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Waco, Koresh, Chinagate Go Into Reruns!
With Congress and the Clintons on vacation, the pundit elite pop retreads on old stories.
by The Editors
Sunday, August 29, 1999 --- New York (APJP) -- The Sabbath blowhards made the micromanagement of Janet Reno -- i.e., blaming the Branch Davidian debacle on her personally -- topic one of Sunday's so-called public affairs programming. There was also a bit of effort to promote the New Cold war with two appearances by Notra Trulock. He's the whistleblower behind allegations that Wen ho lee leaked nuclear weapons secrets to mainland China. His own role as a whistleblower is being called into question by some quarters of the press -- but you'd never know that by the practical hero treatment he got from shows on Fox and ABC.
Fox Spin Sunday
Roger Ailes wants you to buy every Waco and Chinagate rumor as truth!
Tony Snow --
back with his best
hair ever! 
Tony Snow was back from vacation -- and energized.
His FNS topics had nothing to do with discussing real news or issues -- but they had everything to do with innuendo, rumor, and spin based on speculative if not outright false conclusions.
Topic one -- defending lunatic David Koresh and his gun-hoarding Branch Davidians while casting the FBI in the worst possible light. Now, we think that the FBI's handling of the Waco siege was incompetent at best, criminal at worst, but look at the way it was being spun this week. Tony's plan to "reopen the case" -- against Janet Reno, of course -- only served to remind us that the media's own "crimes" in the reporting of this debacle continue to be far worse than the FBI's admittedly serious, arguably murderous, missteps. Fox News and Roger Ailes keep trying to pin the blame on Janet Reno, whom they try to paint as some sort of an arch-fiend in the dreaded, "criminal" Clinton Administration. In fact, anyone who has reviewed the evidence knows that the FBI completely mishandled not only the situation in Waco but the information that was trickling to Washington.
Tony also underlined the presence of Army Delta Force "representatives" (including big green "U.S. Army" chyron words on the screen).
His comment that the FBI "conceded" using flammable tear gas canisters omitted the important point that these pyrotechnics were used a full six hours before Koresh set the fires that killed the Davidians. And Tony's first guest, FBI supervising agent Byron Sage (who was also a negotiator at Waco), stood up strongly for the bureau, despite Snow's prosecutorial questioning about "how many rounds [of tear gas]" were used and the details of "clearing" the procedures used with Washington.
Sage nailed Snow on the pyrotechnics: "These were NOT aimed at the compound… don't mix them up." Our Spin-terpretation: "Stop trying to confuse people and, in effect, LIE, Tony." Sage said that he is certain of only two pyrotechnic canisters having been fired -- and at a concrete bunker.
Sage also said that two Delta Force observers were present. But he should have mentioned that they are FREQUENTLY present at FBI operations and NEVER take an active role, except in the event of a dire emergency -- as they are legally authorized to.
Tony did, to his credit, ask if Koresh threatened to torch the Davidian compound -- and Sage told Tony that Koresh frequently mentioned a "fiery end" even though he never spelled out incinerating his followers. Tony also pressed Sage on not apprehending Koresh while he was out jogging -- and even we think that this could have been done.
Tony then asked about the loony right wing's latest crazy claim about the Waco debacle -- that Army helicopters fired on the Koresh compound. Sage emphatically denied it -- and shoved it back down the hard right's throat by saying that this "tragedy" was being used as a football. Again, he should have been tougher, going after the lies about the Koresh debacle one frequently encounters in hard-right videos and web sites.
Sage concluded by labeling Koresh, quite correctly, a "master of deception and deceit" while acknowledging the very tragic outcome.
The next guest: singer/songwriter Orrin Hatch (he's also a GOP Senator from Utah), who, when asked whether Bill Sessions might be called as a witness, hemmed and hawed while calling the situation "tragic."
Brit Hume -- smug as always.
Brit Hume then asked about the "incendiary" tear gas canisters.This is a Hume lie. The canisters are pyrotechnic, NOT incendiary (i.e. meant to start fires). Hume knows this. And Hatch parroted back the -- no pun intended -- incendiary mislabeling.
Hatch talked about "hearing comments" and asking questions about the FBI's actions. We wonder where these comments come from -- could it be hard-righters who loathe the FBI and the men and women who put their lives on the line day after day working to keeping America safe from terror and crime?
