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Pundit Party Meltdowns?
BuKKKanan, Bradley, the FALN, and Tim Russert's Dishonesty
by The Editors
Sunday, September 12, 1999 -- NEW YORK/WASHINGTON--The pundits were united in meaningless prognostication this week.
The topics--and the spin: it looks like Pat Pukeanan is bolting the GOP to invade the Reform party--and the Sabbath Gasbags claimed this would hurt the GOP's chances in 2000 and maybe ruin their chances of inserting their hand-picked hardcore judicial activists into the Supreme Court. Polls say that Bradley is gaining on Gore--and the prognosticators declared that this proves Clinton is the cause of all things wrong with America. There was much talk about continued fallout from Clinton's decision to grant clemency to FALN members--and the loudmouths tried to make you think that Clinton is weak on terrorism and should be tarred, feathered and run out of DC. And Dan Quayle appeared on Fox Spin Sunday--proving that Roger Ailes and Tony Snow do have a sense of humor!
Fox Spin Sunday
Tony Snow's voice fired off the topics with enthusiasm: with enthusiasm: "Clemency for the FALN--justice at last or freedom for killers? Dan Quayle tells Republicans to get a spy! Is it time for Miss America to drop the vows of chastity?"
After a recap of the headlines, Tony said that the GOP wants to find out why Clinton gave clemency to FALN members--and made much about two freed members having been "caught on tape" making letter bombs. His first guests: Charlie Rangel and Orrin Hatch.
Rangel had to tolerate Tony pressing him on the letter bomb makers as he pushed the two real issues: the status of Puerto Rico and the Imperial Republican Congress's desire to "investigate, investigate, investigate" rather than legislate.
Mara Liasson, predictable, brought up the issue of Hillary Clinton's run for congress and continued to imply that Bill Clinton had granted the clemencies for political reasons--and Rangel slammed Rudy for using his staff in his unannounced run for the Senate. And Rangel would not let up on Rudy--on the issues of sensitivity to voters, he said, "[Rudy's] a bomb waiting to explode." And Rangel save some of his fire for Tony--comparing the FALN members to Nelson Mandela and bringing up the extreme sentences given to the members. In fact, Rangel said that ninety-year sentences for hypothetical non-murdering Klansmen would be extreme. He also took a potshot at the FBI for "leaking" the tape.
Guest two was Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Hatch claimed that the President could grant "unreviewable clemency." And even Tony pointed out that Congress was going to review it--good for you, Tony. Instead, Hatch asked why the Justice Department "did not abide by its own rules"--a sweeping generalization that may not stand up under scrutiny. He tried to link the "liberal elite" to the clemencies!
Orrin was in high-speed rant mode, castigating Clinton for invoking executive privilege. "Why doesn't he stand up and justify it? Why does he hide behind executive privilege?… Suddenly out of the blue decides to grant clemency to these terrorists."
That last line was a lie from Orrin--Clinton had given long consideration to these clemencies. We think he was wrong to grant them--but we think he's right to invoke executive privilege, if only to "rope-a-dope" Congress into yet another unnecessary investigation guaranteed to make the promiscuous, rabid Dan Burton whip up more votes for Democrats.
"Is the Attorney General asleep at the switch?" asked Orrin. This gave Mara a chance to ask Orrin if he planned to subpoena Janet Reno, and after a rambling slam of the Justice Department, Orrin said he would subpoena attorneys at DOJ--and possible Reno. Tony asked Orrin if he'd ask Bill Clinton to come and testify, which gave Orrin another chance to say he did it for his wife's Senate campaign!
Orrin also claimed that there was nothing in the situation that "justified classification." It almost sounded like an endorsement of the FBI's possibly illegal--and certainly unethical--leak of the videotape, one-sided evidence meant only to inflame sentiment against Bill Clinton.
Well, gee--that ties into a pattern and practice of loose cannons in the FBI using their positions to embarrass the President and work against the national interest. We hope that Reno fires their asses--because Louis Freeh likely won't.
Spots: ADM, Gateway, Fox Sports.
Guest two--the completely irrelevant GOP presidential wanna-be Dan Quayle.
Tony, we have to ask you--why do you bother?
