The Sunday Morning Talk Shows: The Review
No one mentioned Plouffe by name.
By Mark Kilmer Posted in ABC | CNN | CNS | FOX | NBC | Special Features | The Sunday Shows — Comments (29) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Preface
On FOX News Sunday, Chris Dodd averred that John McCain had thrown away "years of principle" to become a Bush clone, Senator Jon Kyl asked about just what would Barack Obama talk to Ahmadinejad? Seriously, what do you say to the guy in negotiations?
Next up for host Chris Wallace, Karl Rove said that Obama trying to link McCain to Bush was good strategy in the short term, as it wipes a broke Hillary Clinton campaign out of the news in Oregon and Kentucky, but it won't work in the long term. It will match Barry against McCain in a foreign policy debate, which is not a good idea for the Obama team.
On ABC's This Week, Joe Biden said that Hillary is "the most powerful woman in American politics," Nancy be damned. Next up, House Republican leader John Boehner promised that neither he nor Tom Davis RCCC Chairman Tom Cole is going anywhere. [(Davis, not in the GOP leadership, is quitting Congress after this term.)]
On NBC's Meet the Press, host Tim Russert referred to Jim Webb's latest novel as: "The Bible." Webb threatened that if President Bush does not sign his politically-penned GI Bill, it will come back to haunt John McCain with veterans in the election this fall.
On CBS' Face the Nation, Florida Governor Charlie Crist and former Ross Perot campaign manager Ed Rollins agreed that Republicans had to get back to their roots. Rollins insisted that it was a mistake for Republicans to campaign against Obama in local races where local issues were what is important, excepting that Democrats should campaign against the unpopular George Bush. Crist said that Bush's remarks on appeasement before the Israeli Knesset, though he doesn't how they affect the politics, were straight from the President's Heart.
Then Mario Cuomo pushed the Dem "dream ticket," Obama and Hillary, calling it "poetry and prose coming together." Next up for host Bob Schieffer, former Colorado Governor Roy Romer said that Hillary was not Barry's only option. He suggested Kansas Governor Kathy Sebelius and John Edwards.
Finally, on CNN's Late Edition, Hillary giggled about the "nice picture of Barack" on the cover of Time magazine and agreed that Obama should not meet with Ahmadinejad without preconditions. She and Wolf agreed that daughter Chelsea loves her.
Read the rest of what happened in the show-by-show review beneath the fold:
KYL AND DODD ON FNS. On FOX News Sunday, host Chris Wallace opened with a "surrogates' debate" between Jon Kyl for John McCain and Chris Dodd for Barack Obama. No YouTube snowmen, so it was not as fun – yippee! – as we might have hoped, but the two did manage to talk.
Kyl questioned Obama's policy goal of meeting with bad actors without precondition, asking what he would have to say to Iran's Ahmadinejad. This type of statement, the Senator said, showed a naiveté on Barry's part.
Dodd was quick to point out that JFK had once proclaimed that we should neither negotiate out of fear nor fear to negotiate, which is a meaningless statement without context. Dodd added triumphantly that Dick Nixon talked to Chairman Mao.
As to what Obama would say to Ahmadinejad, Dodd explained that we have had a long relationship with Iran and we must now talk to Iran because Bush has been a failure in the Middle East. Wallace asked him about the attempts to link McCain and President Bush on matters of foreign policy, and Dodd said that it should be done because "McCain embrace Bush" on taxes and on Iraq.
Asked about Judges, Dodd questioned why McCain had jettisoned "years of principles" to become a Bush clone. McCain, he said, would nominate "ideologues," not "principled jurists." Besides, he added, Obama is a "Constitutional expert" and should be trusted as such.
Senator Kyl said that a judge is supposed to follow the law.
Wallace had them deliver "closing statements."
