Hotline After Dark Category Archives
"World News" led with the Ft. Hood investigation. "Evening News" led with health care. "Nightly News" led with Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner's Cong. testimony.
Pols discussed Geithner's job performance 11/19 p.m.
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), on whether he expected it go get so "nasty": "No, I didn't. But, the truth is, sort of tired of blaming Bush for everyone. At some point, this White House has to take responsibility for its own decisions. These policies are failing. The public has no confidence anymore. In fact, a majority of Americans disapprove of the way the president is handling the economy. I think the best thing that could happen is for Geithner to step down. And there's more Democrats joining us in that cause."
Brady, on Geithner's involvement in the bailout prior to taking office: "I think he tries to paper over that pretty quickly. He was Fed governor of New York. Wall Street was his purview. His district, his position, on his watch with his friends. And he had key roles to play in the bailouts from day one. So, again, another reason why the tired excuse of blaming it on Bush, well, it is not me that is not buying it. It is the American public is not buying it" ("Your World," FNC, 11/19).
More Brady, on who he would choose to replace Geithner: "My choice would be a conservative Republican who would let the free market work, would address the financial crisis not from a spending binge, but to get our financial house in order. And the credit for small businesses and mid-sized businesses, it is frozen. And I'll tell you, too, local businesses, small and large, they're deferring their key business decisions because they're frightened of what's happening in Washington, D.C." ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 11/19).
After the jump, more on Geithner, Senators address health care reform and ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) book tour continues.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- When I Listen To Him, All I Hear Is Blah Blah Blah" »
"World News" led with changes in breast cancer screenings. "Evening News" led with and "Nightly News" led with changes in breast cancer screenings and featured interviews with Pres. Obama and HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius.
Ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R) continued her book tour last p.m. on "Hannity."
Palin, on whether Ft. Hood was "an act of terrorism": "I certainly do, and I think that there were massive warning flags that were missed all over the place. And I think it was quite unfortunate that, to me, it was a fear of being politically incorrect, to not -- I'm going to use the word -- profile this guy, profile in the sense of finding out what his radical beliefs were. Simple things like looking at the business card that had the secret code word for who it was."
More Palin: "Now because I used the word 'profile,' I'm going to get clobbered tomorrow morning. The liberals, their heads are just going to be spinning. They're going to say, 'She is radical. She is extreme.' But I think profiling in the context of doing whatever we can to save innocent American lives, I'm all for it then."
Palin, on her future: "You're going to hear a lot from me. So you know, the haters are going to have a whole lot of material. Tina Fey, she may have a whole lot of material coming up" (FNC, 11/18).
After the jump, a reaction to Palin, the latest in health care and FNC interviews Obama.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Profile Is Courage? " »
"World News" led with changes in breast cancer screenings and featured an interview with ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R). "Evening News" led with Obama's trip to China. "Nightly News" led with changes in breast cancer screenings.
Palin discussed foreign affairs and the economy with ABC's Barbara Walters in an interview that aired 11/17.
Palin, on Israeli settlement freezes: "I disagree with the Obama administration on that. I believe that the Jewish settlements should be allowed to be expanded upon because that population of Israel is going to grow. More and more Jewish people will be flocking to Israel in the days and weeks and months ahead. And I don't think the Obama administration has any right to tell Israel that the Jewish settlements cannot expand."
Palin, on this stance, even if these are Palestinian lands: "I believe that Jewish settlements should be allowed to expand" ("World News," 11/17).
Palin, on what U.S. goals in Afghanistan should be: "To listen to McChrystal, to listen to the appointee that President Obama asked for, the advice from McChrystal gave the president advice and said, 'We need the essentially a surge strategy in Afghanistan so we can win in Afghanistan.' That means more resources, more troops there. It frustrates me and frightens me and many Americans that President Obama is dithering around with the decision in Afghanistan."
After the jump, more Palin, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) on her decision to stay in the Senate and talk about the FL GOP primary.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The New Wonkette " »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with changes in breast cancer screenings.
Ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) much-anticipated interview on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" aired 11/16.
Palin, on the McCain team on election night '08: "Not so much disappointed that I wasn't allowed to speak, but disappointed that the explanation that I was given why I wouldn't be able to speak ... that VP candidates never give a speech on an election night, and I knew that that was false because I've seen it happen over all the years. In fact, four years prior, of course, that had happened."
Palin, on a '12 run: "I'm concentrating on 2010 and making sure that we have issues tackled as Americans to make sure that we're on the right road. ... But 2012, Trig's heading into kindergarten in 2012. I'm looking forward to that. I'm looking forward to affecting positive change between now and then. I don't know what I'm going to be doing in 2012."
Oprah Winfrey: "Let's talk about the interview with Katie Couric."
Palin: "Must we?"
After the jump, more Palin highlights, reactions to the interview and her book, "Going Rogue."
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Queen Bee Or Wannabe?" »
"World News" led with the economy. "Evening News" led with swine flu. "Nightly News" led with the Ft. Hood investigation.
Much of last night's TV talk focused on ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) upcoming book tour.
Dem strategist Chris Kofinis, on Palin's tour: "You have, let's see, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, a big bus with Sarah Palin on it. I think the only thing missing is the 2012 logo. I think there should be no doubt that she's running for president, which basically means that the heads of the Republican Party, well, their heads just exploded" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 11/12).
Ex-Educ. Sec. Bill Bennett, on Palin: "She's got loads of talent. And extremely popular. Just worried about the book. I hope there's nothing in the book that's going to explode" ("Hannity," FNC, 11/12).
Al Gore, on how Palin's book sales will affect her political future: "Not necessarily, because there is a big audience for books of this sort. It doesn't always translate into votes. And, again, I don't even know if she's going to be a candidate again" (CNN, 11/12).
After the jump, more on the Palin bookcontinued continued reaction to the Stupak amendment and Ex-HP CEO Carly Fiorina (R) discusses her Senate run.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Freelance Writer" »
"World News" led with the arrest of a United Airlines pilot. "Evening News" led with the Ft. Hood investigation. "Nightly News" led with Veteran's Day.
During "Lou Dobbs Tonight" 11/11 p.m., CNN's Lou Dobbs announced that he will be leaving the network, effective immediately.
Dobbs: "Tonight I want to turn to a personal note, if I may, and address a matter that has raised some curiosity. This will be my last broadcast here on CNN, where I've worked for most of the past 30 years, and where I have many friends and colleagues whom I admire deeply and respect greatly. I'm the last of the original anchors here on CNN and I'm proud to have had the privilege of helping to build the world's first news network."
More Dobbs: "I'm grateful for the many opportunities that CNN has given me over these many years. I've tried to reciprocate with a full measure of my ability and my energy. Over the past six months it's become increasingly clear that strong winds of change have begun buffeting this country and affecting all of us, and some leaders in media, politics and business have been urging me to go beyond the role here at CNN and to engage in constructive problem solving as well as to contribute positively to a better understanding of the great issues of our day."
After the jump, more on Dobbs, FNC's Sean Hannity addresses Comedy Central's Jon Stewart's footage criticism and Gen. David Petreaus is interviewed.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Amnesty Denied" »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with the Ft. Hood memorial.
Pundits reacted to Pres. Obama's speech at Ft. Hood 11/10 p.m.
NPR's Liasson: "I talked to White House officials before the speech who said that when it comes to discussing striking the right balance between honoring Muslims who serve with distinction in the military and not allowing people who are attracted to the violent strain of Islam as opposed to mainstream Islam to serve in the military, he looked to George W. Bush as his model, actually" ("Special Report," FNC, 11/10).
