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Hiding behind "Gotcha" -- Bush fails quiz, Gore goes Alpha, Microsoft gets slammed, budget stalled on the Hill
by The Editors
Monday, November 7, 1999 -- NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (APJ) -- George Bush's interview debacle in Boston, a "finding of fact" against Microsoft by a federal judge, and a revelation that feminist author Naomi Wolf had been hired by the Gore campaign shared top billing among the Weekend Bloviators this Sunday. The continuing friction between the White House and Congress over the federal budget even got a little mention -- but with little chance of a shutdown and Clinton maintaining the upper hand against crumbling congressional GOP resistance, this story was downplayed big time.
Here's our wrap-up:
Eat the Prezz
Boring, boring, boring
Guest one on Eat the Prezz was White House chief of staff John Podesta. Tim Russert first asked him about the Microsoft ruling, and Podesta supported the finding of monopoly. On the less touchy subject of the budget impasse, Podesta said that the White House was not looking to shout down the government -- nor does Congress, from what he has seen.
Podesta's real message -- GOPers in Congress cannot afford another shutdown; Clinton has the upper hand, and Republicans took it on the chin big time in this off-off year's elections. Heel, boys, heel!
Podesta slammed "special interests" for scuttling the Patient's Bill of Rights--a blast targeted at certain pharmaceutical lobbyists and lobbying organizations who have inflamed the industry's relationship with Congress and lied to the public with their "Flo" commercials.
On the minimum wage, Tim asked about the toughest question he had for Podesta: will you make a deal? Podesta said the White House would push for a $1 increase.
Russert then tried to plant a land mine -- and walked right into it. "They [the GOP] want to reduce the budget but one penny for every dollar. One penny!... Why can't you find one penny?" Podesta smiled -- and slammed the GOP over "pork... [we want] targeted cuts..." and the GOP "one cent" means cuts in nutrition programs, FBI agents and members of the military instead of planes we don't need.
Tim then quoted some of the rantings of Jesse Helms complaining about the possibility of "forgiving" the debt of third-world countries. Helms called them specialist and "unfriendly" to America. Podesta called Helms a liar -- which is about the nicest thing one can say about this vindictive old bigot -- saying that the debt forgiveness was being targeted at countries where democracy and reform can take root.
Tim then asked Podesta about change in the patent law that he said would force small inventors to disclose their inventions. Podesta said that it was an effort to bring the laws into line with international standards. But this is an area where we disagree with the White House--the changes will hurt small inventors and independent innovators.
Tim then began his Clinton-bashing, claiming the Prezz "flip-flopped" on allowing one family to accept a court award in a terrorist case involving an American kid killed by Iranian terrorists in Israel, then allowing a situation where such a settlement will not happen. Podesta said only that a compromise was called for due to changes in the international arena. He should have nailed Tim for presenting a small story of one family in the context of national interest and national security.
Tim turned to the issue of rogue states and the ABM treaty -- should America deploy an anti-missile defense? Podesta said that cooperation with Russia was a better path -- because Russia too is threatened by rogue states.
It was a wide-ranging interview, but what a bore -- Tim's mostly businesslike approach, which changes to ersatz-hard-hitting when he lays into Clinton, is dull, dull, dull. We're surprised Podesta didn't doze off. We almost did.
Following a break, AFT chief Sandra Feldman and Clinton-hating author Bob Bennett were the guests. Russert began by citing the results of a tough new standardized test administered by the State of New York. "Most eighth graders fail the New York test.... This is a disaster, a disaster about our public schools."
But we'd wager that the same would be true if this test were given in any state -- the result of underfunding of schools at the state and local level, parental apathy, pressure on teachers to dumb down the curriculum, and attacks on the public school system by ultra-right "religious" political groups irked that they can't cram their prayers and belief systems down the throats of school children and seek to undermine our schools in the most evil, venal and corrupt of ways.
Feldman said it was not a disaster because the test is very demanding and the curriculum has not caught up with the test; we should stay the course. Bill Bennett, right-wing author, predictably said it was a disaster; we should change the course and that we are losing ground to other nations (this is a lie). Bennett got a little more time than Feldman to slam the public school system. Feldman replied -- and fended off continuous interruptions by the obnoxious, surly Bennett ("yeah... sure.. mutter mutter...") -- by pointing out that other standardized tests are going up -- but teachers need the materials and resources to teach kids.
