Replies

Saturday Shows For March 10, 2007

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:
- Libby lied to the FBI and anyone who lies to the FBI deserves to do hard time... excuse me? Bill and Hillary who? And who's Sandy Burglar?
- No matter how lunatic the Democrat leadership is, there are always bigger moonbats to be found in their party
- None of the easily caricatured conservatives are catching on and derailing Rudy - quick, call central casting! We need a fanatic!
Topics:
- Second Term Slump: Why Scooter Libby isn't a lame duck yet
- Does the anti-war left approve of the Dems' new Iraq agenda?
- A prominent evangelical takes aim at Rudy Giuliani
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:
- Woman are the most important segment of society and control most of the wealth, therefore we need a woman as president... who's running?
Topics:
- A talk with Suze Orman about personal finances and her new book ‘Women & Money.’
Guests
- Suze Orman
CNBC's Tim Russert Show airs Saturday at 7pm, 10pm & 1am ET

Fox News Watch (Eric Burns)

Meme:
- Libby lied to the FBI and anyone who lies to the FBI deserves to do hard time... excuse me? Bill and Hillary who? And who's Sandy Burglar?
- We're shocked, shocked, to find out that VA hospitals aren't as good as the ones Congress goes to - quick, we need more bureaucrats to fix things
Topics:
- Libby Guilty: Coverage of the verdict in the Scooter Libby trial
- Walter Reed Scandal: The fallout continues from The Washington Post's investigation
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:
- Who's Obama? Did you ever see one of those cardboard cutouts of someone used to take staged photos?
- OK, let us tell you what should happen and probably never will, starting with Joe Wilson's arrest and prosecution... (I wish, but they'll hint)
Topics:
- Opinion Journal web page: Obama and Scooter
  - Barack Obama
    - Who is Barack Obama and what does he believe?
    - A special look at his record and his chances of beating Hillary Clinton.
  - Will President Bush pardon Scooter Libby?
- Fox News Channel web page
  - We'll take an up-close look at candidate Barack Obama
    - He's shaken up the Democratic field and is gaining on Hillary Clinton in the polls
  - Libby trial
    - Will President Bush pardon Scooter Libby?
    - What are the political consequences if he does?
Guests
- None listed
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

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 anti-American surge must be working - Bush and company are talking to Iran and Syria, so they're obviously surrendering
- We're shocked, shocked, to find out that VA hospitals aren't as good as the ones Congress goes to - quick, we need more bureaucrats to fix things
- Libby lied to the FBI and anyone who lies to the FBI deserves to do hard time... excuse me? Bill and Hillary who? And who's Sandy Burglar?
- Let us introduce four of the key players in the coming anti-American propaganda campaign and allow them to promote their upcoming lies
Topics:
- The Baghdad conference between the U.S., Iraq, Iran and Syria on Saturday, March 11
  - A one-day conference about the future of security in Iraq
  - The first time in nearly four years that the U.S. and Iranian envoys engage in direct talks
  - The first reaction from the current U.S. Ambassador to Iraq who will represent the U.S. at the talks
- Decision 2008 and the political fallout over
  - The Walter Reed controversy
  - The Libby verdict
  - The current Iraq policy
Guests
- Zalmay Khalilzad
  - Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Iraq | Bio
  - Incoming U.S. Ambassador to the UN
  - Awkward Balancing Act for White House (ABC News - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Khalilzad Says Washington May Talk With Iran on Arms Smuggled to Iraq (Voice of America - Mar 4, 2007)
  - Analysis: Will US, Iran eat dessert together? (CNN - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Americans lose their country to a far right clique (Canadian National Newspaper, Canada - Mar 9, 2007)
  - US Senate confirms Crocker as ambassador to Iraq (Associated Press of Pakistan, Pakistan - Mar 7, 2007)
  - House Dems face uphill battle over Iraq (Sky Valley Journal, WY - Mar 9, 2007)
- Roundtable
  - Michael Beschloss
    - Presidential Historian
    - Perspective: The Thawing of the Cold War (Newsweek Reagan Obit by Michael Beschloss - Jun 14, 2004)
  - Michael Duffy
    - Time magazine
    - MSNBC and CNN Jump to Showcase Time Mag Cover with Cheney Under Dark Cloud (NewsBusters - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Ted Koppel
    - Discovery Channel
    - ABC’s Koppel: U.S. ‘Turned Al Qaeda into the Biggest Franchise Since McDonalds’ (NewsBusters - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Dana Priest
    - Washington Post
    - Dana Priest vs. Victoria Toensing (National Review Online Blogs, NY - Feb 23, 2007)
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)

