Sunday, November 5, 2000 -- NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (AmpolNS) -- With just over two days to go before Americans head to the polls, the pundits were spewing and spinning at maximum capacity.

They were also ignoring a story in the Sunday (London) Times in which a former Texas Air National Guard officer, Bill Burkett, raised serious questions about the handling of Bush's Texas Air National Guard service records by allies of Governor Bush.

Issue one was the closeness of the races for the Oval Office and both houses of Congress.  Issue two -- that matter of Bush's drunk driving arrest in Maine.

Here's how it all spun out:

FAUX News Sunday
Pundits in Space!

Tony Snow's top question: will that DWI revelation hurt Bush -- or Gore?

Tony began the show from the surreal-looking FAUX Election headquarters, with a weird computer-generated background that had us thinking we might have tuned in to Star Trek: Pundits in Space.  Come to think of it, Tony does look like a mischievous Vulcan with great hair!

Carl Cameron made too much of Gore's now-overplayed "Good defeats evil" comment at a prayer breakfast.  We think he should have said "Sober beats drunk, Shrub!"

The entire FAUX team seemed to be pressing the Bush message: that Gore is untrustworthy and dishonest, overemphasizing Gore's comments, pushing claims that Gore is playing the race card -- and ignoring that li'l arrest. 

Tony turned first to his panel, playing a video clip of Bush talking about his DWI -- who benefits?  Brit Hume said it's hard to say, but did have the effect of drowning out both candidates for two days, obscuring both Bill Clinton and Ross Perot.  Mara called it a wash, then bashed Clinton for "lowering the bar on behavior."

Yeah, Mara -- as if other Presidents have not been bad boys, and as if Nixon's behavior was less nasty than Bill's!

Juan Williams said he's surprised that the Bush campaign went along with covering up something that was bound to come out -- and that there were strategies by which it could have come out and not had a hugely negative impact, mentioning Gore's marijuana smoking.  Naturally, Tony asked about Gore's dope smoking -- showing he is probably not a Grateful Dead fan like Al and Tipper.  Tony tried to claim that there was "Democratic hanky-panky" in the story coming out.  Mara said that the Bush campaign was using the Clinton playbook -- blame politics for the story.

Tony said that Gore is arguing that Bush is not qualified.  Juan said it won't work -- but there is concern in New York and LA that Bush might be elected (he came justthisclose to saying Bush is a dummy). Tony called Bush a "strict constructionist," and Mara said blacks just are not as enthusiastic about Gore as they are of Clinton.  Hume said that Gore is scaring seniors and attacking Bush because he's a governor.  Dull, dull, dull.  Juan said Gore's base is not excited -- but that's not what some pollsters are saying.

Following the break, Tony asked Ed Rendell why Gore saying that Bush would name racist "strict constructionists" and erode civil rights was not race-baiting.  Rendell said Bush is out to kill affirmative action, and that good programs such as one in Philly to help minority businesses have already been hurt.  Hume had the nerve to say that the Bush view is "pretty far" from blacks being three-fifths of a person.  Well, Birt, we think some Bush supporters are hoping to regress to the days of three-fifths.

Hume asked Rendell about the DWI revelation -- Rendell said the failure to disclose the arrest was wrong.  He had been on the Today show and saw a Bush spot on trust and responsibility -- essentially saying Bush is neither.  When Rendell mentioned the lack of specifics in Bush's Social Security plan, Hume said he was trying to link the issues!  It sounded pretty silly.

The topic of putting one's arrest record on federal job applications came up -- and Tony changed course pretty quickly.  Rendell talked issues -- notably the Brady bill and gun ownership, and the failure of the NRA's deceptive ads to resonate.

Then Tony welcomed Jeb, the smart Bush brother.  Tony said Gore called the race one between "good and evil" (lie) and did the race-baiting pap.  Jeb said that Gore was out to DEPRESS voter turnout!  We guffawed -- this is the SMART Bush?  Jeb called it all nasty politics and scare tactics.  Hume asked Jeb to give a sense of what he's planning in Florida.  Jeb conceded that it's close, but there's been an intense turnout at Bush events in Florida.  The usual issues -- absentee ballots, phone calls -- "there's never been anything like we're doing now" -- an ADMISSION that Bush is in DEEP trouble in Florida.

