006)
    • Campaign 2006: The Republicans' Secret Weapon (TIME - Oct 1, 2006)
    • 4 Places Where the System Broke Down (Time - Sep 19, 2006)
  • Andrea Koppel
    • Congressional correspondent, CNN | Bio
    • Partisan sniping and professional courtesy (Hamline University Oracle Online, Minnesota - Oct 16, 2006)
    • Kolbe warned clerk about Foley, denies confrontation (CNN - Oct 10, 2006)
    • Lawyer: FBI To Question Former Aide About Foley Scandal (KLTV, TX - Oct 5, 2006)
    • Investigators to House: Keep Foley documents (CNN International - Oct 4, 2006)
    • CNN, NY Times Hype Dem Campaign Ad as News on Foley Scandal Fallout (NewsBusters - Oct 4, 2006)
• CNN Late Edition (web page for comments)

[Phsstpok]

Ping

The Weekend Talk Show Preview Thread is up

If you would like on or off my ping list please Freepmail me

See the initial post for my "usual witty commentary."  An excerpt:

Just over two weeks left and the wheels appear to be coming off of the DBM/Dhimmicrat juggernaut...

They're cooking the books and they know they're going to get caught.  I have a feeling a lot of them are beginning have some sympathy for how Ken Lay and his partners felt as it began to fall apart on them...

So, a mixed bag this weekend with some attempts to shore up the most recent "master strategy that is guaranteed to win back Congress for the rightful masters of the little people™" and a bit of butt covering in case the plan doesn't work...

 

 

[Miss Marple]

Here's how I know that I watch too much of this stuff: other than John Harwood, I knew what every single person looked like!!

[rodguy911]

Hate to say it but this crew is enough to make you sleep in, or better yet write the true stories that happened this week on the t.v. talk show thread.
Like you I see Alabama as HIllary's' chauffeur (VP) rather than a potus chiice.
You could well be looking at Hillary/allllaBama vs.
Rudy/Condi which would make for an interesting race.We would clean their clocks but it would be fun.

Hope your eye is better than my knee.

[rodguy911]

That's a danger sign MM, means you have not consumed your share of adult beverages lately.

[Peach]

Phsstpok - thank you for your professionally presented analysis of the line up for tomorrow. My husband and I have brought my sister from CT to live with us for an extended period of time and I'm unable to participate on FR as often as I'd like, but your thread is one I try not to miss.

On a side note, I read Juan Williams book: Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America--and What We Can Do About It.

Although Juan isn't the brightest bulb on FNC, my hat is off to him for writing this book. It took great courage and I'm sure he's under a lot of criticism from African Americans for writing it. Juan sounds the same theme that Bill Cosby has sounded in the last year which is primarily that Blacks stop blaming white people and racism for their troubles. It's a worthy read and I just thought I'd give Juan a hattip.

[Miss Marple]

Are you telling me I need a martini? LOL!

We need political geek flashcards, with pictures and questions.

Samples:

Who took Chelsea Clinton's cat?

What type of car did Colin Powell own?

Which rock star toured Africa with a Treasury Secretary?

What corporation did Secretary O'Neill head before signing onto the cabinet?

What daughter of a political family visited President Clinton while HIllaary was out of town?

Which famous Republican wife was a homecoming queen?

Which Republican senator was in the Junior Miss contest? And which TV correspondent was as well?

I have a million things like this stored in my brain, rodguy. Perhaps it's why I can't find my car keys sometimes...storage overload!

[MNJohnnie]

Here is an example of the great Democrat hope in action. Possible I have finally found a Democrat Senator stupider and more a sound bit politican then Joe Biden. Perhaps Slow Joe can mentor him.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1723459/posts

Obama Not Ready for Prime Time: Iran, Syria Should 'Take Ownership for Stability' of Iraq

[MNJohnnie]

Be nice if Fox put Allen or Coburn or a real Republican on to take out these two twits instead of the Democrat lite RINOs they always find

[thepresidentsbestfriend]

If ya dont mind my critic? I think Chris Wallace should look for another job.

