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Bush Surprises With Strong Interview
Other talk shows portents of mudslinging to come
by The Editors
Sunday, November 21, 1999 -- NEW YORK (APJNS) -- George Bush granted a wide-ranging -- and surprisingly strong -- interview to Tim Russert this morning.
And there was a good deal of talk about and among other Presidential wannabes, much of it surrounding John McCain and a reported "whispering" campaign surrounding his fitness as a candidate.
Here's how it played out:
"Crock" News Sunday
DeLay de-lies, but what else would you expect?
"The GOP promised a tax cut -- only to cut and run!" Whoa -- was Tony going to go on the attack when Tom DeLay appeared? There was also the promise of fun with guests Mitch "Cabbage Patch" McConnell and Bob "Torch" Torricelli.
"Let's talk about the tax cut -- it didn't happen!" Tony put DeLay on the defensive at the get-go. DeLay's first lie: "It didn't happen... the President wanted to spend more money!" What a riot -- so did the GOP, who wanted at the outset to spend more!!!! And Tony replied that the GOP Congress increased spending. DeLay made a whole pile of claims -- including another lie about "balancing" the budget (when you look at the details, there was plenty of GOP "voodoo" to bust spending caps without "technically" overspending).
When Tony asked DeLay if the President had lost "clout," DeLay did not lie -- he said no! DeLay then went on to praise his hand-puppet Denny Hastert.
DeLay also claimed that his party had stopped "waste, fraud and abuse." What a sterling lie -- especially considering the pork Trent Lott and Phil Gramm, two of DeLay's southern brethren, got this year. And there's another case of waste ($60 million spent by Ken Starr), fraud (Paula Jones's sworn complaint against Clinton which Clinton's lawyer got Jones to admit was a lie at least five times) and abuse (can you say "impeachment coup?") that America won't forget next November.
DeLay adopted the "Bush Doctrine" -- lots of vagaries on their "goals" for 2000. We can tell you their real goal: survival.
One hint of things to come from the GOP Cro-Mags: DeLay plugged "personal retirement accounts." What he meant: he wants to destroy Social Security, which he claimed is "going bankrupt again..."
...thanks in large part to the GOP's hatred of the little guy. They'd rather leave hardworking Americans "on their own" when retirement hits.
DeLay claimed that "all the conservative organizations are being audited [by the IRS]."
Well, gee, Tom -- maybe it's because most of them are corrupting the political and election process. And what about liberal groups that also get hit by the IRS?
Tony then set up DeLay, asking about the "smear" campaign against McCain. DeLay said that McCain was opposed to the First Amendment and raised taxes -- but our sources tell us that DeLay has been an instigator in the bad-mouthing campaign.
Tony had us laughing when he asked DeLay if he had a short temper. DeLay himself laughed in his characteristic Snidely Whiplash manner. Hey, Tony -- if you want to hear some really fun stories about DeLay's temper tantrums, you should ask aides to some of the less senior GOP members of the House .
Next up were Senators "Torch" (D-NJ) and "Cabbage Patch" (R-KY). Tony started out with a lie: "It seems every day there's another New York Democrat calling for Hillary Clinton not to run."
Every day? Baloney. Tony was making hay out of marginal New York State Assemblywoman Ronnie Eldridge, who seems more interested in publicity than her constituents on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in her urging Hillary not to run.
McConnell lied when he said that Hillary's numbers were "dropping like a stone." In fact, polls show statewide support for Rudy dropping faster than Hillary. Poor Cabbage Patch must believe the wrong-as-always numbers he hears on Fox.
Torricelli went on the attack -- against "polemical attacks." He fired a broadside at McConnell for the GOP blocking HMO reform and other Clinton Administration initiatives. He also pointed out that Hillary is well-connected in Washington -- implying correctly that Rudy is not exactly Mr. Popular in the Beltway, especially since voters in his own city slapped down "reforms" that would give Rudy waaay more power.
McConnell replied that "the Clintons have been one of the most divisive forces in American politics." He failed to mention that this is only because Richard Scaife and think tanks paid to make it that way.
Line of the week came from the Torch, on Dubya's much-touted foreign policy speech: "It's not fair to call it George Bush's speech... it was written by Reagan Administration officials that his father removed from government."
Of course , APJ told you this the day of the speech -- we're glad to see Bob has picked up on this point. In fact, it had us cheering out loud. The Democrats will seize on this -- attacking Shrubya for his foreign policy troglodyte circle of cold warriors affiliated with something the more-and-more-marginal "Hoover Institution." He also nailed the Shrub for not taking questions (even from a "friendly" crowd), calling him "an empty suit... that is two sizes too large."
