July 27, 1998 --- New York (APJP) -- The pundits focused on the capitol shootings and Ken Starr's subpoena of President Clinton this week.

Fox News Sunday

Of course, half the show revolved around the shooting at the Capitol last week. Security, the bravery of the two downed officers and the insanity of the man who did the shooting were discussed, but details were wanting.

Brit Hume hosted FNS this week. What can we say but that the high-lowlight was a discussion of the new popularity of baseball. Bud Sellig, the new Commissioner of Major League Baseball, was the guest. Standardizing the strike zone was one hot topic. Hume asked how an owner can be an independent commissioner. He answered: "This is the most powerful position in America, and that's what gives me the independence."

Huh?

The panel discussed (what's new?) the president's legal troubles and the shooting on Capitol Hill. The wisdom of Fred "The Weasel" Barnes on the shooting was "move the magnetometers" outside the building so shooters can't get inside the building itself. Juan Williams made a daring try to blame the Republicans for somehow spawning this kind of nut. The panel nearly booed him out.

Hume turned to the President being hit by a subpoena. Juan Williams feels that the White House will spin Ken Starr as some kind of out-of-control nut with a queer interest in the President's private life. Fred Barnes said the President will not testify under any circumstances. However, Mara Liasson pointed out that rejecting a subpoena, at least according to Orrin Hatch, could be grounds for impeachment itself.

Some talk of another way for the President to testify without going before the grand jury ensued. All agreed that it would be helpful for Starr to accommodate the White House. Barnes still felt it would be devastating for the President to testify because of the plethora of witnesses that Starr has already examined. Williams offered that the White House might try to limit the scope to perjury and subornation of perjury. No matter the course, the White House faces a tough situation on this one.

Finally, the panel gave outstanding marks to presidential press secretary Mike McCurry who will depart the White House this coming Fall.

Tony Snow will be back next week.

The McLaughlin Group

Issue one: Starr Witness! The President himself is preparing to give testimony to Ken Starr. Starr has warned the White House he would subpoena him…" shouted John McLaughlin to open his show.

Buchanan said, "Judgement Day is here." He added the President is being asked to testify before Monica Lewinsky -- not knowing what she will say.

Eleanor Clift: "The fact that he is going before Lewinsky tells me that Starr is frustrated.

Tony Blankley -- the question is whether he can hold out longer than Lewinsky so he'll know what she'll say.

What will Clinton do? Stick to his story, or admit to sexual involvement but deny any effort to obstruct justice or suborn perjury? Buchanan said he would adjust, Clift said he has told the truth and may make some minor adjustments. Clift added that at worst this is lying about sex. But the conservatives pointed out that there could be twenty instances of perjury if Starr drags the President through hundreds of questions.

Issue two: "That Woman Hillary!" The First Lady may have more of clue than she says, claims McLaughlin. He pointed to her meetings on the future of the Democratic Party, the Saving of America's Treasures tour. McLaughlin said it looked like a political tour. McLaughlin asks -- is she laying pipe for a political run?

Clift said "No!" She will find a way to amplify her voice and make a lot of money -- which the Clintons will need.

"What about her 'Stand By Her Man' act?" sneered McLaughlin.

The entire discussion was ridiculous. McLaughlin even asked whether she would be good vice-presidential candidate. Buchanan says she has rehabilitated her image. Michael Barone got it right when he offered that she can raise a lot of money for the Democrats.

McLaughlin took this foolishness to extremes by asking what the political effect on her if the president "skated through" his last two years, if he was impeached and on and on. It was a circus.

No one bothered to mention the impact on the Clinton family -- as people, not politicians.

It was a disgrace.

Issue three: "Reno Stonewall!" Senator Arlen Specter is preparing to file a writ of mandamus to force Reno to appoint an independent counsel to investigate campaign finance shenanigans. Reno has thus far refused to do this despite FBI Chief Louis Freeh and Justice's La Bella's (her own man's) argument that she should.

McLaughlin says, "How about saying that she is playing politics?" Blankley agreed that this is true -- for the first time. Buchanan said she was "mulish."

Clift summed it up properly: "There is no evidence that reaches into the White House… if they find it, she will appoint an independent prosecutor."

Predictions of note:
Pat Buchanan -- "The Asian flu is here."
Eleanor Clift -- "Newt Gingrich will lose the speakership if there is even one Democrat gain in the House."

Meet the Press

The capitol shooting, capitol security, Ken Starr's subpoena for President Clinton, and "Has scandal paralyzed Washington?" was the agenda for Tim Russert this week.

Russert asked the spokesman for the Capitol Police, Sgt. Dan Nichols, whether the suspect was mumbling things about President Clinton in the ambulance and whether another gun had been found in the shooter's truck. He refused to answer, due to the nature of the "ongoing investigation."

