Weekend Talk Show *Preview* for 7/22 and 7/23/2006 (not the live thread)

Network and Cable News Networks | 7/22/06 | Network and Cable News

[Phsstpok]

I'm once again breaking out the shows into their own separate posts and including the background/info links with the guests' listing in those posts.  I will not be posting an entry for ABC This Week because:

ABC This Week (George Stephanopoulos)

• 'This Week' will not air on Sunday, July 23, due to ABC's coverage of the British Open; we will return with all the latest in politics on Sunday, July 30.
• ABC This Week comment web page

John Bolton does a twofer this week, covering both FNS and CNN.  Coming just after news that Voinovich will now vote for confirmation followed by word that Bush will now re-nominate him for regular confirmation proceedings, means there could be some interesting news made.  It may also mean that the Democrats are going to sharpen their attacks on the Bush foreign policy, laying the blame for all problems, particularly the Middle East and North Korea, at the feet of John Bolton.  They love to get their friends in the drive by media to demonize people.  Fortunately Bolton is far more in tune with what the American people want done than the Democrat leadership.

CBS with David Ignatius and NBC with Tom Ricks are rolling out the big guns to ignite a new round of partisan attacks on the Bush White House from inside the DBM.  Both have carried a lot of water for the moonbats by putting forward the worst possible spin on everything Iraq.  Watch for Schieffer and Russert to genuflect before their respective high priests of doom, gloom and blame.

It also looks like Timmah tried to get John Bolton on, as well, but his assistant who called to set it up got the wrong Bolten.  Well, Josh Bolten is the new White House Chief of Staff, so he'll probably make interesting copy.  I have a feeling he'll run rings around lil Timmah, though.  Watch for a short interview with extra time given to Rick's Bush bashing book.

CNN has the most interesting collection of guests, with two rabid partisan anti-war blame-Bush Democrats, two nominally conservative Republicans who have been vocally critical of the Bush White House recently on different issues, the new "front man" for the state of Israel in the current crisis and "the Mustache from Turtle Bay," Ambassador John Bolton.  They won't do it but I would pay to see a roundtable with all of them together.

The Saturday shows break down largely as expected, with Fox offering up the Beltway Boys fretting over Bush's inability to be flexible enough (Mort) / avoid giving in to pressure (Fred) and News Watch once again will spend their time insisting the media isn't to blame for anything... ever.  Russert merely provides yet another platform for someone from the New York Times to blame it all on Bush (too tough and not tough enough, all at the same time).  The Journal Editorial Report provides it's usual interesting platform for contrarian views.  I particularly like Faoud Ajami's (how do you spell his name?) take on things and I missed him last week when he was supposed to be on CNN Late Edition.  I've checked the transcript and don't see anything from him, so perhaps he got bumped.  Regardless, his point of view, coupled with his background, provides him a unique platform from which to provide insight. This is NOT intended to be the live Sunday Morning Talk Show thread. I trust AB will do that as usual. This is strictly a preview of who will be on the main shows. The idea is to give folks a chance to muster their resources for that thread.

I would particularly ask that anyone with specific knowledge or resources about the topics / guests announced for these shows post them here so that the rest of us can go into the shows with a heads up on what to look for.

 

[Phsstpok]

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.

CBS Face The Nation (Bob Schieffer)

• Meme:
  • The trouble in the Middle East is all Bush's fault™
  • The Iraq war was a war of choice by Bush, that choice has ruined the United States in the world and it is the cause of all the current troubles

