Hotline After Dark -- One War Or Two?

The situation in the Middle East -- both the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon and the war in Iraq -- dominated cable talk. But there's starting to be more analysis of how this will effect the '06 election.

CNN's Malveaux: "What we heard is President Bush saying the lesson of last week is that this war on terror is fully engaged, and he is using the foiled attacks of last week, as well as ... this cease-fire, to illustrate a couple things. First, that he believes that there's still a threat against Americans, and secondly, that he is justifying the war on terror, trying ... not to lose support here ... as those midterm elections approach" ("Situation Room," 8/14).

MSNBC's Shuster: "The problem for Republicans it that a growing majority of Americans want the U.S. to start getting out of Iraq and despite Bush administration arguments that Iraq and the war on terror are linked, voters increasingly see the two wars as separate. It all spells big trouble for the GOP. 85 days until the congressional mid terms" ("Hardball," 8/14).

CNN's Greenfield: "There is no doubt what the Republican game plan for November is. It's to paint the Democrats as the party of retreat, unwilling or unable to face the hard reality of what it means to fight America's enemies. That game plan was effective two years ago and four years ago. What about this time? ... A number of Republicans have openly broken with the administration on the war. ... The party will also face an electorate that, if the polls are right, is more likely to see Iraq as a distraction from, not an essential part of, the war on terror" ("Situation Room," 8/14).

FNC's O'Reilly, in his "Talking Points" memo: "I want fresh ideas on how to defeat terror. And if a Democrat has a good idea, I'll put it on this broadcast in a heartbeat. But so far, it is just Bush is bad, Bush is trying to scare us. You know what? Not having a plan after all this time is really the scary thing, is it not?" ("O'Reilly Factor," 8/14).

AND LOOKING AT '08

FNC's Garrett examined Gov. Bill Richardson's (D-NM) re-election bid and asked him about WH '08. Richardson: "I haven't made that decision. You know, it's a decision that you have to make after all the decks are clear and a major deck that I need to clear is my own re-election as governor of New Mexico" ("Special Report," 8/14).

STILL WAITING FOR NEWS

FNC provided a few updates throughout the evening on kidnapped reporter Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig. FNC's Griffin: "We've been reporting today that two of our colleagues were kidnapped in Gaza earlier today. They were taken against their will from the vehicle they were driving in. Fox News at this time is doing everything within its power to get them safely returned back home, and we will report more on that as we have details" ("On the Record," 8/14). [EMILY GOODIN]