Then talk turned to Dubya's drinking.  Jeb said it happened before Bush was old enough to be president -- and Dubya's his role model!  How did Jeb learn about the arrest?  ON THE NEWS, he said -- it had been the FIRST TIME he'd heard about it -- then Jeb said he had NOTHING TO HIDE!

Well, how did it remain hidden from YOU?

Tony asked why Dubya's having trouble in many states including Florida.  Jeb said something muddled about voters moving around, and then attacked Gore for "scaring seniors."

Good grief -- if I were a senior I'd be scared of Bush's pharma and insurance industry welfare plan WITHOUT Gore's help!

The Pundits in Space returned after the break with Bill Kristol, Fred The Weasel Barnes and Mort Kondracke.  Tony played a tape of Joe Lieberman "giv[ing] thanks to G*d" and rhapsodizing about the deity.  Barnes said the Democrats stripped Joe of all the things that made him a different Democrat (pro-voucher, anti-Hollywood).  Mort was asked about Gorre talking religion and (for about the tenth time) "good and evil."  Mort said Joe's references were maintained throughout the campaign -- and praised Lieberman's convention speech.  Huh?  Mort did say that the GOP has the advantage in churches.  Boring.

How does Kristol rate the veeps?  He said they make no difference -- and Gore did well at the beginning distancing himself from Clinton.  Hume said that the debates arrested Gore's momentum and helped Bush -- yeah, right.

Brit, the PRESS arrested Gore's momentum so they could get Bush in the White House -- and destroy him.

Juan said Dubya will bring in Daddy's team of geniuses and essentially implied that Cheney would run things!  The Weasel said that Cheney won the debate -- on his POLICY ideas!  Fred must be delusional!

Then Tony ran Clinton's "Elvis style" entrance at the Democratic Convention and the Esquire shot -- focusing on Clinton's crotch!  Never have we seen so many pundits so JEALOUS of a politician.

Face it, boy -- love or hate his peccadilloes -- Clinton IS Elvis.  The King of Politics.  The King of Spin.  The King of Diplomacy.  The King of Campaigning.  Admit it, boys -- you're going to miss him.

...that is, until he goes on the legal offensive against the people who tried to tear him down once he leaves office.

Tony ran the clip of millionaire Ralph Nader saying Gore has damaged Gore.  Kristol praised Nader for running an effective campaign -- but also praised Gore for distancing himself from Clinton and running well, adding if he "pulls it out" it will have a lot of people scratching their heads.  Juan and Kristol talked ads -- Juan saying that Gore should be saying you're better off than you were eight years ago.  Mara was wrong as usual when she said it's not playing and EVERYONE knows Greenspan is the reason.

Mara, honey, Joe Sixpack does NOT have clue one as to who Alan Greenspan is.

Following the break -- Tony said Gore "ran to the left of Clinton."  Barnes: after the convention "it looked good for a time" and Bush's conservatism is working -- also, all praise to the Bush campaign for "figuring out" that the election was about "change."  Kristol was shocked to find himself defending Gore as he said the many pundits thought Bush would coast to victory.

New York Senate race: Tony made too much of contributions by Muslims that Tony now claims she did not return. Mara said that it has backfired on Lazio but could create movement against Clinton.  Juan predicted a Hillary win -- and that the "do you really like Hillary" issue died because nobody knows who Lazio is!  Mort said that Hillary is running for the Moynihan-Bob Kennedy seat, and Lazio did not know the state.  Kristol thinks Hillary can beat Lazio.

Here's what the pundits left out: Lazio has supported legislation that's good for Long Island but bad for upstate, and he opposes programs that will bring jobs upstate.

Mort predicts a gain for Dems of 2-3 seats in the House, 2-3 in the Senate.

Fred: the GOP will retain the House and Senate withoiut finishing their work.

