Weekend Talk Show *Preview* for 3/22/2009 (not the live thread)

Network and Cable News Shows | 3/22/09 | Network and Cable News

[Phsstpok]

The Sunday shows

Presented in the order they run in my area

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NBC Meet The Press (David Gregory)

• Topics:
  • Three political heavyweights and the founders of Building America's Future - the mayor of New York and the governors of Pennsylvania and California - met with President Obama on Friday and talk about:
    • the economy
    • bailouts
    • stimulus
  • A special economic and political roundtable with NBC's Tom Brokaw and CNBC's Erin Burnett.
• Guests
  • Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (Republican - California)
    • California Governor's web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Obama's California: The Arnold Alliance and More (Huffington Post - Mar 20, 2009‎)
    • 'Scrawny' President Obama will share a stage with Arnold (Los Angeles Times - ‎Mar 19, 2009)
    • Governor Schwarzenegger Tours Green California Summit (NewsBlaze - ‎Mar 19, 2009)
  • Governor Ed Rendell (Democrat - Pennsylvania)
    • Pennsylvania Governor's web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Gov. Ed Rendell to confer Friday with Obama (Lebanon Daily News - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
    • Green Jobs, Black Jobs: These Days, Any Jobs Will Do for Pennsylvania (Wall Street Journal Blogs - ‎Mar 20, 2009‎)
    • Ed Rendell Admits Democrats Recruited Arlen Specter (AOL News Newsbloggers - ‎Mar 16, 2009)
  • New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Independent - New York)
    • New York City Mayor's web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Bloomberg pledges support for Obama economic programs (Newsday - ‎Mar 20, 2009‎)
    • Feds clear way for NYC's Bloomberg to run again (Seattle Times - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
    • Mayor Bloomberg on the US economy (BBC News - ‎Mar 20, 2009‎)
  • Roundtable
    • Tom Brokaw
      • NBC News Special Correspondent | Profile
      • Wikipedia web page
      • In bad economy, TV news turns to average Americans (Reuters - ‎Mar 16, 2009‎)
      • Tom Brokaw's New Global Warming Documentary (Time - Mar 17, 2009)
      • Masters Article Miffs City Leader (WJBF-TV - ‎Mar 16, 2009)
    • Erin Burnett
      • CNBC Anchor | Profile
      • Wikipedia web page
      • Tim Geithner, CNBC and the second coming of known unknowns (Salt Lake Tribune - ‎Mar 14, 2009)
      • CNBC Hosts Question Alleged Tax Cheat Rangel's Authority on AIG Retroactive Taxes (Business Media Institute - ‎Mar 19, 2009)
      • The Street Distracted By Rage (CNBC - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
• Meet the Press mailbox (web page for comments)

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CBS Face The Nation (Bob Schieffer)

• Topics: (my assumptions - none listed)
  • Promoting Obama's version of reality in order to ram through his agenda without any scrutiny
  • Sloughing the blame off on Republicans and capitalism in general
  • Hyping the hate for the latest scapegoats of opportunity
• Guests
  • Austan Goolsbee
    • White House Council of Economic Advisers
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Reactions to AIG Bonuses: ‘Outrageous,’ ‘Angry’ (Wall Street Journal Blogs - ‎Mar 15, 2009)
    • Obama Team Heads to 'War' Over Economic Agenda (FOXNews - ‎Mar 15, 2009)
    • WH Economist: Bonus Tax Could Have Chilling Effect (CBS News - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
  • Representative Barney Frank (Democrat - Massachusetts )
    • House web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Rep Frank Demands Cancellation Of Fannie, Freddie Bonuses (CNNMoney.com - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
    • Fed’s Expanded Regulatory Role in Doubt as Frank Backs Away (Bloomberg - Mar 20, 2009)
    • Barney Frank: Antonin Scalia is a ‘Homophobe’ (CNSNews.com - ‎Mar 20, 2009)‎
  • Senator Charles Grassley (Republican - Iowa)
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • AIG Memo Warns Employees of Growing Danger from Public Anger Over Bailout Bonuses (Associated Content - ‎Mar 21, 2009)‎
    • Obama: It’s like AIG has a bomb strapped to them (Christian Science Monitor - ‎Mar 18, 2009)
    • Senator Grassley on Controversial AIG Comments (FOXNews - ‎Mar 18, 2009)
  • John Dickerson
    • Chief Political Correspondent, Slate magazine
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Barack Obama: The Series! (TIME - ‎Mar 17, 2009)
    • Balance of Opinion: Riled up over AIG bonuses (Dallas Morning News - ‎Mar 19, 2009)
    • Obama's "Special" Bowling Skills (CBS News - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
  • Jackie Calmes
    • National Correspondent, New York Times
    • Regular commentator, PBS Washington Week | Profile
    • No Wikipedia web page
    • Many in Government Knew Weeks Ago About AIG Bonuses (New York Times - ‎Mar 19, 2009)
    • AIG Uproar Is a Test for Geithner (New York Times - ‎Mar 18, 2009)
    • Administration Is Open to Taxing Health Benefits (New York Times - ‎Mar 14, 2009)
• Face The Nation contact information - ftn@cbsnews.com

