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

apj.us / correntewire.com
Pundit Pap
for Sunday, February 26, 2006
by the Pundit Pap Crew
Xan | Gene Gaudette | Lambert Strether | Shystee

Feb. 26, 2006 (correntewire.com / apj.us) -- Junior's port sellout debacle and the rapidly deteriorating situation in Iraq dominated the Sunday morning talk shows.

Here's the Sabbath swill...

Prologue: We Need a Port Security Primer

Any news directors out there reading this?

After watching my Sabbath Gasbag show (review of which will get underway after I finish writing this) I am more convinced than ever that what we need, and I mean ASAP/no later than tomorrow night, dammit!—is a tutorial, written at about the level of a fifth-grade filmstrip (anybody remember those? What's the modern day equivalent?)—on How A Shipping Port Works. Because these guys are trying to get away with throwing up a screen of obfuscation that amounts to "you people don't know how these Big Complicated Operations do their Operating, so shut up and let the experts handle it, that's a good child" lecture.

You want a structure for this report? How about "A Shipping Container Takes a Trip!" Go into the Port of Newark, or whatever's handiest, point out a random container, and give us its biography. "Yeah, that orange sucker on the third crane from the left—tell me all about it."

What's in it? How do you know? (I'm pretty sure this is where those "manifest" things come in.) Is this a manifest you would be checking if we hadn't asked? Now how do you know that what's written on that manifest is what's actually, like, in that container? How many of those do you check? Who decides which particular ones you check? Is there a structure, like "all containers from country X get checked" or is it random, or some of both?

Okay, maybe that's a little too detailed, like high school level. Just pick a container. Tell us who owns it (on paper anyway.) Now what ship did it just come off of? Who owns that? Where did it pick up Our Container? What kind of security do they have there? Where else did this ship pick up stuff since this container came on board? (Opportunity for cool maps here as we follow the ship around the world. Sort of like "Paddle To The Sea" but in reverse.)

Or maybe that's still too complicated. Just tell us Who Owns What at this port. Who owns it, who operates it, where are hiring and firing decisions made. And finally explain why this is, as is being taken for granted by apparently everybody, something that is so fucking complicated that no American company could possibly do this sort of work. I know we're not too bright here—see recent election returns if not convinced—but maybe with a little training we could at least handle our ports the same way we control our own airports.

Tell the American people that we're selling the operations of O'Hare, JFK, LAX and ATL to a foreign country–better yet, one that was the home of two of the 9-11 hijackers and financier of many of the rest– and see what kind of reaction you get. Don't plan on escaping by air.

– Xan

Preview: "This. This is a civil war!"

It turns out the gang at Think Progress posted to their blog about a Sunday "moment of Zen" before I even saw it, but said moment cannot pass without mention.

We were smack in the middle of ABC This Week's "round table" when this exchange concerning the situation in Iraq transpired:

George Stephanopoulos, boyish host: What does civil war look like?
George F. Will, bowtied conservative pundit: This. This is a civil war.

Compound that with Bill Kristol's assertion that the "[w]e have not had a serious 3-year effort to fight a war In Iraq" and the mummified remains of William F. Buckley unexpectedly declaring US failure in Iraq, and think: are the mandarins of the right throwing Bush and/or the Neocons overboard, or issuing the talking points to prepare the way for Bush to "redeploy" US forces presently in Iraq–or perhaps both?

– Gene Gaudette

Meet the Press: Sen. John Warner (R-VA), Rep. Peter King (R-NY), and Arnold (R-CA)

Something terrible is happening to me. This is the third TV show I've watched in the last month: first, Face the Nation, then the Olympics, now Press the Meat… I can just feel my neurons shriveling up… But, duty calls! What are a few million brain cells compared to Corrente readers' need to know?

