Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 10 December 2006

Various big media television networks ^ | 10 December 2006 | Various Self-Serving Politicians and Big Media Screaming Faces

[Alas Babylon!]

The Talk Shows

Sunday, December 10th, 2006

Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows:

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., co-chairmen of the Iraq Study Group; Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Sam Brownback, R-Kan.; composer Marvin Hamlisch.

MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Baker and Hamilton.

FACE THE NATION (CBS): Baker and Hamilton; Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Trent Lott, R-Miss.

THIS WEEK (ABC): British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Sens. Joe Biden, D-Del., and Gordon Smith, R-Ore.; actor Ed Asner.

LATE EDITION (CNN) : Baker and Hamilton; Reps. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Jane Harman, D-Calif.; Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution of Iraq; Israeli Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

[popdonnelly]

I'm glad I didn't bother to watch television this morning. Watching the glib and pompous Baker and Hamilton would have driven me up a wall.

[Txsleuth]

I somehow think that Rummy would not be in the mood for going to a meeting with Pres. Bush if he was fired.

[rodguy911]

Rummy had already submitted his resignation twice before to think that this time he had to be "fired" makes little sense.Few have served their country longer and with more dedication than Rummy.

[Txsleuth]

I have a serious question:

If this bugging of Diana's telephone by the Intelligence dept or Secret Service had happened under Pres. Bush's presidency....don't you believe we would already have had several dems on TV demanding an investigation???

Where is the outrage by the GOP??? America can't do something like that to a citizen of another country, especially an ally...and most especially the former wife of Prince Charles without a darn good reason...and from what I have heard..no one in England was aware of it at the time...

Wouldn't the MSM be in Tony Blair's face TODAY, wanting his thoughts on the revelations??

[ilovew]

Didn't Rummy always say he served at the pleasure of the President?

[snugs]

Off to eat dinner now roast chicken and the trimmings followed by a chocolate cake that I made from a mix a freeper sent me.

Here it is with British butter cream and Smarties on top

See you next week

[rodguy911]

OOOOHH loooks so gooodd

[Txsleuth]

That is diplo speak.....even Colin Powell was saying that right up to when he left.

I really think it came down to a stategy session between Rummy, Cheney, maybe Condi and others...doing the "what ifs" regarding the election results in November.

If the GOP had held the House especially, but preferably both houses of Congress..then I think Rummy might have stayed...but they decided ahead of time..what would be the likely scenario in 2007 and 2008 if the House went Dem.

It is like war planning...you have to make a plan for all contingencies...and Rummy "resigning" was what they decided would be the best course for HIM...if the dems won the House, and especially both...which the did.

Pres. Bush is LOYAL..almost to a fault (see George Tenet)...and so he would NEVER fired Rummy against Rummy's wishes...plus, there is a LOT we don't know about this war...and I think Rummy and Pres. Bush do know...and are doing what is best for Rummy.

Now...Pres. Bush choosing Gates...I can't answer for that one...except that Bush knew that anyone HE would really, really want would probably not get confirmed..(see John Bolton)...so, I am sure he figured since he is the CIC, and POTUS, Gates might squawk more than he would like...but Gates can't force Pres. Bush to do anything.

As it should be.

[shrinkermd]

Actually, the British took Baghdad from the Turks not from the Arabs. In fact, the Turks abandoned Baghdad to protect the railway. Only two non-Moslem powers ever took Baghdad from the resident Arabs--Mongols and US.

"...The British troops were greeted with enthusiasm from the local population. A week after the capture, General Maude issued the Proclamation of Baghdad which included the line: "Our armies do not come into your cities and lands as conquerors or enemies, but as liberators..."

This was clearly a victory for the British and yet another defeat for the Ottoman government. The humiliation for the British due to the loss of Kut had been at least partially rectified. The Ottoman government was forced to end its military operations in Persia and try to build up a new army to prevent the British from moving on to capture Mosul.

"...The capture of Baghdad, a provincial capital, also meant that the first Turkish province had fallen under British control. Although this was good news, it caused a great deal of bureaucratic fighting between the British government in London and the British government in India...

The Arabs saw the British as liberators and did not resist or defend the city.

[MNJohnnie]

You know some times I think you just yank my chain because it amuses you too watch me freak out. :-) Factually incorrect on Afghanistan and the Russians tactics. Russians pretty much practiced indiscriminate mine warfare and a free fire doctrine outside urban areas in Afghanistan. Country is still covered with thousands of mines thanks to them. Also factually incorrect on the situation on the ground in Iraq.

Perhaps you can explain this. IF we are being "shot to hell" as the drama queen parts of the US media keeps screaming, why are Coalition casualties for 2006 lower then in 2005 and for 2005 lower then 2004?

US Casualties By Calendar Year Year

US Deaths US Wounded

2003 486 2408

2004 848 8001

2005 846 5947

2006 748 5676

Total 2928 22032

[Wolfstar]

It may show that GWB and Rummy aren't on bad terms but I don't think it necessarily shows that Rummy wasn't fired.

As you wish, ilovew.

[txrangerette]

I don't know if anyone replied to your post about no one with military experience being on the Commission. If so, I apologize for coming in late and repeating something, but I believe Former Senator Robb of VA (Democrat, LBJ son-in-law) served on the Commission. He had quite a bit of military experience. But I believe he's the only one. Whooptido! /sar

[Wolfstar]

This is obviously why the official hand over is not until Monday week I suspect ceremonial swearing in will be probably be very early on Monday morning. I read somewhere that Rumsfeld will officially be Secretary of Defense until first thing on Monday morning hence my reasoning for the above.

Your reasoning is sound, snugs. Normally when someone is confirmed to a cabinet position, they are officially sworn in almost immediately thereafter. What I take from the news you posted, and which I quoted above, is that for some reason Gates was not officially sworn in immediately after his confirmation. So it will all happen Monday, both official and ceremonial, perhaps simultaneously (although that's rare in DC).

[Boston Tea Party]

Thanks! I will definitely give this a try.

[malia]

President hillary rodam clinton and...


Vice President Barack Hussein Obama

Oh my!!!

[Mo1]

Where is the outrage by the GOP??? America can't do something like that to a citizen of another country, especially an ally...and most especially the former wife of Prince Charles without a darn good reason...and from what I have heard..no one in England was aware of it at the time.

If I was to guess .. they are afraid of being called a hypocrite for wanting to do the warrant-less wire taps??

One thing the GOP should point out though .... is we are in favor of warrant-less wiretaps for KNOWN TERRORISTS

Last I heard ... Diana wasn't a terrorists .. an PITA for the Queen of England .. but not a terrorists

OFF TOPIC ... Why is the media acting like the NH Primaries are this week?

[Txsleuth]

Snugs...you are a great cook...wow, that cakes looks delicious.

Devil's food is my favorite kind of cake, too.

[Txsleuth]

You know...I think a Clinton/Obama ticket would be a MSM and DEM wet dream...but,

When you think about it...do you think this country, having never even elected a woman to VPOTUS, let alone POTUS---and having never elected a black person as VPOTUS, let along POTUS, ....and

considering NEITHER of them have any military experience and we are a war now...and still will be in 2008....

Do you think this country would vote for them separately, but especially as a team??

[Txsleuth]

Because the media is SO excited about a Hillary-Obama presidency that they are going to declare them the winners as soon as possible...

They won't let a little thing like elections being 2 years away..and the White House currently being occupied get in the way of (in their opinion) a GREAT story.

[Txsleuth]

BTW...good point about the outrage part..

But, even a better point about having the GOP attach this to current news re: terrorist surveillance.