• Topics:
  • Crisis in the Middle East
• Guests
  • Daniel Ayalon
    • Israeli Ambassador to the U.S.
    • Israeli Embassy web site | Bio
    • Ambassador: Release Israeli Soldiers (FOX News - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Israeli troops, tanks massing near Lebanese border (KXLY, WA - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Rice: Cease-fire at this time pointless (Ynetnews, Israel - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Analysis: Hamas , Hezbollah, terrorists? (Monsters and Critics.com, UK - Jul 21, 2006)
    • We'll do what we must (Chicago Tribune, United States - Jul 13, 2006)
    • Politicians support attacks by Israelis (San Gabriel Valley Tribune, CA - Jul 13, 2006)
  • Dr. Imad Moustapha
    • Syrian Ambassador to the U.S.
    • Syrian Embassy web site | Imad Moustapha web site | Imad Moustapha's Blog | Bio
    • Israeli, Syrian Ambassadors to the U.S. Speak Out on the Middle East Crisis (PBS - Jul 17, 2006)
    • Syrian Ambassador on Israel: Rich Quotes. (Town Hall, DC - Jul 18, 2006)
    • Syrian ambassador denies Syrian military aid to Hezbollah, says U.S. not talking to Damascus (U.S. News & World Report, DC - Jul 19, 2006)
    • Syrian Ambassador: 'Bush Has Got It Wrong' (FOX News - Jul 19, 2006)
    • Bush bid to put blame on Syria (The Australian, Australia - Jul 19, 2006)
    • Syrian envoy asks US to impose restraint on Israel (Reuters AlertNet, UK - Jul 13, 2006)
  • David Ignatius
    • Washington Post columnist
    • Web page at Washington Post | Bio
    • Bush's Choice (Washington Post, United States - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Israel's evacuation order. (Slate - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Middle East Conflict Dominates G-8 Summit Discussions (PBS - Jul 18, 2006)
    • Discrediting Fouad Siniora to save him (Daily Star - Lebanon, Lebanon - Jul 21, 2006)
    • 4 from the morning post (IsraPundit, Canada - Jul 14, 2006)
• Face The Nation contact information - ftn@cbsnews.com

[Phsstpok]

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.

CNN Late Edition (Wolf Blitzer)

• Meme:
  • The trouble in the Middle East is all Bush's fault™
  • An open invitation for John Bolton to shove the conventional wisdom down the throats of the DBM (fireworks and sound bites, oh my!)
• Topics:
  • The growing crisis in the Mideast: how and when should the world intervene?
• Guests
  • Isaac Herzog
    • Israeli tourism Minister
    • Israeli tourism Ministry web site | Bio
    • Israel's new point man (Ha'aretz, Israel - Jul 19, 2006)
    • Israel Prepares Ground Offensive in Southern Lebanon (Voice of America - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Israel Expands Ground Operations In Lebanon (Men's News Daily, CA - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Herzog: We are moderates, facing an 'extreme lunatic coalition' (Jerusalem Post, Israel - Jul 20, 2006)
    • The wrath to come (Al-Ahram Weekly - Jul 21, 2006)
  • John Bolton
    • U.S. ambassador to the United Nations
    • United States Mission To The United Nations web site | Bio
    • White House moves to confirm Bolton to UN post (Washington Post, United States - Jul 21, 2006)
    • UN Ambassador John Bolton on Mideast Turmoil (FOX News - Jul 20, 2006)
    • US Bolton: Israel Force Vs Hezbollah Not Excessive -MSNBC (Easy Bourse (Communiqués de presse), France - Jul 20, 2006)
    • US Bolton Says Cease-Fire Call Pointless In Lebanon (Easy Bourse (Communiqués de presse), France - Jul 19, 2006)
    • ArenÂ’t You Glad John Bolton is at the UN? (Wide Awakes - Jul 15, 2006)
    • US and Israeli ambassadors address sustained cease-fire efforts (Fox 12 Boise, ID - Jul 21, 2006)
  • Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana
    • Foreign Relations Committee chairman
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Lugar v. Boxer, in the mind of an academic (RedState - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Lugar: China could help lure North Korea into talks (WISH, IN - Jul 20, 2006)
    • Bush earns top marks on Voting Rights Act (Gary Post Tribune, IN - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Bush may seek new term for Bolton (Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Indiana Senators Bayh, Lugar Discuss Middle East Fighting (WISH, IN - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Irish-American concern at extradition treaty (Financial Times, UK - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Panel chides Bush administration, but Pakistan will get F-16s (Daily News & Analysis, India - Jul 21, 2006)
  • Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Connecticut
    • Foreign Relations committee member
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Irish-American concern at extradition treaty (Financial Times, UK - Jul 21, 2006)
    • The United Nations, Bolton and the Crying Ohioan (RedState, VA - Jul 21, 2006)
    • The History of the Green Light (Asharq Alawsat, UK - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Four Democrats buy early Iowa voter info (DesMoinesRegister.com, IA - Jul 18, 2006)
    • The Democrats' blame game (Washington Times, DC - Jul 17, 2006)
  • Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Michigan
    • Select Intelligence Committee chairman
    • House web site | Bio
    • Hoekstra on way to Mideast WOOD-TV, MI - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Rep. Hoekstra to embark on Israel trip WZZM, MI - Jul 21, 2006)
    • US isolated over Lebanon crisis (Ireland Online, Ireland - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Pay No Attention to That 'Inconvenient War' (National Ledger, AZ - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich: US overclassifying Iraq papers (WNY Media Network, NY - Jul 12, 2006)
    • Who Is HoekstraÂ’s Secret Source? (In These Times, IL - Jul 19, 2006)
  • Rep. Jane Harman, D-California
    • Select Intelligence Committee member
    • House web site | Bio
    • Rep. Jane Harman: Specter: Legislating in the Dark (Yahoo! News - Jul 17, 2006)
    • Chris Matthews Covers Dem. Jane Harman's Rear End on Iraq (New York Observer, NY - Jul 11, 2006)
    • Evolution of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Secrecy News, DC - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Hoekstra on way to Mideast WOOD-TV, MI - Jul 21, 2006)
• CNN Late Edition (web page for comments)