Timmeh frames PortGate as an "uproar" in which "the President stands firm." (Hat tip, Peter Daou, for "the storyline trumps the story.") And after hearing from Peter King (R-NY) and John Warner (R-VA) on PortGate and Iraq "on the brink of civil war," we'll hear about how it feels to govern California with a 33% approval rating from Arnold (R). Gosh, couldn't Timmeh's bookers find one single Democrat? Our SCLM at work. Or, perhaps, in good kabuki fashion, the black-clad invisible scene-shifting kuroko spirited them all away. Our SCLM at work!

PortGate

Tim Russert: What's the deal with the 45 day investigation?
Rep. Peter King: I've read same reports, the process to set up the investigation is "almost wrapped up" and will be announced soon. Has to be real investigation.
Russert: If the investigation is full and thorough [snicker], will that satisfy you?
King: We'll have to see.
Russert: You said the deal "brings the fox into the chicken coop," that the UAE has been brought into our security perimeter. Is there anything anyone can say that will make you comfortable?
King: It would have to be shown that nobody in the UAE government has ties to the Taliban or AQ. Only 3 or 4 years ago they did. Now it's said they're an ally, but only 4 1/2 years ago they were the enemy.
Russert: What if there were were United Stated monitor within the company? [Here comes the face-saving "compromise"! Will the moderate Republican fall for it?]
King: Yes, we could impose monitors like courts have done over unions in the past, for example. But the UAE government can shift as they have done in the past.
Russert: [Invites Senator Warner to share his feelings.]
Warner: The President has taken the right steps. We'll review all the intelligence given to the CFIUS panel [Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States]. I've talked to the staff, Leader Frist. There will be a "coming together in Congress," a consensus as we take a good look at this over the next 45 days.
Last night I contacted the DBW [Dubai Ports world] CEO, and I went to see him. He shared a copy of the agreement now being delivered, and it spells out willingness of this company to give every means of support to work this thing out on a "non-precedential basis." [WTF?]
This company is doing business with 30 nations, they have an excellent record.
This is a bigger issue than this commercial agreement. [money] We are in a global situation diplomatically that involves our economic standing [money] and our military security [money].
I read the intelligence, the reports, I talked to the Pentagon. We dock 500 ships in emirates, we use their airfields for support of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Since 9/11, they have been full partners in the war on terror. We are depending on the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait. We cannot mess this deal up. [But I thought we were building bases in Iraq proper? So what do we need the emirates for? Oh, wait…]
Russert: One concern has been manipulated manifests that already get only limited scrutiny. Money for 9/11 strikes was transferred through UAE, the operation was planned in the UAE, two of the hijackers were from UAE, and after 9/11 the FBI complained about the lack of cooperation from the UAE. Governor Kean of the 9/11 panel says this deal is a bad idea, and that UAE officials tipped off OBL when we could have nailed him. Your thoughts?
Warner: In our hearts, we need to support to troops [gags at the shamelessness], and the UAE essential to that. If they felt they were being mistreated, where else would we get the support?
King: We can't compare the UAE to Tony Blair. Did the review check whether the UAE government still has the people who tipped off OBL? For convenience, they side with us now, but they can can shift back. The emir's relatives could be with AQ and we haven't looked.
Russert: Bush says turning the deal down will "send a terrible signal" [money] that it's OK for a company from one country but not another when the company plays by the rules.
King: Nobody has more regard for Bush than I. But I lost 150 people on 9/11 and he implies I'm a racist. There is no demagoguery here. This is serious. You can't treat UAE like Great Britain ["Great British," snicker. Can't someone adjust His meds?]. Great Britain is not a Johnny-come-lately.
Russert: Is there any anti-Arab bigotry here?
Warner: We need to show strong leadershup in Congress and dispel bigotry.[gags at the shamelessness] We recognize that there strong feelings, but we have to recognize the global context [money], future business deals with other countries, don't want to choke off other opportunities. We need to show leadership. Make a persuasive case that the deal will go through.
King: I'll hold off leg if the 45 day investigation goes forward, if we see details, and it's a full investigation. [Snicker]
Warner: We've got to stop using the words "foreign ownership." They're not buying the port, they're just getting leases to operate the terminal, the cranes. We're not selling our ports.
King: But they do have access. They are inside.
Russert: The Democrats repeatedly tried to put more security money into ports, and they say that every time the Republicans say No. Do you regret voting No?
King: Almost 100% is "screened," though it's not "examined." [It depends on the meaning of "is"] Between 5% and 15% are examined. My committee is holding hearings…
Russert: So the Democrats are right.
King: No! [Ouch!] You don't just throw money at it! We can't examine everything that comes in. [Yes you can–for $7 a container–as demonstrated in Hong Kong.] Their idea is to throw money at it.
Warner: One good thing about this controversy is that it is causing us to review port funding.
Russert: That's going to take money.
Warner: A lot more money.