Juan tried to put The Torch on the spot, asking who he will endorse for the Democrat nod. Torricelli, who is chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, is not in a position to endorse either -- though he did point out that the regional impact Bradley and Gore would have on congressional and local races was different. His answer implied that in this respect Gore would be a stronger candidate.
Tony asked McConnell if he ever saw McCain lose his temper! And McConnell deflected, instead saying that McCain raised taxes and favors big government -- an answer that would crop up among other Bush supporters this weekend in a "piling-on" pattern. Tony: "So you don't think he's a victim." Cabbage Patch said no.
And that's the strategy: The pundits bring up the rumor of McCain's short fuse, making it "pervasive" and keeping it in play. The GOPers -- all Friends of Shrubya -- call McCain a big spender and a socialist. They don't think this is going to tempt someone to spill some dirt on Bush Baby -- if not now, then down the road?
Tony then tried to play up "trouble" in the Gore Campaign: Donna Brazile released a statement concerning various minority Democratic "constituents," and other Democrats bristled. Guest Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) droned on about the Democrats not being about specific demographic groups (African-Americans, the handicapped, and so on), and stated that Gore was more "centerist... the Administration has much to be proud about" in their achievements.
Brit Hume dissed Brazile's statement -- claiming that the Dems were forced to campaign to "their constituent groups." Joe: "You're not going to win if you tailor your message to these groups; that's more a 'get out the vote' issue." In other words, Brit had neglected Political Strategy 101.
Joe was a bit on the dry side, though we did like his comment about the "silent majority of Democrats" -- a veiled swipe at the loud, shrill, high-visibility hard-righters that pervade the media and their followers tied to the GOP.
Lieberman reiterated his position that Gore is a centerist on his policy positions. And he did point out the historical difficulty of Veeps getting the nomination, calling the campaign "healthy."
Tony then asked about "this Naomi Wolf stuff... doesn't this look frivolous?" Lieberman said the media had depicted it that way -- while he dissed Wolf as "flaky."
What a moron -- Wolf is respected as an intellectual even among conservative women's groups, who have actually adopted mirror "opposing" positions to many of her ideas.
Tony kept riding Gore, citing "psychobabble" about "knowing himself." This is a typical right-wing tactic to depict Gore as a bit of a flake himself. But look at the flip side -- Bush looked like a deer in the headlights during some of his pathetic foreign policy speech. Knowing yourself does count.
Brit then asked Joe about the McCain rumors. Joe called them nonsense. "I've seen him get angry, but what's wrong with that?" He said that he didn't necessarily want to "help" his campaign, but the rumors were "nonsense" -- Lieberman cited his leadership on foreign and international issues. But Lieberman's answer also points out a weakness in going after McCain's "temper" -- the flip side is that people want a passionate, I'm-my-own-man, alpha kinda guy in the Oval Office, even one who might just pop his cork and tell some lobbyist or Congressman off.
Lieberman also dissed Shrubya -- for the vagaries of his big "foreign policy" speech. He cited the heightened influence and prestige of America in NATO and other international organizations as a result of Clinton policies.
Tony ended by asking Joe if it was all right for the President to apologize for the policies of previous Presidents. Tony's spin: "How dare Slick Willy say America was wrong -- and that Reagan and Bush did bad, bad things!" Lieberman said that it was in fact the right of the President to do so -- and that it helps build and solidify international relations.
Panel time! Mara Liasson was in Italy, Juan was in DC -- and Tony tried to whip up a frenzy of "controversy" around Clinton's trip. What controversy? Well, as Mara told it, the British have some Greek archaeological treasures, and Mara tried to make it look as if Clinton said one thing to the Greeks (or as Dubya would say, "Grecians") and another to the Brits.
Take a clue, Mara and Tony -- that's what leaders and diplomats do.
She also said that Clinton was engaged in a "gabfest" with "liberal left politicians" from England, Germany and France. This is typical Fox News distortion -- this "gabfest" concerns substantive issues, and the leaders of those other nations are hardly "left" -- they're centerists like Clinton (except for the more liberal Jospin from France).
Talk turned to Bush's speech, and Brit and Juan liked it -- though Juan pointed out Dubya's lack of experience, and Brit said that Bush Baby has to show he knows what he's talking about -- an indirect swipe at Bush's failure to take questions. Mara: "It's a complicated world, and that's why Bush has a higher hurdle."
