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."
Well, 30 days is the standard, isn't it? I think after that it's a simple black armband...
Don't I wish.
Don't line their pockets. Drop by the dentist's office and give them a read.
I listened to Chrissy Matthews to watch the hand wringing on replay early this morning...I watched Imus to catch any guests and their whines..I am now ready to enjoy the leftwing blather briefly..
Exactly. Please, no more "far right" programs like the huge extension of Medicare to include prescription drugs.
all the talk show hosts are dressed in black today.. ABC,CBS,NBC
My pleasure - thanks for your kind comments.
I guess the people at NBC feel it is ok for Katie to insult the majority of Americans by wearing black when the President wins reelection.
Blah, blah, Europe would have elected Kerry, blah, blah, Clinton would be elected for life if he could, Blah, Blah, Right Wing Radio hate speech, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Message to Democrats, just do the right thing:
And although its rainy and cold here, a ray of sunshine follows me wherever I go.
Thanks, YaYa. If there are any other good Teresa tidbits in Newsweek, could you please post them?
Her mouth tastes like Elizabeth Edwards? Eeeeew.
I did call my senator Corzine whose job was to elect more dem senators. I thanked him for his effort of getting more REPUBLICAN senators to the fold.
Absolutely. Everyone I spoke with yesterday (including plenty of Dems) believes the MSM was actively trying to influence the election right up to reporting the wrong poll numbers.
That's the machine for you.
I flipped over to GMA, and sure enough, Diane Sawyer is sporting a black sweater!
Bro in law happily bought the New York Times yesterday, just to see the headline that BUSH WON!!!
I've heard this argument repeatedly, but there was no response, quick or otherwise.
What could they possibly say or do to refute the Swift Boat Vets? The real reson they didn't respond to this is that they knew the SBVets were telling the truth. If Kerry had taken them on, he would have been utterly and totally destroyed.
They did all in their power to destroy the Swift Boat Vets after it became clear that they were winning the hearts and minds of america's VN vets and their families.
The media is the enemy......never forget.
Maybe we could refer to Katie's black outfits as Wellstonewear.
I posted a thread yesterday specifically asking whether McAuliffe had gone into hiding. One person reported seeing him in a group TV shot, but no one had seen him give a TV interview. He's definitely gone underground.
And come to think of it, amid all the thank yous Kerry offered up in his concession speech yesterday, I don't recall him thanking Terry, do you?
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