Weekend Talk Show *Preview* for 11/3 - 11/4/07 (not the live thread)

Network and Cable News Shows | November 3, 2007 | Network and Cable News

[Phsstpok]

Preview and Analysis for Weekend of November 3^rd and 4^th, 2007

Guest lineup for the Sunday TV news shows:

NBC's "Meet the Press" Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-TN Tom Brokaw CBS's "Face the Nation" Sen. Joe Biden, D-DE Mark Penn, chief strategist for Sen. Hillary Clinton campaign Fox News Sunday Former President George H.W. Bush Ashley Judd

CNN "Late Edition" Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair Sen. Chris Dodd, D-CT Sen. John McCain, R-AZ Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA Sen. Arlen Specter, R-PA ABC's "This Week" Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. Ashley Judd

So, Hillary trips over Elliot Spitzer's voter fraud plot and all bets are suddenly off.  Or are they?  Much will depend on the next round of polling which will reflect any post debate problems for team Clinton and the shows this week may either reflect or influence what those polls will say.  The reactions from the Clintonistas and the usual suspects in media land seem to indicate that they think it was a big deal and could potentially derail the inevitability express that Hillary's been counting on as her chief qualification for office.  Do they already have numbers that bode ill for Her Thighness?  And is there anyone else on the Dhimmicrat side who anyone will take seriously?  Could the Goracle be mentioned again?  Or will it all blow over and serve only as proof that Dhimmicrats are so desperate to win at any cost that they literally will vote for an empty pants suit?

The villain of the debate, Tim Russert, hosts Fred Thompson on Meet The Press.  Since at least one Hillary insider called for him to be shot for what he did to their poor little girl, the expectation has to be that he will be looking to inflict serious damage on Fred as an act of contrition.  If Fred handles the situation well it could be a major turning point for his campaign.  The immigration issue will likely be center stage so watch for attempts to paint Fred and, by  extension, all Republicans as xenophobic racists and, logically, Hillary and Spitzer as "right" on the subject.  I also expect Fred's comments on the second amendment and the UN to be used as a means of painting him as a dangerous redneck goof.  Fred has good answers to those sorts of attacks, but will he get bogged down in quoting 17th century Dutch philosophers?  I'm expecting big things from this interview for Fred (I am a supporter) but I think Russert has a lot riding on winning back some points from the left.  It could be a titanic struggle.  Watch for Lil Timmah to be in extra severe hunch mode.  On a lighter note Tom Brokaw will also be on to promote his new book on Boomers and the 60s.  I guess Tim's usual book plugging venue, now on MSNBC, isn't prestigious enough for Tom.  Perhaps some invidious comparisons will be made to Hillary and the other boomers who are running this year?  That would be truly telling.

On CBS Face The Nation The Mouth That Roared, Joe Biden, is on to take his shot at being a "credible alternative" to Hillary.  The DBM loved his debate attack on Rudy, so expect plenty of opportunities for him to repeat that as well as a broad invitation to besmirch anyone he can, particularly McChimpy Bushitler.  It's curious that he's not the only guest for this half hour show.  With him talking I don't see how there can be any time left for anyone else.  The someone else in this case is Hillary's "chief campaign strategist," Mark Penn.  His tenor and performance will be a big indicator of how Team Clinton is reacting to the events of this week.  The fact that her main spinmeister, Howard Wolfson, was originally listed for this show and then changed to Penn does not indicate that they have a good handle on this yet.  Or it could just be CBS doesn't have a good web team and it was a simple mistake.  We'll see.

Fox News Sunday goes in an entirely different direction with the first of a new series of interviews with "American Leaders," starting with former president George H. W. Bush.  Forty One has made some comments on the Hillary situation this week so they probably won't get completely away from the topic, but they certainly won't be focusing on that.  Chris Wallace will likely be fishing for quotes about Forty Three.  The roundtable is back to semi normal with Hume, Kristol, Liaison and Williams.  They will definitely be focusing on Hillary's very bad week^TM.  With Kristol on instead of Barnes I would also expect some discussion of the Republican field, particularly Kristol's contention that it's still wide open.  They'll also discuss the Mukasey hearings, but it looks like that's already settled in Bush's favor, so it likely won't be a big issue.  The FISA related hearings in Judiciary may be more contentious and I expect some fireworks there between Kristol and Williams.  The Power Player of the Week is Ashley Judd, who is promoting a new documentary on efforts to address AIDS problems in India.  She's got a twofer as she's also on the Voices segment of Steponallofus' show.