Bennett said something about the information superhighway and we're "not where we were in the 60s."
What's this? Bennett is nostalgic for the sixties? He ain't talking rock and roll, peace, love and understanding -- it's a far better bet that his nostalgia is for Dick Nixon, the arms race, mutually assured destruction, intervention in Southeast Asia, and maybe even segregation being a good thing.
Feldman continued on the sorry physical state of schools, with Bennett obnoxiously harumphing and saying "uh-huh" sarcastically. Bennett started in on his favorite straw man, the "teacher's union" (hey--there is not one single teacher's union) preventing mathematicians from teaching because they know how to do math. It was a foolish statement -- and Feldman called him a ridiculous liar, pointing out that the nation does not allow the marketplace to attract teachers.
She's right -- but tell that to taxpayers who have been brainwashed by two decades of hard right anti-tax spin, who are loathe to support America's real first line of defense, its public school system.
Feldman said she is opposed to vouchers as public policy but supports school choice as opposed to "taking money out of schools with great needs... put the money into the kids that are there."
Bennett cited a one-sided, poorly researched article on that claimed that the teacher's union was blocking school spending. This is a favorite tactic of Bennett's -- note that he usually cites a dishonest article during his Sunday appearances so that he can propagate his intellectual dishonesty. Bennett sounded almost desperate in his pro-voucher stance, slamming the union. Feldman said that "the fact of the matter is that teachers are working their hearts out, they should be supported, not attacked." She also slammed Bennett's ridiculous claim that public teachers send their kids to private schools.
Right, Billy-Bob -- if they're married to an orthodontist or litigation lawyer.
The segment turned out to be another attempt by Bennett at a PSA for vouchers. Feldman should have hammered away at Bennett's pathetic, anti-teaching, anti-public-school record as Education Secretary -- not just his record of lies and misstatements in support of vouchers.
Following the second break, Tim started in with Bush Bashing! He ran the now notorious Boston interview in which Bush failed to name leaders in four key world hotspots. Bill Safire called it "gotcha journalism... a phony little test... there are plenty of questions to ask [about] if we agree to withdraw our sanctions [in Pakistan]... it's a toughie."
Puh-leeeeze. Safire, one of the chief practitioners of "gotcha" journalism when it comes to Clinton's scandals, is a pure hypocrite. You'd think he was defending his old boss Richard Nixon, he seemed so bent out of shape.
We missed Doris Kearns Goodwin's snappy (not) comeback, but David Maraniss -- whose humorless, withering criticism of Bill Clinton has been an Eat the Prezz staple -- said that Bush was too busy playing Strat-O-Matic Baseball to read books! We were rolling on the floor!
Tim claimed that the Democrats were trying to "leak his grades to the press." Goodwin said it made sense.
But we will tell you that most of the opposition research on Bush is not coming from Democrats, but from his GOP opponents.
Tim then began some Gore-bashing, playing a clip of Naomi Wolf before laying into Gore for hiring Wolf secretly as a consultant. Goodwin blathered, we laughed -- because we know that every candidate has advisors telling them how to "be a real man," and most of those arrangements are kept secret. Safire made a stupid comment about "alpha-male brown" -- then, much to our surprise, praised Wolf as an intellect, but said that she had made a mistake in allowing her hidden role to be made public.
But we can tell you that the only people who are upset are managers for other campaigns, who fear the pressure of full disclosure. Turns out this may actually be a very savvy move by Gore -- let's see any of the other candidates come up with a marquee name in the same league as Wolf when it comes to social analysis.
Tim, predictably, read part of a column by the smug and much-overrated Maureen Down, whose winning of a Pulitzer has in fact devalued and tarnished the award. This set off a round of boring talk about "real men," "anger," "loyalty" and John McCain's temper, with Safire pointing out that "it's the only thing being used against him."
Safire then ridiculously predicted that when things get close between Bush and McCain in New Hampshire, Bush would "get under McCain's skin" on the issue of -- catch this -- tobacco taxes!! Safire has gone off the deep end. We wonder if he gets wheeled onto the Eat the Prezz set in a straitjacket.