What's she saying? That Bush is a total moron? That foreign policy is too complicated? We loved it!
Talk turned to the EgyptAir crash and news leaks, and Tony nailed the two stories bubbling under: first, someone will be sued, either EgyptAir or Boeing, and second, there is a Muslim-bashing element to the story.
Talk then shifted to Jesse Jackson's visit to Decatur. "Does this elevate him?" Brit, whom we know does not like Jackson, called him the "ambulance-chaser of the Western World." Juan Williams cited a diverse crowd saying that kids who misbehave should be punished, but then said on the one hand that "good kids" who got mixed up in the incident should not have been expelled, but that Jackson was trying to "have it both ways."
Nobody dared state the obvious: that racial tensions in Decatur are among the worst west of Kosovo.
This Weak
Attacking Hillary Clinton non-stop yet again!
Cokie began the show with a hit on Hillary Clinton, saying a "New York Newspaper" said today that Hillary should not be running for the Senate.
But Pat Pukeanan opened the show as guest one. Pat said that the people who got us into World War I were "absurd." Ha, ha, ha! We though it was only World War II where
we beat up Pat's hero, Adolf Hitler.
Cokie pitted the Puke against Baby Bush, who has adopted the Clinton position on China. The Puke said that we gave the Chinese a free pass to trade. Will said Clinton thinks that capitalism is the weapon we can use on China to "subvert" their totalitarian rule over their people. The Puke said he feels this doesn't work -- and why don't they try that in Cuba? Will asked him if there are other nations who are too tyrannical for us to trade with. Puke then attacked our Iraq policy as an "UnChristian Weapon" against Saddam, because children are suffering in Iraq as a result of our policies.
But Will tripped him up and reminded him that he served Nixon -- throughout the entire Nixon presidency -- backing Clinton-Bush style policies on China. So The Puke lied and said he fought against all the Nixon plans for China.
Will then asked about abortion. Puke said he is carrying the idea of pro-life in his heart. We laughed long an hard at that line -- if that's the case, why did he ban his sister Bay from the family because she happened to fall in love with a Mormon, and then take her back after her husband's death? What a lover of human beings he is! Puke said he will pack the Supreme Court with pro-life judges.
Sure he will -- he won't have a prayer of getting the nomination of the Reform Party, let alone nominating justices of the Supreme Court. It had us hysterical with laughter! It's almost too pathetically funny for words.
Cokie mentioned Donald Trump and his promise to spend $100 million to get the Reform Party nomination. Puke just shrugged and said he can't do anything about that -- but that he sees no movement form Trump to keep this promise.
Then he said there were more platitudes in the Bush Foreign Policy speech than he has ever seen before.
Will wanted to know what the Puke will do if he is left out of the debates. Puke said 15 million Americans will rise up against the Democrats and Republicans.
Will then brought up Louis Farrakhan. Pat loves him, and said he does a good job with prisoners -- but that he has not "assimilated into the mainstream of American politics." Ha, ha, ha -- "assimilated?" Neither has Pat!!
This Weak, of course, had to get into the EgyptAir disaster -- not because is has any political impact as Cokie claimed, but because Americans love tabloid coverage of any horrible tragedy that involves DEATH. So Cokie welcomed Egyptian diplomat Nabil Hamid. Cokie said that the Egyptians are in an uproar. Hamid -- a cool guy -- was appearing to talk about the investigation of the "Mad Pilot," over which the Egyptian people are angry.
Well, ponder this: who cares? Egypt, a base for terrorism and a Disneyland-for-tourists gone sour, is one of the poorest countries on the planet with absolutely no saving grace except its people, who are warm and delightful. We know. Mac has traveled extensively, was recently in Egypt, and loved it.
Ambassador Hamid essentially said, Look, Cokie [you little schmuck], the press reports have changed. But Hamid said the tape was "disturbing" to him emotionally. Well, of course it was. Will and the Washington Post thought this meant that Hamid was of the opinion that the co-pilot was a psycho!!! Of course, because the Washington Post is a third-rate rag -- and always has been. Don't you understand that yet, Mr. Will?
Hamid was great. He basically ripped any "story" from underneath pseudointellectual Cokie and said: Look, you -- the media -- simply blew everything out of proportion and made a field day and a ratings bump out of these people's deaths. You are irresponsible, and don't know what you are talking about.