CNN Late Edition gives us four senators, two of them running for president, and the ex prime minister of Britain, Tony Blair, who is now a "peace envoy" from the "Quartet Committee" (US, UN, EU and Russia).  Blair is really getting trashed in his own country's press and he's desperate for a legacy to wipe away the damage done to him by Iraq.  The image of Neville Chamberlain is just too strong for him to escape given the kind of naïveté being displayed by him and the US State Department.  I've included two links to articles that should give an adequate portrayal of how the "Quartet Committee" is viewed by the people they are supposed to be "negotiating" with.  Somehow I don't see how you can compromise with someone whose sole purpose is to kill you.  You can't agree to let them only partially kill you, but I wouldn't put it past the brain trust at Foggy Bottom to agree to something like that.  The mix of senators is interesting, with Dodd, Feinstein, McCain and Specter. Except for Iraq McCain is usually Wolf Blitzer's kind of Republican, one who will criticize other Republicans and thwart their plans by helping Dhimmicrats.  McCain has really stepped up his attacks on his Republican presidential rivals so Wolfie is looking for lots of ammunition to use in clips in the week ahead.  Arlen Specter is also usually a RINO in good standing.  This week both Specter and McCain provided some "great moments" over the waterboarding issue, but it looks like Mukasey will survive to be AG, thanks in no small part to DiFi.  They will all likely be chastised for that act of betrayal.  To make up for it they will all likely join Dodd in bashing the "warrantless wiretapping" program, particularly the "amnesty" for the cooperating telcos.  These arm chair generals are determined to lose this war to the Jihadis and they'll do everything they can to hurt our ability to defend ourselves.  Dodd is the flavor of the month for the Kossacks and the rest of the nutroots, so I expect him to sound more and more like Dennis Kucinich as things go on.

ABC This Week focuses on the silky pony, John Edwards.  Incurious George is such a Clintonista I expect him to try to score some points on Hillary's behalf, but that might be too obvious.  I expect at least a few gotcha moments on "flip flops" by Edwards on something, Iraq at the very least.  The roundtable may actually be interesting if they spend much time on the debate and immigration.  E. J. Dionne has a very interesting column on the topic this week and it may very well be the central issue of the rest of the campaign.  I think they think it's a winner for the Dhimmicrats, but they're not 100% sure, particularly after the debacle over shamnesty and the defeat of the "Dream Act."  Michael Gerson, blamed by many for much of the course of the Bush administration that so distresses conservatives, is likely to provide ammunition for the narrative of Republicans being the party of institutionalized xenophobic racism.  The spinning will be fierce.

The Saturday shows are concentrating on Hillary's very bad week^TM.  The Beltway Boys kicks it all off at what appears to be a new time (2 PM Eastern, it's half over as I type and I missed the beginning) by explicitly asking if Hillary is in trouble because she gave evasive answers.  Mort will likely protest and point to evasive or otherwise "bad" answers by Bush and the Republican candidates.  They seem to be spending a lot of time on downside issues for Rudy, so it looks fairly typical for them.  There's no listings for Tim Russert's Show on MSNBC.  Perhaps he's too radioactive for anyone to go on a show with his name in the title?  Or could it be a surprise, maybe even Hillary or Bill?  Doubtful.  Fox News Watch will likely concentrate on the proof, absolute proof I say, that the MSM is not biased or left leaning.  After all, Lil Timmah was mean to Hillary and she's a girl!  The Journal Editorial Report also covers Hillary's troubles, along with the Mukasey hearings and the possibility of a 2008 recession.  I wonder if the Friday jobs report will change the tenor of that conversation?

So, that's the week.  The endless campaign was declared a done deal but is now back in play.  Firm conclusions aren't so firm anymore.  Perhaps we're witnessing a macro quantum uncertainty principle being applied to politics?  Might Schrödinger's cat* be named Socks?  Nah, the main stream media just got bored and decided to turn on the front runner when she stumbled.  They're like that, you know.  This week is a second chance for the other Dhimmicrats running to be taken seriously, but I don't think any of them will be.  Might the talk of a "rescue" of the party by the Goracle start again?  After all, he's already credited with saving the world.  This may also be a last chance for Fred to break out of the narrative that the MSM has been constructing for him.  I trust that today he is getting intense moot court type training to be ready for a hostile interview.  He was a trial lawyer and should still be good at that.  The outrigger issues this week are likely to be the Mukasey and FISA fights in congress, with a little bit of SCHIP peaking back around the corner.  I get the feeling that the conventional wisdom inside the beltway may be in danger of collapsing on a host of issues, starting with Iraq.  It's kind of like how it must feel just before a cattle herd stampedes.  Nothing they've tried has worked, they're nervous about it and anything can set them off.  Oh, and they haven't noticed the big cliff they're headed towards.  Sounds like fun.