Summarizing The Republican Talking Points on PortGate, they are:

Selling our ports (oh, excuse me, the operation of the ports) is A Good Thing because it

1. Supports globalization, which is all-important;
2. Supports the troops, because otherwise our good allies, the UAE, will throw us out of our bases there.
   
   Further:
   
   
3. Real port security is very expensive and we should spend as little as possible on it [whereas torture is cheaper]
   
   And of course:
   
   
4. The purpose of the 45-day period is to grease the moderate Republicans. Once again.

Iraq Clusterfuck

Russert: Do you believe Iraq is on brink of civil war?
Warner: Not at this time, according to traditional definitions. There is a "high level of secular conflict." [Snicker] The good news is that the elected representatives, that is, the PM, the religious, they've all come together and said let's "take a grip" on this. The tribal leaders have joined. Our President phoned them. They all realize civil war could happen. Also, we've accelerated the training of Iraqi forces.
Russert: If there is a civil war [cui bono], what happens to the troops?
Warner: The troops should not be involved. We have in place today sufficient Iraqi forces, the 50 battalions. We should give support only.
Russert: You supported war. There were four basic assumptions going in:
1. There would be EWM
2. We would not need large numbers of troops to occupy Iraq.
3. We would be greeted as liberators.
4. Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds would unite as Iraqis.
Was the administration wrong on all four counts?
King: No. We could not allow Saddam to defy UN resolutions. [Hastily moving on.] We are at a defining moment. The Sunnis realize they will be slaughtered and need us to prevent that. Sistani is doing well in calming things. It's a "tough time." Hopefully they can hold together now, having "looked into the abyss," avoid a civil war and form a government.
Russert: If things are the same at end of year as they are now, what will you say?
Warner: Things will improve. We have liberated that country. "The key is to keep the pressure on the elected leaders and tell them you've got to get your act together." They can't perceive that we have given them an open ticket so they can dither around. We don't want to see more mosques blown up! They need to take charge.

Summarizing The Republican Talking Points on Civil War in Iraq, they are:

1. Bush is never wrong.
2. If there is a civil war, it's the Iraqis fault.
3. In fact, by the November midterms, everything will be the Iraqi's fault, because they couldn't get their act together after we liberated them.

Der Gropenführer

This portion of our show is not so easy to take down. I confess I used to have a certain affection for Rummy, because his verbal stylings were so classically Rummyesque I know, I know. And I confess to the same feeling watching Arnold. Even though I know Arnold was put into power because those weasels at Enron caused the California power "crisis" by rigging the market, and I just can't imagine what Maria was thinking (was she thinking?) I just can't help admiring the guy for being, well, so classically Arnold-esque. Here is a man who acts according to his true nature (which seems not to have a lot to do with any, erm, fixed system of beliefs, but let that pass).

Anyhow, Timmeh frames this one as Arnold "trying to mount a political comeback." Reminds me of that old joke about Taft [faint rimshot]….