Juan Williams asked the money question: whether Janet Reno was "withholding" information. Hatch essentially said she was -- bringing up the now-questionable Chinagate charges and whining about the Justice Department redacting the report! But Juan pushed the question with respect to Koresh -- and whether Orrin was pushing it to "get even" with Reno and what Orrin sees as an "uncooperative" Administration. Orrin came back with the predictable and political answer -- that Reno has "no credibility."
Brit followed up by casting the DOJ as the "most politicized" and asked -- for at least the twelfth time we can remember -- whether Orrin would call for Reno's resignation, and followed up with what Orrin would do if he were elected President. Orrin replied with a whole litany of platitudes -- then claimed that Reno "ignored her own FBI Director."
Well, Orrin, maybe you should ask her about certain GOP appointees setting her up to look bad. Withhold the proper information -- or lie outright -- and then push "the buck stops with the Attorney General."
Spots for IBM, Behr and Fox Shows preceded segment two: Reverend Al Sharpton. Of course, Tony showed a clip of Bill Bradley telling Sharpton's NAN that he had addressed racial issues in Washington.
Tony then asked Sharpton a truly stupid question about why Sharpton addresses the issue of racism.
Well, Tony, it's because America remains a racist nation. Wake up and smell the white sheets and hoods, Tony.
And Al Sharpton was predictably fiery self, talking about the de facto racism still evident in America and even New York. He essentially called for Al Gore and other candidates to come before "his" constituents -- but we can tell you they will, unlike their GOP rivals who avoid Harlem, the South Bronx, and other minority communities in New York.
When Tony asked him a loaded question about whether he would not endorse Hillary Clinton "unless" she visited Sharpton (and we know she will), Sharpton talked about Republicans inviting him to meet with them. Tony looked as if he did not anticipate this answer.
Will Sharpton support Khalid Muhammad's "Million Youth March?" Sharpton said that Khalid has the right to march -- and Rudy Giuliani was the politician most guilty of playing the race card! Tony asked why Charles Rangel wasn't supporting the march -- and Sharpton pointed out that many black leaders did not endorse Jesse Jackson! He again placed the blame for the inflamed racial problems in New York on Rudy Giuliani.
Tony asked Sharpton AGAIN about Hillary not planning to visit him and asking for his endorsement, and Sharpton pointed out she's not even an officially declared candidate! Good for you, Al!
Spots for John Hancock, Gateway, and the "mature audiences" Fox series Action preceded Tony's attempt to rehabilitate the reputation of Notra Trulock, the Energy Department "whistle blower" who
Secretary Richardson was doing a "pretty good job… he got hit with the Cox Report [and a] NY Times article.,.. and he hit back pretty hard." He attributed his resignation to senior departmental officials working to prevent Trulock's testimony. Hume insidiously asked if "those officials [are] still in place."
Well, Brit and Notra, maybe there's a goddamn good reason they were trying to stop you -- like you didn't have sufficient evidence, and you may have compromised other investigations and "assets."
Tony, much to his credit, pointed out that information about neutron bombs is easily available on the Internet -- and asked if this were a consequence of the Energy Department's "openness."
We'll point out that this "openness" dates from the Reagan-Bush era.
Trulock pressed the amount of warhead information the Chinese have, not-so-subtly blaming the Clinton-era Energy Department -- and omitting any blame for far more serious blunders made under prior Administrations.
Trulock also flogged the hard-right's calls for a strategic missile defense. Yeah, right -- as if it would work, not to mention the fact that it would violate some of the most important treaties of the last half-century.
The thrust of the entire segment was "loss of intelligence" -- under Clinton's rule, of course. The segment also fit into the larger pattern of Fox trying to promote a new Cold War with China -- a truly dangerous idea.
Spots for First Union, Fox shows and local spots preceded panel time -- and the latest "get Gore" gambit. Now that the China money nonsense has fizzled, the Fox gang are -- catch this -- trying to tie Gore to Russian mob money! The farfetched prognostication over "what did he know and when did he know it" showed the goofiness of painting Gore as the "political go-between" between Russia and Clinton. And "journalist" Karen Tumulty tried in vain to make Gore look bad using highly suspect "evidence" that Gore was sticking up for corrupt Russian politicians.
Hume tried to make much of four billion "disappeared" dollars in Russian aid -- but Karen Tumulty actually interjected and said that NOTHING had been proven.
Tumulty claimed that the question would be "who squandered the opportunity" to build a democratic Russia -- Clinton or Bush. Hey, Karen -- the answer is the Russian bureaucracy!
