Sunday Talk Shows

Update [2005-2-26 20:26:34 by Armando]: From the diaries. By Armando

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (WTTG), 9 a.m.: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.); Cardinal Francis George of Chicago; and Ray Flynn, former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.

THIS WEEK (ABC, WJLA), 9 a.m.: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.

FACE THE NATION (CBS, WUSA), 10:30 a.m.: Sens. John E. Sununu (R-N.H.) and Jon S. Corzine (D-N.J.); and former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.

MEET THE PRESS (NBC, WRC), 10:30 a.m.: Sens. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.)

LATE EDITION (CNN), noon: Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.); Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.); German Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger; French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte; British Ambassador David Manning; Brzezinski; and former defense secretary William S. Cohen.

Let us know what's going on!

•  All the usual suspects . . .

  Except Keyser Soze.

  by Upper West on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 12:31:14 PM PDT

  •  Keyser Soze

    is a good analogy for Karl Rove, only Soze had more talent.

    Karl Rove, plump and jolly is a mask hiding a vicious political animal with a massive and reptilian desire for revenge and power.

    by Agathena on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 04:15:25 PM PDT

    •  greatest talk show of the day was on cspan

      there you had extrodinary panels of Black leaders and thinkers talking about the state of the Black Union - please recommend State of Black Union-- Covenant with Black America and keep this important discussion from scrolling of into obscurity.

      peace
      

      by peace voter on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:19:48 PM PDT

      •  All that is worth watching anymore..

        is CSPAN as the Corporate MSM is so " out of it". I often wonder if they are stoned out of their minds.
        They must have some good Dope or they are just Dopes.

        by wishingwell on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:22:02 PM PDT

  •  criminals

    Crime is highligheted on democracy now.

    Yall watch oreilly for his stuff on ward churchill?
    i have to go buy his books.

    by common terry on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:08:43 PM PDT

    •  these

      shows are are too exclusive, inside the beltway, elitists. in other words, they are organs of the right wing corporate media.

      by Raiyan on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 10:11:08 PM PDT

•  Biden's usually

  actually pretty good at these things, but really, can we get some new faces up there?  

  There are a lot of other Democratic Senators that could use a higher profile nationally.  Strong military supporters like Military Mary Landrieu could help the Dem side on national security credentials. Where's Lautenberg? Dodd?  There are so many strong Dem Senators who could use more face time than Biden.  It's always Clinton, Biden, Rockefeller, Levin, and Reid.  Corzine's been getting more airtime of late, because of his investment background and Social Security.  

  We could probably do better on the House side, too, but for Congressional reps, they really ought to grab as much local media attention as possible.

  I'm guessing that Donna Brazile books herself on these shows, but could someone find her another job within the party as a way of muzzling her?  She's not a particularly good spokesperson.  At least get her some better media training.

  by Newsie8200 on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 12:36:56 PM PDT

  •  Donna Brazile

    I agree she seems like the weakest link this week. She has been somewhat better as of late.

    Overall we need some fresh faces... Like the montana gov. or a Harold ford. Some one that is young and could use some spot lite face time.

    by Davinci on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 12:48:18 PM PDT

    •  Make her stop!

      The Democratic Party needs to find smarter spokespersons than Brazile. Whatever her other virtues, she's painfully slow on her feet on talk shows.

      by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 12:58:44 PM PDT

      •  She's good at managerial aspects

        on campaigns, apparently...she ought to stick to that.  There are better spokespeople for the Democratic Party than her.

        Really, there are lots of talented people on the Dem side.  The problem is that they think they're good at everything, when in fact, they're often doing stuff that plays to their weaknesses, not their strengths.

        by Newsie8200 on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 01:05:09 PM PDT

      •  She is very bright,

        I don't think that's the problem.  It seems to me that she doesn't come across as if she cares about the outcome; she lets lies go unchallenged, which is our single largest problem everywhere.  Her mannerisms are just too passive.

        Anyone who goes on the tube purporting to represent the Democrats should take a solemn oath that s/he will not let any lie to go unchallenged.  The time has also come to abandon euphemisms for the word lie, our opponents aren't misinformed, mistaken, or imprecise, they are liars.  When they lie it should be called what it is.

        by Thistime on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 01:33:23 PM PDT

      •  I agree

        Make Donna stop.  She gets overwhelmed by who ever she is up against.

        We need cut throat bastards who will not give an inch, call a lie a lie, and pound away at the Neocons they face.

        And I am not joking.

        by Los Diablo on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 02:53:01 PM PDT

        •  I think

          all the old Democratic consultants should be out of a job.  They've been losing elections.  We need new ideas and new faces.  That also means people who are good on talk shows.  We should stop rolling over for Republicans and people like Russert.

          by Unstable Isotope on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 05:23:48 PM PDT

      •  She hangs around

        DC during recesses, so she can get on TV and  make Democrats look weak.
        She's pathetic.

