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| Pundit Pap for Sunday, July 4, 1999 Eat the Press -- With Tim "Hillary-Bashing" Russert
Now, we will say flat out that we are not against BushBaby avoiding the draft. God knows, many of us here did. But we didn't do it by taking out "insurance policies" offered by our Congressman Daddies -- and sending some other guy in our place. The difference between a student deferment and what BushBaby did is that a student deferment never guaranteed and end to the war after one graduated. Thus, the boys in college could not be sure that they wouldn't die in some tiger cage after graduation. But Bush Sr. COULD guarantee that -- and did. And BushBaby took the offer and ran. That ought to spell doom for the little punk. By the by, Al Gore did serve in Vietnam -- and remember, his father was a U.S. Senator, not a wimpy house member at the time like former President Bush. The second story -- which WE are unveiling today -- is that Mrs. Alan Greenspan, formerly and professionally known as Andrea Mitchell, has been badmouthing the Clintons openly on NBC for quite a while (while her doddering husband is due to become a trillionaire after paying homage to Wall Street during his tenure as Chairman of the Federal Reserve) did it again today on Meet the Press. Greenspan should put some duct tape over the phony blonde's mouth and keep it taped until he leaves the Fed. Andrea should be put out to pasture where she belongs, until the Clintons -- who made Greenspan -- leave office. If she can't respect the people that feed her, how can anyone respect her reportage? On today's MTP, even Tim Russert looked bored with himself. His "big-deal" guest today -- Denny Hastert, the non-speaker of the House who nobody's heard from since he took the office. Big deal. His first guest was the real deal -- HHS Secretary Donna Shalala, our favorite cabinet member. Only Shalala truly worries about our kids and does something about it. Her Girl Power program -- funded by HHS -- is a great thing. It deserves more support -- so far, pharmaceutical company Organon, which cares about young women, is the only such company who have come forward to help her. Shalala was on to explain to the moronic Russert why we need to help Medicare recipients by introducing drug coverage. Russert said that everyone in Washington is "playing in cash." Russert, of course, attacked the President -- this time for the nearly 100 billion left over from your taxes. He claimed that the President didn't figure in a "possible" recession when projecting the long term overages which might cover some Medicare and tax cut plans. Russert focused on the possibility that some economic tragedy occurs -- but failed to tell his audience that the White House budget team DOES factor potential disruptions into the US economic picture. Russert pretended that all the budget projections are simply absurd. He actually asked Shalala why we should try to increase Medicare benefits now -- just in case something bad happens! It was laughable -- and pathetic. Russert said, "In fact, there are 43 million people uninsured, and the President does NOTHING for them." Shalala told him that he's wrong again -- now the elderly are allowed to buy into Medicare under the President's plan, something not possible before. Russert simply attacked the plan over and over during his 12 minutes with Secretary Shalala, a women respected tremendously on both sides of the aisle. Since attacking the President wasn't enough to keep Russert happy, he then attacked Hillary Clinton -- insinuating that the President and First Lady cooked up a "scheme" where the President's "plan" would cut aid to research hospitals in New York (and elsewhere) and then Hillary would "attack him for it and get her way" =- showing she is ALREADY an effective Senator! Shalala shut him up saying, "Look, first you attack her for being a 'co-president' and then you attack her for being an independent voice!" Bravo, Donna. Russert then cut to an ADM commercial. "ADM - supermarket to the Congress!" Believe it or not, this was Dennis Hastert's FIRST appearance on MTP since he became speaker. Now, since George DumbellYou Bush looks like he will have wide coattails, Hastert is reaching out trying to preserve his Speakership for the next NINE YEARS. Hastert said he "doesn't want to strip Medicare from current recipients." But he does not support the President's plan to provide pharmaceuticals to seniors. He said he thinks that drug coverage should stay in the "private sector and remain market driven" -- parroting the line of pharmaceutical lobbyists like a Toucan. Hastert joined Russert in attacking the budget surplus numbers -- because they look too good for Clinton. So he too becomes a doom-sayer for convenience! What