Flush twice... it's a long way to Sally Quinn's place!

Pundit Pap
for September 7, 2003
Signs of Desperation
Powell, Condi flak to distract from Smirk's miserable failure in Iraq
By JJ Balzer

Sept. 7, 2003 - NEW YORK (apj.us) - Toward the end of the week, the upper crust of the "commentariat" seemed to be almost openly wringing their hands at what had emerged from the first DNC-sponsored debate among the nine Democratic presidential hopefuls.

Great Scott! Not only had the rest of the field refused to turn on former Vermont governor Howard Dean (over which you just know that the biased, play-along-with-the-pack pundits would have opined with glee about the "divided Democrats' infighting") - the candidates actually had the nerve to proclaim that the presidency of former Texas governor Bush was a "failure... a miserable failure."

The criticism was focused in particular on Smirk's number one foreign policy catastrophe: Iraq.

This meant that Karl Rove had but one choice: lock War Secretary Don "Grampa" Rumsfeld and his chief policy Paul "Collateral, Schmatteral" Wolfowitz in the White House basement and send Secretary of State Colin Powel and the hapless Condolleeza Rice out to shill for Junior on the Sunday morning policy-and-campaign circuit.

The results of these appearances only served to underpin the gravity of the Texas Dauphin's catastrophic blunder over Iraq -- and the conspicuous concern among Mr. Bush's handlers over approval and re-elect numbers for the "popular [chuckle] wartime [gag] preznit" that have slipped into the 40-percent neighborhood and appear headed further downtown.

We caught a little of three shows. Here's what we saw…

This Week
Players: George "Steph, Finally Getting His Groove On" Stephanopoulos, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA, as if you didn't know)

Maybe they should change the name of "This Week" to a variation on its former title: "Issues and Non-answers." Powell provided those non-answers in the form of repeated talking points.

Steph first played some newly-released footage of two passenger planes hitting the WTC on Sept. 11, 2001 and, turning to Powell, said that the footage shows the nature of our enemy.

Powell, naturally, failed to say that said enemy is Al Qaeda, headed by Osama bin Laden -- not Saddam Hussein.

Powell's expostulation on the video: "We have a strategy... and we are trying to get more support from the international community... we have to stay the course."

Steph replied by not only mentioning the scathing speech made by Gen. Anthony Zinni -- but playing a portion of an audio recording of the speech in which the general angrily recounted the "garbage and lies" of Vietnam and asked, "Is it happening again?"

Under the circumstances, the only answer Powell could give was no, and he said "no" -- while admitting "difficulties" in the Sunni triangle.

(Translation: "No, but yes, and everything's going to be just fine, Steph, don't you worry, Dear Leader has a strategy and we will stay the course while winning the love of the international community -- or else we're screwed, glued, and tattooed.")

Steph reminded Powell of an article in the right wingnut "newspaper" The Washing-Moon Times that scorched Team Rummy for failing to plan for the postwar period in Iraq -- and Powell tried to play the "multinational... 26 nations" effort card. The tail end of his answer, to our delight, was cut off by Steph reminding him that large nations -- India, most of Old Europe -- have so far not sent troops to Iraq. Powell's reply played up the evil nature of the old regime and in effect chided Steph for playing down the participation of Spain, Poland and the Czech Republic followed by lots of lofty rhetoric about how America has brought "sovereignty to the Iraqi people."

(Well, Colin, there's also the matter of having brought no water, little electricity, massive unemployment, huge "collateral damage" and outrage over a failure to implement humanitarian efforts to the Iraqi people - but then, mentioning those minor matters wouldn't prove prudent, would it.)

Steph then got down to details about what the UN wants: more control over the process of restoring order to Iraq. Powell tried to play down the flip side of the coin (that Smirk's war and the US has failed miserably) -- by repeating his lines about "sovereignty for the Iraqi people" and "the Iraqi governing council which is up and functioning" over and over again.

(And yes - that Iraqi Council is up and running like a ventilator for a coma victim who may not recover).