[Phsstpok]

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.

Fox News Sunday (Chris Wallace)

• Meme:
  • An open invitation for John Bolton to shove the conventional wisdom down the throats of the DBM (fireworks and sound bites, oh my!)
  • Just exactly what is Dennis Hastert's the Republicans' problem?
• Topics:
  • Diplomatic solution to Mideast crisis? Ambassador John Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., weighs in
  • Key issues for Republicans this November? We'll ask Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert
• Guests
  • John Bolton
    • U.S. ambassador to the United Nations
    • United States Mission To The United Nations web site | Bio
    • White House moves to confirm Bolton to UN post (Washington Post, United States - Jul 21, 2006)
    • UN Ambassador John Bolton on Mideast Turmoil (FOX News - Jul 20, 2006)
    • US Bolton: Israel Force Vs Hezbollah Not Excessive -MSNBC (Easy Bourse (Communiqués de presse), France - Jul 20, 2006)
    • US Bolton Says Cease-Fire Call Pointless In Lebanon (Easy Bourse (Communiqués de presse), France - Jul 19, 2006)
    • ArenÂ’t You Glad John Bolton is at the UN? (Wide Awakes - Jul 15, 2006)
    • US and Israeli ambassadors address sustained cease-fire efforts (Fox 12 Boise, ID - Jul 21, 2006)
  • Dennis Hastert
    • Speaker of the House
    • House web site | Bio
    • Speaker Hastert Supports House Measures to Condemn the Recent Terrorist Attacks Against Israel (U.S. Newswire (press release), DC - Jul 20, 2006)
    • Congress members to Israel (Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Murtha: US Staying in Iraq Helps Potential Enemies (CNSNews.com, VA - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Hastert insists on border security first (Monsters and Critics.com, UK - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Dennis Hastert Released From Hospital (CBS2 Chicago, IL - Jul 17, 2006)
• Fox News Sunday contact information - FNS@foxnews.com

[Phsstpok]

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:
  • The trouble in the Middle East is all Bush's fault™
  • Iraq is the worst disaster in US military history
• Topics:
  • White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten "Meets the Press" for the first time
    • The ongoing violence in the Middle East
    • The war in Iraq
    • The President's veto of expanded stem-cell research funding
    • The administration's priorities for the remainder of the year
  • Washington Post Senior Pentagon Reporter Tom Ricks will unveil his new book, "Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq."
• Guests
  • Josh Bolten
    • White House Chief of Staff
    • Bio (White House web site)
    • The Bush Bounce (Yahoo! News - Jul 10, 2006)
    • If Bush wants to change course, fire Rumsfeld (Central Maine Morning Sentinel, ME - Jun 25, 2006)
    • White House tells rabbis U.S. won't pressure Israel (WorldNetDaily, OR - Jul 4, 2006)
  • Tom Ricks
    • Author of "Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq"
    • Reviving the Generals' Revolt (Yahoo! News - Jul 6, 2006)
    • Law and Gender in the Military: Ricks Interview (ADM Online - Nov 3, 1997)
    • On Point : The Searing Anger Inside the Pentagon - 5/27/2004 (WBUR.ORG (Boston NPR) May 27, 2004)
    • Growing Pessimism on Iraq (Washington Post - Sep 29, 2004)
    • How to lose a national reporter in five minutes (ThinkPR - Jan 18, 2006)
• 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)

[Phsstpok]

Ping

The Weekend Preview Thread is up

If you would like on or off my ping list please Freepmail me

See the initial post for my "usual witty commentary"

[MNJohnnie]

Curious if any of them will bring up the fact that the Bush Administration, according to the NY Treason Times, is rushing precision guided weapons to Israel.