Tony asked Quayle about his comment that the GOP was "the real reform party," no doubt hoping that Dan would fire a volley at Pat Buchanan. Instead, Quayle droned on about "the party of Lincoln" and how his Republican Party should be the "party of reform [and] ideas." He accused Bush of supporting an "8 billion dollar expansion of government" by growing education programs when these should be "state and local" decisions.
Because Dan didn't rise to the bait, Tony asked Dan about Pat. Again, Quayle talked lofty ideas: "I think the GOP candidate should seek the nomination of the Reform Party."
There's one problem, Dan--the Reform Party will decide on their nominee LONG before the Republican Convention next year. What an idiot!
Quayle claimed he was "the first person in the Republican Party to set off alarm bells about Ross Perot." We can tell you this is in fact completely untrue, and Quayle knows it!
Tony continued to ride Pat, asking Dan about the perception that BuKKKanan is "a racist and isolationist." Dan said he didn't agree that Pat was a racist, but had concern about "some of his policies."
Tony asked Dan whether a ban on "partial-birth abortion" should be part of the Republican platform. And Dan, for the first time in the interview, lit up like a light bulb--at last, something he liked to talk about! Naturally, he said yes, claiming that 85% of Americans agreed.
Gosh, Dan--they don't agree when they learn that such laws can and do endanger the lives of mothers who come down with a variety of late-term conditions, some of which can be fatal. We'd like to see the wording of the poll questions that got that unrealistic 85% result.
Danny Boy is trying to cast himself as serious, cerebral and "ahead of the crowd." If this were true, he would have pulled out of the race much earlier.
Spots--Toyota, local spots for Horizon HMO, Jeep--preceded an almost completely useless segment on the Miss America Pageant, mentioning that pageant promoters were considering opening the pageant to women who were divorced or had abortions. Their guest, an ex-Miss America named (how appropriate) Christiensen, decried the decision that this undermines "the ideal."
Right, honey. Women who get raped and pregnant, decide to terminate the pregnancy, and work to overcome such a trauma should be locked out. They're not worthy "role models."
This Christensen woman also said that she doesn't know of another program that she does not know of another program that gives 17-to-24 year olds a chance to make a difference. Hey, honey--ever heard of AmeriCorps? The women in that program are better role models than those in the Miss America Scam that exploits women, claiming "purity" but showing off their semi-naked bods in the most hypocritical wink-and-a-nod manner.
Christensen also claimed, ridiculously, that "kids don't have role models"--as if Miss America deserves to be a role model.
The completely ridiculous segment was followed by spots for Morningstar Farms, AT&T, and Fox Sports, and a local Ford spot.
Juan Williams had the first say during panel time, claiming that the FALN flap was "pure politics," and that it would hurt Hillary's chances of being New York Senator. Tony claimed that "the tapes change the political calculus…should the Republicans cease and desist?" Brit Hume and Mara both voiced quite strong "no way" sentiments--but underlined the political nature of the issue over real substance.
When talk turned to a controversial new Reagan biography by Edmund Morris in which the biographer "inserts" himself as a fictional character--Tony used the same "Zelig-esque" tag others have attached to it. Brit spoke of the difficulty of "grasping the essence" of Reagan. Juan talked about traditional biographers claiming that Morris had "thrown a stink bomb" into biographical methodology. There was a subtle undercurrent of concern that this somehow might damage the Reagan legacy--which is the real reason so many are making a stink about Morris.
Tony then asked about Bill Bradley, who the press depict as coming on strong. Mara used the now cliched "un-Gore" tag, and Brit talked about the possibility that dark horses "overturn" the front-runner, and "guerilla" campaigns have to transform into more traditi0onal campaigns. Juan discussed the lack of endorsements for Gore from unions, segueing clumsily into the old "gore is tied to Clinton" spin.
Tony then turned to the Trump Presidency. Oh, Lord… Tony talked about a possible Reform run by the casino owner--and possible support from Jesse Ventura. But Tony also made much of Trump's denouncement of BuKKKanan as essentially a Neo-Nazi. Panel sentiment--such a run would be bad for Dubya.
But that assumes George W. Bush remains a viable candidate.
