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THE DAILY COMMENT

Pundit Pap

for Sunday, November 2nd 1997

Monday, November 3rd 1997: A pall came over Sunday punditry this weekend as news that Senator Fred Thompson had wimped out on his senate campaign finance hearings spread like a plague -- And without proving the"Connectione de la Chinoise"- or "Chinese Connection" as they say in the hills of Tennessee. Pundits and anchors scurried across news rooms in New York and Washington digging up new scandals, rehashing old. The"Nanny Trial" seized the attention of Sam Donaldson and, believe it or not, ABC led with that story complete with George Will's commentary on Nannydom and killer au pairs. It was distasteful - so much so that I only checked in on the ABC team during NBC commercial breaks.

Tim Russert

But my old pal and mentor Tim Russert didn't let us down. Celebrating Meet the Press' 50th birthday - (Have we had television that long?) Russert brought on a star studded group of alleged political leaders unparalleled in political punditry including House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. And if that wasn't enough to have you Pollheads riveted to NBC a cameo appearance by a more-belligerent-than-usual Ross Perot followed by none other than bittersweet Bob Dole himself.

Russert, our hats are off to you.

The rest of pundit pageantry was dull compared to Meet the Press with the exception that Juan Williams finally laid into Tony Snow and labeled the Fox anchor for what he was -- a cracker.

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Tony Snow

Sunday morning always begins with Fox News Sunday and Tony Snow, the dazzling toothy, too much hair anchor who asks a good question once in a while but remains stiff and "surprised" he's got the job.

Snow opened with some junk about Hong Kong stock markets with reports by Neil Cavuto the lovely, but unpronounceable Jessica Bibliowitz-- a Wall Street Pro -- whose name is made up for by her sweeter than honey looks.

Neil Cavuto

Jessica Bibliowitz

Snow, in a poorly concealed effort to stir your soul, focused on American race relations this week -- A big mistake for him.

Julie Kurtz of Fox thinks that because a white majority elected a black mayor in Indiana that thinks must be getting better."Now black and white kids actually go to school with each other," she told us in her backgrounder.

Kurtz was joined by Congressman John Lewis, Loni Guineer and (giggle) Edward James Almost who was there representing -- at least in Snow's mind -- the Hispanics of America.

John Lewis provided the best instruction of the morning explaining that , "Racism is the ability to use power over another group simply because of the color of their skin."

Almost kept harping on Euro-American bias in history classes and it's impact on minority egos. He's right of course, but it was a too-narrow view of the problem.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK-Loni Guineer was most quotable saying, "We're tracking one group of kids from school to college (White kids) and the other from school to prison. (Black kids)"

Another semi-moronic women called Thurdstrom butted in with ignorance, "That's not true," she said.

Snow made his biggest blunder after the first commercial break bringing together what he called a "younger group" to discuss race. Leading the pack was Don Imus' current fantasy femme, Laura Ingraham -- the kind of blonde perkette who would have been exiled at any university in the 60's; Juan Williams of the Washington Post, Chuck Dee, a Black modern icon, and Rep. Harold Ford -- a Black activist congressman who knows his stuff.

What ruined it for Snow was his constant pandering to Ingraham -- a cheeky little cheerleader for "conservatism"who uses her sexuality (well) to capture your "intellect"-- and his stupidity to belittle the idea of reparations for slavery.

The group got into it about the idea that perhaps Blacks, who have a real connection to slavery, should have received some kind of reparation for ancestral slavery.

Of course Ingraham was appalled, with Chuck Dee and Harold Ford on the yes or maybe side.

DUMB QUOTE OF THE WEEK -Tony Snow asks this totally half-witted question as things begin to heat up: "But how many whites today benefited from slavery?" Good question Tony, it has about a 500 page answer - but a short one, is most of us.

Juan Williams

You could see the hair on Juan Williams'neck rise.

"Lolita" Ingraham, no friend of the women's movement said something like"Under this formula women deserved reparations too because they were abused in the 18th and 19th centuries." She might be right, but her comment was snide not serious.