CBS Face The Nation (Bob Schieffer)

Meme:
- The anti-American surge must be working - Bush and company are talking to Iran and Syria, so they're obviously surrendering
- We're shocked, shocked, to find out that VA hospitals aren't as good as the ones Congress goes to - quick, we need more bureaucrats to fix things
- Libby lied to the FBI and anyone who lies to the FBI deserves to do hard time... excuse me? Bill and Hillary who? And who's Sandy Burglar?
- Let us introduce three of the key players in the coming anti-American propaganda campaign and allow them to promote their upcoming lies
Topics:
- Iraq War
- Treatment of U.S. Veterans
- The Libby Verdict
Guests
- Senator Charles Schumer, Democrat - New York
  - Senate web site | Bio
  - Vice Chair, Democratic Conference
  - Member, Senate Judiciary Committee
  - Sen. Charles Schumer Grilled on Walter Reed (NewsMax.com, FL - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Attacking Iran should be “last resort,” says Schumer (Mid-Hudson News, NY - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Sen Charles Schumer: ‘What Do Democrats Stand for?' (NewsMax.com, FL - Mar 6, 2007)
  - March 11 Preview: Baghdad Summit (Washington Post, DC - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Democrats Link Pet Causes to Troop Plan (ABC News - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Justice department audit slams FBI use of Patriot Act (Coos Bay World, OR - Mar 9, 2007)
- Senator Arlen Specter, RINO - Pennsylvania
  - Senate web site | Bio
  - Ranking Minority member Senate Judiciary Committee
  - Dismissal of prosecutors creates major furor (Earthtimes.org - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Legislators: FBI May Need Reining In (Playfuls.com, Romania - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Rep. Jane Harman: A Course Correction on Habeas Corpus (Yahoo! News - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Eyeing a White House Role in the US Attorney Firings (Time Canada, Canada - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Specter: "One Day There Will Be A New Attorney General" (TPMmuckraker, NY - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Senator Arlen Specter Objects to Roadblocks in Iraq Debate (All American Patriots (press release), Sweden - Feb 16, 2007)
- Senator Claire McCaskill, Democrat - Missouri
  - Senate web site | Bio
  - Armed Services Committee
  - FEC Highlights Spending Data on 2006 Senate Races (New York Times, NY - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Playing Politics With National Security (Human Events, DC - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Supporter wants Sen. Claire McCaskill to keep promises (News-Leader.com, MO - Feb 22, 2007)
  - McCaskill, Obama Seek Improvements In Care For Veterans (MyFox Saint Louis, MO - Feb 21, 2007)
  - Military health care (Kansas City Star, MO - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Both sides criticize McCaskill (Joplin Independent, MO - Mar 2, 2007)
Face The Nation contact information - ftn@cbsnews.com

Fox News Sunday (Chris Wallace)

Meme:
- None of the easily caricatured conservatives are catching on and derailing Rudy - quick, call central casting!
- No matter how lunatic the Democrat leadership is, there are always bigger moonbats to be found in their party
Topics:
- Have staunch conservatives found their presidential candidate?
- Iraq war:
  - Opposition to the Iraq war growing in Congress
  - Some liberal members are upset not only with the president, but their own leaders for not doing enough to end the war and bring the troops home
- Fox News Sunday panel
  - The impact the Libby verdict will have on the White House
  - The latest on the Iraq debate on Capitol Hill
- Fox News essay: Coming up on Fox News Sunday
Guests
- Former Senator Fred Thompson
  - Former Sen. Baker pushes Fred Thompson for president (Scripps News, DC - Mar 9, 2007)
  - GOP Push for Fred Thompson in 2008? (NewsMax.com, FL - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Loeffler, Gingrich And Fred Thompson (National Journal, DC - Mar 7, 2007)
  - A Conservative Who Can Win (Human Events, DC - Mar 7, 2007)
  - Draft Fred Thompson? Probably Not Gonna Happen (National Journal, DC - Feb 22, 2007)
- Representative Maxine Waters, Democrat - California
  - House web site | Bio
  - "Out of Iraq" Caucus Founder
  - Democratic bill would have troops out of Iraq by fall 2008 (KLTV, TX - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Progressive Caucus calls for Iraq withdrawal by Dec. 31 (The Hill, DC - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Party baffled by its own war plan? (Washington Times, DC - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Rep. Maxine Waters urges action on Iraq war, Katrina cleanup (Santa Cruz Sentinel, CA - Feb 21, 2007)
  - Program to Help New Orleans Homeowners Moving Slowly (PBS - Feb 27, 2007)
  - Progressive Dems deny agreement on Iraq funding, say full withdrawal 'where Americans stand' (Raw Story, MA - Mar 8, 2007)
- Sunday Panel
  - Brit Hume
    - Fox News
    - Some Democrats Want to Bring Guantanamo Bay Detainees to the Mainland (FOX News - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Bill Kristol
    - The Weekly Standard
    - Pardon Libby Now (From the March 19, 2007 issue of The Weekly Standard)
  - Mara Liasson
    - National Public Radio
    - McCain Back to Square One: South Carolina (NPR - Feb 20, 2007) Note - link to streaming audio at web page
  - Nina Easton
    - Fortune Magazine
    - Dianne Feinstein, Pete Hoekstra, Charlie Rangel, Roundtable (RealClearPolitics, IL on Fox News Sunday roundtable - Mar 4, 2007)
Fox News Sunday contact information - FNS@foxnews.com

