Today: Struggles to Find Dem Guest; W Governed "from Far Right;" Teresa Blasted!

The Today Show | governsleastgovernsbest

[governsleastgovernsbest]

If there's one place where Democrats know they'll receive a warm reception, it's The Today Show. So take it as a sign of the depths of Dem depression that Katie Couric had to admit this morning that "with Dems licking their wounds" it was difficult for the show to find a Dem willing to come on!

You'd think that it would have been a cinch to find a leading Republican insider to talk about W's plans for the second term. So who did Today choose? Gillepsie, Frist, Hastert, maybe even Cheney? Nope, they went to a guy firmly on the outside, Today's favorite Republican, John McCain.

Three highlights from McCain's appearance:

1. In one of the most unvarnished bits of liberal editorializing I've ever witnessed at Today, Matt Lauer expressed skepticism about W's ability to bring people together in his second term. Said Lauer: "He actually divided the country by governing from 'the far right.' Why should people trust him this time?"

2. McCain took a huge swipe at Kerry's notoriouly lackluster record as a Senator. "Speaking personally, If you work at it you can really enhance your effectiveness in the Senate," advised McCain!

3. McCain denied a Newsweek report that Kerry offered him, in return for accepting the VP nomination, control over the DOD and a say on all foreign policy

Then it was on to Katie's interview of PA Gov. Ed Rendell, who was still looking depressed. It was then that Katie mentioned Today's difficulty in booking a Dem this morning - a nice little insult to Rendell, letting everyone know he was far from the first choice!

A clearly unhappy Katie, still dressed in black, asked "the Dem Party was organized, the base energized, and W had low approval ratings. Why couldn't this be translated into victory? There must have been some problems in strategy."

Rendell cited the failure to respond quickly to the Swift Boat Vets, contrasting this with Bill Clinton's rapid response approach.

Katie: "Did Dems fail to appreciate the importance of moral issues to voters?"

Rendell's response showed that the Dems still don't get it. He tried to define family values in terms of government programs. For him, it's all about "valuing families," meaning more government child care, health care, etc.

He added it was hard to make the case with terrorism and Iraq in the background.

With rising frustration in her voice, Katie said Dems are known for getting out the vote, and asked why young people didn't show up at the polls. Rendell claimed they did, but that overall turnout was up so the effect of young people was diminished. He bragged about Kerry's win in PA.

Katie: "It was a big loss to have Daschle lose. How will the Dem party retool and go forward?"

Rendell cited 1964 and LBJ's huge victory, whereas by 1968 the Republicans had won back the WH. Rendell: "This is not a time for hand wringing and soul searching. If not for 9/11 and Iraq we'd be talking about Pres. Kerry."

Then it was on to an interview with Tim Russert.

Russert: "The party has to come to grips with itself. There is a disconnect in large parts of the country with the Dem party. Dems have to find words, language to speak to people of faith."

Note that once again, the Dems are addressing the issue in superficial terms. They discuss the need to find ways to "speak" about values, about the need to find "the right language," rather than looking into their souls and realizing that their values are simply out of synch with those of most Americans.

Russert gave his list of people he expected to leave the administration. Some were predictable: Powell, Rumsfeld and Ashcroft. But I was surprised when he also mentioned Condi Rice, saying "she has to figure out what she wants to do with her career."

At the beginning of the second half-hour, Evan Thomas of Newsweek appeared to tout a special Newsweek edition telling the inside story from the campaign. By far the most interesting comments were his absolute massacring of Teresa Heinz Kerry. I couldn't type fast enough to keep up, but among his blasts at her:

"A negative for the campaign, a bad campaigner, all about her, very demanding, a drag on her husband."

[MEG33]

I thought his delivery during the Mary Cheney bit was so telling..It was an example of his mean streak..which many of us discerned.

[sarasota]

"...all we [Dems] need to do is find an evil genius like Karl Rove." Here is your basic liberal reference to Hollywood. All they really need is a "director" to put a better script in the word of their candidate who will be auditioning for the role of President in '08. It's all make-believe with these folks. Style without substance.