Of course, he said all of that in "diplomatese," which was far more charming -- but Cokie and George Will (filling in for Bald Maniac Donaldson) got the message: "Grow up you idiots."
The headline on today's New York Post is "HILLARY DON'T RUN!" Howard Wolfson, Mrs. Clinton's spokesperson said (in so many words), "Hey, Cokie, I've got new for you: Hillary is running." Mr. Wolfson would not make her announcement for her -- and, in fact, Mrs. Clinton has hired a manager. Wolfson said people don't care which manager her team hires -- but whether Hillary can make a difference.
Will asks whether the words "Mrs. Clinton has made a commitment" means that she is definitely running. What a stupid question! George, let me sell it out: all politicians make the voters wait before they announce -- especially when they are a strong candidate. Her numbers moving "down" is a result of her waiting, and done purposely to keep her a "contender"
and not a "pre-coronated" Bush type.
Then Cokie shows a "Jewish" Republicans commercial that will begin running tomorrow-- a ridiculous ad which claims that Mrs. Clinton kissed Mrs. Arafat as some kind of SIGN that Hillary agreed with the crazy Ms. A that Jews were poisoning and gassing Arabs!
First of all, Mrs. Clinton could not say anything to Mrs. Arafat because that would interfere with United States diplomatic protocol and policy.
Second, let me ask you this, George Will: did anyone in the US Senate, the White House or the House of Representatives stand up to attack Mrs. Arafat?
Of course not! What Mrs. Arafat said is about as important as snot.
And Cokie, "Jewish Republican" is the same as saying "White African-American."
Third, Mrs. Clinton did not understand what Mrs. Arafat said at the time anyway. And that's a moot point in itself, because she was blocked from commenting on it. Could you imagine what would happen if every First Lady made pronouncements on the remarks or policies of all foreign leaders' wives all the time? By the way: remember that Cokie Roberts, whose father was one of the most corrupt men in office during his life, knows better. Just last night I heard of tape of President Johnson talking with her daddy Boggs about "the Niggers" voting the "right" way in Lou'siana, Cokie's home. Cokie's corrupt Dad may have been on the politically "correct" side of the Civil Rights move in the 1960's -- but neither his heart nor Johnson's was in it on November 4th, 1964.
Cokie continued her non-stop attack on Hillary Clinton using George Staphylococcus by sending him on a tour of Westchester and using two clientless pollsters: stick figure pundette Kellyanne Fitzpatrick and some other Democrat pollster we never heard of! They showed a focus group held by these two morons, but it was "balanced" between Dems, Republicans and Indies. The panel LIKED Giuliani for kicking the poor out of New York and LIKED Hillary for education and health care policies. The panel also offered advice: to Rudy, "Chill out'; to Hillary, " Bone up."
Will reminded Cokie that the New York Post poll -- which was most likely phony -- said that 55% of Democrats don't want Hillary to run.
What BS -- we conduct polls of New Yorkers and see nothing even remotely like that.
Staphylococcus, of course, added nothing to the discussion (as always) -- and we were glad to see him relegated to a shopping center. He looked like a "man on the street" local news reporter.
Bill Kristol sided with Hillary, pointing out that she is only trailing from 4-7%. Who can say that, Kristol?
Will claimed that Giuliani is making the mentally ill homeless WORK for their cots in City of New York shelters! We were rolling on the floor at this brilliant "observation" from a Neo-Nazi psychotic migraine-infested bloviator.
Staphylococcus said that Rudy is already backing off this position, saying the police will go slow on ARRESTING the homeless mentally ill!!! How kind of Benito Giuliani.
Cokie moved to the stupidest story we ever heard -- the guy who won $1 million on the idiotic Regis Philbin quiz show which American morons are currently drooling over. What the hell does this have to do with American politics?
We'll tell you: it's an ABC program.
Cokie said she will find out if any of the This Weak panelists could have won that million. We bet she won't. The truth is that none of them -- with the exception of Kristol -- would have the guts to bet all their previous winnings to get the million in the first place. They are all punks who hide behind their networks for protection.
Bush commercials were shown next. And they were terrific, we must say. The theme: "Honor and Dignity to the Office of the Presidency." What a laugh! Honor and Dignity from a punk brat who was snorting and providing cocaine to his friends, got away with it and was then arrested and bailed out by Daddy's hand-picked judge.
And believe us -- this story is true.