he is really doing is pretending there is "no great surplus" -- fearful that the people will demand more from a more activist government. Hastert, of course, wants to give all his idiot cronies a tax cut -- one that will mean nothing to most people -- instead of providing much-needed medical care and drugs to senior citizens who put a lifetime of sweat equity into keeping our nation free and strong. He can rest easy knowing his Congressional health plan will protect HIM for life. What a hypocrite. Russert then said, "Medicare WILL go bankrupt and Social Security WILL go bankrupt." What a doofus. Russert, who can't even contain his own appetite for fat, now pretends that HE knows what will occur 50 years from now. He nearly begs Hastert to restructure Social Security and cut Medicare in order to "save" them. Is he tooting the NBC-GE corporate horn or what? Russert reminded Hastert then when Reagan entered office the deficit was $65 billion. When he left it was $300 billion. He said he thinks that the Democrats are forcing the Republicans into a new Bidding War. Naturally, Russert does not think, at all, about the human consequences of his suggestion to keep the budget balanced at all costs. Russert, who earns in excess of $2 million a year, shouldn't be trusted to speak for the common man in America. Ever. He abuses his position and should be removed, forthwith, from it. Hastert danced around the gun control issue. Russert then attacked Hastert for being AWOL and wondered out loud whether Tom DeLay is running the House. Of course, Russert was not as snide as usual when he throws these softballs to Denny. Hastert said "I am in control." He sounded as out of it as Alexander "I'm in charge here" Haig. Everyone knows that neo-fascist exterminator Tom DeLay runs the House. Thank God, Charlie Rangel was up next -- a man unafraid to tell Russert to jump off a high pier in low tide -- along with Rick Lazio, who thinks he can beat Rudy Giuliani and then Hillary in the Senate race. Lazio was on Cape Cod, spending his money up there rather than in his home state, as he reminded Russert that he was from New York (unlike Hillary). Russert asked whether Lazio would not run if "Governor Goofball" Pataki asked him not to run. Lazio refused to answer. Russert was coughing and choking in the background. Hopefully his has the flu. Russert then attacked Hillary Clinton as a carpetbagger to Charlie Rangel. Rangel said he thinks she is outstanding. Rangel, the smartest political operative in New York, was thrilled to have her run -- because he knows how good that could be for New York. Russert then continued to attack Hillary. He pretended that Rangel could demand that Hillary Clinton PROMISE to fulfill her term rather than run for President later. Russert, continuing to act like a pushy moron, doesn't understand that if Hillary Clinton was successful and took the White House in 2004 or 2008, IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR NEW YORKERS, who would demand and get great attention from a Hillary Clinton White House. Russert doesn't understand -- or pretends not to understand -- the fundamentals of political life in the U.S. Putting powerful people in office is good for any state. Hillary Clinton will be powerful immediately upon entering office -- no matter who the President is. Rangel does not fall for Russert's Clinton baiting and bashing. Tim said that Hillary Clinton has the highest negatives of any first lady in history -- a total lie. Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary Todd Lincoln were hated during the terms of the husbands. Russert, get this, then worried out loud that Rangel would mobilize Blacks to vote against Giuliani. Rangel tried to move Lazio to run by pretending that Lazio would be a better candidate than Giuliani. Of course, Lazio, a nobody, would be far weaker than Giuliani. Russert wanted to know if Lazio would accept the nomination from the Conservative Party, if he didn't get the Republican nomination. We laughed again! Sure he would. Lazio claimed that his campaign is doing well in upstate New York. Well, maybe it is -- but, hey, Rick, the voters are in the southern part of the State!! Andrea Mitchell, the wife of the Clinton Administration's Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank, who should not appear or cover the First Lady, was on to trash her. Mitchell, a friend of such "intellectual" giants as Don Imus, said that Hillary Clinton's campaign will be a "circus." Russert gleefully showed a New York Daily News cover which shows the President bending over and saying "Kick me, Kick me" to Hillary. "As long as you get elected to the Senate," adds Russert, laughing. Then -- get this -- Russert turns to talk about how great George Bush is doing. But then, the