Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 5 February 2006

Various big media television networks ^ | 5 February 2006 | Various Self-Serving Politicians and Big Media Screaming Faces

[Alas Babylon!]

The Talk Shows

Sunday, February 5th, 2006

Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows:

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Gen. Michael Hayden, the principal deputy director of national intelligence; House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Boehner; Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa.

FACE THE NATION (CBS): Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.

THIS WEEK (ABC): Gen. Michael Hayden; Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman.

LATE EDITION (CNN) : Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.; Afghan President Hamid Karzai; former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi; Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi ambassador to the United States; Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor; Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

[snugs]

I think the argument is about non conservatives and non Republicans I think you and MNjohnnie are at cross purposes here

[rodguy911]

O,K. I won't--I'll just give another 24 alert instead:
31 hours 22 minutes until Jack Bauer saves the day.

[Txsleuth]

One of the things that Hayden said today...to "reassure" people that this wasn't DOMESTIC spying, was that if a known Al-queda figure was making a phone call to the US from somewhere in Canada, say....then under what the NSA is doing, they "could" listen...

BUT, if that same person where to move to Buffalo NY...and make a phone call to the same person in the US...the COULD NOT listen..

NOW..like I said, it was a hypothetical to reassure that this ISN'T a domestic case..but, his example scared the bejeebers out of ME...because I WANT them to be able to intercept messages from an al-queda member if it means they are getting ready for an attack!!!

[Revererdrv]

I have been trying to think what could the Democrats use to motivate their party? We have talk shows and this forum all day every day.... The Dems. have nothing but Hate Bush.
Sooner or later the hate becomes a cancer. Nobody wants to be around the disease! I think some of this started with the Clinton's attitude to those who oppose them. Now the entire Dem. Party is full of anger, resentment and hatred.

[snugs]

You cannot do this your stopwatch is broken

[Peach]

There were lots of good responsible people who worked for corporations that had a retiree prescription plan. So those people bought into the plan.

When the feds came out with their plan, the plan included money to corporations encouraging them not to drop their retirees from the company prescription plan. The fear was that corporations would see that the feds have a plan and if the corporations dropped their retirees, there wouldn't be a public relations backlash at leaving people without coverage when it was something that had been promised to them.

Well, the number crunchers ran the numbers and decided that even with the bribery from the feds, they were better off dropping their coverage to retirees. And there wouldn't be the public relations disaster because it wasn't as though they were leaving people high and dry. People would be covered by the feds.

The problem is, the coverage by the feds is spotty. I've forgotten the exact numbers (although it should be drilled into my head by now because my dad complains about it often enough. LOL).

Anyway - the feds by something like the first $2,500 in prescription costs per year. Then the individual picks up the cost until approx. $5,000. Then the feds pick up the costs again until $7,500 is spent and drops you again after some level is reached. And on it goes. I hope that makes sense.

For someone like my dad who has had a stroke and takes 9 pills a day, he reaches $2,500 a year in prescription drugs VERY quickly. This is true for lots of elderly people who start taking more and more medicine as they get older.

[rockrr]

Sphincter couldn't possibly be a more accommodating guest for timmy, but there were at least two occasions where timmy practically shouted questions at him.

timmy must be spending too much time over at DU. Do I detect the onset of a breakdown?

[Peach]

You're being very sweet, snugs. But the name calling by this person and calling people liars is appalling and is not to be tolerated.

[rodguy911]

I hope you do this every week sensational stuff! I especially applaud Laura for going to Iraq.

[Bahbah]

At the bottom of the screen on FNC: "Will Congress reign in Spending"

It is "rein" in, not "reign" in.

[Txsleuth]

I haven't been able to be on the thread all day ...so I don't know if this has been brought up...

Specter is on record as complaining and not agreeing with the White House about the need to get the Congress MORE involved in this...and I think he even disputes that the "secrecy" is the problem the White House claims it is...

I would posit...that when Alberto Gonzalez sits down tomorrow...his first statement should be that this hearing is being called because Congress is concerned that THEY weren't informed enough about the NSA intelligence gathering...HOWEVER, the fact that there even IS a hearing makes the point moot.

The NSA progam was LEAKED....therefore, the POTUS was correct in keeping it as secret as he did...but, obviously told TOO MANY PEOPLE...

And then Gonzalez should excuse himself and leave.

[A.Hun]

For my folks who are in their Eighties, it has worked well. It should save them between 1000-1500 dollars this year.

We are a small business and we provide a prescription plan. It hasn't dropped coverage on them yet.

For large corporation pension and health benefits (especially union firms), they are all in the crapper. They can't afford them...it has killed GM. Most of the pensions are going to be underwritten by the Federal Government. Many of these people would lose benefits in the next few years regardless.

This program is expensive, but IMHO, it was needed. It is certain that it will continue to be debated widely!