The panel of cretins all agreed that Bush cannot make a speech, but is "great" on the stump. We were surprised that Kristol thought that the Bush foreign policy speech was "good." Will, of course thought the speech was great as well. How could Bill Kristol agree with anything Will said? Staphylococcus took a swat at Clinton, saying that the President attacked George Bush Senior for being too easy on China -- as did BabyBush attack Clinton 8 years later for the same thing.
Could BushBaby be running a Clinton campaign? We think so.
George Will said that people love the show because they love to see people lose. What a moron. But then again -- that's why we watch him. And why people watch the GOP debates. People love the show because they are morons and have nothing better to do -- including reading.
"Virgin" Cokie said that people have nothing else to watch because all the other shows are just laden with SEX!!! Yeah, right! Steve Roberts -- are you listening?
We noticed that Staphylococcus got a new trendy haircut this week. Yeah, baby -- it looks groovy, George!
The McLaugh-In Group
John serves himself up as the "Thanksgiving Pundit Turkey"
Issue One: "Thanksgiving in Kosovo." John claims that there is nothing to be thankful for there -- calling the "criminal KLA" ethnic cleansers attacking "innocent" civilians.
We could see where this was going: another defense of international war criminal Slobodan Milosevic.
John continued: Serbia's infrastructure has been "destroyed" (he won't say that headway has been made on rebuilding). John also said that Clinton has given the "OK" for Kosovo independence, which he predicted would lead to regional instability. He also cited the "Albanian Mafia" -- claiming in essence it was the KLA Mafia!
Why no mention of Slobo's ties to Russia, with its little "Cosa Nostra" problem?
John has gone out of his mind, calling Kosovo the "perfect failure." And even right-wing poster boy Michael Buffoon... oops, make that Barone, said that John was being one-sided. Eleanor Clift pointed out that Kosovo is an international protectorate -- and there was much to be thankful for, including the return of Kosovo refugees that many [including John] said would not return. Bill Sammon, hard-right Washington Times writer, only partly sided with John -- adding that Kosovo independence is not in the cards. Clarence Page called it not a "perfect failure" but an imperfect success -- nearly no casualties, and the message that the US is NOT the policeman of the world.
John went mad -- saying that Kosovo would become a narcoterrorist state! Should sanctions be lifted on Serbia? Surprise -- Barone said "No!" John showed his madness again, saying that if America could not remove a "lawless" president (Reagan?), why should Serbia? Sammon, Clift and Page all supported sanctions -- John said it was "senseless" to punish "innocent Serbs."
The problem, John, is that an awful lot of Serbs were hardly innocent.
Issue two: "Opposites attract!" John ran video of Lenora Fulani, a New York cultist politico, joining forces with Bat Pukeanan. "With that, Fulani became the ultra-liberal partner in an 'odd couple.'" John sounded completely befuddled -- especially when he mentioned that Bat will meet with Al Sharpton. John then quoted a New York Post article decrying "Reaganite" Pukeanan allying with the "soulless arguments and hysteria" of Fulani.
Barone said that Pat was "going to the animal cage at the zoo." Oh, we see, Michael -- blacks are animals. Barone's a bigot. Period. Eleanor Clift cited Bat's having written Reagan's toast to the "Butcher of Beijing" -- and said that Pat's grandstanding. John talked about the "blunting" effect -- Pat was "blunting" charges of racism and intolerance, and Jesse Ventura!
John turned to the "supernova jockfest" fundraiser that "Dollar Bill" Bradley held in New Jersey -- citing his appeal to "middle-age white males" and black hoops fans. Was it worth it? Clarence Page said NBA alums bring to Bradley far more than Lenora Fulani brings to Pukeanan! We laughed out loud. Page said that the lower the income goes, the greater the support for Gore. John -- somewhat correctly, for once -- said that this does separate "policy wonk" Gore from "regular guy" Bradley.
"Hassling Hillary!" John tried to make hay of Hillary's attending a tirade by Suha Arafat against Israel -- a screed Mrs. Clinton did not understand. John pointed out that Hillary appeared not to react -- but then, it's hard to react when you can't understand. John characterized her very strong reaction a day later as "tepid" and "impassive." What a crock. And what a desperate liar John has become -- when he's not sticking up for his pal Milosevic, he's lying about Hillary. John went so far as to quote professional Clinton-bashing Barbara Olsen, who claims that Hillary has ties to the PLO in her factually dishonest and incomplete Hill-hating book. Clift said that running for the Senate while being First Lady could be as lethal as pushing for health care reform and being First Lady. Barone said that she looked "solemn" over Quinnipiac poll numbers. Right, Mike -- their notoriously off-the-mark poll numbers mean soooooo much! John ranted -- "Why didn't she stand up [and leave]?"