Spots for ADM (again) and Fox Shows preceded Tony's final word on Jeb Bush, Jim Hodges, Jim Hunt and Jim Gilmore--four Governors dealing with hurricane disasters and bad clothes. Add in Rudy Giuliani, Christie Whitman, and Bill Clinton, and you have a parade of "bad" casual clothes.
Hey, Tony, we'd like to see you in a Fox News golf shirt and jeans just once--it wouldn't matter, because you STILL have the best pundit hair on TV!
The McLaugh-In Grope
Here It Comes--John's Latest Nervous Breakdown!
Issue One: "Here It Comes, the GOP's Nervous Breakdown! Why the panic? Buchanan's bolt… has Republicans quaking in their wingtips… [it] could derail George Bush's bullet train." John claimed that the GOP had contacted Ventura to stop the Buchanan defection. John also cited "the Bradley surge… a rising river… in New York and new Jersey he is in a statistical heat with Al Gore…. How worrisome is [this]--should Republicans be taking St. John's Wort?"
Michael Barone, loser reporter for U.S. Snooze, claimed that the GOP was in a strong position--and Pat Buchanan's campaign within the GOP was faltering and he was losing support--a la Father Coughlin. John had to bring up Pat's "anti-one-world" view. Eleanor Clift talked about the "giant sucking sound" being the deflation of the GOP--and Al Gore not having institutional support within the Democratic Party. Tony Blankley said that Buchanan could cause both parties to fight for their traditional base--an incorrect analysis. Jay Carney said that Pat's poor showing in Ames bears no relation to the outstanding position he'd be in as Reform candidate. John pointed out Ventura's opposition to Pat--and Eleanor had to remind the panel that the Reform Party is still Perot's baby, and that Pat is plugging a new book!
Tony said that Pat could pull support away from BushBaby, and Jay cited the excitement Pat generated with his speech "even if it [meaning his message] was wrong." Jay added that if Gore "was smart" he'd depict himself as the underdog. John claimed that Bradley was trying to be Bobby Kennedy! Jay said that he was still out on the fringe. Eleanor said that the entire campaign was a mess--and a Gore-Bradley ticket was a possibility
Barone talked about "Clinton fatigue." Hey Mike, you idiot, you should be worrying about Bush fatigue.
John sounded sane--for once--when he talked about the 60-plus% for Gore, 20-plus% for Bradley poll numbers.
Will Bradley topple Gore? Barone--a squeaker, but Gore wins Eleanor--Gore Tony--Gore Jay--Gore by a landslide John--Bradley
Issue two: Dirty, greedy bear! John quoted a New York Press article by right-winger Taki Theodorocopoulos in which he slammed Russian milli9onaires. John flashed a $50 billion figure on the screen, claiming much of it was diverted from IMF funds into the pockets of Russian money launderers. "Clinton and Gore continue to stand by the Russians," said John in ominous terms as he quoted yet another right-winger making much of "friendships" between Clinton and Yeltsin, Gore and Chernomyrdin.
John asked the panel about the Russian "kleptocracy." Jay reminded John that Yeltsin was indeed a better choice for America than the alternatives and that Russia has in fact been a relatively good friend to the US--as John and Michael Barone audibly groaned. The truth hurts, boys, doesn't it!
John claimed the Ph.D.'s are big crooks along with Russian "mobsters"--and then talked about Russians moving to the Riviera. Eleanor "advised" John to call the FBI--and reminded the panel about US friendship with other known corrupt governments (such as Mexico).
John claimed in answer to his own final question that Russia would not reverse itself. Eleanor, sounded far more sane, said that Russia is like Chicago in the 1930s--and would outgrow it.
Issue three--pardons for FALN members. John recalled the turn of events--in a manner designed to be as embarrassing to Bill Clinton as possible. John underlined "[Clinton] cited--you guessed it--executive privilege." John, again delusional, asked a sound bite of Clinton if he had consulted with Hillary, then played Clinton's no. "Do you believe him?" You could predict the answers--most notably Tony and John saying "Nobody believes him."