Russert: So, what's the deal with PortGate?
Der Gropenführer: We see complaints, so we must study further, the issue is globalization, and we need to do business everywhere. Globalization is mixed together with terror, though. "People are freaked out and rightfully so."
"The number one responsibility of government is to protect the people."
Russert: So, in principle you have no objection to the deal with the UAE.
Der Gropenführer: Not principle, but security must be take care of.
Russert: In Long Beach, the Chinese and many other nations operate port facilities.
Der Gropenführer: We control the security, not the Chinese, so I feel confident. Also, in the relations with Chertoff, he has always responded well.
Russert: In Iraq, California has lost 242 dead, 1857 wounded. There are 20,000 serving, of whom 5,000 are from the National Guard. Are you concerned The Guard is being depleted?
Der Gropenführer: Sure, it has an effect When anyone dies, it is terrible. Those are the terrible moments when you are governor, and you have to visit funerals [Wow, why don't Presidents do that?]
Russert: You've said, "We are one storm, one earthquake away from disaster." The Guard is depleted, troops are quitting, 22% attrition rate, California has missed every recruiting standard. Are you concerned that the California Guard is not ready for floods or earthquakes?
Der Gropenführer: Not concerned about that, I'm concerned levees aren't being built fast enough, that's why I declared an emergency. Thousands of people and homes are at risk; it could be worse than NOLA.
Our ultimate job is to protect the people.
Russert: In the Washington Post, we read the that the governors are challenging Bush on National Guard funds. Do you join in that challenge?
Der Gropenführer: Yes, we need the Guard to incarcerate undocumented immigrants, we need the border patrol. That's why we're still mad that California gets back 79 cents of every dollar in taxes it sends to Washington.
Russert: Was Iraq a mistake?
Der Gropenführer: No, in hindsight, if we had not gone in we would not have had "all that hassle." Only now it has "mushroomed into something not intended." Easier said than done. You can't just pull out. Difficult, no difference between Iraq and Vietnam or Korea, we are glued to the situation. We have got to get out as quickly as possible but also in a sensible way. [This would have been an ideal time to ask Arnold if he agrees with Murtha, but of course Timmeh does not do so.]
Russert: Could you get swept up in an anti-Republican tide?
Der Gropenführer: Yes, that is always a concern. But my concern is doing the best job for the people of CA. Then its up to the people to judge. [An accountability moment!] As Reagan used to ask, Are you better off now than four years ago? Yes, 500,000 new jobs, paid down our debt, was 92 now is 75 billion dollars.
Russert: Will you run as a Bush Republican?
Der Gropenführer: I will run as an Arnold Republican. I always promised I would serve everyone. I love being a public servant. My father 25 years ago said it was most honorable job.
Russert: The ballot measures you were pushing all tanked.
Der Gropenführer: It was worth the fight for the reforms to take place. I was sent to Sacramento to fix the system and did this. Of course I made mistakes. I was in a hurry. But this is my style. When you are in public service maybe need to take more time. I was right, because it is very important to do education, redistricting. Sometimes, you try to lift 500 points and you can't lift. There is no shame in losing, the shame is in not trying. People always try to put me in a box, left or right. They can't do that. I just want to do what's right for the people of California.
Russert: You won't be calling the Democrats girly men.
Der Gropenführer: That is not necessary now.
Russert: Your polls say 35% approval, disapproval 53%l Why?
Der Gropenführer: Some people pay attention to polls. The numbers I pay attention to are the unbelievable decrease in the structural deficit, 500,000 more jobs, increase in salary and wage. I pay more attention to progress and success.
Russert: People have sensed an evolution. Every year brings a new Arnold. Now
California is going $6.4 billion into debt, now there is an operating deficit, there are new bonds issues, fee increases. All within two months of losing the referendum. The Orange County Register asks: "Does the governor have any principles?"
Der Gropenführer: People are confused about the difference between spending and investing. And 80% of the Republicans are with me.
Russert: The latest poll says 66%.
Der Gropenführer: No, 80. But let's not get involved in the numbers.
We need to rebuild CA. Nothing in thirty years [Gosh, why?]. Need more classrooms, need to fix levees, highways, all neglected for years.
Russert: Spend, spend, spend!
Der Gropenführer: Invest, invest, invest! [And steal the Democrat's clothes at the swimming hole.]
Russert: Here's a candid speech you gave at the Press Club: "…On the job training, I did not go to school to be a governor." Are you concerned about Democrats playing that tape over and over?
Der Gropenführer: It's for everyone. Nobody can prepare for the job until you are there. The key thing is that you have a vision. We have the greatest state in the nation. Let's keep it the best! When I was in Japan, first thing, "Please unload our ships faster." They will be unloaded somewhere, so we had better make sure they are unloaded here. We are the center of the Asian market which is exploding. I encourage everyone, let us rebuild for the future.
Russert: You will spend $120 million on your re-election.
Der Gropenführer: Those numbers never come from me, I never discuss those numbers. But you are correct, elections are very expensive
I never take money from unions or Indian gaming tribes. Most important thing is that you can never be bought. What's wrong is that money comes in and favors go out. But TV is very expensive, we need to support people like you — perhaps you could take a salary cut. [Nice shot!]
Russert: [Parting chit chat.]
Der Gropenführer: You look nice and trim, your abs look good, keep up the good work.