Laura Ingraham

Chuck Dee pointed out that women weren't enslaved and Ingraham snapped back that handing out checks doesn't solve problems -- again spouting Gingrichian philosophisms. Dee had a novel idea, we don't need checks he remarked - how about no income taxes for the next umpteen years? Ingraham was laughably speechless.

Williams, the only one in the group with a real brain suggested that reparations were not politically feasible in today's climate, but pointed to the real frustrations -- especially among youth where the reparations idea is gaining ground.

Then Ingraham poured more fuel on her racist fire by complaining that the nation is tired of current Black leaders --"The nation is yearning for some new black leadership - they've been around forever.'' Who "they" are wasn't clear.

Harold Ford reminded Ingraham that she too was part of an oppressed minority saying, "Let me remind you that there is only one Female CEO in the Fortune 500."

Ingraham's snippy giggling response -- "They just have to work harder."

That was the end of the formal race discussion, but Williams was fuming and attacked Tony Snow near the end of the program.

Mara Liasson

After the break, Snow, Williams, Mara Liasson and Brit Hume tried to focus on Fred Thompson's final curtain, but Williams wasn't having it. He turned the talk back to racism and said to Snow --"You made you point Tony."

Snow, too stupid to realize he had been stoking Ingraham's insensitive remarks and insulting Williams and most other Blacks tried to wriggle out by muttering something about "asking questions that reflect others points of view."

Williams told Snow that to say "I don't have slaves" doesn't excuse national conduct of the past to which Snow remarked you can't have a sense of "coherent justice with reparations."

Huh?

Williams getting angrier snapped, "People are not entitled to say: Hey race is not my problem."

Snow, pretty much a lightwit, looked like a preppy basketball court teen muttering "You're reading much too much into it," - while tittering nervously.

Brit Hume

It might have ended there, but good old Brit Hume, a closet conservative himself, had to add his two cents announcing, "There isn't a society in history that has eradicated this (racism) from society. Thirty years ago it was legal and acceptable. Now much is changed - much is illegal and not acceptable. I don't think we can go further.

Some discussion ensued on education and crime, but Snow was jittery to move on and did------to Fred Thompson asking whether he "Cried Uncle."

The group agreed he hadn't done a good job except with Babbitt who they all thought Babbitt might be indicted along with Hazel O'Leary. The Fox News Sunday "Spinterpreter" focused on Janet Reno and was a riot.

THE MCLAUGHLIN GROUP

John McLaughlin

The McLaughlin Group opened with China with most agreeing that Jiang's trip was an overwhelming success for him at home, in the U.S. and internationally. McLaughlin called Jiang 'Mr. Charm' and reminded America that he had 'demanded' a state dinner and got it rather than a tent party originally planned by the White House.

McLaughlin was joined by Pat Buchanan, Eleanor Clift , Morton Kondracke and Mort Zuckerman.

McLaughin himself came up with a most interesting perspective: Would Russia adopt the Chinese model -- a market economy with no democracy which seems to be working for Beijing.

Eleanor Clift

The question was too deep for most of the panel, but Kondracke muttered something about Russia trying Preostroika first and Glasnost second which wouldn't allow them to do so.

McLaughlin switched to the stock markets asking,"Is Wall Street bungie jumping how over?" Zuckerman called the US markets, "sort of a roller coaster that only goes up - the Asians have weak underlying economies and that's what made them fall."

Kondracke astutely said it was Clinton's alignment of foreign policy and Greenspan's economic policy that moved America to its current prosperity..

Buchanan. always a headline grabber, said that Asia's still in big trouble,"It was 1929 for Asia they are headed into deflation and depression and it will ripple to the US....and I say SELL now. " Then a minute later he advised us to hold stocks or stay out of the markets.

McLaughlin closed the show reminding everyone that it"s now http:// www.mclaughlin.com for an interesting web site full of viewer goodies that enables stuff like joining the debate, the poll of the week, a prediction follow up which promises to be amusing because it will trace the accuracy of pundit pontificators.

BYE BYE

THIS WEEK

Covering Nanny Trials and sinking to a new low.

HasSam lost it?

