Daily Kos

Sunday Talk Shows

by Jamato

Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 06:56:43 PM PDT

Update [2005-3-5 21:53:25 by Armando]: From the diaries by Armando.


FOX NEWS SUNDAY (WTTG), 9 a.m.: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), presidential counselor Dan Bartlett and developer Donald Trump.

THIS WEEK (ABC, WJLA), 9 a.m.: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Treasury Secretary John W. Snow and Charles W. Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries.

FACE THE NATION (CBS, WUSA), 10:30 a.m.: Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)

MEET THE PRESS (NBC, WRC), 10:30 a.m.: Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.)

LATE EDITION (CNN), noon: Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.), Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel Al-Jubeir, Jordanian Ambassador Karim Kawar, Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmy, Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon and Mithal Alusi of Iraq's Democratic Party.

Let us know what's going on!

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Permalink | 117 comments

  •  I'm confused (none / 1)


    Why are so many democrats on these programs?  What is the main stream media thinking?  Actual fairness and balance?  That's unpossible!

    George W. Bush makes the baby Jesus cry.

    by WSmith on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 06:56:48 PM PDT

    •  No word for it but strange. (none / 0)

      It looks like we'll have to wait and see.  Something must be up.

      "Rupert Murdoch Loves Hillary Clinton"--CBS News headline.

      by Thistime on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:22:34 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  And good, opinionated Dems too (none / 0)

        Pelosi, Boxer, Kennedy, Durbin....not bad at all.

        A lot better than the bad old days where compromisers like Daschle & Lieberman would be the most common Dems.

        Old Man McCain.com - the best anti-McCain blog on the web!

        by existenz on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:27:00 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Of course Libermen (none / 0)

          Is still on, so it seems we still have a ways to go.

          I Am Hussein and So Can You

          by Goldfish on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 03:56:04 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Pelosi incompetent on Fox (none / 0)

          Dems are incompetent on these morning shows.  

          Chris Wallace this morning had no problem tripping up and bullying Pelosi just now about SS reform:

          "SS is a DEMCRATIC PROGRAM" he said it like 4 times, "what is your plan to fix it"

          She had no idea how to respond, stumbled and spluttered.  Either Democrats have no plan, or they haven't practised responding to these very simple debating techniques.

          Bush is only just starting his SS blitzkrieg, and the Dems are sounding like Frenchmen behind the Maginot Line.

          rms

          by rms on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 08:10:27 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  Of corse on Fox only incompetant Democrats (none / 0)

            get to speak.  On meet the press the two whips did much better.  McConnel was evasive, Durban acounted for himself very well, and Russert asked McConnel repeatedly repeatedly what private accounts had to do with solvancy, never getting an adequate response.

            I think the Repubican strategy is to get Democrats to be the first to advocate the painful part; y benefit cuts, making Republicans look like Santa by offering private accounts.  Democrats need to be real careful who they let speak; they all must do like republicans and answer "its on the table" rather than give a sound bite that could be construed as "the Democratic response"

            by disclave on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 09:08:23 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  Thanks for taking one for us all... (4.00 / 2)

            ... and watching Faux.

            It is truly amazing that her immediate response wasn't,

            "The President's party controls all three branches of government. When the president presents a real plan, not just vague, ethereal proposals that do absolutely nothing to solve the basic problems social security is facing, then we can begin debating solutions. You see Chris, I don't see why we should be presenting legislation that has zero chance of becoming law, while the president hasn't even leveled with the american people about what HE plans to do about social security."

            We are all Yossarian now -- Skeptical Spectacle

            by Espumoso on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 09:48:36 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  Exactly (none / 0)

            Why does not she has an answer to this question?

            by ks on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 10:26:11 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  Pelosi was embarrassing, but... (none / 0)

            Chris Wallace didn't stick to the talking points! His days are numbered at Faux News...

            During his interview with Dan Bartlett, Wallace kept referring to "Private" accounts.

            Even Bob Schieffer on FTN this morning was calling them "Personal" accounts.

            by weave on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 11:37:42 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

    •  5 shows... (none / 0)

      4 Democrats. Not bad. We're gaining ground here.

      Full Disclosure: I am Chair of the Darius Shahinfar for Congress Campaign Committee in NY-21.

      by Andrew C White on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:43:44 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  meh (none / 0)

      meh

      by moofdaddy on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 10:54:53 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  REpubs out of town? (none / 0)

      Did the bookers have trouble getting top REpubs because so many are off at BamboozlePalooza events around the country (or maybe they want to spin them a bit later)?  And we know they are focusing on regional media to turn around sinking public response to their Social Security attacks.

