Gore, Daschle: Bush Admin Used War for Politics, Civil Liberties Grab (Today Show Alert)

Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Just when you thought The Today Show couldn't outdo itself for liberal bias and Bush bashing, along comes this morning's show to demonstrate that Today hasn't hit bottom yet.

The opening footage of this morning's Today Show was a clip of an angry Al Gore, giving a speech it which he accused the Bush administration of "using the war for partisan political gain and posturing themselves as bold defenders of our country while actually weakening rather than strengthening security." Gore called for the repeal of the Patriot Act

Gore must have been unavailable as a guest, but Today made do with Tom Daschle, who ostensibly appeared to flack his new [straight-to-remainder-bin] book "Like No Other Time: The 107th Congress."

Lauer conducted the interview, and was more than happy to offer Daschle the most negative possible interpretation of Bush administration moves and invite Daschle to agree.

Lauer opened with a clip of Gore saying: "it makes no more sense in fighting the war on terrorism to launch an attack on our civil liberties than to launch an assault on Iraq to get OBL."

Daschle was pleased to endorse Gore's thesis.

Of course, being the "man of principle" he is, Daschle equivocated when it came to doing much about the "attack on civil liberties" that Gore alleged.

Q. Do you want to repeal Patriot Act? A. Not sure I'd want to repeal it [but we should look into things, blah, blah, blah]

Lauer than cited Gore's allegation that the war on terror "was an excuse to make a power grab for our personal liberties. The Republicans used the campaign on terror to bolster support for their political standing."

In one of the most stunning personal expressions of his world view I've ever witnessed, Lauer then offered this picture of the Bush administration's tactics:

"So it was smoke and mirrors, drawing people's attention on one thing, to take away civil liberties at the same time?"

Daschle was only too happy to agree with Lauer.

Q. But you supported the $87 billion. Are you comfortable with the way it will be spent?

A. I supported the $65 billion for the troops, but I had reservations about the $22 billion for reconstruction of Iraq.

Lauer: So you would have liked to have separated that?

Daschle: Yes, but we couldn't.

They then spent a couple minutes on Daschle's book, "No Other Time," the story of the 107th Congress.

The political high point for Daschle was Jumpin' Jumpin' Jim Jeffords' defection. The worst was the election of '02 when Dems lost Senate.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today let Gore and Daschle get in all their whacks at the Bush administration without a guest from the GOP side or even a challenging question from Lauer.

Lauer's suggestion that the war on terror was a conscious diversion by the Bush administration to create a smokescreen for purposes of grabbing civil liberties, was one of the vilest moments in the long, inglorious history of The Today Show.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show ping. One for the liberal-media-bias archives.

[SubMareener]

Thanks for watching the trash for us! I just can't stomach this stuff in the morning.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

"using the war for partisan political gain

Perhaps Algore didn't get a copy of the leaked memo?

Pot...kettle...and such...

[abclily]

Lauer apparently lacks any depth of understanding regarding the War on Terrorism. A person has to be shallow-minded to be a liberal in the first place. Some humans are born with logic, and some are not. Demonstrations such as Laur's expose the lack of intelligence in liberals.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Daschle gleefuly followed that line of questioning!

(I often ask myself, how is it that the Democratic leadership can look at their reflections in the mirror, without realizing that they are frauds with no integrity who LIE every waking moment?)

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Great point!

[Judith Anne]

Who are the sponsors of this show? I think they ought to know how REAL Americans feel about the blatant Hypocrat bias--maybe then they'll get a clue as to why they are losing market share.

If we can scold CBS over RR, we can do the same HERE.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Not sure that I've sufficiently expressed just how momentous was this interview and Gore's speech.

The Democrats can no longer be considered a "loyal opposition" offering a constructive critique of the party in power. They are now flatly claiming that the Bush administration is using the war on terrorism as a pretext for stealing personal liberties away from the American people.

That is one of the ugliest, most serious allegations that could possibly be made. The Democrats are accusing the Republicans of using American blood to undermine the Constitution.

That the liberal media are aiding and abetting the Dems, as demonstrated this morning, is an interesting if less important sidenote.

We have entered a new political epoch. The Dems, fearing that the political landscape is shifting against them in some fundamental way, are pulling out all the stops in this desperate, brutal assault on the Bush administration.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

At the very least, I wish Lauer had asked Daschle, and by extension Gore, why they think that the Bush administration would have any interest in taking away Americans' civil liberties.

[joyful1]

This is outrageous. The depths they are willing to descend is just outrageous.

Our nation is at the edge of terror from militant Islamists, we need all the unity and spirit we can muster. These democrats are helping the enemy. Are they stupid or are they working with the enemy?

[Judith Anne]

Pick a sponsor of the show, write them with your excellent question...you can have a voice!

Sponsors need to hear from us. They need to know what the people who buy their products think about the biased shows they sponsor.

[sirchtruth]

Listen people, the dems have nothing. We all know they are such an unscrupulous bunch of bitter ole prix!

These tactics used today will only embolden conservatives to come out in droves to show them we are not going to let them run ruff shod over this country anymore!

The Clinton legacy brought this upon them, let them rage!

[babaloo]

Daschle is going to be on Fox and Friends in a little bit. See if the tenor of that interview is different from the Today Show.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

These democrats are helping the enemy. Are they stupid or are they working with the enemy?

I think it's a situation in which the Democrats are so frustrated and enraged by being out of power that they are willing to try virtually anything to get back into the White House and regain their congressional majorities.

[Judith Anne]

I've never seen the Fox folk be rude to someone's face, and even if it's Daschle, I doubt they will call him the LIAR and HYPOCRAT that he is.

But Fox, politely, has REFUSED to let the memogate story die. And if we encourage them with our emailed and written comments, they will CONTINUE.

Daschle isn't on the committee anyway, though it's obvious that he is following the memo directives.

[Puppage]

why they think that the Bush administration would have any interest in taking away Americans' civil liberties.

More to the point...name ONE liberty that has been lost??

[YaYa123]

You got it exactly right..."Lauer conducted the interview, and was more than happy to offer Daschle the most negative possible interpretation of Bush administration moves and invite Daschle to agree."

Daschle's presence was unnecessary...I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Daschle on Fox & Friends right now.

[MEG33]

The high point was Jim Jeffords ?How statesmanlike.