Weekend Show *Preview* for 2/3 - 2/4/07 (not the live thread)

Network and Cable News Networks | 2/3/07 | Network and Cable News

[Phsstpok]

Preview and Analysis for Weekend of February 3^rd and 4^th, 2007

Guest lineup for the Sunday TV news shows:

NBC's "Meet the Press" Former Senator John Edwards CBS's "Face the Nation" NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell CBS Sports Analyst Dan Marino CBS Sports Lead Game Analyst Phil Simms "Fox News Sunday" Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

CNN "Late Edition" Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Ca Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind Rob Portman, Director OMB Tom Vilsack, Former Iowa governor Ralph Nader Robert Baer, Intelligence Columnist, TIME Magazine John McLaughlin, Former Deputy Director of CIA Amine Gemayel, Former president of Lebanon Michael Gordon, New York Times ABC's "This Week" Sen. John McCain, R-Az Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb (?) Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

This week the dinosaur media is of three minds.  First, they wish to highlight the arguments, particularly within the Republican party, over the troop surge.  They want to create the impression that the only people supporting the surge are "out there" hawks who aren't in firm contact with the real politik.  The second thrust is the rapidly growing field in the 2008 presidential horse race.  Only four elections, two presidencies ago, Bill Clinton didn't declare his candidacy till October of the year before the election.  This time around the field is filling up with declared candidates a full nine months earlier.  It's interesting to me, however, that of the declared candidates on the air this week Edwards gets a friendly solo interview with Lil Timmah while Senator McCain will be mired in conflict over the surge with a likely unfriendly Georgie Stepoallofus.  Oh, and Tom Vilsack talks to Wolfie, ho hum.  At least he's good for some Bush bashing and anti-surge sound bites.  The third theme is the Super Bowl.  I find this particularly vexing due to the numerous incidents of malfeasance in the last few weeks among the presstitutes that are being ignored and covered up.  These are best exemplified by the treatment of Michael Gordon by his lords and masters at the New York Times for daring to say that he wants us to win in Iraq, contrasted with the silence from the Washington Post over William Arkin's disgraceful statements and subsequent conduct, particularly calling our military "mercenaries" who should shut up and be glad that anyone supports them in any way.

So, what does each show offer us?  Well, here's my take.

NBC Meet The Press is a straight forward one player look at John Edwards candidacy for president.  Will it be a hagiography?  Will Lil Timmah thump him for the outlandish hypocrisy of his "two Americas" hype and his own Daddy Warbucks lifestyle?  We'll just have to wait and see, but I can guarantee you that Timmah will solicit as many Bush bashing quotes as he can.  This week I don't think that there's a lot of there there from MTP.

CBS Face The Nation completely abandons any rational discourse on the issues of the day, regardless of the fact that we may be in the run up to the war of Armageddon.  Nope, CBS has the Super Bowl this year, so they turn the entire show into one big promotion for that ratings bonanza.  I guess they know who signs their paychecks.  It's the guys who make Miller Lite and the monkeys at Monster.COM, that's who!

Fox News Sunday brings us the execrable Jim Webb and John McCain's sock puppet, Lindsey Graham.  If there are two more detestable members of the political class in Washington I'd be very surprised.  Most who I would consider worse, Kucinich for example, are so clownish as to have some redeeming value due to the humor inherent in their every utterance.  Webb and Graham don't have any redeeming value at this point.  At least we have the regular roundtable this week.  Dare we hope for a Brit smack down of Juan?  We can always hope.

CNN Late Edition is back to their usual eclectic mix after a limited and more focused talent pool last week.  The surge is a central theme, but the news network of the Mooninites is intent on exposing the ever increasing monetary cost of Bush's war.  To date the trip wire in Congress regarding the war, similar to the third rail of actually fixing Social Security, has been whether or not the Congress will cut funds for the war.  CNN is determined to lay the ground work for doing that as an act of fiscal responsibility.  Bush's war just costs too much.  We'll have to cut back on money for WIC (Women Infants and Children, you know, baby milk) in order to continue this worthless adventure, don't you know that?  Who can blame a right thinking public servant for cutting off money if those are the stakes?  And don't you dare say that they aren't supporting the troops.  They are.  They want to bring them home where they can be safe!  CNN also seems intent on being the CNN friendly network this week.  To me this is of a piece with the rest of CNNs anti Bush obsession.  We know that the "shadow government" that has been working against Bush has its strongest roots in the CIA.  Are these guests some of the central players in that de facto attempted coup?  Given the history and positions of the two ex-CIA types on this show I have my own suspicions that this is in fact the case.  What's intriguing is why they are both being featured now, particularly the relatively reclusive McLaughlin.  Could it be that things are going to come out in the Libby trial that they want to try to preempt?  Or might this be the end game, the last plays in their war on George W. Bush, particularly putting on an all out effort to discredit and destroy our efforts in Iraq?  What these two say on this show may be the thing that is most interesting to me this week.  And CNN has Michael Gordon, the NY Times reporter who was chastised for saying that he wants the US to win in an interview.  Are they setting him up to be "exposed" as damaged goods?  Are they exposing the problems at the old grey lady?  Or might they be providing the platform for his scripted recanting of his apostasy?  That will also be interesting to see.  What will also be interesting is whether I can stomach watching Wolfie long enough to find my answers to the questions I have posed.

