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Contact Information for Pundit String-Pullers CBS 524 W. 57 St. New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-975-4321 Fax: 212-975-1893 You can also fill out a " Feedback Form" on the CBS website. CBS Evening News staff suggested that faxing or mailing your comments increases the likelihood that they will be read. Westwood One The NewsHour |
Sunday, March 11, 2001 -- NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (APJP) -- The pundits continued to try to sell George the Lesser's tax cut scam! The Clinton bashing was toned down -- but still there! FAUX News even decided to smear Rev. Jesse Jackson -- and Bob Schieffer made a fool of a key member of Usurper Boy's cabinet when the subject of kids with guns in schools came up! Here's what we saw:
FAUX News Sunday
Lott-sa luck!
Guest one: Minister of Justice John Ass-KKKroft. Tony Snow said that the civil rights commission had said there were voting "irregularities" in Florida (actually, they went MUCH further). Ass-KKKroft REFUSED to directly address the findings, instead choosing to say there was some vague initiative to "investigate" (translation: WHITEWASH) racist vote rigging. He claimed that if there is credible evidence of voter fraud, he will prosecute.
We just don't believe de facto southern partisan Ass-KKKroft. He talked about "stuffed ballot boxes" -- when the problem was that blacks were SYSTEMATICALLY deprived of the vote.
Naturally, FAUX News did not discuss the scam to illegally knock phony "felons" off the Florida voter rolls.
Ass-KKKroft sounded hypocritical in his recounting of a black soldier being stopped in his car because he was black. Brit Hume said that this sort of practice is "already forbidden."
Horse-hockey: the laws have NO TEETH, and they are NOT ENFORCED.
Tony tried to play the race card, claiming that blacks engage in "jury nullification" -- acquitting defendants because of race -- but softened the claim by saying many blacks don't trust the system.
Well, Tony, neither do most whites with a brain.
Tony also slammed affirmative action and "preferences -- is this unfair?" Ass-KKKroft talked about "strict scrutiny... narrowly tailored [to] specific remediation." In other words, Ass-KKKroft will look for ways to challenge EVERY such program he can.
Hume tried to slam Jackson for accepting Democrat traveling funds. Ass-KKKroft refused to comment on the case -- but only, we think, because GOPers engage in the SAME activities. Tony implied it was time for the IRS to investigate.
And we agree -- if they also look into the travel expenses of Nancy Reagan and other GOP sock puppets.
Ass-KKKroft hid behind rhetoric about the "Exile program" when the subject of school shootings came up -- Lord forbid that FAUX News might even suggest licensing of handguns! Instead, we heard lots of platitudes about safety, parental responsibility and counseling.
Will Ass-KKKroft's pro-trust... er, antitrust division review (i.e. attempt to kill) the Microsoft case? Ass-KKKroft was vague.
Tony then brought up the issue of an FEC complaint against Ass-KKKroft claiming he is a campaign cash crook. Ass-KKKroft was cocky as he practically said "bring it on." Tony followed up with some cheap-shot Clinton-bashing, mentioning that Roger Clinton was somehow doing something GOPers didn't do when Bush granted all sorts of crooked pardons. Ass-KKKroft had to admit that pardons are a Presidential power.
Following the break, Tony declared the narrow passage of Smirk's tax cut scam as a big victory (ha, ha, yeah, sure), then asked his next guest, Sen. Trent Lott (R-extra starch) whether the Senate would pass the bill.
Fair and balanced? Try GOP dog-and-pony show. Where's Daschle, or another senior Democrat Senator to balance Lott's lies?
Lott talked about civility and bipartisanship -- he did not sound like his usual cocky self, which means t-r-o-u-b-l-e.
Tony played a clip of Tom Daschle (D-wuss) decrying strong-arm tactics. Lott talked about people (i.e., the rich in the GOP) paying too much in taxes, then slammed Daschle for criticizing the right-wing House. Lott said there would be campaign finance reform -- does that mean he wants bribery made legal?
Lott then whipped out a MEANINGLESS chart of what "would" happen over the next ten years -- as if such forecasts can be trusted. He talked retroactive tax cuts, an end to the "death tax," a capital gains cut... red meat for hard-right tax cut hawks.
Too bad it won't fly -- because by the time the Senate votes, we predict Lott will not be majority leader.
Tony said that some northeast Republicans oppose Bush's proposed tax cuts -- Lott maintained his pap of "working with" Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
Don't forget that name -- it's people like Snowe who may well be the future of the GOP; she is emblematic of Republicans who want to break away from neo-Confederate bigots like Lott.
Tony hit a series of "issues" -- the first was Roger Clinton "selling pardons."
We say Roger Clinton should sue FAUX News for slander -- and DEMAND an interview on FNS to answer Tony's outright LIE.
Tony's next "issue" was Rev. Jackson's travel money -- and Lott said that unless he cheated the IRS it's not a crime. Huh? Lott must know that attacking Jackson is a losing issue for the GOP.
