Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 11 March 2007

Various big media television networks ^ | 11 March 2007 | Various Self-Serving Politicians and Big Media Screaming Faces

[Alas Babylon!]

The Talk Shows

Sunday, March 11th, 2007

Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows:

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.; Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.

MEET THE PRESS (NBC): U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad.

FACE THE NATION (CBS): Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

THIS WEEK (ABC): Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.; former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan.; singer Loretta Lynn.

LATE EDITION (CNN) : Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; Sens. Joseph Biden, D-Del., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Dole; former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala; Shibley Telhami, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution; Michael Oren, a senior fellow at the Shalem Center.

[PerConPat]

The hearings were live on cspan and were infuriating to watch.

They were, indeed. And thanks for reminding me. I recall musing, at the time, that perhaps some of the Chinese "influence" had found its way into both party's coffers, thus spoiling the Senate's appetite for an in depth investigation. I like Thompson and hope this was not the case.

[Phsstpok]

Guilt by association.

The DBM will tar and feather EVERY Republican with the pardon if the President does it right now.

What race does the President stand to lose? The 2008 race for ALL of us.

TX, you, Kabar and the others arguing against a pardon now are almost certainly correct.  It's clearly the smart way to figure it.  The foolish romantic in me still would hope that the dramatic gesture doing the Right Thing would start the President on a roll that would carry him through the end of his term on the offense, not playing it (relatively) safe.

Politics is the art of the possible.  I know that.  I know that all of the forces of the entrenched establishment are lined up against conservatives in general and President Bush in particular.  They're even gloating over blacklisting Fox News and individuals like Tom Delay, without even a moment of irony.

But I want my Jefferson Smith moment (do you notice that movie isn't shown anymore?).  I want my dramatic gesture of defiance simply because it's right, but of course I also want that to mean that right will triumph simply because it is right and they are wrong.

I know that's naive.  I know there are reasons that actually make the pardon likely the wrong thing to do for "larger reasons."  I also believe that both George Bush and Lewis Libby know that and that they don't want to do a pardon right now because they are both willing to suffer the consequences of NOT doing the pardon now in order to carry out their duty and to keep their word about what they have promised to do, namely put the interest of the nation above their own.

But it still hurts.

[Txsleuth]

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/392vfocu.asp

DrDeb posted this on the DOSE thread...but, it might give you all a hint where Bush's "head" is at these days...even mentions the Libby verdict.

[Phsstpok]

Mark Kilmer has posted his review of the Sunday shows over at RedState.COM.  Here is the header

Posted at 12:29pm on Mar. 11, 2007

The Sunday Morning Talk Shows - The Review

The madness of Maxine Waters and Joe Biden's imaginary friend Stan

By Mark Kilmer

Sunday, March 11, 2007.
On NBC's Meet the Press, Ambassador Khalilzad told Russert that there were no "were no "direct, bilateral, substantive talks" with the Iranians at Saturday's forum.

On FOX News Sunday, Fred Thompson said he'd jump into the race if he felt the current crop of candidates were not inspiring the American people to move forward. Wallace pointed out that the current crop is raising millions of dollars while Thompson thinks about it, and Thompson countered that they're also spending millions. In a lightning round, he came across as a solid and consistent conservative. [UPDATE: Some internet vid linked with the story, below the fold.]

Next on FNS, Representative Maxine Waters explained that Iraq's Sunnis and Shi'as got along fine before we invaded, so that shouldn't be a factor in withdrawing our forces. When asked if Al Anbar might become a terrorist haven if we left, Maxine explained that we should instead be concentrating on Tora Bora. This is tragic.

On ABC's This Week, Jim Webb said that he favored the latest Murtha-Pelosi legislation setting a timetable/date certain for Iraq but he still opposes a timetable. He said that the White House had attacked Joe Wilson and Val Plame because they were war dissenters.

Also on TW, Bob Dole said that he has been given "free reign" to examine our nation's military medical facilities, not simply Walter Reed, of which he said: "We've beaten that horse pretty much enough."

On CBS' Fact the Nation, Chuckie Schumer said "we Democrats" won't send more troops to Iraq, but will send them to Afghanistan. He added that Attorney Alberto Gonzales should quit. Arlen Specter said that Congress should restrict the Justice Department's powers under the Patriot Act.

Next on FTN, Senator Clair McCaskill demanded the sacking of Army Surgeon General Lieutenant General Kevin Kiley and VA Secretary Jim Nicholson, who she called a Bush cheerleader.

On LE, sub-host asked guest Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister, why they don't just ask the Iranians to cut it out. Zebari said that they've been doing this for years. Later on LE, Lindsey Graham called what the Democrats are doing this week, with their insidious legislation which will be vetoed after passage, "political theater of a dangerous nature." Joe Biden has lost it, blathering about the Gelb-Biden Plan for an Iraqi confederation, and at one point, invoking his imaginary friend Stan.