Ex-CIA agent Bob Baer, on Obama invoking religion during his address: "I think it was a mistake. If this man, the major, was driven by religion, the last thing we want to do is evoke religion on our part. This is not a war against religion, a clash of civilizations we're fighting. It's a war against terrorism. So to evoke God I think was a mistake on his part." ("Hardball," MSNBC, 11/10).
Ex-Bush speechwriter David Frum: "This is a well done speech. And ... it hit, also, on some very delicate matters, like the question of accountability, of responsibility, of the relationship between the killer and his religion and the question of the man's mental responsibility. All of those things couldn't be ducked. They were touched on. They were done deftly. Barack Obama always brings tremendous dignity to this job, whatever else one thinks about him, he is a person of tremendous composure" ("Situation Room," CNN, 11/10).
After the jump, more reactions and Bill Clinton meets with Dem senators.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Hard Day's Night" »
"World News" led with the investigation into the Ft. Hood shootings and featured an interview with Pres. Obama. "Evening News" and"Nightly News" led with the investigation into Ft. Hood.
Obama sat down for an interview with ABC's Tapper 11/9.
Obama, on the Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-MI) amendment: "I laid out a very simple principle, which is this is a health care bill, not an abortion bill. And we're not looking to change what is the principle that has been in place for a very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize abortions."
More Obama: "And I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test -- that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices. ... I think that there are strong feelings on both sides. And what that tells me is that there needs to be some more work before we get to the point where we're not changing the status quo" ("Nightline," ABC, 11/9).
After the jump, pols and pundits weigh in on the latest in health care reform and Obama also discusses 11/3 election results.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Abortion Injected Into the Health Care Debate " »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the Ft. Hood shootings.
Pols and pundits discussed the 11/5 conservative rally at the U.S. Capitol.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), on the 11/5 rally: "I don't think they scared anybody. ... I got a chill, really. I just think this thing has gone too far" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 11/5).
Rep. Steve King (R-IA): "This absolutely outstanding grouping of people that we had today at the Capitol. This is organic. It was a meet up. It was spontaneous. And it spoke volumes to the members of Congress. And it's continuing those ramifications on Capitol Hill."
More King: "The Cannon building, in particular, there was a security issue inside that shut down people going in the doors. So they surrounded the building and chanted, 'Kill the bill, kill the bill.' The hallways echoed. And I just said to them find somebody that wears a pin like this and won't look them in the eye and tell them not to steal your freedom" ("Hannity," FNC, 11/5).
After the jump, more on the rally and Rev. Al Sharpton weighs in on the Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) ethics investigation.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- We Gotta Fight For Our Right To Tea Party" »
"World News" led with election results. "Evening News" led with the discovery of 11 bodies in a Cleveland, OH sex offender's home. "Nightly News" led with election results.
Gov. Charlie Crist (R) appeared via satellite on the "Situation Room" 11/4 p.m.
Crist, on whether he regrets endorsing the economic stimulus package: "I didn't endorse it. I didn't even have a vote on the darned thing. But I understood that it was going to pass and I wanted to be able to utilize it for the benefit of my fellow Floridians. ... Frankly, I kind of look at it like Florida taxpayers' dollars coming back to the state to benefit them. ... We've go to fight for Florida first. That's all we did here."
Crist, on the picture of himself and Pres. Obama hugging that Ex-state House Speaker Marco Rubio's (R) has on his website: "I think it's important to understand where we were at that time. That was back in February, less than a month after the president was sworn into office, the first time he visits our state. And I was pragmatic, I think, about what we needed to do. Everybody knew the bill was going to pass. I, like all other Republican governors, utilized that money for the benefit of the people in my state. And that's what a pragmatic conservative does. ... And I think it's important to understand that you need to fight for jobs, you need to fight for the economy, do what you think is right for the people."
Crist, on rumors ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R) will endorse Rubio, and whether she'll make a difference: "I think every person makes a difference. ... It's hard to say. I mean nobody knows for sure. I mean, I hope that the endorsement of Senator Connie Mack, the endorsement of the former Republican Party chairman of our state, Al Cardenas, the endorsement of people that really understand and realize Charlie Crist is a true fiscal conservative."
After the jump, WH press sec. Robert Gibbs, pols and pundits weigh in on the '09 races.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Qualifying Candidate" »
"World News" led with a Toyota recall. "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with the NY 23 and NJ and VA GOV races.
Pres. Obama's role in the outcomes of last p.m.'s races was a widely discussed topic on cable 11/3 p.m.
MS Gov. Haley Barbour (R), on VA GOV: "One of Creigh Deeds, the Democrat's, problems was the unpopularity of Obama's policies, not only in Virginia but all over the country. And the fact that McDonnell was talking about the issues that the people in Virginia were worried about. ... There's no doubt that if I'm a Democrat member [of Congress] I look at this and say, 'Okay, Democrats got hurt by these policies, do I want to take that risk?'" ("On The Record," FNC, 11/3).
DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen: "The Obama agenda is not on the ballot in New Jersey. It's a governor's race. It has its own set of state issues. The Obama agenda is not on the ballot in Virginia. So these have local flavor to them. There's a lot going on in each state with the governors and the legislature. So I don't think tonight's results can be seen as somehow a referendum on the Obama agenda. Now, a year from now, when you have midterm Congressional elections, it will be. And that will be a true test" ("Situation Room," CNN, 11/3).
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): "This is a night that is the first report card on the president" ("Situation Room," CNN, 11/3).
After the jump, more on the Obama-effect, and reactions to the NJ and VA GOV races.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Obummer? " »
"World News" led with Ford Motor Co. earning a profit this quarter. "Evening News" led with Ford Motor Co. earning a profit this quarter and featured Al Gore. "Nightly News" led with Ford Motor Co. earning a profit this quarter.
Accountant Doug Hoffman (C) appeared on "Hannity" 11/2 p.m.
Hoffman, on why the GOP gave the nod to a liberal GOPer: "I guess we'll never know. The only thing I can say is that it was just party politics behind closed doors, and the bosses just decided to just anoint somebody that was there."
Hoffman, on whether he understood why Assemb. Dede Scozzafava (R) was the GOP nominee: "I did not either, and that is why I decided to run. I thought the voters in the district would not have a good choice if I did not put my hat in the ring, and I felt that I had to do it."
Hoffman, on Scozzafava's Dem endorsement: "Absolutely. It's exactly what I was saying when I got in this race. And it just proved that I was correct. She was more liberal than the Democrat" (FNC, 11/2).
After the jump, more on NY-23 and WH staffers go into the "Situation Room."
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Born To Run" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's trip to Dover AFB. "Evening News" led with the economy . "Nightly News" led with Obama's trip to Dover AFB.
The new House health care bill got mixed results from pols and pundits on TV 10/29 p.m.
House Min. Leader John Boehner: "It's 1,990 pages, Speaker Pelosi's health care bill is. It's going to take us a while to read it. So I'm hopeful that the American people will take the time to read this bill, as well, because it's nothing short of a complete government takeover of our health care system" ("On The Record," FNC, 10/29).
Ex-VT Gov./ex-DNC chair Howard Dean, on whether the current bill is the "best" Congress can do with health care: "It's not the best we can do, but it's a very good start. ... This is real reform. That's all I really care about, is real reform. People are going to have a chance to get into a different kind of a system that doesn't take huge profits out and put it in their pockets. ... I think this is going to work well. I think it's a great bill. I think the speaker has a lot of courage and I'm very, very pleased. And I think Senator Reid did a terrific job last week in the same thing" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 10/29).