Tim concluded Meet the Press by playing a 20-year-old interview with the Iranian foreign minister -- the first official word at that time on hostages taken in the American Embassy during the Iranian revolution. The foreign minister, it turns out, was executed a few years later, having been found guilty of plotting to assassinate the Ayatollah Khomeini.
Boring.,
Fox Spin Sunday
Tony Snow's top issue: congressional budget negotiations with the White House. His first guest: Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, who gave a "feel-good" assessment of the negotiations.
Gee, the Sunday shows are getting this "hot" issue out of the way reeeeeal fast -- because no matter how much grinnin' good ol' boy Trent does, Clinton has the upper hand.
Tony played a sound-bite of Clinton saying that Lott was beholden to his GOP caucus. Lott said he has a fine relationship with the President -- and can't afford "a fractious relationship when the people are at stake."
Well, hardy, har, har! Can anyone say "impeachment debacle?" Like "the people" mean anything to Trent -- unless they're the lily-white, Confederate-flag-flying members of the racist CCC he is so fond of speaking before.
Lott said the Administration wants more spending and a tax increase -- as if there were something truly wrong with that. Hey -- we don't like high taxes, but if it means buying down the debt and way lower taxes later, we're all for it.
Brit Hume asked Lott about the Microsoft ruling, giving Lott an opening to slam the Justice Department for certain investigations they're involved in.
"There's something about the Justice Department that bothers me... once again they're doing by litigation what they should be doing by regulation."
This is about the dumbest thing we've ever heard from Lott: Microsoft was sued because of federal regulations! And isn't the GOP supposed to be the deregulation party?
Lott's view was also at odds with Orrin Hatch, who appeared on CNN Late Edition and praised DOJ in no uncertain terms for their handling of the Microsoft case!
Brit, of course, played along with Lott, using the opening to ask if the Justice Department "were acting as lawyers for Netscape" -- a stupid question, as it is the OS, not the web browser, that was the issue.
Hey Brit, if that's the case, then DOJ were also lawyering for Opera, AOL, NetForKids, Foliage, NeoPlanet and other second-party browsers!
Talk turned to Shrubya! Tony on Bush: "Are you not concerned about a candidate who can get unsettled by one reporter?" Lott dismissed Bush's ignorance as "inconsequential."
Good grief. Lott then called it "a press thing, a Washington thing" -- then claimed that Clinton, when he was running, said, and we quote, "couldn't name the President of Chetnia." He then corrected himself, saying there was no President of "Chetnia."
Hey, Trent -- it's Chechnya. Rhymes with retch-nyuh.
Tony: "Have you ever seen McCain blow a gasket?" Lott: "I'm involved in making policy, not in making judgment." He called it a "gotcha" question. Brit Hume put Lott on the spot for "slipping one" to McCain -- "What about a capacity for compassion, for outrage?" Lott: "We all have times when we let passion get the best of us." Tony and Brit had allowed Lott to call McCain short-tempered without calling him short-tempered.
Tony dug up the moribund FALN issue; Lott said that Democrats are trying to "bury" evidence concerning Clinton's decision to give FALN associates very conditional pardons -- a mistake by Clinton in our eyes.
Brit asked Lott if Carol Moseley-Braun would be approved as New Zealand ambassador, and Lott deflected to the issue of federal judges, claiming that 48% of the judges were women or minorities.
Hey, Trent? So what! The problem is that you and "Rockin'" Orrin Hatch are holding up over a hundred judgeships!
Tony: "Are you an Alpha male or a Beta male?" Lott: "I'm a Delta male, a Mississippi Delta male!" Even we laughed. Lott called the flap ridiculous -- but failed to blame the press.
Following the break, Tony welcomed Microsoft COO Bob Herbold.
Herbold claimed that "consumers are winning" and Tony replied by saying "you're a monopoly!" Herbold sounded ridiculous when he cited a "variety of operating systems" -- because most consumers have never heard of OS-2, Linux, UNIX, M/THEOS and all the others.
There were a lot of "no comments" from Herbold: "We're working our way through it... [it is our right] to listen to consumers and change our product."