[snugs]

I did not realise that. My dad takes about 18 tablets a day that would cost him a fortune then in the US whereas he has been getting his prescriptions free for about 18 years.

Before that we have another scheme where you can buy a yearly prescription card which covers all medication for a year. It is expensive but worth it if you have a lot of medicines. Maybe that is something that should be thought of for $2,500 - $7,500 bracket.

[snugs]

Transcript of the VP's interview by Laura in which she mentions going to Iraq.

I also got the feeling at the end of the interview the VP is some what fed up with the publicity regarding what he considers very minor health issues.

Interview of the Vice President by Laura Ingraham Via Telephone, The Laura Ingraham Show

[Peach]

I don't know what the answer is, but even the administration has admitted disappointment that the result has enabled corporations to drop their retiree coverage without fear of public retribution.

There are also a lot of Republicans in Congress who have said they've received more complaints about this issue than any other from people who have been dropped by their private companies.

My dad wrote Lindsey Graham and received a reply admitting that he's gotten more letters about this issue than any other and that they are hoping to find a "fix". But most times Congress tries to fix something, they break it. LOL

That's why conservatives are for limited government and would prefer the goverment stop trying to fix stuff :-)

[STARWISE]

They're also making some real estate moves

McCains having trouble selling mansion PHOENIX, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tests the declining real estate market as he tries to sell his recently price-reduced $3.75 million Phoenix mansion.

The 11,000 square foot estate, with its nine bedrooms and eight bathrooms -- and eight surveillance cameras -- has been on the market for three months.

Only six prospective buyers have checked it out, the Arizona Republic says. That led to a half-million-dollar price cut.

A year ago, there were 145 homes priced at $500,000 or more for sale in Phoenix. Now, there are 1,341. Houses were selling in days last year, but now, it's taking an average of six weeks.

McCain and his wife, Cindy, who grew up in the house, want to downsize.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It might be this one but I'm not sure. I just kept scrolling until I got to the right price/bedrooms/baths.

$3,750,000 ADDRESS
7110 N CENTRAL AV
Phoenix, AZ 85020

HIGHLIGHTS

Style: Other (See Remarks) Year Built: 1951 -- since it was Cindy's father's home, this could make sense
Square Feet: 5,001 +
Bedrooms: 9.0
Bathrooms: 8.0

DETAILS

BathsMasterDesc : Full Bath Master Bedroom, Separate Shower and Tub, Double Sinks, Tub with Jets
Bed1Desc : Other Bedroom Split, 2 Master Bedrooms,
Separate Bedroom Exit, Master Bedroom Walk-In Closet,
Other Bedroom Walk-In Closet, Master Bedroom Sitting Room
CoolSystem : Refrigeration
Energy : Sunscreen(s), Ceiling Fan(s), Multi-Pane Windows, Multi-Zones
Features : Vaulted Ceiling(s), Wet Bar(s)
Fence : Block Fencing
FireplaceDesc : 3+ Fireplaces, Fireplace in Family Room, Fireplace in Living Room, Fireplace in Master Bedroom, Gas Fireplace, Exterior Fireplace
HeatSystem : Gas Heat
ParkingDesc : 3 Car Garage, Other (See Remarks), Electric Door Opener(s), Separate Storage Area(s), Other
PoolPrivate : Pool-Private, Play Pool, Lap Pool
PropDesc : Corner Lot, Gated Community
Roof : Built-Up, Partial Tile
RoomDiningDesc : Formal, Eat-In Kitchen, Breakfast Room
RoomKitchenDesc : Range/Oven, Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Refrigerator, Pantry, Kitchen Island
RoomOtherDesc : Family Room, Library - Built-in Bookcase(s), Den / Office, Bonus / Game Room
Guest Qtrs- Sep Entrance, Exercise / Sauna Room
SpaPrivate : Spa Private, Spa-Heated

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow .. I gasp at the prices for real estate these days everywhere.

[Mo1]

Given the patterns of personal savings and debt I'm always amused by this grave concern about government debt. This isn't to say the concern isn't out there but on the surface it's an amazing disconnect

I agree

But remember .. many rely on the Government to bail them out when things get tough and the money they earn isn't coming in any more .. for say example Social Security or Unemployment

Unfortunately ... many think of the Government as a back up system because of all the taxes they pay out now .. they think of the government as their savings account

[Mo1]

The staunch conservatives I know in my life are ticked at Republicans and when I've asked why, the number one issue is spending. The number two issue is they are tired of our guys acting like doormats and letting the left lie with impunity.

Yep ..

[cardinal4]

Sooner or later the hate becomes a cancer. Nobody wants to be around the disease! I think some of this started with the Clinton's attitude to those who oppose them. Now the entire Dem. Party is full of anger, resentment and hatred.

Good post..

[snugs]

I suspect that would be much more expensive in England