Columnist S.E. Cupp: "It's longer than 'War and Peace.' It's longer than 'Atlas Shrugged.' And it's longer than 'Les Mis'" ("Hannity," FNC, 10/29).
After the jump, more House bill reax, ex-state House Speaker Marco Rubio talks about third parties and ME Gov. John Baldacci (D) defends gay marriage.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Atlas Shrugging At The New House Health Care Bill" »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with Afghanistan.
Ex-EPA regional admin. Chris Daggett (I) appeared on "Your World" to discuss the NJ GOV race 10/28 p.m.
Daggett, on whether he is a "spoiler": "That is a term I don't buy, because, in this, that implies that Democrats or Republicans own a certain number of votes, and someone is going to spoil things by taking them away from them. I'm attracting attention because people are angry about politics as usual in New Jersey. They are tired of both parties. They don't think that either one of them steps up to and addresses the issues that face the state. And people are turning to me because they are fed up, not because I am trying to spoil something with somebody else."
FNC's Cavuto: "You just came on like a barn fire."
Daggett, on whether he is hurting ex-U.S. atty Chris Christie (R): "The polls have shown that I am taking pretty much equally from both of them."
After the jump, more Daggett, WH donor visits and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) continues to spark ire and admiration
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Gosh Daggett!" »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with Afghanistan.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was a cable news lighting rod 10/27 p.m.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), on how many times Lieberman can "get away with spitting" in Dems' faces before they "say no more": "There is a long, long tradition of United States senators saying no until about five minutes before they say yes. As Harry Reid indicated, this debate is just starting"
Wyden, on whether it's "appropriate" for Pres. Obama to stay out of the discussion given that he might be able to "pressure" Lieberman: "The president is not at all removed from this debate. He and his team are very involved. He's picking his spots. ... What we're all going to do is put the focus where it ought to be, that's holding the insurance companies accountable" (MSNBC, 10/27).
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on Lieberman: "He tells me what he said publicly, and that is that given this proposal as he reads it, and that he would not vote to cut off debate, which is, as I mentioned, that critical vote. The final passage, they only need 51 votes. They need 60 to cut off debate and end the filibuster. That's what he is saying. And he is a man of honesty, integrity and one of the finest men I've ever known in my life" ("Hannity," FNC, 10/27).
After the jump, more on Lieberman, MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) has a dog in the NY-23 fight, and WH sr. adviser Valerie Jarrett is interviewed.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Watch It, Fili-Buster!" »
"World News" and "Evening News" led with the investigation into the plane overshooting Minneapolis, MN. "Nightly News" led with Afghanistan.
Pundits and pols discussed Sen. Maj. Leader Harry Reid's state opt-out plan for health care reform on TV 10/26 p.m.
ABC's Stephanopoulos, on the possibility of the Dems losing Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R-ME) support: "The president was very skeptical of this move by Harry Reid for just this reason" ("World News," ABC, 10/26).
House Maj. Whip James Clyburn: "We can now say to our members, this fear that you had that we would be walking the plank on something that had no chance of being introduced into the Senate, passed in the Senate. Here is Senator Reid telling us he has 56 or 57 votes for this public option. All we have to do now is make sure we don't allow that 41 percent to overrule that 56 percent" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 10/26).
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "They are trying to get votes. They got themselves in a corner, and this is a dangerous time for the American people. They floated this big government idea. The public did not like it, so they are trying to repackage it. You can opt out of it if you do not like it" ("On The Record," FNC, 10/26).
NBC's K. O'Donnell: "For more liberal Democrats, this kind of public option, or any kind of public option, is considered a victory" ("Nightly News," NBC, 10/26).
After the jump, more Reid reax, the NJ GOV race and ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich's take on the NY-23 special election.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Reiding Between The Lines" »
"World News" led with the plane overshooting its Minneapolis destination. "Evening News" led with the drug cartel bust. "Nightly News" led with the plane overshooting its Minneapolis destination.
Pundits discussed Dick Cheney's latest criticism of Obama admin. policy on cable 10/22 p.m.
GOP strategist Mary Matalin, on whether the Bush admin. "sat on the recommendations of the military to deploy more troops" and "it took" Obama "to finally make a decision to send more troops": "Can you even say that with a straight face? ... It's completely untrue."
More Matalin: "What the chief of staff [Rahm Emanuel] said on Sunday on this network ... that there was no plan, they had to start from scratch. The Bush administration, in an unprecedented transition, handed them a plan. Again, the national security advisers said sit on the plan. They adopted the plan in March and they're still dithering. They've had the benefit of the consultations of the best minds in defense and foreign policy. They've had it for a year. It's time to make a decision" ("Situation Room," CNN, 10/22).
Washington Post's Robinson, on what Cheney was trying to achieve: "Maybe he was just trying to make us all realize how much we missed him. It makes absolutely no sense. ... The idea that he could criticize anyone on Afghanistan strategy, and then suggest that, oh, well, the Obama team should have just taken the Bush administration wisdom about the place, well, they didn't have much wisdom about the place. Anyone with half a brain would have done their own assessment, since the Bush team, frankly, screwed it up" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 10/22).
After the jump, more Cheney reaction, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) on health care.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Dithering Criticism" »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the bailed out execs.' pay cuts.
Pundits and pols weighed in on 10/21 p.m. over the Obama admin. cutting the pay of bailed-out Wall Street execs.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN): "I have a visceral reaction against the idea of anybody in Washington telling anybody at any level in the private sector what they ought to make or not make. The market ought to do that. And the sooner we get the government out of the private sector, out of running our companies, the better" ("Your World," FNC, 10/21).
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA): "What it may do, and I would welcome this, is drive them to give us the money back. We've already gotten much of that 7$700 billion back, and this will make it more likely we'll get it back" ("Rachel Maddow," MNSBC, 10/21).
Dem strategist James Carville: "Bravo to the government. Bravo" ("AC 360," CNN, 10/21).
After the jump, Wall Street execs. get a pay cut and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) hopes Obama doesn't make an "enemies list."
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Payday Mayday" »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with swine flu.
Pundits widely discussed friction between Pres. Obama's military and political advisers over Afghanistan 10/20 p.m.
Weekly Standard's Kristol, on differing statements from WH CoS Rahm Emanuel and Defense Sec. Robert Gates on Afghanistan: "The White House staff tried to hijack this decision, in my view, maybe with the president's blessing, maybe not, because they do not want President Obama to commit fully to the war in Afghanistan. It is very clear."
Kristol: "I believe there is a pretty big rift now between the White House staff and the Defense Department from top to bottom, civilian and military and most of the foreign policy professionals who don't think we can afford to make a half-baked commitment to Afghanistan or pull out. I think President Obama will overrule his White House staff and go with Secretary Gates and the uniform military. ... Suddenly a bunch of political guys in the White House are saying, 'Oh, the polls are a little shaky, let's send half the number of troops.' The military really thinks this is not the way to make policy" ("Special Report," FNC, 10/20).
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) : "I want to say that Senator John Kerry did an amazing job on this, standing with Karzai, talking to him, and I think making sure that the way forward is better than what has gone on in the past. ... I think the president is handling this just right, because he has already doubled the troops in Afghanistan. So, the question is, where do we go from here? ... We have to make sure that we are not sending too many troops, rather than training more Afghan troops, because the people in Afghanistan dislike the Taliban immensely."
More Boxer: "I think this president is listening to General McChrystal. I think he's listening to people up and down the chain of command, including, of course, those in civilian life, Secretary Gates, and Vice President Biden, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton. And I think that's appropriate" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 10/20).