CNN Late Edition (Wolf Blitzer)

Meme:
- The anti-American surge must be working - Bush and company are talking to Iran and Syria, so they're obviously surrendering
- We're shocked, shocked, to find out that VA hospitals aren't as good as the ones Congress goes to - quick, we need more bureaucrats to fix things
- Let us introduce four of the key players in the coming anti-Republican ~~propaganda~~ election campaign and allow them to promote their latest lies
Topics:
- The Iraq Security Conference and the new Iraq Security Plan
Guests
- Hoshyar Zebari
  - Iraqi Foreign Minister | Bio (Wikipedia)
  - No surprises: US officials sit down with Iran on Iraq (The Sophian, MA - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Improvement in Iraq gets a glimmer of possibility (Post-Bulletin, MN - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Iran to attend conference on Iraq (IranMania News, Iran - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Diplomacy, redux? (Guardian Unlimited, UK - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Arab League supports Turkey's bid for temporary UN seat (Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey - Mar 7, 2007)
  - Iraq Withdrawals A Sign Of 'self-confidence': Iraqi FM (Turkish Press, MI - Feb 27, 2007)
  - Zebari hails Iran's constructive role in Iraq (Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Portugal to close its embassy in Iraq (PRESS TV, Iran - Mar 9, 2007)
- Senator Joseph Biden, Democrat - Delaware
  - Senate web site | Bio
  - Member Senate Judiciary Committee
  - Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  - Democrats Heat Bush over Iraq (Ahora.cu, Cuba - Mar 5, 2007)
  - DEMOCRATS IN DISARRAY OVER IRAQ (Free Market News Network, FL - Feb 28, 2007)
  - POLL: Only 28 percent believe US will win in Iraq (WBIR-TV, TN - Mar 6, 2007)
  - The Constitution becomes donkeys' scapegoat (Tufts Daily, MA - Mar 6, 2007)
  - Three Democrat Senators urge Bush to link US aid to Pak's to progress in fight on terror (Malaysia Sun, Malaysia - Mar 8, 2007)
  - US urges NATO to do better in Afghanistan (People's Daily Online, China - Mar 8, 2007)
  - US Senators Question Administration Strategy for Afghanistan (Voice of America - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Senator Joseph Biden: A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing (OpEdNews, PA - Feb 25, 2007)
  - Look to Thoreau to explain Biden's comment (Albany Times Union, NY - Mar 4, 2007)
- Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican - South Carolina
  - Senate web site | Bio
  - Member Senate Armed Services Committee
  - Member Senate Veteran Affairs Committee
  - Graham, Holbrooke Clash on `Heart and Soul' of War on Terrorism (Bloomberg - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Graham to discuss troop surge (The State, SC - Mar 3, 2007)
  - Senators Spar Over Restoring Habeas Corpus (NPR - Mar 8, 2007) Note - transcript and link to streaming audio
  - Gates says closed Guantanamo hearings needed (Los Angeles Times, CA - Mar 8, 2007)
  - McCain seeks Bush's wealthy donors to support White House bid (The Times and Democrat, SC - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Lindsey Graham strikes again? (Power Line, MN - Mar 1, 2007)
- Mike Huckabee
  - Former Arkansas governor
  - GOP presidential candidate
  - Mike Huckabee Exploratory Committee web site | Bio
  - Blogger in Chief (RealClearPolitics Blog - Mar 9, 2007)
  - Mike Huckabee Signs 'Taxpayer Protection' Pledge (NewsMax.com, FL - Mar 7, 2007)
  - Huckabee camp shake-up (Arkansas Times, AR - Mar 7, 2007)
  - Why Can’t Mike Huckabee Catch Fire? (Newsweek - Mar 5, 2007)
  - Can Mike Huckabee out-charm the GOP big three? (Salon - Mar 5, 2007)
  - Judges allege pressure under Huckabee (Arkansas Times, AR - Mar 8, 2007)
  - Mike Huckabee at CPAC: 'Dude, Where's My Candidate?' (NewsMax.com, FL - Mar 2, 2007)
- Bill Schneider
  - CNN Senior political analyst
  - CNN Reporter: Blacks Don’t Vote Republican Because of ‘Perception of Racism’ (NewsBusters - Feb 22, 2007)
- Donna Brazile
  - Democratic strategist, CNN contributor
  - Why Dems just can't quit Al Gore (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - Mar 3, 2007)
- David Frum
  - American Enterprise Institute and former Bush speechwriter
  - Republican hopes pinned to health care (Marketplace, CA - Mar 7, 2007)
CNN Late Edition (web page for comments)

