Posted on 10/21/2004 4:48:54 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
If it were a boxing match, they would have thrown in the towel. If it were a Little League game, they would have invoked the mercy rule. Unfortunately for hapless Kerry spokesman Mike McCurry, no such refuge was available, and he had to suffer a relentless, devastating, take-no-prisoners, never-back-down pounding at the hands of Liz Cheney, daughter of the Vice President. Wow! What a star was just [at least for this viewer] born. Where has she been?
Sometimes shows like Today concoct a theme for an interview and try to force their square guests into the round hole they have conceived. The topic today was the notion that both campaigns were exploiting the politics of fear.
But Liz would have none of it. "This isn't about trying to scare people. We are truly at war. This is about who has the strong leadership to win that war. Of course Kerry is forced to make tough statements now, but his words are contradicted by his record."
She continued: "Kerry has been on the wrong side of every major national policy issue over the last 20 years, from cutting $7 billion in intelligence after the WTC was bombed for the first time, to voting against the 1991 Gulf War, to opposing most of the weapons systems used to fight the war on terror."
Before describing McCurry's remarks, a few words about his looks. I don't know if he might be a baseball fan who stayed up to watch the game, or whether he was up all night putting out the fires from Teresa's "my experience is bigger than hers" gaffe, or whether it is simply the wear and tear of a long campaign, but I have never, NEVER, seen a political aide look this palpably tired on national TV.
Not only was his face haggard, but his eyes were so red-rimmed that one had to wonder if he had been on a crying jag. One thing is clear: being inside the Kerry campaign nowadays ain't a bowl of cherries.
In any case, McC claimed that "we took our eyes off the terrorists to divert to go to war in Iraq that is now causing so much pain. We can't go on with more of the same and need to change directions."
But soon it was back to Liz on the attack: "The 9/11 Commission found we're not safe, but we're safer than we were before 9/11. But with his talk of global tests and describing terrorism as a nuisance, one has to question whether Kerry really understands nature of challenge we face."
Katie tried to put Liz on the spot, quoting her father to the effect that the country could be more vulnerable to attack if Kerry were elected. If Couric thought that would put Liz on the defensive, she was badly mistaken. Liz didn't back down for a second: "Weakness invites attack. The policies Kerry/Edwards propose would take us back to 90s when we treated terrorism as a law enforcement and intellignece matter. They have sent signals of wavering."
When McCurry tried some wan retort, Liz cut him off at the knees: "The record doesn't match the rhetoric, Mike, the record doesn't match rhetoric."
Even when a defeated McCurry, on his knees, begging for mercy, tried to AGREE with Liz, she would give no quarter. By the end, McCurry was pitiably saying that when it comes to the need to pay attention to terror threats, "we agree about that."
"No, we disagree," retorted Liz!
This was the most lopsided, devastating rhetorical victory I have ever seen on Today. It made last night's sad [for this Yankees fan] shellacking look like a nail-biting cliffhanger.
Bravo, Liz, you are my new hero! Let's see more of her along the trail!
Beauty is the function of soul.
LOL :)
Or brown pants.
Like you, I have seen Liz on tv (fnc?) weighing in on some political issues. I was pleasantly surprised how sharp she is - she shows up well-researched, well-read, and goes strait the heart. Glad she's on our side.
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