Pundit Pap
for Sunday, March 1st 1998
MONDAY MARCH 2ND 1998 -- New York (APJP) -- We begin with heartfelt condolences to Brit Hume, his wife and family on the passing of their loving son this week. He was a brilliant up and coming Hill reporter and will be sorely missed by all of us here at American Politics Journal, and all of you who relied on his wit and wisdom to discover the truth -- even when hidden in a dusty corner of the Capitol.
FOX NEWS SUNDAY
Tony Snow began with news that Vernon Jordan will be offered immunity by Ken Starr in the Lewinsky matter in exchange for testifying in front of a grand jury. Still rumor and unconfirmed, and of course the pundits were out in force spinning the meaning. We think Jordan has little to tell Starr and has not made a proffer as to what he might say or not say to the Grand Jury impaneled in Washington DC. Starr may be shocked.
Snow brought on Lanny Davis - former White House counsel and Senator John Ashcroft -- just another wanna-be GOP nominee for President in 2000. Snow has a way of trotting all these Republican presidential hopefuls out, one after the other, each week. Ashcroft has about the same chance as former President Dan Quayle - Zero - as George W. Bush storms the nation and wraps up California as we write.
Snow, still obviously impressed with Deep Throat Stenographer Bob Woodward pointed out to Lanny Davis that Clinton wants to "thwart" Starr and that the Washington Post claims the President is attempting to "pressure" Starr into "overstepping."
We think this is hilarious inasmuch as Starr has already more than overstepped his bounds and should be axed at the first opportunity Attorney General Reno has to debark her "pondering scull" and do the right thing.
Snow asked Davis, "Is the President out of control?"
Davis gave a weak, "...that's an inaccurate characterization," and then went to the line of explanation that the White House is cooperating with all of Starr's requests.
What he should have said was simply that Starr is a neo-nazi, a man with 'no sense of decency' and a good guy gone bad under the pressure of money offered by Dick Scaife and his ultra-right wing buddies in Pittsburgh and Virginia.
Snow, not to be dismissed characterized the White House as "legally" cooperating as if there was some other way they should cooperate. What do you have in mind Tony -- a tea dance for Malibu Ken and his staff in the Oval Office?
Davis made a brave try at pointing out that Starr is calling people like Sid Blumenthal to testify about possible "obstruction of justice" merely because her had the "gall" to talk to the press about Ken Starr.
While there are laws which, in the most sinister cases, allow Starr to prosecute someone for obstruction by intimidation, Blumenthal's actions don't even come close, and Starr himself is no Spring Chicken when it comes to manipulating the media. He loves the cameras and knows how to use them and others to paint himself as "Judge Starr," Defender of the Constitution, when his own remarks belie the fact that he doesn't seem to even understand the basics of the First Amendment guarantees of free speech.
"No defense attorney would put his client out in front of this particular, out of control, prosecutor," explained Davis.
John Ashcroft, appointed Starr defender this weekend said it was pretty clear that Janet Reno could "take Starr out" if what Davis and other White House loyalists were saying was true. Ashcroft then went to the tired, really sopped out line that the President could stop the madness simply by explaining just what did happen with Ms. Lewinsky. Of course Ashcroft then went on to say the President was guilty without having heard any statement from him or Monica Lewinsky -- "I think the White House could agree that this kind of behavior is inappropriate. It's time for the White House to say that adultery on the job is wrong!" Ha, ha, ha - what about adultery NOT on the job -- is that okay Mr. Senator Ashcroft?
Ashcroft proves out point. No matter what the President and Lewinsky say, the opposition and the press are prepared to make it filthy. Americans are not stupid, although they sometimes do a good job at posing moronic. This time, they know what's going on. A witch hunt designed to muck up the President while the target remains, on actuality, Vice President Al Gore who, according to all polls, beats any oft-mentioned GOP candidate -- in a landslide -- in 2000.
Lanny Davis pointed out that the venerable and super-wealthy C. Boyden Gray (White House counsel for Bush) said on national television that he wouldn't let George Bush near Lawrence Walsh on the Iran-Contra affair and that this is just good lawyer's advice now followed by Clinton.
Fred "The Beetle/Beetle" Barnes of McLaughlin Group was sitting in for mourning Brit Hume and asked Davis this inane question: "The President says Starr is a danger to American life, why doesn't he go to Reno and tell her to fire him?"
Well, gee, duh, Fred -- what would you write the next day -- that Bill Clinton was Richard Nixon incarnate - right -- you weasel.
Davis replied, "Well that may not be politically practical. The Blumenthal thing should move Reno to dismiss him for cause."
Fred Barnes then follows with this one - - "Why should taxpayers pay for Blumenthal to spin?"