ABC This Week (George Stephanopoulos)

Meme:
- The anti-American surge must be working - Bush and company are talking to Iran and Syria, so they're obviously surrendering
- We're shocked, shocked, to find out that VA hospitals aren't as good as the ones Congress goes to - quick, we need more bureaucrats to fix things
- Let us introduce four of the key players in the coming anti-American propaganda campaign and allow them to promote their upcoming lies
Topics:
- The war in Iraq and the proposed plan for withdrawal.
- The controversy at Walter Reed
- Voices segment: tackling difficult women's issues through music
Guests
- Senator Jim Webb, Democrat - Virginia
  - Senate web site | Bio
  - Member Senate Armed Services Committee
  - Member Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  - Webb: No Funds For Iran Attack Without Congressional Approval (Huffington Post, NY - Mar 7, 2007)
  - Webb another Jackson? Oh boy, watch out (The Free Lance-Star, VA - Mar 6, 2007)
  - The non-scandal of CEO pay (Gulf Breeze News, FL - Mar 7, 2007)
- Former Senator Bob Dole
  - Shalala, Bob Dole tapped for probe (Denver Post, CO - Mar 7, 2007)
  - Bush Names 7 to Veteran Care Panel (Washington Post, DC - Mar 9, 2007)
- Voices segment: country legend Loretta Lynn
  - Berklee College of Music to honor Loretta Lynn (Boston Herald, MA - Feb 15, 2007)
- 'Roundtable.'
  - Torie Clarke
    - Former Pentagon spokesperson
    - Brookings Launches Opportunity 08 (Earthtimes.org - Feb 28, 2007)
  - Fareed Zakaria
    - Newsweek Magazine
    - Iraq needs an ‘economic surge’ (Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates - Mar 3, 2007)
  - David Corn
    - The Nation Magazine
    - Libby's "Guilty": So What? (FrontPage magazine.com, CA - Mar 7, 2007)
  - George Will
    - Syndicated columnist
    - George Will: 'Flawed' conservatives may be good enough (The Union Leader, NH - Mar 8, 2007)
ABC This Week comment web page

Ping

The Weekend Talk Show Preview Thread is up

It will also be cross posted (sometime soon) to my blog at

http://wizards.townhall.com/

Here's a sample of my usual witty commentary...

The surge is now definitely working and their attempts to say it wasn't failed last week. The combined efforts of Okinawa Jack Murtha, Chucky Schumer, Di Fi, Charlie "troops are stupid" Rangel, Chris "waitress sandwich" Dodd, wise old Carl Levin and the assembled masses of professional anti-war journalists couldn't get that notion to stick. I make it 7 of 15 guests (4 were on primarily for other topics) and 16 of the 19 journalists as committed to the "anti-war" movement. And they failed, miserably....
<snip>
So, Bush's failure in Iraq, betrayal of all veterans and obvious guilt in earth shaking conspiracies against innocent anti-war activists, both in and out of the CIA and State Department, are the order of the day, with a dash of '08 politics thrown in for good measure. Could this be the opening salvo in a formal campaign leading up to impeachment hearings?...