first <b>dirt</u> came out on national television about Bush. Something we just told you: Bush got a Air National Guard appointment during Vietnam. There were a hundred thousand men trying to get into the National Guard during the war. There were 150 men trying to get on the year-and-a-half waiting list. Bush got in in two months -- along with Lloyd Bentsen's son. This should signal the end for BushBaby. Remember -- another boy was sent to Vietnam to die -- one who was on the waiting list far longer than George Dumbellyou. Then Russert showed a video clip of Connie Chung interviewing BushBaby in 1992 about Dan Quayle's own National Guard "deferment." BushBaby said he thinks what Quayle did was great -- "at least he served his country." Ha, ha, ha -- how convenient! Remember, Al Gore DID serve in Vietnam. The Russert panel of ignorami -- including GOP spokesmouth Paul Gigot -- seemed to agree that Bush would not be too "harmed" by the LA Times story on Bush. Russert WOULD NOT PUSH IT! Can you believe it? Russert - Mr. American Pie - let Bush off the hook with not even a tongue lashing. Wonder whose corner he's in? Andrea Mitchell, who should be fired for her big mouth, reminded Russert that Giuliani is as polarizing as Hillary Clinton -- trying to save her driveling neck. And that was the end of Tim's bashing for the week. Fox News Sunday "Fair and balanced" -- as both Gore and Bush Jr. get bashed by the Fox Opinion Mafia!
The news summary led with word of yet another shooting in Chicago that appears to be race-related. It took a full day, but at last it's becoming a "lead story." Guest one -- the only candidate with the moolah to challenge what Bush has raised (Tony mentioned a forecast of $100 million by the end of the year) -- Steve Forbes, who gave a stupefyingly lame performance. In response to a question about where Forbes would get his campaign money -- himself or contributions -- he immediately slid out of an answer by claiming he would "come in with a principled message.. [Bush] doesn't." Forbes then talked about "freedom from the IRS" -- but ask yourself, who would benefit more from that, you or Steverino? He talked about eliminating the entire tax code. Forbes spent a lot of time talking taxes and his grandiose plans and "principled message," but the more he talked, the more we got the feelings that his principles were more Machiavellian than Jeffersonian. Forbes talked up a storm about taxes, until Brit Hume asked Forbes about a major story regarding Bush Jr. and his National Guard service -- among other things, the LA Times has uncovered evidence that Dubya may have received preferential treatment in being admitted to the National Guard along with an early-on quickie promotion from a noncom to a commissioned lieutenant. Forbes talked instead about his own service as a noncom in the National Guard. Well, now we know why Forbes didn't go to 'Nam. Seems there's a pattern emerging here -- Quayle, Forbes, Bush, all sons of privilege, avoid being shipped off to a war zone by getting into the Guard. Has Forbes invited scrutiny of his own military service? Karen Tumulty correctly said that Bush was not talking issues -- and asked (despite Forbes already having talked about his "positive" message) whether Forbes would have to go negative. Of course, Forbes talked again about his positive message -- as he mentioned taxes, "the life issue," and "principle and substance." Of course, there's no way he's going to tip his hand on plans to go negative, but note that Karen had put the "negative" issue into play. Jeff Birnbaum said that Forbes had labeled Bush as the "special interest" candidate -- then nailed Steve for accepting contributions from rich guys with their own special interests! Forbes said -- stupidly -- "I am not taking taxpayer money... I am not taking money from the Chinese." Yes, you ARE taking taxpayer money -- unless you're claiming that your contributors, like Leona Helmsley, don't pay taxes that are for "the little people." And the cheap China shot -- an attack on Gore -- made you look even more naive about what people really think of this mess. Are you ABSOLUTELY sure that you haven't taken one "red" penny that might be tied to those awful Chicoms? And Birnbaum pressed him on the "special interest" of his own contributors -- to which Forbes whined that these were individual contributions. Birnbaum asked if the contributions Bush got weren't also individual contributions -- puncturing Forbes' spin balloon and showing him for the hypocrite he is. In a question about Social Security, Forbes inaccurately characterized payroll tax contributions as "subsidizing the government" -- before again saying something about being "the candidate of change." Right -- he's trying to change the most successful