Our answer: Why should the taxpayers pay ADM -- the people that pay Fred Barnes' ridiculously high salary -- big tax dollars for nearly their entire profit, so Barnes and the rest of the pundits can sit around Sunday morning in our living rooms and make stupid comments about things they understand all too well, but prefer to twist into Republican self-serving statements? It's Barnes et al who are the thieves - not Sid Blumenthal who serves the president at about 1/20th of the salary he could make outside the White House.
Ashcroft seemed to think that Blumenthal committed some crime by peppering reporters with stories about Starr and perhaps approving lawyer's recommendations that private investigators look at the backgrounds of some of Starr's people -- SOMETHING DONE BY ALL GOOD LAWYERS.
Ashcroft actually said, "How do you know that Sidney Blumenthal did not commit a crime."
Davis was good here: "Blumenthal could not have broken any law by criticizing a prosecutor and Ashcroft can't name one," he said.
Ashcroft couldn't and looked like a jerk trying. There goes his presidential aspirations.
Mara Liasson had a great line for Ashcroft - - "You said you are not the jury -- but you may be the jury. Should Hyde go ahead with an impeachment hearing?"
Ashcroft - - "This should not be the party line -- if the facts show enough then Hyde should consider it. He should make a "governmental" decision. (not a political one)"
Ha, ha, ha. Sure John, and birds are really flying frogs.
Juan Williams, incisive mind that he is, focused on whether Vernon Jordan -- a man of impeccable repute and a friend of the President's would "turn the tide." Ashcroft, wisely avoided that saying that he had no idea and that he was not the Grand Jury. But then he went on to look like a dunce saying that Janet Reno and the three-judge panel know and "they have said nothing."
Huh?
Juan Williams, who obviously gets his insider info from the New York Post then turned to the absolutely silly story that the President was about to tell us he might have kissed and hugged Monica but did not have intercourse with her. Davis reminded Williams that this was pap and that the story was denied and that Lewinsky has sworn an oath she did not sleep with Clinton.
Davis also took a very oblique shot at Ashcroft accusing him of being a hypocrite by killing campaign finance reform in the Senate. A good try Lanny, but the issue of campaign finance is dead for now and not the subject matter.
Ashcroft ignored him and went on to blubber something about the President being the CEO and the Congress being the Board of Directors of the United States. "No CEO can stiff the board of Directors," he cried.
All we have to say about that is that Ashcroft might want to wake up and understand that this country is NOT a corporation -- no matter how much he wishes it was. Also, John -- The CEO can "stiff" the board when he has most of the voting stock -- and Bill Clinton DOES - beyond your wildest dreams.
After the mandatory ADM commercial Snow turned to none other than Rush Limbaugh - spokeselephant of the ultra-right who may be turning Democrat soon if his shrinking girth is any indication.
Snow asked Limbaugh about the President's stellar polls which show him with unprecedented approval ratings as President and with a 59% Approval rating among voters PERSONALLY.
Limbaugh was not vintage. He was being careful -- this was just another shot at getting what he wants most -- his own television hour. The last time he tried that, it lasted less than one show, so Rush is more careful now. But the master of deceit award still goes to Limbaugh -- here;s what he said:
"Nothing is happening fast enough. Grand Jury proceedings are secret. You just saw it. He (Lanny Davis) has no facts - he admitted to me - He gets off on campaign finance reform. -They are just so good at it. The only opinion they are giving is that Starr is a wacko, and has got nothing. Fred Thompson said don't touch it. Newt says don't touch and is the biggest PR idiot we have seen.It is clear that there is nothing to be gained from attacking the President. I think it's tragic. Imagine Al Gore or anyone else getting away with something like this. It's just an anomaly that people will have to deal with for the next 3 years. Jack Valenti made the point that "never have people, that misbehave according to contemporary standards, are so elevated for it. Nobody expected him to be a paragon of virtue and so no one is surprised.The White House has done a masterful job of spinning things in other directions. The most important thing Ginsburg said to me is "She stands by her affidavit for now." Clearly her affidavit is not true. There are 37 visits she or no one has explained. There are a lot of people with their necks way out there - like Newsweek. Starr does not care about the affect and it will have no affect on his investigation. Too many people with reputations ready to be made or destroyed ...The GOP is totally off base. Look at them. Look at them. They are voting on statehood for Puerto Rico. C'mon. Look Clinton is calling for no tax for 5 years on the internet. and Clay Shaw a Republican, is saying lets spend..."
Ha, ha, ha. Well that was good. At least Rush realizes that the Republican Party is currently being run by a bunch of undereducated nitwits who think witch hunts fly with the American voter. And he knows that Democrats are now the masters of spin -- perhaps because they are telling the truth Rush?