      It is true that Democrats talking passionately about real Democratic values are a lot more interesting than they used to be.

      However - the MSCMedia could mostly be looking for any who can get suckered into making the high-minded "compromise" openings that Bush/Rove/Cheney so desperately need and are counting on.  Gotta tell our peeps - DON'T FALL FOR IT!

      McCain not Principled, just Wrong!

      by VA Gal on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 09:29:42 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  the dems are great! (none / 0)

    except for Lieberman. sigh

    Want to learn more about Values-Based Living?

    by slinkerwink on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 06:58:37 PM PDT

  •  I (none / 0)

    was wondering why Charles W. Colson was invited but I figure its going to be all about Martha.  Same for Donald Trump.

    The Poorest of All Men is not the man without a cent but the man without a dream.

    by EMKennedyLucio on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:01:08 PM PDT

  •  Hell may be freezing over... (none / 0)

    No Brazile, no McCain, no Clinton.......are better days ahead?

    "..."

    by Elias on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:03:12 PM PDT

  •  Durbin, Boxer, and Kennedy... (none / 1)

    ...sweet meat!!

    4.50, -7.38

    by Idioteque on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:06:20 PM PDT

  •  Krugman will be in the Russert roundtable as well. (none / 0)

    maybe Tim will get some learnin about social security.

    by tiberius on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:14:07 PM PDT

    •  yes (none / 0)

      finally, a real progressive and an economist who can spell things out clearly when it comes to SS.

      by jj32 on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:42:00 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  And courtesy. (none / 0)

      Remember how he let Bill O'Reilly go on and on attacking Krugman? Russert just sat there drinking it all in and allowed O'Reilly to think he had scored some points. What hopeless assholes.

      by jane 2000 on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:59:41 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Krugman held his own (none / 1)

        Even though he looked a little intimidated (body language), he gave a defense of himself.  Unfortunately, he was on the defensive most of the time.  O'Reilly such a blowhard and a bully (and quasi-murderer).

        Turn ons: progressives, Democrats with spines Turn offs: conservatives, people named Bush, John McCain

        by Unstable Isotope on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 06:40:13 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Interesting Take (none / 0)

          I actually missed the faux debate, but I read the transcript.  Krugman actually diced him up pretty well.  Unfortunately, others who actually watched it said Krugman came off as more pensive and less bold.

          My favorite part was when O'Reilly claimed that there are just as many liberals on Fox News as conservatives.  Then, O'Reilly listed more conservatives (3) than liberals (2).  My son is less than 2 years old, and he can count to three.

          by blank on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 01:08:00 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  CNN has an all neocon lineup. (4.00 / 2)

    Since they have the whole spectrum of neocons, it is consistent of their policy of representation of all views with which they agree.

    The others seem to have some balance. What's up with that?

    "Rupert Murdoch Loves Hillary Clinton"--CBS News headline.

    by Thistime on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:21:17 PM PDT

    •  CNN is terrible (4.00 / 2)

      I despise CNN. A few months ago, Krugman made the comment that CNN is actually more dangerous than Faux News, because people still believe CNN was trying to be an honest news outlet. The fact is they are are nothing but a Faux wanna-be.

      by Bailey Savings and Loan on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:43:48 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Ratings are tanking (none / 0)

        www.mydd.com :
        I was looking through these stats from the TV stations (via Atrios and here) for the trendline numbers:

        PrimeTime Average:

                 1 Year Growth      2/05 Viewers    8/04 Viewers      

        Fox                +18%        1,570,000       1,300,000
        CNN               -21%            637,000         787,000
        MSNBC           -14%          ~250,000         274,000
        CNBC             -42%

        It's like I thought.  There's only a finite amount of Republican viewers.  They're abandoning CNN and MSNBC and going to Fox.  Progressives are also abandoning CNN and MSNBC.  If CNN or MSNBC really want to grow their viewership, they should try becoming a real news channel again.

        Turn ons: progressives, Democrats with spines Turn offs: conservatives, people named Bush, John McCain

        by Unstable Isotope on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 06:45:56 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  CNBC? (none / 0)

          I notice that there are no figures for CNBC.  Does this mean that they now have so few viewers that they can not be reliably counted??  Can you lose 42% of a sample so small that it is uncountable?