Steph mentioned the expected announcement that the UK is sending 3,000 more troops -- why not send more Americans? You know Powell would never say, "Well, George, the truth is that the US military is overextended thanks to the poor planning of my esteemed colleague Gramps Rumsfeld " -- so instead, he talked a fair game about building a new Iraqi security force.

(The good news -- it's coming together. The bad news -- in Najaf, at least, it's a militant Islamic militia. Oh, joy...)

Steph said that no evidence that WMDs were made since 1991 has so far turned up. Powell said he believes such evidence will turn up and (his emphasis) there were programs -- and Powell awaits conspira-wacko David Kay's "report."

(... which should have all the credibility of, say, The Drudge Report. Right, Colin...)

Talk turned to the deteriorating Israel-Palestine mess and Abbas' resignation; Powell blamed Palestinian Authority boss Yassir Arafat and his failure to give Abbas control of Palestinian security forces that would have allowed him to take on terrorist organizations (as if giving Abbas a security team with alleged ties to Hamas and Hezbollah would do anything). A prime minister, said Powell, needs the blessing of the Palestinian Legislative Council -- and Hamas should never have had the power to withdraw from the cease-fire at any time. Will the PLC give a new Prime Minister that power, asked Powell rhetorically, answering said question with an emphatic yes.

Powell's bottom line: Hamas' terrorism must stop.

(What Powell really means is that Hamas must in effect be dismantled. Obviously, that would not be a bad thing.)

Steph asked Powell's view of Israel's "assassinate 'em all policy," and Powell rather mildly took umbrage. (Translation: sure, it's not prudent, but hell, it sends a message to terrorist groups like Hamas).

Steph then asked Powell if he agrees with former president Jimmy Carter that North Korea's nuke proliferation is the greatest threat to world peace. Not only did Powell disagree -- he tried to play down the magnitude of the crisis.

(What gives there? Isn't North Korea a charter member of the Axis of Evil? Are they being demoted to the ranks of the Axis of Rotten and Troublesome? It's another colossal failure on Little George's part -- so naturally, Powell isn't going to say, "Yes, it's a crisis because Bush failed to take the matter seriously.")

Should the US provide step-by-step aid if North Korea agrees to a step-by-step dismantlement of their nuclear facilities? Powell said the first thing North Korea is blackmailing... er, negotiating with us for is a "security guarantee" -- and the US and its allies will have to agree on the guarantee with which they will go groveling to Li'l Kim and his North Korean regime.

Short version of the interview:

Steph: "Hasn't Mr. Bush just plain failed?"
Powell: "Don't be silly, George! We have a strategy and have every intent to stay the course with help from our good friends in the international community. We can WIN this war in Vietnam... I mean, the Middle East... aw, dammit..."

Kennedy was next. Steph: "Stay the course?" Kennedy said Team smirk must "abandon the 'my way or the highway'" policy it is trying to push on the international community concerning the future of Iraq -- then rattled off a list of Iraq quagmire failures before smacking Smirk for failing to have any exit strategy. Saddam, he added, should have been removed through a UN process -- instead, the US is saddled with a "failed policy" that makes it all but impossible to maintain control over postwar Iraq. Kennedy said that if Smirk's speech is to succeed, he must recognize that his "policy has failed" and the UN must appoint a civil authority if we expect them to get "totally engaged."

(Translation: of course he'll never admit failure, George -- and you know we're going to be on his Iraq mess like white on rice.)

Kennedy continued -- let Powell do the negotiation, and let Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz "step aside" from the process.

(Translation: Rummy and Wolfie are the new poster boys for not only a failure to plan but for failed foreign policy -- and Democrats are going make an issue of the Defense Department dictating foreign policy based on utterly failed neoconservative theory next year.)

Steph said that Rep. David Obey has called for both Rummy and Wolfie to resign; Kennedy suggested that "their policy should resign" (translation: they should resign) and followed up by pointing out that other nations, potential peace partners, are going to be listening carefully to Mr. Bush's speech this evening and look for signs that will hopefully lead the way for Muslim, Indian and Pakistani troops to help establish order and restore Iraq's necessary functions. The US needs a reconstruction plan and an exit strategy, not a "makeshift operation over there... it's another day, another plan... [and that's] bankrupt policy." Kennedy will "support the Administration going to the UN... to help and assist Americans" in Iraq. (Read: he'll support Powell -- and Rummy and Wolfie are about as welcome as lepers at a country club swimming pool.)