But Limbaugh put his foot in cow dung as usual with his statement that Monica Lewinsky is a liar. How does he know? He has no experience with women save his wife Marta who makes even Rush look like a decent human being. He's an out-of-control lie-pusher who weaves just enough truth into his fabrications to make them sound plausible. But we must say, we were disappointed in Rush. He actually said wise things. He was absolutely right that Newsweek and the Post have the necks out. And we think the editors responsible for this rubbish on Clinton be chopped off unless they sink to sheer fabrication themselves in order to save their jobs.
Limbaugh was also too good to Newt Gingrich saying "He should do what he wants to do." after Snow asked him the Grinch should run for President -- a hilarious idea.
Like all other right-wingers Rush retreated to the tired old family values line explaining why people still trust Clinton and said that culture and morality will be the big issues in 2000.
We doubt it Rush, although that could be a good thing -- exposing people like you as dope pushers, the dope being YOUR brand of family values which have little to do with anything much more than whatever Bible you happen to be reading and taking literally.
Rush did say something great. He said that the Republicans don't have a single name out for president that excites anyone.
THE LINE OF THE WEEK
RUSH LIMBAUGH ON BILL CLINTON: "The President has not set a high bar for himself. Nobody cares about virtue and morality at the high level of government. He has the ability to emotionally connect with people and can convince you he is thinking about you...and thinking about going to bed with you."
Gee Rush, we thought there was something "strange" about ya?
After the commercial break Snow went to:
"Has Tinseltown become an ethical Skid Row"
Except for another look at Twilight Zoner Gary Bauer and deepthroated Jack Valenti the conversation smacked of a revival meeting with goodie-two-shoes Bauer trying to indict Valenti for people's obvious relish of sex and violence. Gee Gary, have you noticed how much coupling and killing there is in your Bible, you slime.
Snow: "75% of American people think Hollywood is out of touch with America"
Lets just look at the totally out of touch Bauer's statements - They are amusing unto themselves:
"America does not like movies and television. Sure there are some good movies. There's more sex, more violence. More than two thirds have one time or another walked out of a movie.
The exchange between Mara, Rush, Snow and Juan was too boring to bother reiterating. Suffice it to say that Hume does add something to the mix which neither Fred Barnes nor Limbaugh could replace.
Then it was on to the mandatory ADM commercial featuring old Dave "Sellout" Brinkley. The topic? The 1930's dust bowl- "....today farmers are changing so they can feed the world. Many use no-till farming, reducing topsoil erosion.... Conservation efforts save more than a billion tons. - ADM salutes no-till farmers. Ha, ha, haha. How bout THEIR TILL!!!! - and we thought it was they who "fed the world."
Tony Snow did a wonderful piece on Sandy Hume. We repeat some it here:
Sandy Hume took his own life... At the age of 28 he covered the Hill. Sandy had a knack for getting the story, he uncovered the plot to oust Newt Gingrich. Television loved him... he had wit, he was decent and humane. He astounded everyone with his ability to stand up to anyone.
We will ache for his laughter.
THE MCLAUGHLIN GROUP
Here is John McLaughlin's questions for Ken Starr to ask the President if Starr is wily enough to get him to testify in front of a Grand Jury:
1. Why did Monica Lewinsky visit the White House an unheard-of 37 times in '96 and '97? Did you arrange the visits? What was the purpose?
2. How do you explain her December 28th visit? Did you coach her on her affidavit directly or indirectly?
3. Did you give her gifts?
4. Did you suggest she retrieve those gifts.? Did you give gifts to other interns?
5. Why did you call Betty Currie on the very day of your deposition in the Paula Jones case?
6. Why did you ask Vernon Jordan to find Monica Lewinsky a job?
You just have to laugh at McLaughlin trying to be a trial lawyer, Don't you? Here are our answers for the President:
1. Monica probably visited the White House a heckuva lot more frequently than 37 times Ken. You know, Monica was well-liked and interns come in and out of the White House to visit friends, come to parties and even say Hi to me once in awhile. I like that. I like the people that work for us, or worked for us in the past. I even like you Ken, and in a way, you work for me too. Don't you?
2. Monica popped up on the 28th to give me a belated Christmas present. She was with five or six other people - friends you know. It was a little bear with a red ribbon around its neck. The note on it said, "Hi. here's a big bear hug from ME!"