This should be cross posted to my blog at Wizards.townhall.com later today.

This thread 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 valuable 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!

Mark Kilmer has posted his excellent preview of the Sunday shows over at Redstate.COM.

Politico.COM has their Sunday Talk Show Tip Sheet

* semi obscure reference of the week

[Phsstpok]

Show by Show Preview

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.

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Saturday Shows For

The Beltway Boys (Mort Kondrake, Fred Barnes)

• Meme:
  • You know all that "inevitability" stuff we've been pushing for over a year?  Well, never mind...
  • The would be emperors in the new congressional majority, in fact, have no clothes... who knew?
• Topics:
  • Is Hillary Clinton in trouble after being called elusive on issues?
  • The Democrats are 'down' and the 'Beltway Boys' will tell you why
• Beltway Boys contact information beltway@foxnews.com
• The program airs on FOX News Channel Saturdays at 2 pm and 11:30 pm ET, Sundays at 6:30 am ET

Tim Russert's Show On MSNBC (Tim Russert)

• Meme:
  • no listing
• Topics:
  • no listing
• Guests
  • no listing
• CNBC's Tim Russert Show airs Saturday at 7pm, 10pm & 1am ET

Fox News Watch (Eric Burns)

• Meme:
  • You know all that "inevitability" stuff we've been pushing for over a year?  Well, never mind...
  • How dare we get distracted from the official narrative by this Colbert guy?
• Topics:
  • Candidates on Attack: Obama, Edwards gang up on Hillary, Hillary attacks Tim Russert and more...
  • Colbert for President: Is the comedian's White House bid getting the press off track as 2008 looms?
• 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:
  • You know all that "inevitability" stuff everyone else has been pushing for over a year?  Well, now they think they may have been wrong...
  • Appeasing Dhimmicrats by giving them a "consensus" appointment will not make them play nice
• Topics:
  • Opinion Journal web page: Obama's Opportunity
    • Hillary Clinton hits a speed bump on her drive to the White House. Can Barack Obama take advantage?
    • Democrats mobilize against Michael Mukasey's nomination
    • The odds of a 2008 recession.
  • Fox News Channel web page
    • Once seen as the consensus candidate for attorney general, Senate Democrats are now threatening to sink the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey
• Guests
  • 
    
• 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)

• Meme:
  • The big bad Russert water board and interview show will now give The Treatment to Fred!  Beware!  (Will he be mean to Fred the way he was to Saint Hillary?)
  • Tom Brokaw is officially too important to hawk his book on Lil Timmah's no-show on CNBC MSNBC
• Topics:
  • Meet the Candidate Series
    • Presidential contender and former senator Fred Thompson (R-TN)
  • Former NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw talks about his new book, "Boom! Voices of the Sixties."
• Guests
  • Fred Thompson, Republican - Tennessee
    • Republican presidential candidate | Campaign web site | Bio
    • 2008 and counting: Thompson faces big Sunday talk show test (The Hill, DC - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Drivers Licenses for Illegal Aliens? No. (RedState.COM - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Romney raps Clinton, Thompson over immigration policy (Radio Iowa - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Romney Hits Back at Thompson's Immigration Jab (National Review Online, NY - Oct 31, 2007)
    • The Thompson Border Security Plan (NewsByUs, ID - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Thompson backed by key conservative (San Jose Mercury News - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Poll: Thompson edging Romney for GOP lead in SC (The State - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Republican Candidates Battle It Out In New Hampshire (ABC30.com - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Fred Thompson, in SF, calls civil unions 'not a good idea' (San Francisco Chronicle - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Fred Thompson California tour moves through San Francisco (San Jose Mercury News - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Thompson Questions Clinton's Diplomacy (Guardian Unlimited, UK - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Fred, Opting Out of a News Cycle? Wait, Guess Not (National Review Online - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Thompson’s policy troubles get a little worse (The Carpetbagger - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Fred Thompson, the UN and Guns (SayUncle - Nov 1, 2007)
  • Tom Brokaw
    • Former NBC anchorman
    • Author, Boom! Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today
    • THE GROOVIEST GENERATION (New York Post - Oct 27, 2007)
    • Brokaw Laments Too-Low Taxes on Rich: 'A Fundamental Injustice' (NewsBusters - Oct 30, 2007)
    • Tom Brokaw delivers message on free press (MSNBC - Oct 23, 2007)
• Meet the Press mailbox (web page for comments)