Tony turned to what he characterized as "an issue that will heat up in the next few weeks, Waco." Brit gave a surly monologue about "taking responsibility," bemoaning the lack of resignations of high Clinton appointees.
Brit, are you claiming that all the pre-Clinton appointees and conservative activists in the FBI and DOJ are blameless?
Juan nailed it -- playing up Waco yet again just plays to wacko conspiracy theorists and government-haters. Good for you, Juan!
Of course, Brit tried his best to talk up the theories. Betcha that if Waco happened under a Republican, he'd be playing up reports of abusive treatment of children by Koresh and his minions, and the FBI's justified attempt to intervene. That's how the game is played.
Spots: ADM (sellout David Brinkley on feeding the world -- and Dwayne Andreas's bank accounts), John Hancock, Fox Shows.
Tony's plugs for more Fox News shows preceded a final word on "the value on goofing off" -- so we stopped watching.
This Weak
Pyrotechnic Pap and Focus Group Follies!
Cokie Roberts opened with an outright deception -- that the "FBI used incendiary devices."
That's "pyrotechnic," Cokie.
We had a feeling that This Weak would essentially cover the same ground as Fox Spin Sunday -- and it did, as Cokie parroted Brit Hume, saying that the story was "only going to get hotter. The guests: FBI agent Bob Ricks and "Davidian" family attorney Mike Caddell.
Cokie smugly asked Ricks, as she chuckled, "Someone surely knew about this." Ricks said he'd like to know who was not 'fessing up. And Caddell tried to push video footage which he claims are evidence that the tornado shelter may have been hit by pyrotechnics -- and more pyrotechnicals than the FBI has admitted to. Ricks fired back -- slamming Caddell's claim and saying that Koresh coordinated the fire that destroyed their compound.
George Will asked Caddell about one Davidian who claimed that he saw a canister stuck in the Davidians' chapel wall -- as if these cultists were credible -- and that Newsweek will report that a ranger pointed out a canister to an FBI agent. Caddell named one Mike McNulty as an investigative reporter he has paid to gather evidence for him. Will also brought up reports that the Davidians had been targeted for alleged drug activity, and Ricks replied that the FBI and Delta Force DO work together and DO have a domestic role under JSOC if a situation spirals out of control. He also restated the fact that the FBI has audio intercepts of Koresh ordering the compound torched -- and corroboration! Caddell said he "appreciates" Ricks bringing up the issue -- and his claim that the pyrotechnics were "military" devices, trying in vain to link their use to the presence of Delta Force -- and Ricks angrily broke in, but used restrained wording, calling it a "stretch." He should have slammed Caddell for fueling conspirawacko hate groups who have zero respect for law enforcement -- and the law itself.
Following a break, Cokie turned to the Los Alamos security breaches, Wen Ho Lee, and her guest -- Notra Trulock!
It was a repeat of the Fox segment, with only slight differences. Trulock started by talking about "obstruction" of his investigation, again mentioning a "senior administration appointee," and once again claiming the Administration setting up a "he said/she said" scenario.
Will asked Trulock about former senator Warren Rudman's slamming of Trulock, giving Trulock the chance to claim that "the fact of espionage is indisputable" by the Chinese. Will broke in: "But not necessarily at Los Alamos." Trulock did not reply, plowing on with his claims of espionage -- and wrongdoing by Wen Ho Lee.
The Fox and ABC segments would have been a helluva lot more interesting if an Energy Department or FBI spokesman were on simultaneously a la the Waco segment. We are willing to bet it would have been the case if this had happened during a GOP administration -- but again, the press is playing by the "Clinton rules," namely, make the Administration look as bad and corrupt as possible.
They don't get it -- the "rule" has backfired, and badly.
One distinct difference -- Trulock was more supportive of Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, even praising him for taking the situation in hand quite firmly. His comments on Fox were notably less enthusiastic.
More Spots (HUD, ABC Shows) preceded a supposedly "inside" look at GOP pollster Frank Luntz holding a focus group among New Hampshire Republicans, preceded by Luntz talking about "getting inside their hearts." There were a lot of shots of members of the group commenting and reacting. The segment lasted over a half-hour.