That's what John and GE grand wizard Jack Welch want you to think. It was a political cheap shot. We'd love to see John and the panel apply this same aloof, analytical approach to sound bites of Dubya talking about his past--or, more accurately, not talking.
Predictions were boring, except for Eleanor saying the big winner in the Waco hearings would be BuKKKanan, and Jay claiming that Gore would begin "attacking" Bradley.
This Weak
…and Our Call to fire Sam, Cokie, George Will and Staphylococcus.
Give the show to Bill Kristol
  Two reasons ratings for ABC's this Weak are so abysmal: Cokie Roberts and Sam Donaldson. |
Sam and Cokie, the twin morons of ABC/Washington Post television, opened This Weak by stating that Bill Bradley has Al Gore "on the ropes."
Nothing could be further from the truth, of course. But former Senator Bradley (D-NBA) appeared in and EXCLUSIVE interview with the two air-ball-heads.
Bradley claimed he is the only candidate who says what he believes and does not speak from poll results. Cokie asked whether he thinks Gore does; Bradley replied, "I don't know." this alone is enough to identify him as a weak sister.
Bradley then said he would have voted against the articles of impeachment--but that Clinton undermines the public trust. Donaldson asked him if he thought that the President "lying under oath" was impeachable. He then asked about Bradley's attitudes on the death penalty and some other unimportant matters.
Bradley thinks NAFTA is important. He went on at length about his big role in creating NAFTA--and said it is in the category of the Louisiana Purchase. Now that was funny
He said he thinks there are winners and losers in the NAFTA deal. "Like the unions," reminds Donaldson. Bradley said he thinks we should give working men and women who have lost their jobs health care and education.
Great idea, Bill-- but what about getting them a job?
On the issue of China's entry into the World Trade Organization--he's basically for it.
George Will mocked Gore for saying that Clinton would be remembered as one of our greatest Presidents. Bradley fell for this ninth-grade trick and named about a dozen "better" presidents.
Will then said that Clinton's violations were "felonious" according to some right-wing federal judge. Bradley refused to get into that--showing a modicum of wisdom.
Will then attempted to hit him with homosexual marriages. Bradley said wants to add sexual protection to the civil rights laws, and wants gays in the military. "Marriage is not simply a legal state--it is a religious sacrament--I tilted toward the religious faith by going against gay marriage. But why can a gay American serve openly in the Treasury, the State Department, the White House, the Federal Courts and not in the military?" Will wanted to know why Bradley did not consult with the Pentagon. Bradley said, "Why should I?" Will looked badly flustered, stammering out, "B-but you do not consult…"
"No, I did not," interrupted Bradley, firmly mocking the Will's blatant stupidity in thinking that the Pentagon knows best. But Bradley should have said, "Listen, you little pencilneck, how many gay men do you think died for their colleagues in the last five wars? And most of them never threw their family's furniture out the windows in what looked to the neighbors like a homosexual rage!"
After the ads, Cokie turned the focus to the School Voucher "question." Bradley said he supported a pilot program for vouchers because his constituents wanted it and voted several times for experiments. Of course, Cokie tried to nail him for waffling. But it didn't work--because Cokie's just not smart enough.
Will wanted to know whether Bradley would argue for parents to spend their tax money they way they wanted on schools. Bradley said he has not decided. Will then wanted to know whether Bradley would "restore a lifetime right to welfare." Bradley said the Pat Moynihan knows the most about welfare in the country. He feels the economy is able to do more.
Will asked whether, if the nation did not attack in the Gulf War, would sanctions only have worked. And Bradley corrected him--saying he wanted to try longer sanctions --but had not taken a position against war at all costs.
Bradley said he supports the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem in Israel, and that he would not have offered clemency to the Puerto Rican terrorists.
Sam slipped in a snide remark as he said that Bradley supports Mrs. Clinton--then he said it over and over again. What a transparent worm--Sam was implying that the President should go up to the Hill and explain his position on the FALN clemencies. Bradley said yes.
Sam then turned to cocaine use. Bradley said that every presidential candidate must decide, but if someone violated the law, they should tell the people about it.