We'll tell you, John -- because that would have broken diplomatic protocol. It would have set off a diplomatic firestorm. Nothing she does is right to the Right -- but then, nothing any politician, candidate, or First Lady does is correct to everyone.
Predictions! Buffoon: Decatur will not back down. Eleanor: Bradley accepts more debate dates with Gore. Sammon: GOPers will be labeled isolationists over their position on the WTO (got news for you, Sammon, they already have). Page: The Decatur will be resolved such that both sides claim victory. John: Clinton will present a hyped-up legacy list and a plan for a huge middle-class tax cut in his State of the Union.
Face the Nation
"You have to be nuts to run for President"
We took a peek at FTN this week to catch Bob Schieffer's interview with John McCain.
Bob asked McCain about the ever-erudite Elizabeth Drew's column that names names concerning a "whispering campaign" against McCain. McCain said that the Senators in question (including Trent Lott) denied it -- and he takes them at his word.
"Is their anything in your background that would disqualify you from being President in the psychological sense?" McCain: "No.... I believe that I've been enriched by the experiences in my life." McCain said that he is now gathering all of his medical records for release -- and has gathered some 350 pages so far.
McCain then corrected smug, overrated NY Times columnist Maureen Dowd re. a detail of today's column -- Angela Lansbury held the queen of hearts, not diamonds, in the film The Manchurian Candidate. I'll bet that Pulitzer committee feels reeeeeeal good about devalued the prize by giving it to moronic wench -- who makes both herself and the New York Times look pretty pathetic by getting one of the most famous movie moments in history wrong.
Gloria Borger touched on what McCain would do about money woes -- and news that GOP governors are "banding" together to "restrain" McCain in New Hampshire. McCain's reply: "Come on in, the water's fine!... Looks like something happened on the way to the coronation."
Borger: "Are you too much of a maverick to be President?" McCain cited Teddy Roosevelt, a maverick POTUS if there ever was one, and talked about the "dissatisfaction" with government he hears on the campaign trail. In other words -- America wants a maverick.
Schieffer then mentioned that Bush said on Eat the Prez that Bush would not be meeting with the Log Cabin Republicans (a gay GOP group). McCain said he would meet with them because the GOP should be the party of inclusion -- and he will meet with "any Republican group that shares the values of Lincoln."
What? No invocation of St. Ronald? Quite telling, wouldn't you say?
Following the break, talk turned to what Schieffer called the "unproductive" Congress. Why? McCain cited HMO reform as an example -- claiming that Dems wanted "trial lawyers" to sue anyone they wanted, while the GOP wanted reform that gave patients choice, emergency room care and doctor decisions. Gloria asked how McCain rates the performance of the GOP leadership, and McCain said that the "flawed campaign finance system" and omnipresent lobbyists were the problem. His implication -- both parties are beholden.
Schieffer asked McCain what America should do about fighting in Chechnya; McCain said that it endangers young democracies. We should cut off IMF funding and other aid to Russia until peace talks begin.
Borger asked if McCain took issue with Bush's foreign policy speech, and he said "it was well-written and well-delivered... but it's time for questions and answers.... You need to have debate and discussion." A not so subtle slam -- well-placed.
On the issue of Democrats in a McCain cabinet: "Particularly on foreign policy... I could see a Democrat in my cabinet."
Now, we don't particularly agree with many of McCain's positions -- but we can see why the Bush Brigade is so worried. He may have less cash, but McCain is quick on his feet and doesn't sound like he's repeating spoon-fed rote answers. He comes across in every way as a far stronger candidate than Bush, and his own man.
Schieffer's final word was on the just-completed session of Congress -- which he predicted will be remembered only for being the one that killed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as lobbyists managed to stall action on issues that people overwhelmingly want dealt with, including health care and gun control.
Eat the Prezz
Unbelievable! Live from the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas
Is Russert a Bush backer or what?
Governor Bush began by saying that he will save Social Security because government investment has lagged behind other investments -- thus people should be able to invest their social security funds.
How will they do that, moron, if they have a 7th-grade education?
Bush said that if the market goes bust there will be a minimum guaranteed to every American.