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Fox News Sunday (Chris Wallace)

• Topics:
  • A bad week for Team Obama, World (Socialist) Police
    • The White House hoped to spend the week focused on their proposed budget, but those plans were delayed when news of the AIG bonuses was made public.
    • The Obama administration still has no banking plan in place and instead the White House is playing defense.
    • As they tried to tamp down the outrage, the administration looked to refocus.
    • President Obama finishes his week with a West Coast swing, an appearance on Jay Leno and preparation for his second prime-time news conference scheduled for Tuesday night.
    • A financial forecast and preview the president's proposal to save the banking industry with the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers
  • Hyping the hate for the latest scapegoats of opportunity
    • Congress passes legislation to tax 90 percent on bonuses from bailout funds.
    • Has the Congress gone too far?
    • Two key financial policy makers, the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee and the Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, discuss what they would like to see in the White House plan to rescue the troubled banks
  • Fox News Sunday panel
    • President Obama attempts to reach out to Iran - is this a sign of major change in American foreign policy?
  • Fox News essay: Coming up on Fox News Sunday
• Guests
  • Christina Romer
    • Chair, White House Council of Economic Advisers
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Obama Team Adopts McCain's Economic Optimism (FOXNews - ‎Mar 17, 2009‎)
    • Depression lessons: Keep on spending (USA Today - ‎Mar 9, 2009)
    • US Tries to Halt Cycle of Fear (Washington Post - Mar 4, 2009)
  • Senator Richard Shelby (Republican - Alabama)
    • Ranking member, Banking Committee
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Shelby objects to census partner (The Huntsville Times - al.com - ‎Mar 21, 2009)
    • Anti-Geithner Sentiment Grows (FOXNews - ‎Mar 19, 2009
    • McCain, Shelby: Let big banks fail (SmartBrief - ‎Mar 9, 2009)
  • Representative Charles Rangel (Democrat - New York)
    • Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee
    • House web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Miller, Waxman, Rangel Promise to Move Health Reform This Year (Occupational Health Safety - ‎Mar 12, 2009)
    • The AIG Bonus Tax Makes People Queasy (New York Magazine - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
    • Congressional tax lynching (Rome Sentinel - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
  • Power Player of the Week: Pete Souza
    • Chief White House photographer
    • Web Site Pete Souza Photography
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Photographer has an insider's view of White House (DetNews.com - ‎Mar 13, 2009)
    • Did Vladimir Putin Confront Ronald Reagan in Red Square? (Associated Content - ‎Mar 21, 2009)
    • White House Cheat Sheet: Rumblings on the Left? (Washington Post - ‎Mar 10, 2009)
  • Fox News Sunday panel
    • Brit Hume
      • FOX News senior political analyst
      • Wikipedia web page
      • Olbermann: ‘Lunatic Fringe’ MRC ‘Fed Talking Points’ to Hume, Joe the Plumber’s ‘Gay’ Entrance w/ ‘God Bless USA’ (NewsBusters - ‎Mar 21, 2009)
    • Mara Liasson
      • National Public Radio | Bio
      • Wikipedia web page
      • AIG Complicates Obama's Strategy (NPR All Things Considered, Mar 17, 2009) Note: page has link to streaming audio
    • Bill Kristol
      • The Weekly Standard
      • Wikipedia web page
      • Happy New Year, Mullahs (The Weekly Standard - Mar 21, 2009)
    • Juan Williams
      • National Public Radio | Bio
      • Wikipedia web page
      • Politics: Steele's Stumbles, Obama's Staff Issues (NPR Day to Day, Mar 13, 2009) Note: page has link to streaming audio
• Fox News Sunday contact information - FNS@foxnews.com