Am I the only one that thinks that George Will votes Democrat when he is alone in the voting booth ?

Cant stand George Will!!! Have never heard him say a kind word about our President.He is just a windbag.

[Phsstpok]

Oooo, Ooooo! I know a couple of those!

Which rock star toured Africa with a Treasury Secretary?

Bono, and the Treasury Secretary in question is the subject of the next question

What corporation did Secretary O'Neill head before signing onto the cabinet?

He was CEO of Alcoa (and chairman, I think)

I know both of those because I know (knew) Paul O'Neill. Before he headed Alcoa he was President of the company I still work for. I was the PC guy who worked on his PC and he was one of my early adopters of PC stuff in that company in the early 80s. I got to know him pretty well.

I have a million things like this stored in my brain, rodguy. Perhaps it's why I can't find my car keys sometimes...storage overload!

I'm counting on an auxiliary memory unit being available soon from someplace like Radio Shack.  It will go along with the Star Trek like vision system that they'll plug into me to replace my failing eyes.  Of course, there are issues with both of those ideas.  The vision system will have to be highly computerized, maybe even complex enough to be considered AI.  What if that system decides that there are certain things just too nasty to show me?  Say there's a really ugly lady and the system chooses to show me someone really nice looking, as in Shallow Hal?  Or how about there's a truck bearing down on me and the system decides to spare me the anxiety of seeing it coming?  Or would the memory system selectively edit out or add certain things to my memory?  And I can only hope that it's not based on Windows software.  Can you imagine a "blue screen of death" type error for either system?

[rodguy911]

You and your brain do just fine and truth is "I" am probably the one who needs the stiff drink.!!

[rodguy911]

ALabama is a perfect example of the perfect rat candidate. Minority, style over substance, dumb, looks good, sounds good, able to follow anything the DNC puts in front of him.

[MNJohnnie]

Mega Dittos! George Wills kisses his autopgraphed picture of Hillary everynight before his mommy tucks him into bed. :-)

[Morgan in Denver]

First, thanks for your efforts. This is a really good thread and I'm sure I'm not alone in enjoying the preview.

For FNS, the common thread is each guest is they are their party leader of the two committees that are being talked about on FNC. I would guess the topics will revolve around current events and their committee leadership positions.

Lugar, majority chair of the Foreign Relations Committee
Warner, majority chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee
Biden, ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Levin, ranking minority member of the Armed Services Committee

Don't know why Branson is on other than comic relief.

[Phsstpok]

Don't know why Branson is on other than comic relief.

It's the millions billions he committed to Clinton to help fix Global Warming and other noble causes.

From the "Coming On Fox News Sunday" essay

Finally, our Power Player this week is multi-billionaire businessman Richard Branson, who made his money in 200 businesses in 30 countries and is now looking to give much of it away to fight global warming, the spread of AIDS, and other social problems.

What he's actually done, at least on global warming, which is where the bulk of his $3 billion pledged through Clinton's publicity machine is going, is to have committed to invest in developing cleaner fuels for his jets.  I've read some very interesting analysis of this effort.  He's investing in technologies that should solve price and availability problems for his airline as well as improve the "greenhouse gas" issues.  The best motivator of all, enlightened self interest.  Oh, and it may end up royally screwing over Hugo Chavez as the oil his country extracts is apparently among the nastier type, environmentally.

I like Branson a lot, particularly since he's backing commercial space ventures big time.  I'd love it if he's the Bill Gates of the next 20 years built off of that.  How about he funds a commercial venture to go to the asteroid belt and find and exploit the materials there?  That's well within his grasp in the next 20 years.  Probably far less of an investment, relatively, and less daunting an undertaking than Ferdinand and Isabella funding Cristobol Colon way back in 1492.  And the odds that Branson would make a profit are actually pretty good.

[Morgan in Denver]

I don't like or dislike Branson.