3. Sure I gave her gifts. Monica was the kind of girl you wanted to buy things for. I buy a lot of little presents for my staff. I gave Harold a sweater and he doesn't even work for me anymore. I gave Mark Penn a model of Air Force One -- they keep them in the store room ya know. I think I even gave Linda Tripp a pair of White House cufflinks once. I love to see people smile when they get a surprise. It makes my day. You know Ken, in a way I gave you a gift. If it wasn't for me not firing your ass you wouldn't have met up with the nut Dick Scaife and got him to fund that hotsy totsy position for you at Malibu U now would you? We pay you a good salary don't we, and with the million or two you get from my biggest enemies -- the Tobacco folks -- well, heck you ain't starvin''. Why don't you buy your family a decent house. That one you're in looks like a tract job - an ugly tract job at that.
4. Nope. And I just told you I give gifts to almost everybody that works for us.
5. I call Betty Currie every day of my life Ken. She's not only my personal secretary, but one of our best friends. I called her to tell her how it went at the Jones thing. She was quite upset about the while thing. You know, she's not political - she's just a decent lady. I did mention some of my testimony and I did tell her I hoped I hadn't made any mistakes on dates on stuff. You know -- it's tough remembering every "bad girl" that throws themselves at you when you're in this job. It's a lot though. Jeez -- I remember when I couldn't get a date.
6. I didn't ask Vernon to get her a job. I asked how she was doing getting a job. I suppose when the President says something like that it becomes an order. I don't know. Vernon is my dearest friend. He probably wanted to make sure Monica got a good chance up there in New York. You know Ken, I'm hoping he can find a place for me on one of those boards he sits on after I get out of the White House. They pay pretty good and you alone have cost hillary and me millions. I'll have to work another 25 years to pay it all back -- and I will Ken, I will.
Pat Buchanan was okay on this matter. He thought Starr should ask more pointed questions like, "did you "do" Monica Lewinsky." As if that had any bearing on this case. Buchanan thinks that if he did "do" Monica then he will prove he perjured himself in the Jones case. Fat chance. What Buchanan forgets is that Clinton is a lawyer and a darn smart one. He ain't that stupid, as they say. But Pat did offer that no lawyer would allow his client to appear before Starr's Grand Inquisition if he could help it.
The President got help from the UK and financial writer Richard Lambert who thought it was unreasonable to subpoena someone you were trying to indict.
Mort Kondracke thought that if the President cannot be indicted while sitting, then they would not be able to call him.
Here's what we think. Ken Starr wouldn't dare try to call Bill Clinton as a witness because Bill Clinton's testimony would destroy his trumped up case. Just a guess you know. But if you check, our guesses have a better track record that Bob Woodward's.
Buchanan came up with a good one. "What is Starr calls the President as a witness against Monica Lewinsky on her own potential perjury charge?" Now we have to admit that's a good one. But we think the President would appear and help her out -- even now. But then Pat got carried away with himself saying things like "Starr doesn't care about politics" or 'the tortoise is getting to the top of the Hill." Please Pat. Stop when you are ahead.
Buchanan also suggested that Starr would "roll his grenade into the House Judiciary Committee. But he forgets that the White House has a lot of friends who can roll their own grenades on members of that very committee and most others in the Republican controlled Congress.
But McLaughlin had it right when he said that Henry Hyde would not entertain Starr's bull. "He won't, and the Senate won't either." John knows of what he speaks.
Everyone agreed -- It was definitely a Clinton week.
McLaughlin then turned to Alan Greenspan's not-so-veiled warning that the US could get the Asian Economic Flu quite soon now. No one save Lambert knew what they were talking about in this regard. Lambert said there would be a slight decline here as a result. We agree. No big shakes.
MEET THE PRESS
Tim Russert began with remarks on Iraq by Senators John McCain, Orrin Hatch - Republicans and Patrick Leahy and Bob Kerrey - Democrats. The entire discussion was a snore with the Republicans saying "its' a lousy deal" and the Dems agreeing. All agreed that Saddam was strengthened by the deal with Kofi Annnan and we agree. However, only a few comments were heard underscoring the fact that not one American boy or girl was killed over OIL! And that's the story we think should be told bigger and better by pundits like Russert who have kids that could die in wars like this.
One weird thing. Kerrey's hair was BLONDE! What's that all about?
All four Senators agreed that the answer is to unseat Saddam by funding an absentee government. We think that's okay too. However, they underestimate the power of Saddam. His people, and most of the Arab world hold Saddam in high esteem -- no matter how much we hate to admit it.
Russert asked the stupid question of Orrin Hatch -- "Take out Saddam?"
Hatch ignored him as well he should have.
The rest was a bull session on whether to indict Saddam as a war criminal in the Hague or to fund a CIA operation to get him removed from office. Tra la.
Russert then asked a good question of Hatch, "You are chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and a friend of Ken Starr. Would it be better for Starr to step aside?