Read More »

As usual, more good stuff after the link, and he tends to cover the shows we miss... but can you blame us? 

[Bahbah]

I'm glad that I continued reading through the thread and did not miss this post.

It can be hard to determine what the right thing is to do, but when it smacks you right in the face, then you are compelled to do it or, if you have a conscience, how do you live with it.

Libby was convicted of obstructing justice. The prosecuter talked about him throwing sand in the umpire's eyes. The prosecuter already knew there was no crime and who committed the act. You cannot kick any dust in the face of an investigation that knows the answer to the question. How do you obstruct the law getting to the truth when the law already knows the truth?

[BusterBear]

How do you obstruct the law getting to the truth when the law already knows the truth?

To paraphrase ol' BJ, it all depends on what your definition of "truth" is. "The law" wants "the truth" to correspond to something that will enhance Fitzgerald's career and Libby threw a monkey wrench (or rather some sand) into that. As Humpty Dumpty said, a word means what I say it means, nothing more and nothing less.

[rodguy911]

Here I was getting all excited about Fred Thompson until I heard on another thread that he is huge "McCain" supporter, ruined my day.

[rodguy911]

lets hope it actually happens.

[Phsstpok]

OK, fellow Jedi, I'm taking a pause here at post # 401. I'll get back to reading the rest of the thread tomorrow after work.

Why should anyone else care? Well this week I "have the con" for the week's review and awards amongst the Jedi Council volunteers. Now I hope you know my take on these awards by now, that I'm building up a roadmap to the posts that I think we all should read and might have missed in our rush to get through the thread.

And this week that's more important than average. This should be post 750 or so, and it looks like stuff is still trickling. Thank you all so very much for putting so much (worthwhile) strain on this poor blind man's ability to read! <g> I already have more than 38 posters with items that I think are worth special attention, many of them with multiple posts. Some of them with a ton of posts! Now that obviously reflects my own prejudices and interests, but I have to say I think I've got such a strong collection of posts already that it will satisfy almost anyone's tastes.

The overriding impression I have of what I've captured so far is that this is particularly one of the strongest threads in a long time for ongoing conversations.  There are several discussions with multiple participants discussing (NOT arguing) the key issues on the shows today.  I gained an amazing amount of factual detail about several topics and gained very valuable insight on the arguments surrounding them today. 

Bottom line, folks, the thread reflects the best of why I participate here, not only on the Sunday thread, but also on FreeRepublic as a whole.

So, my plan is to finish reviewing the second half of the posts (!!!!!) by end of day tomorrow, Tuesday at the latest, then tackle ranking the posts for the awards.  I'm really afraid that I'm going to be doing a lot of very arbitrary rankings already as I am truly overwhelmed by the quality I've seen so far.

Well done, folks. 

[Phsstpok]

It seems, once again, that we were ahead of the curve

Honesty, integrity trump policies for people when it comes to presidential candidates

[barker]

I didn't know that Laurie was gone.

She's baaaaack. Just saw her doing the news break.

[sgtyork]

Dont forget that Building 18 was leased and is not on WRAMC proper. Wartime needs result in expansion which was handled to the low standards of the bureaucracy. I was a patient there in the 80's and it wasn't a great organization. Bethesda was much better.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021701172.html

[sissyjane]

Thanks for the Mac and Cheese research...

Now I want it!!

[kabar]

What was the final vote margin in the Congress on McCain-Feingold? Fyi, 68-32. Would be pretty politically stupid to veto a bill you KNOW you are going to be overridden on.

H.R. 2356 [Shays-Meehan] was originally introduced as H.R. 380. A Senate companion bill, S. 27 [McCain-Feingold] was passed by the Senate on 4/2/2001. On 2/13/2002, H.R. 2360 [Ney-Wynn], with some modifications, was offered as a substitute amendment [H.Amdt. 430] to H.R. 2356. The amendment was not agreed to. H.R. 2356 was passed by the House on 2/14/2002 and by the Senate on 3/20/2002.

FYI The final bill was passed in the Senate 60-40, so there were not enough votes to override a Presidential veto.

[neverhillorat]

Bill Bennet gave Walton high marks before the trial. Walton once workrd for Bill. Got to wonder what he says now.

[neverhillorat]

Bill Bennet gave Walton high marks before the trial. Walton once workrd for Bill. Got to wonder what he says now.

[Bahbah]

Yes, don't let the media lies, twists and spins go unchallenged. There is nothing wrong with the President's character.

[Bahbah]

This was supposed to be included in the above post:

Bush's collapse in the character test should serve as a warning to the 2008 presidential candidates. Character matters, voters say, and they already are sizing up the field.

[MNJohnnie]

We cannot coexist with them so long as their purpose on this planet is to wipe us out.

That is especially true in a world where the technology to make plague in a bottle or suitcase nukes exist.

[rodguy911]

We appreciate all your efforts and many can't wait to see how you manage this weeks intel.