"OK, I'm here to take over for Julian. Where do I sit?"
Posted on 01/15/2006 5:17:10 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
January 15, 2006 - 08:04
Once might be excused as an aberration, but twice signals a troubling trend.
On Saturday's Fox & Friends Weekend, over-promoted host Julian Phillips seemed to downplay the threat posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions. He implied that there was limited cause for concern since Iran has agreed agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to carry out surprise inspections of its nuclear sites with as little as two hours notice.
Phillips was back at it this morning. His guest was Barry Schweid senior diplomatic correspondent for AP and a Fox News contributor. And once again, Phillips trotted out his pet theory:
"They agreed to protocols with the UN in 2003 for snap inspections in two hours or less. Why are these inspections not enough?"
Like a patient teacher gently correcting a slower student, Schweid explained:
"There are reports of secret facilities, of building 5000 centrifuges ready to be put on platforms [centrifuges are used to enrich uranium. Not clear whether his reference to platforms suggested they would be mobile and hence harder to detect], If Iran refuses to let people look at what they're doing and are hiding things, monitoring is not going to do the job."
Phillips is also apparently unaware that just three days ago, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki threatened to cancel permission for surprise inspections and end other cooperation with the IAEA.
It is emblematic of Phillips superficiality that to end the interview, he tossed out as a throwaway this question:
"Real quickly: military action looming ahead shortly, what do you think?"
Consider Julian's frivolousness. He is invoking the possibility of war in a nuclear-charged situation. Nothing could be graver. Yet he did it "real quickly" as a way to end an interview.
For the record, Schweid's response: "Who am I to know, but no I don't. The president has said this is different from Iraq. We keep hearing diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy, Iran is not Iraq, and you would get almost no support for anyhow."
Julian, it could be time to consider an offer to join the Live at Five Team in Terre Haute.
Yep. Outside of Brit Hume, IMO, FNC's other "news" shows are simply unappealing. Way too much chatter and not near enough news. Then, add to it the fact that they take Juliet Huddy away from their Saturday morning lineup, Kiran Chentry gets preggo, and BAM, they lost me.....
Jullian Philips like Juan Williams=quota hires.
"Phox's Phillips Psurmises Psnap Psearches Psufficient Phor Pstopping Iran Nukes"...
Say that three times fast and drunk...
Nothing at all. It's just that I think Julian would be better off on a local news show in a small market, and since he constantly lets us know he went to university in Indiana [Purdue], I kind of picked Terre Haute out of a hat!
It's an easy explanation actually. Notice all the other lefties on FNC throughout the day - as a male bimbo he simply attracts like-minded types as do the others. The reason the FNC has the highest ratings is not because only conservatives watch it, but a rather wide swath across the middle.
Juliet, sends me into an adiabatic reaction....
I might disagree with Juan, but he strikes me as a nice, even a sweet, guy and is generally well-informed. Phillips, in contrast, seems ill-at-ease and is palpably in way over his head.
He's the EEOC hire.
You're forgetting Gibson, Cavuto.
I saw the segment. Good analysis. Thanks for your work.
Thanks, PG - my pleasure as always.
I don't want to be too harsh on Julian. He's probably a good guy, but simply cannot cut the mustard on a national news show. He must hear the comments and feel the pressure. He's risen beyond his level of competence. I think it's likely he'd be happier and more content, and the FNC base surely would be, if he returned to duties more suited to his abilities.
"I might disagree with Juan, but he strikes me as a nice, even a sweet, guy and is generally well-informed. Phillips, in contrast, seems ill-at-ease and is palpably in way over his head."
I concur in your assessment of both men. In addition, to me, Phillips'affectations make him difficult to watch. His transparent attempts to "make" himself "look" intelligent is a painful sight indeed.
Miss Marple will be upset with you..
Hoosiers are tough. They can handle Julian ;-)
ROFLMAO......!!!!!!
Yep, you're right. My bad. I like both those shows, too. I guess I'm still in a fog from them pulling Juliet Huddy and moving her to the middle of the day when I can only listen via XM......
"OK, I'm here to take over for Julian. Where do I sit?"
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