KARL ROVE ON FNS. Wallace's next guest was FOX News political analyst Karl Rove, who needs neither introduction nor description. Asked about Representative Tom Davis's histrionic memo, Rove said of the political state of the GOP: "It's bad." He recommended that Republicans lay out a reform agenda in a comprehensive manner, be very clear about the stakes in Iraq, and hammer home the clear contrast between themselves and the Dems.
As to the Republican strategy of tying the Democrats to Obama, he said that this was not enough. He pointed out that the Dems were running conservatives in conservative districts, so the Dem arguments in those districts must be treated as substantive.
Tom Davis? Rove called him a "smart guy" whom he likes, adding that Davis possessed an "interesting mind."
Gallup has polled Bush's disapproval rating as the highest in that poll's history, and Rove pointed out that the President's approval rating was not the lowest in the poll's history and was higher than Nancy's Congress.
About Obama's attack on President Bush for his remarks to the Israeli Knesset, Rove argued that this was smart politics in the short term, in that it drives Hillary, with no advertising money, from the news in Oregon and Kentucky. (I suppose he was joking, as Oregon and Kentucky won't count for much.) In the long term, however, Rove said that this matches Obama directly with McCain on foreign policy matters, a battle Barry cannot win.
Of Dave Plouffe's strategy of linking McCain to Bush, Rove countered: "No one will confuse John McCain and George Bush." He said that the Dems cannot win the election by trying to do this. (Plouffe might like to point out that his name rhymes with "fluff," not "poof." There are rules about this sort of thing.)
JOE BIDEN ON TW. This week on ABC's This Week, host George Stephanopoulos opened his forum for Joe Biden. "Outrageous," Joe Biden sneered about the President's speech to the Israeli Knesset. "Raw, raw politics!" He asked the question he taught to JF Kerry four years ago: "Imagine what our allies think!" He said that the President's staff had held a meeting and advertised that the President was speaking about Obama.
Steph reminded Joe Biden that he had called Barry "inexperienced" on foreign policy matters. As always, Joe Biden stood by his statement and explained that Barry had learned a lot in the year since he had made that statement.
As for Obama's statement that he would negotiate with terrorists, Joe Biden explained that Obama did not mean that he would personally sit down with Ahmadinejad.
Joe Biden explained that he had promised both Hillary and Obama that he would endorse no one until the nomination was secure. He added that he is confident that if Hillary is allowed to run her full campaign, she will endorse Obama and campaign for him.
He called Hillary, "The Most Powerful Woman in American politics." Steph pointed out that Nancy might disagree, but Joe Biden stood by his statement. ('T is his wont, you know.)
Steph pointed to David Yepsen, that Des Moines Register political columnist the networks drag out of the fridge every for years until his States' caucuses are over. It seems that last month, Yepsen had endorsed Joe Biden as Barry's (or Hillary's) veep. Biden laughed, said he was flattered, would consider it but didn't think it would be offered.
JOHN BOEHNER ON TW. Steph's next guest on This Week was House Republican Leader John Boehner. Steph asked him about a leadership shakeup, and Boehner announced: "I'm staying." Asked about Tom Davis NRCC Chairman Tom Cole, who is partly blamed for the three special elections losses, Boehner answered that: "He's staying." [At what? Not in Congress, as Davis is jumping ship after this term. He will not seek reelection.] But Boehner said that he's had "frank, constructive, and positive" discussions with Cole the Republican Nostradamus.] [With apologies to Representative Boehner and those who read this, I had Davis on my mind, misheard, and misreported. I think I'll hang my head in shame and seek employment at the New York Times.]
They are staying, he said, because they can "bring down gas prices," create jobs, and protect the country.
Boehner said that he will continue to link Dem candidates to Obama. They want to "show the American people that we can bring a real change."
He's encouraged by the McCain candidacy, pointing out that McCain "appeals to almost all Republicans." He recognizes the as yet disgruntled element, it seems.
On his roundtable, btw, Steph had Washington Post "reporter" Matt Bai, the fellow who proclaimed that John McCain is not a real Vietnam veteran because he spent most of the war in a safe prison while others were sacrificing on the field of battle.