He can be a power player all he wants to be as long as he's not there to talk about American politics.

[Morgan in Denver]

I didn't mean that to come out harsh if it did. Maybe I should put a ROFLOL at the end of it.

[Bahbah]

other than John Harwood, I knew what every single person looked like!!

I even knew what Harwood looked like. What's worse is that I recognize most of their voices from the kitchen. I am in serious trouble.

[Bahbah]

Phsstpok, did you happen to see Captain Ed's piece on Star Trek today? If you are or were a fan, you might enjoy it.

[Txsleuth]

Just getting to your wonderful thread..

GAG ME...Fred Barnes just said that Osama Obama reminds him of John Kennedy in 1960!!!! He and Mort were just WAY over the top, IMHO, in their cheerleading for Obama.

[Txsleuth]

I can't imagine WHY Hillary would want Obama anywhere NEAR her!

First of all, he is treated like a rock star...and she is less charismatic than a ROCK....

Plus, she already is married to the first black POTUS...and so she has all of the black voters...AND, he is even more socialist than she is!!

You may be right...but, this guy isn't qualified to be the Senator that he IS...let alone a POTUS, if something happened to her. (not that she is either)

[Bahbah]

What the heck poll are Mort and Fred using...not the ones I've been seeing.

[Phsstpok]

Beltway Boys, 5/21/06

First and foremost, where is Bill Sammons when you need him?

Republican advantages (per Fred)

• More money ($46 million)
• Better GOTV operations
• Better issues, namely terrorism and taxes
• Advantage of incumbency

Mort compares the GOP "These are the stakes" ad to the Johnson "daisy ad" from 1964.  Fred disagrees, but doesn't articulate it well (surprise, surprise, surprise).

Mort cites Zogby poll on Bush approval (sub 40%) and generic poll data (dims up big).  Then he cites NPR polls showing Dhimmicrats having more "voter intensity" in tight races.  NPR and Zogby.  Go figure why Mort would cite clearly biased Dhimmicrat polls.

Cites Burns, Dewine, Chafee and Santorum as problems (but he likes Chafee!!!!!!!).

Kean v Menendez - Mort says Menendez, Fred says Kean

Talent v McCaskill - Mort says toss up, Fred says Talent

Ford v Corker - Mort says toss up, Fred says Corker

Allen v Webb - both say Allen, Fred says big time

Predictions: Mort, Dims pick up 25 in House and enough to take Senate.  Fred, 18 in the house but only 4 in the Senate.

Now on to Obama and Reid.

Mort: Reid's stuff is hardly "Watergate."  The illegal use of campaign funds was chump change.  It's not going to trump the Foley scandal.

Fred: Reid is protected by the D by his name.  The press is protecting him.

Obama UP because of his book and media cheerleading, he's a really uniter not a divider, will end up was VP (Mort)

He's enormously charming, which Hillary is not.  Dims are looking for a savior and that should scare Hillary, who isn't.  Vanity article says he's not a radical (Fred)

Maliki DOWN because he can't rain in militia, four months is long enough to judge that he is not the right leader (Fred)

Maliki is protected the worst of them all, Sadr, and he won't "fix the Iraq constitution (Mort)

Coming up, Dims are going to sweep the state houses and that will impact the next Presidential race (Mort)

(Side issue - the save Darfur folks have a new ad that only mentions Bush, along with "other world leaders" in passing, unlike the previous one which blamed him for the genocide.  It specifically calls for steps like a no-fly zone and again demands action, but doesn't put it all on Bush.)

Bob Ehrlic, MD Gov, DOWN, trailing in the polls, issue is crime, Ehrlic ad blaming O'Malley, if Ehrlic wins it's the upset of the year, R could win in Michigan, IL, Minnesota, R to D, Arnold will win in CA, lesson is "be moderate," Hillary must choose between Richardson and Obama for VP (Mort)

Five states where Dims ahead for picking up governors seat, CO, NJ, NY, MD, ?? fifth state, DE? Arnold will win, don't raise taxes, Bill Richardson will win in NM, he has a great ad, "let's watch" (Fred)

Buzz, Richardson or Obama for D can be met by Menendez or Rice for R (Mort)

I missed Fred's last point... Sorry about that.