        With friends like her....

        by DailyLife on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 11:33:30 AM PDT

  •  Russert's not interested in new faces

    he and GE only require known commodities. New faces might say and do unpredictable things that might begin to produce glandular secretions from within the folds of Russert's ponderous forehead and jowels.

    by mrblifil on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 08:18:31 PM PDT

•  Joe Biden

  I hope Biden is on at the same time as Santorum. When fat head Tim Russert starts whining "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO FIX SOCIAL SECURITY ?!?!" Biden can counter..."Tim, they don't want to fix SS, they want to end it. Rick just had some College Republicans chanting at one of his rallies 'Hey hey ho ho Social Security has got to go'. That's what Republicans believe. It's impolitic to say but the GOP hates the fact that SS is a government program that works and works well. That's why they want to end it."

  by joejoejoe on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 12:57:15 PM PDT

  •  Impolitic?

    No way.

    Necessary. Obvious. Goes without saying.

    Not impolitic.

    by bumblebums on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 01:04:19 PM PDT

    •  Impolitic

      I meant impolitic to say if you are Republican.

      Dems need to call the GOP out on this and make them pay a price. At a certain point it becomes less about defending Social Security and more about making the GOP pay a price for their reckless plans.  I think we've reached that point.

      by joejoejoe on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 01:21:10 PM PDT

  •  Santorum is vulnerable

    Santorum had a horrible week. Just do a Google News search. Most local papers report pickets, heckling, chaotic Q&A and describe him a plaintive, sweating, disorganized.  See http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/26/14320/9548 for a few comments. At Lafayette, they tried to remove an 18-year-old and a 72-year-old man intervenes. Rick is bringing the generations together

    by jakal on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 01:06:48 PM PDT

    •  He's Worried

      Someone has pictures of Mr. man-on-dog.

      by kaleidescope on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:02:28 AM PDT

    •  That's because he is a weasel

      Santorum is a lying weasel. If you choose to run your public life based on scare-monger tactics and lying, it is only a matter of time before you pay the price.

      by Bailey Savings and Loan on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:58:47 AM PDT

•  Howard Dean?

  Is he banned from Sunday talk shows with his new position?  I would think he would be perfect to be the attack dog.

  by jalapeno on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 01:32:36 PM PDT

•  Where's Dean?

  Its been weeks since Dean was elected DNC Chair and he still hasn't been seen since.  Where did he go?  He should be on the shows instead of Brazile, who is not very good at doing the shows.  Dean is a strong spokesman for us.

  by maxgray7 on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 01:40:35 PM PDT

  •  echo, echo, echo

    n/t

    by jalapeno on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 01:53:34 PM PDT

  •  Dean said he was laying

    low on National television and was going to hit the pavement...which is what he has done.

    by Los Diablo on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 02:50:31 PM PDT

  •  Du-uh!

    "Dean is a strong spokesman for us." Hence Donna Brazile's presence.

    by mrblifil on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 08:19:59 PM PDT

  •  He was in Kansas today

    Meeting with a thousand or so KA Democrats.

    by Goldfish on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:27:49 PM PDT

  •  Dr. Dean Is Doing What He Should Be Doing

    He realizes that we need to have a strong Democratic Party outside D. C.  I would much rather have Governor Dean in Kansas and talking to state parties and to regular Democrats than going on the Sunday morning talk shows that are simply an opportunity for the elite to see and be seen.

    by eafredel on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 12:40:43 PM PDT

•  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger?

  I wonder what he's on there for.  Must be the shrinking poll numbers.

  by EMKennedyLucio on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 02:20:18 PM PDT

  •  No, shrinking testicles

    He's on to talk abou steroids. They have been promoting the clip all week...Arnold says if he had it to do over again he would still take steroids.

    by joejoejoe on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 02:35:27 PM PDT

    •  Oh, that will go over well

      LOL.

      by Geotpf on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 03:22:53 AM PDT

    •  wonderin'

      Would the moral coWard bush let Ahnuld into the WH? Afterall the pipsqueak preznit did denounce steroid users in one of his coded SotU 'speeches'.

      by moeman on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 06:31:00 AM PDT

    •  What does

      John McCain have to say about that?

      (let me answer my own question)

      IOKIYAR

      The silence is deafening.

      by Momagainstthedraft on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:54:59 AM PDT

  •  it's the 'roids

    he admits he took steroids and has no regrets cuz it was legal. What a fine example he must be to his kids.

    by jj32 on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 03:09:51 PM PDT

    •  In all fairness

      to Arnold, he said that if he could go back to the 70s, WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF STEROIDS WE HAVE TODAY, he would do them again, which is a position I have no problem with.  Plus you gotta admire the rare Republican that tells it like it is instead of feeding bullshit to the public.

      I don't think Stephonopolous ever asks him, if he knew in the 70s what we know about the detrimental effects of steroids today, would he still do them, which surprises me because he usually asks the right questions.

      by joshpr on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 05:31:02 PM PDT

      •  Oh come on

        Unless he was smoking a lot of dope at the same time - he would have known that steroids were not good for him - or anybody else.

        If there was not a problem with it - he would have been able to get it from his doctor -- right????

        -- and when he ended up looking like his body was being blown up - and his testicles ended up looking like raisins - that should have been a clue too.

        But you are right -- he wasn't - and still is not -- too bright.

        by sara seattle on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 07:51:56 PM PDT

        •  Arnold

          has worked hard and made many smart decisions to get to where he is today.  Where is your compassion and respect for others?  I don't agree with all of his policies but I definitely see him as a successful person who more often than not does speak honestly and straightforward (accent and all)

          He probably said he'd do steroids again anyway because it helped make his career more than it hurt his health.  Risk vs reward or something

          by diplomatic on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 02:13:25 AM PDT

          •  Ahnold

            is anything but honest and straightforward, and he has no respect for anyone other than those who agree with him (girlie men comment being one of many he has made).