Summarizing Der Der Gropenführer, they are:

Standard issue Republican talking points the same as Warner and King

Globalization, which is all-important

1. Bush is never wrong
2. The same noxious, infantilizing view of the Leader's duties as Bush has: "Protect the American people." (No, fulfill your oath of office to uphold the Constitution, and the country can protect itself! From tyranny, especially.)
   
   The following talking points are Arnold only, and they're interesting, because, gosh, they sound like Democratic talking points:
   
   
3. Public service is honorable. (Imagine Bush saying this. Well, Bush is an AWWSA. So imagine Bush saying it and meaning it.)
4. Taxes can be used for investment. (Ditto.)

Whether Arnold has any credibility on points 4 and 5 is, of course, an open question.

All in all, an interesting performance by a still-dangerous performer. And if there's a way for him to run for President, he will. Remember that the Republicans have no respect for custom, the laws, or the Constitution, so if they want to find a way to run Arnold, they will. And the press will frame it all as a complicated question, and then ask the Federalist Society for their informed professional opinion. Not that I'm paranoid.

– Lambert Strether

The Chris Matthews Show: Norah O'Donnell, Dana Milbank, Terry Neal, Amy Sullivan
DISCLAIMER: Quotes are from my notes not the transcript

First Topic: Portgate

Norah O'Donnell, who mostly batted her giant eyelids and displayed her in-depth knowledge of what Republicans in DC are thinking, echoed the Wingnuttosphere's sentiment that the biggest scandal is that Bush misunderestimated the public's reaction to the news coming out. He is infallible after all, what gives?

"Off-base" as in Political Base, "tone deaf", "Harriet Miers Moment" were some of the terms she used to describe the White House's handling of Portgate.

Chris "Tweety" Matthews was a Good Republican and forced the Race Card talking point on the conversation at least three times. Even though the panelists dismissed it instantly and moved on to other subjects. But that didn't stop Tweety.

Isn't this just an "Anti Ay-rab thing?" He did use the redneck pronunciation, perhaps for effect, perhaps he is one at heart.

Amy Sullivan from Washington Monthly was never afraid to "break up the flow" by disagreeing with the other panelists and making strong points. I wonder if she will ever be asked back. Nice black stilettos, by the way.

She said there is a reason the port issue is resonating with the public: Bush and the GOP have been pushing fear and "security" issues relentlessly. So it's only right that the Dems highlight Portgate.

Tweety: so the Dems are saying "Whether we're right or wrong on this issue we're gonna hit ‘em." Way to frame it, dude.
Dana Milbank from the WaPo: "facts are murky". Thanks for that hardcore reporting. He agreed with Amy that taking on the Chimp on security is a winner for Dems in this instance.
Terry Neal, WaPo: But Democrats never seem to take advantage of opportunities
The Whole Panel: Har de Har Har! Guffaw!
Terry Neal, WaPo: Maybe that's an understatement
The Whole Panel: Chuckle!

Wow. What must it feel like for Beltway Dems to embody a running joke for the media? Don't they ever get tired of it?