Joel Klein, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Microsoft antitrust case, was next -- and "unspun" Herbold by citing Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's finding of fact -- which, it turns out, is based on internal e-mails from Microsoft introduced into evidence!
What does the DOJ want as a settlement? Klein said that it must be a settlement that helps consumers. Tony asked if that might mean a "bare-bones" OS with the customer having to buy additional components; Klein deflected to the issue of consumer choice.
Tony cited "recent polling [saying] Microsoft is good for America." Gee, we weren't asked -- how many millions of hours of productivity are lost to crashes or the Blue Screen of Death weekly?
Tony attempted to get Klein to say that Microsoft may have to "write some hefty checks." Klein disagreed -- saying that Microsoft used monopoly powers to stifle competition.
Tony then took time to raise two ridiculous notions -- this was an attempt by the government to regulate the Internet. Klein said that was nonsense. We agree -- because the 'Net is not running on a buggy Microsoft OS. And Tony recounted claims that this was "personal" (read: political -- Gates gives a lot of money to anti-regulation GOPers). Klein ridiculed the notion.
In the segment that followed, Tony conducted a boring interview with U2 lead singer Bono, who was on Capitol Hill lobbying for forgiveness of third world debt. Bono called it an un-sexy subject.
And the interview itself was pretty un-sexy, with Bono talking about the Pope, the millennium, the details of the idea -- but it is indicative of changes going on at Fox News Sunday, changes that other networks would be well-advised to examine.
We started to notice these about six weeks ago with the disappearance of pundit sponsor stalwarts GE and ADM, who were replaced by e-businesses targeting the 25-to-49 demographic. Then, the guest roster started changing -- mostly for the better -- with more big names plus more dynamic "lesser lights."
Now, Bono. Yes, Fox News Sunday has pulled a sweeps-week coup. If this doesn't plant a shiv firmly in ABC's This Weak ratings, we'd be surprised. Bono and U2 have a large and loyal following. His appearance should attract a younger-than-usual, larger-than-usual viewership.
Is anyone at NBC, CBS or ABC paying attention?
Bono did go on to talk about mending fences in Northern Ireland and his own hopes for peace in the coming millennium. Just the sight of Tony asking softball questions to this peacenik had us in awe. We'd bet good money that Tony's own CD collection contains The Joshua Tree.
Panel time! Tony asked Brit, Mara Liasson and Juan Williams if they could name the head of Chechnya -- and they couldn't! Hume said that Bush handled the situation pretty badly. Mara said that the pop quiz is out there -- Bradley refused to take it, and Gore is on Imus tomorrow. Juan said that the important issue was nobody "quizzing" Bush about his opposition to the CTBT. Mara said that Bush said the coup wasn't bad -- and Brit (catch this) pretty much agreed that it wasn't bad because it brought stability!
Right, Brit -- better stability than democracy!
Juan called the new Pakistan generalissimo "power crazed." Tony: "Are you sure he's power crazed?"
Hey, Tony, are you sure he's not?
Brit kept harping on the Bush quiz, claiming that "nobody could pass it" except Clinton -- and he called that worrisome!
What's worrisome is that this is the network that says "We report, you decide." We've decided that Brit needs to be shipped to the loony bin for wanting a dumbed-down POTUS!
Mara pointed out Gore's strength as a debater -- and that the consensus is that Gore won the New Hampshire debate against Bradley. Juan said that gore was too choreographed -- "if you though Al Gore won that debate, you're trippin'!"
"Trippin'?" Now that word -- which you'd never hear on Eat the Prezz or This Weak -- will appeal to the twenty-to-thirtysomethings.
Talk turned to the Microsoft lawsuit. Hume focused in on the issue of integrating a web browser with the OS, and Juan called it a great decision because it benefits the small guy.
Tony: "You think the small guy has the ability to churn out millions of lines of computer code?'
Hey, Tony, you ever heard of compilers like C++? The answer is yes!!!
Juan called Microsoft the "alpha male of the software industry." Brit disagreed, citing an "explosion" in the computer industry -- "Look at Red Hat, and the price of their stock!"
Tony had to ask Brit: "Are you an alpha male?" The panel all loved Lott's response. They all wanted to be Deltas.
Deltas?