I don't know about you, but has Sam Donaldson destroyed this one hour show in only the month that Brinkley's been gone? For three weeks it's been nearly unwatchable. ABC - check your stats!

MEET THE PRESS

Tim Russert

You have to hand it to Russert. He and his staff of grinders really know how to put on a show. If many Americans are left that care about politics, it's Russert who keeps them interested. The show is quick moving and lithe with good questions from Russert who doesn't pontificate at all. Witness this weeks offering:

Newt Gingrich emerging from his shame filled hole, Tom Daschle and Dick Gephardt repping the Democrat viewpoint, Trent Lott AND Fred Thompson on the same screen, and Bob Dole looking more statesmanlike than he deserves. Who could ask for anything more?

Gingrich and the rest basically take the hard line on Saddam underscoring a US military intervention is imminent because Iraq has given the boot the American personnel inspecting that nation for arms control violations. If Saddam wanted an instant reading on US resolve -- Russert gave it to him yesterday.

Then Russert asked Lott the embarrassing question: "What happened with Thompson?"

Lott lied saying, "I met with Thompson and the other members (Republican members) , and basically I agreed with the approach that there'd be no more hearings unless they have evidence, You know they were about to shut down when the White House videos came out ... But barring a dramatic development they will wind down." This is LottSpeak for "hey, I pulled the plug on that embarrassment. I was gonna shut them down sooner to save Nickels reputation as stuff came out on him, but I had to let them go after Clinton and Ickes on the tapes. But Thompson blew that too. So it's Sayonara for good to that crowd of incompetents."

Lott actually said he might look at getting shareholder approval for political contributions in exchange for the same requirement for labor union, but added, "Let me say one thing before we get to "more serious topics"signaling he was through was this one.

But Russert moved to Gingrich asking whether they'll be a House debate on campaign finance reform. -

Gingrich, always on message replied ,"Our focus is on illegality: Teamsters, foreign money, non-citizen voting, INS misuse, Babbitt -- our focus is illegality. We will set a date certain. Quoting that morning's New York Times as his own words, he went on to say, I am amazed that the reforms of 74 are all washed away -- look at Steve Forbes buying his way to the presidency... . and the President raising money but no one is talking reform in the presidential race rules. What about the governor candidate in California who is going to write a check for 55 million, what do you do about Ross Perot buying a place in the presidential race? . My point is, as a rational country there should be no limit on campaigns whose opponents spend there own money. "

For once, he makes sense.

LOTT: Here's what's wrong -- the people don't care. They want to focus on crime and education.

Russert asks again, "Will there be reform next year?'

No clear answer was offered, but Gingrich hinted that there might be a positive vote is the labor and citizenship issues were included in a bill. But Lott added that a ban on soft money was out of the question unless it included labor.

Then Gingrich went to bat for Clinton on Fast Track trade deals, and paid lip service to Gephardt's concerns over its negative impact for labor. Here was Newt defending a labor position. Has the world gone mad?

After the break Russert opened with Ross Perot, founder of the Reform Party, which was just ending its REALLY PATHETIC convention in Dallas which must have embarrassed the hell out of Perot.

As always Perot was full of candor and kookiness. He told Russert that the senate had dropped the campaign finance hearings because, "they had a gun pointed at each others head. Look at Agnew and Jim Wright - the money was nothing there. Watergate was just a bread in - this involved tens of millions in illegal and foreign money."

Then Perot shook up the Washington establishment threatening action this coming Wednesday saying, "The government's not gonna touch it -- but next Wednesday we're gonna take this head on......any ordinary people would go to jail on this."

Russert, seeing he had something, tried to pin Perot down - "How do you do that," he asked

Ross Perot

Perot retorted, "Tune in Wednesday"

Then, after dropping that bomb Perot says,"New topic -- lets look at the debate commision and the FEC. These guys were stupid enough to boast about how they kicked me out of the debates - they'll be sorry for that. Washington is a sick place and we're going to get it on the table. One of the sponsors of campaign finance bill is one of the Keating Five. That bill is a sham. They blew it. They should have let it go on. They blew it."