But this was nothing new. Both CBS and CNN have been "inside" Luntz-run focus groups in the past few months -- and the picture they paint shows nothing of the most important work a pollster does, namely post-group analytical methodology. Certainly Luntz is not going to make ABC, let alone cub reporter George Stepha-Judas-nopounos privy to his real work. And the whole panel -- including Bill Kristol -- talked about how people are reacting, not about how the results of these groups are analyzed and used.
Cokie and Steph also strongly punctuated a clip of Luntz asking these hardcore GOPers about Clinton. "Liar… liar… liar… time for a change."
If the DNC were smart, they'd demand equal time -- with tough questions about George Dubya. We can predict the footage: "Liar…liar…cokehead… why do his dad's rich pals keep bailing him out?… liar… he can't tell the truth about his past… liar... liar... liar... he could teach slippery behavior to a greased weasel… love to see those Repugs commit suicide with a loser at the top of the ticket!"
The gang spent five boring minutes talking about Reaganism. Kristol, who said that Bauer and Forbes were fighting over who would carry the banner of Reaganism, and Will, who thinks that issues surrounding China may make McCain look very palatable to the GOP.
But the panel's promotion of Reaganism ignored awareness of the failures of the Reagan era that are at long last on the rise. Red-ink deficit spending. Acceleration of the divide between the richest and poorest. A nationwide drug abuse explosion. Iran-Contra. Felonious conduct by numerous cabinet members as a weak, delegate-it-all president spent his time acting and almost none ruling. All of these -- and more -- have come back to tarnish The Great Napper.
Stupid comment of the week: George Will claiming that "Democrats are going to have trouble frightening voters."
Hey, George, who do you think Democrats want naming the next few Supreme Court justices -- in the age of judicial activists Fat Tony Scalia, Slappy Thomas, and Grand High Executioner Rehnquist?
Now that's scary!!
The McLaugh-In Group
Mutated frogs and a "Triple Nothing Burger" -- proof that John has gone over the edge!
Issue one: Triple Zero Odometer!!!
What is the maniacal John McLaugh-In talking about?
His brief: the millennium does not really start until January 1st, 2001. McLaughlin then showed clip of religious fanatics about what will happen on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. He claimed that 25% of the American population think Jesus will rise again in Israel four months from September. He also showed a clip of Jerry Falwell claming that Y2K may be a sign from God that the world as we know it is ending.
Of course, Falwell is almost correct. The world, as he knows it, will end.
Oh, Lordy. We could see where this entire edition of the McLaugh-In Group was going.
He brought on some nutball professor from the Center for the New Millennium Studies (what the heck is that?) at B.U. (which stands for "Big and Ugly") to bore us to death.
Tony Blankley -- the only sane
talking head left on McLaughIn 
The only recognizable face was Tony Blankley -- who proved to be the only sane person on the panel. Margaret Anderson, of the Center for Y2K and Society (we were laughing at that one) was also there. Who the heck is she?
"Will science and religion combine by the year 3000?" was lunatic McLaughlin's exit question. The panel looked at him -- stunned -- and then actually answered.
Issue two: More Millennium Hogwash!
McLaughlin talked about the year 1000 and how much progress we've made -- "…or is it progress?" he infers. He went on and on about the environment, low sperm counts, and mutated frogs. "What will be the engine that will cause progress to make a quantum leap?" John asked.
The guy from nowhereville said, "…not until we get electricity from satellites via microwave!"
We were rolling on the floor.
Blankley said that boredom will stop us from progressing. Oh, God! Well, Tony's right in part -- if he's talking about boredom with McLaughlin.
The discussion broke down into a rant about which is more important in controlling the birth rate: wealth or education?
Hey, John, talk to any wealthy but stupid Mormon and he will tell you that nothing stops him from producing more Mormons. Ditto for Catholics, some Jewish sects, and many other religions and societies.
Then -- to top off his insanity -- John asked, in all earnest, whether we will see "alien life" before 3000?
How would these idiots know? Better yet, how would anyone know?
One guy actually said yes.
Margaret Anderson started talking about horses pooping in the streets.
McLaughlin claimed there will be "widespread adoption of Democracy."
Yes, John, and the split between the haves and have-nots will cause these "democracies" to collapse -- unless we get smart, and fast.
McLaughlin then turned to Issue Three! Y2K: The Uninvited Guest!
Good grief. Not again. John said nobody knows how Y2K will impact us. Margaret, who is obviously a stalker for companies that want to sell you stuff to deal with this problem, tried to scare the heck out of everyone, saying that viewers should check to make sure their fire department will still be working. Huh?