          Does Dennis Miller have anything to do with this?  After all, he tanked the venerable Monday Night Football all by himself and had to be fired so the franchise could survive.  Maybe they can replace him with Ron Silver. Hah.

          Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Dennis.  I just despise him.

          If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. ~James Madison

          by mjshep on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 10:51:26 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  CNN has been playing catch up to Faux... (none / 1)

      ...and beaming all neocon all the time.

      Ted Turner must be enjoying this.

      MSNBC and CNBC are out-fauxing Faux too.

      Except for Keith Olbeman.

      Dailykos.com; an oasis of truth. Truth that leads to action -1.75 -7.23

      by Shockwave on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:45:07 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Except (none / 0)

        for C-Span, the only other political shows I can watch right now are The Daily Show and Keith Olbermann.  

        Don't get me wrong...I think we need to keep a close eye on all the media outlets.  It's just that, for sanity's sake, I have to take a break from the high-blood pressure producing assholes.

        White woman over 50 for OBAMA!! (Endorsed 6/07)

        by nolalily on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 11:03:00 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  HIS WEEK? (none / 1)

    So that's like a Bible show, right?


    "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right." - Salvor Hardin

    by Zackpunk on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:22:15 PM PDT

  •  Eek, (4.00 / 2)

    Leperman again! "How long oh Lord?"

    "Will no one rid me of meddlesome Pol?"

    by PLS on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:26:36 PM PDT

  •  Looks like... (none / 0)

    Face the Nation for me.

    Full Disclosure: I am Chair of the Darius Shahinfar for Congress Campaign Committee in NY-21.

    by Andrew C White on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:42:36 PM PDT

    •  You can have it all (none / 1)

      Looks like... Face the Nation for me.

      No need to chose if you have a way listen  to streamed audio from C-SPAN Radio in Windows Media or RealPlayer Media  Take a look at their schedule

      • 12 noon NBC's Meet the Press
      • 1 ABC's This Week
      • 2 Fox news Sunday
      • 3 CNN's Late Edition

      You can listen to Face the Nation live and then hear all the others.  I have 900mhz cordless headphones hooked up to my computer so I can listen all afternoon while I catch up on chores.  And they take out all the commercials and fill in each hour with segments from their morning call-in show.

      by Fred in Vermont on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 04:03:01 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  How much you want to bet (none / 0)

    they'll try and blindside the Dems with questions about how great democracy is going in the Middle East. Hope the Dems stick to the fact we went to war for WMDs, not to die for Iraqis to vote.

    "conservatives are the worshipers of dead radicals".

    by gandalf on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 07:57:25 PM PDT

    •  and democracy in the Mideast sucks (none / 0)

      We had Iraqi elections where the candidates and the polling places were unknown until election day. A month later, they still haven't formed a government

      Saudi Arabia had elections for men only, and they got to choose less than half of a council that has little power to begin with

      And the Egyptian President, Mubarrak, said "fair elections, OK, 1 2 3 GO. Now Egypt will have a free and fair election, with such blinding speed than no other candidate beside Mubarrak has a chance.

      Democracy has many forms, and these ain't any of em

      We're America, we're supposed to stop democracy from happening in the MidEast. Otherwise, the bastards would vote to attack us

      Democracy

      by knowthings on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 06:55:11 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Iraq democracy (none / 0)

        It's becoming more clear to me that the Iraqi elections did nothing the help with Iraqi unity.  The kurds are in the position as king-makers, but it's not happening because they want control of Kirkuk and semi-autonomy.  The Sunnis are not even participating.  Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the breakup of Iraq is accelerating?

        Turn ons: progressives, Democrats with spines Turn offs: conservatives, people named Bush, John McCain

        by Unstable Isotope on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 07:44:43 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  And the death of Arafat loosend things up. (none / 0)

      I think the change of faces in Palestine is far more important than Bush's ware.  1500 dead and counting just for purple fingers?

      by disclave on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 09:17:49 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Lieberman again? (3.78 / 14)

    Obviously even his wife doesn't want him hanging around the premises.

    by Jedgar Rove on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:26:42 PM PDT

    •  Oh I see that we have a humorless ... (none / 0)

      Lieberman supporter in our midst. Rather than ignore a comment he/she troll rates any Lieberman disparagement. I thought mine was comparatively mild: more "Don Rickles" than "John E. O'Neill".