Sam was happy, telling Bradley that he was referring to George W. Bush. "Bush is gonna do what he wants.... I have used marijuana several times in my life," admitted Bradley. For a moment, he looked like a jerk--but he then asked Sam if he had used marijuana, and Sam admitted he had! Therefore, Sam broke the law as well.
What a great example for our kids! Cokie said she never smoked pot because she was always pregnant! Will said he never did--he was part of the "Falstaff" generation, he said, and a great liar as well. Will, we understand, was hated by his peers in high school and college.
Cokie tried to press Bradley to say he wanted ban all handguns. Bradley did not fall for it.
All in all, Bradley looked and sounded pretty good--but his open admission of smoking pot several times may not have been the smartest thing. The religio-fascist right wing of the GOP will make much of that admission--unless they decide to "protect" George DumBellYou.
Reps. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Vito Fosella (D-NY and pretty much a nobody) talked with Sam, Cokie and Will about the FALN terrorist clemency. Fosella, naturally, said he is against the President's actions and said Clinton owes a "responsibility" to the victims of these terrorists to explain why he pardoned them. "Rangel asked the President to do this before he did it."
"So did the Cardinal [John J. O'Connor]," answered 'Wrangled," who argued that the U.S. superimposed itself on Puerto Rico after we defeated Spain. It warranted a review, "and in my view it warranted clemency."
Cokie reminded Fosella (taking up the Cardinal's and Tutu's cause for her mother--our Ambassador to the Vatican) that he may be wrong. Fosella responded by saying that some of them have indicated they would engage in violence again.
This turns out to be a lie. And no one called him on this until Rangel decided to wrangle with him! He chided Fosella by reminding him that the FALN members who were granted clemency were convicted of joining a conspiracy but not doing any acts.
George Will said that three of these people were "caught on tape making bombs." Wrangle, about the only person to take on this possibly illegal leak of evidence, reminded the moronic Will that you cannot bring this issue up after the fact-- that the FALN members were not tried for making bombs and Will's bringing this up now is not the way the American system of justice works. But Will has never cared about justice--only about his own ego and the ultra-right wing. Will is hoping to take up the mantle of Bill Buckley when he croaks (or when his Alzheimer's gets worse)--but we doubt that conservative intellectuals would allow Will to do so.
Will then brought up supposed tapes that a prison has in which the release Puerto Ricans say they will favor for violence again. Of course neither he nor anyone else has seen them. Rangel reminded everyone that the Congress seems to only do one thing well--investigate the President. "They have conducted more than 50 investigations of this president!" Rangel laughs at Bradley's statement that the President should go to the Hill and explain himself.
Of course, this IS laughable, because clemency is a privilege extended ONLY to the President and most Governors--and the Congress has nothing, absolutely nothing , to say about it, and cannot demand anything.
We think that the President should not have released these people until January of 2001--just before he left office. That would have been a much smarter move.
The weary--and wearying--round table began with the addition of George Staphylococcus and the only intelligent, but frightening, member, Bill Kristol.
Cokie said thinks the Bradley-Gore race is getting "very tight indeed." She brings up a "Marist" poll (whoever the hell they are) which claims that Bush beats Gore and Bradley beats Bush--by about 1 point both ways.
Staphylococcus said the White House is "scared" and "proof" of this is that the President will wrap up at the DNC meeting to be held this month. Staph is wrong--but that should come as no surprise to anyone. The President has wrapped up similar speech opportunities in the past, and Staph new it. What an infection he is.
Kristol took time to hit Hillary--saying her Senate candidacy has hurt Gore terribly.
Will said Al Gore's problems are incurable and that Gore is "polarizing" like no other Democrat. He claimed that Bradley can take positions slightly to the left of Gore without alarming people. He calls Gore "the bionic president."
Staph said it is not incurable. Will interrupted him and said people will say, "You were there on the Russian bailout." What a howl--as if this will be a big issue in 2000! George Will, you are an imbecile. Cokie said Bradley is just as "boring" as Gore.
Looks like Sam and Cokie are for Bush--or have been ordered to be for Bush to keep their big-money jobs!
Pat Moynihan will announce for Bradley, claimed Kristol. We at American Politics Journal are trying to get him to back off this announcement, but we also think this is true.