Now on to Fox News Watch. 

[Phsstpok]

I read CQ's Star Trek is Fascist post and am working on a note to him. It's an interesting post and the seperate article he's reacting to is good as well.

thanks

[Txsleuth]

I have to tell you, MM...(as I hang my head)...that I flunked your political geek test!! (I always lose at games anyway, so no biggie)..

I could only answer ONE question...Bono traveled with O'Neill, right??

I do not know the rest..

BUT, I think you may have stumbled on a new FReeper game!!! How fun!!

[Txsleuth]

I muted the TV after Fred compared Obama to JF Kennedy..

Plus, they are ALWAYS pro-democrat take-over, both of them.

[Txsleuth]

oh..but I DID notice that ALL of their people with UP arrows were DEMS!!

Again, gag me.

[Bahbah]

The whole program was yucky. How's that for an adult analysis.

[Txsleuth]

Great review of the show, Phsstpok...but, you already do so much...I don't think you want us getting used to reading your transcriptions too!!! LOL

[Txsleuth]

LOL....works for me.

Newswatch was equally as yucky.

[Phsstpok]

Fox News Watch 10-21-06

Issue: Media bias

Opens with clip of Bill Kristol predicting as many as a 40 seat pick up for Democrats under "worst case scenario" as sign of media bias (WTF?????  That tells me tons about their position on this question - why not show Steponallofus or Perkie™ Katie Couric?)

(Neal Gabler)

• Dim pick up is :only common sense,"
• Republicans have "undemocratic advantages" (incumbency)
• if this election is close it is because of those unfair advantages
• the media only biased to the winner, not D or R

(Cal Thomas)

• Media is tired of Republicans
• Conservatives are tired of Republicans
• Laura Ingraham has attacked the President
• Rush has been critical
• Hannity has been critical
• "it's not all lock step"

(Jane Hall)

• Republicans are pessimistic
• They're playing the expectations game
• Bush trying to write his legacy by talking to media
• National security is not a good issue for Republicans as no one trusts them (she's on the talking points from two weeks ago and hasn't gotten the memo that this is a clear loser and EVERYONE else has dropped it)

(Jim Pinkerton)

• McClaughlin Group predicted Republican failure in '86
• it's all crap
• Neal is concentrating on excuses, therefore things are better than we think

(Eric Burns)

• If national security is not good for Republicans that is a problem for Bush

Issue: CNN showing footage of terrorist snipers

(Eric Burns)

• Would you have run the tape?
• This is also the truth
• I would have shown it once, but it came from insurgents so CNN is a terrorist pipeline

(Cal Thomas)

• This is propaganda
• Cites Tom Friedman invoking media war, this is designed to undermine us via media
• You don't run film not provided by other than your bureau

(Jane Hall)

• They cut away from showing the actual death, but I wouldn't run it
• Isn't there a DOD rule that media must notify family?
• Going forward, does CNN turn the next terrorist video down?

(Neal Gabler)

• This isn't propaganda, there is a necessity, but...
• NBC told same story, but didn't show video, which was just as good

(Jim Pinkerton)

• Seeing Americans killed is emotional, woman said "I recognized my son on Iwo Jima" from film
• There will be a blog eruption over this
• How did CNN get this?  That needs to be investigated

Quick take: John Mark Karr

Greta van Sustern and Larry King plus syndicated Psychiatrist Ablo interviewed Karr

(Jane Hall)

• I agree (with syndicated psychiatrsit) because he gets him to talk where Larry King and Gretta got crap
• Why do we need to know?

(Cal Thomas)

• The devil was once an angel
• It's our fault because we're voyeurs,

(Neal Gabler)

• We don't need to know this
• Larry asked dumb question: "why you?"