After the jump, more on Obama's decision-making over Afghanistan.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Defensive Politics" »
"World News" led with the new ABC-Washington Post poll. "Evening News" led with the Heene family controversy. "Nightly News" led with Pres. Obama's Manhattan fundraiser and Wall Street bonuses.
Pundits examined the FNC - WH controversy 10/19 p.m.
FNC's Hume: "It is a little hard to discern a strategy behind the White House campaign of criticism of Fox News unless it's simply this -- an attempt to quarantine FOX and thereby discourage other media outlets from following up stories that originate here." ("Special Report," FNC, 10/19).
Center for American Progress Pres./Obama WH transition co-chair/ex-Clinton WH CoS John Podesta: "I guess sometimes it just feels good to tell the truth. And maybe they just couldn't resist feeling good for just one moment" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 10/19).
Weekly Standard's Hayes: "Axelrod goes on ABC News. He makes the argument that Fox is too ideological, and he makes a plea that "legitimate news organizations" like ABC News not follow FOX into sort of partisan journalism. And he makes the point in response to a question from the host, George Stephanopoulos, who was Bill Clinton's media hatchet man for years."
After the jump, more on FNC vs the WH, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) fights the power and pundits on Obama and Afghanistan.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- And In the Streets: The Pundits Screamed" »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with the Falcon Heene story.
With the health care legislation moving to the Senate floor, filibuster talk emerged onto that airwaves 10/15 p.m.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), on whether there's been discussion among Dems of "crossing over and filibustering" reform with GOPers: "I don't think there's been that discussion because people are very focused on getting something done here and getting competition. And ... there are different interpretations of what the public option could look like in the Senate. ... I don't necessarily view this as a bad thing. There's a difference between the Schumer version and the Rockefeller version. But the bottom line is: Democrats in the Senate want a bill" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 10/15).
New Yorker's Hertzberg: "The Democrats made a big mistake back then when they didn't take the dare and just say, OK, nuclear option, no more filibusters" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," CNN, 10/15).
After the jump, commentary on Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and the fallout from the Rush Limbaugh failed bid for the St. Louis Rams.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Dodgers or Philly-busters" »
"World News" led with the Dow Jones breaking 10,000 and featured Sec/State Hillary Clinton. "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with the Dow Jones breaking 10,000.
Ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R) went on "Hannity" 10/14 p.m. to discuss Pres. Obama's policies.
Romney, on the MA universal coverage plan: "The plan we put in place is a very good plan. And even though elements that I vetoed were overridden, it's still working pretty well. It's not perfect. But it's a big advance over what we have before. Because basically now all of our citizens in Massachusetts are insured, 98 percent are insured."
Romney, on the NJ gov race: "You've got Jon Corzine spending tens of millions of dollars of his own money, money made on Wall Street, by the way, the very street that a lot of people believe got us into the financial difficulty we're in. He's using that money ... to hold on to his job in New Jersey."
Romney, on Blue Dogs: "I think Blue Dog Democrats in Washington say, 'You know what? The president's agenda is getting us in trouble,' and they're going to listen to the people, instead of the leadership of the party."
After the jump, more Romney, Clinton sits down for an interview, and Rush Limbaugh loses his bid to be an NFL owner.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- To Be, Or Not To Be ... President?" »
"World News" led with the health care bill passing the Sen. Finance Cmte and featured Sen. Olympia Snowe and Afghan Pres. Hamid Karzai. "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with the health care bill passing the Sen. Finance Cmte.
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) appeared on "World News," 10/13 p.m.
Snowe, on whether one supportive GOPer means bipartisanship: "Well, obviously not sufficient. We need to have more, we need to have support of the Democratic centrists, for example, who also can play a very pivotal role in this regard. .... If we can work continuously together looking at the issues having an honest discussion about the issues and what works what doesn't work, that's what it's going to take."
More Snowe: "For so long, the art of legislating has been lost here in Congress and it's all about just moving it along on the fast track, and unfortunately, the big issues have been set aside."
Snowe, on what would cause her to "pull back": "That would mean significant costs are added to the bill or significant taxes. If some issues aren't addressed such as affordability, we still have to work on that issue making sure Americans have affordable health plans. They do under this legislation, but we need to do more and to be certain of that."
After the jump, more Snowe, reactions to the Sen. Finance Cmte vote and the fixation with ME's sr. senator.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- "Come in," She Said, "I'll Give Ya Shelter From the Snowe-Storm"" »
"World News" led with health care. "Evening News" led with health care. "Nightly News" led with swine flu and featured an interview with Sec/State Hillary Clinton.
Discussion about WH comm. dir. Anita Dunn taking on FNC lit up the cable airwaves 10/12 p.m.
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer, on FNC: "We don't have anchors here at Fox who get a thrill up their leg in the middle of an Obama speech. I don't recall it ever having happened, at least while I was on the set" ("Special Report," FNC, 10/12).
New York Daily News' Louis: "When Fox goes and styles itself as the voice of the opposition, or you see them sort of working with this political pact which put on these 9/12 parties, and you see a Fox producer whipping up the crowds, when you see them that deeply into partisanship ... if that's how they choose to build the audience ... you don't necessary have to play along with that. ... They're the voice of the opposition, and that's how they should be treated" ("AC 360," CNN, 10/12).
Media Matters' Eric Burns, on FNC's "goal to destroy this presidency": "That's their goal. They have set it. You saw it at the top of the clip. And I think that that's what we are dealing with. And so Anita Dunn is absolutely right to call them out for that" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 10/12).
After the jump, more Dunn blowback, Clinton on whether she'll run for POTUS again, and Ex-Hewlett Packard CEO/McCain Victory '08 chair Carly Fiorina (R) on a Sen. run.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Anita Get Your Guns Blazed" »
"World News" led with the moon bomb. "Evening News" led with Afghanistan. "Nightly News" led with cancer-causing agents at Camp Lejeune.
Pundits discussed the news that the WH press shop is getting militant with the media on the "Situation Room" 10/8 p.m.
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "It's a very risky strategy. It's not one that I would advocate. I understand why Anita Dunn, for whom I have a great deal of respect, and her colleagues in this White House are angry and frustrated by some of the coverage they have gotten. It's gotten pretty contentious out there, as you know, and part of that is showing up in cable news and elsewhere. So I understand why they are frustrated."
More Gergen: "If you're going to get very personal against the media, you are going to find that the animosities are just going to deepen and you're going to find that you sort of almost draw viewers and readers to the people you are attacking. You build them up in some ways. You give them stature."
Gergen: "If you are going to get into this kind of thing, the press always has the last barrel of ink, it has long been said."
After the jump, more on the new WH press shop strategy, IN Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) on the TX GOP climate.
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Press Shop Strikes Back!" »
"World News" led with violence in Chicago schools. "Evening News" led with Pres. Obama's Afghan strategy. "Nightly News" led with a look back since the first invasion into Afghanistan.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) addressed Afghanistan during an appearance on "LKL" 10/7 p.m.
McCain: "General McChrystal and General Petraeus Admiral Mullen have come up with a strategy that will succeed. We need to act and we need to act with all deliberate speed. ... These generals have a track record of success, when many others, including the present president, predicted that it would fail. And so did the vice president. And so did the secretary of State. And so did the national security adviser."
McCain, on whether a decision should have been made "yesterday": "I don't think that the president should be rushed in. I think the appropriate phrase would be deliberate speed, because we have 68,000 over there. As you well know and Americans well know, we just lost 10 very tragically. And the situation continues to deteriorate. It calls for action."
McCain, on whether McChrystal should have "spoken out" publicly about the need for a troop increase: "I think so, given the situation. First of all, he had been invited to and had been cleared to make the speech in London that he made. ... I think that General McChrystal would have rather remained quiet on this. I think he was answering a question. I know he respects the chain of command and respects the authority of the president."