JIM WEBB'S BOOK TOUR ON MTP. On NBC's Meet the Press, host Tim Russert first made his show a part of the Jim Webb book tour. (His latest novel, A Time to Fight: Reclaiming a Fair and Just America, is due out tomorrow.) Russert referred to Webb's novel as: "The Bible." (God is neither an idiot nor is He mocked.)
Webb said he was withholding his endorsement until the nominating process had ended. He thinks either could carry Virginia, "with different formulas."
Russert read a blurb on the back of the book which mentioned Webb as a "possible vice presidential candidate." (Oh, please!) Webb said that this wasn't his idea. He said he's "not interested in doing that." He "highly discouraged" Barry from asking but said that no one has asked him.
Russert played the clip of President Bush telling the Knesset that we should not negotiate with terrorists then quoted the Webb book saying that we had to do so or we'd be "ignoring the circumstances that we supposedly condemn." Webb said that Bush was out of touch with the realities in the Middle East. He thinks Bush should be treating the Iranians like Nixon treated the PRC in the 1970s. He proudly proclaimed that through negotiation, we brought the PRC "into the world community," implying that we could do the same with Iraq. (Remember, the PRC was not run by lunatics with an irrational fear of and hatred for the United States and our most important ally in that region.)
Jim Webb talked about a GI Bill he introduced on his first day in the Senate, which he asserted offers people serving in the military after 9-11 the same educational benefits and the "same right to a first class future" as those serving in World War II. He claimed massive endorsements and co-sponsorships from Dems and "thinking Republicans," but angrily said that Bush would veto it. This, he said, was an example of the new paradigm, with the Democrats as the pro-military party. He said that the Republicans have to show that they value military service "or suffer the consequences."
Jim Webb is now EveryVet, the nation's #1 advocate for veterans. (To those who of you who have served, I am sorry. The media has declared it.)
Russert pointed out that the argument against the Webb bill is that it will be difficult to retain good soldiers if they get full benefits after serving only three years. Webb responded that they would be qualified after three years but would still have to serve their entire enlistment. Then he talked about his having served X-years here, Y-years there, etc. He said that Senators Warner, Levin, Akaka, and Hagel were all co-sponsors and "know what we're doing."
Webb threatened the President that this would become an issue in the election if he vetoed the Webb bill, as it would show that the President does not care about the military. (The President's not running, Webb. Are you willing to make those accusations against John McCain?)
Webb said that he's "been trying to keep the politics out of this."
CRIST AND ROLLINS ON FTN. On CBS' Face the Nation, host Bob Schieffer talked "Republicans in turmoil" with Florida Governor Charlie Crist and former Ross Perot campaign manager Ed Rollins. Crist said that the GOP has to "get back to its roots." Rollins agreed and added that Congressional races should be about local issues, except for the Dems, who can campaign against the unpopular George Bush.
Schieffer played the Mississippi commercial linking Travis Childress with Obama and Nancy, "nationalizing" the campaign. Rollins said that "Obama's not running down there," and he accused the Mississippi GOP of "raising racial issues" when they should be talking about gas prices. Crist agrees and talked about his Florida bipartisanship to bring health care to the uninsured. We need to do this in the country, he said, which John McCain will do.
Schieffer asked Crist if it were wise for the President to discuss appeasement before the Israeli Knesset. Crist said that Bush was speaking of what he cares about. Schieffer wanted to know if it were smart politically, and Crist said he didn't know, but it is what Bush feels in his heart. Rollins said that "this President has to realize that he's no longer on the ballot." He wants to turn the page. He thinks the President's remarks were inappropriate, Larry, a pig-in-a-poke.
Rollins explained that McCain does not want to attack Bush, as he still has some fans in the Republican base.
Schieffer asked Crist if the Dems could take the south this year. Crist said that he thinks the GOP could do well, and that McCain is an "independent guy," willing to discuss important issues that might not be popular.
