Chris Matthews Sunday Show (shown 6 am in Atlanta. I wonder if it's taped on Friday or Saturday)
"Watch your back". Is Bush facing an insurgency from his base?, Matthews asked.
"endangered species" = Big city newspapers, so Chris Matthews does get this one right. His last segment, The Philadelphia Inquirer is up for sale, makes Chris oh so sad.
Is Bush losing his rock solid conservative base? Matthews cites polls to prove it.
Not rock bottom yet, Matthews says, then compares him to Nixon polls which were lower.
David Gregory says yes, the White House is worried. "they are worried", Gregory says.
Andrew Sullivan says Bush base is more worried about spending. This administration is spending like there's no tomorrow, of course Bush base is upset, says Sullivan. Gregory disputes Sullivan on this, he says Iraq is the reason Republicans are unhappy with Bush.
Elisabeth Bumiller, NYT says republicans in congress who are very angry with Bush, left out to dry, no conversation, much frustration, she says, between congress and Bush. Matthews wonders if Bush's religion is at fault. Rigid, won't change, sure he's right, are Matthews' examples. "Are people upset with Bush's incompetence?", Matthews asked.
Cynthia Tucker, Atlanta JOurnal says, "Yess, they are upset with his incompetence". It's as if use of the word, "incompetence:" was very scripted. Tucker goes off on Bush incompetence after Matthews set her up.
Then Gregory goes further, describing how Bush is sooooo incompetent.
Sullivan's example of Bush stubbornness is that he wouldn't put more troops in Iran even after all his experts and everyone else called for just that.
Sulllivan asked "how many people has Bush fired?". "None" is the answer. all the people who got Iraq right are gone, the people left are the ones who gave Bush bad advice.
The entire first segment of the show is total Bush bash. Stunning!
Matthews asks, "Doesn't Bush need his party?".
Elizabeeth Bumiller says the White House is run by about 5 people. Sullivan says the White House is exhausted. Bumiller says they've been in crisis mode since Sept 11.
Bumiller says Bush is taking the long view on his popularity.
folks, the most Bush friendly person on the show is David Gregory.
__________________
"Guerillas on the web", Matthews 2nd segment:
it's about how the left, George Soros specifically, is using the web.
Last election, dems got half their donations through the web, said Matthews.
Matthews theme in this segment is the question: Is Hillary threatened by Feingold and the left because of the power of the web? He doesn't get an answer from this panel.
_________
Tell Chris something he doesn't know segment
Tucker says republicans are looking for issues to get their base out, like gay marriage.
Pastry chef at white house resigned, said Busmiller.
Andrews on Cruise and South Park.
(I got up at 6 am for this???????)
On the one hand, journalists complain that the Bush WH is so "secretive"...on the other hand, they claim to know the inner workings and climate of this WH. There's a disconnect.
That's an improvement from a few days ago when he blamed it on years of alcohol abuse.
Nice replay YaYa123, thanks. Before Mathews wory about Bush polls & republicans, he should start worrying about his ratings. Because, Bin Laden is thinking about appearing on his show so that he will escape from anyone's notice.
Thanks for the recap, but even reading it makes me vow never to watch Matthews.
PS: Is another WH pastry chef resigning, or is Bumiller a year behind the news? A Frenchman resigned last year.
Thanks for the summary
Just DAMN!
What a gag fest! Do they all walk in lock-step, too? This is so much wishful thinking. It's what they WANT to believe is true.
Gregory and Bumiller, huh? Both White House correspondents. IMNSHO, they ought to join Helen Thomas in the "STFU I ain't callin' on you, ever." penalty box.
"Then Gregory goes further, describing how Bush is sooooo incompetent."
Gre-gorey must have received his fax from the DNC.
Looks like they all read this article, too:
GOP Irritation At Bush Was Long Brewing
Washington Post ^ | Friday, March 17, 2006 | Jim VandeHei
Posted on 03/16/2006 11:56:08 PM PST by EternalVigilance
President Bush's troubles with congressional Republicans, which erupted during the backlash to the Dubai seaport deal, are rooted in policy frustrations and personal resentments that GOP lawmakers say stretch back to the opening days of the administration.
For years, the Bush White House and its allies on Capitol Hill seemed like one of the most unified teams Washington had ever seen, passing most of Bush's agenda with little dissent. Privately, however, many lawmakers felt underappreciated, ignored and sometimes bullied by what they regarded as a White House intent on running government with little input from them.
Often it was to pass items -- an expanded federal role in education under the No Child Left Behind law and an expensive prescription drug benefit under Medicare -- that left conservatives deeply uneasy. What Bush is facing now, beyond just election-year jitters by legislators eyeing his depressed approval ratings, is a rebellion that has been brewing since the days when he looked invincible, say many lawmakers and strategists.
Newly unleashed grievances could signal even bigger problems for Bush's last two years in office, as he would be forced to abandon a governing strategy that until recently counted on solid support from congressional Republicans.
*snip*
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1597955/posts
From Washington Post Reliable Source column
Tuesday, March 14, 2006; Page C03
Thaddeus DuBois just landed himself one sweet deal. The White House executive pastry chef is leaving after just 18 months for the greener pastures of casino chocolate chips. DuBois, who came from the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, will become the executive chef at Boyd Gaming Corp.'s new hotel in Las Vegas.
The first lady hired DuBois in September of 2004, following the retirement of Roland Mesnier , who held the job for 25 years. The grad of Gaithersburg's International School of Confectionary Arts was responsible for creating thousands of desserts for everyone with a presidential sweet tooth. The conditions are less than ideal -- DuBois had just one assistant, a tiny kitchen, and very long days -- but said yesterday, "I had a fantastic time here serving the president and first lady." Laura Bush is "very disappointed" to lose him, said spokeswoman Susan Whitson.
The master chocolatier, 42, was approached by his old employer to work at Echelon Place, the luxury hotel being built on the site of the Strip's Stardust Hotel. Sure, he'll make more than his White House salary (in the $90K-$110K range), but the real reason for leaving, he said, is "the ability, down the road, to have my own pastry or chocolate place in the hotel."
DuBois will remain at the White House for another two weeks, then head back to the Borgata until the new hotel opens in about 18 months.