Matt Lauer to Gephardt: Tough to say Why President Bush Shouldn't Be Elected!

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Matt Lauer just completed an interview with Dick Gephardt, who is announcing his candidacy for President. The interview was conducted on the streets, parks and schools of the St. Louis-area where Gephardt grew up.

As an aside I'd say that compared with the other Dems in the race, and leaving policy aside, Gephardt comes across as a pretty decent, down-to-earth guy. I've read that President Bush respects him more than any of the other challengers.

Toward the end of the interview, Lauer posed the following question: "You've said all the things that a candidate should say. Now say something that's harder to say: "why shouldn't President Bush be re-elected?"

Gephardt answered that President Bush had been given a great economy and run it down, turned lemondade into lemons.

But Lauer came right back: "but how much of that is attributable to terrorism that struck us right at home?"

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'm not suggesting that Lauer has changed his stripes and is about to quit Today and join Fox & Friends.

But the gist of his question was clear: that there is a strong case for the re-election of President Bush, and that it is tough to make the argument that he shouldn't be re-elected.

[InspiredPath1]

It could be very simple. Lauer could be a Kerry fan, or a Lieberman fan. The next year should be interesting as we watch the liberal media eviscerate the liberal candidates that they dislike. Next week, Lauer takes on Sharpton .....

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I really don't think that's the explanation.

Stating that it's tough to say why President Bush should not be re-elected is a blow to all Dem candidates, not just Gephardt.

[ClearCase_guy]

Gephardt answered that President Bush had been given a great economy and run it down, turned lemondade into lemons.

Sigh. Look at unemployment. Look at inflation. Really, by any normal measurement, the US economy is not in bad shape at all. What IS in bad shape is the stock market. But that started falling about 11 months before Bush was elected -- and more than a year before he entered the White House.

Only fools (I mean hard-core Dems) will believe that Bush ran down the economy.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I still maintain that Gephardt is the strongest candidate in the field of RATS. He's the only announced candidate with some skin in the game - he resigned his House Minority Leader position.

While I hope Rev. Al is nominated, I predict it will be Mr. Gephardt.

[Fresh Wind]

What IS in bad shape is the stock market. But that started falling about 11 months before Bush was elected

The stock market is a leading indicator. It started going down in anticipation of a Republican victory since everyone knows a Republican administration is bad for business. So, regardless of timing, it is perfectly logical to blame Bush rather than Clinton for the market decline. < /sarcasm >

[jmaroneps37]

This is just part of the slick rat media M.O. He asked the question now, 18 months out so he could get on the sheet for having asked a tough question or two. Wait until crunch time. The closer we get to giddy up time the more softball the questions will get, bank on it.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'd like to see Gephardt as the candidate too.

Unless there are unforseeable developments, I don't think he would win, or be particulaly stronger or weaker than the other Dems (other than Sharpton).

But I do feel that, as Dems go, he is a pretty decent guy who would keep to the issues and give the voters a clear-cut choice. And he has supported President Bush on Iraq. In the Lauer interview, he called it a matter of self-defense.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

As I stated in my original post, I'm not suggesting that Lauer has undergone some fundamental change. He is and remains a Democrat. And yes, as the election gets closer, he probably will get tougher on President Bush and easier on the Dems.

But by the same token I don't really think this is part of some calculated strategy. I think it just reflects Lauer's acknowldedgement of reality: that barring some unforeseen developments it would be very difficult for any Dem to defeat President Bush.

[stationkeeper]

Don't forget interest rates at lowest levels in a generation.

[Happy2BMe]

George Bush Sr. was sitting higher in the polls right after Desert Storm than his son is today - and he lost the reelection.

Political correctness is much stronger today than it was eleven years ago - heavily entrenched thanks to eight years of Clunktonism.

Having said that, George W. Bush has seemingly learned from the mistake of not enough emphasis on domestic issues that plagued his father and barring some horrible disaster IMHO has the support to gain reelection.

George Bush Sr. was lulled into a sense of false security by our massive military victories and the Dimrats baited him like a mouse.

Our greatest mistake is to assume George W. Bush is a sure win. In spite of the historically sterling job he has done, it will still take a massive effort to overcome the paranoia machines of Hollyweed and the liberal mess-of-a-press we have that will be working double overtime to paint Dubya as a wealthy land-owning, power-grabbing, baby-killing monster.

Let's work on it.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I agree. While Gephardt is clearly a partisan, he seems to have a bit more integrity than the average RAT.

[blackdog]

Gephardt has a direct fax line with Barbara Streisand, which he uses to formulate policy based on her individual concerns. Enough said?

L'il Dickie has that "in the sun too long farmer look" that is Rockwellish enough to sell. But l'il Dickie has no resolve. He caves after any sales job. Anybody remember his famous muffler presentation? How about his neglected mother? He's like Jimmy Carter, only a Jimmy that would neglect his mamma and blame it on conservatives.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Hey, I'm not a member of the Dick Gehpardt fan club. All I'm saying is that he's a stronger candidate than the rest of the RAT field for any number of reasons.

Think about it. Carol Mosley-Braun? Al Sharpton? Howard Dean?

The rest of RAT field is like a freak show.

[randita]

Gephardt has the support of the unions, but that's the only Democrat constituency group that's really behind him.

He is pro-life, which means in order to win the nomination, he'll have to flip-flop like Lieberman did.

And he has a troubling penchant for making up imaginary friends to make political points.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Gephardt has forsaken his pro-life position.

http://hometown.aol.com/dfjoseph/gephardt.html

[blackdog]

Dick seems to enjoy game playing too much. Nothing is an actual reality with him. Everything is a fluid situation which if if debated til the corn dries down, consulted until it enriches lobbyists, reworked until it doesn't resemble a duck, and piggy backed onto needed legislation, can be an acceptable way of "getting things done" in Washington.

Oddly enough, even though I worked in the area during the height of the Tawanna Brawley mess, I find Al Sharpton to be the most direct and honerable candidate in the race. That's scary huh?

It's tough to attend a horse auction, needing a capable ride to pull your load, but finding only dog-food at the sale. But hey, maybe it can be fed to grandma? Nah, too tough....Teeth are not part of medicaid, so the Gephardt fossils have to settle for canned dog-food.

[Bubba_Leroy]

He is pro-life, which means in order to win the nomination, he'll have to flip-flop like Lieberman did.

As I recall, Gephardt flip-flopped on abortion years ago. You can't be a successful democRAT and be pro-life. It just isn't allowed.

[OldFriend]

The media will be eviscerating whomever the DNC (billandhill) tell them to eviscerate. Any deviation from the plan will result in swift retaliation.

[Artist]

"He is pro-life, which means in order to win the nomination, he'll have to flip-flop like Lieberman did."

Gephardt hasn't been pro-life for a long time now (think since 1988 when he first ran for President), but to his credit, he did vote to ban partial birth abortion.