The BU Professor said act in community -- don't take your money out of the bank, and so on.
Blankley simply sat there dumbfounded -- and then gave subversively snide answers. He couldn't believe he is risking his reputation on John's goofball garbage.
McLaughlin then moved on to what will happen on New Year's Eve -- and the "Holiday Blues." He brought up depression during the holidays and said the sheer magnitude of year 2000 will let us down even more. It was a howl! John has truly scraped the bottom of the pap barrel. He said something called the AC/UNU Millennium Project is working on this!!! Margaret said the Y2K community will be celebrating wildly if nothing much happens.
The nutty professor said Y2K has ruined the millennium mood. Now that was another roll-on-the-floor Mc-LaughIn Moment. What "millennium mood?" Most Americans could not care less! Only the bored and wealthy are planning something unusually expensive this New Year -- and wealthy they'll have to be!
If one could make a single argument to forever cancel McLaughlin's ludicrous program, it would be this particular "Group" -- which (with the exception of Blankley) demonstrated just how incompetent McLaughlin and his research staff are and how starved for any exposure his panelists must be.
We are certain that 10 minutes into the program, we were the only ones left watching!
Eat the Press
With Stone Phillips -- a definite improvement over Russert!
The women in the APJ Media Center were awestruck to find that none other than Stone Philips sat in today for Tim Russert.
No two men could be more dissimilar. Phillips looks like a Ken doll, and Russert like a rabid Cabbage Patch Kid (apologies to Mitch "Cabbage Patch" McConnell -- no insult intended).
We wonder if Russert hand-picked Stone as the man he most identifies with -- especially in the locker room!
Byron Sage -- the former FBI agent who had appeared on FNS -- was Stone's first guest commenting about the siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco six years ago. Sage admitted that at least two incendiary devices were used at Waco. And it was in the records, he claimed, but buried in the magnitude of the evidence.
Oh, Lordy -- all one would have to have done was to look at the PBS Frontline special on Waco to see that the FBI engaged in wholesale murder of the Branch Davidians -- but the real issue is why? Could we expect any more from them after the seemingly-never-ending standoff -- and their genuine fear that kids would be killed by Koresh and the shooting of their colleagues? We don't judge. But someone has to pay -- and it should not be Janet Reno.
We say the FBI should have stood off. Period. They were in a no-win situation.
Sage said the military there were simply there as advisors and observers. And we believe him -- in fact, we know that military observers are frequently on the scene of FBI operations, to study situations and learn skills that may well be needed to defend our nation.
Dan Burton, arguably the most despicable member of Congress, said he wants to hold Reno responsible. And he worked the so-called campaign finance "scandal" into his pap claptrap. He said he does not trust Reno "because 122 people have taken the Fifth" (a constitutional guarantee which Burton wants to abolish) or "fled the country" (two people -- scared that out-of-control punks like Burton would do pretty much the same thing that the Beijing regime does to "enemies of the state").
Burton said he sent investigators from his committee down there two weeks ago.
Hey Dan -- why did you wait so long, you pathetic excuse for a human being? And who did you send -- known dirty trickster David Bossie?
Burton said he will investigate "the commandos" that were there. Now here we are hard pressed to disagree with Burton's investigation. It must be done. But we are willing to bet that it backfires on Dan -- and badly.
Uh-oh! Stone began his own Clinton-bashing over the President's pardoning of Puerto Rican terrorists last week. Burton said Clinton did it to bring the Puerto Rican vote to Hillary.
We think that may be true -- but so what? It works! Things like this are done every day by all politicians. We do think, however, that the President made a mistake pardoning them now. The FLN did kill New York police in a 1992 bombing. It was not a wise move politically, either for him or his wife. A sure backfire, we'd call it, especially since the President has only pardoned two other parties in nearly 7 years.
Senator Charles Schumer -- not one of our favorite Democrats -- claimed that Koresh killed the 80 people that died at Waco. But how does he know? Stone made a fool of him, quoting him saying that any further investigating was only pandering to the lunatic fringe right wing.
Schumer was in Yosemite -- probably at the home of cookie tycoon Michael Coles, who ran against Gingrich and Coverdell in Georgia and lost -- but valiantly.
Schumer refused to talk about the Puerto Rican pardon -- which he tells Stone made the Puerto Rican leadership unhappy that Clinton did not go farther. The issue, of course, is truly whether the United States should continue to control Puerto Rico without granting it statehood. If we continue down this path, he added, Puerto Rican terrorists will continue to run amok over issues of nationalism. Schumer said that Hillary can say she is not responsible for the decision. Sure, Chuck, sure.