[COBOL2Java]

The liberals still believe in their hearts that moral values are just another veneer for the rubes, like Hollywood movie sets, which look real on the front but are nothing more than plywood and paint. To paraphrase the late great Groucho Marx:

The secret of success in politics is honesty and sincerity.
Once you learn how to fake that, you've got it made.

[sarasota]

PA was already in the bag before Clintoon got there.

[af_vet_1981]

A clearly unhappy Katie, still dressed in black, asked "the Dem Party was organized, the base energized, and W had low approval ratings. Why couldn't this be translated into victory? There must have been some problems in strategy."

It is really simple. There was a Tsunami of loyal Americans who came out in droves to defend their country ...

[sarasota]

I know and I agree. She did a lot to take Kerry down, that's for sure.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

PA was already in the bag.

So was Teresa.

[sarasota]

That's a very revealing analysis.

[MEG33]

I believe that..and cannot understand how they can't understand it.

[COBOL2Java]

Excellent! I'm ashamed to have graduated from the same college as "The Punk"!

[ShandaLear]

It's so obvious what is wrong with the Democrat Party. You can look them right in the eye and spell it out for them in simple terms, and they still don't get it.

Until they begin to operate from a place of principle, a set of real core values, and take their focus of off those they hate, they will continue to decline.

I have no doubt that they will learn nothing from this sweeping loss.

[OldFriend]

The kerry camp counted on the media protecting them from the Swift Boat Vets.

Since not a single one of them had any military experience they had no idea how to mitigate the damage and only compounded it by trashing the vets.

Perhaps we ought to be sending a thank you note to our 'friends' in the media.

[unixfox]

There is a disconnect in large parts of the country with the Dem party. Dems have to find words, language to speak to people of faith."

In other, they need to spread BIGGER lies so that maybe the sheeple will follow them.

[Poodlebrain]

What did Newsweek expect from a woman used to being accommodated when it was her turn to do the accommodating? Many political wives learn how to play the role very effectively (even the reprehensible Hillary Clinton learned from Bill's early campaigns how to be a good candidates wife). Do you think Teresa and John Kerry made the same sort of appearances when Kerry last campaigned for the Senate? Not necessary in the one party state of Mass.

[Puddleglum]

Well, here's my thoughts:

• Bush would have won bigger if he had governed even further to the right - I hope the farm bill gets some sensible cuts next term, and that the Medicare benefits to ALL seniors gets some reasonable means-testing added.

• "Kerry took too long to answer the SwiftVets." He could not answer them directly because that would mean releasing records that would undercut his story.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"He actually divided the country by governing from 'the far right.' Why should people trust him this time?"

Uhhh... Matt!!!

Dubya won 51% of the popular vote.

That means more people voted for him than didn't, in case you are from Rio Linda and don't understand what an election is.

By definition, Matt, most people already trust him.

[Pharmboy]

Evan Thomas was also on Imus this morning. He spent several minutes talking about how "high maintenance" Teresa is and the fact that many on the campaign thought of her as a "pain in the...neck." He said it was always about Teresa and people became bored out of their minds listening to her droning monologues.

I have maintained for a while on these boards that Kerry lost the red states fer sure when the lucky old bimbo gave that prime time speech at the demonrat convention.

[painter]

If you don't believe it, you can't speak it, or, as Zell Miller says, they can hum the tune, but can't sing the song.

I'm going to miss Zell in the Senate.He may have been a democrat,but he was the kind of democrat you wanted in the Senate.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Rendell: "This is not a time for hand wringing and soul searching. If not for 9/11 and Iraq we'd be talking about Pres. Kerry."

Were it not for the overriding issue in this campaign, where your candidate was exposed as fatally flawed, you'd have been just fine.

Sheesh. That isn't even good spin.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Speaking of Teresa's speech, and perhaps I've asked you this before, but can you draw upon your medical expertise and opine as to whether and what she might have been on? I swear she was sedated.