ABC This Week has a straight up confrontation between pro-surge Republican McCain and anti-surge RINO Hagel.  McCain has gone from media darling to persona non grata over this issue, while Hagel has become the new darling "maverick" due to his outlandish Bush bashing.  Last week McCain seemed shocked by the unfriendly treatment at the hands of Lil Timmah on MTP, even after dutifully bashing Bush during the first part of the interview.  I think this week he is being invited to mend his ways and "come to Jane Fonda" on this issue.  Then they talk to the single mom who is a weight watcher's spokesperson as her primary source of income, despite being a semi pseudo member of the Royal Family of England about motherhood.  What's up with that?

The minor league Saturday shows very much mirror their major league counterparts on the Sunday shows.  The Beltway Boys echo the (premature IMHO) presidential horse race discussion and the Constitutional crisis of the Cindy Sheehanesque behavior on the part of many of our elected representatives.  They even throw in the bizarre spectacle of a serious discussion of Al Franken as a candidate for Senate.  The CNBC Tim Russert Show provides a platform for anti Bush dinosaur media orthodoxy on Iraq, with pretensions of intellectual objectivity.  Fox News Watch completely abrogates their responsibility to critique their own profession and apparently ignores the William Arkin disgrace in favor of Super Bowl hype.  Why am I not surprised?  And then the Journal Editorial Report takes serious looks at the Libby Trial, the reality of our actual (and covered up) economic surge along with the reality of the Constitutional issues regarding the Iraq surge resolutions.  It's nice to know that there are a few adults still working in the DBM.

So this weeks shows continue the active campaign by the left and their myrmidons in the dinosaur media (or is it the other way around) against President Bush and all that he stands for, damn the cost to America and human civilization.  Many players from a surprisingly broad political spectrum dared to raise the question this week of the bloody cost of the left's last "success" in such an endeavor some 35 years ago.  The butcher's bill rivaled the direct atrocities of Hitler's rule, but that idea isn't considered worthy of discussion and those people are not deemed worthy of face time by the dinosaur media.  I'm not surprised, are you?  Central players in the dinosaur media are standing up and declaring their all out hatred for our troops and their mission as well as exposing their own tendencies towards sociopathic behavior.  Members of both parties are running full tilt towards the extreme moonbat positions of Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore, never once considering that there's a brick wall looming in their paths (I hope).  And all this time the "conventional wisdom" that they have been trying so hard to build has been becoming more soft and murky with every day.  The surge just may be working, the sheeple may just be beginning to smell the odor of the lies they've been being fed and they could stampede at the slightest twitch or noise.  Which way will they break, if they do?  We are being thrust carelessly into a "quantum indeterminate state" where existential success or failure both loom as possibilities and the Dhimmicrat party and the dinosaur media are hopelessly invested in our failure.  But I have an answer for them:

Rest here, hung up by this brass wire, upon this shelf, O my pen, whether of skilful make or clumsy cut I know not; here shalt thou remain long ages hence, unless presumptuous or malignant story-tellers take thee down to profane thee. But ere they touch thee warn them, and, as best thou canst, say to them: 

Hold off! ye weaklings; hold your hands!
Adventure it let none,
For this emprise, my lord the king,
Was meant for all of us.

This should be cross posted to my blog at Wizards.townhall.com in a few minutes (hope springs eternal).  This post exists primarily as a heads up for who is on the weekend talks shows, what they've been invited on to push (based on their recent pronouncements) and the spin (meme) the DBM is likely trying to push based on that information. All of this is prep work for the weekly Sunday Morning Talk Show thread posted by Alas Babylon!. That thread provides a live commentary and analysis of the Sunday talking head shows, with valuable insight and exceptional fact checking. we are the Jedi Council of FreeRepublic, at least in regards to these DBM gabfests. You wanna know what was said and what it meant, as well as where they messed up? Read that thread!