Gee -- weren't the members of the fictitious frat in Animal House "Deltas?" What next? Fox Frat Party Sunday with Tony, Brit, Mara, Juan, "trippin'" with elected officials in togas such as frat boy George Bush, with a keg of college beer-blast staple Genny Cream flowing copiously? We can't wait to see Brit, Mitch McConnell and Orrin Hatch talking moral issues while crushing beer cans against their foreheads.
And why not? That should draw the 25-to-49ers!
This Weak
Alpha Feminist slaps down Cocky's inner slut, kicks Sam's outer ass
Sam and Cocky began the show talking about how important the Microsoft monopoly decision was.
But they opened with NaiMOANi Wolf!
Wolf said she was not "at the table with the Gore campaign" to do anything that the press had described last week. Of course, we could have told you that! Ms. Wolf is brilliant, and is on the team to focus women's issues-- not as a fashion consultant. What she does talk about around the This Weak table is what she hears from women of many different backgrounds -- and she hears the same things from all of them: stress over being good parents, overstretched lives, etc.
Sam, of course, butted in rudely (as usual) and quoted her as saying that Gore's "goofy" positions will become world-accepted positions years later. Wolf was glad the moron brought this up -- because what she meant by "goofy" is what people perceive now versus what they will believe later. Of course, Donaldson -- a well known alchemic moron -- did not get it.
Sam pretended to translate for her, saying, "Oh, you didn't mean goofy, you meant unique!"
George Will said that Wolf claims that Gore is a "Blakeian"-- Blake saw the world as so connected as to be a grain of sand.
Will, of course, chose Blake so that he would appear intelligent. He must of crippled his LEXIS/ NEXIS to find that quote from Naomi.
Cocky Robot asked about sex -- because, of course, she rarely gets it, we'd guess. Poor Mr. Steve Roberts -- he must have to service her at least once in a while. She's a real tigress, ain't she? (No letters, please!)
Wolf stood by her views but said she does not bring them up with Gore. That ended that.
Will asked whether she is being paid to do more than what she said. Huh? He brings up her concern with the American love of UFO stories.
Wolf made him look stupid by reminding him that she is a social analyst. Will interrupted her and said, "But you linked this to NAFTA-- what's up there?"
"I try to take a look at the bigger picture -- like people looking for more meaning in their lives. That is why morality has been such a larger part of the culture." She pointed to longer hospital stays for women having children, more family time off from employers, and so on -- all her suggestions to Clinton.
Sam the Nutball talked about her statement that "the rape crisis center starved for funds" -- of course, this was about her experience working in a rape crisis center in Scotland! Wolf replied that volunteers were being stretched to their limit -- the atmosphere was gloomy -- and that this was shorthand for taking a better look at this problem in the US.
Sam the Idiot then attacked her $15,000-a-month salary -- like the true hypocrite he is. Sam earns about $250,000 a month -- for being a moron!
Naomi was great. She told Sam -- while still smiling in an oh-so-friendly way -- that she makes no apology for earning a professional person's salary, and she never will.
By the by -- $180 thousand a year is very low pay for a woman of Naomi Wolf's character, education and genius -- well-documented by others more brilliant than we.
Let us also point out that Wolf took a cut to $5,000 per month -- and then another cut -- because she believes so strongly in what Gore stands for vis-à-vis women in America. We think our readers -- the thinking ones -- and especially our loyal women readers should send checks to the Gore campaign to be applied to her salary!
Wolf added -- after Will or Sam (we can't tell the difference) snidely asked her if she would then work for nothing for Gore -- that she would.
What pathetic little slimeballs the This Weak crew really are -- including Cokie, who should know better! But then again, she is a Louisiana political type... if you know what we mean!
Sam then moved on to the declaration by federal judge Thomas Penfield Jackson that Microsoft is an illegal monopoly. Of course, Gates will only get wealthier if he has to split up or divest Microsoft! What Gates has to worry about, however, are the lawsuits that will plague him from companies like Apple and other software giants who will finally get their comeuppance.