Ed thinks Virginia is "up for grabs," as is Arkansas. He said that a lot of the States "will be driven by their Senate races."
MARIO CUOMO ON FTN. Next up was former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, who does appear to be alive. (The creaking, though, was audible.) Schieffer asked Mario about the "real divide" in the Dem Party. Mario agreed that this was the question. America wants and needs "everything we got from 1993 to 2000." He said that Dems should put together its two strengths: Obama and Hillary on the same ticket, to keep the separate constituencies of both. He called this ticket, "Poetry and prose coming together."
Schieffer asked if Barry should this ticket now, and Mario proclaimed that this would be "unfair to the process." He said that these primaries have created pledges, not actual votes. He chided the superdelegates for not staying out of this until the end.
Mario said that Bill Clinton would not want to hang around the Blair House, as he's doing things internationally, just like Tony Blair. He sees Clinton (Bill) as a super-diplomat working on grand plans for global harmony, not as a hanger-on "getting into other people's business."
ROMER ON FTN. Schieffer next spoke with former Colorado Governor Roy Romer, a newly minted supporter of Barry. Romer said that Dream Ticket stuff is a "premature question." He said that Obama needs to make that decision himself, as Obama could win this race either with Hillary or without her.
Schieffer talked about the working class vs. the young intellectuals in the Dem Party, and Romer said that this dichotomy was "overemphasized." He added that Hillary was not the "only alternative."
Romer said that the Michigan and Florida delegations should be seated at the convention, but that they should be punished. The party has to work this out themselves, he added.
Hillary's short list? Romer mentioned Kathy Sebelius and John Edwards, adding that there were "a number of people who could be strong candidates."
Romer said that it was "embarrassing" for the President to bring domestic politics into his speech and Bush was "out of touch."
HILLARY ON LE. Wolf Blitzer interviewed Hillary, taped right after her West Virginia blowout, and that was up first on Late Edition. Wolf asked her about TIME mag declaring Barry the winner on its front cover, and she giggled that it was a "great picture of Barack." She said that this Dem primary was the most substantive and important "political event of her lifetime."
She wants to seat both the Florida and Michigan delegations even though "they may have violated the DNC rules"; after all, she argued, other States violated them too.
Blitzer and Hillary then talked about "the issues." She has a "four part program" for gas prices. She would "go after the energy traders and speculators," trying to "reign them in." She wants a gas tax holiday paid for by the oil companies. She wants to use U.S. anti-trust laws against OPEC because what they are doing is "wrong." She said that they'll have a Dem President and a Dem Congress, then they'll sure show OPEC. She added that her husband at least tried to show OPEC a thing or two. Then she noted that this was not about Republicans and Democrats.
As for people calling her economic policies a bad idea, she reminded Blitzer that economists had told FDR that the New Deal was a bad idea.
She doesn't think anyone should take Hamas' endorsement of Barry seriously.
She agreed with President Bush that Barry should not, if elected, meet with Ahmadinejad without conditions.
Hillary agreed that it was a stupid thing to say, about hard working, white voters disliking Barry. She finds it "offensive" that Barry would make an issue of this.
Blitzer played a YouTube-like question for Hillary to answer. The lad answering the question was not dressed as a snowman or acting like a wannabe comedian.
Another You-Tube like question, from a self-proclaimed Republican, asked why Hillary was staying in the race when she was getting her rear handed to her. She said that the delegate lead was diminishing after her West Virginia win.
Hillary said she's not quitting because she has a personal connection with old people on their death beds who demand absentee ballots and kids who sell their bikes to give the proceeds to the campaign.
She said that she is filled with pride when she looks at Chelsea, that "she cares so much about our country's future." And because she loves you, Wolf reminded. Absolutely, Hillary agreed.
= = = = =
There's that. Have at it!