After the jump, more on Afghanistan and reax to the Cong. Budget Office estimates of the Baucus bill.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- There's Battle Lines Bein' Drawn " »
"World News" led with Afghanistan. "Evening News" led with Afghanistan and featured Sec/State Hillary Clinton. "Nightly News" led with swine flu.
Pols and pundits were abuzz about Afghanistan 10/6 p.m.
USA Today's Page, on Pres. Obama's Hill support: "It's like Backwards Day at the White House, because it was the Republicans who were kind of cheering him on and it was Democrats who were raising the most serious concerns about whether we are on the right course in Afghanistan" ("NewsHour," PBS, 10/6).
Politico's Simon, on whether Obama can say no to McChrystal's request: "It is very hard to say no to generals when generals go public and say, we need the troops. That`s not what a commander in chief or any politician wants to hear, because basically you`re over-ruling a general, and some people in America have an automatic negative reaction to that" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 10/6).
House Min. Whip Eric Cantor (R), on whether the GOPers in the room urged support for McChrystal's report: "It is a fair assessment right now that Republicans are committed to supporting this president if he says, 'Yes, I will support our commanders on the ground" ("Situation Room," CNN, 10/6).
After the jump, more on Afghanistan and Ex-eBay CEO Meg Whitman defends her voting record, or lack thereof.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Bipartisan Blood Brothers? " »
"World News" led with swine flu vaccine. "Evening News" led with Afghanistan. "Nightly News" led with swine flu vaccine.
Pols and pundits alike examined the perception of an Obama admin. rift with Gen. Stanley McChrystal 10/5 p.m.
Ex-WH candidate Wes Clark was interviewed on the "O'Reilly Factor" 10/5 p.m.
Clark: "I'll tell you, when the commander on the ground says he needs more troops, you better listen."
Clark, on what he would do: "I would say the same thing that Jim Jones said. This is not about troops. It's about strategy. You got to get the strategy right. Then you got to get the American people behind it. But before you can go out and get the American people behind it, you have to have reviewed it. ... I think we should be comforted by the fact that he's going to take a week of tentative deliberations" (FNC, 10/5).
CNN's Borger, on the McChrystal/admin. rift: "He's [McChrystal] gotten himself in the middle of a huge political situation. He's gotten apparently reprimanded by the president. He has said publicly in a Q&A that the vice president's position would lead to chaos in Afghanistan. Isn't that getting a little too political for a general?" ("Situation Room," 10/5).
After the jump, more on McChrystal, Sen. John Ensign's (R-NV) effect on NV politics and NE Gov. Dave Heineman (R) pressures the NE delegation
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- All in the Family Secrets" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the South Pacific and Indonesian earthquakes.
New York Times' Lipton appeared on the "Rachel Maddow Show" 10/1 p.m. to discuss his scoop.
MSNBC's Maddow: "In terms of potential criminal liability and ethics liability here though, it's not so much a question of what Senator Ensign did at Doug Hampton's request, isn't it simply a matter that Doug Hampton was lobbying John Ensign at a time when he really was not allowed to be doing so?"
Lipton: "Well, clearly, the rules prohibit one year of lobbying communication with intent to influence, and that is the obligation of Doug Hampton. ... Whether or not that's a strict violation of law is up to others to decide. The question for the senator is whether or not he knew of it, he participated in ... perhaps in a proper lobbying and that then becomes a separate issue. So the culpability is different for each."
Lipton, on whether he felt he was "able to conclusively document" that Ensign did get Hampton a job: "There's no question that the senator made a series of telephone calls. We spoke with a half a dozen executives at major firms in the state of Nevada that received these phone calls and each of them essentially recalled similarly what the senator said, 'I have to say, he's coming back to the state. He's a good guy, would you talk to him?'"
After the jump, more Ensign, ex-AR Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) and CA. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger(R) are interviewed.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A Lovestruck Romeo" »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with the South Pacific earthquakes and tsunamis.
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) made the TV Rounds 9/30 p.m.
Grayson, as part of a roundtable of pundits, on what he meant by his "die quickly" comments: "Well, what I mean is they've got no plan. It's been 24 hours since I said that. Where is the Republican plan? We're all waiting to see something to take care of people who have preexisting conditions, to take care of the 47 million people in this country who have no coverage at all. There is no plan. And that's what I meant ... when I said the Republican plan really is don't get sick. And if you do get sick, die quickly."
Grayson, on whether he "really" believes GOPers want "sick people to die quickly": "Look, what I want is for us to work together to solve our problems and I don't see the Republicans doing that. ... There's no effort by the Republicans to actually pass any kind of bill. ... No bill whatsoever. They just want to stop everything."
More Grayson, on whether any Dem leader has asked him to "apologize" to GOPers: "No. No. ... And you know why? You know why they haven't asked me? Because I'm saying what everyone else has been thinking, but no one else has been saying."
CNN's Blitzer: "And so you have no intention of apologizing?"
Grayson: "Of course not. Apologize? I'm not the one who should be apologizing. ... They should apologize to America."
After the jump, more Grayson and reax.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Nattering, Knuckle-Dragging Neanderthals of Negativism" »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the earthquake and tsunami in the South Pacific.
Pols and pundits weighed in on the public option cmte vote 9/29 p.m.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), on what it means that it "didn't survive" the cmte: "It would have been better if it had passed. And certainly, it didn't. But we picked up votes we didn't expect, particularly on my amendment, Jay [Rockefeller] and I working as a team. ... This is an uphill fight. We knew it. But a month ago, the public option was dead. Now, we're alive and fighting. Even two of the three senators who spoke out against it said they were interested in it, and we're going to keep working at it until we get this done. ... I think we have a pretty good chance" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 9/29).
CNN's Bash: "Democratic leadership sources ... say that what you saw today, that is a Democratic priority, a public option, defeated with help of conservative Democrats, that it's really a prelude to what they believe will happen on the Senate floor. But if you listen to Democratic supporters who are so passionate about this, it sounded like they were incredibly positive. They were trying to put a very positive spin on the outcome of today" ("Situation Room," 9/29).
Bash, on whether the public option got a "significant setback": "No question about it" ("Situation Room," 9/29).
After the jump, more public option reax and Ex-U.S. Atty Chris Christie (R) is interviewed.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Public Option: Wanted Dead or Alive? " »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's push for the Chicago '16 Olympic bid. "Evening News" led with the Iranian missile tests. "Nightly News" led with swine flu.
Pols and pundits made the rounds to discuss Obama's trip to Copehnhagen, Denmark to make the case for Chicago's '16 Olympic bid before the IOC 9/28 p.m.
WH sr. adviser Valerie Jarrett, on whether Obama risks "using some of his political capital" if Chicago doesn't get the bid: "Oh, no. Absolutely not. ... The president is a competitive spirit. He's very interested in promoting Chicago and bringing the Olympics and Paralympics to our shores. He's not thinking about the political calculus. He's thinking about what's best for the American people. And having the most important sporting event in the world on our shores again would be terrific, not just for Chicago, but for our whole country" ("Situation Room," CNN, 9/28).
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), on neglecting the McChrystal report in lieu of the Olympics: "It's [McChrystal report] going to sit on a shelf until the president reaches the decision on a new strategy. But then this week, at the end of the week, he's willing to go to Copenhagen to make the pitch for the Olympics in Chicago. So people are wondering and believing that this president has his priorities mixed up" ("On the Record," FNC, 9/28).