Schumer then talked about closing the gun show loophole, saying that he will filibuster if the conference committee does not approve a three-day waiting period for background checks on gun show sales.
On tax cuts, Schumer held the party line on preserving Social Security and Medicare. He said he thinks the Democrats should back something -- like full credit for college tuition paid.
Dick Armey, second-place Loser of the Year in the House (just behind Newt "Ging-grinch") was up next. Armey said he is "saving Social Security and Medicare." He said the President "wants to spend the rest…. That is the debate," he claimed. He is "proud" of the GOP tax bill -- which gives the wealthiest Americans most of the money back.
And Stone attacked -- quoting Alan Greenspan, who wants the Congress to hold the line and grant no tax cuts. Armey claimed he "loves" Greenspan, but that the Fed Chairman is over-concerned about inflation. Stone pointed out that the polls show that Americans don't care about tax cuts that much.
Armey said he thinks that the GOP should keep sending tax bills to the President until he signs one of them. Now, that will be fun... for the President.
Armey stuck foolishly to his pro-NRA stance on handgun restrictions. He, of course, blames Janet Reno for not prosecuting gun crimes. Of course, this is pure horse hockey. The crimes she did not prosecute were either prosecuted by local authorities or were minor infractions of the law. Armey would be calling for her head had she prosecuted all 40,000 so-called gun "crimes" as is her power.
We think Reno should go back and prosecute them all now -- and send the GOP-controlled House the bill. It would be about $5 billion dollars!
Stone then welcomed Jack Germond, Ron Brownstein (someone our own Mac MacArthur loathes) and Fred Barnes - the Flintstones' model Fred. Barnes even looks like Fred Flintstone, don't you think? We were glad to see wise old owl Germond back on national television after he left McLaughlin in disgust. There is no journalist with better intentions in Washington.
BushBaby drug use was topic one. Jack said it is not behind him -- his opponents will bring it up. Barnes agreed, saying his position leaves doubt -- he should answer all the questions and put the issue to rest. Brownstein thinks that gun control proponents could cost Bush the election if he gets the GOP nomination.
Everyone agrees that Bush is running on the polls.
Al Gore, who stupidly backed teaching creationism in the public schools, was the next topic. We have no comment except to say the following:
HEY, AL: FIRE ALL YOUR ADVISORS. NOW!!!! Either they are not giving you anything close to even acceptable advice, or they are not strong enough to collar your outbursts and keep you in line.
Barnes claimed that Americans want evolution to be taught alongside creationism -- and he is lying. But that's his job, as a paid political hack for far right loonies. He then claimed that the American people are religious people -- another lie. Now, he said this based on the fact that 90% of Americans say they believe in God. Germond -- always the smartest -- said to Barnes, "Who's going to answer that question truthfully? No one!" Barnes whined some inaudible retort.
The next topic: Warren Beatty -- will he or won't he? Brownstein, who writes for the LA Times, thinks Beatty is serious and is not sure it will work at all. Germond thinks it is a frivolous folly and that Beatty could never be elected.
And he's right - but has he thought about the women's vote?
Stone quipped "The Body and the Beatty" referring to Jesse Ventura.
And that was it save for a retrospective on the wonderful Martha Roundtree -- co-creator of Meet the Press -- who died last week.
Ignored or Swept Under the Rug
Little was said about the aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey and the important ramifications that many aspects of this story -- poor communications within Turkey and even shoddier construction practices than previously reported -- will have on global disaster preparedness scenarios. Other than a segment on Face the Nation, there was no comment on what looks to be a heavy tropical storm season -- and regional and national preparedness for a series of hurricanes.
Nothing was said about another major setback for George W. Bush Jr. in the ongoing "FuneralGate" scandal -- it is looking more likely that Bush may have to testify in a lawsuit brought by Eliza May, a former Texas state official, that could badly damage ShrubYa politically.
And only passing mention was made of the scandal involving the Newt Gingrich divorce -- and soon-to-be-ex-wife Marianne's efforts to depose Newt's tootsie, one Callista Bisek. Gingrich looks like even more of a hypocrite now than he did at the height of Lewinskymania.
We predict that Bisek's testimony will be the very least of Gingrich's problems. Mark our words.
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