Hatch: "At this point you couldn't do that. He is now rated as the second most successful independent counsel in history. 11 indictments. He is now giving Jordan and Jim Tucker immunity. Now they (The White House) are trying to impugn him."
Well Orrin, we had to laugh at the "second most successful" IC remark though we love you. Who was the first? Larry Walsh? And is success really indicting everyone but the target of your investigation? We think not. We think you blow smoke.
Tim Russert: "You have said that the White House has some of the most sleazy people working there."
Hatch ignores this and goes back to his defense of Starr and pretends to believe that Sid Blumenthal did something illegal by bashing Starr and his shoddy credentials. But at least Hatch admitted that what Starr did was "politically inadvisable."
That's an understatement.
Leahy jumped in and said Starr should step aside. "Starr is totally out of control. Take the Vice Foster murder. Starr comes back in after two groups say it was suicide, spends million of taxpayer dollars and then -- int the dead of night -- after tormenting everyone on earth and making them spend millions of their own money to defend themselves -- says the same thing -- suicide." Then he brings in Monica Lewinsky's mother to talk about every intimate detail her daughter might have told her. And then to say 'You've dared to criticize me?" Then he uses illegal wiretaps. People have to spend their kids college money to hire lawyers to do battle with him. This is out of control."
Bravo Patrick Leahy. Bravo.
McCain, to our astonishment, defended Starr. He brought up Oliver North's wife and pastor. Oh please, that was about selling drugs and giving money to our enemies. However McCain did allow that Starr should not have brought in Blumenthal. However McCain really insulted Blumenthal saying, "(Starr) they have managed to turn this guy (BLumenthal_ in an admirable character -- which is quite a feat....
Russert, playing dumber than he is, went back to his old line - "Is Clinton behaving like an innocent man?"
Russert has joined the rat pack of reporters that want to get Bill Clinton on tape explaining his private life to millions of beer-guzzling trailer park scandal mongers who call themselves proud Americans. That's what Russert wants, but he -- no matter how hard he turns the screws -- won't get it.
No person, let alone the President of the United States should have to discuss his private life with anyone -- especially the goon squad fourth estate which is more like the fourth slum.
Russert saved the best for last -- The Carvilles! Mary Matalin and James Carville head to head on the Clinton matters.
CARVILLE AND MATALIN
Tim- James - hold your thoughts on Starr. I want to talk about William Jefferson Clinton on Jan 2nd - Now, there are a lot of other questions - you have a right to get answers, more than less, sooner than later. We hear nothing form the President despite that.
Here Russert is at his twisted best. The President never PROMISED to share any particular about his personal life nor do so at any specific time with the jackals that now call themselves "the press." Yet Russert, and to be fair, others, have twisted his statements to the contrary. And who does Tim Russert think he is? Nothing but an way overpaid talking head who makes Marvin Kalb turn over in his grave and disgraces Meet the Press.
Here are the Best Carville Lines!
Carville: "... not until he talks to Mr. Starr. Then he will talk to the American people."
Tim Russert: "A democrat from NH told me he isn't acting like an innocent man." (Oh please!)
Carville: "That is the silliest thing. I think Ken Starr was part of perjury in the General Motors case... and killed a child. I believe Starr was culpable in the Tobacco lies. We haul people before a grand jury for their political beliefs. AND THAT OUGHT NOT HAPPEN."
Carville: "They are just trying to get this man and it just ends up in a ditch and its just about sex... and the public are sick of it
Carville: "I suspect that the President is gonna win this one.
Carville: "That is certainly one of my goals (to destroy Ken Starr). I don't like him. I don't like the people around him. I am trying to tell the people the truth.
Carville: "He's a cigarette lawyer. Republicans love cigarette lawyers.!"
Carville: I started this thing. I told the people and the journalistic community this guy was out of control. Now we find out she (Paula Jones) is skimming a 100,000 off the top and not one penny is going to the lawyers. Now we are going to have a sex test. Mr. Benett (The Holier than thou Bennett) says 'adulterers need not apply.' All the intelligencia like Newsweek trying to make Paula Jones Joan of Arc. I was right twice and I will be right the third time.
Right On James! We're we glad to see you back on national television.
THIS (WEAK) WEEK
with Sam and Cokie (By the way is it CoKIE, CokEY, or CoqUILLES?) Reades write us with your guess!
From the very top of "This Week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts," you could sense the cranky, administration-bashing, bomb Saddam mood the producers and hosts were in.
As usual, the program opened with the customary teaser featuring the topics du jour: "Saddam Hussein avoids war by making a deal with the United Nations but the agreement draws political fire in Washington" (accompanied by a clip of Trent Lott's "this is folly" speech from earlier this week -- and war would be less of a folly, Trent?), and the "invocation of executive privilege" (accompanied by a sound bite from Fred Thompson's predictable, vacuous bashing of the President, droning on about "phony executive privilege claims" in a sound bite from a few days ago).