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CBS Face The Nation (Bob Schieffer)

• Meme:
  • Joe Biden attacked the Republicans instead of attacking Saint Hillary... let's give him some air time
  • We will now bypass the candidates and go directly to their chief spin meister instead... we do this only for Saint Hillary, mind you
• Topics:
  • Campaign '08
• Guests
  • Senator Joe Biden, Democrat - Delaware
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Democrat presidential Candidate | Campaign web site | Bio
    • Biden warns on Iran, sees opening for candidacy (Boston Globe - Oct 26, 2007)
    • Biden's History Lesson to Fourth-Graders (The Associated Press - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Biden's Revisionist History Lesson (PowerLine Blog - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Biden for Dodd (if it isn't Biden) (Boston Globe - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Biden: Three Things in Rudy's Sentences, A Noun, A Verb, And 9/11 (National Review Online, NY - Oct 30, 2007)
    • Biden-Giuliani Smackdown Enlivens Campaign Trail (New York Times - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Biden v. Giuliani, Another Round (New York Times - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Biden's Loss....Rudy's Gain (he Conservative Voice, NC - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Joe Biden is Unqualified to be President (Red State - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Biden files in NH, touts qualifications (MSNBC - Nov 1, 2007)
    • WaPo Downplays Biden's Latest Racial Blooper; NYT, LAT Ignore It (NewsBusters - Oct 26, 2007)
    • Chris Wallace on the Biden Double Standard and Media’s Anti-war Bias (NewsBusters - Nov 1, 2007)
    • UNTOLD TRUTH (New York Post - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Biden: Campaign About Ideas, Not Money (CBS News, NY - Oct 30, 2007)
    • Blackwatergate: Joe Biden Questions Grants of Immunity to Blackwater Employees (All American Patriots (press release), Sweden - Oct 31, 2007)
  • Mark Penn
    • Chief Strategist, Hillary Clinton for President | Profile (from Wikipedia)
    • Note: this is a change, Howard Wolfson, Communications Director, Hillary Clinton for President, was listed for this show on Friday
    • Queen Hillary Deflated by Tim Russert (NewsMax.com, FL - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Tim Russert Faces Debate Backlash (Huffington Post - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Hillary Strategist Mark Penn Complains Kucinich Got Easy Questions (National Review Online, NY - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Did Hillary play the ‘gender card’? (The Carpetbagger Report - Nov 2, 2007)
    • The Clintonites Panic II (Atlantic Online - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Women in a Man's World [Kate O'Beirne] (National Review Online Blogs, NY - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Mark Penn meets the press (MSNBC - Oct 18, 2007)
    • Rebutting Mark Penn (Washington Post - Oct 18, 2007)
    • Leave No Question Unpolled (The Plank on TNR.com, DC - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Home-Office Politics (New York Times - Nov 3, 2007)
    • Debate Gaffes (The Corner (NRO) - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Short Straw (The Corner (NRO) - Nov 1, 2007)
• Face The Nation contact information - ftn@cbsnews.com

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Fox News Sunday (Chris Wallace)