What a laugh! What a lie! He just made that up in the interview. That means that we all can invest in the riskiest companies and if we make it we'll be rich, and if we don't, we'll still get our checks!!!! Sure!!!! Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Bush said that he will consider RAISING the retirement age for everyone who was born between 1946 and 1964. Great. The bastard wants us to wait until we are 75 to collect our checks -- which is, by the way, an illegal taking of our funds!!!!
Bush said he has learned to choose only a few items each session to present to Congress as that which he will spend political capital on with both parties to bring solutions.
Bush said he would allow everyone in the nation to sue their HMOs, like they do in Texas... where the parties are put in arbitration first, and if the HMO is found liable by the arbitration panel, only then is there a cause of action. We agree with this. It will clear the court calendars; however, people should ALWAYS consult an attorney before accepting the recommendations of an arbiter. If the arbiter said that an HMO should pay you $100 after you were crippled by a surgeon who cut your spinal cord because he was intoxicated (SUI) then, under the Bush plan, if the HMO accepted the ruling, you would have to take the C-Note and walk away. This is our understanding -- as BushBaby explained it.
Russert wanted to focus on Bush's fights with his own party. Of course, this only HELPS Bush, because his disagreements with Neo-Nazi Republicans are those supported by the super-majority of American voters. Bush is supported by the polls. Bush said he assigned a label -- "compassionate conservatism" was a wise thing to do. We agree, but he could have just as easily labeled his politics as "Clinton's Compassionate Conservatism," because his ideas, save his hatred of Gays and Lesbian marriages and adoptions, are the same as Bill Clinton's.
Russert hones in on the gay issue. Bush said that we should be going for the "best" thing, not something that may or may not work out. Well, ridiculous, but good in the polls. Bush then comments on hate crimes about which gay people are tremendously concerned. Bush said that Texas has a hate crime law in place and it works -- with two of the men who dragged a Black man behind their truck being put to death. Russert reminded Bush that his own pastor thinks the law should specifically mention women, Jews, blacks, gays, and others. Bush said "Hate is hate. We cannot prosecute thought -- but we can prosecute hate crimes."
Surprise -- yet another good answer!
Should South Carolina take down the confederate flag from their state house, a practice which upsets African-Americans?
Bush said that that is up to South Carolinians. We disagree. But then again, people in Texas fly that flag all the time -- don't they, BushBaby?
Bush believes that the government should be encouraging small business -- not only women and black businesses. He does, however, have graduation rights in the Texas laws. Growth should be encouraged regardless of ethnicity or sex of the owners.
Russert then stabbed Al Gore, using Naomi Wolf's observation that kids would pet and mutually masturbate rather than have intercourse. She calls it "sexual gradualism." Bush lied. He said, " That's pathetic" -- even though he's been screwing every woman in sight since he was fifteen. We also know he paid -- or Daddy paid -- for at least one abortion.
Now, we might agree that Wolf is correct, or Bush is correct on his wish to teach abstinence. However, Americans have been teaching their kids abstinence since 1630 and it has never worked, you idiot!!!!
Bush said that condom distribution "has not worked" -- but he does not say that he would discontinue the program. He also said that abstinence has not really been tried to Russet's question about that foolish plan.
Can you believe it? We can just see all those teens in the classroom. The teacher will say, "Wait until you are married, or at least until you are 25 (inasmuch as the GOP thinks that Monica Lewinsky was a 'girl' when she was giving hummers to the President)." The kids will sit there and agree -- especially in Texas. "Yes teacher, you are right," they will chant. One girl and one boy actually will agree.
Then, after class, the kids will partake of the latest trend in Texas and the Midwest -- ORGIES!!!!!
Great idea, Shrub!!!
Bush on abortion: people who use abortion as a birth control device are just plain wrong. "I will place a law which said that a fetus has a right to life that is protected and is entitled to protection." But then he added that he would ban partial birth abortion, and supports a parental notification law. He said he would support a constitutional amendment to ban abortion except in instances of rape or health of the mother.
Read this again: what he is saying is that he won't change anything... but saying AT THE SAME TIME that he will. This is finely crafted position which mollifies about 70% of the population.
Bush said that "Fat Tony" Saclia is his favorite Supreme Court Justice. His test for the Supreme Court would be if they are strict interpretationalists. Bush said he loves Justice Thomas -- now that was funny! Too bad the rest of the court -- to a man and woman -- disagrees on his view of "Long Dong" Thomas.
When Russert asks about Justice Souter, Bush said "I won't fall into that trap."
