Replies

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.

NBC Meet The Press (Tim Russert)

Meme:
- More attempted terrorist attacks... is it because of Iraq? No, it's because Bush didn't listen to the 9/11 Commission!
- Those nasty evil unconstitutional Bush Nazi tactics exposed by the NY Times had nothing to do with catching these guys
- The Stalinist wing of the Democrats beat out lefty Joe in a lefty state - must mean trouble for Republicans in red states
Topics:
- Nearly five years after the 9/11 attacks, a terrorist plot to detonate explosives on U.K. flights coming into the United States is foiled. One British official stated plainly that "this was intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale."
  - How close were the terrorists to implementing their planned attack?
  - Was Al Qaeda involved?
  - How will this change travel for Americans at home and abroad?
  - What does this say about the state of the War on Terror?
- New Book by the chair and co-chair of the 9/11 commission: "Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission."
  - How safe are we?
  - Is this plot discovery an example of the system working or does it highlight our areas of vulnerability and re-emphasize the dangerous determination of terrorists?
- Decision 2006
  - How will former Vice Presidential nominee and three-term Senator Joe Lieberman's primary loss affect the Democratic party and incumbents nationwide?
  - Should Lieberman continue his independent bid for re-election?
  - How will the terror threat and the war in Iraq affect the political landscape in the 2006 elections?
Guests
- Secretary Michael Chertoff
  - Secretary of Homeland Security | Bio
  - Also appearing on
    - NBC Meet the Press
    - Fox News Sunday
    - CBS Face the Nation
    - CNN Late Edition
  - Homeland Security Sec'y Michael Chertoff on Foiled Terror Plot (Fox News - Aug 11, 2006)
  - Chertoff says plot looks like al-Qaida operation (MarketWatch - Aug 11, 2006)
  - US Security Tightened in Wake of UK Exposure of Terror Plot (TREND Information - Aug 11, 2006)
  - CHERTOFF: NOT CERTAIN ALL PLOTTERS FOUND (Free Market News Network, FL - Aug 11, 2006)
  - Chertoff: Airline Travel Is Safe, ButÂ… (CNSNews.com, VA - Aug 11, 2006)
- Former Governor Tom Kean (Republican - New Jersey)
  - Chair, 9/11 Commission, Author, Â“Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 CommissionÂ” | Bio | Book
  - 9/11 Commission Chairmen Admit Whitewashing the Cause of the Attacks (American Chronicle, CA - Aug 11, 2006)
  - Question of US safety still a political talking point (Bridgewater Courier News, United States - Aug 11, 2006)
  - Why We Don't Know Our Enemy (Kenya London News, Kenya - Aug 9, 2006)
  - 9/11 Probe Calls for National Security Overhaul (Enkidu Magazine, Mexico - Aug 4, 2006)
  - Kean Sr. takes a look back (The Jersey Journal, NJ - Jul 14, 2006)
- Former Congressman Lee Hamilton (Democrat - Indiana)
  - Vice Chair, 9/11 Commission, Author, Â“Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 CommissionÂ” | Bio | Book
  - 9/11 Commission Vice Chair Lee Hamilton '52 Reacts to New Survey on Terror 'Conspiracy Theory' (DePauw University, Indiana - Aug 3, 2006)
  - 9/11 Commission Chairmen Admit Whitewashing the Cause of the Attacks (American Chronicle, CA - Aug 11, 2006)
  - Video: New Book by 9/11 Commissioners Blasts Pentagon Mistatements (Raw Story, MA - Aug 10, 2006)
  - I didn't get 9/11 free pass - Rudy (New York Daily News, NY - Aug 6, 2006)
  - Worn-out principle (Indianapolis Star, United States - Aug 6, 2006)
  - Book: Sept. 11 Panel Doubted Officials (ABC News - Aug 4, 2006)
  - Book: 9/11 Panel Considered Pentagon Deceptive (NBC 10.com, PA - Aug 4, 2006)
- Howard Dean
  - Chairman, Democratic National Committee | Bio
  - Rep. Harris demands Howard Dean apologize (Hinesberg Journal, Canada - Aug 10, 2006)
  - DNC: Dean on Republican Post-Primary Spin (U.S. Newswire (press release), DC - Aug 9, 2006)
  - Howard Dean calls for end to divisiveness (Jackson News-Tribune, WY - Aug 3, 2006)
  - Answers to questions I hope my grandson will someday ask me (American Daily, OH - Aug 11, 2006)
  - Howard Dean Taking Pot Shots (FOX News - Jul 31, 2006)
- Ken Mehlman
  - Chairman, Republican National Committee | Bio
  - RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman Responds To Harry Reid And John KerryÂ’s Attacks On The Administration (noticias.info (press release), Spain - Aug 11, 2006)
  - Mehlman: Sherrod Brown Is Ohio's Ned Lamont (National Journal, DC - Aug 9, 2006)
  - Head of GOP stumps for Ohio candidates (Akron Beacon Journal, OH - Aug 10, 2006)
  - GOP hits Dems on missile defense (United Press International - Aug 11, 2006)
  - Mehlman Attacks Murtha With Report Retracted Six Weeks Ago (Think Progress, DC - Aug 10, 2006)
  - The politics of terrorism (CNN - Aug 11, 2006)
  - Bust heats up election rhetoric (Chicago Sun-Times, United States - 12 hours ago)
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)

Well, we have some added spin on the UK terror plot. MSNBC is now floating the spin that the US "pressured" the British authorities to move sooner than they wanted to. The initial item, of course based on anonymous sources, is simply laying out their case that it happened, tossing off mild explanations that the British authorities were content to monitor the suspects while they built their case. The US side supposedely put pressure on for an early arrest because they simply want to prevent the attack, even if it jeapordizes the eventual court case. Sounds like a reasonable argument to have. I bet it's the last time we hear anything remotely like it, though.

I can see several themes spinning off of this. First is that the US is dictating to their "lapdogs" in the UK. Second is going to be the attempt to legitamize the moonbat charge that this is all a fake, gened up by Bush and company to distract from some other issue or, as David Corn has accused, to try to make political points related to the Lamont victory. If this is the case watch for Lamont himself to take up this charge.

And if they do that it is an open declaration of war, with bullets and body count, on the elected government of the United States by the Democrat Party. People will die if that's the way they intend to play it. This could be a very scary development.