• Meme:
  • Now this is a good President Bush... a retired one
  • You know all that "inevitability" stuff we've been pushing for over a year?  Well, never mind...
• Topics:
  • A new series called "American Leaders": a conversation with former President George Bush
    • his view of our nation and its place in the world
    • an inside look at the moments that helped define his presidency
    • his perspective on public service and volunteerism
    • his hopes for the nation as well as his fears
    • a specially guided tour of never seen before sections of his presidential library
  • Fox News Sunday panel
    • This week’s Democratic presidential debate
    • Did frontrunner Hillary Clinton stumble on immigration?
    • Which opponent is best positioned to take advantage?
  • Power Player of the Week: Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS
    • Ashley Judd who just came back from India exploring the impact of HIV across India’s population.
  • Fox News essay: Coming up on Fox News Sunday
• Guests
  • Former President George H. W. Bush, Republican - Texas
    • 41st President of the United States | Bio
    • Bush Sr.: Race No Longer a 'Gimme' For Clinton (Washington Post - Nov 1, 2007)
    • President George HW Bush Endorses Prop 15 (Business Wire (press release), CA - Oct 23, 2007)
    • Astronauts Take Presidential Call (Space.com - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Clinton, GOP selective in sharing facts about releasing records (News & Observer, NC - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Looking for Mr. Right (Yahoo! News - Oct 27, 2007)
    • George H W Bush Presidential Library
  • Fox News Sunday panel
    • Brit Hume
      • Washington managing editor of FOX News
      • 'Special Report' Panel on Law of the Sea; Congress vs. President Bush (FOX News - Oct 31, 2007)
      • Nobel Prize-Winning Scientist Takes Shot at Global Warming Alarmists (FOX News - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Bill Kristol
      • The Weekly Standard
      • A Two-Way or a Five-Way? (The Weekly Standard - Oct 29, 2007)
      • Does Neal Gabler Want Bill Kristol to be Killed in Iraq? (NewsBusters - Oct 20, 2007)
    • Mara Liasson
      • National Public Radio
      • Clinton No Longer Unscathed Frontrunner (NPR Morning Edition - Nov 2, 2007) Note: page has link to audio
      • Giuliani, Romney Blasting Through Granite State (NPR Morning Edition - Oct 31, 2007) Note: page has link to audio
    • Juan Williams
      • National Public Radio
      • Week in Politics: Mukasey, 'Swift Boating' Clinton (NPR Day to Day - Nov 2, 2007) Note: page has article and link to audio
      • Dems Vying for President Wary of Attacking Clinton (Morning Edition - Oct 31, 2007) Note: page has link to audio
  • Power Player of the Week: Ashley Judd
    • Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS
    • CNN Heroes: Fighting AIDS with Ashley Judd (CNN International - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Judd featured in 'World Aids Day' docu (Hollywood Reporter - Oct 30, 2007)
    • National Geographic Channel, Ashley Judd and YouthAIDS Host World Premiere Screening of 'India's Hidden Plague' (Earthtimes, UK - Oct 19, 2007)
• Fox News Sunday contact information - FNS@foxnews.com

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CNN Late Edition (Wolf Blitzer)