The Sunday Morning Talk Shows: The Review 29 Comments (0 topical, 29 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Jim Webb had his own segment to sell his book, while Mike Huckabee was sitting in on that roundtable with Bob Shrum and the others. And Huckabee wasn't there as a representative of the McCain campaign.
You two veeps estimate is an interesting one, and a possibility, though I think Webb is much more likely Obama's veep than Huckabee is McCain's. Think of it. Webb pushes Virginia towards Barry, and Webb is a veteran while Barry is not the type. Plus if Obama is an intelligent, articulate man, as is the perception, then Webb, a dumb guy, balances the ticket there as well.
because the dems seem to want to make McCain temper a campaign issue and Webb's temper issues would make McCain seems like Calvin Coolidge.
McCain '08
I still can't decide which.
It'd be funny to watch, though. Especially when we read out everything nasty that Webb's ever said about progressives and then ask him if he was a lying POS then, or a lying POS now.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
...and "progressive" is a monster that belongs in the realm of cryptozoology. There is no actual definition of that term. Near as I can tell, being "progressive" is about being against Bush louder than the rest. If "progressives" want to believe Obama is one of them, well, why would I dissuade them?
The answer to the question of whether a Webb VP slot is a good idea or not is twofold: (1) Can Democrats replace Webb with another Democratic Senator? and; (2) To what extent is Webb willing to talk about his past politics/experience in the form of a narrative that brought him from that to the present situation? Regarding #2, if he's only going to campaign in the present, and not in the past, he won't be a good choice.
...and only because it's you; stuff like this will be brought up in the case of a hypothetical Obama/Webb ticket. Often. Just to watch people squirm.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
...as I said, it'll have to be the narrative and not the present that makes Webb an attractive VP candidate. Because campaigning on merely the "present" would mean confronting his past affiliations. And it'll mean foregoing those past affiliations/viewpoints where they could be useful.
Whereas the "narrative" style of campaigning -- accentuating his transformation -- would forgive any past "mistakes" he made (he changed!), let in the stuff that was still politically okay (he's always been!), and make his VP candidacy a possibility.
And, just for my sake, don't cut me any slack because it's me.
Webb's in the Senate because the Democrats decided that if Paris was worth a Mass, then Virginia was worth a right-wing blowhard with a mad-on for the neocons. So far, so good. But even if he does repudiate everything he said, it'll only be because he has to. You see, Jim Webb doesn't like hippies. Jim Webb still doesn't like hippies. And if Jim Webb wants to be Vice President - and it'd have to be under Obama; Hillary doesn't particularly need him - Jim Webb is going to have to lick the boot of every hippie that feels like offering one.
And rest assured, we'll be downright happy to help make that dream a reality.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Something about that visual imagery makes me picture Hillary or Michael Obama with a whip...sorry.
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
...I don't think it'll be like that. I have, not without controversy at Dkos, disowned the hippies:
I'd still rather win than experience catharsis, and I think there's a better way to achieve my ideals than a counterculture. I think a great deal of the hippie-bashing has to do with the failure of hippies to effect change then -- longest US war ever, Nixon's election, Ford's presidency, conservative Carter's election, Reagan's election, Latin American wars, Bush's election, Iraq War and various other Latin American wars, the sellout of ideals under Clinton, and various other wars: all under the boomer hippies' watch -- and the utter ridiculousness of thinking they'll do so now. Why do we trust them? Why do we think their tactics or strategies will work? And why do we eat up the mythology (backed though it is by a truly fantastic soundtrack).
I trust Webb can do the same. Hippies are a rather small demographic. And a rather silly one. Why lick their boots when so many other boots are there for the licking? And anyway, if Virginia Democrats would feel Paris is worth a Mass, why not America and Americans? You separate the feelings of Virginians from those of Americans in general too much for your own good.
Best.
Primary.
EVER.