A discussion ensued about beefing up the force and increasing security. Russert asked Rep.Thomas, whose committee controls capitol security, whether members now feel more threatened than they did before the shooting. Thomas answered no, and that the House will remain accessible to the people. As to the issue of increasing the force, Thomas said there would be some focus there.

Russert offered testimony to the heroism of the two officers who were killed in the incident and invited viewers to contribute to a fund established for the men whose deaths left eight children fatherless.

Rahm Emanuel was Russert's next guest. He had no further information on the shooting, but at Russert's invitation he wisely declined to discuss how this shooting highlights the points made by the White House about Secret Service protection for the president.

On Starr's subpoena of President Clinton, Emanuel said that he does not know whether or not a subpoena exists as of yet. He added that the President will find some way to give Ken Starr the information he needs. "We have done it before."

Russert then blurted, "NBC called you three times on Thursday and five times on Friday… and eight times, you told us that you have not received a subpoena." Emanuel denied this, going so far as to correct Russert's assertion: he had not said no, but instead declined to comment to the eight queries.

Emanuel appeared nervous and launched into a statement about the $40 million Starr has spent and Starr's refusal to issue reports clearing the President and the First Lady on the so-called "Filegate" and "Travelgate" matters.

Russert asked why the President has no asked Attorney General Reno to appoint and independent counsel on campaign finance abuses.

David Broder thankfully changed the topic and asked Emanuel about the Patients' Bill of Rights -- which the House passed and which the President is threatening to veto because it does not go far enough. Emanuel said Congress should not create second class citizens under a Patients' Bill of Rights. Broder offered that this was a political tactic to preserve an issue for the November elections. Emanuel replied that it was the Republicans who asked health insurers to open up their wallets in campaign contributions to defeat the President's plan.

Broder also asked about tax cuts and Emanuel said the President does not want to use the surplus for tax cuts but rather the preservation of social security. It was clear that both patients' rights against HMOs and the House activity on tax cuts were indeed a political circus -- with the Republicans losing the contest. Emanuel offered a statement made by a GOP senate aide underscoring the ineptitude of the House on these issues.

Russert next hosted Senators Don Nickles and Bob Kerrey. He asked them -- as he had asked everyone else -- whether the Congress would appropriate money for a new Capitol Visitors Center. What's with Russert -- does he own stock in the company that might build it?

On the Starr subpoena of Clinton:

Kerrey said that the President has rights but presumed that he would cooperate in some way with Ken Starr. Nickles said he thought the President was stonewalling for some time and that he was "shocked" that the White House released the news of the subpoena late at night after the capitol shooting. Nickles felt that if the President decided not to comply with the subpoena it would be a disaster: "He is not above the law."

David Broder again turned to the managed health care issue and particularly the appeals process on treatment within HMOs. Kerrey said there was merely a big political show going on in Congress so that Republicans can say there was, at least, a vote on the issue. Nickles said that if the bill included a right to sue, premiums would skyrocket and employers and employees would drop their health insurance. The issue was not explored deeply enough.

Broder also asked about private savings account as part of social security. Kerrey seemed to feel that people could manage their retirements well.

Nickles said he hoped there would be a tax cut and that he would like to see some of the payroll tax returned to the people for private investment.

Russert next hosted Jack Quinn, former White House counsel, to react to the subpoenaing of the President. Quinn said he was disappointed that Starr had gone this far -- further than anyone in history. He also said he was pleased the White House was trying to get Starr the information he needed. Barbara Olsen, known to be a social friend of Starr as well as a former federal prosecutor herself, said that she felt Starr issued the subpoena because negotiations had broken down. Russert asked whether the President can say no to the subpoena. Quinn said the issue is whether Starr can enforce the subpoena. Quinn explained that if he could, the Judicial branch could paralyze the Executive branch and that this was a threat to democracy and the balance of powers. Olsen said nearly the opposite. She said the court could hold the president in contempt -- but that then the Congress would have to decide whether to impeach him if he continued to refuse to respond.

Russert asked when the subpoena was issued and why the White House "did not tell the truth" about it. He asked this of Lisa Myers who actually talked to Rahm Emanuel. Myers stuck to the story that Emanuel said he did not know about it. She then backpeddled a bit, leaving Emanuel's reputation intact. She said the subpoena was issued ten days ago.

Jack Quinn then threw a curve ball pointing out the Ken Starr is also refusing to testify in another matter regarding leaks from his office.

Russert showed a tape of James Carville saying that the President should invoke the fifth amendment. Quinn said that he hoped the President would not do this and doubted he would. Russert then showed a tape of Carville's wife - Mary Matalin - saying that "impeachment was a political, not legal issue" and without more than the sexual issue, the issue is untenable -- a surprising, but enlightened viewpoint from a conservative pundit.

Russert, as we, ended with prayers and respect for the families of the two slain capitol policeman.

- The Editors