      Frankly, while I will readily admit I'm no John Stewart, Joe Lieberman himself showed more of a sense of humor on The Daily Show than my critic.

      by Jedgar Rove on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 10:16:32 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Have a 4 (none / 0)

      to counter the DLC troll who likes to slime about and trollrate.

      I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever TJ

      by cdreid on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 02:32:53 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Can't watch them in the morning (none / 0)

    I'm home for spring break, and church conflicts...
    Got the DVR all set-up though.

    What am I doing on DailyKos? I'm Running for the Right...

    by RFTR on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:27:02 PM PDT

  •  Durbin (none / 0)

    Dare I say it...Gannon/Guckert?

    Intelligent Designer Laments Lapse in Intelligence

    by mrblifil on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:38:16 PM PDT

  •  Curiously absent Reid (none / 0)

    This shows how effective Reid is.  The babblebrains are afraid to have him on.  Can you imagine what Reid or Conrad would do regarding Bush's smoke and mirror budget and the war on Social Security?

    Republicans are not a national party anymore.

    by jalapeno on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:47:34 PM PDT

  •  Hagel schmagel (none / 1)

    People are saying he is primed to be the repug candidate in 08. Let's see if that affects his mouth. Frist tried to tell the truth the other day, and got spanked and sent to bed without dinner. He was back on message within 24 hours... Wait, would that be flip-flopping?

    by Burton Halli on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 08:56:25 PM PDT

    •  Hagel seems very cautious these days (none / 0)

      People are saying [Senator Hagel] is primed to be the repug candidate in 08. Let's see if that affects his mouth. Frist tried to tell the truth the other day, and got spanked and sent to bed without dinner.

      I heard him talking about Social Security yesterday and my general impression was that he seemed to be being very cautious and limited in his "support" of Bush's "plan" . . .  just saying thing like "we need to look at all parts of the problem."

      by Fred in Vermont on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 04:09:18 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Used Car Salesmen (none / 0)

        I agree, some of the Republican shills are easier to hate than others, like Tom Delay vs Lindsey Graham or Chuck Hagel. IMHO guys like Hagel and Graham are MORE dangerous because they give the appearance of bipartisanship and compromise. But I still come away with the feeling that the 74 Pinto they are trying to sell me might not be a good idea. All you need to do is LOOK at DeLay and know that he is half man, half reptile...

        Lets not forget that SS piratization is really the ONLY issue where some of these guys split from the administration. Their party is united in its insanity on everything else, rubber stamping every idiotic policy Bush vomits forth.

        by Burton Halli on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 06:53:31 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  The freepers (none / 0)

      hate him. He's become pretty anti-war I believe. And they dont like him, I remember reading a comment where they said Republicans would have to stupid to nominate him or something. If you have a brain and you are Republican, stay clear of the primary, I guess, you'll only lose.

      by jj32 on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 11:58:46 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Will any of our Democratic leaders (none / 0)

    ... pint out just what this bankruptcy bill is all about?

    Will any of them bring up Santorum's lovely addition highlighted in the Recommended Diaries section that effectively eliminates overtime for hourly workers?  Or the elimination of hourly pay for people like restaurant servers?

    Fuck.

    That's about all I can think to say...

    by Bob Johnson on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 10:53:26 PM PDT

  •  60 Minutes; Stewart on SS and Dr. Paul Krugman (none / 0)


    On Meet the Corporate Press: Dr. Paul Krugman

    60 MINUTES: CIA "Rendition" Pgm; Violent video games; Ronnie Earle-Austin D/A investigating Tom Delay

    The Daily Show: The Danger to Social Security;  GOP Desperation Tactics on S.S.; Behind the Scenes on Social Security [Real Player needed - Material Not for the Faint Hearted]

    The McLaughlin Group: As usual, outstanding

    Late Edition:

  •   Viewer phone calls now welcome during the show! (see if you can get on) U.S. 202-408-4821; Int. 1-888-CNN-0561

  •   Fashion Wolf is now taking your Questions



McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

by Al Rodgers on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 11:12:26 PM PDT

  •  asdf (4.00 / 2)

    "... that CNN is actually more dangerous than Faux News, because people still believe CNN was trying to be an honest news outlet... "

    From my experience, mainstream Americans who follow politics loosely, believe that CNN is v'v'v'ery liberal. They still believe that Ted Turner is running CNN and that half the talking heads (including Colmes) on there swing left. If ditto-country says CNN is Left... then it must be. Case Closed

    by thinice on Sat Mar 05, 2005 at 11:18:02 PM PDT

  •  Daily Howler (4.00 / 2)

    http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh030505.shtml

    Since this thread is about the talk shows, I thought I'd drop in a Bob Somerby reference.  He's been complaining about the national discourse for some time now, and he never misses a chance to ream the Dems for being unprepared and overall poor spokespeople (although, he's obviously not a right winger).