program in government history -- Social Security -- into a massive profit-maker for some of his biggest contributors through "privatization." Jeff Birnbaum picked up on Karen Tumulty's topic and asked Forbes if he was indeed the leading GOPer to do "opposition research" on Bush Jr. Forbes said "we do research on his public positions, public records." Brit piled on and pressed him on the issue -- and that report in the LA Times -- and Forbes' non-denial denial became an attempt at a slippery denial when he said that a report claiming he was opposition researcher numero uno was "not true." Hmmm -- does that mean that, say, Dan Quayle is the leading opposition researcher and Forbes is just barely behind Dan on dirt-digging? This question, along with Brit's zinger about the suspicious quickie promotion up seven ranks granted to Dubya, marked the official opening of Dubya's skeleton closet by the Fox gang. This is major bad news for Bush Jr. Spots for ADM and Oracle preceded the next guests -- ex-Senator Al D'Amato and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) for a friendly, New-York-style chat on Hillary's run for the Senate in New York. Al said he doubted Hillary would "meet a lot of people" or "talk to a lot of people" during the course of her campaign. And it's true -- but then, no candidate can afford top take a lot of time chatting with the electorate about individual concerns, and Al knows it. That's why he and other candidates hire pollsters. Nita Lowey opted to counterspin -- saying that New Yorkers would see Hillary's warmth, hear her message, and understand that she will fight for New York. Lowey threw in a litany of issues that Hillary will support -- including the Patients' Bill of Rights, which is looking to become an immediate high-profile issue. Tony said "this is a little unusual -- she's still figuring out where the towns are in New York." Right, Tony -- as if most current Senators could show you the exact location of every single town in their state if you stuck a map in their face and gave them a "pop quiz." Al D'Amato talked about New York City being a "promised land" in somewhat faint praise for Giuliani. Right, Al -- a promised land for men like Amadou Diallo, who are shot and killed with impunity by thug cops allowed to ride roughshod over New Yorkers while Giuliani looks on. A promised land for kids who are denied decent meals because Rudy is against even the most basic programs to help impoverished kids. A promised land only if you make six figures and live in the "right" neighborhood. D'Amato then saluted the man we know he really wants to see run against Hillary -- Rep. Rick Lazio (R-Long Island). He said either would make a "great GOP candidate," but we know Al can't stand Rudy. Al then "dissed" Hillary for saying she's a Yankees fan. Puh-leeease, Al -- is this the best you can do? Tony then brought up irrelevant poll numbers saying that people don't believe Hillary is being truthful about this. Lowey replied that people care about issues -- and she's right. Tony asked what made her "choose" New York over Arkansas or Illinois in an attempt to flog the nonsensical "carpetbagger" issue -- we'd love to see him ask McCain why he chose Arizona -- and Lowey said that New York is a great state and a great springboard for arguing state AND national issues. She rubbed some salt in Al's wounds, too, by saying she would work with Chuck Schumer and Hillary for New York. Al slammed Bill Clinton for "decimating" health care in New York. What a hypocrite -- Al offered a "Band-Aid" alternative that in fact would have done NOTHING to help the situation. He's still the same old Al -- hypocrisy personified. No wonder he got snatched up by a lobbying firm within a week of his defeat at the hands of Schumer. The segment approached it s close with Lowey and Al arguing and talking over each other -- and Tony said that they had to "end this New York love-fest." Lowey got her last word in: "Where were the Republicans on health" and funding teaching hospitals -- and Al slammed Rudy Giuliani by reminding all the loyal conservative Fox viewers that Rudy had endorsed Cuomo, and now has to "work with the Governor." And Lowey and Al said "buh-bye" to each other. It was a riot -- a true New York love-fest, indeed! Spots: IBM and local spots. The next segment condemned Hollywood for marketing sex and vulgarity, with two talking heads, conservative film critic Michael Medved and conservative social critic David Horowitz. Tony showed clips from South Park, Austin Powers and Big Daddy. Horowitz surprised us all by talking positively about the vicious satire in South Park aimed at conservatives -- and the film's message of censorship leading to totalitarianism! He also slammed Clinton and Gore for getting behind the