What are the odds that Congress will back Medicare reform? Kennedy called for a "down payment for our senior citizens" and blasted the GOP effort to in effect "dismantle Medicare" -- and will fight it tooth and nail. Nonetheless, Kennedy thinks a bill can be negotiated. The other issue, said Kennedy, will how to pay for prescription drug benefit -- but he opposes means-testing because people such as Donald Trump and Bill Gates pay far more into the program than most taxpayers.

Finally, Steph tried to embarrass Kennedy with a clip of Arnie saying he hadn't been persuaded to join the Democrats by the Kennedy clan -- but this just gave Kennedy a chance to criticize the recall.

FAUX News Sunday

How typical: at the top of the show, Tony's spin on the news was that Smirk's little speech tonight will focus on the "progress and success" the US has made in Iraq, and that Rumsfeld continues to somehow steer a successful Iraq policy.

His interview with Condi "Dr. Dilettante" Rice was no better. When asked about going with hat in hand to the UN, Rice rolled out the latest outright lie: that the only reason we are now going to the UN is that "now the time is right."

(Translation: yep, the time is right when there's no other choice but to go begging to Old Europe and the rest of the world.)

And instead of following up with a question that challenged this press-release-ready talking point, Tony asked about additional Turkish troops possibly being deployed.

We won't tire you with the rest of Snow's stilted interview.

FOX News Channel is now so overtly an outlet for the occupied White House's Roveian deceptions that they are a laughingstock. They don't even need Al Franken to do the needling -- it's as if FOX is broadcasting from some bizarre parallel universe.

Call your cable company and ask them to remove FOX News Channel and replace it with a more trustworthy news outlet -- say, BBC World, NewsWorld International or Comedy Central.

Meet the Pressed
Tim applies the squeeze to Colin
Players: Tim "Human Rotunda" Russert, Powell, RNC chairweasel Ed Gillespie, DNC head honcho Terry McAuliffe

Tim first asked Powell if Arafat had "done" Abbas in politically; Powell, smartly, focused on the problem of Palestinian terrorists and the need for a new Palestinian Prime Minister willing to rein in organizations that engage in terrorism (read: Hamas in particular). Powell reminded Tim that even Europe now sees Hamas as a terrorist organization. Powell responded to a question about supporting Israel's assassination policy by saying that the US does not support it -- particularly because innocent bystanders get killed (a noticeably different tone than he took on This Week). The Palestinian legislature, said Powell (reiterating his comments on ABC) must embrace peace. What about exiling Arafat? Powell suggested that would put Arafat on the world platform -- at this time, Powel does not support it, and he made it clear that he will not negotiate with Arafat (the problem for Powell and the region is that internal exile has failed). The next Palestinian Prime Minister must have the political and financial resources to root out terrorist elements in the region.

Tim mentioned that Al Qaeda is now claiming that they have shot down helicopters in Afghanistan, killing some 38 people aligned with the US. Powell all but denied it and claimed that the US is working with the Pakistanis to contain and defeat Al Qaeda (translation: Al Qaeda has not been routed, nor has the Taliban).

Tim then asked what Powell expects to hear from Junior tonight; Powell said he expects a review of action over the last two years and a litany of "successes," notably the overthrow of the Taliban and Iraq (translation: maximum damage control). Powell put a rosy spin on Iraq: "the power is coming on... no more mass graves... constitutional writing process... we did what we said we would do." Once again, Powell did his "return sovereignty to the Iraqi people" production number.

(And in fact we have NOT done what we said we'd do: find hundreds of tons of chemical and biological weapons or ties between Saddam and organizations that have attacked the United States or its interests abroad.)