Will talks about the Buchanan "leap" to the Reform Party. Will, at least, said that Buchanan just doesn't have it in him to take many votes. Sam talked about Truman and John Anderson.
Jeez--what decade is HE living in? The Truman and Anderson periods occurred when this was a VERY DIFFERENT nation. Truman could never be elected today.
Kristol said he thinks the GOP should tell Buchanan to get out of the party. As usual, Kristol is right--but remember, he is the intellectual architect of the New Right's onslaught on the White House--he is the author of the American Mein Kampf. Remember that.
Cokie lowballs Bush on gun control because he signed the law to allow Texans to bring guns to church. Cokie shows a "Close the loophole" commercial--"...enough is enough." Will, who must have had a migraine, talked about "the hubris of the political class" We almost got a hernia laughing at that! Will's one to talk about hubris! Hey George, what about the hubris of overpaid, underinformed "journalists" who aren't journalists at all but meager two-bit actors--whose predictions are wrong a majority of the time? Kristol, of course, is for concealed carry laws--and he's Jewish!
They the Gang of Five talked about the most ridiculous item in the news this day--apropos of This Weak--the Miss America Pageant. Staph said get rid of the entire pageant. Kristol said he wants to get rid of it. The new rules are you cannot be married, and you cannot be a single mother. Get rid of Miss America and all these beauty contests in the name of Jon Benet!
Sam and Cokie reached some new highs (like Sam's marijuana addiction) and, of course, some new lows this morning. We suggest two things to improve the show:
1. Get rid of Sam and Cokie, George Will and George Staphylococcus
2. Give Bill Kristol his own show: Mein Kampf This Week! He is intelligent, has strong convictions, and doesn't pretend to be something he isn't. He is also not insane like Donaldson, not uglier than sin--inside and out--like Cokie, and is certainly not an adolescent Judas and money-mongering little moptop joke like Staphylococcus.
Eat the Press
starring Tim "Puerto Rican Hater" Russert
  Tim Russert: the man who singlehandedly destroyed the reputation of Meet the Press. |
He begins his pogrom--er, the program--by interviewing Unterführer Dan Burton.
Russert--who deserved the Emmy for Pundit Moron of the Year--played a snippet of an 18-year-old videotape of two FALN members ostensibly making a letter bomb. This "evidence" was not admissible, nor were these people charged with bombing anyone. They were charged with joining the FALN--a terrorist origination--and sentenced, for this, to life in prison. It is also unclear whether the people in the film are actually two of the prisoners released, or whether they were building a bomb or not. But, of course, Russert fails to mention this.
The FALN members granted clemency did not kill or maim anyone. Yet liar Burton claimed that they should apologize for what THEY did.
Hey, Dan, THEY did not do it.
Now, don't get us wrong. We aren't particularly concerned editorially about what happens to these people or to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has become nothing but a tax haven for wealthy American manufacturers who use cheap labor--America's personal little Mexico. If we were Puerto Rican, we'd probably be mad as well--but we would not kill fellow American's to prove it.
And Burton knows full well that he can do absolutely nothing about the clemency. This speaks ill of his candor.
But worse, it reeks of Russert's lying to his audience by failing to mention that Congress can do nothing--nor should it be able to do anything about this privilege extended to all Presidents. Need we remind you about Oliver North or Richard Nixon's pardons?
By not telling his audience that this is strictly a political move by the ultra-right wing to once again attempt to humiliate the President is tantamount to Russert making up the news.
We say it's time for him to be drawn and quartered for it and thrown out of the National Press Club--along with 75% of its members.
Sandy Berger was the second guest. He came on to defend the President, and said he finds the President's argument in favor of clemency quite compelling. The FALN members in question served 19 years, they renounced violence, the recommendation came from normal quarters and he has considered it for many years. The President has even told the American people why he did it (although you'd never know this if all you had to rely on was Russert). Berger also reminded Russert that Puerto Rico is not a foreign nation, but part of the United States as one of its protectorates.
"But this group took and bragged about these bombings…" raved Russert. In so may words, Russert ranted to Berger about whether or not he was concerned about these terrorists coming back and staking out against the United States once again!
Once again? They did not do this in the first place!