Perot went on ranting about the end of patent rights because a bill about to become law would force pre-patent details in the open and allow predator nations to copy the material and come out with product even before US patents were formalized.

Russert then asks, "The Reform party has split; The splitters say Perot's policy are good by Perot is not the man to carry the message?"

Perot, latching on to the "concern of the day" replied, "That's four or five guys. I don't want to run for president. . But I will because of my concern for America. The core of the problem is campaign finance reform."

Just before the segment ended Perot told Russert, : "Ask Dole why he got me kicked out of the debates."

And Russert did.

Bob Dole - fading fast

Dole topped off the show following, ironically, an ADM commercial with Russert asking the now self-abusing Dole,"You promised me we'd be having this interview in the Oval Office. What Happened?"

DOLE: Well, it didn't happen, but I have one more chance - Elizabeth. Let's close the gender gap.

Russert egged him on listing Elizabeth Dole's accomplishments.

DOLE: All I want is a car and driver. I'd be like Dennis Thatcher. I'd be in charge of Movies and entertainment. She hasn't discussed it with me. I don't know what's gonna happen. We have a lot of good candidates.

She hasn't discussed it with him? Oh brother.

Here's a sickening exchange:

RUSSERT: Looking back on the race, what are your thoughts on campaign abuses.

DOLE: I was naive, I didn't know you could direct your own advertising....It was a good experience.... I have a good relationship with Clinton, I talk to president before hand when I travel abroad. We have a good relationship.

RUSSERT: Do you think the Democrats won fair and square?

DOLE: Well, [ACTING folksy], they did a better job of knocking us down.

RUSSERT: Well the RNC spent 9 million on Bob Dole.

DOLE: Well, I looked at one of those ads last night, but I didn't direct or control that ad which is a lot different than the President .

RUSSERT: But what about Don Sipple [alleged wife abuser] and Ms. Coe [alleged campaign cash abuser]?

DOLE: I don't want to get into it, I am going to file a statement with the Thompson Committee and can't think of anything I did wrong.

RUSSERT: Some of your people did.

Dole ignores Russert on that and goes to say how they hated some of their own commercials.

RUSSERT: What would you say if you went before the Thompson Committee?

DOLE: I didn't direct or control -- that's a key element. I'd also talk about the FEC and I agree with Perot there, not much else, but there's something wrong where the loser is at the mercy of the FEC.

RUSSERT: What would you advise congress to do about campaign finance reform?

DOLE: Well it takes to much of our time. Maybe cap soft money and phase it out over five years ... no voting for non-citizens and they ought to change [RAISE]the individual . contribution limit and take a look at FEC --- But no public spending for congressional elections.

RUSSERT: Why did you disallow Ross Perot in the debate?

DOLE: Well we knew Clinton did want him in, though they didn't want him in anyway. But they [debates] are not that meaningful anyway. Our experts said he should not be in the debate. You know Perot almost joined our campaign...He almost joined us, but changed his mind in about 4 hours and then did a 180 degree. I think he cost us one or two states... ., but it would not have changed the election.

RUSSERT: What do you regret most?

DOLE: Losing in 1996, and not being in congress at the time. I haven't let it consume me. I'm trying to make a difference.

This was, to my knowledge, the first time Dole lamented his decision to leave the Senate to run for President. A big mistake.

Russert ended the interview by giving Dole a book --- "50 years of Meet the Press"Dole had been on the show 57 times including yesterday.

CNN

Jeanne Meserve

Frank Sesno was on vacation yesterday so Jeanne Meserve took over -- copying ABC's lead with the Nanny trial and guest Lee Bailey and Roger Cossack - the tired O.J. commentator who bores America to tears with his and Greta Van Susteren's legal pundit circus each day. No one had much to say interesting on Nannies.

But Meserve did score a coup with a personal interview with "The Cowardly Lion" - Fred Thompson, who had just had his pink slip handed him by Trent Lott and fellow Republicans the Friday before.

Candy Crowley

Meserve quoted moron Senator Bob Smith as saying that Bruce Babbitt lied under oath and that perjury charges will be brought by the Senate against him, Harold Ickes and Don Fowler.