            He has raised more money from "special interests" than Davis did, his policies reflect an agenda of the Chamber of Commerce,  he lied to educators about funding (making a deal with them that if they took less funding last year he would fully resotre funding, and now he is NOT restoring that funding).

            Honesty means that you don't say one thing and do another, and truthfully I am tired of hearing how teachers, police, firefighters, nurses and more are someone special interests that are out to harm me.  The Chamber of Commerce is backing a bill that would allow employers to throw away current rule that gives a lunch break after four hours worked, instead the employer could have somone work six, seven hours before any type of lunch break was given.  It is one thing if a employee does this on their own (I typically never take a "lunch break" at work) it is another to say that the Walmarts of this world can work people seven and eight hours without giving them a break (and we all know they will NOT take the high road on this issue, their track record proves it.)

            by SanJoseLady on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:44:25 AM PDT

        •  Dope

          Arnold was smoking lots of dope at the time he was taking steroids.  He admitted it at the time, on tape.

          by kaleidescope on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:07:40 AM PDT

          •  Salicious

            Not to mention the orgies!

            by TustonDAZ on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:49:54 AM PDT

•  Dean

  I guess is traveling so he wont be on any shows. That's fine. As long as they dont have Mehlman on.

  by jj32 on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 03:08:09 PM PDT

•  I knew it was

  too good to be true, someone let Biden out of his coffin again, put a lid on it Joe and give us all a break.
  PEACE!

  by PC on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 05:18:07 PM PDT

•  O/T Shameless Cat Blogging Plug

  Sorry.  But, I had to plug my fiancee's cat blogging.  Have a look-see and say hi to Lucy.

  http://stickandballguy.blogspot.com/2005/02/lucys-cat-blogging.html

  by mndemguy on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 05:27:29 PM PDT

  •  Your cats are very pretty, and so

    is Lucy.

    by jane 2000 on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 10:07:38 PM PDT

•  Brazile on Fox. Oh, GREAT!

  
   Lucky us.  Brazile can go on Fox and reinforce every sterotype of unprepared, unfocused, it's-fun-getting-beat-like-a-drum Democrats Fox viewers have.  Wonderful.

   Meanwhile, progressives and Democrats who would like to actually win people to their side would like to see prepared, on-message, articulate spokespersons say (reprise of morning post):

   1  College Republicans publically admitted what the Bush-Rove domesitic agenda's all about:  "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Social Security's got to go!.  Well, that about wraps it up.

   2  Two major stories re:  Gannongert -- (a) homoerotic webmaster and prostitute using fake name to get into Elite WH Press Corp to rescue President with softball questions; (b) MSM conspiracy of silence to kill story either  [i] prove beyond doubt that it's the willing lapdog of Bush WH, or  [ii] the Inner Sanctum of the Press Elite is scared Gannongert could blow the cover on many of its Highest Rollers - M.A.D. assures no MSM story.

   3  European leaders torn over desire to be proper representatives of their people - who despise Bush and consider him a fool and a rank liar, and their desire to patch up relations with the U.S., no matter what they think of Bush personally.  It's a dilemma for them.  Thanks Bush.

   4 Scare in the Market this week over rumor S. Korea was about to dump its dollars and, in doing so, start the chain reaction (Japan, China) that's been the worst case scenario for U.S. and World economy since Bush mortgaged his country to Asia and the E.U.  Rumor ended up to be unfounded (thank heavens), but reminded us of the precarious place, the danger, Bush's idiot fiscal policies and priorities put have put us in.

    REpeAt.  rEpEAt.  RePeAT!

  BenGoshi
  __________________

  by BenGoshi on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 05:31:02 PM PDT

•  Additional Sunday Line-up Info

  
  The McLaughlin Group: Issue #1: Stop Criticizing Russia; Issue #2: Realty TV(Bush);  Issue #3: Iraq Casualty Count;  Issue #4: Transatlantic Unity;  Issue #5 Bush Make-Out Video;  Issue #6 American KGB; Prediction: The Sinking Dollar

  Honorable Mention:  Elizabeth Farnsworth reports from Iran on the surprising reaction of democratic reformers to the U.S. government's pressure on the ruling regime:Read and Listen via the Online Link

  "Meet the Corporate Press"-- Sen. Man on Dog , Sen. Joe Biden,  will discuss Iraq & Social Security.  Plus MoDo (I-NYT),  Friedman(Daiquiris-NYT), & Safire (Propagandist-NYT)

  •   FTN is now taking your Questions

  •   Rich Russ is now taking your Questions

  •   TW is now taking your Questions [scroll down]

  •   With one foot in the bucket, Wolf is now taking your Questions

  
  Editor's Note:  As usual the McLaughlin Group was Outstanding.  It'll be interesting to see the softballs  Rich Russ will throw to Sen. Man on Dog, and what gotcha he pulls on Biden.