And the first words out of Sam's mouth: " Well, the Iraq crisis appears to have eased somewhat, but you can't find anyone in Washington who thinks it will stay that way, Cokie." Only because most of them want to bomb Saddam, Sam.
The first guest: chief UN weapons inspector Richard Butler. The segment was far and away the most substantial -- as well as the most frustrating, given the carping of Sam and Cokie joined by troglodyte George Will. Bill Safire invented the term "nattering nabobs of negativism" for Spiro Agnew to insult liberals with, but I can't think of three better examples than Sam, Cokie and George.
Sam's first question: whether the agreement would give the U.N. inspectors "full, free and unfettered access that these resolutions demand?"
Butler: "Iraq has got very serious obligations given by the Security Council. It has failed to keep them in full over seven years, and recently caused a serious crisis. The Secretary-General went to Baghdad and got out of them a solid commitment that they would, in the future, keep those obligations…we will have to see whether or not take keep that promiseÉ If they keep the promise, our access will actually be improved."
Sam then asked one of his typical slanted questions regarding comments Kofi Annan made earlier this week: "and to be sure that U.N. inspectors handled themselves with respect to the dignity and sovereignty of Iraq. What does that mean?"
We know you're implying: that Annan sold US policy and sovereignty down the river, Sam. But then, subtlety was never your strong suit.
Butler tactfully put Donaldson in his place, saying that Sam had only given one side of the story: "He made very clear to the Council: one, these diplomats are observers. Two, the real hard-edged inspection would be done by my people. That won't change. Three, the role of the observers is not just to insure that these sites that are attached to the president of Iraq -- and therefore have to be shown a certain dignity -- is not just to observe what we'd do, but he said to observe that Iraq also behaves probably."
Sam them asked Butler if it was his view that "inspectorsÉhave behaved as cowboys? Scott Ritter -- did he behave as a cowboy?"
Yeah, Sam. How dare they treat our boys like that -- so let's bomb them back to the Stone Age!
Butler explained that, in fact, Kofi Annan was conveying concerns expressed by Iraqi officials. He then went over some basic statistics: some 1000 inspectors a year are rotated in and out of Iraq. These rotations have been going on for some seven years. Reports of "unruly behavior from one or two inspectors can be counted on the fingers of one hand."
George Will asked one of his usual fact-bending questions, but was immediately set straight by Butler: "Mr. Butler, you've just described this agreement as solid..."
Butler: "Sorry, I didn't. I said it has a solemn commitment in it and the proof of it will be if they keep it."
George went on to ask about comments Kofi Annan made that seem to imply that Iraqi officials below Saddam Hussein seem to be the ones giving inspectors the most difficulty and Saddam would not approved it. George found this "strange." Butler essentially agreed with George, saying that he strongly felt that anything that happened in Iraq happened of the behest of Saddam, but pointed out to "look less at the fine print than at the thumbprints that are on it" and that "it begins by stating the solemn commitment by Iraq to stop blocking us, to give us cooperation, and then it goes on to make specific arrangements, the fine print if you like, inspection of presidential sites."
George asked if this was essentially a peace-and-food-for-oil purchase deal. Butler: "the oil for food arrangement was driven by growing concern into world community of the needs of ordinary Iraqi people." Somehow these people always seem to be left out of the Saddam-versus-us punditry.
George asked if the addition of new procedures would make the element of surprise in inspections more difficult. Butler did agree that this was an issue of concern, but pointed out that it was primarily directed at inspection of so-called presidential palaces.
Cokie then reiterated the concern of certain members of Congress that a "new layer of bureaucrats" would make inspections more difficult (a canard of contrarians who can't wait to bomb). Butler reiterated that the reporting structure of inspectors will remain intact, and that the chief diplomat involved in inspections will report to him, and that he will continue to report to the Secretary-General. "The absolute core of what we do will remain expert, scientific, and technical."
Cokie erroneously began her next question with "It has been months now since there have been inspections." Butler clarified the situation: monitoring has continued, despite obstacles that have prevented full inspection. "We've not actually been doing the full spectrum of this work because of this crisis about presidential sites, which Kofi Annan's agreement if Iraq adheres to it will solve."
Sam: will you still have the same proportion in number of Americans on your special games? Butler explained that personnel on the inspection teams are determined by their expertise, but that nationality is a factor and Americans would be prominent on the inspection teams. Sam asked again about Scott Ritter; Butler said "he's been slandered, he's not a spy." Looks like he wants him back.
