Hotline After Dark: Resolute

Talk of the Middle East continues to dominate cable TV (although MSNBC had a lot on Mel Gibson).

Pres. Bush sat down with FNC's Cavuto.

On the Middle East: "Your viewers ought to focus on the fact that the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution about Iran. And the world is coming together and making it clear to the Iranians, that their nuclear weapons ambitions are just not acceptable. Secondly, I do believe that we have an opportunity to work with our partners and allies to put a Security Council resolution in place that obviously reduces violence, but also addresses the root causes of the problems, which were, you know, terrorist attacks from Lebanon into Israel."

On the economy: "For the short run, I'm comfortable. Now, I'm not a forecaster, but I feel good about it, from what I see. What concerns me is some of the longer-term issues. Will we have an educated work force that will be able to compete with other nations? You know, are we going to be protectionists, or will be confident in our willingness to open up markets, and demand we be treated fairly?"

The interview was pre-taped and conducted outdoors. After it aired, Cavuto noted: "It was about 100 degrees, 100 percent humidity. He didn't sweat. I did. And the guy is a lot older than I am. Go figure" ("Your World," 7/31).

Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) was interviewed after Bush. Richardson: "I wish he would have talked more about having a framework, an international peacekeeping force, a framework for peace" ("Your World," FNC, 7/31).

GOING NO WHERE NEAR THE CLINTON PLAN

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) was on "Hannity & Colmes."

Asked while his health care plan will work when the Clinton admin's did not, Kerry: "It didn't work, because I think there were to many different pieces of it. It was too much of a government plan. And people resented the intrusion of government into their lives. Incidentally, I was not a sponsor of that plan. I believed we needed to find a solution more in keeping with what I'm offering now. My solution is a market-based, free choice. You choose where you want to go" (FNC, 7/31).

CT SEN IS EVERYWHERE

Ex-WH comm. dir. Nicolle Wallace was on "Hardball" and asked about Dems who are critical of the admin's handling of the Middle East. Wallace: "I think you've got to be real careful at moments like this."

MSNBC's Matthews: "So you're with Senator Lieberman who believes you're not supposed to criticize the president in the time of the war."

Wallace: "Well you could lose the election for him by saying, 'I'm with Senator Lieberman.' So be careful, I don't think we want to meddle."

And Chris Matthews also offered this: "Do you think we should give every president who gets elected from now on should get English lessons from Tony Blair? Because sometimes when you hear him speak, it sounds like a translation at the U.N.? I'm talking all politicians, not just our president. ... He's wonderful. He's like Hugh Grant" ("Hardball," 7/31).

A LITTLE POLITICAL TRIVIA FOR YOU

FNC's Van Susteren interviewed Syrian Amb. Imad Moustapha at his Embassy. Moustapha offered this: "Secretary Rumsfeld lives behind us. He is my neighbor. ... This house was actually the house of President Taft and my office was his office" ("On the Record," 7/31).

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT

And CNN's Zahn asked the Rev. Jerry Falwell: "Why do you think this current conflict may be just that, the prelude to the end of the world?"

Falwell: "I believe in the pre-millenial, pre-tribulational, coming of Christ for all of his church. ... I believe that we ought to be living every day as though this is the crowning day. But we should also be planning and working with the next generation in mind because we do not know" ("PZ Now," 7/31). [EMILY GOODIN]