  To Senator Biden, Don't let Rich Russ box you in on Social Security, with Ken Melhman's talking points.  Reference and Review Rahm Emanuel's Horrid and Shameful MTP appearance on 1/15/05 => Read the Reviews Here

  
  

  by Al Rodgers on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 05:50:50 PM PDT

  •  <I>what gotcha he pulls on Biden.</I>

    does a friggin twenty-year-old quote that ol fat tim's staff dug up for biden count.

    how grotesque is it that that twit is considered the elite of wdc press.
    

    by bkny on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 10:36:25 AM PDT

•  NOT AGAIN

  McCain and Biden.

  Do these media whores ever stop. All the every do is spout a pile of BS and self-serving drivel.

  by canuk1 on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 05:55:50 PM PDT

  •  Was wondering that myself

    does McCain just rotate through the networks on a week by week basis?

    by DesertDonkey on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 08:37:08 PM PDT

  •  They are both running for president

    They ain't stopping any time soon.

    by Geotpf on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 03:23:50 AM PDT

•  OMG

  For the first time in a month of Sundays, no Frist...yahoooooooooo!

  Drink shade grown coffee!

  by mad ramblings of a sane woman on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 06:37:15 PM PDT

•  I like Biden, but ...

  I'm not sure he's worth it for waking up early.

  As a mom of 4 who loves her Sundays-for-sleeping-in, I think this one's gonna be a snoozer...

  I think I'll check in with y'all  after noon.

  by luckygrrrl on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 06:52:35 PM PDT

•  Why post this on Saturday night?

  I've been wondering about this for a while. I could be wrong, but didn't you used to post a talk show thread early Sunday morning? This, I think, makes more sense because then the thread tends to be about the actual shows and what was said. By posting this the night before, it invites a lot of extraneous comments that seem more appropriate to an open thread.
  (Obviously, I have a lot of extra time on my hands.)

  by strandedlad on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 07:07:43 PM PDT

  •  I put it back up top

    Sunday morning.  What I try to do here is let people know what's on tap so they can decide to watch or not.

    Personally, I haven't watched any of them for months.

    by Armando on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:04:03 PM PDT

    •  Why Saturday?

      Because I'm on the west coast and I might wake up too late to have it posted in time. Armando reposts it so it's ready for disscusssion...

      by Jamato on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:31:15 PM PDT

    •  You haven't missed anything

      by strandedlad on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 05:14:32 AM PDT

•  Fox "News" Sunday

  Do people really watch that crap?

  Personally, I can only stomach This Week and Meet The Press...in small doses.

  by TruthNM on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 07:16:00 PM PDT

  •  I doubt

    Tony Snow watches it much these days.

    by mrblifil on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 08:23:43 PM PDT

•  TV Bookings

      Forget ideological bias. I know it exists, but not among the people who put these shows together, namely the ill-paid bookers.
      Know why Joe Biden and John McCain are on every week? They're easy lays. Their lives are so barren it's no big deal to get up before dawn on Sunday and put on a good suit for a taping. I admire both guys, sort of, but that's why they'll never be president.
       Same deal with Donna Brazile. She's on because she'll go on, come what may.
       The Demotratic party needs a booking agent. If I were Dean, I'd hire some kid out of the IMG or William Morris mailroom with the authority to ORDER Dems to show up for the Sunday morning gabfests.
       Believe me, if Tim Russert hears from the DNC it's Barney Frank, or Mary Landrieu. or no Democrat and 3 million e-mails about why not, he caves. Because Tim has nothing to do with. You're arguing with a really nice kid who got very good grades at Swarthmore or Smith. He/she won't argue.

  by JMG on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 07:51:14 PM PDT

•  No wonder we lost

  What a sorry ass bunch to represent the cause of liberalism.

  by cvcobb01 on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:12:54 PM PDT

•  Dope on the Pope

  It looks like Fox is going to spend its time giving us the latest Dope on the Pope while on ABC, Arnold talks about Dope.

  by wishingwell on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:18:52 PM PDT

•  well actually....

  It looks like a Lot of Dopes and One who Gropes.

  by wishingwell on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:19:51 PM PDT

  •  More like

    One giant circle-grope.

    by Goldfish on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:33:00 PM PDT

    •  Yes

      Guess Ahnold will only have Donna Brazille to Grope tomorrow as he talks about his use of Dope and the other networks talk of the Pope. Rather than watch Fox, I would rather hang by a Rope.
      I say to these shows, Nope, I cannot Cope.
      

      by wishingwell on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 11:21:51 PM PDT

      •  To watch Fox News

        I'd have to be smoking dope. But even then it would be hard to cope. I asked Hanity not to make the liberals all look like mopes, but he said that was a definite "nope." That jerk-store acts like he's the Pope!

        by Goldfish on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 11:51:35 PM PDT

•  posted here

  did you see trevino and marshal on NBC Nightly News?  I'd ask in a diary but I ain't got one left.

  link to video is up at redstate but I havn't seen it yet.
  

  by pyrrho on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 09:49:24 PM PDT

  •  yes with siginthaler

    the influence of blogs. Pretty fair piece, with JMM getting credit for the SS watch, and well deserved. The piece was about how Congress is influenced by blogs, not about 'the generic' political influence of blogs, hence the players chosen.

    by DemFromCT on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:37:27 AM PDT

•  This guy....

  LATE EDITION (CNN), noon: Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.); Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.); German Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger; French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte; British Ambassador David Manning; Brzezinski; and former defense secretary William S. Cohen.