Norah brought up what I think is another fake talking point, that Portgate is ripping the Republican party apart. I'll believe it when I see GOP congresspeople voting to override Bush's veto. It will never come to that in a million years. They will work out a deal, but in the meantime the GOP congresscritters can play to the base by looking like they're not taking orders from Bush.

Tweety: I'm going back to the ethnic… What if it had been a Belgian company?
Dana: We can't trust the Flemish with our ports.
The Whole Panel: Har de Har Har!

Out of nowhere Tweety interjected that the Democrats have put their brains together and are working on a plan to pull 80,000 troops out of Iraq by the end of the year. Really? First I've heard of it. Coming from Matthews it's hard to tell if it's disinformation or not.

Not to be constrained by an actual discussion, Tweety ended the segment with a video clip of Schumer denying the Race Card Talking Point followed by, get this, Matt Freaking Damon in a clip from Syriana.

Tweety's point (an adjunct to the Race Card meme) being that the critics of the port deal are making the same mistake Matt Damon made in the video clip: he was "putting down the wrong Arabs"

It's a Tweety Jedi mind trick: "these aren't the Ay-rabs you're looking for".

Second Topic: Abortion Ban in South Dakota

Tweety referenced a poll saying that 66% vs. 25% of Americans are against overturning Roe v. Wade.

Tweety: the Republicans are jubilant!

Amy Sullivan: not so much. "I doubt anyone's doing cartwheels in the White House". South Dakota is one of reddest states in the country. As the poll showed, their feelings are not shared by the nation as a whole.

"This is the dirty Secret of republican politics", they must appear to be trying to outlaw abortion, but it is not in their strategy to succeed because (the poll again) there would be a backlash from the majority of Americans who are not fundie abortion nutballs. This is pretty one of the big points "What's the Matter With Kansas" makes. I doubt if anyone has ever raised it on Matthews show before, or will do so ever again.

Dana Milbank: The GOP strategy is to chip away at the right to abortion in little pieces to prevent the backlash that would occur if it were outlawed in one fell swoop. Like partial birth abortion.
Amy Sullivan: Partial birth is not "chipping away," it's "a fake issue". There are very few of them performed.

Tell Me Something I Don't Know Segment

Most of the panelists were boring, but Norah dropped the "bombshell" that Ken Mehlman (Chair of the Republican National Committee) has announced he will help McCain fundraise.

Tweety added that Terry McAuliffe (former head of the Democratic National Committee) is in, too. Wha?

Closing Monologue: The Global Pinball Machine

Tweety ends the show with a bizarre swipe at blogs complete with footage of an out of control pinball machine. And as an example of blogs he has a screen capture of Michelle Malkin's page and a blog I've never heard of "Random Thots" (sic).

Feel a little jumpy these days? I knew that you would.

He brings up the furor over the anti-Muslim cartoons and the outrage over Portgate, subliminally equating the two by putting them together as examples of a grave threat to civilization.

Where did the uproar come from? It came from heat-seeking radio talk types and quick-to-burn bloggers who spread the word, and the anger.

First, the WaPo calls bloggers Naked Savages, now, according to Tweety, we're the Human Torch from the Fantastic 4.

We've managed to wire the world electronically. But in the process we've wired the world politically. So we're stuck in a global pinball machine, where the smallest slight can bounce from one end of the earth to the next, flashing lights, ringing bells, and maybe, in one of these games, causing the whole global table to tilt.

An open, global exchange of information by actual people via the Internets. The Horror! We're all doomed!

– Shystee

This Week: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), and the Round Table

Once again my first one (long, detailed, with links, people's names spelled right, etc.) got eaten on trying to save, so this is gonna be Short and To the Point.

You there, in the back, applauding—don't make me call Security on your ass!

McCain: This fuss about the Ports is a distraction from the big things we should be talking about, like IRAN's NUKES! And riots in Nigeria and terrorist attacks on Saudi facilities. And did I mention IRAN'S NUKES! And those who object to Dubai running our ports are just a bunch of stinky racists. "Dubai is freer than China" was a phrase I kept hearing, it seems to be a Rove Talking Point ® this week.

