Hotline After Dark -- Don't Stop Believing

TV went dark on political coverage as there was lots of talk on the ending of the "Sopranos" but there was some shop talk, mainly on the fact the Senate didn't quite get the vote it wanted on AG Alberto Gonzales:

ABC's Stephanopoulos: "This resolution was designed primarily to put Republicans on the spot. And Republicans pointed out all day long that the author of the resolution was also the chairman the Democratic campaign committee Senator Chuck Schumer ("World News," 6/11).

CNN's Bash: "Seven Republicans broke ranks with [Bush]. And what's interesting about that is not just how different the environment is here than it was just a few months ago that -- where it would have been that it would have been, you know, these Republicans would have feared retribution from the White House. Now what you see are Republicans almost gleefully voting against the president, because they think it's politically beneficial to really separate themselves from President Bush" ("PZ Now," 6/11).

Newsweek's Fineman: "It was a political exercise. ... They knew that this had no ultimate functional significance. Gonzales is going to be there probably till January 20, 2009. They wanted to make their political statement, and also they could count the numbers. They knew they weren't going to win. There were three Democrats who are out campaigning on the campaign trail today who weren't about to come back for this, including Barack Obama. ... They made their judgment. And, you know, they got whatever ink out of it they were going to get" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 6/11).

FNC's Barnes: "You had to give up the immigration bill so they could get to this? ... Here's where Democrats hurt themselves. I think if they would have had a different senator other than Schumer, who's loathed as a partisan hack by all the Republicans, moderate, liberal, conservative, they might have gotten more votes from the Republicans" ("Special Report," 6/11).

SAYING A LITTLE PRAYER

Mike Huckabee played "Hardball" last night:

MSNBC's Matthews: "You believe that we shouldn't be talking about pro-science, anti-science, evolution vs. Genesis, that those issues are divisive?"

Huckabee: "There are issues Democrats and Republicans ought to be talking about they can agree on. Why do we have two kids every 60 seconds dropping out high school?" More: "Why are kids laying their heads on the desk and sleeping, in the most expensive nap in America? We need to be talking about fixing that, so we don't have a whole generation of uneducated kids. ... Democrats and Republicans ought to be coming together and agreeing on doing that."

Matthews: "Here's a way to come together. ... Rudy Giuliani wins your party nomination, a pro-choicer, a guy is open to gay rights, and has other liberal positions. And he comes to you, Mike Huckabee, and says, I need a governor on the ticket with me."

Huckabee: "If you give me a couple of hours with Rudy, I think I will have him pro-life, pro-guns, and get his whole position straight on these issues."

Matthews: "Who are you, Saint Augustine?"

Huckabee: "I am in the conversion business, Chris. I think we can do it. So, that's what I will say."

Matthews: "So, you must have gotten to Governor Romney a few years ago" (MSNBC, 6/11).

MAYBE YOU CAN'T ALWAYS COME HOME AGAIN

And CNN's Crowley summed up Pres. Bush's trip: "You know things are bad when your best crowds are in Albania" ("PZ Now," 6/11). [EMILY GOODIN]