And wouldn't you know it! Tim then started bashing Powel on his claim that Iraq had "millions of tons" of WMDs. Powell said it was based on their "best intelligence" (lemme guess -- The Drudge Report?) and urged Tim to be patient until David Kay's whitewash... er, report is issued. Powell was also backed into a corner by Tim and had to deny that intelligence was hyped, and once again tried to push the talking point of "the best analysis" by "dedicated people" in the intelligence community.

(Dedicated to what? Bending intelligence to the prevailing doctrine of the top civilian players at the Pentagon?)

Tim said that France and Germany have rejected the draft UN resolution being pushed by Powell -- Old Europe wants immediate Iraqi sovereignty and UN peacekeepers in place. Powell, sounding testier than usual, attempted to play down the "competition" and play up Paul Bremer's so-called achievements and the "good cooperative effort" between Bremer and the locals before dismissing altogether the possibility that the entire operation could be turned over to the UN. And Iraqi sovereignty is, he said, unfeasible at this time.

(No duh, Colin -- and part of the problem is the American presence.)

Tim then smacked Powell with the CBO report stating that the US has insufficient troops to sustain a presence in Iraq while maintaining its other commitments. Old Europe has America over a barrel, said Tim. Powell said he doubts France and Germany will send troops, and that he does not expect a new UN resolution to send more troops to Iraq -- the goal of a new resolution is to bring nations together, and "Ambassador Bremer has a plan!"

(What is it, Colin? We think it's the same plan that Bernard Kerik had - to get the hell out of Baghdad before his reputation is forever tainted by the quagmire. Sounds like a plan to us.)

Tim quoted Gen. Zinni, as Steph did, but this time emphasizing the "no strategy... danger of failing" comments along with the "garbage and lies" analogy. Powell praised "very competent commanders" on the ground right now (what about Franks and Zinni?) before going on a tear about what a great job the US is doing training and deploying Iraqis.

(We'll hand it to Colin -- he sure knows how to stay on that "Do not panic, all is well" message.)

Tim then played a small clip of Madeleine Albright blasting the complete and utter incompetence of the Misadministration. How, asked Tim, will we know we've won in Iraq?

(That was an important question -- and a reversal for the rotund pundit who was simply gushing a few months back about the glorious, swift and comprehensive "victory" in Iraq. Now that's the way to backpedal, Tim!)

Powell replied that we would be the big winners when we prepare for the turnover to Iraq and once a new government and infrastructure is in place.

Tim turned to North Korea, and John Bolton's ill-advised, insulting and bellicose speech against Kim Jong-Il. Powell foolishly defended the speech by calling it "accurate." (As accurate as your claims about hundreds of tons of WMDs, Colin? Nah -- Bolton was right. Kim is a lunatic -- but there are ways of saying it without getting Kim and his fascist-Stalinist cult-of-personality regime too angry.) Tim recounted an incident in which Bolton, in response to a reporter's question on North Korea policy, went to a bookshelf and pulled out a book by the American Enterprise Institute called something like "How We Will End Kim and North Korea for Good." Powell engaged in a series of accusations against Kim Jong-Il's criminal activities and missile and nuclear programs and touted the alleged "success" of engaging international help.

(As if that's a greater "success" than Kim making some actual nuclear weapons.)

Tim then turned to a new Vanity Fair article that brings into serious question Saudi Arabia's commitment to the war against terrorism -- including details of how members of bin Laden's family were allowed to leave the US just after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2003. Powell tried to cast the article as dubious before admitting he did not have all the facts -- then vigorously defended Saudi Arabia based on a couple of interventions while admitting they have not done enough to tide the financing of terror thugs.

Following the break -- Gillespie vs. Terry Mac!

Gillespie will not make a prediction on California's next governor (translation: it'll be Davis or Bustamante, depending on the outcome of Question 1: Does California recall the Governor?) and said a lot of nothing about campaign funding. Terry Mac predicted "no" on Question 1, Cruz on Question 2 -- Davis was duly elected and a right-winger bought the recall! Terry Mac said he also opposes the possible recall of the Republican governor in Nevada, then went on a great tear about Texas Tommy DeLay's campaign to gerrymander Texas. "Enough! It's gotta stop!" Tim tried to dis Cruz shuffling special interest money around -- but Terry Mac pointed out that what Cruz did is perfectly legal, and tweaked Arnie for breaking his promise of not taking special interest money. Terry Mac also tweaked Tim for trying to bring up a fake "problem" with a lawyer Gray Davis has working with him.