    So, here's to the Dems being on their game tomorrow, whatever it's worth.  I've come to the point I think it really matters not what the Dems or any other opposition to the current Ruling Class do or say.  The media is so effectively controlled as to disallow any effective dissention or diversion from the official line.
    Beyond the media, even, there are reins of control in our society that lead back to the same group of people.

    We'll see the extent of their ability to manufacture consent as the SS drama plays out.  But, they're really pushing hard.  It is amazing and somewhat unbelievable to see a political party in America attack and try to deceptively dismantle something as "American" as social security.

    by TexasDemocratsForever on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 12:19:04 AM PDT

  •  What the hell (4.00 / 2)

    is wrong with CNN?

    Do they think no one notices what they're doing?

    Let's be honest.

    by diplomatic on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 12:42:50 AM PDT

  •  Interesting (none / 0)

    Biden must not have rsvp'd this week, thanks Joe, we all need a break from your nonsense and bs. I hope this is a trend for the better.
    PEACE!

    by PC on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 04:59:35 AM PDT

  •  Kennedy, (none / 0)

    brought up the Bankrupcy and tort reform bills as evidence of the repugs priorities, and asks when the people's concerns will be discussed.

    by PLS on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 06:07:41 AM PDT

  •  Mitch McConnell (none / 0)

    Is the biggest ass that ever lived. I don't know why Durbin isn't sitting there rolling his eyes every time he talks. Russert asked him at least two times how privatization helps the "insolvency problem" of SS and he would not answer....just would not answer. Durbin definitely did the best job but I kept waiting for him to say "you will notice that Senator McConnell didn't answer your question because there is no answer" or something to that effect and he didn't.

    by grizmom on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 06:19:44 AM PDT

  •  McConnell and Durbin faced off (4.00 / 2)

    on Meet the Press.  Mcconnell's message is that we should talk about everything including privatization.  Russert pressed him to explain how privatization would help Social Security solvency.  McConnell could not answer, but insisted that honest discussion can't happen when one side won't discuss something.  Durbin said that since Bush has admitted that privatization does nothing, but in fact will weaken Social Security, so there is no point in having a proposal on the table that weakens rather than strengthens Social Security.  Durbin asked if McConnell if he was willing to put tax cut for those making more than $300,000 on the table and he waffled.  The roundtable discussion afterwards, for the most part, saw it the Democrats way.  The problem for Republicans is that Bush is asking them to support they-know-not-what.  On its face, that would be stupid.

    by azindy on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 06:29:31 AM PDT

  •  Watching the Faux "all stars" (none / 1)

    They've been joined by Nina Easton of the Boston Globe.  Hacks one and all.  They don't even pretend to be honestly commenting (not that they ever have) but today seem even more egregious.  They are advising the Repugs on how to get their SS agenda through.  The only comment about the Dems is how foolish they are.

    Now they're giving Bush credit for spreading democracy.  In my mind I've started reframing the Middle East situation.  Osama should get the "credit" for changing things in the region.  9/11 was the event that set off the transformation in the Middle East, not Bush's overthrow of Saddam.  It just remains to be seen who/what will win out: Osama's vision or George Bush's.

    Carrie French, age 19, died in Iraq on June 5, 2005. Why?

    by Susan S on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 06:47:59 AM PDT

  •  Dan Bartlett's take on Bush's "add-on" (none / 0)

    comment.  Bush said this week that private accounts would be an "add-on".  Chris Wallace of Fox News Sunday challenged Bartlett on that statement.  Bartlett said that there has been disinformation that people would get no benefits.  Since Social Security does pay benefits, the private accounts are truly an add-on.  Wallace implied that Bartlett's redefinition of add-on based on the red herring "disinformation" flies in the face of common sense reasoning on the Hill.  