Thompson, a hair brighter than Smith confirmed there would be 'referrals' to the Justice Department, but that he would not focus on individuals now.

Wonderfully "Candid Candy" Crowley asked, "You've been pummeled from both sides... Have you and Trent Lott talked?"

Thompson replied, "Yes, we talked last week, but it wasn't one on one. There was never a problem with the majority of republicans... There have been one or two. Staff speaks anonymously when they don't get their way, The majority leader has spoken his mind and I've spoken mine. That is just the price of doing business. I think its been overblown.

CROWLEY: "What did you do wrong, what did you do right?

THOMPSON: "We were wrong putting on a time limitation. People saw the cut off date and left the country, plead the 5th, "drug" their feet. Too many members. Several months of intensity and warfare . . but by and large a lot of important things were done. We showed clearly a pattern of illegal money coming into the campaign, we saw access to the White House...

Jeanne Meserve reminded Thompson that the President was, this past weekend, hosting a $50,000 per head "seminar" in Florida and that Republicans were having their own big-ticket fundraisers. "Don't you ask yourself, Why did I bother?"

Thompson, picking up on the latest Republican Theme of the Week replied,"No, you have to focus on who did the illegalities and now it's up to Justice Department.... Justice says it okay and we're back to where were 110 years ago."

Then Thompson uttered a truth -- for the first time in a long time -- but one that could hurt him at home: "I don't think the American people care about any public issue...not much."

Meserve called Thompson on his unbelievable partisanship which had only one Republican, soon to be indicted Haley Barbour, as a witness before the Thompson Committee.

And Thompson had the gall to say this:

"Bipartisanship does not mean 50/50 - under that logic we would have been investigating George McGovern at the Watergate hearings half the time"

What about 98-2% Thompson?

Meserve was pretty hip at picking up on a new scheme being floated around the Capitol this week. No other pundit focused on it. That plan, couched as campaign finance reform, would allow people to give unlimited money -- even a billion dollars, and remain anonymous to the recipient, thereby nullifying any quid pro quo allegations.

SURE.

Thompson's reply was good, "I don't think it would work at all, and it wouldn't end up being anonymous."

That's for sure.

Thompson went on to say we don't need to figure out ways to increase the amounts.

Meserve only asked one ridiculous question: "Have these hearings increased your profile and will you run for president?"

Thompson was almost strutting with pride as he answered, "I'll be as candid as possible. I never brought this up. I've not raised a dime or formed an organization. I think its too early for me to even THINK about it. The times and the person have to come together. Unless you come out of kindergarten wanting to run, then you wait until it feels right. Is it time, does it feel right -- It's much too early."

Ross Perot followed Thompson and had a great reply to Jeanne Merserve's observational question that 55% of Americans don't respect the Reform Party.

Perot responded, "Did they ask the same question about Republicans and Democrats?"

Meserve stammered,"No."

Perot went on message for the rest of the interview basically reiterating what he said to Tim Russert and hour before.

Meserve then went to her "panel"made up of Tony Blankley -- former honcho for Newt Gingrich, Steve Roberts of the NY Postand Susan Page of Newsweek.

The group talked about the squeaker race in New Jersey where Whitman might just make it past challenger Mcgreevey in Tuesday's gubernatorial race and races in Virginia where Democrats could lose control of the House of Delegates on Tuesday.

Steve Roberts - wife of Cokie Roberts - made the best observation about the Whitman race. He opined that Republicans were their worst enemies citing Republican pollster Linda DiVal's remarks that Republicans were creating their own 'Gender Canyon' on women's rights issues, such as abortion.

But Bruce Morton gets the Pundit of the Week Award for his essay on China. He was the first, and as far as I know, the only pundit who reminded us that although Tienamen Square was a travesty we had our own Square - at Kent State more than 20 years ago.

God Bless You Jeff Miller, my boyhood school chum -- murdered by the government at Kent State.

That's it for Pundit Pap this week. At least Tucker Carlson was nowhere to be seen.

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From an Introduction to JK's, "Washington - The New American Babylon"