Mark Kilmer has posted his excellent preview of the Sunday shows (hours ago) over at Redstate.COM.  I will try post a link to his Sunday review when it is up.

 

 

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Saturday Shows for February 3^rd, 2007

Below are the topics and guests announced for these programs, along with my take on the "memes" that the shows are trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

The Beltway Boys (Mort Kondrake, Fred Barnes)

• Meme:
  • It's over 670 days till the 2008 election.  Isn't it a bit obscene to be talking about a "front runner" right now?
  • Where's Dimitri Tiomkin when you need him?  This showdown at the beltway corral needs a theme song!  And who can sing it but Frankie Laine?
  • Al Franken is a comic?  Who knew?
• Topics:
  • Who are the 2008 frontrunners? The race is off to an early start
  • Showdown between Bush and the Senate over Iraq
  • Comic Al Franken says he's in the Minnesota Senate race
• Beltway Boys contact information beltway@foxnews.com
• The program airs on FOX News Channel Saturdays at 6 and 11:30 p.m. ET

CNBC's Tim Russert Show (Tim Russert)

• Meme:
  • George Bush is damaging the institution of the free press with his war, he's even making the good reporters disagree with each other
  • It's bad in Iraq.  Let us repeat that, it's bad in Iraq.  In fact, it's even worse than we've been telling you.  Now, remember that, no matter what else you hear
• Topics:
  • Tim talks to two award-winning journalists who have reported from the Iraq front lines - "Not to be missed"
• Guests
  • John Burns of the New York Times
    • The Surge Pushers (ZNet, MA - Jan 18, 2007)
    • Iraqi Government Cold To Bush's Plan (TheDay, CT - Jan 11, 2007)
    • A Second Iraqi Hanging Goes Awry (TheDay, CT - Jan 16, 2007)
    • Watching Saddam swing (Rabble.ca, Canada - Jan 5, 2007)
  • Rajiv Chandrasekaran of The Washington Post
    • United 93 director asks: what went wrong in iraq? (Daily Mail, UK - Jan 19, 2007)
    • In the zone (The Phoenix, MA - Jan 4, 2007)
    • Into it: Andrea Mitchell (Christian Science Monitor, MA - Jan 18, 2007)
    • Bush turns to one-time dissenters on Iraq (MSNBC - Jan 13, 2007)
• CNBC's Tim Russert Show airs Saturday at 7pm, 10pm & 1am ET

Fox News Watch (Eric Burns)

• Meme:
  • Lets see, William Arkin, the "National Security" correspondent for the Washington Post and NBC military "expert," has a meltdown this week, what should we talk about?  Of course, the Super Bowl!
  • Bad no attention to the frothing at the mouth mad man in the corner.  Focus on the Super Bowl.  yeah, that's the ticket.
• Topics:
  • Super Bowl Hype
    • Media coverage of the most watched TV event of the year
• The program airs on FOX News Channel Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. ET and Sundays at 2:30 a.m. ET
• Fox News Watch contact information Newswatch@foxnews.com

Journal Editorial Report (Paul Gigot) - FNC show page

• Meme:
  • You've heard what the dinosaur media has to say about the Libby trial, now learn what actually happened.
  • I bet you didn't know that we have the best economy in 50 years right now.  As Gomer Pyle used to say, surprise, surprise, surprise!
  • Okay, there's this obscure thing called the Constitution and it specifically limits and balances the powers of each branch of the government, see...
• Topics:
  • Opinion Journal web page: Libby in Court
    • What have we learned so far in the Scooter Libby trial?
    • The reasons for the economy's new surge
    • An interview with David Rivkin about Congress's war powers.
  • Fox News Channel web page
    • What can (and can't) the Congress do on Iraq?
    • Week 3 of the Libby trial: How good are Judy Miller and Matt Cooper's memories?
    • Is this a Rodney Dangerfield Economy?
• Guests
  • David Rivkin
    • Law partner, Baker & Hostetler | Law firm web site | Bio
    • Former Bush (41) and Reagan administration official (see bio for details)
    • What Congress Can (And Can't) Do on Iraq (Washington Post - Jan 16, 2007)
    • Gray Areas (GovExec.com - Jan 28, 2007)
    • A Much Needed Lesson in Constitutional Law [Andy McCarthy] (National Review Online Blogs, NY - Jan 16, 2007)
    • Foreign policy summitry (Power Line - Jan 27, 2007)
    • Thoughts On The National Review Institute's Conservative Summit (American Thinker, AZ - Jan 30, 2007)
    • The Libbey travesty (Reno Gazette Journal, NV - Feb 2, 2007)
• Journal Editorial Report (at Fox News) contact information - jer@foxnews.com
• The program is from The Wall Street Journal and airs on FNC Saturday at 11 p.m. and again Sunday at 6 a.m. ET

