Hotline After Dark -- Two And A Half Kings

Gas prices are high, there are still illegal immigrants and Pres. Bush's poll numbers continue to stay low -- all of which you'd know if you had watched cable last night.

David Gregory hosted "Hardball" last night and most of the show was on high gas prices. "Lou Dobbs Tonight" was all about immigration. "Special Report" led with the bombings at the Egyptian resort. The roundtable discussed the new Osama bin Laden tape and the situation in Iraq.

WE MAY HAVE A WINNER

CNN's Malveaux reports: "Tony Snow is ... expected to accept the job as White House press secretary, succeeding Scott McClellan, that he has been offered this position, and sources are saying that he is highly likely to publicly make the announcement of his decision at the White House very shortly, perhaps as early as within the next few days -- conflicting reports whether or not it could even happen tomorrow" ("AC 360," 4/24).

And ex-WH adviser David Gergen points out: "Tony Snow does have the leverage that neither of his predecessors would have had. And that is, if he walks out on them because they're not open enough, it would be hugely devastating to the administration, so, that he, unlike Scott McClellan, can go in and say, gentlemen, this isn't good. The press has a legitimate need here. We have got to give it to them. And they know that the moment he walks out the door and disgusted, if they are really totally closed or they lie or whatever, that is a bleak, bleak day at the White House. His predecessors never had that leverage" ("AC 360," 4/24).

GETTING TECHNICAL

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), on not appearing with Bush when he was in CA talking about immigration: "My district line starts a few miles away from where the president was actually speaking. However, let me note that my lack of attendance had more to do with my respect for the president. ... I so strongly disagree with him on this illegal immigration issue that I felt it would be more respectful for me to stay away rather than to show up and look glum and refuse to applaud and things like that" ("Situation Room," CNN, 4/24).

PLAYING THE BLAME GAME

FNC's Hannity, on high gas prices: "I give blame for high gas prices, 30 years of the Democrats beholden to the extreme environmental movement. ... I blame you liberals for this" ("Hannity & Colmes," 4/24).

MSNBC's Scarborough: "Unfortunately, the oil companies know that in George Bush and Dick Cheney, two people that I supported, two people that I voted for twice, two people that I'd vote for again if they were running against John Kerry and Al Gore, you've got two people who are oil-state politicians, one from Texas and one from Wyoming" ("Situation," 4/24).

O'REILLY IS WATCHING YOU

FNC's O'Reillly, in his "Talking Points" memo: "Any media person who uses smear tactics in any way, not just on me, but any way will be featured on 'The Factor' and inducted into the billoreilly.com 'Hall of Shame.' We will keep a running list of media smear merchants on the Web site, in addition to our don't buy, don't advertise list" (4/24). [EMILY GOODIN]