• Meme:
  • Mr. Blair, will you please wave this piece of paper and say "peace in our time" just once for our cameras?
  • John McCain will say bad things about Republicans, we know that, but will Chris Dodd say bad things about Democrats?
  • Arlen Specter and Diane Feinstein will say good things about Mukasey and bad things about "warrantless wiretapping" - now that's balance!
• Topics:
  • A new push for peace? Mideast Special Envoy Tony Blair in an exclusive interview.
  • Presidential politics '08
  • The nomination of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General
  • The FISA reauthorization fight
• Guests
  • Tony Blair
    • Former British Prime Minister | Bio
    • Quartet Committee Envoy for Peace in the Middle East
    • At Jerusalem hotel, Blair joins intriguing guest list, including believers, spies, generals (International Herald Tribune, France - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Palestinian state important for Mideast peace: Blair (Earthtimes.org, New Zealand - Oct 10, 2007)
    • Arab League Chief criticizes the Quartet Committee (International Middle East Media Center - Jan 23, 2007)
    • Product of destructive chaos (Yemen Times, Yemen - Oct 22, 2007)
    • Bono sympathises with Blair on war on terror (Malaysia Sun - Nov 3, 2007)
    • Revealed: how Blair rejected Bush's offer to stay (Independent, UK - Oct 30, 2007)
    • Promise to reveal all about Bush landed Blair book deal (Guardian Unlimited, UK - Oct 27, 2007)
    • Blair was warned of looming disaster in Iraq (Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - Oct 27, 2007)
    • Blair 'relied too much on intelligence to justify Iraq war' says former head of MI6 (Daily Mail, UK - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Blair blamed himself, Iraq for election losses (Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - Oct 28, 2007)
    • Powell surprised at Blair's closeness with Bush (Gulf Daily News, Bahrain - Oct 28, 2007)
    • Blair failed to handle Bush on Iraq, claims biographer (Independent, UK - Oct 28, 2007)
    • Bush & Blair Holocaust Commission (uruknet.info, Italy - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Blair accused over soldier's death (Guardian Unlimited, UK - Oct 29, 2007)
    • Blair years end with a parliamentary whimper (Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - Oct 28, 2007)
  • Senator John McCain, Republican - Arizona
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Republican presidential candidate | Campaign web site | Bio
    • McCain Hits Rivals on Military (The Associated Press - Nov 2, 2007)
    • McCain Defends Mukasey on Waterboarding (The Associated Press - Nov 1, 2007)
    • John McCain, Rudy Giuliani dispute over waterboarding (New York Daily News - Nov 3, 2007)
    • McCain and Romney camps go at it,, too (Boston Globe, United States - Oct 31, 2007)
    • McCain links Iraq victory to ME peace (Jerusalem Post, Israel - Oct 30, 2007)
    • McCain: Iraq Pullout Bad For Israel (New York Jewish Week - Oct 31, 2007)
    • McCain Tells Jewish Leaders He Favors 'Step-by-Step' Peace Process in Mideast (FOX News - Oct 30, 2007)
    • John McCain Stresses Opposition to Mandatory Health Insurance (FOX News - Oct 31, 2007)
    • McCain returns to anti-spending theme in new ad (Boston Globe, United States - Oct 31, 2007)
    • McCain, 'baaack' on air in NH (MSNBC - Oct 31, 2007)
    • McCain takes immigration stance (Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - Nov 1, 2007)
    • McCain criticizes 'compressed' presidential primary process (AFP - Oct 30, 2007)
    • McCain Plans 'Comeback Kid' Surge (U.S. News & World Report, DC - Oct 30, 2007)
  • Senator Chris Dodd, Democrat - Connecticut
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Democrat Presidential Candidate | Campaign web site | Bio
    • Dodd Sees Progress -- Online, Anyway (Hartford Courant - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Dodd: Campaign Has Room to Grow (The Associated Press - Oct 29, 2007)
    • Dodd bucks the trend and goes after Edwards (News & Observer - Nov 2, 2007)
    • The Dodd-Biden Run-In (New York Times - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Chris Dodd Hearts Lou Dobbs? (Huffington Post - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Dodd pitches family issues to audience in Durham (Foster's Daily Democrat, NH - Nov 3, 2007)
    • Dodd says he,not Clinton, can pass healthcare (oston Globe - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Dodd: 'Get ready, this is tough stuff' (Portsmouth Herald News, NH - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Dodd says he'll oppose nominee for attorney general (Boston Globe - Oct 29, 2007)
  • Senator Arlen Specter, RINO - Pennsylvania
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member
    • Expert on Scottish law
    • Sen. Dick Durbin to Oppose Attorney General Nominee Michael Mukasey (FOX News - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Arlen Specter: Specter’s Comments on Judge Mukasey and FISA at Judiciary Hearing (All American Patriots (press release) Sweden - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Mukasey Unsure About Waterboarding (The Associated Press - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Republican senator: Should taxpayers pay for illegal spying? (CNET News.com, CA - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Sen. Specter wants answers on intel programs (USA Today - Oct 16, 2007)
    • BREAKING: White House to give Leahy, Specter access to wiretap docs (Raw Story, MA - Oct 26, 2007)
    • Hallelujah! Leahy, Specter to See Surveillance Docs (TPMmuckraker, NY - Oct 25, 2007)
    • Specter, GOP colleague spar over legislative 'earmarks' (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - Oct 24, 2007)
  • Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat - California
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Senate Judiciary Committee member
    • Schumer and Feinstein Back Mukasey (New York Times - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Sen. Feinstein: Judge Mukasey has my vote (Los Angeles Times - Nov 3, 2007)
    • DiFi "explains" herself (Daily Kos - Nov 3, 2007)
    • Mukasey Makes It (Slate - Nov 3, 2007)
    • Leahy, Feinstein Urge Justice To Fill Vacant US Attorney Posts (CBS News, NY - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Feinstein, Rep. Hunter: Changes needed to lessen future fires (San Jose Mercury News,  USA - Oct 28, 2007)
    • Feinstein blasts lack of action on energy oversight (Central Valley Business Times, CA - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Outcry Against Dianne Feinstein for saying something “nice” about Bush (Stop the ACLU, PA - Oct 30, 2007)
    • Feinstein gets Dem. criticism, GOP raves over judge confirmation (San Jose Mercury News - Oct 24, 2007)
    • Fury at vote reflects a politicized process (Boston Globe - Oct 29, 2007)
    • Thank you, Sen. Feinstein (Hattiesburg American, MS - Oct 27, 2007)
    • Senator Feinstein’s Fair Play Exposes Liberal Extremists (Town Hall, DC - Oct 23, 2007)
    • Where is Senator Feinstein coming from? (Vail Sun, AZ - Oct 24, 2007)
• CNN Late Edition (web page for comments)