V-chip. Funny how he didn't slam Newt, Trent, DeLay and other V-chip boosters. Medved, a Luddite critic with a neo-fascist social agenda, said something moronic about "nine-year-olds talking about Saddam Hussein having anal sex with the devil." He just doesn't get it -- South Park is satire. You've got to love a film critic who chooses to ignore the ironic, satirical and sarcastic and attempts to convince you that every facet of South Park must be taken at face value. He also falsely claimed that the film Big Daddy encourages antisocial behavior when, in fact, it does not -- it condemns immaturity and antisocial behavior as it shows an irresponsible guy forced to mature and take control of his life when he unexpectedly finds himself a father! And Horowitz stripped emperor Medved of his clothes by pointing out that South Park is not a cartoon for kids -- it's rated R! Medved also said that the V-chip "empowers parents." We laughed out loud -- most parents don't know how to program a microwave or VCR, let alone a V-chip! He also said that when parents are not at home in the afternoon, they could be sure their kids would not be seeing South Park on TV. We can tell you that no V-chip is needed to prevent this -- because South Park is only broadcast late at night on Comedy Central. Americans can sleep soundly without the fear that South Park is warping the minds of impressionable nine-year-olds after school. But the entire V-chip debate between Horowitz and Medved was a waste of time, although Medved did reveal that he does not have a television in his house! Horowitz claimed that over the last two decades, bad language has "seeped into" the public -- which is untrue, since bad language has been around since man learned to talk and has always been there. He added that you have to "convince people not to swear." Huh? And Medved called Paramount's release of South Park "irresponsible" in that it "offends" people's values and insults religion. Which is a lie -- South Park skewers absolutist religio-fascists who use God to push an agenda of power and control and narrow-minded reactionaries whose first reaction to being offended is to resort to demagoguery. Spots: First Union, Morningstar Farms, Fox shows. Panel time! Topic one -- the LA Times story that Dubya may have been expeditiously and inappropriately "commissioned" as an officer in the National Guard. No question -- Fox News has jumped on this story big-time! Brit said that Bush may be "lucky" that it "came out so early," but Karen said that if this plays into a "pattern," Bush may be in trouble. Does Ms. Tumulty know something we don't know? We can only wonder, with all the rumors surrounding Bush's past! Jeff tried to make Gore somehow look bad for going to Vietnam, but "as a reporter, not a combatant." Brit dissed Gore for "not growing up in a log cabin." Well, gee, Brit, neither did Dubya -- or Forbes. But then, we all know Gore is just not good enough -- because he's not a stealth fascist like you! Brit did say that Bush's geography flubs (i.e. Slovakia v. Slovenia) may make him look like he's not ready for the "big leagues." Wow -- Bush and Gore getting dissed near-equally! Fox News HAS become "fair and balanced"! Karen alleged that Gore's team is not consulting the West Wing -- and in this area she may be right. There is much evidence that his campaign is being poorly managed early on. Hume turned to Clinton-bashing: Bill and Hillary Clinton are out for themselves, they think they're somehow entitled, Hillary thinks she's some sort of world citizen, people don't like it. Right Brit, tell us something we haven't already heard Rush Limbaugh say. What about the Bush clan being entitled, out for themselves, world citizens with homes in at least three states -- not to mention sweetheart business deals, access to the highest offices in the country, and having their dirt swept under the rug by the media? Jeff and Karen got back on the case of dissing the Gore campaign -- "bad decision after bad decision." We hope Gore is paying attention -- because he does need to jettison his current team. But Brit said that Gore has the upper hand on one issue -- the surplus. Spots: Gateway, Fox Shows. Tony's final word -- on the Fourth of July, natch! He talked about his grandmother, who was born on the Fourth of July -- and wished her a happy birthday. MSNBC For once, not standing for "Make Sure Nobody Believes Clinton" With Mc-Laugh-In preempted in favor of some moronic tennis game on our local MSNBC affiliate, we decided to go slumming and watch a little MSNBC. Soledad O'Brian anchored the quick take we saw -- and led with the latest news surrounding the apparently race-related shootings in Chicago. There was about four minutes of coverage, much of it about the family of coach