Bush then said he wants to stamp out hostility in Washington. Yeah, sure. Yet he puts out commercials attacking Clinton's affairs.
Russert then turns to cocaine. Bush said, "I have said everything I am going to say about what I have done or could have done." He continued: if we, in the Baby Boomer generation, made mistakes and we learned from those mistakes -- and have now assumed a leadership role-- we must not be forced to tell kids that we have used drugs -- mistakenly -- in the past, for that passes the message that "If the President did it, or the Governor did it -- then why shouldn't we give it a try."
You may be surprised -- but we think this is the best answer we have every heard to privacy invading questions. It's finely crafted -- and true.
However, we also think that someone who did peddle drugs are distribute them free to his friends may not be presidential fodder -- but this is something the American people should decide -- based on truth, not hiding the truth.
Russert then brought up Form 86 which every White House appointee and every federal appointee must fill out. It asks specifically for you to tell ANYTHING that could embarrass the White House from your past and to explain it in detail. Russet was going to ask if Bush would fill out and sign this form. But Bush didn't let him get that far.
Bush said last week that if the Russians did not stop the wholesale bombing of Chechnya they would lose all their foreign aid -- expect for those funds that help America, like the anti-ballistic missile. Russert then caught him by asking him why he would not cut off aid to China because they force abortion, jail people, and terrorize Tibetans. He said we need to be harsh with China -- but China is not engaging in a wholesale bombing of their citizens. He said we must defend Taiwan under an agreement we signed with them. In short, he would go to war with China over Taiwan. Oh, brother -- just great!
A Bush Presidency will build a missile defense system with or without the Russians, Bush said.
Russert tried to trip him up a bit by asking him stuff like "How many missiles would Russia have if we signed START II" Bush simply said-- I don't remember, but anything that will work for dismantling I'm for." Good answer again. Bush also wisely said that he would surround himself with strong advisors that will give him the best counsel available and thus admitted that he does not know everything-- another very wise move.
Bush said that real change will come in Russia with new leaders -- like the Governors in Russia who are backing Federalism. We know lots of Democrats who believe the same thing. We should encourage Russia to develop and prosecute a rule of law. He has no take on Yeltsin's hand-picked successors, but he will as President. "We'll find out about Victor Chernomyrdin and the Vice President, and what kind of relationship they have now!" OOOOOOHHHHHH. This was a big mistake. There was no need to attack Gore with some silly statement that implies that Gore has some kind of bosom buddy relationship with a shady character. Gore does not -- and Chernomyrdon is not as shady as Bush might have you believe.
Russert asked what prepared him for the presidency. He replies: "Unconditional love from my parents." Another great line. He then moves to the governorship of Texas which he said "helps a lot." He said that his successes and failures have helped him to understand business. He said that most important at Yale -- was that he made a lot of good friends. We were roaring! Well, that's obvious, because he didn't do much else. Again, his frankness was extremely effective.
DaddyBush said that Clinton and Gore were two "Bozos" that knew nothing about foreign policy. Bush Jr. said people may say this about him, but that he knows how to make decisions and if Texas were a nation, he would be President of the 11th largest economy in the world. Tim played a clip of Jay Leno making fun of Bush -- Leno was funny and Bush was laughing with him. "At least he's talking about me. I suspect he's saying stuff about other candidates too." And he's right.
Bush then said that he was not sure that Pat Pukeanan would get the Reform Party nomination. He said he thinks Newt Gingrich "is a good man" --- A BIG MISTAKE, as Newt is now poised on the edge of indictment through his divorce, at this very movement.
And that was it.
We must say that Bush proved his most formidable this morning. He made few mistakes -- and the ones he did make were generally either purposeful or strategic.
One thing is for sure: Bush will prove to be a tough candidate for either Gore or Bradley, especially Bradley, who cannot compete with Bush's charm.
Another thing we must say is that George Bush is nearly an ideological CLONE of William Jefferson Clinton -- so why worry who wins?
Missing Issue Week 3
For the third week, the federal budget -- which finally got settled on Friday -- was nearly ignored. But do you really expect the Sabbath Gasbags to say more than a few words whenever there is a major political victory for the White House?
Meanwhile, keep your eyes on the fallout from the Friday Washington Post article by Elizabeth Drew. Chances are given what was said this Sunday the story is not going away -- and may well rebound on instigators of the campaign, other candidates, or both. One thing is certain: both McCain and Bush came out looking far stronger than the rest of the GOP pack this weekend.
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