Clinton vs. Rush called

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | : March 10, 2003

[GrandMoM]

Monday, March 10, 2003

MEDIA MATTERS Clinton vs. Rush called CBS 'dream team' But ex-president rejected most debate partners network proposed

A CBS News insider said the new debate segment on newsmagazine "60 Minutes" pairing former President Bill Clinton and former Sen. Bob Dole would have been a fairer match-up if radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh had been Clinton's adversary, reports American Prowler.

"The dream team would have been Clinton and Rush Limbaugh," the website quotes a network staffer as saying. "I don't know that it was talked about seriously, but we were all aware that that combination would have been an amazing ratings coup. I mean, the Nielsen numbers would just spike for that segment; you know it. And it would have been a fair fight."

According to the report, there was some internal disagreement at CBS about pairing former Clinton and Dole together, with one employee saying it was only Clinton the network really wanted.

"It's putting a heavyweight up against a lightweight, an unfair fight," the website quotes one entertainment division employee based in New York as saying. "It was clear they wanted Clinton and, really, only Clinton. But they knew they couldn't get away with that, so they got Dole."

The report also claims Clinton's staff rejected other Republicans as possibilities to appear with him in the brief debate feature. According to one source, several names other than Dole were bandied about: former Rep. Newt Gingrich, outgoing Georgia Republican Party director Ralph Reed, William Bennett and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes.

"But Clinton's people were adamant about who they would let their boss appear with, and they were especially sensitive about not wanting anyone who was directly involved with the whole Monica Lewinsky/impeachment thing. That kind of emptied the swimming pool," American Prowler quotes the source as saying.

According to the report, this was the first TV option that fit with Clinton's schedule. He will appear on air for no more than 90 seconds during the segment, and be paid a six-figure salary to do it.

"Dole isn't a patsy; he was a good choice to go up against Clinton," said a CBS news producer, according to the report. "Limbaugh? Gingrich? This is a former president we're talking about. Next people will be saying we should have signed Ann Coulter to do it."

[GrandMoM]

Next people will be saying we should have signed Ann Coulter to do it."

....Oh how I would love to see these two together.

[Fraulein]

I'd rather see Rush Limbaugh take on Clinton than Ann Coulter.

I'd even do pay-per-view to see that!

[GrandMoM]

....yea, your right.

I also think it should be a different person every week oposing the sinkmiester.

[TLBSHOW]

it is telling that our side has no heavy weights making the rounds that were ever in office!

[twntaipan]

Anne would have chewed Bubba up and spit him out.

[winodog]

Correct me if I am wrong but these debates are scripted weeks in advance.
Dole shows squirt what he will say,squirt shows Dole what he will say,the people running the show change a few things and then Dole and squirt repeat the scripted words so it isnt really a debate. Its a mutual admiration society where two people share two sides two in a story making sure they dont say anything to offend each other or the general public.

[Aquinasfan]

Of course this begs the question, why was Clinton allowed to set the terms? Why wasn't Rush allowed to set the terms?

[GrandMoM]

Anne would have chewed Bubba up and spit him out.....I thought she would have too!

[Norman Arbuthnot]

"Dole isn't a patsy; he was a good choice to go up against Clinton," said a CBS news producer, according to the report. "Limbaugh? Gingrich? This is a former president we're talking about. Next people will be saying we should have signed Ann Coulter to do it."

This statement says a lot about the mindset of the folks over at CBS. They don't think Gingrich is worthy of being on the same platform as X42?!?

I think Rush would have been a great choice too, but I can understand how CBS might not consider him serious enough given the sometimes comedic nature of his show. However, no such excuse can made for the former Speaker of the House. Sure, Gingrich's career was not free of scandal, but he looks pristine compared to Bubba, and Newt has at least as much intellectual firepower as X42.

[Fraulein]

That's why they must choose Republican lightweights.

And they only ever intend to put up lightweights against Clinton, despite what they suggest to the contrary.

[GrandMoM]

Correct me if I am wrong but these debates are scripted weeks in advance. Dole shows squirt what he will say,squirt shows Dole what he will say,the people running the show change a few things and then Dole and squirt repeat the scripted words so it isnt really a debate. Its a mutual admiration society where two people share two sides two in a story making sure they dont say anything to offend each other or the general public.....it was quiet evident that it was censored and very well practiced, wasn't it!!!!

[Bubba_Leroy]

Just once I would have liked to see Dole say "Bill, you ignorant slut."

[GrandMoM]

Of course this begs the question, why was Clinton allowed to set the terms? ....because he's the STAR of the show!

[finnman69]

Imagine Clinton flirting with Coulter, and coulter slapping Semenstain across the face when he grabs her thigh.

[GrandMoM]

Just once I would have liked to see Dole say "Bill, you ignorant slut."

....oh NO, all Dole kept saying is "Mr. President this", and Mr. Presiden that." It just PI$$ED me off.

....but as someone pointed out to me in a previous thread, all former presidents can still be addressed as Mr. President.

[small voice in the wilderness]

What's this?? clinton involved in a scam to determine who he will or will not debate?? The -gates continue. Debate-gate, clinton's newest scheme to fool America into believing he's somebody. Didn't he utter the sentence that "Dole sucker-punched him" into this current fiasco? dearmercifulgawdinheaven, please let Rush fill in for dole one time. Just once. Without clinton knowing in advance.

[BJR]

Dole never could form a coherent sentence and clinkton knew that better than anyone. Of course he would pick Dole. Since his last plastic surgery, Dole's face is screwed on so tight, I don't think the poor man can shut his eyelids anymore. Must impact his ability to sleep and revive whatever brain he has left?

[GrandMoM]

Imagine Clinton flirting with Coulter, and coulter slapping Semenstain across the face when he grabs her thigh

....Oh how I would have loved to see that.

....Of course the producers (and Clinton) knew she would have embarresed him some how,thus, no Anne Coulter!

[Fraulein]

all former presidents can still be addressed as Mr. President

Yes, but Clintoon, the former president, does not ever refer to our current President as the president, or President Bush, or as Mr. President.

[GrandMoM]

dearmercifulgawdinheaven, please let Rush fill in for dole one time. Just once. Without clinton knowing in advance.

....I think that's imposible even for GOD to do