CLINTON BOMBS ON CBS '60 Minutes' may veto Clinton-Dole face-offs (no buzz, no nothing)

USA TODAY ^ | 5/6/03 | PETER JOHNSON

[Liz]

After seven of 10 planned outings, the weekly square-offs on CBS' 60 Minutes between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole have generated virtually no buzz since they premiered in March and have done nothing to boost the newsmagazine's sagging ratings.

Which is why, as executives prepare to announce CBS' fall schedule next week, insiders are betting that Clinton-Dole won't be back in September when 60 Minutes returns for its 36th season.

[Grampa Dave]

Sounds like Hewitt should be charge for war crimes against innocent Americans.

I remember that show, and it was the last time I watched 60 minutes or CBS for its phoney news program.

[Liz]

Hewitt charged with war crimes is a darn good idea. He foisted corruption on us the likes of which we will never see again and from which we may never recover.

[Grampa Dave]

Hewitt and the owner publisher of USA Today, admitted that they knew that the Clintoons were lying. They kept it quite and gave them a platform to lie about their lying and get elected.

[Liz]

Many people tuned in that night. It was so obvious the Clintons were lying their fool heads off. The act they put on was worthy of an award.

It's disgusting that presstitute Hewitt aided and abetted these two criminals.

[NYCVirago]

Can anyone remember anything else he said in a speech? This is a serious question. I honestly cannot remember anything he ever said. I cannot remember any speech as being important. He simply never said anything or did anything of consequence.

Two other quotes I can think of: "I feel your pain" and "I didn't inhale." Oh, and there's one other one: "Put some ice on it." You're right, though, that there's nothing important in his few memorable quotes.

[COBOL2Java]

When will this dork Clinton realize we want him out of our lives and out of the public spotlight?

Shortly after his eternal judgement.

[Liz]

I can't wait that long.

[jriemer]

What you say?

[ilgipper]

Clinton's popularity as President was a passive popularity. Many people felt like he had brought prosperity, or that he understood them. There is not a great network of support for the man across the country...at least not enough that they would tune in to see what he has to say. Same reason Algore did not win....VPs that win the Presidency do so because of the popularity of their predecessor. Algore did not get that bump...instead he had to run the other way from Clinton.

[Liz]

Nice take.

I tend to think that more than not getting viewers to watch, 60 Minutes which is prized by
CBS, actually lost viewers who wanted to telegraph their dislike of Clinton by not tuning in.

[bootless]

Oh, they're still doing that segment?

[Liz]

Who cares? I don't watch it.

[bootless]

I don't, either. I'd forgotten all about it!

[Liz]

You and several million other viewers......LOL.

[GOPJ]

Well put:

The segment didn't get "lost." Clinton bombed. No one wants to watch him. No one wants to hear his voice. Everyone wishes he would go away and shut up.

And these people think they can field a whole network of liberal blather and it will be a commercial success?

[GOPJ]

Good point. Dole always cleaned Clinton's clock.

I think they looked at this, concluded that Viagra Man was cleaning Clinton's clock, and decided that this wouldn't be such a good thing to draw attention to.

[McGavin999]

The mistake was pitting Clinton against Dole. If they really wanted to generate buzz they should have put him up against Newt or Rush.

[GOPJ]

"Boxers not briefs"?

Two other quotes I can think of: "I feel your pain" and "I didn't inhale." Oh, and there's one other one: "Put some ice on it." You're right, though, that there's nothing important in his few memorable quotes.

[plusone]

Never.

[Liz]

Two boring political adversaries were even moreso in the "60 Min" debate format.