[Phsstpok]

Saturday Shows for 7/22/06

Below are the topics and guests announced for these programs (if any), along with my take on the "memes" that each 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.

The Beltway Boys (Mort Kondrake, Fred Barnes)

• Meme:
  • Are the Jews in trouble... everywhere?
• Topics:
  • Diplomatic efforts are on the fast track in the Mideast, but the White House isn't pushing a ceasefire... for the moment
  • Joe Lieberman, splitting Democrats in Connecticut – plus, Bill and Hillary Clinton
• Beltway Boys contact information beltway@foxnews.com
• The program airs on FOX News Channel Saturdays at 6 and 11:30 p.m. ET

CNBC's Tim Russert Show (Tim Russert)

• Meme:
  • The trouble in the Middle East is all Bush's fault™
  • The Iraq war was a war of choice by Bush, that choice has ruined the United States in the world and it is the cause of all the current troubles
• Topics:
  • New York Times columnist Tom Friedman offers a hard-headed analysis of the Middle East Crisis.
• Guests
  • Tom Friedman
    • New York Times columnist
    • New York Times web site | Bio
    • Order vs. Disorder (New York Times (subscription required) - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Not So Smart (New York Times (subscription required) - Jul 19, 2006)
    • Addicted to Oil, with Tom Friedman (Grist Magazine, WA - Jun 26, 2006)
    • Media Bubble: Are We Six Months Away From Tom Friedman's Livejournal? (Gawker, NY - Jul 5, 2006)
    • More 'S**t' from the 'NY Times' (Editor & Publisher - Jul 21, 2006) (note: they spelled out s**t in the title of their article, so be warned if you go there)
    • The Bottom Line / Nasrallah and the Big Mac (Ha'aretz, Israel - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Could the US use the current conflict as pretext for war on Iran? (Aljazeera.com, UK - Jul 21, 2006)
• CNBC's Tim Russert Show airs Saturday at 7pm, 10pm & 1am ET

Fox News Watch (Eric Burns)

• Meme:
  • The trouble in the Middle East is all Bush's fault™
  • Bush is incompetent, which is part of the reason it's all Bush's fault™
  • The Iraq war was a war of choice by Bush, that choice has ruined the United States in the world and it is the cause of all the current troubles
  • Isn't Oprah great?
• Topics:
  • Mideast Turmoil: An in-depth look at the coverage
  • Pres. Bush is caught cursing over an open microphone at the G8 summit
  • Oprah says she and her friend Gayle are not gay
• The program airs on FOX News Channel Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. ET and Sundays at 2:30 a.m. ET
• Fox News Watch contact information Newswatch@foxnews.com

Journal Editorial Report (Paul Gigot) - FNC show page

• Meme:
  • The trouble in the Middle East is all the terrorists fault
  • Bush did the right thing in Iraq... but...
  • Bush isn't enough of a hawk and should invade everyone, now, all at the same time... or maybe not... it might hurt the stock market...
• Topics:
  • Fox web site:
    • Is a ground invasion of Lebanon necessary to disarm Hezbollah once and for all?
    • Where do other Arab governments stand?
  • Opinion Journal web site:
    • Broaden the War?
    • The Wall Street Journal's Bret Stephens reports from Jerusalem on Israel's military and diplomatic options in Lebanon.
    • Should the war be broadened to Syria?
    • An interview with historian Fouad Ajami on Lebanon and what its current troubles mean for the rest of the Middle East.
• Guests
  • Bret Stephens
    • Wall Street Journal Columnist
    • Bio
    • 'Easongate' (Wall Street Journal - Feb 10, 2005)
    • Israel's Jerusalem Post: Bret Stephens Out, David Horovitz In (Israel News Agency - Sep 8, 2004)
    • Michelle Malkin: WAITING FOR BRET STEPHENS TO CALL (Michelle Malkin's Blog - Feb 17, 2005)
    • Hezbollah the winner? (National Review Online Blogs, NY - Jul 19, 2006)
    • Not Very Swift (Journal Editorial Report Transcript - Jul 9, 2006)
    • Shoot It Down (Journal Editorial Report Transcript - Jun 25, 2006)
  • Fouad Ajami
    • Professor of Middle East studies, Johns Hopkins University
    • Bio (Council on Foreign Relations web site)
    • Author, "The Foreigner's Gift"
    • Once again, Fouad Ajami demonstrates his analytical acuity (National Review Online Blogs, NY - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Fouad Ajami on the Lebanon crisis: Hostage to Hezbollah (Judeoscope.ca, Canada - Jul 21, 2006)
    • Author Fouad Ajami Says US-Led Invasion of Iraq Was A Noble War (Voice of America - Jun 28, 2006)
    • Lebanon’s Shia: In the Eye of the Storm (Infoshop News - Jul 18, 2006)
    • Israel in Conflict (Voice of America - Jul 17, 2006)
• Journal Editorial Report (at Fox News) contact information - jer@foxnews.com
• The program is from The Wall Street Journal and airs on FNC Saturday at 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. and again Sunday at 6 a.m. ET