Ricky Byrdsong who was murdered late Friday by the gunman now being sought, including reports of another drive-by shooting overnight. The second story -- scrutiny of Bush Jr.'s domestic National Guard service during the Vietnam War and evidence that he got preferential treatment in both getting in and being commissioned expeditiously. John Palmer did a lot of spinning, trying to defuse the story a little by spending an inordinate amount of time talking about a comment that Bush made some years back to Connie Chung when there were questions about Dan Quayle's National Guard service. Bush had said that he had signed up -- and we might have done better in 'Nam had his unit gone! Puh-leeeze. You can tell where MSNBC is going with any scrutiny of Bush -- downplay, deny, and discredit. This Week Cat fight over Hillary
The good news -- George Will was on vacation. We can only hope it is permanent. "Follow the money, that's what we intend to do today," said Sam. Cokie introduced a video piece that started with good news for Hillary Clinton -- Webb Hubbell's plea deal -- and bad news -- poll numbers. Sam claimed that the carpetbagger issue would be flogged by Rudy Giuliani. The guests were two New York ex-politicians: Susan Molinari and Geraldine Ferraro. Cokie raised the carpetbagger issue in her first question to Ferraro: "Wasn't it helpful that you grew up there and knew the people there" when she first ran for office? And after Ferraro talked her work as a prosecutor, Cokie asked the very same loaded question again. Molinari praised Rudy as a man who has "turned around New York City" -- yeah, right -- then slammed Hillary on health care and focusing on "national issues," claiming it's going to be "very, very difficult" and that the job of a Senator is "to protect your state above everything else" -- a complete and total lie, in that Senators are politicians who have to balance national and state interests. Ferraro slammed Giuliani for taking credit for low crime when in fact the excellent economy and federal funding had a huge effect among other factors, and Sam said "Let's turn back to Clinton and her husband" -- to set up Molinari to dis the Clintons over their "divisions" on the issues. Ferraro responded by citing the fact that Hillary has a real command of big issues -- and that she's not even a candidate yet! Cokie: "My question is, just how weird is it" that she is meeting with White House staffers and New York politicians? Our question to Cokie: how weird is it that you take every opportunity to ask questions that smear the Clintons and refuse to ask questions about Rudy's lack of qualifications, short temper, alleged marital infidelities, implicit support of racism, refusal to give straight answers to the media, and double albatrosses of Abner Louima and Amadou Diallo -- his own private "Willie Hortons"? Are you on the Giuliani payroll? Following spots for GE, Viagra (not the Dole spot), and Dean Witter Morgan Stanley, Sam began round two of the "cat fight" by bringing up the non-issue of Mrs. Clinton using Air Force planes. Molinari: "It's a question that she will have to answer sooner rather than later." Huh? She's fully entitled to use these planes for security reasons -- and her campaign will reimburse the government for use of these planes. This is a fact. And that's why she has an exploratory committee -- to see to it that these issues are resolved in advance of her official declaration. Ferraro added that she has addressed this issues, and that New York City citizens are paying Rudy's salary while he's upstate campaigning! She should have added that Hillary gets no salary! Molinari shifted topics to "upstate versus downstate." Sam parsed words, asking Ferraro if Hillary should pay for her rent out of campaign funds and implying that she had ten million dollars in legal debts. Sam thinks most viewers are morons -- first, Hillary will not pay rent out of campaign contributions, and second, the attempt to imply she might pay off legal debts with campaign contributions is contemptible. Cokie, in an effort to imply that Hillary is doing the "wrong thing" for her family, asked Ferraro if she should take her family into account -- and Ferraro said that Chelsea is a young adult and Hillary had discussed this with her family. Sam and Cokie just can't let go. Their absolute, unswerving disdain for the Clintons would be funny if it weren't so embarrassing for ABC. Following more spots (GE), Sam and Cokie addressed the real money issue -- what to do with the surplus. The guest: Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, Sam to Daschle: "Why not just give it back to the taxpayers?" Daschle gave the obvious answer -- fixing and funding Medicare and Social Security. He added that Democrats were the first to