Posted on 11/05/2006 6:33:47 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
Here's an antidote from an unlikely corner for all the Dem outrage at the 'November surprise' of the Saddam verdict. On this morning's 'Today,' none other than Chris Matthews just pronounced his considered opinion that the verdict actually helps . . . the Democrats.
According to Matthews, given the unpopularity of the war, anything that draws attention to Iraq hurts Republicans. Apparently that even extends to a good-news story such as the Saddam verdict. Opined Matthews to host Lester Holt:
"One general rule would be anything that brings attention to Iraq is bad for the Republicans. I think Iraq's become a four-letter word for the voter. And this trial and condemnation of Saddam Hussein is probably going to remind us of Iraq again. It's probably going to help the Democrats to some extent."
More predicatable was the analysis over at CNN, where a skeptical Susan Roesgen asked Suzanne Malveaux:
"What about critics, especially in Iraq, even Saddam Hussein's chief lawyer, who say the verdict was timed to come out just before the election to help the GOP?"
Well, if Saddam's lawyer said it, that should surely be good enough for CNN!
Roesgen continued her effort to rain on the Saddam-verdict parade in a subsequent interview of international criminal law expert Prof. Michael Scharf of Case Western law school. Asked the cynical CNN host:
"Does this turn [Saddam] into a martyr for the Iraqi people more than a monster?"
Oh yeah - huge martyr to all those Shias and Kurds whose relatives he slaughtered.
And later: "In some ways this trial has been a sideshow compared to the ongoing bloodshed in the streets of Iraq. Does this verdict really matter?"
Translation: let's get off this positive development and back to the IEDs!
To his credit, Prof. Scharf, who has written a book about the trial, gave a balanced view of events, noting the trial has served as a model of due process in contrast with the courts under Saddam. If Iraq can stay together as a country, the trial will be seen as a key point in bringing back the rule of law, opined the professor.
Let's hope the good professor himself will be be brought back by CNN despite his refusal to take direction from Roesgen's gloom-'n-doom script.
One thing you gotta admit about Jackie: She was smart.
Saddam verdict helps Republicans!
Hey Chris. Wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which one fills up the quickest. Where does he come up with this sh*t?
It was the CNN host Susan Roesgen who asked that 'brilliant' question.
You're laughing, perhaps, but I've been doing phone calls for the GOP and I actually had a conversation like this with a woman who hates Bush and will vote for Democrats to end all this" even though she has no idea of the consequences.
As Hannity puts it "these are the people who can cancel out your vote".
If I am not mistaken, Saddam's chief lawyer is Ramsey Clarke. And, of course, he would be good enough for CNN.
"In your dreams, Fat Boy!" ... (from "The Santa Clause" with Tim Allen)
As you might imagine, since this is four days before the midterm elections, O’Donnell asked Mitchell: "So Andrea, on a political level, do you think it helps the Administration by reminding people about potential weapons of mass destruction that were developed before the first Gulf War perhaps? Or, does it hurt the Administration because it looks like they really bungled an issue of national security and intelligence?" Mitchell quite predictably responded:
This is a complicated story to really penetrate and for people to understand this close to an election. But, I think the net affect would likely be that it would hurt the Administration because it shows that they—once again, you know—were the gang that couldn't shoot straight!—and were so eager to justify their case for the war that they forced the Intelligence community to do something that the experts didn't want to do and the President himself overruled John Negroponte on.
http://newsbusters.org/node/8809
I stubbed my toe. Obviously that helps Dems.
As with all NBC products, MessNBC is a wholly owned DNC subsidiary .
But, occasionally they pretended to care about presenting both sides.
Now that they are facing cancellation-every host is in a manic mode trying to vomit out as much Democrat propaganda before the plug is pulled.
Scarborough has not only gone to the dark side-he owns it.
They actually make CNN look fair.
... Hi Jeff, we haven't had a conversation in 7-8 years :))
.. up to yesterday I had the probability of the 'pubs keeping control of the senate barely over 50% ... today, that jumps to 90% !!! ...
... no violence today so far, think the terrorist planners are going to wait until the alerts subside, which won't be for several days ... good news for republicans, 80% probability no organized violence before tuesday's elections
... dem leadership unanimously stated this morning that (a) the Saddam verdict was correct and appropriate (b) ... the process was just ... and in the same breath (c) .. "we must get out of Iraq, the chaos is horrible !!!" .... dem's position will be seen as very weak to the voting public, will significantly impact Senate and House races ..
... before this morning I would have put the 'pubs chances of retaining a House majority at less than 5%, now, with (1),(3) and (5) above, I'd say 20% or better ...
HK Ball
Well, anything that goes well favors the Democrats, and whatever goes wrong is Bush's fault. It's very simple.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