  How did he go from fake movie reviewer to British Ambassador?

  Even "David Manning" had more credibility than any of the Fab Payola Five.

  by massive not passive on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 10:42:19 PM PDT

•  Faux News

  Ah, the pope death watch has begun.

  by fishhead on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 11:05:28 PM PDT

•  Did you guys watch the McLauglin Group?

  I watched it yesterday and John showed a clip of Bush being interviewed by a woman and at the end, he flirted with her and said, "Nice Eyes" when his face got near her breasts.  After the clip, the McLaughlin panel laughed at how he appears to be a womanizer like Clinton.  I thought this strange, not because I was offended, but because I felt like this was staged. I can't help but wonder if Bush is gay or if his polling firm that Rove consults with daily, Voter Consumer Research, found that he would appeal to more female voters if he started flirting more.  

  by Jill Lehnert on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 11:38:03 PM PDT

  •  read this Digby piece

    a bit of womanizing goes a long way. Made it impossible to target Clinton as a "limp-wrist" Dem.

    link

    George W. Bush's carefully crafted mystique is built entirely on his manufactured masculinity. In fact, the Republican Party has based its whole image upon the idea that they are the party of macho straight men and the fawning traditonal women who love them. They have spent the last 35 years impugning the manhood of every male Democrat and portraying every Democratic feminist as a manhating bitch --- and winning the national security issue pretty much on the basis of what that implied to their bigoted neanderthal base. It never ends. Back in the day it was "I can't tell if you're a boy or a girl with all that hair." Just last year they spent hundreds of millions of dollars convincing a large number of people that a documented war hero (and killer) was a mincing, vacillating "Frenchman." What do you think that that was all about?

    by DemFromCT on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:42:42 AM PDT

•  Wow, the Frothy Mixture vs. Joe.

  Joe will kick his ass, all the way to next week.  Does Biden have a shot in '08?

  Everytime I see him, I wonder why he wasn't on a ticket in '04.

  by JohnStuartMill on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 11:39:12 PM PDT

  •  Senators

    have NO shot at becoming president.  Since 1960, they are 0 for 51.  Shouldn't liberals of all people know this by now??  We need a governor from a Red State.  I have been watching Mark Warner from Virginia but this Schweitzer guy from Montana sounds intriguing as well.  We should keep a bigger eye out for him.

    This is why Frist, McCain and Hillary have no chance to win (unless it ends up two senators against each other).  There are just too many votes that can be ripped apart by the other side (like Kerry voting for a bill than voting against it on procedural grounds).  Regular people don't understand how the Senate operates and so shady people like Rove can interpret actions like these as inconsistencies or flip flopping (even though Bush is the biggest flip-flopper of all but Kerry failed to point this out - had me ripping my hair out)!

    by joshpr on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 05:19:55 AM PDT

    •  100% Right

      It really says something about the intelligence of our population that they are so clueless about our government and how it works. They would rather vote in a Governor with a terrible record in his state, and zero foreign policy experience (guess who), than attempt to sort out years of Senate votes to find out where a Senator really stands on issues. They don't realize that no matter how good a Senator one is, over the course of time it will appear as if one has flip-flopped on all sides of many issues, even if that person's opinion has not varied at all.

      Kerry did a horrible job of pointing out Bush's many flip-flops during a relatively short political career, which when compared to Kerry's long career in elected office actually look much worse.

      I was very worried after they failed to respond to the Swift Boat Liars. Kerry should have immediately fired back, making a very public spectacle of himself signing form 180, and challenging Bush and every single one of those liars to do the same. He had nothing to hide, but let Bush's attack dogs frame the issue... Big mistake.

           

      by Burton Halli on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:55:33 AM PDT

    •  You should say...

      ...since 1964, since Kennedy was a senator.  Plus, you are discounting people who were senator (or a House member) prior to running for president (Bush Sr. and Johnson).

      There is nothing per se that excludes senators from consideration, except those that blow in the political wind-only to have the wind change back and have thier votes thrown in thier faces later (Kerry and Edwards qualify here).

      by Geotpf on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 09:23:29 AM PDT

    •  Is it Senators, or the right Senators?

      I know you're right, clearly those numbers are correct, but do you believe there's that much Senate bias, or the campaigns/candidates on the other side have been stronger/better funded.

      Bush beat McCain, not because McCain was a Senator, but because Rove slimed him in SC, and McCain wouldn't preen for the Bob Jones Univ. crowd.
      

      by JohnStuartMill on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 10:26:33 AM PDT

•  All I can say is

  Bravo, Ms. Dowd! In her column for today, titled W.'s Stiletto Democracy, she takes a comment made from the prez to President Putin, on the self-adminstered checks and balances that is key to a functioning democracy, and brings the flip side of it based on this admin's quest to shape news content and trample on civil liberties.
  You can read about the darts she throws at subjects well familiar to those here on dKos: propagannongate; paid-off journalists; and the cancellation of a town hall meeting in Mainz early in the week. <here http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/opinion/27dowd.html?>

  by edavis on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 11:55:00 PM PDT

  •  here is that link

      NY Times column

    by edavis on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 12:00:21 AM PDT

  •  What do we know?

    About Ms Rice's love life? Please keep it clean! Thank you.

    by oratorio on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 04:35:46 AM PDT

    •  I asked the same question a while back...