New York Daily News' DeFrank: "This is classic damage control. I think if the president were not to go and it doesn't become Chicago, then I think he might take a little political heat" ("Hardball, MSNBC, 9/28).
After the jump, more on Obama's Copenhagen trip and Afghanistan.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Place Your Bid" »
"World News", "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with the NYC terrorist suspect arrest.
MA Gov. Deval Patrick (D) played "Hardball" 9/24 p.m.
Patrick, on a scale of 1-10, on the difficulty of choosing the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D) successor: "I give it probably an eight. It's a headache, in a way, politically that I don't need. But I think when you think about the greater good, the interests of the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the people's interests that are being voted on in the next few weeks and months in the Congress, we need that second voice to help John Kerry and to have a full complement of votes on those issues."
More Patrick: "I think when you think about stewardship as being the main driving idea here, knowing that the people get to go in a special election and choose their own senator in January of next year, stewardship was really what I was looking for. And Paul Kirk is a perfect steward."
After the jump, more Patrick and reviews of his pick, things get hot in the Sen. Finance Cmte, and the TX Gov. race.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Don't Mass With Kirk" »
"World News" with Pres. Obama's UN speech. "Evening News," led with Obama's UN speech and featured an interview with Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "Nightly News" led with Obama's UN speech and featured an interview with British PM Gordon Brown.
Talk about Obama's UN address dominated the cable talk 9/23 p.m.
Liz Cheney: "I was concerned about a number of places in the president's speech where he really sort of seemed to take shots at the previous administration, but also talk about things like nuclear disarmament, in the sense that, if the United States disarms, somehow, it will encourage the Iranians, the North Koreans to disarm. I do think that there was some naivete in this speech. And I think there was a lot of sort of places where he could have done more to talk about freedom, he could have done more to talk about democracy. Those words seemed to me to be missing from the speech" ("Situation Room," CNN, 9/23).
Weekly Standard's Hayes: "Think about the last sentence that we heard in the introduction there, 'When you question the cause or character of my country, think about the concrete actions of the last nine months.' Basically what President Obama is saying there, think about me when you think about the goodness or greatness of the United States" ("Special Report," FNC, 9/23).
CNN's Zakaria: "I think Obama struck exactly the right tone, which is to say, look, we have changed policy on a number of areas, and these were issues which the rest of the world thought the United States was dragging its feet on, not signing U.N. treaties, not being part of various international processes and protocols. Now you don't have the United States to blame anymore. So, are you going to now cooperate? It's exactly the right message" ("Campbell Brown," 9/23).
After the jump, more UN speech reax, the continued health care debate and ex-Rep. James Traficant unleashed.
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- People Came From Miles Around, Everyone Was There" »
"World News" and "Evening News" led with floods in the South. "Nightly News" led with Pres. Obama's global warming policy.
Pols talked Afghanistan on TV 9/22 p.m.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on ex-Sec/State Condoleezza Rice's statements: "I mean there is no doubt that al Qaeda would reestablish a base. Taliban, who by the way is not popular, would return and parts of Afghanistan would be under Taliban control. At least parts. I think it's very obvious. If you don't believe that you are ignoring lessons of history" ("Hannity," FNC, 9/22).
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), on whether he'd support Obama if he decided to send more troops to Afghanistan: "If it is ... with clear conditions of an exit strategy that is focused not on nation-building, but is focused only on about 30 percent of the 20,000 Taliban that have been al Qaeda-ized and making them irrelevant. That is a requirement for the increase in troops. If he does that, I will do it, because we rely upon the Afghanistan military to build itself up after we let this spiral so far down there" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 9/22).
Ex-Sen. George Allen (R-VA): "It's not going to be a Jeffersonian democracy but a stable country that is not a haven for terrorists who want to kill as many Americans as possible, as well as destabilize Pakistan. And if you destabilize Pakistan it also could have an impact on India. So this is much bigger than the tactics of whether or not the government takes over health insurance" ("Hannity," FNC, 9/22).
After the jump, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu denies namecalling and health care talk.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- I Do Give a Damn, Next Stop is Afghanistan" »
"World News" led with Gen. Stanley McChrystal's assessment. "Evening News" led with the terror suspect arrest. "Nightly News" led with swine flu.
Pres. Obama's TV blitz continued 9/21 p.m. with his first appearance on the "Late Show" as POTUS.
Obama, on the economy: "It is improving. We've seen some stabilizing. The financial markets aren't in meltdown. You've actually seen an uptick in investment, [and] even manufacturing, which had been really getting battered, has started to improve. But we are not out of the woods yet. Things are still fragile. ... The biggest problem that we have right now is that employment lags."
Obama, on whether Jimmy Carter is "on to something" when he says people's disrespect is rooted in "racism": "First of all, I think it's important to realize that I was actually black before the election."
Obama: "One of the things you sign up for in politics is, folks yell at you."
After the jump, More Obama on Letterman, Sec/State Hillary Clinton is interviewed, and ex-House Maj. Leader Tom Delay (R) dances
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Blitzkrieg Bop" »
"World News" and "Evening News" led with the scrapping of the eastern European missile defense shield. "Nightly News" led with the eastern European missile defense shield scrapping and featured an interview with Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
House Min. Leader John Boehner went on "NewsHour" 9/17 p.m. to discuss the latest in health care.
Boehner, on the Baucus bill: "There clearly are some things in there that Republicans do support. But when you step back and look at this, it still has a big government takeover of our health care system, whether it's the co-ops, whether it's the mandates on individuals, the mandates on companies, the unfunded mandates on states, and still costs some $800 billion of money that we don't have."
More Boehner: "And so a step in the right direction, but Democrats and Republicans understand that we do have the best health care system in the world. It's not perfect. And we can fix the problems in the current system without throwing the whole system away and starting over with this government takeover, because at the end of the day that's what it is."
Boehner, on why a "reset" is needed: "I don't believe that any of these health plans that we've seen thus far from the Democrats in Congress can pass in any way, shape, or form."
After the jump, Boehner on the discourse, Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Mike Rogers (R-MI) mix it up, and Ted Kennedy, Jr. on a Senate run.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Simmer Down, Now" »
"World News" and "Evening News" led with Sen. Max Baucus' (D-MT) health care bill. "Nightly News" led with reaction to Jimmy Carter's comments on race.
RNC chair Michael Steele made the TV rounds 9/16 p.m. to react to Carter's comments.
Steele, on his response to Carter's comments: "I'll make it as short and sweet and simple as possible: you're just dead wrong. I think the president's interpretation of what racism is is not a reflection of what this is about. And the reality of it is, this is about policy [and] differences in how we approach solving some of these issues that we're confronting on health care and the economy."
More Steele: "When you go down this road and you start just willy-nilly, as I believe President Carter has, throwing race out there, you diminish real instances of ... racism that needs to be addressed" ("Situation Room," CNN, 9/16).
After the jump, more Steele, reax to the Baucus bill, all things ACORN.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Habitat for Enmity" »
"World News" led with the rise in consumer spending. "Evening News" led with the swine flu vaccine. "Nightly News" led with the swine flu vaccine and featured a taped interview with Jimmy Carter.
In that interview with "Nightly News" 9/15 p.m., Carter discussed what he believes to be the motives behind some of the protests against Pres. Obama.
Carter: "An overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact he is a black man, that he's African-American. I've lived in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way. I've seen the rest of the country that shared the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans."
More Carter: "That racism in connection still exists, and I think has bubbled up to the surface because of a belief among many white people, not just in the South but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance and grieves me and concerns me very deeply" (NBC, 9/15).
