Weekend Talk Show *Preview* for 5/19 - 5/20/07 (not the live thread)

Saturday Shows for May 12^th, 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:
- As usual, well behind the curve on what's happening in the real world
Topics:
- Rudy Giuliani scores some major points at GOP debate
- Hillary Clinton's 'evolving' stance on funding the war
- The deal on immigration
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:
- Somehow, you know it's George Bush's fault
Topics:
- Stunning and informative, a must-see for every American: Tim talks to Joseph Califano about the pervasive impact of drugs and alcohol.
Guests:
- Joseph Califano
  - Disgraced and fired former Carter Secretary of HEW
  - Bio and critique from alcoholfacs.org
  - Author of "High Society"
  - Founder of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
CNBC's Tim Russert Show airs Saturday at 7pm, 10pm & 1am ET

Fox News Watch (Eric Burns)

Meme:
- Don't you dare say that the press were bigoted in their reporting about that demon spawn Falwell!
- Note the quotes on 'amensty debate' - no, no 'prejudice' or 'bias' there
- And this weeks celebration of the best in media: all Paris all the time
Topics:
- Falwell's Impact: The late evangelical leader's lasting mark on the media
- Immigration Deal: Will the 'amnesty debate' in the press seal the fate of the Senate compromise?
- The press, Paris and PRISON!
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:
- While the rest of the DBM blathers on, let's talk about some things that might actually matter, shall we?
Topics:
- Opinion Journal web page: Regulation and Religion
  - Is the FDA killing people by slowing approval for new cancer drugs? An interview with a former FDA official.
  - What role will the religious right play in 2008?
- Fox News Channel web page
  - Warning: Government bureaucracy could be hazardous to your health! We expose how the FDA's regulatory red tape is keeping cancer drugs out of the hands of the people who need them
  - The Falwell legacy
Guests:
- Scott Gottlieb
  - Former FDA official
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 fascist Republicans have lost to the forces of progress and social justice - praise Gaia!
- Why don't the evil Republicans roll over and die on everything like they have on immigration?
- They come not to bury Reagan, but to praise him.
Topics:
- An exclusive, in-studio debate:
  - Foreign Relations Committee Member Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)
  - Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R)
  - Question - The Iraq war:
    - Should the U.S. set a firm deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops?
- A special Meet the Press roundtable on the newly released "Reagan Diaries."
  - President Reagan was one of only four U.S. presidents to maintain a personal diary on a consistent basis during his time in office.
  - For the first time, extensive excerpts from President Reagan's eight years of writings have been published and made public.
  - Through the written word, he shares his thoughts on issues such as:
    - world leaders
    - his daily activities
    - relationships with staff and family
    - Iran-Contra
    - the assassination attempt
    - the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger
    - the Cold War
Guests:
- Senator Chris Dodd Democrat - Connecticut
- Former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Republican - Georgia
- A special roundtable
  - Douglas Brinkley
  - Ed Meese
  - Michael Deaver
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)

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 fascist conservatives have lost to the forces of progress and social justice - praise Gaia!
- Why don't the evil conservatives roll over and die on everything like they have on immigration?
Topics:
- CBS is afraid to list anything, but you know it boils down to holding Republicans to an insane standard and Dhimmicrats to none at all
Guests:
- Senator Arlen Specter, RINO - Pennsylvania
- Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat - California
- Fred Kagan, military historian
- Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret)
Face The Nation contact information - ftn@cbsnews.com

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 fascist Republicans have lost to the forces of progress and social justice - praise Gaia!
- Why don't the evil Republicans roll over and die on everything like they have on immigration?
Topics:
- Immigration compromise:
  - The White House, Congressional Democrats and Republicans finally come to an agreement on immigration reform that would bolster border security and create a path to citizenship for illegals already in the country — but will it appease critics on the right and left?
- As talks over a bill to fund the war in Iraq continue, will the Senate make good on its promise to fully fund the troops in Iraq by Memorial Day?
- Just around the corner: Senator Schumer is calling for a vote of no-confidence in Alberto Gonzales--what will that resolution mean for the embattled Attorney General?
- Fox essay, Coming Up On Fox News Sunday
Guests:
- Senator Charles Schumer, Democrat - New York
- Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican - South Carolina
- Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day
Fox News Sunday contact information - FNS@foxnews.com