:)
Moe Lane
PS: Yes, I'm being deliberately obscure. Or petty. :)
PPS: It probably doesn't matter anyway. If Obama ends up getting the nod, the Party will insist on somebody for his running mate who's served as an elected official for more than two years.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
An ex Klansman and the first African American candidate for President. The symmetry brings tears to my eyes.
______________________________________
Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
...my opinions on hippies and liberal boomers and their assorted dysfunctional beliefs and strategies pre-date this primary by a long shot. It's merely the best party/generational schism ever, not the best primary ever, if you're using my diary as any sort of proof.
According to Wikipedia, he comes from a military family and has a military background. Didn't we hear this week that that disqualfies one from being commander in chief?
Webb was born in Saint Joseph, Missouri to James Henry Webb and his wife Vera Lorraine Hodges. He grew up in a military family, descended from Scots Irish immigrants from Ulster (northern Ireland) who emigrated in the 18th century to the British North American colonies. Webb's 2004 book Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America details his family history, noting that his ancestors fought in every major American war.
Webb's father, a career officer in the U.S. Air Force, flew B-17s and B-29s during World War II, dropped cargo during the Berlin Airlift, and was later involved in missile programs. He is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery.
for taking the time to wade through this bs and bring out the salient points in your somewhat humorous and always perceptive style.
it was Tom cole, the RCCC head, not Tom Davis, former RCCC head and former Rep and former this & that, who was referred to by Boehner when he answered that Cole would be staying in his job.
Yes, in spite of going 0 for 3 in special elections in previously safe republican districts, Tom Cole will retain his job. This is what really hurts Republicans. You can screw up as any number of people have in the bush Administration and in congress and the President or other leaders will pronounce that they have their support, etc. This is what republicans think is leadership. Not holding people accountable for results. There is no price to pay for failure. Cole should be out now and frankly I am not so sure about Boehner.
while the wife and I were shopping, and I became certain that I had misheard. I had Davis on my mind, but why would Boehner use Davis and not Cole?
Sorry about that, and I'll make the corrections now.
Webb threatened that if President Bush does not sign his politically-penned GI Bill, it will come back to haunt John McCain with veterans in the election this fall.
If Bush vetoes the GI Bill and McCain supports the veto, Democrats might as well start buying tickets to the inauguration in January.
This is one I just cannot understand. It's not that much money, and to say that our soldiers will start leaving the military to go to school demonstrates the same opinion of the people in uniform that someone like John Kerry espouses. And McCain's counter-proposal for GI benefits is an insult to those who wear the uniform.
Bush and McCain should have been out in front with a real benefit package for the people who've paid the biggest price over the past 6 years. I can guarantee that the contractors aren't having their benefits squeezed.
wrt VA benefits before you go spouting of like this.
Webb is basically trying to make welfare queens out of our veterans. That isn't honoring their service in the slightest.
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Just a typical, small town, white girl...
Webb's bill actually is intended to restore the LEVEL of benefits to what it was after World War II. At that time the purpose was two-fold -- one, to balance the advantage society had given to non-military individuals during the war years, who had enhanced access to education, career and professional opportunities, by granting educational opportunities to those who had served, many for four or five years, in the military. Second, it was intended to accelerate demobilization by offering education and employment to those who left the service.
The original bill paid all tuition costs, whatever the institution, and a stipend for books and other expenses as well as a living allowance. As a result, the amount paid out varied according to the abilities and merits and ambitions of the individual. If you could get into Harvard, you went to Harvard, all expenses paid, if you went to a public college or vocational or professional school, likewise. My family, like many Americans, thus saw members attending Harvard Law School, Princeton, Oxford, the Sorbonne and many other schools that would have been out of reach without the GI Bill.
The current GI bill, by contrast, pays a flat $800(I think) a month, no matter the tuition or any other consideration. This, it seems to me,is more like welfare in that there is a flat amount paid out regardless of circumstances(appropriate in peacetime, perhaps, but not so much in wartime). Webb seeks to replace this stingy benefit with the one that existed after WWII. Naturally this will cost more, but that is not the objection that Sen mcCain has.