Treasury Secretary O'Neill says "global warming is a major issue." Tony implied that O'Neill is going against the Smirk Administration -- and Lott essentially said that O'Neill shouldn't "cross over" into others' issues -- in other words, he should SHUT UP.
Lott's final spin: that new GOP spin line -- "America needs an energy policy." That's a LIE -- we had an energy policy under Clinton. The "energy policy" scam is a beard for more privatization, deregulation, ecological destruction, and corporate crime.
Next up: the new Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. Ariel talked the usual peace and negotiating platitudes, and wants a unilateral cessation of hostilities, "terror and nonstop violence" supposedly from Palestinians. Tony pressed Sharon on whether Yassir Arafat could have stopped recent bombings and shootings.
How easy -- Tony implying that Arafat is Israel's sole enemy. He went on to ask if the Palestinian Authority is a terrorist organization -- giving Sharon the opportunity to essentially say yes.
The entire opening interview looked like a set-up to allow Sharon to blame Arafat for Israel's present woes -- as if Israeli military and civilians are incapable of atrocities themselves.
Sharon decried Arafat for not calling for a cessation in hostilities in a speech yesterday.
Well, gee -- when soldiers are using live ammo to kill and cripple stone-throwing kids, it's no surprise. Not that these kids, their parents and their extremist, religiously insane leaders are innocent -- in fact, this fringe Islamic movement indulges in the rhetoric of murder as a matter of faith.
But Sharon's talk of peace and peace talks got tiresome -- and sounded disingenuous. part of the problem is that Sharon is not the most dynamic interviewee -- at least hard-righter Bibi Netanyahu knows how to play to the camera and play the part of an exciting interview subject.
Panel time! Hume said that Bush will likely get a smaller tax cut out of the Senate. Ceci Connelly said that the Cheney-Card team will have to cut a deal. Juan Williams said that the Democrats are "lacking on leverage" -- then said that the quashing of Clinton's ergonomics order was a bone to big business. There was an exchange between Hume and Juan on the manner in which the ergonomics war ended bipartisanship -- and Ceci had us laughing as she asked when bipartisanship had begun! For once, she had a point. Connelly mispronounced "Torr-i-CHELL-i"'s name. Hume sees trouble for Dem senators running in 2002 in states Bush carried. Ceci said that Bush has taken a page from the Clinton playbook, using Bill's "the campaign never ends" strategy to stump for tax cuts.
Then, the BIG issue we had been waiting for -- Tony downplayed Dick Cheney's emergency heart procedure, and Hume said that the news was overblown. Juan said that the White House should be more forthcoming about Cheney's health and that the doctor who said there was a 40% chance of blood vessel blockage recurring was conservative. Hume tried to use Cheney's 23 years of heart trouble to DOWNPLAY his condition -- talk about an oxymoron! Juan: "His health sits on the table like a giant gorilla!" Tony ended panel time with a lie -- "No Bill Clinton stories this week!"
Right -- only after Lewis Libbey's name got dragged into the fake Marc Rich scandal.
Tony's final word was a reply to letter writers' comment on FNS having run Robert Byrd's "white nigger" comments as part of a long interview. Tony downplayed the use of "one word", but was right when he said it is not fair to edit answers in the sort of context suggested by some letter writers -- and FNS allowed Byrd to respond to the "firestorm" of criticism over his use if the "N-word."
We're glad FNS ran the interview -- and exposed Byrd for the unreconstructed proto-racialist he is.
The McLaugh-In Group
Issue one: John clones FNS!
Following the usual "GE is proud to tell McLaugh-In what to say": School shootings! Thirty violent incidents this week! Hand-wringing! Girls with guns! An eight-year-old with a loaded gun! Carnage! Silent lawmakers!
John spun this as a "failure of character-building," then ran The Pretender speaking to Congress. For John, it's a moral, not a gun control issue. Mike Barone slammed "moral relativism" (which is ALWAYS tied to "liberals" among loony right-wingers) -- then said copycat shootings can be stopped with metal detectors (ha, ha, ha -- Barone should look at school security even in schools WITH metal detectors). Eleanor Clift doesn't mind teaching moral issues -- but Smirk called it an "act of cowardice" rather than addressing this as a gun control issues. Tony Blankley said Democrats are not talking about gun control, then questioned the sanity of school shooters. Are we overreacting? Larry O'Donnell talked mental illness among kids beyond learning morality, and guns should not be available to kids.
John said "you can't put the Ten Commandments on public buildings!"
Hey, John, you imbecile -- one of the shootings took place at a Catholic School, where the Ten Commandments WERE posted. We thought you were crazy, John -- but now we know that you are either uninformed or a LIAR!!!
Which is it?
A bout of screaming about teaching moral and character issues followed -- John slammed "Lord of the Flies." Eleanor slammed Tony for writing off emotionally unstable kids as insane. Larry wants to teach kids math! That's nice, Larry -- but we're due back on planet Earth.
Will character education get federal legislative support?
Mike: Yes
Eleanor: Of course -- education is popular with the public
Tony: Yes
Larry: What school teachers have been trained in character education?
