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

Pundit Pap for August 1, 2004
Will the Takedown Take Hold?
Pundits, eager to once again trash democratic candidates, begin to parrot RNC talking points -- and seem to have "a problem with the truth" themselves
by JJ Balzer

August 1, 2004 -- WASHINGTON (apj.us) -- Well, that sure didn't take long!

The Republicans, through and in concert with their "journalist" surrogates in the so-called "news" industry, tried to deploy a few Rove-esque attack points against Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, who caught the Bush regime, the press corps, and -- yes -- skeptics within his own party completely off-guard with a high-voltage, energized acceptance speech that not only "introduced" himself but spelled out his agenda to lead the nation into recovery from four years of incompetence on the closing night of the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

But who, really, should be surprised? It's no wonder the Republicans have been swift to act -- the Dems' confab itself was a massive success on almost every front imaginable. The party is more unified than it has been in decades. Keynote speaker Barack Obama emerged as a rising Democrat superstar, all but certain to win the US Senate seat in Illinois. Rev. Al Sharpton lifted the roof on the entire Staples Center with his articulate and inspiring rebuttal of Bush's weak attempt to convince black Americans to back the GOP -- and we were delighted by camera shot after camera shot of people of every race from every region of the nation cheering Sharpton's rousing sermon. Bill Clinton, of course, brought the house down. John Edwards' optimistic, inspiring acceptance speech showed he has the right stuff to light a fire under voters. And, of course, there was Max Cleland -- a genuine war hero and a victim of the GOP's smear machine, who joined members Kerry's own swift boat crews to introduce the candidate.

We caught a lot of the coverage this week on CNN, MSGOP... er, MSNBC and FOX News Channel -- and were appalled with the regularity with which so-called "journalists" including Andrea Greenspan Mitchell, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Leslie "Wolf" Blitzer would go into regurge mode and rattle off flatulent spin points that seemed to be fresh out of the GOP rapid libel... er, response office. Thankfully, we were very pleased with the speed with which our friends over at MediaMatters.org would debunk these "journalistic" horrors -- sometimes within less than a half hour of their having been committed.

Well, the GOP must be thinking that their message isn't taking hold, because -- wouldn'tcha know it -- both New York City and Washington, DC are now under a localized "Orange Alert" in the wake of "specific" warnings that evil evildoers are looking to attack the nation's financial structure, including but not limited to the Federal Reserve and Citigroup's New York facilities.

Hey, it could well be true this time, given the specificity that Tom Ridge is spelling out -- but this has happened so often, and almost always with wag-the-dog timing, that one cannot be blamed for skepticism.

Here's a quick look at the some of this Sunday's "political discourse" atrocities:

ABC This Weak
Starring George Stephanopoulos
With John Kerry, John Edwards, Fareed Zakaria, Mary Matalin, Donna Brazile and George "F." Will

Steph began TW with an update on the sudden security concerns in New York City. based on what he and ABC reporter Pierre Thomas called a "very credible source" (read: probably Tom Ridge or a cutout). Steph then tried to make hay of the "small bounce" (GOP translation: no bounce) Kerry got coming out of the convention -- but failed to provide any basis for saying the bounce was small (translation: one poll out of nearly a dozen -- and you guessed it, a Gallup "poll" -- says there was no significant bounce, which probably means the questions were constructed to favor a "popular wartime preznit").

There then followed a travelogue with Steph describing candidates Kerry and Edwards on the campaign trail. Steph made a snide-sounding comment about a supposedly "sparse" crown in Boston. (Could it be any sparser than ABC's pathetic ratings?) And in what looked like a ploy to satisfy Michael Eisner that the news division is not ignoring George W. "Prince Valium" Bush, Steph played a clip of the appointed "preznit" spouting his simple-minded blather about supporting our troops "not being a complicated matter" (in a vain and cheap-shot attempt to bash Kerry for daring to say that issues that put our men and women in the line of battle are in fact complex). Steph confronted Kerry about it without addressing or explaining the political nature of the attack -- and Kerry, to his great credit, said Bush was "misleading" and Bush's underlying flawed policy was at fault. So, asked the "boy wonder" of pseudojournalism, why didn't he address it at the convention? Kerry said that people understand that negative attacks (such as Little Bush's silliness) do not address national problems (such as 900 dead American soldiers in Iraq as the direct result of Fearless Misleader's deceptions).