      ... and didn't get any answers. A web search found a review of a biography by Antonia Felix which apparently mentions that she dated a few football players in the past. Other than that, nothing seems to be known publicly.

      by lesliet on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:28:52 AM PDT

    •  There's a rumor that...

      ...she's a lesbian, but nothing resembling proof has been offered to back it up.

      by Geotpf on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 09:35:48 AM PDT

  •  This is why Propagannon matters

    While waggling his finger at other convenient countries, Bush is embalming democracy here. You have to give Bush and Co. credit for its consistent use of Orwellian double speak: "Spread Democracy Around the World (bury it in the US) "Clear Air Initiative" (cut back on anti-pollution regulations) "Healthy Forests" (open more federal forest land to lumber companies) "Leave no child behind" (leave the middle and lower child behind attending public education). I mean, I have to admit it, they're good. I applaud Maureen Dowd for exposing the little man behind the curtain. But I wonder if Americans really care.... I'm in a cranky mood - time to go to the local espresso shop and get an Americano.

    by AnneElizabeth on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 05:47:36 AM PDT

•  Biden says

  This is not about the solvency of Social Security. This about Social Security's legitimacy.

  Santorum says people should work until 70.

  by strandedlad on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 06:03:59 AM PDT

•  A Range of Views from A To D....

  What a pathetic lineup of lineup,  all too typical.    

  No diversity or fresh perspectives,  but instead a coterie of political hacks and insiders,  and worse yet,  pussilanimous Democrats like Joe Biden,  who is  a pro war, pro patriot act, pro corporate "free trade"  supporter.

  What a terrible way to waste a beautiful Sunday morning...

  by waltkra on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 06:12:08 AM PDT

•  MTP social security

  I don't think Biden and Santorum disagreed on anything.

  "It's all on the table."

  Don't fall for it, Joe!!  Timmy put up the Delay/Hastert quotes for you to hit out of the park, and you didn't even say the words "conference committee."  Ugh.

  by cardinal on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:09:55 AM PDT

  •  Biden axes Man on Dog on SS

    Didn't take long for Biden to counter Santorum's frame, and establish that this debate was not about the solvency of Social Security, it was about the legitimacy of SS. He made it quite clear that Bush's "plan" does nothing to help Social Security, it only makes the solvency problem WORSE.

    Later, Man-on-Dog claims that he'll "oppose" Bush on Amtrak. That'll be sort of hard for him to do when he's one of the most powerful Republicans in the Senate whom Bush counts on as a whip.

    by FenderT206 on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:55:48 AM PDT

•  Why Are We Cheering For Joe Biden? JOE BIDEN?

  Joe Biden's best service to the Democratic Party's base would be to sit down and shut up.

  This guy Biden is another poster child for why we Democrats are now in permanent minority status.  He's a useless corporate-military proponent,  whose presence on these shows results in the dangerous illusion of "presenting both sides."

  Hey Joe Biden:  you're a corporate lackey, and an Iraq War enabler.  Take a long hike, before someone gets the very bad idea of you as a presidential candidate.  

  by waltkra on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:20:48 AM PDT

•  Maureen Dowd...

  is great with Friedman (who is only try to draw attention to his latest attempt to justify his support for the war) and Safliar.  She will not agree that things could turn out okay in Iraq.  She said, "I'm old fashioned.  I don't think the president should lie to take the country to war."  She also pointed out that our "ends justify the means" foreign policy is why we're in a mess with Putin.

  by Susan S on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:36:21 AM PDT

  •  Yes, that was a hi-point,

    but what really bothered me was the smirk on Russert's face as he kept pushing the point, that despite all of the administration's failings, that the war was worth it.  

    Somehow, I don't think pumpkinhead was thinking about 100,000 plus dead Iraqis. Then it didn't help when stupid Freidman comes out immediately afterwards, reinforcing this with his ever-present bullshit optimism.

    by manowar on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:04:55 AM PDT

  •  do you have a link for what Dowd said ? (nt)

    by mimi on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:08:26 AM PDT

    •  Sorry, no...

      I was paraphrasing from memory.  The show replays at 10 tonight on MSGOP.

      by Susan S on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:09:39 AM PDT

      •  thanks, I just read her column

        in the NYT about "W's Stiletto Democracy" and found it a big relief how she could express what I felt without having her factual background knowledge to put it all together.

        by mimi on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:18:22 AM PDT

        •  I think that her new column

          was great.  Unfortunately, she didn't (and usually doesn't) come across very strongly in Russert's programs. Her method of attack, I feel, doesn't translate in person and she comes off something as a flake.  