The problem is that this bill will create a very strong incentive for highly motivated talented young soldiers to leave the army to take advantage of the opportunity to attend the finest institutions of higher learning. These will be the field grade officers and the non-coms whose experience and talent we are trying to retain.
Thus, the real problem with the Bill offered by Webb is not the financing but the fact that while the original bill worked well to encourage a large draft army to demobilize, we have the opposite situation now. We are trying to retain volunteer troops during a war.
Webb, of course, knows this. His purpose (in addition to sincerely promoting educational opportunity) is to make it difficult or impossible to pursue the War in Iraq for manpower reasons. This has been his method since he entered the senate. As A Vietnam vet he knows that the leftwing antiwar movement with surrender and defeat as its goals, will never be supported by the Americn people. Consequently he has sought to bring about our withdrawal through enacting manpower restrictions, which have as their stated goal the well-being of troops. Webb, in short, is as antiwar as Russ Feingold or nancy pelosi, but he is a whole lot smarter.
Last year he put forth a bill which called for extending the time troops spent Stateside vs in theater. The effect would have been to make the surge, for example, impossible. We would not have had the extra troops. This bill was widely supported but failed at thelast minute when Sen Warner changed his mind and withdrew support.
The Webb GI Bill, like the extension bill, draws on Webb's experience in the Reagan defense Department, where he spent a number of years as Asst SecDef for Reserve & manpower affairs. In other words, it's a serious effort that may well succeed. Webb has indicated that he feels he can work some kind of compromise out with McCain, who is concerned (rightly) with how this bill will affect manpower levels going forward.
If there is some kind of compromise to deal with mcCain's reservations, the bill may pass and with a veto roof margin. If not, I am not sure that Webb will bring it up as an issue for the election. I'm confident that McCain can make his case.
Let me add here, as I have done since he appeared in 2006 -- it's a mistake to underestimate Webb. You could ask George Allen.
He introduced it on his first day in the Senate, so that was more than 17 mos ago. And the Democratic-controlled Senate has done what with this hugely important apolitical bill? The history of it from Thomas is below. Summary: They held one committee hearing 8 mos after it was introduced, then another one 9 mos later, They haven't even had a committee vote on it yet. But I'm willing to bet the timing will just HAPPEN to be such that it can b used against McCain in the fall. No, it doesn't sound like political gamesmanship at the expense of vets at all to me.
ALL ACTIONS:
1/4/2007:
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S56-57)
1/4/2007:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S57-61)
7/31/2007:
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
2/28/2008:
Star Print ordered on the bill.
5/7/2008:
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
bill right here.
http://www.theminorityreportblog.com/story/docj/2008/05/12/veterans_the_...
And let me just add, troops can go to school basically for free while they are on active duty. Thousands who are appropriately motivated do it all the time.
Funny, when they go for free as active duty members, they incur a service commitment upon completion of said course and must satisfy grade requirements.
This is nothing more than a welfare boondoggle designed to gut our military. And I certainly hope McCain calls him out on it.
Just a typical, small town, white girl...
Wouldn't you rather just say "screw 'em"?
is that legal?
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Halls of Justice Painted Green, Money Talking.
Power Wolves Beset Your Door, Hear Them Stalking.
If a Cliton does it, then that makes it legal.
rick554
Since my tolerance level for liberal twits is about 4 minutes, thanks to Mark for this wrap-up. I dont know how you do it. Rereading this post will make your head spin from the "talking points" and pure moveon.dem BS. Keep up the great work!
strategy by the media is to show both sides but to be sure the pro-Bush side is out-gunned. By putting Huckabee in a position of defending Bush statements Tim Russert did a real disservice to the people of this nation. Huckabee has no background or knowlege to discuss 'appeasement' and made Bush and McCain look weak.
There are very capable people who should have been on the show to counter Jim Webb. Mike Huckabee is great for color comentary but he needs to stay out of policy discussions.