    Wallace also hammered Nancy Pelosi, and she did a great job of pressing the main point anyway.

    by azindy on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 07:11:34 AM PDT

  •  Greenspan during the Ford Administration (none / 1)

    Russert played a clip of Greenspan speaking during the Ford years.  In those days, he said that deficits have been run year in and year out, and indicate fiscal irresponsibility.  But lately, he has been saying that deficits are not all bad.  www.washingtonpost.com :
    Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan predicted today that the U.S. trade deficit will level off and possibly shrink in months and years to come, in a speech that took a less alarmist view of the trade gap than the Fed chief has offered in the past.

    Meanwhile Greenspan's colleague in the Federal Reserve, Timothy F. Geithner, says the deficit must be brought under control. www.washingtonpost.com :

    A top Federal Reserve official yesterday urged the White House and Congress to restrain the U.S. budget deficit, warning that its continued growth poses risks to international financial markets.

    Current "troubling" projections of the deficit's growth threaten to shake the confidence of international investors, who might become less willing to finance the nation's burgeoning debt, Timothy F. Geithner, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said in New York at a business forum on global financial risk.


    by azindy on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 07:18:15 AM PDT

  •  Meet the Tim (none / 0)

    Russet must have multiple personality disorder or something, one week he is letting neocon asshats ramble on, lying and spinning, without so much as a word of challenge. The next he is doing his job and pressing turds like McConnell about SS solvency under Bush's piratization plans... As expected, he pretended as if he didn't hear the question...

    I'm getting sick of Republican liars like McConnell trying to twist Moynihan's words into support for their fascist dreams. Durbin should have done more to correct that mischaracterization.

    by Burton Halli on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 07:45:13 AM PDT

  •  Colson on the inability of our pampered leaders (none / 0)

    to understand the needs and concerns of most of America.  Our leaders are basically out of touch, especially those who are rich and getting richer.

    by azindy on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 08:14:21 AM PDT

  •  Hagel's gone and done it. (none / 0)

    Just a few minutes ago I made this comment.  Please read it.  On Face the Nation just now, Schieffer asked Hagel if he would be willing to take private accounts out of his proposal in order to discuss his proposal with Democrats.  He answered that he would not be willing to remove the private accounts because, "It is not only an actuarial issue, but also a philosophical issue on the role of government."

    by azindy on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 08:37:03 AM PDT

  •  Boxer does her homework, (none / 0)

    is well-prepared, and makes her points without allowing interruption.  I wonder if the transcript will record Schieffer and colleague repeatedly trying to shut her down as she documented the Bush and Republican agenda to destroy Social Security with their own words.

    by azindy on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 08:49:28 AM PDT

  •  Was it Bush or Arafat? (none / 1)

    On Meet the Press I found it amazing for all the rush of Republicans to take credit for events in the middle east, and reluctance of Democrats to call this a victory yet, nobody mentioned the death of Arafat

    I think the death of Arafat is more important than the war, or elections in Iraq in catalyzing change in the middle east.  I think Arafat stopped everything cold in the middle east for almost 50 years by bowing to the dark side of Palastinian politics.  Maybe by choice, maybe, as I believe was reported, that Arafat was afraid to make peace because they would kill him.

    I think progress in the middle east has the same relationship to W as the wall coming down in Germany had a relationship to Reagan; in each case they just happened to be the president at the time, and deserve no credit for the events.

    by disclave on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 08:58:49 AM PDT

  •  The MTP Group . . . (none / 0)

    seemed like they are on another planet, starting with Kate O'Bierne.  She was talking about how great things are in the Middle East, and all the Dems can do is criticize.  Great in the Middle East?  The death of the leader of Pakistan is somehow a Bush win?  Iraq is wonderful, with more oil pipelines being sabataged by the week and insurgents continuing to kill, not to mention getting closer to Iran.  And, btw, what about Korea?  Someone mentioned that both Iran and Korea announced having nuclear ability on Bush's watch - somehow, that is not a downside to Bush.  

    A NYT reporter was sitting next to Kate O'B.  When she was rattling on about something the camera caught the look on his face for a few seconds - it looked like he could not figure out what planet she's on.

    Everytime Kate O'B could get a word in she was talking about how the Dems are trying to find common ground.  This was done to offset the disarray the Rethugs are in over SS.