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 fascist Republicans have lost to the forces of progress and social justice - praise Gaia!
- Why don't the evil Republicans roll over and die on everything like they have on immigration?
Topics:
- A new immigration bill hits Capitol Hill
  - The Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of Commerce Secretary tell why they support the compromise.
- Two Senators debate:
  - Immigration
  - Iraq
  - Alberto Gonzales.
Guests:
- Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security Secretary
- Carlos Gutierrez, Commerce Secretary
- Sen. Carl Levin, (D-Michigan), Chairman, Senate Armed Services Cmte.
- Sen. Mel Martinez, (R-Florida), RNC Chairman
- Rep. Brian Bilbray, (R-California), Chairman, Immigration Reform Caucus
- Gov. Janet Napolitano, (D-Arizona)
- Shibley Telhami, Brookings Institution; author, "The Stakes"
- Vali Nasr, Council on Foreign Relations; author, "The Shia Revival"
- Rep. Ron Paul, (R-Texas), Presidential Candidate
- Dana Bash, CNN Congressional Correspondent
- Joe Johns, CNN Correspondent
CNN Late Edition (web page for comments)

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 fascist Republicans have lost to the forces of progress and social justice - praise Gaia!
- Why don't the evil Republicans roll over and die on everything like they have on immigration?
Topics:
- Speaker Pelosi ~~lies about~~ discusses
  - the standoff over Iraq funding
  - what comes next in the immigration debate
  - her first five months as the first female speaker in U.S. history
- The Republican response from the Senate Minority Leader
- Voices segment: talk show host Rachael Ray on how encouraging Americans to hold bake sales and donating the funds can help end childhood hunger
Guests:
- Representative. Nancy Pelosi, Dhimmicrat - Californistan
- Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican - Kentucky
- Katrina vanden Heuvel
- Fareed Zakaria, Editor
- George Will
- Rachael Ray
ABC This Week comment web page

Ping

The (abbreviated) Weekend Talk Show Preview Thread is up

It will also be cross posted to my blog at (after I get home)

http://wizards.townhall.com/

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

well, there really isn't any this week... I'm on vacation!

Woohoo!

Note: apologies to anybody missing from the ping list. I only have an old copy with me on this PC

Phsstpok, how great to see you.

Sleuthie and I were discussing how we hope you are enjoying your stay in Paradise. And you still found time to do this!!!

Really appreciate it.

Thanks P for taking the time to do this! Great stuff as usual.

NOW, before the lynching of all things GOP starts, I wonder if the hardcore realize that the ONLY thing standing between then and their worst fears on Immigration are the political spines of 41 Republican Senators?

IF, this passes, it will pass with 90% of the vote for it from Democrat Congress critters. The Purist MIGHT want to keep that in mind next time they are thinking about firing a Congressional Majority for not being dogmatically pure enough.

# Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

This is the guy to watch. 1st to see if he gets any questions on Immigration and then to see how he response.

Very true, Bah..

Phsstpok...you are too good to us!!

You still on vacation????? Hope you’re enjoying yourself.

It’s hard to sleep very late when local time and ‘real time’ are five hours off. I woke up about 4 this morning (after going to bed a little after 9) and there was no way I was getting back to sleep. I opened the curtains, got set up and then watched the world wake up. No golden sunrise, per se, as it was hidden by the volcano that is this island, but it was really lovely.

We got over here from Oahu right about sunset last night so we really couldn’t see the view from our room. It’s spectacular. We’re right down on a lava promontory that forms one arm of this little bay and we’re looking along the shore and up the steep slope that is the Kona coast, seeing many of the coffee plantations. It’s the typical lush Hawaii you expect to see, but what’s amazing is that it’s unusual for this island. I hadn’t realized it but much of the island is raw volcanic rock with maybe some monkey grass or the occassional plant sticking up. Very desolate but also very beautiful.

We just did a tour of this resort (Sheraton Keauhou Resort and Spa) and it’s impressive. They fed us breakfast and now I’ve bailed out to relax in the room for awhile while my wife and some of the other travel agents do some site tours of additional hotels. We meet up again after lunch then go out on a dinner cruise and snorkeling adventure. It should be fun but I need to rest up beforehand. I’m not as young as I used to think I was.

Gosh, what a wonderful time you must be having...sounds delightful!

The sunsets are amazing!!!

A dinner cruise and snorkeling...fabulous.

(Green with envy :)

WOW...it must be nice to have a travel agent in the family...you KNOW you are going to get the BEST service!!

You enjoy the dinner cruise and snorkeling...and the let us know how it went.

This may be my “vicarious Hawaiian vacation”...LOL

Sounds like heaven; thank you for the description that allows me to mentally travel there with you.... we were married in the fern grotto on the Island of Kauai 26 years ago this coming week.

MTP sounds pretty good. 8:30 church and I can get home by 10.

I only have an old copy with me on this PC

Too late for this trip, but UltraVNC and DynDNS could fix that problem. The price is right. Nada, zip, zero.

Of course, vacation is vacation, it's good to disconnect every so often.

Bring us lava java.

Hey I hope you had a great time buddy you deserve it, just got back myself.

Preview and Analysis for Weekend of May 19th and 20th, 2007

Preview and Analysis for Weekend of May 19^th and 20^th, 2007