Of course, Sam, Cokie and George completely ignored the upside of the agreement: our armed forces are not being put in the line of fire, and a potential powder keg that could have deadly ramifications beyond Iraq's border has been averted…for now.
The segment on Ken Starr in Crisis…excuse me, the Monica Lewinsky Scandal…was boring. If you were watching Meet the Press, you got the most pap for your money with the Carvilles, even if there were no diGenova-esque "I'm being stalked by..." revelations.
Cokie began the segment with "This past week there has been the invocation of executive privilege by the White House. There have been accusations by the special prosecutor that investigators are obstructing his prosecution. And this coming week, we have the testimony of Vernon Jordan."
Odd that she neglected to mention revelations that members of Ken Starr's staff have been implicated in past prosecutorial abuses, or that more evidence emerged that Paula Jones is a scam artist. But that's what we've come to expect from ADM News…er, ABC News.
Before Cokie interviewed William McDaniel (attorney for Sidney Blumenthal) and George Terwilliger (former Deputy Attorney General for Bush), she cut away to Jackie Judd for today's leak: that "What Vernon Jordan's allies have told some reporters is that this will be the story: that he explicitly asked both the president and Monica Lewinsky 'were you having a sexual relationship?' And they both adamantly said no. So of course, there would be no reason for Jordan to ask Lewinsky to lie. Further, that he was acting in total innocence, when he went to what some would say were extraordinary lengths to find this young woman all lawyer and a job. Now, the tapes suggest a different scenario: that Mr. Jordan was aware that there was something of a sexual nature."
Cokie: "These are the tapes that Linda Tripp recorded."
Judd: "And that Jordan knew there was something of a sexual nature between the President and Lewinsky, and that he did tell her or instruct her or encourage her to deny that there was a relationship when she went under oath in the Paula Jones case."
Of course, there was no mention of the questions surrounding the taping, the reliability of Tripp and Lewinsky as witnesses in the first place, and unethical and possibly illegal collusion between Tripp and Starr.
Talk turned to executive privilege. Jackie Judd reiterated what we already know: that Bruce Lindsey has invoked executive privilege, and "other aides, we believe, have done the same." She then turned to Fred Thompson and his comments yesterday, one of many indications this weekend that the GOP plans to ratchet up the pressure on the president: "When a president makes a phony claim to executive privilege he diminishes the presidency, he diminishes the executive privilege claim. And we can't sit idly by and not criticize that kind of behavior."
And when the chairman of a Senate committee sits idly and ignores large scale campaign finance corruption in his own party, we can't help but laugh at the hypocrisy of his "Phony claim" statement.
Talk with Jackie turned to subpoenas: those issued to Sid Blumenthal, and to a pair of investigators hired by Clinton's attorneys.
The segment with McDaniel and Terwilliger was a complete snore -- and it was dragged out to double the normal segment length. I've asked if This Week can't do better than this sort of thing before; obviously, they can't.
It did have its moments, but not many.
Sam predictably led with a question the McDaniel could not answer: as executive privilege been asserted in the president's name?
McDaniel of course refused: "I don't think it would be appropriate for me to answer. On the issue of his contacts with the media and his remarks about prosecutors, he answered every question that he was asked on that topic. And that was the focus of the inquiry when he was before the grand jury last week."
Sam: "With all due respect that is not question I asked you."
McDaniel: "All right, I'm not going to answer the question that you asked me. I'm not the President's lawyer and I'm not said to speak about the executive privilege issue."
Terwilliger argued that executive privilege covers matters of state, not personal matters; Sam played devil's advocate for once and asked McDaniel and Terwilliger if a prosecutorial "assault on the presidency" was a matter of state; McDaniel agreed, and Terwilliger argued the other side -- a division between his personal life and his presidential duties, and the idea that "getting witnesses to cover up or lie" are not covered.
George Will asked another silly-assed question about Blumenthal's comment that Starr had no respect for the Constitution; therefore, did the judge that upheld the subpoena have no respect for the Constitution also? After retorting that the judge had no idea of Starr's line of questioning possibly impinging on the constitutional rights of Blumenthal, McDaniel provided a few details of what was asked: " He was asked the series of questions like what did you say to press about the independent counsel? What has the press told you? And he was asked, what I think is a silly question, did you ever say anything positive about Ken Starr?"
There you have it, folks: Ken Starr isn't some out-of-control prosecutor, he's just an independent counsel looking for a little love and respect. And you heard it from Sid Blumenthal's lawyer. Warms the heart, doesn't it?