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CNN State Of The Union (John King)

• Topics:
  • Is the Obama administration doing enough to help the struggling economy?
  • The outrage over AIG
  • '60 Minutes' correspondent Steve Kroft talks about his interview with President Obama in the Oval Office.
• Guests
  • Christina Romer
    • Chair, White House Council of Economic Advisers
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Obama Team Adopts McCain's Economic Optimism (FOXNews - ‎Mar 17, 2009‎)
    • Depression lessons: Keep on spending (USA Today - ‎Mar 9, 2009)
    • US Tries to Halt Cycle of Fear (Washington Post - Mar 4, 2009)
  • Senator Judd Gregg (Republican - New Hampshire)
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Bill offered by Sens. Gregg, Lieberman, aims at reducing wasteful spending, deficit (Seattle Times - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
    • Corker, Gregg criticize aid for auto suppliers (Detroit Free Press - ‎Mar 19, 2009)
    • Is that AIG tax constitutional? (msnbc.com - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
  • Steve Kroft
    • CBS, Co-Editor, Correspondent, 60 Minutes | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Obama goes back to 60 Minutes formula on Sunday (Baltimore Sun - ‎Mar 21, 2009)
    • Obama Would Reject Resignation Offer From Treasury’s Geithner (Bloomberg -Mar 21, 2009)
    • Obama Lashes Back At Cheney (Atlantic Online - ‎Mar 21, 2009)
• CNN Late Edition (web page for comments)

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ABC This Week (George Stephanopoulos)

• Topics:
  • The AIG Bonus "scandal"
    • Rarely has Washington seen such populist outrage as it did this week over the bonuses paid to AIG employees.
    • Yet a week later, there's still disagreement over how or whether to deal with it.
    • The guests debate whether the tax clawback proposed by Congress is the right way to go, and whether it is fair and legal.
  • A preview of the coming battle over President Obama's budget.
    • Negotiations get under way this week
    • Some of the key negotiators comment
  • A preview of the administration's plan to deal with toxic bank assets, which is expected to be announced early next week.
  • Roundtable
    • A bad week for Team Obama, World (Socialist) Police
      • Obama spent most of the week defending Treasury Secretary Timothy ("the smartest man in the world") Geithner, including on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"
      • The One's trip to California
      • His handling of the week
      • The significance of the (faux) outrage over the AIG bonuses
• Guests
  • Senator Kent Conrad (Democrat - North Dakota)
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Senate's Conrad sees $1.6 trillion in extra deficit (Reuters - ‎Mar 19, 2009)
    • AIG blowback puts Geithner in a pickle (CNN Political Ticker - ‎Mar 21, 2009)
    • Big Deficit Projection Tests Obama Agenda (Wall Street Journal - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
  • Senator Susan Collins (Republican - Maine)
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Collins says Maine to Get Millions for Energy Efficiency Projects (MPBN News - ‎Mar 12, 2009)
    • Snowe, Collins: Ado over Limbaugh reflects struggles of party (Kennebec Journal - ‎Mar 8, 2009‎)
    • Bipartisan Senate bill seeks lower tariffs on ethanol imports (New York Times - ‎Mar 18, 2009)
  • Representative Mike Pence (Republican - Indiana)
    • House web site | Bio
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Pence: Return AIG donations (Politico - ‎Mar 18, 2009)
    • Pence: Obama plan hurts small business (WISH - ‎Mar 16, 2009)
    • Anti-Racism Conference is Not the Next Holocaust (UN Dispatch - ‎Mar 20, 2009)
  • Jared Bernstein
    • Vice President Joe Biden's chief economist
    • Wikipedia web page
    • Panel to cite stimulus benefits for middle class (The Associated Press - ‎Mar 18, 2009)
    • Reviving the Dream (New York Times - ‎Mar 9, 2009)
    • Stimulus Will Not Meet Ambitious Job Goals (Richmond Times Dispatch - ‎Mar 14, 2009)
  • Roundtable
    • Robert Reich
      • Former Clinton Labor Secretary
      • Web site Robert Reich's Blog
      • Wikipedia web page
      • Obama's Wall Street bailout failure (Salon - ‎Mar 20, 2009‎‎)
    • George Will
      • Syndicated columnist
      • Wikipedia web page
      • Paved With Magnificent Intentions (Real Clear Politics - Mar 12, 2009)
    • Donna Brazile
      • Democrat political consultant
      • Wikipedia web page
      • Brazile: Obama makes history in just 50 days (Delaware County Daily Times - ‎Mar 17, 2009‎)
    • Betsy Stark
      • ABC News business correspondent | Profile
      • Wikipedia web page
      • Stocks Surge: Market Rallies Nearly 380 Points (ABC News - ‎Mar 10, 2009)
• ABC This Week comment web