propose a "lockbox" for both -- and that educational funding is getting cut! Sam: "You're talking about discipline -- let's talk about the President's programs" -- implying and then directly saying that the President's plan would "break" spending caps. And Daschle smashed Sam's spin by pointing out that the surpluses would fund spending and eliminate the debt in twenty years. The wonkspeak was flying at a fast pace -- prescription coverage in Medicaid (Daschle: "We want to make it simple... What do you want? Bring an IRS form every time you want a prescription?"), people in rural areas with no health or Medicare coverage, gun control, and hard-righter Bob Smith's putting a hold on appointments. On the last matter, Daschle had a bit of news. He said that Majority Leader Trent Lott would force Smith's hand on this issue. Good -- and we say this just might prove the impetus for Smith to distance himself from the GOP and maybe even jump ship to another, small, ultraconservative party such as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party. Cokie: "We keep hearing from the voters that they want you to get together. Will you before the elections?" Daschle said he has high hopes -- an answer which you would expect any politician to give. But we think that the polarization has already begun -- in what is the beginning of the hottest and longest political season of the century. Spots for IBM, First Union and a slew of local spots preceded the appearance of John Kasich, to talk tax and budget issues. Sam asked what the real number on the surplus was, and Kasich, a "repay the taxpayers" hawk, talked about the "Americans getting more power... It's fantastic." Sam asked what would be wrong with targeted tax cuts; Kasich, uncharacteristically, said something that made little sense, about people who benefit from targeted cuts "being in museums." Huh? But he got back on his game talking about giving money back to people -- for day care, education and so on. But this is not the reality that most people face -- they will not get back terribly much, and will use it for day-to-day expenses, not savings or future goals. But we have to credit Kasich for being one of the most effective proponents of "empowering" people according to the GOP play book -- and he did say that if the surplus were used to bolster Social Security and Medicare with the rest going back to people, he would support that. He also added that "President Clinton wants more Washington spending" -- a message sure to please fiscal conservatives. But the fact remains: people want good government and are willing to pay for it. Talk turned to campaign fundraising -- and the embarrassment of Bush riches. Kasich said that Bush "has sucked all the air out of the room" -- but he is proud "as the son of a mailman" that he has raised a respectable amount of money Cokie asked Kasich about the LA Times story on Bush and the National Guard-- and Kasich decried the reemergence of what he called "gotcha politics." He even attacked the press AND other politicians for criticizing both Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani for using their offices and homes for running campaigns! During his reply, he reiterated the point that his campaign is "about ideas" -- an indirect but definite broadside against Bush. But he was also firing away at the entire Beltway pundit aristocracy, Sam and Cokie included, in decrying attacks on persons at the expense of debating issues. Bravo, John! Spots for Southern Company GE and ABC News preceded the round table. Spin points: Give it a rest, gang -- you've gone beyond the bounds of credulity.
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Copyright © 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, American Politics Journal Publications.
Two important stories were exposed on Meet the Press today: First: that George W. Bush, upon graduating from Daddy's school, Yale, then applied at the end of a long waiting list to join the Texas Air National Guard in order to avoid be drafted and going to Vietnam. The waiting list -- at that time one-and-one-half YEARS long -- seemed to magically vanish for little BushBaby, as he instantly moved up the line flying crates that were never used in Asia -- and never would be -- safe at home in the U.S. Of A., while the guy whose spot he took was sent to Vietnam -- to face the real possibility of death. Did he die?
"Money money money money [Bush Jr. -- and Steve Forbes] ... Is the Empire State anyplace for an Arkansas Girl from Illinois?..." and a swipe at Hollywood's vulgar and offensive fare composed Tony Snow's "spintroduction" to FNS.
"This week, Hillary Clinton takes a big step... campaigning with the First Lady... and the surplus... campaign coffers!" This Weak was "rolling in the green!"