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ABC This Week (George Stephanopoulos)

• Meme:
  • You know all that "inevitability" stuff we've been pushing for over a year?  Well, never mind...
  • It's time to rally 'round Spitzer and call anyone opposed to illegal immigration a racist bigot homophobic doody head!
• Topics:
  • "On the Trail" - Former Sen. John Edwards
    • After a well-received performance in Tuesday's debate, he discusses where things stand with his campaign
    • Will his sharp critiques of Sen. Hillary Clinton continue?
    • Can his populist message help him break out of the Democratic field?
  • Voices segment: Ashley Judd, YouthAIDS Global Ambassador
    • With several Bollywood stars she traveled around India to explore why young women are increasingly at risk for HIV infection, and how HIV travels from high risk groups to the general population. Judd's journey was documented in a new National Geographic film, "India's Hidden Plague."
• Guests
  • John Edwards, Democrat - North Carolina
    • Democrat presidential candidate | Campaign web site | Bio
    • Has John Edwards' Moment Arrived? (TIME - Nov 2, 2007)
    • EDWARDS STEPS ON THE GAS (New York Post - Nov 2, 2007)
    • In Pledge to Voters, Edwards Reflects on His Wife’s Fight With Cancer (New York Times - Nov 2, 2007)
    • The New Edwards Ad -- 'Heroes' (RealClearPolitics Blog - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Edwards on the “Politics of Parsing.” (Politics on the Hudson, NY - Nov 2, 2007)
    • A Clintonian Opening for Edwards, Obama (ABC News - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Hillary Clinton Can Be Stopped in Iowa (FOX News - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Dodd bucks the trend and goes after Edwards (News & Observer - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Edwards Eligible for Public Funds (The Associated Press - Nov 1, 2007)
    • NH service workers union backs Edwards over Obama (Boston Globe - Oct 31, 2007)
    • In Rock Hill: Edwards, actor Glover (Charlotte Observer, NC - Nov 2, 2007)
  • Roundtable
    • E.J. Dionne
      • Washington Post columnist
      • The Issue the Democrats Dread (Washington Post - Nov 2, 2007)
      • The Bridge and The Fence (Town Hall, DC - Nov 2, 2007)
    • Michael Gerson
      • Washington Post columnist | Profile
      • A Second Home for Religious Voters? (Washington Post - Nov 2, 2007)
      • Open-Arms Conservatism (Washington Post - October 31, 2007)
      • The Corner Wonders Why Michael Gerson is Called a Conservative (Freedomworks.ORG blog - Oct 31, 2007)
    • Ron Brownstein
      • Political director of Atlantic Media Co.
      • Arnold's Balancing Act (National Journal - Nov 2, 2007)
      • Educated Women Climb Aboard (National Journal - Oct 25, 2007)
    • George Will
      • Washington Post columnist
      • They call themselves progressive? (Indianapolis Star - Oct 31, 2007)
      • A BMW in every garage (Dallas Morning News, TX - Oct 28, 2007)
  • Voices segment: actress Ashley Judd
    • Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS
    • CNN Heroes: Fighting AIDS with Ashley Judd (CNN International - Nov 1, 2007)
    • Judd featured in 'World Aids Day' docu (Hollywood Reporter - Oct 30, 2007)
    • National Geographic Channel, Ashley Judd and YouthAIDS Host World Premiere Screening of 'India's Hidden Plague' (Earthtimes, UK - Oct 19, 2007)
• ABC This Week comment web page

[Phsstpok]

Ping

The Weekend Talk Show Preview is up

It will also cross posted to my blog at

http://wizards.townhall.com/

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

... So, Hillary trips over Elliot Spitzer's voter fraud plot and all bets are suddenly off. Or are they? Much will depend on the next round of polling which will reflect any post debate problems for team Clinton and the shows this week may either reflect or influence what those polls will say. The reactions from the Clintonistas and the usual suspects in media land seem to indicate that they think it was a big deal and could potentially derail the inevitability express that Hillary's been counting on as her chief qualification for office. Do they already have numbers that bode ill for Her Thighness?...