Russert claimed that Democrats in both houses condemned the President for this decision, trying to make it appear that all Democrats condemned the clemency when the fact is that the majority are with the President on this matter. Along with them come more than 100 leaders from around the world including two Nobel Peace Prize winners and dozens of religious leaders.
The President does not have to, nor should he, send every paper coming from the White House up to the Hill. If any President should do this, our government would fall. That is why the Administration is separate form the Congress and the judiciary. Russert, dimwit that he is, thinks he can get away with not mentioning this.
Russert then turns to East Timor citizens, whom he said will seek the deaths of "all white people." As well they probably should. After all, it was the White Western World that ignored the Timorese for decades as they were slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands by Indonesian forces.
Russert then turned to the Russians taking US and IMF money for private use.
But there is, as Russert should know, no proof that any of these moneys have moved to Swiss or other banks. Even if it did, Russia is making a sea change of which the economic changes are the hardest --as Berger pointed out. And changes do breed corruption, as they did in the United States all they way through the 1930's--i.e. John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, Henry Clay Frick and the rest of the robber barons who murdered others to gain wealth. All white collar criminals, as well.
Russert then turned to the words of extremist Senator Jesse Helms who wants to impose sanctions on China for selling missiles to Pakistan. Berger said that China has significantly lowered its nuclear cooperation with Pakistan. Russert snaps, "The CIA said they did."
How the hell would he know? And if they did, why should we believe anything from an agency that failed to predict the fall of the Soviet Union and nationalist instability in Southeast Europe?
Russert, who has looked like such a fool throughout the so-called Chinese spy "scandal," tried to smash Clinton and Berger again. Former Senator Rudman has said and written, said Tim, that Berger and the President were "too slow" to act on the warnings they received. Berger said that when they were briefed in July 1997 a process of reform more sweeping than anything in history was initiated. "We were fighting institutional unwillingness" to have more rigorous national security controls on what they were doing "…and we accomplished this in 5 months. Congress would take years to do so."
Russert then tried to stab Berger using some quotes from interviews with Notra Trulock. Russert then said, "Someone isn't telling the truth."
What an ass.
Berger said, "Look Tim, every time people disagree on whether a briefing is on point or general, does not mean someone is lying." Of course, it was clear that Russert was trying to make viewers think Berger is lying--but why does Russert pursue Berger with such viciousness? Russert, the ignoramus, wants you to believe that Berger and President Clinton were "in cahoots" to sell our nuclear and missile secrets to the People's Republic of China for about $20,000 in campaign cash that got returned!
What could be more ridiculous? Yet Russert pursues this bullshit in order to garner more right wing support and make more money for himself. He does not believe what he is saying.
And again, he shows the same quote from the President in which he said that he was not aware of any report showing serious allegations of espionage. Later, some other information came out about whether Wen Ho Lee was downloading stuff onto unsecured computers. Russert, in his dumbest "Beat the Prez Moment" this week, jumped the gun and said--AGAIN--"So, there was espionage during the Clinton Administration."
Russert's transparent idiocy prompted guffaws throughout the APJ media room! What a simpleton! Russert knows that thus far there has been no indictment of Wen Ho Lee--because no one can prove he did anything much more than work on stuff at home. Yet, once again, he fails to tell you about that part!
Losing as usual, Russert tried talking about North Korea, which has a long-term missile program that could impact Japan, China, South Korea, and other nations in the region--and could start a new arms race in Asia. Berger said we would like to get a long term ban on North Korean missiles. In exchange for what we have gotten--a temporary ban--we get the agreement, and they get Coca Cola.
"Do you trust North Korea?" Russert squealed like a pig.
"Of course not," said Berger--with his voice giving more than a hint of, "Are you a complete idiot?"
Russert must think that we should bomb North Korea--just in case they have one of two missiles. Well, Russert, so do a lot of countries. Are you lame or something? Or are you instead engaging in a divisive and predatory attack on American intelligence by providing false and misleading half-truths to us?
To round out the all-Republican, all-the-time Beat the Prez, RNC chairman Jim Nicholson was up next.