[Phsstpok]

(Minimal) analysis for Sunday show line ups for March 22, 2009

OK, I'm really having a hard time working up any enthusiasm for the Sunday shows. They're so formulaic, though I will admit that the formula has changed since the election. Prior to the ascension of The One each week they put on 10 or so critics of McChimpy Bushitler, rattling off the latest DNC talking points and then offered up something like 4 Pubbies, at least 2 of whom agreed with the criticism of the "dummy from Texas." And anyone who might offer any defense of the commander in chief in a time of war was carefully chosen to offer ample opportunities for caricature as a racist, a crook or a buffoon.

Now they are consistently offering up 10 or so Obama spokesman for unchallenged rounds of pure propaganda "counter balanced" with a handful of Republicans who will urge support of The One, lest they be cast as blackguards and traitors.

It's enough to make Winston Smith weep.

Or to encourage one to go full John Galt on these clowns.

I will say that the mindless idiocy of the Obamabots is beginning to really annoy me. They're so stupid and no one in the dinosaur media has the guts (or brains) to call them on it. On Townhall.com there's a great post with a video that illustrates this perfectly. The author is inspired to include this quote from the movie Billy Madison:

"What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

I'm dying for a chance to trot that one out on some Obama sycophant.

[Phsstpok]

PING

The Weekend Talk Show Preview thread is now up.

[Miss Marple]

I see Christina Romer will be on Fox. I like to call her Little Lotta, for those who remember the comic book of the same name.

Constantly chirpy and cheerful, she will spend a lot of time telling us that everything is going swimmingly, and how well all of this spending will work. She will smile at inappropriate moments, and by the end of her appearance all of us will be willing to slap her.

I am curious to see if Chris Wallace can wipe that smile off her face.

[Carolinamom]

Little Lottie wears out my last nerve.

I'm getting more and more snippity these days. Wonder why? LOL

[Bahbah]

LOL, Miss Marple.

TOTUS has caught on. Now I am hoping (there’s that word, eh) Little Lotta will too.

[Morgan in Denver]

I just don’t think any of the so-called journalists understand or realize what is really going on. Either that or they approve this march towards socialism.

One cannot use the words Obama and socialism in the same sentence without starting a mud slinging war. But that’s exactly what’s going on.

[mathluv]

Thanks for your hard work. I usually only watch Fox - or just the panel. Today with rangel on, it may be just the panel.

[padre35]

Wow, there is not a single guest whom I tune in to listen to on a single show this Sunday, talk about “mediocre” content.

I’d like to see what a Steve Forbes would have to say, but instead we get...Charlie “tax cheat” Rangel...:yawn:

[Plutarch]

That is strong work on that preview.

[rodguy911]

You gotta remember “P” never stall your enemy when he is in the process of self destruction.
Let them go all the way down they are still headed there.