Posted on 11/04/2004 4:47:09 AM PST by 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."
They are for sale on E-bay. But before you bid on her panties, think twice!!
It makes one wonder - if all the Dems are gonna come out now and blame her for the defeat - how is this going to affect their marriage? Is Jean Francois going to start blaming her too? I'm envisioning ashtrays and lamps flying through the air toward his long jaw.
The Today show reminds me of one of my fsvorite Perry Mason quotes - "Incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial !"
It's always a pleasure to hear from President McCain :-)
Note smiley!
We hope you enjoy your stay in this great state of ours!
Texas, home of our great President and his parents,ex President GHW Bush and Barbara..
Texas Proud!
Or - you can put lipstick on a pig...
Pray for W and Our Troops
Enjoy some good ole tex mex while yer down here!!
Yankeys cant cook :P
Considering the left is drifting further and further from mainstream America, I think she's going to need an extensive black wardrobe. She isn't going to have much to celebrate in the future if the dems keep going in the direction they're going.
Yeah, Katie, that's it!
It was the strategy!
Please, please, please, keep your ideas, and shout them out louder and even louder next time!
That'll do the trick!
What else can I say except...thank you again for your service. God Bless you.
How do the guys in the press know what her mouth tastes like? Maybe some deep French kissing going on there? If its French, do it.
Definitely hope to do so. I lived in Mexico City for a couple years and love Mexican food.
Thanks for your very informative insights.
And of course in addition to depression you describe as being common among women of a certain age, she experienced the sudden, tragic death of a husband she apparently loved very much. My working theory is that she was given a heavy dose of sedatives at the time and became habituated.
That is so kind. Thanks so much!
There are SO MANY DummieKrats I would just love to get into their face and smile the smile of the Just, Honest and True.
Then SLAP the silly right oughta them!!
G
I hope some of them are reading this thread today ;-) If so: hi there!
She didn't help with some of her gaffes but she wasn't the main problem.
The person they chose as their nominee was the main problem.
You reminded me of an incident when I first moved here several months ago. The usual sales call came and I told the woman that I did not like the leftist lean of the newspaper. She said "oh, well, you could just read the local ads and such." Is that desperation????
Maybe Rendell knows after all the absentee ballots are in PA will go to Bush. Maybe he hears his own bell tolling.
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