Joel Klein -- the US Assistant Attorney General -- was the guest. Klein refused to say what sanctions the Justice Department wants. Sam wanted to know if he is considering a break up of the company. He did not answer. Cocky squeaked up: "As I understand it, the way the judge addressed the key facts he found, certain remedies are REQUIRED." Klein told her she is all wet. Cocky, with her eyes on a highly expensive gift from Gates, asked a challenging and snide question of Klein about whether the people think that Microsoft is all that bad! What does she think this is -- a legal conclusion or a poll?
Klein listened to stupid questions from Will and didn't really answer them either, except to brush him off as the lunatic he is -- harping about the "free market economy" and all the other bullshit a great intellect believes.
Then there came a Dell computer ad! Ha, ha, ha, haha, ha! Featuring Gates' co-billionaire Michael Dell.
The COO of Microsoft -- Bob Herbold -- defended his company. We need to let this play its way out, he said. That is what this trial is about, he said: the freedom to innovate one's products. He points out that the software industry had 8 companies early on and now there are 54,000 -- implying that Microsoft did not hurt competitiveness in America. He refused to tell the specifics of a settlement that Gates wants badly, but does say that any settlement must contain the ability for Microsoft to innovate and improve its products.
Will pointed out -- foolishly -- that the case might take another four years to be finally over and thus make this issue moot. Nothing could be farther from the truth, moron. Gates et al could still be held liable for unbelievable monetary damages and fines -- and also a break- up that could hurt worse later than now. Gates would also still face litigation from the companies he allegedly ruined or held back.
Herbold also told Sam that the price for Windows has been the same for nearly 10 years.
Cocky pointed out that the Microsoft campaign cash expenditures have gone from just a little to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Herbold brushed her off. She tried to cut in with "WHY?" But he ignored her and just stayed on message. She could have asked him again -- but that wasn't part of her promise to Gates! For the daughter of, to my mind, two of the most corrupt politicians in American history (one of whom is now our Ambassador to the Vatican and the other dead), we find this an odd and hypocritical question. Why do you think Cocky goes by the name "Roberts?"
Sam went on to the "stupid Bush" issue, showing the interview by a Boston reporter in which BushBaby could not name even one of the leaders of four of the hottest news nations in the world. Bush did an interview with Sam later and said that "reporters ask and I try to answer. Americans don't think that candidates should know the leaders of every nation -- they are interested in my ideology."
We doubt Bush can spell Chechnya, let alone know anything about it.
Sam then lanced him asking what he meant by saying that the new military ruler of Pakistan -- who took over last month in a military coup -- would bring "stability" to the region? Remember: Pakistan, before the military coup, was a democratic country! Bush stammered out a stupid answer.
And that's the problem! He can't say he was wrong -- when he couldn't have been more wrong.
Cocky defended him saying that "no one knows who the president of Chechnya is" We do. But we won't tell you!
Bill Kristol said that "Governor Bush's response was 'know me by my views, not a pop quiz.'" What is he, an echo? Will said he would get three of four wrong himself. Then he came out with some negative Walter Lippmann quote on FDR's brain from seventy years ago. Sam said he remembers Reagan introducing Mao as Chairman Moe. "This doesn't amount to a hill of beans," he said -- no doubt worried that DaddyBush will reveal old Sam's allegedly weird sexual practices and toupee on national television, courtesy of the CIA! Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Then they talked about McCain's temper. It was like watching Oprah.
Kristol, of course, somehow got a cheap shot in at Clinton at the same time he was accusing others of making cheap shots at McCain's character. It's the first time we've seen Bill as a hypocrite.
Watch it, Bill!!!
Kristol obviously likes McCain, and defended his so-called "temper," telling a story about how Richard Shelby voted against the midget drunk (John Tower) as Secretary of Defense even after promising McCain he would vote for him. We say, "Thank God." McCain then chewed Shelby out in public outside the Senate chamber.
Ha, ha, ha, ha. Good move on both their parts.
A very expensive Microsoft commercial followed! How convenient and enriching for Sam and Cocky!
That was it for This Weak... for good, we hope.
The Great Big Missing Issue
There was hardly a word about the off-off-year elections.
But that's not a surprise -- Lord forbid that the pundits should remind the nation that the Dems made unexpected gains for the second year in a row.
They wouldn't want that getting discussed, now, would they?
Copyright © 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, American Politics Journal Publications. All rights reserved. ISSN No. 1523-1690