Hotline After Dark -- Cruising For Politics

Still a lot of JonBenet coverage but Tom Cruise also got a lot of TV time and yet, shows did find room for a little politics.

DNC Chair Howard Dean was on the "Situation Room" and "Hardball" last night:

Dean: "This president is in deep trouble. Although, I have to say that the Iraq war is an issue that's getting him into deep trouble, but the issue that really got him into deep trouble, the anniversary is at the end of this week, and that's Hurricane Katrina."

More: "The response to Katrina was effectively the end to the president's presidency in the sense that people all of a sudden saw the small man behind the curtain."

Asked if he wants Joe Lieberman to remain a Dem: "Sure. We want to be a big tent. And Joe has served the country honorably. But Joe is the past and Ned Lamont is the future. And we need a new direction in this country, and the voters in Connecticut have indicated that" (CNN, 8/23).

On John McCain criticizing Iraq: "I think that the president is probably getting all he can handle from all sides. It's amazing how everybody leaves the ship once the policy is clearly heading in the wrong direction. You know, Senator McCain has got his own problems with this, where he was a huge booster of it all along until now, I guess things are getting a little hot in the kitchen, so he decided to get out."

Asked if he's satisfied with George Allen's apology: "I served with George Allen when he was governor. I don't think he belongs in public service, to be honest with you. There are Republicans who are capable and smart, thoughtful people, and he's not one of them" (MSNBC, 8/23).

BOOK IT

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) was on "Lou Dobbs Tonight" to discuss his new book "The Plan: Big Ideas for America."

Emanuel: "The whole purpose of this book is to say that, look, the days of which we knew Ozzie and Harriet -- one of the chapters is called 'Ozzie and Harriet Don't Live Here Anymore.' One job, one mortgage, one pension is becoming undone by the pressures of a global economy. What do we need to do to make sure that the middle class dream of raising a child, sending him to college, saving for your retirement, and having a job and the skills to succeed economically are still there? And the basic premise, one of the concepts behind the book, is that citizenship is not an entitlement program. It begins with responsibilities" (CNN, 8/23). [EMILY GOODIN]