John: Yes
Issue two: unstoppable? The House passed a tax cut -- and John praised crossover Democrats. Eleanor said Smirk rammed it through without having a budget, and it won't pass the Senate without massive changes. Tony said it's an important strategic move. Screaming ensued.
Issue three: "chipper Cheney." What's the big problem with Cheney following his bliss, going out doing the job he loves, as Dale Earnhardt did?
We were doubled over with laughter -- comparing drunk driver Cheney with dangerous driver Earnhardt!
Larry said his dad is till litigating, and replacing him is no big deal.
Then, the money question -- can Bush function without Cheney? Tony gave a qualified and disingenuous-sounding "yes." John said nobody will be as good as Cheney; Eleanor said there's a sense that Cheney is the Prime Minister.
We loved it! Foes that make His Illegitimacy the Emperor with no clothes?
Mike mentioned Paul Coverdell's unexpected death -- which only made us wonder when Helms and Thurmond are "gonna croak."
The panel said that Smirk's tax scam won't pass -- and Larry said there should be talk of raising the highest income tax rate!
Issue four (to the James Bond theme): Hanssen blew the whistle on a tunnel under the Soviet (now Russian) embassy -- at least John made light of all the logistical and structural problems involving the tunnel, as well as the tunnels and bugs in the U.S.'s Russian embassy. The panel's opinion: spying and diplomatic "kabuki" is business as usual.
Face the Nation
The Clinton pardons
Bob Schieffer's first guests: Pete Domenici (D-NM) and Olympia Snowe. Schieffer said that conventional wisdom states Smirk's tax scam won't pass the Senate. Domenici -- foolishly, we say -- predicted it would, with a little give and take; compromises will occur in conference committee. Snowe said "there will obviously have to be some changes." She supports a trigger mechanism tied to a debt-reduction target.
Schieffer asked Sen. Kent Conrad if Bush can get 51 votes -- Conrad said an unqualified no, and mentioned the "d" word -- Bush's tax plan and budget generate a DEFICIT. Conrad wants protection for Social Security and the long-term debt situation controlled, as, he said, most Americans would like to see.
Is dropping the top income rate from 39% to 35% a good idea? Domenici predicted that the top income earners will pay more under the current plan (because of an economic boom). Domenici quite clearly believes in the tooth fairy, supply-side theory and the Easter bunny.
Snowe said she's talked with members of the Cheney-Card administration and her fellow Senators, and is concerned that surpluses will not materialize -- and we do not want to return to an era of deficit and debt.
You've gotta love it -- a Republican Senator who trashes the Reaganomics myth.
Domenici said that the government will collect $25 trillion in the next ten years -- a number that CONTRADICTS the number Lott mentioned on FNS.
Conrad said that the dirty little secret of "Plan Smirk" is that THE GROSS DEBT OF THE U.S. GOES UP! Do the math, kids -- that means interest rates go up -- on mortgages. On credit cards. On loans.
That's an indirect but real TAX ON YOU.
Conrad is pushing to protect the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds. Domenici tried grumbling something in reply, but Schieffer asked Conrad another question. Conrad: ":We can't go back to deficits."
We hope that viewers were paying attention -- and that Terry McAuliffe picks up on this: the Democrats are now the party of fiscal responsibility; they have moderate GOP allies like Snowe and all Domenici could do in response to Conrad's point was LIE, calling Conrad's comments rhetoric.
Snowe said that Smirk's budget accounts for debt reduction -- and this was about her only concession to the GOP playbook. That's not completely true; there is plenty of number voodoo that makes it APPEAR to do so. Oh, well -- Snowe may not be perfect, but she's making waves within the GOP and looks to be the emerging insurgent within the Senate.
Here's a summary of Schieffer's interview with Rod Paige, Snippy's Minister of Education:
Schieffer: What can be done about school shootings?
Paige: Leave no child behind.
Schieffer: But what can we do?
Paige: We have counselors there now.
Schieffer: What about the connection between easy access to guns and school violence?
Paige: Push family values. Access issues are overblown.
Schieffer: What are you getting at? You say address the cause, but don't say how.
Paige: Faith-based after-school programs are "good at this."
Schieffer: Bring faith based groups in?
Paige: It's POSITIVE -- and let's triple funding into character education, teach empathy, tolerance and other wonderful notions.
Schieffer: Should the kid arrested for the school shooting this week be tried as an adult?
Paige: I don't know.
Schieffer: Should parents be held accountable?
Paige: Yes.
Schieffer: How do we get it across to kids this is serious?
Paige: Talk about relationships, family values.
And there you have it -- Schieffer induced Paige to completely avoid the issue of gun control.
Why? After the break, Schieffer returned with his closing thoughts -- and slammed the current administration and Congress for NO outcry over guns. "The fight... is over, and the gun lobby has won.... Last week's silence made it official."
Bravo, Bob Schieffer -- it's about time SOMEONE said it. The Cheney-Card team continues to coddle the very worst sort of "second amendment' gun nuts at the expense of our kids.
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