          Of course, it doesn't help when the conversation turns to Condi's boots.

          by manowar on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:49:34 AM PDT

          •  true - she is much stronger

            in her written words than in her spoken words.

            by mimi on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 10:37:24 AM PDT

    •  Clarification

      What MoDo said was actually closer to "I think you should tell the truth," instead of "I don't think you should lie."  An important distinction, I think.  Even the most anti-Bush in the Asshat Media (AM) stop short of calling him a liar.

      by Spideysense on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:51:38 AM PDT

      •  Sorry

        if I mischaracterized it.

        by Susan S on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 09:33:24 AM PDT

•  The Chris Matthews Show

  His panel included BBC's Katty, Bob Woodward, Andrea Mitchell and David Brooks. Yeah, a really liberal panel there with lots of progressive views!! End of snark!! In the first segment, Chris Matthews and the panel discussed Bush's European trip. They talked about Bush's statements about Iran during the European trip and whether it would be militarily feasible for the US to commit military action against Iran. Andrea Mitchell said that she had a few sources say that the Bush administration would give the European entity until JUNE to pursue the diplomatic channel with Iran. She also said that Israel had done some mock runs of committing air strikes against Iran and that they would commit military strikes if only they had the intelligence to find the nuclear reactors.  I guess on a positive note, one of the panelists said that even if we had the intelligence, bunker busters wouldn't work.

  I just remember what Scott Ritter said a few weekends ago. I really do think that Israel or maybe even the US will attack Iran in June. I think they'll do it after June 16th, when Iran will hold their elections.

  Some scary stuff!! :(

  by ademption on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:38:39 AM PDT

•  Santorum is shaking in his boots...

  He knows hes gonna be targeted in '06 and the effort hes making to show that hes moving the center is completely obvious...i mean, raising the ss tax on those making over $90,000?  fighting the President on ANYTHING, much less amtrak?  

  When election time comes around, you see the true colors of these fantasy land politicians; they have to abandon their right wing politics to get elected...not that dems dont do that, but not so obviously and not to such an extreme.

  by elduderino on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 07:42:33 AM PDT

•  Chris Matthews show

  so, his talking head crew thinks that
  

  1. Chiraq and Schroeder are arrogant
     
  2. Condi's boots are there for walking
     
  3. Bush's trip was a success, because "diplomacy has just begun".

  There is definitely a disconnect between Americans and Europeans about what is considered required politeness and what is considered unnecessary arrogant attitudes.

  Putin was obviously NOT interested to get lectured about Democracy, if you can read his body language.

  Obviously Europeans think that it is more than arrogant from Bush "to look for another cowboy" on his ranch as a response to the question, if he will invite Chiraq to his ranch. Obviously Bush's lack of formal respect in his spoken words and body language was met with polite silence by his hosts.

  Obviously Bush can't imagine that visiting his ranch is a nightmare for most foreign leaders, as if this ranch has anything other to offer than an enforcement of a lot of dishonest, polite lies by the foreign guests. Bush is no cowboy, he plays the cowboy role and forces his guests to pretend they admire him for it.  

  On the other hand, if, as it was suggested by the talking heads on the Chris Matthews show, Bush is aware of how much he is disliked for his toxic Texan role plays and he purposefully perfects his role playing to encite tensions and dislike with the Europeans, it is clear that he WANTS to be DISLIKED for his role, it's time to get serious with this dangerous joker.

  I wished one of those invited guests would just once refuse to go his ranch and insist to be received in Washington D.C.? What do you have your capital for?

  All media commentators had just one question: "Do you think Bush was tough enough in criticizing the Russians and Europeans for their lack of support to the US efforts to promote democracy in the world?" If the US think its main role on the world stage is to hand out sticks and carrots, I would think, they can be happy if the Europeans still bite once in a while into US offered carrots (mostly out of politenes), but don't count on taking the sticks without kicking back in the future.

  Yes, we have to deal with four more years of a Bush administration and we will rethink a lot of our own biases and hesitate to talk too much, but don't mix this up with believing that Bush has a chance to convince us through his most undiplomatic "diplomatic charme offensive". Actually an oxymoron, true charme is never offensive.

  Condi's boots are not for walking, they remind me of certain stylish outfits of oh so "funny" sarcastic films about the Nazi times, sexy Nazi outfits for Cabaret's review girls, black boots, high heels, bare behinds and the swastika on their hats.

  NOT something I want to be reminded of when looking at the US foreign secretary visiting Germany. Sorry, Condi. May be it was the right outfit for Americans in your homeland, but it was not the best suited outfit for the world stage. If your boots were for walking, I would choose boots without highheels, honestly. Though of course, it's such an unimportant thing that nobody really cares, but it was a telling little thing. I doubt that the European press even mentioned it. But the way the American press is commenting on her choice of outfit, just makes me mad and I have to vent my little stinky comment here.

  If Condi feels like a powerful liberated feminist conservative foreign policy maker, she should be aware that there are a lot of old fashinoned women in Europe, who don't fall for her role playing in the a costume that we associate with something quite different than our American friends, apparently.

  Ok, sorry for crying out loud.

  by mimi on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:01:37 AM PDT

  •  n/t

    Still think that we should work the term 'Texan Republican' to the point that it provokes an image of all that is wrong with the Republican party i.e. corruption, croneyism, crassness, wildcat mentality etc. In other words do exactly what the Repubs have done with the term Massachussett Liberal. Sincere apologies to all Prgressive/Liberals in Texas

    by stevej on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:50:23 AM PDT

    •  Agreed

      I thought Kerry could have capitalized on Bush's assinine comments during the campaign, talking about Massachusetts as if they were part of the axis of evil or something... Not very presidential if you ask me. But he's a "uniter", right...?

      by Burton Halli on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 10:06:19 AM PDT

      •  Think Massachusetts

        may have been promoted to an "Outpost of tyranny" by now.

        by stevej on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 12:11:25 PM PDT

        •  Nice

          I'll call Nat'l Geographic and make them aware of the change before they put out their next atlas...

          by Burton Halli on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 02:57:45 PM PDT

    •  apology accepted :)

      I'll take the hit for the good of my country.  Heck, I've only lived in TX for 2 years.

      by cardinal on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 10:35:30 AM PDT

      •  Thankyou for your understanding

        Sacrifice duly noted

        by stevej on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 12:15:38 PM PDT

  •  oops - Cabaret's review girls

    should read Cabaret's revue girls, sorry.

    by mimi on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 10:34:44 AM PDT

•  Freidman:

  Talking about how optimistic he is about democracy in the Middle East, says with a straight face, "All we've got to do is finish the war in Iraq, get the Syrians out of Lebanon, and solidify a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine."  