(Jim Pinkerton)

• Anybody who watches or does this is bad
• New liberal net, think of "The Producers"

Quick take: Air America goes broke, but...

(Neal Gabler)

• They had terrible mgmt
• They had a bad business plan
• Jihadi conservatives (those who listen to Rush) support conservative radio
• There aren't enough fanatic liberals
• It's the idea of a whole network that was wrong, individual shows will work (of course they will, Neal)

(Cal Thomas)

• Air America went bankrupt intellectually long before they ran out of money

(Jim Pinkerton)

• Air America paying Al Franken $2 million may affect his Senate bid

(Jane Hall)

• Air America was badly managed
• Liberals aren't as funny as Rush

(Eric Burns)

• Founders of Air America are starting new liberal network

Quick take: Madonna's baby

(Jim Pinkerton)

• Bad attention (noteriety?)
• It's a celebrity thing
• She's behind the trend, it's old news, that's a sin
• She's buying a child

(Cal Thomas)

• It's the rock star lifestyle cycle

(Jane Hall)

• That's not fair, she's being judged unfairly

(Neal Gabler)

• Madonna is being punished for her image, she's a hero for rescuing this child (I'm not kidding)

 

 

[Phsstpok]

you already do so much...I don't think you want us getting used to reading your transcriptions too!!! LOL

I'm trying to build up a reservoir of good will before I drop off of the radar for much of the next two weeks.  I don't want anyone forgetting about me, dontcha know?  After all, we live in the Internet age.  Two weeks is a lifetime (at least it will seem so to me).  Nice thing about this set of trips,  I'll have good access from the hotels in Austin and Chicago where I'm staying.  I just won't have much time.  This week my host is going to be wining and dining me each night and next week that will happen, plus my wife is with me and my daughter is in her freshman year in college in Chicago. I anticipate a total of 12 minutes free during the work week both weeks. 

Next weekend will be an orgy of FReeping!

Then I'm in a race to my downtime surrounding my expected transplant, which I hope gets scheduled sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  My main target now on the timing, besides the fact that my vision is basically worthless, is to get it done before my insurance starts making me pay an additional 10% of "normal and customary" after January 1 of 2007.  I hate it when that happens, especially with something like $5,000 worth of surgery.  I don't have a spare $500 right now, do you?

[Phsstpok]

No problem. I read it as you apparently meant it.

[thepresidentsbestfriend]

The Beltway boys have reached a new low.They went with last weeks polls from Ras......You would think the # 1 cable network could manage to do a live show.

Fred Barnes is a great guy but kind of naive.My top man Brit Hume has even fallen for the phony polls.If you repeat the phony polls enough,they become reality.

It seems the MSM still has the upper hand ?

What about Fox News watch? You have to look hard for the conservative.About a year ago they asked the question,what paper is the most reliable overall? Cal Thomas said,the NY Times get it right sooner or later.He was not joking.Remember the book he put out a few years ago that attacked the Christian coalition?

Jim Pinkerton is the closest thing to a Conservative.Jim answered my email.

[Txsleuth]

No...I don't have an extra $500...and I certainly understand why you would like to have it scheduled then.

Also, after the elections until the NEW Congress in January, it SHOULD be relatively slow...unless our axis of evil decides to act up more than they already are.

BTW...as I type this, I am watching the replay of Hillary's debate last night...it is very hard to concentrate when listening to her "spin"....LOL

[Miss Marple]

I will post the answers in a few minutes.

[Miss Marple]

Laura Ingraham and Cal Thomas being doom and gloomers are no surprise. They have been in that position since Hurricane Katrina and Harriet Miers.

As far as I am concerned, we should bring out the hook and get replacements.

[Bahbah]

It seems the MSM still has the upper hand ?

They are still way too influential. I think that the internet and bloggers and sites like this (which is unique at this point) that present such a danger to their influence will come under increasing attack. I think it will be a heck of a battle and I hope we have the stomach for it.

Cal Thomas said that about the NYT! Good grief.