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NBC Meet The Press (Tim Russert)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • The candidate from Breck gets the patented Lil Timmah treatment.  Do they like him?  Will they ask him about his 29,000 square foot palace?  Wait and see.
  • No matter what they think of Edwards, they know they can count on him to bash McChimpy Bushitler and Darth Cheney, so he's a good place to start
  • I bet they don't ask anything about Jon F'n Carry
• Topics:
  • "Meet the Candidates" series (first in a continuing series)
• Guests
  • Former Senator John Edwards
    • Democratic presidential candidate
    • Campaign web site | Bio
    • John Edwards Pledges Allegiance to Israel in Herzilya, Ready to Launch the Israeli War on Iran (Al-Jazeerah.info, GA - Feb 2, 2007)
    • No More Mr. Nice Guy For Edwards (CBS News - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Is it Fair to Mock Edwards over "Uncle John's Cabin"? (Town Hall - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Edwards' Nest Grist for Critics (Southern Pines Pilot, NC - Feb 1, 2007)
    • That big house (Charlotte Observer - Feb 1, 2007)
    • More on the Edwards House! (Town Hall, DC - Feb 1, 2007)
    • DNC WInter Meeting: Ex-Sen. John Edwards On The Stump (National Journal, DC - Feb 2, 2007)
    • 10 Things You Didn't Know About John Edwards (U.S. News & World Report, DC - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Edwards joins cry for universal healthcare (UPI - Feb 2, 2007)
    • John Edwards Gets Hawkish on Iran? (DemocracyArsenal.org, NY - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Biden joins race; razzes Clinton, Edwards (Wilmington Morning Star, NC - Feb 2, 2007)
    • 2008 Candidates Hit the Humor Circuit (Washington Post, DC - Feb 1, 2007)
• What would you like to ask this week's guests? (web page for submitting questions for this weeks show)
• Meet the Press mailbox (web page for comments)

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CBS Face The Nation (Bob Schieffer)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • Lets see, William Arkin, the "National Security" correspondent for the Washington Post and NBC military "expert," has a meltdown this week, what should we talk about?  Of course, the Super Bowl!
  • You know, in the Super Bowl they aren't allowed to add extra players in the middle of a game if they're losing, that means George Bush is cheating!
• Topics:
  • Super Bowl XLI
• Guests
  • Roger Goodell
    • NFL Commissioner
    • Goodell chosen as NFL's new commissioner (NFL.com - Aug 8, 2006)
    • Roger Goodell: 'No Reliable Test' for HGH (AOL SPORTS, NY - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Goodell, Upshaw at odds over blood testing (The State, SC - 11 hours ago)
    • Goodell working with Bengals (Bengals.com, OH - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Ditka: Retired NFL players in need of financial help (Orlando Sentinel  - Feb 2, 2007)
    • NFL commish won't commit to New Orleans Super Bowl (Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS - Feb 2, 2007)
    • 10 ways to improve the NFL (FOXSports.com - Feb 2, 2007)
  • Dan Marino
    • CBS Sports Analyst
    • Do You Think Dan Marino Secretly Roots Against Peyton Manning? (AOL SPORTS, NY - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Peyton’s practice impresses Marino (Lawrence Journal World, KS - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Exclusive: Dan Marino Talks Super Bowl Memories (CBS 4, FL - Jan 31, 2007_
  • Phil Simms
    • CBS Sports Lead Game Analyst
    • Players aim for Disney World ticket (Chicago Tribune, IL - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Some crazy stuff is bound to happen in Miami (FOXSports.com - Feb 2, 2007)
  • Jim Nantz
    • CBS Sports Play-by-Play Announcer
    • Jim Nantz pulls top broadcast duty for CBS (Charlotte Observer, NC - Feb 2, 2007)
    • CBS’ Nantz: Owner’s, coaches’ beliefs worthy of airtime (BP News, TN - Feb 2, 2007)
• Face The Nation contact information - ftn@cbsnews.com

