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]

Here's another quote from the Gore speech, as reported by ABC News:

"They have taken us much farther down the road toward an intrusive, 'big brother'-style government toward the dangers prophesied by George Orwell in his book '1984' than anyone ever thought would be possible in the United States of America," Gore charged.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20031109_969.html

[rintense]

How and the world has ANYONES personal liberties been affected by the war on Iraq???? I swear these idiots keep grasping for straws and come up with a hand full of crap.

[MEG33]

Devastating.Email Lauer with that comment.

[Judith Anne]

Daschle is such a HYPOCRAT. He's saying that the MEMO was politicized.

Fox and Friends are letting him talk. He says it is a "shame" that the memo was released. Edie says there are acouple of valid points in the memo.

FRiends, the Dems are scared of the impact of the memo--but ONLY if WE keep up the outrage! If WE let it drop, they will win! Please, today--call the Senate at their toll-free number, leave a message for YOUR senator and anyone else you can think of--send an email, let them know that we think they are traitors!

If we let this drop, they will all just smooth it over and go on with business as usual, and American troops will DIE.

[The Scorpion King]

This amid reports from an Iraqi Human Rights organization of 263 mass grave sites all over Iraq. Some are found to contain the bodies of women and children. All shot in the head.

These oh-so-compassionate Liberal Dimocrats would have been content to continually turn a blind eye to Saddam's treatment of his own people. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Clinton take the U.S. in Kosovo, and meddle in the affairs of a sovereign nation for what amounted to much less?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'm disappointed by the very soft questioning Daschle's receiving on Fox & Friends. So far they haven't asked him to comment on Gore's allegation that the Bush admin made a calculated decision to use the WOT as a pretext to grab civil liberties.

[Judith Anne]

Me too. I'm going to post a Fox article now.

A caller just made Daschle disagree with Gore over the Patriot act. Daschle said it shouldn't be repealed.

[Hegemony Cricket]

"...one of the vilest moments in the long, inglorious history of The Today Show."

Agreed. I couldn't even watch. I hit the button so fast it made little tommy daschle's head spin.

[tbpiper]

I believe the democrats would welcome another 9/11 if it would put them back in power.

[Maigrey]

I seem to recall that the 107th Congress brought the bill up, approved it in Both houses, and Bush signed it.

Am I missing something, or was Dashle complicit in these actions?

As usual, from the usual suspects.

And, did you take your meds before subjecting yourself to these hideous diatribes?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

did you take your meds before subjecting yourself to these hideous diatribes?

Seriously, yes I have. I've popped my Protonix (similar to Nexium), to combat the acid reflux I've been diagnosed with since starting these Today Show posts!

[Just mythoughts]

The want an independent counsel. Expect them to say and claim anything to get it.

They want to see all that "INTEL" that President Bush has.

They don't care what they have to do to get those two things.

[Mark Felton]

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.

FOX and Friends did the same thing as well this morning. No challenge. Lots of back slapping. "great book".

Furthermore, Daschle Defended the intelligence memo.

[solo gringo]

All of the networks are anti AMERICAN except mabe Fox but all the rest are anti Bush.A grab on freedom these bastards are still bashing bush thier freedom is still in tack.

[maryz]

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

Actually, by being in power, they're interfering with the Dems' program to remove civil (and other) liberties: campaign finance "reform," religious freedom (for Christians), freedom of association, private property rights, gun rights, etc. Dems see the Pubbies trampling on the "rights" of illegal immigrants and treasonous Dems.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Interesting point!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

They ARE working with the enemy, of course.

Here is another question, though.

If the liberals like to muse about September 11th, and say that it was America's fault that al Qaeda attacked us, then are they bold enough to say that this weekend's bombing in Riyadh is our fault, too?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Daschle said it shouldn't be repealed.

So which is it, Tommy? Is it that you want to protect our civil liberties which you characterize in peril, or is it that you don't want to tell your constituents that you are soft on terrorism? The duplicity is STUNNING!

[Judith Anne]

Very well said. An excellent point.

[unsycophant]

Lauer's suggestion that the war on terror was a conscious diversion by the Bush administration

Absurd.