Best exchange of the segment occurred when Cokie asked Terwilliger about Little Rock investigators being a key to Starr's case:
Terwilliger: "What Starr is looking at is obstruction that goes back to the destruction of Rose Law Firm records, followed by billing records that had been under subpoena for two years that miraculously appeared in the White House. Some reported attempts, perhaps, to buy the silence of Webster Hubbell, the Tripp allegations concerning Miss Lewinsky followed by these efforts apparently to dig up dirt on prosecutors and thereby intimidate perhaps them, investigators, or witnesses. In that context, it does not seem to be to be wholly inappropriate."
McDaniel: "That's just wrong. There is no evidence -- and Starr doesn't have any -- that Sidney Blumenthal ever impeded the administration of justice, obstructed justice or anything else. For example, these investigators in Arkansas, he doesn't know them, never heard of them, never talked to them. This is a pure and simple attempt to intimidate the White House and intimidate Sidney Blumenthal. This is not a legitimate search for evidence of crime. Most prosecutors are honorable and decent servants. But some are abusive. When they have the truth told about them or they get resisted, they try to silence their critics. And I've seen it in many cases. They threatened lawyers with obstruction, they threaten relatives with indictment. That's the problem here. These prosecutors are trying to intimidate people."
In response to Sam's comment that the press have it in their best interest to side with Blumenthal, and what Blumenthal was discussing with a press, McDaniel commented: "Sidney was developing public record information about some of the people working in Ken Starr's office. This is information that was brought to his attention, for example, by the former police commissioner of Los Angeles, about a prosecutor who works for Mr. Starr who was found by a court to have engaged in an abusive, callous and vindictive prosecution... he was bringing out information about public officials who engaged in an important inquiry... the real point is that when these people indict someone or they issue a report or send their the papers to the judiciary committee, we ought to be able to know who it is that has done this so we can judge that for our indictment for what it is. That, I think, was Sidney's interest."
Cokie asked if it was appropriate for someone to be sitting in the White House at taxpayer expense calling reporters to be attacking a member of the judiciary branch. McDaniel's answer turned away from the irrelevant tax issue to the intertwining of in the political and executive duties, especially in light of the "battle" between Clinton and Starr.
Roundtable time was not much more exciting, with the usual suspects saying the usual things.
The Iraq agreement:
Will -- "It's probably the least bad outcome of a crisis we got ourselves into with an obsession we can't do much about." Wow -- he almost makes sense!
Sam -- "The thing I love about this town is people trying to do each other saying how much more than they mistrust Saddam than the next guy."
Stephanopoulos -- "There has been a lot of upset in Washington this week, but we should be celebrating. This is a successful statecraft and the threat of force worked."
Cokie -- "This is an uncomfortable policy, basically. It's much easier to say go get him or to say all right, as the Europeans seem to be ready to do, we now have the sanctions lifted." I think that Cokie -- who looked particularly cadaverous us this week -- is uncomfortable only because a nice little war would have enlivened the action on This Week and maybe increased viewership.
Will -- "There is a thin line though, and you cross over it, when you make [Primakov and Annan] indispensable to your policy and become hostage to it to." The old, tired complaint of globalism and abrogated American sovereignty. Give it a rest, George.
On the Ken Starr flap:
Stephanopoulos --- "I think the correct sign that Washington had scandal fatigue was the Washington Post. Huge story - news flash - 'President is angry about Ken Starr'.... The grand jury has been listening to these [Tripp] tapes. These tapes are just not good news for the president, according to those who have heard them, and Vernon Jordan is probably going to be questioned on that and that's dicey."
Sam -- "[Jordan] is just too smart to lie to that grand jury."
Bill -- "[Kathleen Willey] originally when deposed in the Paula Jones case said that she did not talk to anyone else about what she was going to say. She amended her deposition just last week to say that she had talked to a major Democratic fund-raiser and there's some implication apparently that the fund-raiser may have given her inducements to change her story or not tell the whole story. I think the story that's going on beneath the scenes here is that Ken Starr is building a nice obstruction of justice and witness tampering caseÉ[he'll] hand it over to the House Judiciary Committee." You think they'll do anything, Bill? Dream on...
On Newt's run for the White House:
Stephanopoulos -- "Unbelievable, and I guess he's not doing too well. What was striking about Newt, I think is that everybody wants to run for president. Every Republican with 5 supporters and 50,000 dollars is in the race because they think there is an opportunity."
We skipped some chat about a woman's college basketball record. If I wanted to watch sports I'd watch ESPN. Get a clue, ABC.
The end piece, about an amendment to name Lake Champlain a sixth Great Lake, and the political battle surrounding it, seemed not to make much of a point about anything.
Hey -- what do you call five ABC spin doctors at the bottom of Lake Champlain?
A good start...
- The Editors
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