After the jump, reax to Carter, the House rebuke on Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Obama's Pittsburgh address
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Get Carter " »
"World News" led with the raid on suspected terrorists in NYC. "Evening News" was pre-empted for tennis, but aired a west coast edition that led with the economy and featured a taped intv with Treas. Sec. Geithner. "Nightly News" led with the economy.
Pres. Obama sat down for interviews on the business nets 9/14.
Obama, on whether he should have scaled back his agenda because of the financial crisis: "It wasn't a mistake. What I said was that we were going to have to do financial regulatory reform to make sure that this doesn't happen again. We were going to have to build an economy that was based not on boom and bust, but on a firmer foundation of sustained economic growth."
More Obama: "I want to be absolutely clear: I believe in the market. I think that's the way we generate jobs. I have absolutely no interest in having the government maintaining the levels of intervention that we have right now in the financial markets."
Obama, on why he didn't walk the floor of the stock exchange: "There was nothing symbolic there. That was just the fact that these days I create disruptions wherever I go."
More Obama: "One of the things that we did with the recovery package in the first place was anticipating that jobs would be lagging. We said this is a two-year program, not a one-year program. And that's why when critics of the stimulus say, 'Look, only this much money has gone out so far,' it was designed to be two years because we knew that state budgets are still going to be pinched, businesses are still going to be wary of making big investments, and consumers haven't gotten confidence back."
After the jump, more Obama, Geithner is interviewed and the passing of ex-Jimmy Carter aide Jody Powell.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Wall Street Blues" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's speech. "Evening News" led with Rep. Joe Wilson (D-SC) . "Nightly News" led with Pres. Obama's speech.
Wilson appeared on "Hannity" on 9/10 p.m. to discuss his outburst.
Wilson, on the WH reaction to his apology: "They were very gracious in accepting my apology, and said, 'Let's get on to discuss the issues,' and that's what we need to be doing."
Wilson, on illegal immigrants getting health insurance: "They could get the insurance. They could get the benefits, they could get the subsidies. And the reason I know this is because I served on a committee where we considered amendments. And then followed the amendments on other committees, the Energy and Commerce, on Ways and Means, and I noticed that the Democrats had defeated the amendments that would provide for enforcement. And the verification of citizenship."
More Wilson: "And so when the president said this, I knew what he was saying was not accurate. I do apologize for speaking out, but what was said was not accurate."
After the jump, more Wilson and ex-Rep. James Traficant (D-OH) goes "On the Record."
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Oh, Miiister Wilsooon!" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with the health care speech and hosted Obama sr. advisor David Axelrod.
Reaction Obama's speech dominated TV last night, with many pols and pundits weighing in.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on Obama's "power to kill of senior citizens" comment: "I think that the president made an unnecessary comment there" ("LKL," CNN, 9/9).
House Min. Whip Eric Cantor: "I really sat there aghast with those kind of claims and the hyperbole that was used. We need some adult sense of responsibility here. We need to try and produce the reforms that we know that the American people want" ("Hannity," FNC, 9/9).
Ex-Obama deputy mgr. Steve Hildebrand: "I think tonight was a game-changer for this health care reform debate. And I do think he really hit this out of the ballpark. He explained in very clear terms what he stands for, what he believes, and the principles that he's going to fight for, continue to fight for in this health care reform debate, so, yes, I'm very pleased" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 9/9).
After the jump, more on Obama's speech and reaction to GOP heckling.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Tomatoes and Roses" »
"World News" led with Obama's school speech. "Evening News" led with health care. "Nightly News" led with Obama's school speech.
Both politicians and pundits weighed in on cable what the hope - and hope not - to hear from Obama in his address to Congress on 9/8 p.m.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), on what he wants to hear from Obama: "I think the president thinks that he can do anything with words. And he's still campaigning, and I'm glad he's taking this opportunity to talk to us and the American people, and we need to listen to what he says. But I want to hear him defend his bill. ....I don't want to hear generalities. I don't want to hear any more false promises, you know, based on these government solutions. He needs to defend his plan and not just criticize those of us who are presenting alternatives" ("On the Record," FNC, 9/8).
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), predicting what Obama will do: "I think ... the president of the United States is going to do what only presidents can do, which is stand up and make the case."
Weiner, on what he wants Obama to say tonight: "The idea that the federal government can't administer a health care plan has to be rebutted forcefully by the president of the United States. ... And, frankly, without a public option, just the same way the president said opponents need to stand up and say what their choice was, the president has to do that tomorrow night as well" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 9/8).
After the jump, more on Obama's speech, part of his interview with ABC's Roberts and the public option.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Did Somebody Say There Was A Speech Tonight? " »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with health care.
FL GOP chair Jim Greer appeared on "Campbell Brown" with Daily Beast's John Avlon and syndicated columnist David Sirota on 9/7 p.m.
Greer, on whether his previous criticism of the Obama classroom speech was a mistake: "No ... I didn't make a mistake. I think the speech that we will see tomorrow, I still don't believe necessarily it's the one that would have been given three days ago."
Greer, on the WH saying it's the same speech: "The White House says it is. And I certainly respect them for promoting their position. But we have to remember the lesson plans that came out five days ago, which was an end-run by the White House to try and get around parents."
After the jump, more on the classroom controversy, Laura Bush and the Van Jones resignation.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- School Infraction Traction " »
"World News" led with health care. "Evening News" led with the inspector general's report on the Bernard Madoff investigation. "Nightly News" led with the CA wildfires.
Obama sr. adviser David Axelrod made the TV rounds pushing health care 9/2 p.m.
Axelrod, on why Obama is addressing the nation on health care next week, and whether Obama felt like the debate was "slipping away from him": "No, I think that we've gone through months and months of debate and discussion. All the ideas are on the table now. It's a new season. It's a new phase of this debate and it seems appropriate as we enter the final weeks for the president to address the nation and talk about how we're going to provide stability and security to people who have health insurance and help those who can't afford insurance get the coverage they need."
Axelrod, on how "specific" Obama's speech will get: "I don't think anybody will leave the speech without a strong sense of how ... he believes we should proceed. ... I think it's going to be very, very clear by the time the speech is done that he sees a clear path to how we can provide stability and security to people who have insurance. And how he can help those who don't have insurance get the coverage they need."
After the jump, more on Obama's speech to Congress, health care and conservative reaction to Obama's address to classroom students.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Ensuring Health Insurance" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" led with the CA wildfires.
The recent discovery of ex-AG Bob McDonnell's (R) Masters thesis was discussed on "Hardball" last night.
Independent Women's Forum's Michelle Bernard talked about the thesis on 9/1 p.m.
Bernard, on examining McDonnell's thesis: "Here's the dynamic you have to look at. Sometimes, you might say, well, you can't say that somebody believes the things that they wrote or that they have not evolved if they wrote a thesis, say, at age 21 or 22. He was a 34-year-old man when he wrote this. ... It absolutely wasn't the indiscretion of youth."
More Bernard: "Second question, then, is, did he write this because he thought this would be appealing to the teachers at Pat Robertson's school, a very far-right conservative school, or did he write this because he actually believes it? Women are one of the most important voting blocs in the country."
MSNBC's Matthews: "You're saying his defense would be he was sucking up to a professor."
Bernard: "It could be his defense. ... It doesn't mean it is a defense that would win."
After the jump, more on the VA Gov race and health care.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Old McDonnell Had A Thesis" »
"World News" led with the CA wildfires. "Evening News" led with Afghanistan and the roadside bombing that killed an American soldier and injured CBS' Cami McCormick. "Nightly News" led with the CA wildfires.
Health care and the CIA were the main topics discussed last night.
