Posted on 11/13/2005 10:40:25 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
Dem Chair Dean Ducks Last Second Joint MEET THE PRESS Appearance With GOP Chair Mehlman
The DRUDGE REPORT has learned from exclusive sources that Democrat Party Chair Howard Dean turned down Republican Party Chair Ken Mehlman’s last minute offer to appear together on NBC’s MEET THE PRESS this morning.
Moments before taping was to begin with host Tim Russert, Mehlman asked Dean outside the NBC studio’s green room: “There’s still time for us to go on together Governor.” Dean declined with a shrug of his shoulders and an uncomfortable cackle and then proceeded to walk away into the green room.
DRUDGE has learned MEET THE PRESS producers have been working to get a head to head Dean/Mehlman appearance on the program since Dean was named chair back in February. Dean and his handlers have repeatedly turned down the request. The former Vermont governor only agreed to do this week’s program if they appeared in back-to-back interviews.
Mehlman brought up Dean’s unwillingness to appear alongside him during the show: “I was hoping that Chairman Dean would be on sitting next to me this morning. Maybe we can do that on a future program. Look, he's somebody I've enjoyed getting to know. We meet in a lot of green rooms….”
Tim Russert: “We invited him -- do you have a question for him?”
Former Dem Party Chair Terry McAuliffe participated in regular head-to-head appearances with his Republican counterparts during his tenure from ‘01 to ‘05. McAuliffe went head-to-head with Republican chairmen at least five times on MEET THE PRESS alone, going up against past GOP chairs Ed Gillespie (twice), Marc Racicot (twice) and Jim Gilmore (once).
This weekend on ABC’s THIS WEEK the Democrat heads of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Sen. Chuck Schumer, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Rep. Rahm Emanuel, both appeared head-to-head with their Republican committee counterparts Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Rep. Tom Reynolds.
Developing...
"He appears to have some sort of disorder."I've seen him on tv numerous times.At times he appears ok,but other times he appears to be right on the edge emotionally,appears very uncomfortable,can't put my finger on it....Manic depression by any chance?
I think you have hit upon the primary reason Dean is avoiding unscripted, possibly heated exchanges. While he probably hasn't come to this conclusion on his own, he likely has heard it from those counseling him.
The RNC should keep up the pressure challenging Dean to face-to-face debates with knowledgeable, conservative spokesmen. Eventually, Dean's monstrous ego will force him to agree to a joint appearance. Until then, we can get some mileage out of the "Howard the Coward" angle.
Once cornered in a personal confrontation where the MSM can't cover for him, Dean's arrogant, defensive, and hateful personality will unleash some of most offensive, weird, and politically damaging statements imaginable.
Personally I hope Dean keeps his position for years and years to come. After all, he IS the gift that keeps on giving.
Russert wouldn't have let a Republican get away with making demands on how MTP would be staged, and I bet Russert preferred Mehlman and Dean on separately so he could question them as he did.
With Mehlman, Russert's questions were long speeches, accusatory and heated. They went on and on and on. I'm sure Russert's questions took up twice as much time as Mehlman's responses. Russert viciously grilled Mehlman, but did you notice? Mehlman answered every question, never gave an inch, and never lost his cool.
With Dean, Russert's questions were most often clipped, only one sentence long, and he allowed Dean to filibuster, more often than not, without directly answering.
Russert asked Dean Mehlman's question about Schumer's staffers illegally stealing Steele's identity, but not before he belittled it by saying, "Schumer has already fired the staffers in question".
Mehlman is the Republican's secret weapon. I don't know why he isn't all over television making mincemeat out of the likes of Chris Matthews, Tucker Carlson, Wolf Blitzer, and yes, O'Reilly too.
No, I am forbidden from watching any "news" shows but Fox News because I can't behave. lol! Only kidding. I quit watching them a long time ago except for Fox because I can't stand the double standard. I just find the transcripts or read FreeRepublic to get what happens. THANK YOU ALL for watching so I don't have to!
"You can't cross-examine a piece of paper."
But I will bet Dean does plenty of talking to inanimate objects.</p>
He has a severe case of SMS (short man syndrome) with a touch of impairment in his impulse control mechanism, probably a result of living his entire life in unearned privilege and effortlesss wealth. These disordered characteristics are exacerbated by a backdrop of entrenched leftwing narcissism. It adds up to a particularly virulent and sleazy form of Napoleon complex.
" Mehlman is the Republican's secret weapon. I don't know why he isn't all over television making mincemeat out of the likes of Chris Matthews, Tucker Carlson, Wolf Blitzer, and yes, O'Reilly too."
Mehlman was superb .
He has gravitas and charisma, he has a command of the facts, is well spoken, articulate, speaks in complete sentences and is unafraid of the media.
If someone like Mehlman was WH press secretary , I do not think the President's poll numbers would have been driven so low .
Because he would be an effective and forceful advocate correcting the daily lies of the media and the Democrats.
Russert let Dean get away with making the most outlandish and unsubstantiated claims.
I think if Dean said he just arrived on a spaceship, Russert would not challenge him.
In a brief moment of lucidity, Dean called the CIA " incompetent."
Russert tried to get Dean to tell the American people what the Democrats stood for and Dean said they would announce what they stand for - sometime in 06.
But, Dean did announce that one of their major platform issues would be providing lunch for school kids.
Democrats- The Party of PB&J is apparently their new slogan.
Dean said that the Democrat's foreign policy and WOT would be " telling the truth."
I am sure the terrorists are quaking at that.
It's hard to type and applaud at the same time.
Thanks for adding your (brilliant) thoughts to this conversation!
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