Replies

NBC Meet The Press (Tim Russert)

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.

Meme:
- Ah, yes, the good old days are back!
- There's a really stupid looking Dhimmicrat taking over the House Armed Services committee, so let's skewer the outgoing Republican who thinks he has a chance to be President
- Arnold, the perfect Republican, more liberal than his Democrat opponent
- So, to make this fair and balanced let's get two retired generals who hate Rumsfeld's guts and ask them what they think about Iraq
Topics:
- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican governor of California that defied the political odds and sailed to re-election, joins us in studio to discuss how he managed to win in the middle of the 2006 anti-Republican tide. What is next for him and the GOP?
- A war council of some of the key players and brightest minds in the debate on the nation's military to ask: How do we proceed in Iraq?
  - Policy makers this week synthesized American options as, "Go Big," "Go Long" and "Go Home."
    - What are the promises and pitfalls of those choices?
    - Are there others?
Guests
- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican - California
  - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Hollywood Reporter, United States - Nov 17, 2006)
  - Maria in the middle (Capitol Weekly, CA - Nov 23, 2002)
  - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wins reelection (Los Angeles Times, CA - Nov 7, 2006)
  - Arnold Schwarzenegger Governator II (National Ledger, AZ - Nov 8, 2006)
  - Arnold Schwarzenegger Rips Washington Politics (National Ledger, AZ - Nov 10, 2006)
- Representative Ike Skelton, Democrat - Missouri
  - House web site | Bio
  - Incoming House Armed Services Committee chairman
  - Rep. Ike Skelton Wins Re-Election (Kansas City Channel.com, MO - Nov 7, 2006)
  - Exit B-1 Duncan, Enter B-2 Ike (Harper's Magazine, NY - Nov 22, 2006)
  - Research institute at FLW brings $16.8 million to area (Waynesville Daily Guide, MO - Nov 23, 2002)
  - Hunter: No need for armed services oversight panel (ArmyTimes.com, VA - Nov 21, 2006)
  - Skelton to Prioritize Pentagon Oversight (Washington Post, United States - Nov 17, 2006)
  - Top Dems say they oppose reinstating draft (Carlsbad Current Argus, NM - Nov 21, 2006)
- Representative Duncan Hunter, Republican - California
  - House web site | Bio
  - Outgoing House Armed Services Committee chairman
  - Hunter Calls For Iraqis To "Saddle Up" (NBC Sandiego.com, CA - Nov 21, 2006)
  - Socal's Duncan Hunter Tries To Raise His National Profile (KTVU.com, CA - Nov 17, 2006)
  - Duncan Hunter praises Rumsfeld (North County Times, CA - Nov 8, 2006)
  - San Diego County's Rep. Duncan Hunter to make presidential bid (Los Angeles Times, CA - Oct 31, 2006)
  - Q&A: Duncan Hunter on '08 White House Bid (Newsweek - Oct 31, 2006)
- General Wayne Downing (retired)
  - Former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command
  - Iraq: 'De-Baathification' to officially end (Green Left Weekly, Australia - Nov 18, 2006)
  - Veterans concerned with direction of war in Iraq (News 10 Now, NY - Nov 10, 2006)
  - Metal Storm Limited Announces Board Change (Market Wire (press release) - Oct 31, 2006)
  - Bin Laden Not Top Islamist Thinker: Study (Asharq Alawsat, UK - Nov 16, 2006)
- General Barry McCaffrey (retired)
  - Former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command
  - Four-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey on Iraq, Tennessee troops (WBIR-TV, TN - Nov 15, 2006)
  - Army secretary says shorter Iraq tours could cost lives (Stars and Stripes, DC - Nov 21, 2006)
  - Volunteer force may be ‘severely degraded’ soon, retired (Stars and Stripes, DC - Nov 17, 2006)
  - General: Cut forces by one-third or Army will ‘break’ (ArmyTimes.com, VA - Nov 16, 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)