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Fox News Sunday (Chris Wallace)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • George Bush is running destroying pro military political cohesion with his war, he's even making the good pro military politicians mad at each other
  • Jim Webb is a right wing American even a committed Stalinist could love
  • Any Republican who doesn't oppose the surge is cutting their own throat and the dinosaur media must save them from their own folly or, regretfully, help bury them
• Topics:
  • The Iraq surge:
    • Can the new strategy help stabilize Iraq or is it too late to curb the violence?
    • A new National Intelligence Estimate paints a bleak picture of the reality on the ground in Iraq as the White House defends the new plan for victory.
    • Democrats oppose President Bush's Iraq strategy, but do they have an alternative?
    • Senate resolution rumblings: legislators are planning a "vote of no confidence" in President Bush's plan for next week
    • A new report revealed that "the White House may not have been forthright" about the number of additional troops it plans to send to Iraq.
  • Fox News essay: Coming Up on 'FNS'
  • Power Player Of The Week: a fallen football star making his big comeback in the nation's capitol in a new game — politics
• Guests
  • Senator Jim Webb, Democrat - Virginia
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Galloway: Two senators show the courage of their convictions (Salt Lake Tribune, UT - Feb 3, 2007)
    • Frankly, Jim Webb embarrasses me (The Free Lance-Star, VA - Jan 29, 2007)
    • Tale of 2 economies: Bush, Democrats paint contrasting viewpoints (The Capital Times, WI - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Newsweek: 'Webb Gives Dems Testosterone,' Barnicle Says He's 'Terrific' For America (NewsBusters - Jan 30, 2007)
    • Narrow format, fine; narrow news, not good (The Free Lance-Star, VA - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Jim Webb's Barnburner (Al-Jazeerah.info, GA - Jan 26, 2007)
    • Democrat Defeatism Concerning Iraq, a Man Named Webb (WEBCommentary - Jan 29, 2007)
    • Truthdigger of the Week: Sen. Jim Webb (Truthdig, CA - Jan 26, 2007)
  • Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican - South Carolina
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Senator Graham Backs President (WCBD-TV, SC - Feb 2, 2007)
    • BUSH SENATE ALLIES DRAFT OWN RESOLUTIONS (Free Market News Network, FL - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Dole takes a stand and a chance (Charlotte Observer, NC - Feb 3, 2007)
    • Troop increase is a tough sale for GOP senators on '08 ballot (USA Today - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Army chief nominee gets harsh reception (Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - Feb 2, 2007)
    • US Senators Stress Bipartisanship (HULIQ, NC - Feb 3, 2007)
    • The Shame of Lindsey Graham (National Review Online Blogs, NY - Jan 10, 2007)
    • US Sens. Stabenow, Graham push trade prosecutor bill (WLNS, MI - Jan 31, 2007)
  • Roundtable
    • Brit Hume
      • FOX News Washington Managing Editor
      • Hume used baseless claim to attack straw-man version of Wash. Post article on Libby trial (Media Matters for America, DC - Feb 2, 2007)
      • Not All Scientists Are Buying What the UN Is Selling on Global Warming (Fox News Special Report Political Grapevine - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Bill Kristol
      • Weekly Standard Editor
      • A Terrible Ignominy (The Weekly Standard - Feb 12, 2007 issue)
      • Kristol: Anti-Surge GOP Sens Are "Anti-Troops" (TPMmuckraker, NY - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Juan Williams
      • NPR Senior National Correspondent
      • NPR Interview with President Bush (NPR - Jan 29, 2007)
      • Juan Williams on Interviewing President Bush (NPR - Jan 29, 2007)
    • Mara Liasson
      • NPR National Political Correspondent
      • Conservatives Eye Wide-Open Presidential Field (NPR - Jan 29, 2007)
      • Establishing Bipartisanship Is a Big Challenge (NPR - Jan 22, 2007)
• Fox News Sunday contact information - FNS@foxnews.com