Steph made a swipe at Kerry's schedule having run late yesterday (an indirect dig that Kerry is no George W. Bush, who is a punctuality fetishist -- as if that's any measure of the quality of governance in a nation that prefers late and correct to on time and FUBAR).

After the break, Steph again confronted Kerry on his vote to support giving the Bush Boy power to declare war against his mortal enemy Saddam Hussein not "agreeing" with a vote to fund Iraq occupation, which Kerry opposed (when it became clear that Congress and the nation had been lied to) -- and Kerry said he stood up for the troops by rejecting Bush's bad policy: no plan, no real coalition, no help from the UN, and breaking his promise that he would only use war as a last resort. Kerry was on a roll -- he sounded great when he started talking about defending America with a strong military, but also strong ideals and strong partnerships using the power of the presidency. (This was a riff on Bill Clinton's assertion at the convention that "Strength and wisdom are not conflicting values.") Bush, said Kerry, is wasting money and gutting programs because his flawed Iraq policy is costing us billions.

Edwards said a "fresh" President gives us a chance to rebuild relations with other countries and NATO, who should be providing more help in Iraq, and with Middle Eastern nations that can be reliable diplomatic partners. Kerry interjected that he has been at international issues longer than Bush -- and he's not going to play his cards in public, but he knows other world leaders and can play cards with these people that have not been played -- and he smacked Steph back when Steph said it sounded like Nixon! "This administration has FALIED in its diplomacy -- I will NOT!" Kerry said he feels we can significantly change and improve troop deployments globally and on a relatively short timetable.

(We get the feeling that Kerry is setting up a "rope-a-dope" here. Bush and Rove failed once when they tried to use Kerry's assertion that he has talked to foreign leaders against him -- and you can bet that if they try to confront him again, or demand that "names" of foreign leaders be named, that Kerry will unload a volley that will leave the White House knowing they shot themselves in the foot -- again.)

Steph turned talk to taxes. Kerry: "No new taxes for the middle class" and a tax cut is on the way for 98% of individuals. There was plenty of fiscal wonkspeak -- and Kerry came out hard for balancing the budget: "We will do 'pay-as-we-go.'" Kerry admitted he has had to scale back some of his proposals -- because Bush is jacking up the deficit! (Admitting that he has to cut back the promises because Bush is killing them in the womb is a gambit that could get some good mileage -- if Kerry ties it to Bush's attacks on other popular programs, including but not limited to Social Security.) Edwards was asked about Southern fiscal conservatives -- and Edwards said that the people he grew up with care about and love the country.

Hilariously, Steph said that Kerry's not too good-looking -- which let Edwards blast the personal, cheap nature of the attacks coming from Bush. Edwards also distinguished himself from Cheney, blasting the whole administration for secrecy, citing Cheney's meeting with energy execs and lobbyists.

Steph then pitched a wedge issue -- gay marriage, trying to make it look as if the Kerrys are divided on the issue. So Kerry pointed out that the issue is being used to divide America -- and nobody has divided the nation like Bush. One would've thought that after winning by one vote in the Supreme Court, Bush would have reached out to moderate Democrats and even liberals -- and he failed to. Steph would not get off the topic of gay marriage -- and Edwards said he feels it's up to the states.

Then Steph let fly this doozy straight, no doubt, from the lips of Karl Röve: "Neither one of you has significant executive experience." Kerry smiled and debunked it, citing his experience as a Navy officer, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, entrepreneur and a Senate leader. Edwards said that strength, character, leadership and vision are what Americans want. Kerry: running against incumbency is always an uphill battle, and he'll try to keep it upbeat.