Tim changed tack, turning to election 2004. Gillespie said in essence that Smirk would win it on the security issue (oh yeah -- nobody votes their wallet). Gillespie also tried to claim falsely that they inherited a bad economy from Bill Clinton -- Lordy, the man needs a laugh track -- before relying on the tired "Democrats will raise taxes" spin.

Terry Mac smiled and fired his salvo: "George W. Bush is a miserable failure" in that jobs were lost every month since he took office -- and then Terry blasted Smirk for lying about a recovery when 93,000 more people lost their jobs, not to mentioning squandering a surplus and turning it into a massive deficit. Democrats can handle the economy -- "Clinton proved we could do it" -- and Clinton did not blame Bush Daddy for the crappy economy he inherited.

(That last one wasn't too wise -- it might lead one to assume Smirk inherited a recession, which he didn't.)

But Terry wasn't through with his righteous rant. Gillespie's precious "tax cut" deprives kids of education programs.

Gillespie claimed -- incorrectly -- that the tax burden has shifted to the rich (by 0.6%?) -- but Terry Mac pointed out that that piddling tax giveback is eaten up by state and local taxes.

Tim then read part of an article from the right-wing Manchester Guardian that blasted Gillespie for admitting that "fiscal responsibility" means expanding the size of federal government. Tax cuts and increased discretionary spending! Horrors! Gillespie quoted GOP-friendly statistics that said otherwise -- but without citing the source -- then sounded like an idiot by saying the GOP supports tax cuts and smaller government, focusing ONLY on discretionary non-defense spending. And when Gillespie said the Dems are trying to "re-debate the nineties", Terry Mac said fine -- we had growth and a surplus in the 1990s!

(... not to mention peace, prosperity, and good relations with the rest of the world...)

Terry Mac then praised all nine Democratic candidates for having economic and budget plans - then reminded viewers that the GOP refused to support Clinton's economic plans back in the day we had an elected president, former congressman Dick Armey predicted Armageddon, and instead, we got growth and 22 million jobs. Tax cuts to the rich, he concluded, don't help the rich -- putting money in the hands of working Americans does.

After the break, Tim looked at Smirk's tanking approval and reelect numbers -- both of which are below 40. Gillespie said that he had predicted it, it's political "gravity" -- and that the Dems are taking discourse to "a new low", whining that the GOP never said that Carter couldn't find countries on a map (well, Ed, that's probably because Carter, unlike Chimpy W. Fustercluck, actually could find foreign countries on a map) and GOPers never called Clinton a liar.

(Never called Clinton a liar? Was he comatose from the Contract On America to the theft of Election 2000?)

Gillespie called it "political hate speech" - then said the GOP has an agenda (which you can hear between snippets of hate speech weekdays on Rush or Hannity). Terry Mac: the GOP is the party of Tom DeLay, who ran the Willie Horton ad, the party that attacked John McCain, his kids, his wife and his sanity, and the party that called Max Cleland, who lost three limbs in Vietnam, "unpatriotic." Gillespie backpedaled, saying that Smirk himself never attacked anyone.

Tim then turned to a "warning" from Democrat (in name only) Zell Miller, who last week criticized Democrats' supposed arrogance toward the South, before whipping out a big map showing all those Southern "red" states. Terry Mac said that Democrats had in fact won Florida -- and they will win more Southern states than Florida in '04. And Dumb-yuh's reelect numbers will drop -- the economy sucks, and his foreign policy is a failure.

When Tim dissed Terry Mac 's wrong predictions, Terry Mac did something unheard of -- he actually admitted that part of his job is to cheerlead for the party.

In other words, that explains Ed Gillespie's behavior!