You should all shut up about objections to Dubai running our ports because Dubai has our collective national balls in their lockboxes because they let us have military and air bases there which are Vital to the War on Terra. And also if we piss them off they, and the rest of the Arab World, will disinvest from the American economy which would be Bad. [Ed. note: He got through this whole discourse without ever once mentioning Our Godawful Trade Deficit. This proves he is a Great Geopolitical Thinker and should be the next Republican nominee for president.]

Iraq is Coming Along but will Take Time because they Have Problems. Talk of US withdrawal is Foolish because that's what Al Qaeda Wants Us To Do. They (al Q) don't care about Iraq, they don't care about Saudi Arabia, they want to Destroy the West. [Ed. Note: Yeah, he's probably right on this point, but it seems that our present strategy is to destroy ourselves first so as to save Osama the trouble. But I intrude on the Great Thinker here.] Mistakes Were Made [not sure if he was talking Iraq or the Hamas election here but it hardly matters] but We Must Prevail.

Carl Levin: This "45 day investigation" is not just a good idea, It's The Law. [Kinda like seat belts, eh?] After the 45 days of investigation there has to be a report, Congress must [do something; I think he said "Congress must approve" any ruling from the investigating body but I didn't hear him say that any actual vote would be taken, or by whom].

Levin said that "Even Karl Rove" said that the deal can't go through before the 45-day thing happens. This of course, if true, means that Our Highest Executive Official has spoken.

On Dubai specifically, Levin noted that their status as "good guys and Bosom Buddies" is of rather short duration, and they were pretty much bottom-feeding scum suckers before that. Buddies of the Taliban, trans-shippers of the nuclear-weapons materials of [our other new Bosom Buddies] Pakistan's AQ Khan, home of 2 of the 911 hijackers, financiers of the others, banker to Al Qaeda, etc.

Yeah they spun on a dime after 9-11 and the "you are with us or against us" speech, but that just means they can spin back just as fast.

On Iraq: Here Carl threw a marker on the table-we should give the Iraqi elected officials "6-8 weeks" to put together something, anything, that they can call a government or we should start packing our bags for home. A "government of national unity" would be swell but get something on paper NOW or we're booking. There can be no military solution—Levin said he had been told this by "military leaders" but if he named any names I didn't catch it—without a political solution.

When asked if we can intervene in an Iraqi civil war, Levin said, "nope." We can't solve the problem for them. They must create their own nation. Keeping our troops there indefinitely gives them a blank check.

Round Table:

Victoria "Tori" Clarke [former PR handmaiden to SecDef Rumsfeld, now hawking a book];

EJ Dionne, [token "liberal" which he isn't very];

Fareed Zakaria [who I used to think was One of the Good Guys before the war, as he was wildly against it; but these days, not so much][looked very haggard this week, don't know if he's unwell, jet lagged or what. But he's still, IMHO, hot] [Xan wipes drool from chin, keyboard] and

George Will [who is fading into near irrelevance these days, and surprisingly seems to realize it]:

Tori's pitch was that the Higher Levels of the executive branch blew the PR on the ports deal because of a "different information environment." They should have had "greater awareness" of what the Committee of Low-level Flunkies In Charge of Letting Foreigners Buy Up America was doing.

[As best I can tell this is a Reverse Outrage Fatigue argument they're trying here. We complain of being unable to follow up on each particular way they're fucking us over because the scandals come too thick and furious…so now the f$#@ers are trying to use the same complaint? This is Rove-ian in its red-cape-waving, ratf$#@ing way, but it didn't seem to get much traction on this show. Watch for it to show up elsewhere.]

There was more but I'm gonna try to save this now because I have to get to work elsewhere and I'm tired. Hillary Clinton and George Will both got in some good licks in this segment [bet you never expected to read THAT line, didja?] and I will do an Update about it if opportunity presents.

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Gene Gaudette is a music and video producer, managing partner of a production company, and publisher/ringmaster/chief bottle washer of American Politics Journal.

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