At this juncture. Not gonna do it, not gonna do it!
Posted on 02/12/2004 4:41:19 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
For veteran observers of the Today Show's Katie Couric, it's not hard to discern when she's speaking from the script, and when it's coming from the heart.
When a question reflects her own strongly held views, her voice becomes urgent and rises in pitch.
Judging from her just-completed interview with John Edwards, Katie clearly believes the Senator from NC is toast.
She began by observing: "You've only won a single primary, and you came in a distant second in VA and TN. You really think you still have a chance to win the nomination?"
A: "Yes, I think not only do I have a chance, I still think I'll be the nominee."
This is where Katie's tone gave away what was in her heart and mind.
She interrupted, her voice rising and almost breaking: "How can you say that?" She went on to describe what would appear to be Edwards' dire situation.
Edwards, doing his best imitation of the Black Knight from Monty Python's Holy Grail, insisted that he was in a strong position and that the primary results showed he was the candidate who could attract independents and "the kind of voters we need to get to win the presidency."
He boasted that the race was now "narrowing down to Kerry and myself."
Katie, relentless, cited polls showing that a recent national poll showed that the preferences of Dems nationwide was Kerry 45% , Dean 14% , and Edwards in third place at 13%.
Edwards would not be discouraged: "45 days ago everyone thought Dean had it wrapped up. Now everyone thinks it's Kerry. I think Dems want a chance."
"I'm fighting my heart out in WI. Super Tuesday is to follow."
Katie: "Sounds like you're committed to staying in beyond Wisconsin."
Edwards: "I'm absolutely in it for the long haul. I'm a different choice from Kerry, I come from them [the average American], I've been fighting for them all my life."
Edwards went on to claim that the dropping out of Wes Clark, the other Southerner in the race, was "a huge boost." Edwards was eager to suck up to Clark supporters, calling the glazed-eyed general: "a terrific man, a great candidate."
Finally, Katie turned to the question of Pres. Bush's National Guard service. Interestingly, I believe her line of questioning, rather than being aimed primarily at the President, was in fact intended to set Edwards himself up for a tough question.
Katie cited the numerous documents the White House has made public documenting the Preident's service, including in the last several hours dental records, and asked if there was still an issue here.
Edwards: "I think there are legitimate questions that still need to be answered about his National Guard service. But that won't be the focus of the campaign. Job loss, trade, blah, blah, blah."
Katie returned to the charge: "But is it an appropriate line of inquiry or is it mudslinging?"
Again, Edwards opined that the inquiry into W's military service was "appropriate."
Here's where Katie slipped in the knife. Obviously she was fully briefed and entirely aware of Edwards personal background.
Still, feigning ignorance, she asked, as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, "Your military service?" and I believe she repeated the phrase another time.
Of course Edwards had to admit "I did not serve."
LOL. Okay, who's got the pics of this average American's posh beach mansion, the one he was layte paying his taxes on?
Thanks for your work, BTW, governs. You're a braver man than I, Gunga Din :)
Translation: taking 33% off the top of trumped-up class action lawsuits. You get the voucher worth $2 off your next purchase from the corporate villian, I get the mansion on the beach!
At this juncture. Not gonna do it, not gonna do it!
What a disgustingly patronizing statement. sinator hillary! must be coaching him.
What, Kerry was a Vietnam War hero. I didn't know that.
But seriesly, John Edwards is scheduled to be on IMUS this morning. I'll hold my nose and listen for anything interesting.
BTW, did Katie serve?
I think this is where we disagree. I don't think a person should be a Vietnam vet before he becomes president and I think most Americans share this feeling. They didn't hold it against Clinton that he skated out on Vietnam. It was a really weird time in our nation and it is largely in the past.
What they will hold against a candidate is a sense of 'two-facedness'. Americans don't like that at all. This is why Americans don't like the French.
For most Americans, they aren't going to hold it against Edwards that he didn't serve in Vietnam. Likewise, they aren't really going to hold it against Dubya that he did the National Guard thing and maybe didn't show up for duty. In the mind of the average guy I sincerely believe the thought is 'Hey, you did what you had to do'.
But to serve and then do a 180 and stand by the likes of J. Fonda is unacceptable to Americans and particularly to then beat Bush on the head with his own 'non-service'.
The logic goes as thus- the war was wrong, therefore it was wrong to serve. Dubya did not go to war, but this makes him wrong because he is Republican. Clinton didn't go to war but this is ok because he is Democrat.
Bollocks.
Kerry served in Vietnam. Nobody will begrudge him that. What Fonda did was despicable. Everybody that served pretty much agrees with that. In no case does it make it ok for Kerry to use his clout as a veteran to back Fonda and what she did. What Fonda did was helpful to the enemy. If you backed her, you were helping the enemy by default.
I'll come right out and say it- better that a young person did what Clinton did- flee the country- than to use his status as veteran to help the enemy. Why? Because the veteran should know better.
Clinton was more honorable in the way that he avoided service than the way that Kerry sh!t on his comrades who were still serving. That's my opinion.
Geez, thanx John boy ... can I mow your lawn?
I can definitely see that point of view.
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