Nicholson is going to have a secret meeting with Pat Pukeanan. He wants to know why Pukeanan would take the risk that Gore or Bradley will appoint "liberal justices" to the Supreme Court.
Sure, Jim. Don't you know the real reason he's running?
IT IS FOR THE MONEY! THE MONEY, JIM! PAT PUKEANAN CARES ABOUT NOTHING BUT HIMSELF AND THAT $15 MILLION SITTING IN THE REFORM PARTY TREASURY!
Got it? Good. Now, here's what you should do during your top secret tete-a-tete:
KICK HIM OUT OF THE GOP.
He won't hurt anyone. He's a Hitlerian Right Wing bigot.
Russert said to Nicholson, "Your party seems to be breaking up."
Nicholson calls Gore and Bradley "Tweedle-Dull and Tweedle-Duller." Even we laughed! Good one, Jim!
But on the issue of Pukeanan, Jim insisted it's gonna be Pat's decision.
Following the break, it was time once again to have our intelligence insulted by the Eat the Press Round Table. Joe Klein and Bob "Colonel Klink" Novak joined panel regular David Broder-- who started by making fun of panelist Jack Germond's rotund body! Broder said it is 14 months before the election and Americans should not worry about it. Novak said that Kennedy and Nixon didn't disagree about all that much. Ha, ha, haha, ha! That got a wave of laughter from the Pundit Press roundtable. Now we do believe his out of his mind.
Jack Germond--whom we love--said it is too early to worry as well. Germond reminded us that Bradley said that he is the good guy and Gore is the bad guy--and that is the sound bite that the press focuses on. Russert throws up some numbers from one of his phony polls--the "NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll"--yeah, a poll conducted by two of the most irresponsible Clinton bashing media sources on earth. Why not put up the "Reverend Moon/Pat Robertson Poll?" We bet it would probably be more truthful.
Germond said that Gore's problem is "Clinton fatigue." And this is one of those rare moments where Germond, one of the last honest political analysts in the Beltway, is dead wrong. We say that Gore's problem is his advisors--too many of them, with the highest echelon very untalented.
Broder said that in state polls--where Gore has been exposed to the public and Bradley has too--Bradley is winning. This is bad. And we agree. But these polls are ridiculous--they show the people think that Bush would do a better job on foreign policy--something he knows nothing, and has said nothing, about. The GOP, continued Broder, said this proves that the people have written off Gore--period.
Of course, what it really proves is that the people have absolutely no idea what they are talking about--nor do they care at this time.
Herr Novak claimed that Hillary is a bad candidate and unprepared. Germond thinks that Hillary's run is starting to run thin. Russert pointed out that Jack Newfield wrote in one of the New York papers today that Hillary will not be the great candidate that people thought. Broder agrees that Hillary may be a bit tone deaf politically. Joe Klein laughs like a woman.
Novak thinks the Pukeanan move is not in the bag--that Pukeanan has Ross Perot on his side. Novak thinks he will hurt both Gore and Bush on protectionism.
But he will hurt Republicans much more on other issues--such as hating Jews, we say.
We agree with Germond--the GOP should tell Pat "Hitler Lover" Pukeanan to take a hike. Today, Donald Trump attacked Pukeanan for just this.
And the panelists--get this--laughed at him for "going out on a limb."
Sick.
Unmentionables
Much to our surprise, there was little mention of the church shooting in Fort Worth. Right-wing Christians have been trying to make much of Christians becoming targets of violence--Pat Robertson and James Dobson in particular have tried to "whip up" the troops on this issue. But the problem is that the shooter in the Fort Worth incident turns to be a mentally unstable gun nut aligned with an extremist Christian group allied to the racist Aryan Nations. This completely undermines the Christian Right's attempts to blame society at large for making Christians "victims." Not only that, but it raises too many sticky questions that redound poorly toward one George Shrubya Bush's stands on gun control, mental health and law enforcement.
And Hurricane Floyd was similarly overlooked. On top of the massive damage to property unleashed by the storm, it turns out that evacuation plans proved to be pretty poor, especially in Florida. Could it be that the pundit elite overlooked the impact of the storm and the ensuing debacles because they would lead to the front door of Florida Governor Jeb Bush, brother of The Anointed One?
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