  I can't listen to him anymore.  I have to meet the tooth fairy for lunch.  

  by BAS on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:05:05 AM PDT

•  Sunday Shows: how to fail as an opposition party

  I really tired of being a member of the party whose representatives do not understand what it means to be in opposition. To average people watching, I am certain it seemed like both Biden and Corzine agreed with(or were ready to compromise) with the Republicans on social security destruction. Why bother to give the republicans an inch? When Russert asks about compromise, they whould say "Tim, the president has shown time and after time that he is not really interested in compromise and I am not going to give him the opportunity to destroy the social security program"?

  When Democratic Senators go on show they should clearly show they are in opposition to the president's position, otherwise the average american thinks the parties agree. Dean needs to handle these bookings because we need to put people on these shows who are on message and good at speaking plainly on television. How long does will it take the leadership in the House and the Senate to realize that whatever Joe Biden said on MTP informs the proceptions of people across the on the party?

  by tiberius on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:27:50 AM PDT

  •  Agreed

    Dean - or someone with enough gravitas at the DNC - needs to coordinate bookings for the Sunday shows.  The participants need to be briefed on the talking points.  They must be rewarded with repeat appearances (publicity=political power) and punished with banishment from the shows.  

    I don't care if it's a Senator, a Congressman, or a consultant.  If you want to play ball in the new DNC, you need to play by the DNC's rules.  Free agents cannot be permitted at this point.  

    If the DNC acted as a booking agent, then the talk shows would be forced to take who the DNC had to offer...and probably be forced to take their "suggestions" on media participants.

    "What, you want John Edwards?  No problem, we might be able to arrange that...but perhaps you'd like to add Molly Ivins to your media panel at the same time?"

    Gotta play hardball with the Hardballers.  The only way we're going to get out of this mess is through intense Party message and voting discipline.  

    by IrishAlum on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 09:06:37 AM PDT

    •  Well said, IrishAlum!

      Milquetoast wafflers have ruined this party, and they need to stop showing up on TV as our public face.

      by waltkra on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 09:20:36 AM PDT

  •  Yep

    Good stuff.

    2 faced jerks like Biden need to be straightened out. Whores like him and Lieberman have been playing kissy face with both sides for too long, now.

    It is my belief that there are more Dems like Biden, than Howard Dean that has kept me an Independent since I turned 18, 12 years ago. With too many of these guys it just seems like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Their only motivation is self-preservation and monetary greed. They would throw their own mothers under the bus if it would help their cause... What party they belong to is of little consequence, they're all cut from the same cloth...

    by Burton Halli on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 10:00:27 AM PDT

•  well lets see

  all catholic...all day?

  by real on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:30:27 AM PDT

•  Arnold is a jerk

  On This Week, he refuses to say anything about the Bush SS proposal, but says that he's trying to set up a similar state pension plan. Then the following exchange with George Stephanopoulos:

  GS: If there's no guaranteed state pension and no guaranteed SS, where's the safety net?

  AS: Well, the guarantee is that you pay in. Any dollar that you pay in you should get back.

  GS: But the market drops and you're out of luck

  AS: Well, you just have to have a good account. I mean, who is investing right now? The state is investing right now, and they're doing a good job. I think you should have the same account. We are not saying you should take your money out of that account, you can keep it in there, but it's just a different system, where you pay in and the employer pays in and you can take that account anywhere you want. Let people be responsible for that. So from the time you're 22 and you're going to work, start paying in on your pension system and you will have plenty of money if you invest wisely. Look, when I came over to this country there were homes down in Venice, $20,000 a home. Today that same home is $700,000. So all you had to do was just put money into that home, and you're home free.

  GS: If you had it.

  AS: I'm just saying if that people collectively put together money, or if an account someone that manages it puts money into real estate or whatever the different things are. I've never lost a dollar in investiment, I think there are very smart investors out there, they can really do it. People, just the opposition of it, paint always a negative picture, about those things, how it is disastrous, the investments are worse than ever, and all those kind of things. It's wrong.

  Yeah, right, just travel back in time and buy houses in Venice, and you're set for life. Arrgh.

  by lesliet on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:50:47 AM PDT

  •  Arrgh indeed!

    by kitebro on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 09:57:19 AM PDT

  •  "If you had it"

    And this is one of the guys from Clinton's rapid-response war room?

    I could think of some more effective retorts to AS's absurdity than that (i.e., your one-liner at the bottom of the thread).  But I guess that's why I'm not a talking head.

    by cardinal on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 10:39:53 AM PDT