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'Today': Matt Chides Dems, Mike Nips John, Meredith Lets Loose

newsbusters.org

Lauer opened his interview with the chrome-domed duo of James Carville and Philly radio host Michael Smerconish by rubbing his own less-than-hirsute pate and observing with a laugh in the shot captured here: "First time in a long time I feel like I have a luxuriant head of hair."

But things quickly turned serious. Echoing a sentiment expressed by his rookie sidekick yesterday, Lauer left little doubt he feels the Democrats are squandering an electoral opening by failing to propose sufficient specifics on national security. Lauer to Carville: "if you [Dems] ever had an opportunity to take advantage of it, it's now, and the Democrats can't get their act together."

Hey, at least Matt didn't say "if we Dems."

Carville offered a defensive response: "I think they will. As [the campaign] unfolds you're going to see more specificity."

Lauer was left unsatisfied: "On this particular issue, can we make you safer, can we win the war on terror, why haven't the Democrats come up with a better answer than 'that's not a fair comment?'"

Carville responded by listing a number of Dem security proposals: implementing recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, improving port security, energy independence and cooperation and reaching out to other nations.

Speaking of port security, I'd say the Dems best talking point is our failure to inspect more than about 5% of shipping containers entering US ports. I've never heard an administration official give an answer as to why we don't do more. Why not?

Talk then turned to the recent comment by Republican House Majority Leader John Boehner that "Democrats are more interested in the rights of terrorists than in protecting the American people." That was a bridge too far for Smerconish to defend: "He crossed the line. I'm not here as a Kool-Aid drinker," referring to Boehner's line as a "cheap shot."