(Here's a hint to Kerry: contrast your successes as a leader with Bush's executive "experience" -- two companies tanked but somehow he managed to line his pockets, massive deficits in Texas, and let's not forget deceiving the nation into war.)

Following the break, it was time for Steph's panel o' pundits papping the pappiest pap of the weekend.

Mary Matalin immediately launched into another attack line from the GOP, claiming that Kerry "did not define himself."

Of course Kerry did not "define himself" to GOPers that worship the cesspool Matalin walks on -- they missed his convention speech altogether, opting instead for Seinfeld reruns on their local FOX affiliate! Seinfeld's a natural for Republican viewers, a sitcom chronicling the abusive exploits of four self-interested, egotistical and incredibly petty and selfish people using and abusing everyone in sight -- including each other! They must be Republicans.

Matalin then launched into a stream of the usual GOP nonsense lines about "domestic agenda that's a throwback to the Fifties." Fareed Zakaria chimed in with one of the funniest moments of the weekend: "Hey, don't the Republicans like the Fifties?"

After the panel finished laughing, Fareed expounded on the Kerry campaign successfully recapturing patriotism and the flag, even though some may see it as too much. Donna Brazile said Kerry comes out stronger, much stronger.

George Will uttered his first spew of the weekend: Whine whine grumble, strategic rhetoric, whine grumble whine, mention God twice, global warming, whine whine grumble whine whine, historical anecdote from British history, whine grumble whine whine grumble, a party uneasy about the exercise of power, or the GOP will say fine, they agree with us, grumble. You could just feel the warmth. Ack!

Matalin made a stupid and misleading comment about Kerry having written about Asian drug cartels as a threat.

(Memo to Mary, who must be copping some of the Texas Dauphin's stash: they are a threat -- even more violent and ruthless than a roomful of Neocons. And, by the way, where are they getting their wares? Why, from Afghanistan -- from the Taliban -- who give the money to Al Qaeda.)

Brazile actually shouted down Matalin, who was making an attempt to demean Kerry's war record -- and it is interesting that the audio set-up at ABC causes the volume on Brazile's mike to drop SIGNIFICANTLY whenever Matalin starts talking. And note that this is NOT an isolated incident -- I am becoming more and more convinced that the audio engineering is rigged by the Sunday shows' producers to allow the conservative to "shout down" the liberal, which is a cinch to do by putting a level-actuated limiter in the mix circuit. It's happened too often in my experience of watching these shows to think that it's not common practice.

Zakaria nailed the problem in Iraq -- namely, the body count -- and also pointed out that Kerry will seize on Afghanistan as an issue. Will: grumble moan moan Allawi grumble this is simmering, Americans understand mumble. Zakaria retorted that more and more Americans see Iraq as a mistake. Steph: Democrats will say that Bush and Cheney are manipulating Al Qaeda news. Brazile: This ticket will change America, and Democrats don't pay much heed to an October surprise.

Matalin started the last go-round with her "trump" talking point: "It was a convention of hate." She tried to justify this by claiming that every speaker was saying they are voting against Bush. Brazile missed an opportunity -- she should have said Bush is a failure, and voting a failure out of office is not a matter of hate but prudence. Instead, she cited polls showing Dems think Kerry is strong.

Yep -- that's what passes for political discussion on ABC

Deface the Nation
Starring the courtly Bob Schieffer, with the Kerry-Edwards team.

Bob Schieffer began FTN by pointing out that people are paying attention to the presidential election now -- not after Labor Day, not after the baseball season, but now.

The interview with Kerry and Edwards was far more interesting than that with Steph. Schieffer asked about the White House's reluctance to act immediately on 9/11 commission recommendations; the Bushites claim an intel boss would be "politicized." Kerry feels that he wants the ability to hold one person accountable and subject to Congressional oversight. Here's the instant version of the rest of the interview:

Schieffer: Bush says that the only thing on Kerry's mind is raising taxes.
Kerry: The Bush administration has "a problem with the truth." Those charges are false -- the Kerry-Edwards plan gives a tax cut to 98% of people; Bush is trying to protect tax givebacks to the ultra-rich. He and Edwards want to help families send kids to college.
Edwards: We're stopping tax breaks to companies that outsource jobs.
Schieffer: They're depicting you (Edwards) as a pretty boy.
Edwards: I'm a fighter, I've been a mill worker, paid my way through college, fought for plaintiffs in court, I'm ready to fight.