[Phsstpok]

Just heard that on CNN Headline News. They did bother to mention that it was weapons approved by our Congress last year that Israel could draw on anytime they needed, but that's a fine point to most in the DBM.

[stopem]

Thanks for the ping. The dominant thread thruout the talk shows will be Israel, Lebanon, Hezballah but should be interesting what the dominant spin will be.

[MNJohnnie]

Ah, in that case, Thank you President Bush and Congress. Seems that our Government is the ONLY one around the world that gets it. Israel is killing terrorists. That is a GOOD thing.

[Chuck54]

Thanks for the ping Phsstpok. The times, they are a'changing.

Should be a very interesting Sunday.

[Peach]

Just heard that on CNN Headline News. They did bother to mention that it was weapons approved by our Congress last year that Israel could draw on anytime they needed, but that's a fine point to most in the DBM.

I just thought I'd repeat that. CNN -- did they mention that the weapons were approved by Congress last year that Israel could draw on anytime they needed them, or is it they didn't mention that little detail? I only ask because it would be so like them not to mention a detail like that.

And thanks for another professional job, Phsstpok.

[Phsstpok]

CNN did mention the prior approval and the fact that Israel could call on them at need. The emphasis was on Israel needing to restock because of how quickly they were going through the precision weapons, but they allowed that it wasn't something new we had just set up.

Of course, someone will take that and try to say it's proof that this is all a planned operation and we had this weaponry specifically set aside to resupply our Zionist puppets... or something like that.

I want to see Israel starting to use our new technique from Iraq of dropping precision guided concrete, no explosives.  It does a dandy job on a car full of Jihadi's and very little chance of collateral damage. 

[Peach]

CNN has surprised me by reporting the truth. For once. Thanks for responding to that question, Phsstpok.

[johnny7]

LOL... I was expecting Michael Bolton to be scheduled for MTP!

[Bahbah]

Just checking in from here in "storm ravaged" St. Louis. Being without power, ac, lights, etc. is one thing, but no FR...terrible.

[Phsstpok]

hope it gets straightened out soon and that you and yours are safe.

We had a storm 3 years ago today, July 22nd, 2003, that is now referred to as "hurricane Elvis" with 100 MPH straight line winds.  This guy's blog has an extended description of the storm and this blog has a brief description but it still has a working link to the Commercial Appeal slide show of damage around the city.

It was this type of hot July and we were without power at our house for almost two weeks. The data center where I work was shut down, with the exception of the actual "bunker" with the mainframes, for nearly a week.

'tain't fun.

[samantha]

As a veteran/victim of 4 Hurricanes in 14 months, I can sympathize. I missed the Freerepublic/Internet more than the A/C. If you still have water you are lucky. Good Luck!

[Phsstpok]

Now we know the take the DBM will take with Bolton tomorrow. The NY Times has given CBS their marching orders and will ridicule Fox if they don't at least raise this hit piece with Bolton:

Bolton’s Ways Foil Goals, U.N. Envoys Say [NYT hit piece......]

(FR thread of NYT article)

Peach - saw your post and, yes, it is predictable, isn't it?

[Peach]

I just love the Times. They're a gift that keeps on giving.