... The endless campaign was declared a done deal but is now back in play. Firm conclusions aren't so firm anymore. Perhaps we're witnessing a macro quantum uncertainty principle being applied to politics? Might Schrödinger's cat be named Socks? ...

[Chuck54]

Thanks for the ping Phsstpok.

Bump for later read.

[MNJohnnie]

Seems Tim only give the whole hour to tame Leftists. God forbid he actually give any Conservative the whole hour.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

What the deal with Ashley Judd? Is there another abortion rally?

[fkabuckeyesrule]

For those interested the Beltway Boys replays tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM.

[Phsstpok]

Ashley Judd is the celebrity “ambassador” for YouthAIDS. There’s a National Geographic documentary premiering in the next few days about AIDS spreading among young women in India and she’s in it.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Looks like they may have to add some experts on South Asian politics at the last second, seeing what is going on in Pakistan! Assuming Osama doesn’t have nukes by morning, that is!

[Phsstpok]

Yeah. Do you suppose Musharraf may be taking his action now as a favor to his good friend Bill? It certainly has the potential to knock the “Hillary screwed up” narrative right off the front burner.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I think Musharraf is more concerned with keeping his head attached to his neck, actually.

[Bahbah]

The fact that her main spinmeister, Howard Wolfson, was originally listed for this show and then changed to Penn does not indicate that they have a good handle on this yet.

Hmmm, I find that potentially interesting. Wolfson comes off like a fellow who could murder someone if told to do so. Maybe they focus grouped reactions to Wolfson and switched to Penn who I do not recall seeing before.

[Phsstpok]

An additional article from the Weekly Standard by William Kristol.  I bet the topic will be the subject of some discussion during the FNS roundtable:

Of Diplomats and Men
Do foreign service officers in Washington feel no sense of solidarity with their colleagues in Baghdad?
by William Kristol and Dean Barnett
From the November 12, 2007 issue
11/03/2007 12:00:00 AM

[Bahbah]

I’m so glad you found the article with this quote from The Mouth that Roared (I love that):

“But the president, I think, he got a little confused,” he continued. “I think he thought the folks in another country, way, way far away, far from here, it’s also far from Afghanistan, called Iraq. He said, ‘The guy in Iraq he helped bin Laden do bad things to us,’ and he didn’t. He wasn’t a good guy, but he didn’t help. So we used that kind of as an excuse to attack Iraq.”

Biden doesn’t ever really know what he’s talking about. On top of that, he’s a liar. Oh, and tasteless. Imagine saying something like this about the American President to a bunch of school children. He’s just a disgrace.

[Phsstpok]

I found the original article after reading the PowerLine piece about it.  I like their take on it:

• Biden's Revisionist History Lesson (PowerLine Blog - Nov 2, 2007)

There's a lot of revisionist history being passed off as fact by the fantasists on the left.  Over at RedState Moe Lane has a piece, Annnnnd, Tenet's left holding the bag, about the recasting of the Iraq narrative in light of the emerging success of the surge.  It includes this little gem from the CBS article he's commenting on (emphiasis mine):

More than a hundred summaries of his debriefings were sent to the CIA, which then became a pillar - along with the now-disproved Iraqi quest for uranium for nuclear weapons - for the U.S. decision to bomb and then invade Iraq

One of the commenters rightly points out that this is a lie:

The throwaway lie by OCBill

My favorite part is the lie made in passing, "along with the now-disproved Iraqi quest for uranium for nuclear weapons". I'm pretty sure the only place this was ever regarded as fact was in the thoroughly discredited version offered by Joe Wilson (husband of the world's least covert, covert operative). In the actual report filed by Wilson, he essentially substantiated these Iraqi efforts. But when the facts don't fit the narrative, I guess the facts have to change.

I have this feeling in looking at some of the stuff that's associated with the guests this weekend that they realize that their "narrative" is coming unglued and they are starting to sweat, big time. 

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

---

HILLARY! UNCENSORED: Peter Paul scheduled for FOX News with Eric Shawn - Sunday, 11:20am Eastern

[rodguy911]

Wow great stuff here P as usual. peter Paul at 11:20, sound like some really good tv.
You know I often complain about FNC but bottom line is they really are fair and balanced,its a great thing they are there.

[skinkinthegrass]

thanks. :)