Kristol: God will no allow both Gore and Hillary to win.

Juan: GOP keeps contorl of House, Dems win Senate, FGore may pull it out.

Mara: GOP retains both houses.

Hume: Bush wins. 

Tony's last word: character is the big issue, yet dismissed the Bush DWI revelation as a dirty trick.  Wrong!  But Tony was right when he predicted a lot of pollsters will be wrong this year -- and that disagreement is healthy for America during political campaigns.

Face the Nation
Last gasp for Bush brother

Bob Schieffer welcomed his first guest, Florida Governor Jeb "Jethro" Bush.  Why, asked Schieffer, is Bush doing so poorly?  All Jeb could say is that Dole won in '96 -- and he believes Bush is ahead.  Jethro expressed frustration that the electoral map does not show Dubya's color for Florida, and even praised the choice of Lieberman -- but then went into his "Gore is scaring seniors" pap.  Will Bush carry Florida?  Jethro said he's confident Dubya will carry the state.

Gloria Borger asked Jethro if he knew at the time the news came out that Bush was arrested in Maine for drunk driving.  Jethro actually tried to turn this into a PLUS, saying that he was rambunctious and implying it was some sort of character building.  Jethro said that there's more than policy to the presidency -- that setting a good example was part of it.

And Bush sets a good example, Jethro?  Talk about bald-faced hypocrisy!

Jethro praised Dubya's Social Security plan -- then got defensive about his brother's mistakes!  "lighten up, already!"

Right.  Lighten up on cover-ups.  Lighten up on crucial omissions.  Lighten up on lying directly to Americans.

Jethro dissed Gore's "good versus evil" comments, and again forecast his brother's win in Florida.

Bob's first question to Bill Daley: is this election about good versus evil? Daley said the comment, made at a prayer breakfast, is a comment he's made for years and that it was NOT aimed at Bush.  Schieffer then asked if it WAS aimed at Bush.  Daley patiently repeated his no.  Borger said Gore is taking on Bush far more directly -- for example, Gore's attacks on "strict constructionist" Bush, mentioning that blacks were once three-fifths of a person.  Daley cited "rhetoric by the governor and his surrogates" including attack commercials.  "But I mean, really now," said Schieffer -- isn't it extreme to imply that Bush would appoint racists to the Supreme Court?  Daley said words mean things -- and "strict constructionist" sends a message to African Americans.  Bush has an obligation to explain -- or he should not use the phrase.

Schieffer talked about Gore possibly not carrying Tennessee.  Daley said the state is far more Republican than it has been in the past -- but Gore will win the "hotly contested" state.

Borger cited a poll saying 57% of Nader voters won't change their voted.  Daley telegraphed that 43% is enough to give Gore a win.

Following the break, Mitch McConnell and Bob "The Torch" Torricelli were up.  Schieffer asked Torricelli if he really thinks Dems can control the Senate.  Torricelli said yes -- Dems dominate on issues (and he named a half dozen).  He said Maria Cantwell may be number 51 -- depending on Virginia.  Naturally, Mitch said that the GOP would win in Virginia, Nevada -- and NEW YORK!  Ha, ha, ha -- poor McConnell, forced to cheerled for loser Lazio.  Torricelli said that Hillary is the kind of lady New Yorkers like, who can play on the world stage -- and Lazio blundered by trying to tie Hillary to terrorists!  Why keep Clinton "quarantined," asked Borger -- and Torricelli praised Clinton as the King of Get Out the Vote.

Schieffer brought up the "weird" situation in Missouri -- Jeanne Carnahan neck-and-neck with John Ashcroft.  If the dead man wins, will Republicans challenge it in court?  Mitch said he expects Ashcroft to win -- a non-answer and an evasion.  Schieffer asked him a second time, and Mitch sidestepped.

You can read that as a "we'll drive the Widow Carnahan out of politics in the courts" -- a suicidal strategy.

Torricelli said he admired Carnahan for running -- and slammed dirty GOP phone calls.  MItch repeated his pap.

We tuned out.

More to follow...