    I was watching this cheerleading team talk about how wonderful things are - my Mother was watching, also.  We both thought everyone on the panel has lost all sense of reality.

    by dannynyc on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 08:59:36 AM PDT

  •  IS DUBYA WINNING IN THE MIDDLE EAST? (none / 1)

    For all of the vilification of Syria and the other Muslim "autocracies" the Neocons should consider that these very same governments are responsible for keeping the Arab Street under control.....

    Indeed, the role of these autocrats prior to the Neocons and Bush, has been to keep the Arab street quite.

    The US rightly feared that if the streets were to erupt in Arab nations--- calls for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank would be increased....

    So, game plan was to have US backed autocrats allow some low level dissent....but, at the price of political freedom for Arab people.

    Now, SUDDENLY, Dubya and the Neocons are praising STREET UPRISINGS IN IRAN, IRAQ, SYRIA AND LEBANON.....

    "AS IF" THESE UPRISINGS WERE A "WIN" FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE NEOCONS......

    But, what is coming next.....Dubya NEVER SAYS:

    As with Social Secruity Reform....and the Invasion of Iraq....and the Tax Cuts....DUBYA STILL HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT COMES NEXT.....

    Yet, amazingly, the Democrats are severely critized whenever they even mention this "MORNING AFTER THING."Something that has plagued Dubya & Co continuously....

    The notion is: Democrats are nothing but naysayers! They secretly "want America to lose!" And, Democrats have no ideas of their own!

    THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN THE POSITION OF A PASSENGER IN A CAR WHOSE DRIVER IS DRUNK AND SPEEDING ALL OVER THE ROAD......

    IF THEY TRY TO SPEAK UP THEY ARE TOLD: "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP! I'M DRIVING THE CAR NOW!"

    It appears that the only thing Democrats can do.....is fasten their seat belts, and wait for the car to crash! ....As it surely will!

    DUBYA AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE "CALLING THE SHOTS NOW....."

    BUT, KNOW THIS, TIME IS ON THE SIDE OF THE DEMOCRATS!

    http://gloomanddoom.blogspot.com

    by BALTHAZAR on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 09:02:40 AM PDT

  •  Kennedy strong on SS, nuclear option (none / 0)

    On This Week, Kennedy was strong on SS, saying that the Dems would not negotiate while the Rep intention was to destroy SS. Also framed the current problem as Bush taking away money from SS by his tax cuts, and pointed out there would be less of a problem when Bush put back the money he diverted.

    Q: How are you going to get Democrats to hold together? "First, I find that a number of Republicans are very interested in trying to find common ground... I'm convinced that when the President drops privitization, there will be enough good will to address this over a period of time."

    Also talked about class action bill, credit card/bankrupty legislation, as mentioned above. "We are dealing with special interests there."

    "And then the people back home say, you're dealing on the one hand with major corporations, you're dealing with the credit card industry, and now you're dealing with Wall St when the privitization is... When is this administration going to address the issues on healthcare, education, and jobs. That's what I'm hearing."

    Shows Byrd on Senate floor saying "Hitler never abandoned the cloak of legality. Instead he turned the law inside out and made this illegality legal. And that is what the 'nuclear option' seeks to do."

    Steph: Compare Repubs to Hitler? Kennedy: "That's the oldest political ploy in the world. Take on the messenger rather than what the message was about, and that is that we ought to learn from history. Senator Byrd was pointing out, as the leading historian and defender of the Consitution, that he was talking about how the Repubs were attempting to radicalize the Senate. We are the envy of the world... balance of powers... the President has the veto and the Senate has extended debate. And what the Repubs want to do is run roughshod over the institution of the Senate. They control the White House, the House and the Senate, and they want to control the independent judiciary. And our founding fathers said that power ought to be divided between the executive and the Senate and they want to change the rules of the game in order to put on the court a William Pryor, who wants to role back civil rights and voting rights, they want to put up William Haines, who was the architect of the torture policy in the defense dept, William Meyers, giving away public land and overriding our environmental laws. No, no, no, no. The American people want judges that are going to be in the mainstream...

    Steph: whiff of freedom in Middle East, elections, protests in Lebanon. Quotes Walid Jumblatt in WP: "This process of change has started because of the Am invastion of Iraq. I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting... it was the start of a new Arab world... The Syrian people, the Egyption people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it." Doesn't Pres Bush deserve some credit...