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CNN Late Edition (Wolf Blitzer)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • Critics have been screaming that we need more troops in Iraq, now that there are more troops going anyone who supports that move must be destroyed
  • George Bush is running up the deficit with his war, he's even making the good fiscal conservatives mad at each other
  • We've got to figure out a way to get Bush to say "read my lips..."
  • Pay no attention to the graft and corruption by Democrats... they have pure motives
• Topics:
  • The Bush administration explains the billions of dollars spent on the war in Iraq
  • What role is Iran playing in Iraq?
• Guests
  • Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Senate Select Intelligence Committee member
    • Senate Judiciary Committee member
    • No Public Iraq NIE? (TPMmuckraker, NY - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Senator Feinstein's Iraq Conflict (Silicon Valley's Metro, CA - Jan 24, 2007)
    • Boxer, Feinstein support nationwide approach on global warming (North County Times, CA - Jan 30, 2007)
    • Senate panel concerned about holes in US-VISIT (FCW.com, VA - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Dianne’s war chest (Pasadena Weekly, CA - Feb 1, 2007)
  • Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Foreign Relations Committee member
    • Iran winning in Iraq? (Washington Times, DC - Feb 2, 2007)
    • US Democracy Promotion Efforts Face New Resistance (Secrecy News, DC - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Lugar talks about senate vote (WTHR, IN - Jan 28, 2007)
    • Lugar Opposes Measure Critical of President (Fox 28, IN - Jan 24, 2007)
    • Debate over war resolution strengthens our democracy (Indianapolis Star, IN - Jan 31, 2007)
    • How Iraq affects DC reputations (Los Angeles Times, CA - Jan 28, 2007)
  • Rob Portman
    • White House Budget Director (OMB) | Bio
    • Bush budget asks quarter-trillion for Iraq War (Buffalo News, NY - Feb 3, 2007)
    • Bush Warns of Tax Hikes (New York Sun, NY - Feb 3, 2007)
    • Paulson May Find Bush Is Biggest Hurdle to Social Security Deal (Bloomberg - Jan 30, 2007)
    • Democrats Serve Up Clinton-Style Centrism at Retreat (New York Times, NY - Feb 2, 2007)
  • Tom Vilsack
    • Democrat presidential candidate | Campaign web site | Bio
    • Former Iowa governor
    • Thompson, Vilsack pitch longshot candidacies in Las Vegas (Janesville Gazette, WI - Feb 3, 2007)
    • Tom Vilsack '72 Will Teach at Drake University's School of Law (Hamilton College News, NY - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Reader will work hard for Vilsack campaign (Clinton Herald, IA - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Andy Borowitz: Kucinich-Vilsack Race Turns Nasty (YubaNet (satire), CA - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Hansen: Hillary shines, while Vilsack's a hyphen (DesMoinesRegister.com, IA - Feb 1, 2007)
    • The soundtrack of their campaigns (MSNBC - Feb 2, 2007)
  • Ralph Nader
    • Leftist activist Consumer advocate | web site | Bio
    • Former presidential candidate
    • Author The Seventeen Traditions
    • (Ralph Nader, Hero or Grinch?) (Village Voice, NY - Feb 1, 2007)
    • The Village Voice supports Ralph Nader for president. (Village Voice - Nov 1, 2000)
    • Ralph Nader as paradox (Newsday - Feb 2, 2007)
    • The Nader of Debate (New York Daily News, NY - Feb 2, 2007)
    • The Endlessly Maddening (for Liberals) Case of Ralph Nader (New York Times - Jan 31, 2007)
  • Robert Baer
    • Intelligence Columnist, TIME.com
    • Former CIA officer
    • Are the Iranians Out for Revenge? (Time Magazine - Jan 30, 2007)
    • See No Evil by Jamie Glazov (FrontPage Magazine - Feb 11, 2004)
    • Ex-CIA Agent Robert Baer, Inspiration for 'Syriana' (NPR - Dec 6, 2005) - Note: streaming audio
    • US and IRGC Cooperation in Iraq (The Conservative Voice, NC - Feb 1, 2007)
    • CNN: US suspects Iranian hand in Karbala killings of American soldiers (Hot Air, MD - Jan 30, 2007)
    • Only a dictator can end Iraq violence: debate audience (Gulf Times, Qatar - Jan 31, 2007)
  • John McLaughlin
    • CNN National Security Analyst
    • Former Deputy Director of CIA and acting CIA director
    • Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institute | Bio (From University of Oklahoma, Tulsa)
    • The New Intelligence Challenge (Washington Post, DC - Jan 5, 2007)
    • Analysts: Iraq report lays out tough road (CNN International - Jan 30, 2007)
    • The Public's Dilemma (Huffington Post, NY - Jan 30, 2007)
    • More on the CIA leak (Indianapolis Star, IN - Jan 22, 2007)
    • Potential witnesses in CIA Leak case (Belleville News-Democrat, IL - Jan 16, 2007)
    • Is the New York Times a law unto itself? (Power Line, MN - Jan 25, 2007)
    • The Secret Life of Houdini: the Making of America's First Superhero (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - Jan 11, 2007)
  • Amine Gemayel
    • Former president of Lebanon
    • Gemayel to Washington Monday (Naharnet, Lebanon - Feb 2, 2007)
    • The Lebanese Dilemma: A Primer (Antiwar.com, CA - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Murr Mediation to Avert By-Elections Showdown in Metn (Naharnet, Lebanon - Jan 5, 2007)
    • Lebanon Prepares for 'Confrontation Phase-3' between Opposition and Majority (Naharnet, Lebanon - Jan 21, 2007)
    • Can Anyone Fix Lebanon? (Reason Online, CA - Jan 26, 2007)
    • Milestones in the Nation’s History (Egypt Today, Egypt - Jan 11, 2007)
  • Michael Gordon
    • New York Times chief military correspondent (but for how much longer?)
    • Author, Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq
    • NY Times Reporter Chastised for Saying He Wants US to Win in Iraq (NewsBusters - Jan 29, 2007)
    • Senators Challenge Post on Arkin Column (Power Line, MN - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Reporter Gets Called on the Carpet for his Comments About Bush's War Policy (FOX News - Jan 29, 2007)
    • Barnes, NYT's Gordon assigned blame for failed strategy to generals, not Bush (Media Matters for America, DC - Jan 8, 2007)
    • The Surge Pushers (ZNet, MA - Jan 18, 2007)
    • Bush’s man at the New York Times (First Post, UK - Jan 11, 2007)
• CNN Late Edition (web page for comments)