(Note to Schieffer and the GOP: He's not a pretty boy. Ask my wife. Or my niece. Or the Harvard students to the left whose t-shirts say it: he's "hot.")

Kerry: We're not labeling, we're worried about people who can't afford health care, we will create jobs, and that is what Americans care about.
Schieffer: Your underlying message at the Convention was, "You can't trust these people."
Kerry: The nation has lost credibility.
Schieffer: So they are liars.
Kerry: I'm not going to use that word. We lost credibility, and I can fight a more effective war on terror, drawing on personal experience and stronger alliances.
Schieffer: But you're shouting "Give the ball to Leroy" and the team is saying "Leroy doesn't want the ball."
Kerry: Because we don't have the alliances we should have right now. "We've lost respect and we've lost influence." Foreign leaders have a problem siding with Bush policy -- and I can give them a rationale for supporting us.
Edwards: I was at NATO recently; we CAN get them involved in securing Iraq, and preventing Iran and Syria from interfering, and getting Germany, Russia and France actively involved.
Schieffer: You supported the first war vote.
Edwards: And Bush broke his promise to have a real plan. Now we're shoveling money into a hole. it was important for us to say no because his policy was at fault.
Kerry: My leadership and my plan will involve not playing public relations with foreign policy negotiations. North Korea, AIDS, Africa, nuclear proliferation, famine -- when we are more engaged and respectful, we will win these struggles and we will bring our boys home from Iraq.
Schieffer: Has Bush crossed the line on religion in public policy?
Kerry: Yes. Now, I will, for example support faith based programs.
Schieffer: So you're saying he's using religion for political purposes.
Kerry: No. I did NOT say that. (Translation, for the benefit of the press whores: Kerry will not let you get away with putting words in his mouth.) I said that I will not claim God is on my side and divide people; I will say that I hope that God is on our side, and I will represent everyone -- even atheists.
Edwards: Character counts -- and Kerry has more than the necessary character to lead the nation.

The discussion afterward was interesting at the outset in that Bob Schieffer seemed shocked that nearly 20,000 people would stick through bad weather -- rain with no umbrellas allowed -- to see John Kerry. (Note to Schieffer: when people are starved for real leadership, they'll stay for days if necessary.)

And Schieffer and his panel, Nina Easton of The Boston Globe and Michael Duffy of Time magazine, see much going on in the world of spin. Duffy took note that Kerry is becoming adept at reversing the specious charges of the GOP and Bush machine -- he says he doesn't put things in simple terms, he doesn't wear his faith on his sleeve. Easton pointed to the words "strength" and "protection" being used over and over and over again, along with veterans rallying to Kerry's side. They also noted the use of the phrase "fresh start" is being used on the trail. What is Kerry fighting? Easton pointed to the tendency of voters to trust the incumbent. Duffy forecast a lot of negative ads from Bush -- and pointed out that Bush isn't going to get his August vacation this year, as he will have to be out campaigning against Kerry.

But we also did take some note that Schieffer seemed to know a lot about the plan for a "withering attack" against Kerry's Senate record.

C'mon, Bob -- who's feeding you your talking points??

Great Stupid Moment of the Week

This week's unintentionally funny and egregiously moronic moment of the week occurred, not surprisingly, on FAUX News Sunday, where perennial Republican poll geisha Matthew Dowd told viewers that if they wanted "change," they should vote for former Texas governor Bush.

Naturally, we're confused. Most of the rest of the GOP has been moaning about the need to keep the hapless Son King in the White House to ensure four more years of "steady leadership." One wag tipped me off to a comment at Eschaton that also pointed out that one of Junior's campaign mantras is... well, was "stay the course."

Oh, well -- we'll have to chalk that one up as another major league flip-flop by His Fraudulence...