    Kennedy: "Absolutely. What's happened in these countries has been enormously constructive. Also Ukraine. We need to look at this with a great deal of hope. But I also hear the generals on Iraq and we still have a long ways to go. Two Americans are getting killed there every single day. By the end of this year we can control a majority of the country with Iraqi troops. This is very encouraging. Then we can achieve the withdrawal of American troops. Let the Iraqis control their country. Train them, train them, train them, and have them take responsibility."

    Asked about role of faith in his public life. Answer: hope, optimism, social obligation.

    Says Hilary Clinton is qualified, but he supports Kerry for 2008.

    I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies..

    by lesliet on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 09:02:55 AM PDT

  •  Lieberman on SS... (none / 0)

    Wolfie just said Lieberman will be on to counter attack Dan Bartlett's segment on SS.

    That oughta be good!  I guess the Dems got to him... better tow the line, Joe!

    And now for something completely different... always look on the bright side of life --Monty Python

    by goldilocks on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 09:23:05 AM PDT

  •  Lieberman as Democrat on Soc Sec!? (none / 0)

    Late Edition has Lieberman as the Democrat responding to White House spin on the Social Security phase-out? This is insanity. The man is only tentatively with the rest of Dems on that issue. Why can't they have someone who's actually firmly in disagreement with the administration?

    Drinking Liberally in DC

    by KCinDC on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 09:23:56 AM PDT

  •  it was ugly today (none / 0)

    durbin was the only bright spot and even he allowed timmy to force him into saying that reid went too far in describing the hack as a hack. pelosi was a nightmare.

    here's a summary:

    domestic:

    the republicans may be losing on the idea of private accounts, but the democrats are worse cause they don't have any ideas.

    the economy is doing great even if the deficit is problematic.

    foreign:

    it's time for democrats to stop being such whiney babies and recognize that bush has changed the history of the world by starting a wave of democracy in the middle east.

    we really need to get some gerrymandering going on in some key states asap.

    by JaneKnowles on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 09:48:37 AM PDT

  •  Medical cost is real crisis, not Soc Sec (none / 0)

    There is a very simple reason democrats (and any sensible person) is not bringing up their own plan for Social Security. It is because this isn't even close to being in the top ten problems with the United States. Right at the top of the list is the soaring cost of medical coverage. Bush's answer is to always side with big money corporations, look at the medicare presription drug bill and tort reform, while dumping all the cost on to the little guy.

    Democrats would be foolish to offer any kind of "plan" for Social Security, when all that is needed are a few gentle nudges, such as raising the cap to $140 or $200 thousand. Offering anything else to this a-hole who is president would be throwing him a life line, which he would proceed to wrap around the democrats neck, tie to an anvil and toss overboard.

    The Social Security fake "crisis" promoted by Bush is nothing but a nasty diversion so him and his buddies can rape the lower and middle class, with stuff like tort reform and tightening up bankruptcy laws. The essence of Bush's piratize deform Social Security is the same nasty stuff, which would reward big wall street firms by siphoning money from the poor and middle class.

    Bush doesn't even deserve the time of day, let alone coming up with our own plan. Bush is the reverse Robin Hood, robbing from the poor to pay the rich.

    by Bailey Savings and Loan on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 10:32:58 AM PDT

  •  Kennedy again? (1.00 / 4)

    Obviously even his wife doesn't want him hanging around the premises.

    by GoVOTE on Sun Mar 06, 2005 at 03:38:52 PM PDT

  •  CAN GARRISON KELLER SPEAK "BUBBA" ? (none / 0)

    The notion that no liberal Democrat can even speak to a Bubba Republican is belied by Garrison Keller's Prairie Home Companion radio program on NPR.

    Keller is a liberal and openly Democratic.... But he does "connect" with the "down home" type audience.

    If the Democrats are disparing about their ability to even communitate with Southern Republicans, I suggest that they listen to back program of Prairie Home Companion. As hokey as it might seem I think the NPR/Keller type programing could be the key to cracking the Rush Limbaugh Dittohead lock on "ordinary people."

    Keller's self effacing common sense liberalism....is very much like Dubya's compassionate conservatism. This seems to connect with the folks in fly over country....the Heartland of Bubba Republicanism.

    In the absence of better ideas, I would suggest that Democrats look to the humility approach to winning friends and influencing voters..... Because just going on the Sunday Talk Shows and starting every sentence with an implied: "Listen, Stupid...." is not going to make it with the voters........

    http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/

    by BALTHAZAR on Mon Mar 07, 2005 at 03:15:17 AM PDT

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