[Phsstpok]

ABC This Week (George Stephanopoulos)

Below are the topics and guests announced for this program, along with my take on the "memes" that the show is trying to push.  With each guest's name are a series of links that I found in a web search that helped me get a handle on who they are and what their likely positions will be when they are interviewed.

• Meme:
  • George Bush is destroying the Republican party with his war, he's even making the good Republicans mad at each other
  • McCain is being hurt by his support for George Bush's war
  • Hagel is a god - the dinosaur media will now all support him, not that traitor McCain... did you know McCain had a temper?  Who knew?
• Topics:
  • Two Republican Senators on opposite sides of the debate about the troop surge.
  • Voices segment: the Duchess of York talks about the meaning of motherhood.
• Guests
  • Senator John McCain, Republican - Arizona
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Iraq Debate: It's McCain Versus Warner (U.S. News & World Report, DC - Feb 2, 2007)
    • McCain blasts top general in Iraq (Calgary Sun - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Mccain resolution supports troop buildup (Los Angeles Times - Feb 2, 2007)
    • The McCain Resolution (Human Events, DC - Feb 2, 2007)
    • FAQ - The McCain Resolution (hughhewitt.townhall.com - Feb 2, 2007)
    • The New Senate Resolution (With Text) (hughhewitt.townhall.com - Feb 1, 2007)
    • California primary shift seen hindering McCain (Washington Times - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Romney prepares to take on McCain in Arizona (East Valley Tribune, AZ - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Meet the new John McCain -- and the new Bob Dole (Miami Herald, FL - Feb 3, 2007)
    • Hillary widens lead; McCain holds an edge (The Union Leader, NH - Feb 2, 2007)
    • McCain taps Zeidman (Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY - Feb 2, 2007)
  • Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican - Nebraska
    • Senate web site | Bio
    • Ending the "Chuck Hagel Is A Maverick" Meme (Huffington Post, NY - Feb 2, 2007)
    • CHUCK HAGEL LOOKING GOOD (Free Market News Network, FL - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Chuck Hagel Courageously Takes on Shoe Salesmen (RealClearPolitics, IL - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Former National Security Advisors Clash on Iraq Policy (PBS News Hour - Feb 1, 2007) - Note, transcript, with audio and video links
    • Chuck Hagel is hot, John McCain is not (Concord Monitor, NH - Jan 31, 2007)
    • THE ANGRY ONE (GQ - Jan, 2007)
    • Hagel Predicts Troop Resolution Approval (WOWT, NE - Feb 1, 2007)
    • Republicans Poised to Hang Themselves on Iraq (Al-Jazeerah.info - Feb 3, 2007)
    • Chuck Hagel and the Return of the Old Right (Antiwar.com, CA - Jan 30, 2007)
    • Who is Chuck Hagel? (Huffington Post, NY - Jan 30, 2007)
  • Roundtable
    • David Brooks
      • New York Times columnist | Bio
      • Iraq Syndrome, RIP, As America Readies For Expansion (TheDay - Feb 2, 2007)
    • Donna Brazile
      • Democrat party operative | founder Brazile & Associates | Bio
      • Author Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics
      • DNC Backing Expected for DC Vote in House (Washington Post - Feb 2, 2007)
    • George Will
      • Washington Post columnist | Bio
      • New majority, same old political trick (Daily Mail - Charleston, WV - Jan 29, 2007)
  • Voices segment: Sarah Ferguson
    • Duchess of York | Bio
    • Former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York
    • SOS Children's Villages - USA Spokesperson Sarah Ferguson Participates in the Viennese Opera Ball in NYC (PR Newswire (press release), NY - Jan 11, 2007)
• ABC This Week comment web page

[mombonn]

We have blizzard warnings here in MI. Even IF we can't make it to Church, there is NO WAY I'll be tuning in.

I used to tape all these shows. It's been a long time since I've felt the need to watch these joke fests.

[OldFriend]

Thanks for the huge effort. You've done an amazing job in getting us ready for another week of idiocy, imbecility, traitorous blatherings, and senseless commentary from the hosts.

There must be a special reward for you!

[Bahbah]

Evening, my friend. Thank you for your wonderful work. If there are two more detestable members of the political class in Washington I'd be very surprised.

Re: Webb and Graham, I want to second that.

[Morgan in Denver]

Thanks! I've been waiting to read this. I hope you are seeing okay and still healing.

[Phsstpok]

Ping

The Weekend Talk Show Preview Thread is up

if you want on or off of my ping list please FReepmail me

It will also be cross posted (sometime soon) to my blog at

http://wizards.townhall.com/

Here's a sample of  my usual witty commentary...

This week the dinosaur media is of three minds.  First, they wish to highlight the arguments, particularly within the Republican party, over the troop surge... The second thrust is the rapidly growing field in the 2008 presidential horse race...  The third theme is the Super Bowl...

So this weeks shows continue the active campaign by the left and their myrmidons in the dinosaur media (or is it the other way around) against President Bush and all that he stands for, damn the cost to America and human civilization.  Many players from a surprisingly broad political spectrum dared to raise the question this week of the bloody cost of the left's last "success" in such an endeavor some 35 years ago.  The butcher's bill rivaled the direct atrocities of Hitler's rule, but that idea isn't considered worthy of discussion and those people are not deemed worthy of face time by the dinosaur media.  I'm not surprised, are you? ...

This week's excuse for being so tardy is that I had yet another stitch pulled from my eye this morning.  This is not a fun process, let me tell you.  The good news is that the graft hasn't fallen out (yippee!).  The bad news is that of the four corneal transplants I've had over the last 26 years this is the most problematic.  I get a weekend off and then go back in for more nip and tuck on my eye, with the distinct possibility of having to have an extra stitch added in to smooth out some problems.  That's a first.  It is a process and I've been through it before, but I'm getting tired of this.  Of course, every time I'm in my surgeon's waiting room I am sitting there with people 1,000 times worse off than I am, so it kind of puts it all into perspective.  Anyway, better late than never.

Mediocre shows on Sunday, with the possible exception of CNN, but I don't know if I can stomach Wolfie long enough to get anything out of that show.  I'll count on the informative commentary of those braver than I who will provide me with the 411 on what was said.  Failing that I'll dare the transcript in a few days.  I love the internet!

[Bahbah]

Michael Gordon....might they be providing the platform for his scripted recanting of his apostasy?

This is my guess. They are giving him a chance to keep his job.

[Rummyfan]

McCain and Hagel represting the GOP....UGH!

And CBS goes with its Super Bowl line-up!

[Tanniker Smith]

CBS Face The Nation completely abandons any rational discourse on the issues of the day,

I'm surprised that they would interrupt the pre-pre-game show to present "Face the Nation".

(Or any of the usual Saturday night primetime or latenight lineup for that matter.) 8-)

[rodguy911]

Great analysis ,excellent work as usual.

[Morgan in Denver]

I hope Graham does better than Freepers anticipate. Certainly Webb gives Graham the target. My fear is people like Graham, and by extension McCain, are falling into the media trap of being anti-Republican Party values, that the Democrats have successfully established over the past few years.

[Morgan in Denver]

Sent you email to both addresses.

[Peach]

Ouch. You're the best, Phsstpok. Thanks for the commentary and analysis. I rarely watch the shows anymore, and get more from your writing than I ever did from the shows!

[Txsleuth]

Thank you....as usual, you did an excellent job!!

I am sorry to hear about this transplant being so difficult...and just hearing about stitches being taken out makes me quesy, so I can imagine that actually going through that is very uncomfortable..

If/when I comment on the Sunday Talk show thread tomorrow, I will try to be more descriptive in case you don't watch...so you will get more of an idea of what is being said...instead of just posting "barf" or "puke" or "give me a break"....

[Txsleuth]

What I fear is that Graham will defer to Webb's more forceful personality...and since they are both ex-military...I am sure that Graham will be conflicted in that way..

Plus, Graham has been know to go squishy on these shows, IMHO>

For anyone who hasn't see James Webb "at work"...you have to watch this...this man is as cocky as anyone I have seen.