Ex-Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) appeared on "Your World" on 8/31 p.m.
Dole, on reform: "This is probably about the most important domestic legislation that Obama will deal with in the first four years. He is hoping for four more, but in the first four. And he ought to be proud of it. And it ought to be the Obama bill."
More Dole, pushing for bipartisanship: "If you got, say, 20 Republicans voting in the Senate for this bill, it's going to have a lot more credibility and the American people are going to be more willing to accept it."
Dole, on advice he'd give the GOP with regards to reform: "I said, don't get in this mode where you are just going to be against everything. ... have something to offer. ... And if you get just party-line votes, at least you have offered something. And you're going to leave out the public option and all these poison pills that are in the bill. You are will be perceived by a lot of people in America as trying to do the right thing. But if you just don't do anything or oppose everything, that is the worst possible position for the Republican Party to be in" (FNC, 8/31).
After the jump, more on health care and the CIA investigation.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Dole-ing Out Advice" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the passing of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
Talk about Kennedy dominated the news coverage yesterday.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT): "We had tremendous fights the whole time, throughout his whole tenure and my whole tenure in the Senate, but when we got together, people would tend to get out of the way. They figured if Kennedy and Hatch can get together, anybody can" ("Situation Room," CNN, 8/26).
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): "He was a good and decent man. He espoused his cause with passion and fervor and dedication. I could trust his word. He was a person that I could trust and he was also a lot of fun to be around. But he loved the institution and he reached across the aisle. And we need some of that" ("Hannity," FNC, 8/26).
Ex-Sen. Birch Bayh (D-IN): "He could have had a life of ease, but he didn't. He spent his life helping for people who couldn't help themselves, whether they were the poor, the afflicted children that needed education, people who needed health care. Ted Kennedy was a champion for people who needed a champion" (Situation Room," CNN, 8/26).
After the jump, more on Kennedy and the health care debate.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX/ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A Good & Decent Man" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the economy.
Health care was a big topic of discussion on last night's TV shows, with RNC chair Michael Steele weighing in on the debate.
Steele went "On The Record" 8/25 p.m.
Steele, on why the GOP didn't reform healthcare when in power: "I don't have an idea, and I think, it's one of those flaws of the past that we tripped ourselves up on. We had a perfect opportunity even when we didn't have control of the House and Senate during the early days of [Bush's] first term to at least put in place some of the efforts to put our imprimatur, if you will, on the health care debate. But that's the past. And I understand that."
Steele, on Obama's tone: "I think the president set the tone at the very beginning of the stimulus debate when he said, 'I won,' which told everybody in the room where this was going to go and how it was going to go. So I get that. But don't then come back when the citizens of this country rise up because of the arrogance of your power, use of power, the arrogance of the policies you're putting in place, to say, 'That's not what we want,' to say that there's an orchestrated effort by Republicans to undermine this, when, in fact, that's not the case."
After the jump, more on health care, as well as the CIA investigation.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX/ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Steele Yourselves For A Fight" »
"World News" led with the official of Michael Jackson's death. "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the DoJ's decision to investigate CIA interrogation techniques.
The DoJ's decision to investigate CIA interrogation techniques during the Bush admin. was widely discussed on TV last night.
RNC chair Michael Steele made an appearance on "Your World" 8/24 p.m.
Steele, on the investigation: "I think it's unfortunate in the long and the short term. I think that clearly the attorney general did not get the memo from the president, and which I agreed with the president when he said he wanted to look forward and not backwards in dealing with these types of issues, second guessing ... your predecessor."
More Steele, on Obama: "I think it sets a bad precedent for the future. It sets a bad precedence for his own administration. He doesn't know what lies ahead for him, the things that he's going to confront as president, and he's setting a marker now that I think is very dangerous for any president to allow his administration to get into, and that is second guessing decisions you're making with respect to war and peace and terrorism and the like. So I'm disappointed, very disappointed, in the decision."
Steele: "The timing on this is always very interesting, coming out of the summer, into the fall, people are returning from vacation and so forth. So now this becomes a part of the national focus and debate while we try to deal with their failure to address sufficiently and I think smartly the health care issue that the nation's currently confronted with."
After the jump, more on the DoJ, as well as health care discussions.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX/ABBY LIVINGSTON)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Back To The Future" »
"World News" led with the wave of violence in Baghdad. "Evening News" led with the death of "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt. "Nightly News" led with a possible resurgence of the H1N1 virus.
Discussion of a possible reform bill without bipartisan support was discussed on TV last night.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) went "On the Record" 8/19 p.m.
Grassley, on whether there's "little hope" for a bipartisan deal: "I haven't given up yet, and I haven't said anything new since we adjourned for the summer break that I've been saying for the last three months. ... What you have to have when you're rejiggering one sixth of our U.S. economy, and when you're dealing with health care because that's life-and-death issue for every American, affecting every American citizen, it's got to be done with lots of Democrats and a lot of Republicans, and that's bipartisanship."
More Grassley: "And it's my responsibility to do something that would get broad support among Republicans, and it's Senator Baucus's Republican to get something that would get broad support among Democrats."
After the jump, more on health care, as well as a "Dancing with the Stars" update from Ex-House Maj. Leader Tom DeLay (R).
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- You're Either With Us Or Against Us" »
"World News" led with good news about the U.S. auto industry. "Evening News" led with election day in Afghanistan. "Nightly News" led with with the results of the NBC News poll on Pres. Obama.
The death of Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak was widely discussed on TV last night.
GOP strategist Mary Matalin: "He was an institution. He was an historian. He had encyclopedic of all things politics. He was delightful, even in referring to himself as the prince of darkness. And he was a true believer. When we did 'Crossfire' together, if there ever a topic that had a party line, he would say: 'Give that one to Mary. I'm only doing the true believer, prince of darkness, right-wing stuff.' He never, ever lost that sense of his principles, and was such a fine articulator of them" ("Situation Room," CNN, 8/18).
Newsweek's Clift: "He loved the battle. But he was a reporter. And as somebody who was a reporter, I really admired. He had sources everywhere, buried in every bureaucracy. And he married one of Lyndon Johnson's secretaries, for goodness sakes. So he had sources on the Democratic side as well as the Republican side" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 8/18).
Weekly Standard's Barnes: "Bob was a conservative, but he wasn't partisan. He would pound Republicans if he thought they were slipping away from the conservative position they should have taken, and Democrats, of course, were never there, so he would pound them as well. And he basically terrified official Washington. They were afraid of him because they knew he was an honest guy who would take any of them on. If he had good information, he was going to report it" ("Special Report," FNC, 8/18).
After the jump, more on Novak, as well as the continuing battle over health care reform.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Robert Novak, Remembered" »
"World News" led with the Obama WH possibly backing down on the public option. "Evening News" led with a possible setback in developing the H1N1 vaccine. "Nightly News" led with the biggest case of ID theft in U.S. history.
Discussion of whether there will be a public option in the final health care bill was all over TV last night, with pols and pundits alike weighing in.
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), on whether he would vote for a bill without a public option: "I don't even think I will have to, because they won't even bring that to the floor. In the House of Representatives, without a strong public plan, even stronger than the one we reported out of committee, I think it would have a very difficult time getting 218 votes."
More Weiner: "The president has to lead on this, and he has to say very clearly a public option is important, that we hold these insurance companies accountable and provide some competition. I would love to be the one carrying the ball for him, but, unless he says a public option is the way to go, I'm going to be a no, and so will a lot of people" ("Situation Room," CNN, 8/17).
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), on whether a public option can still happen: "I think this dispute over the public option really depends on how you define it. I think we can get a good public option through that even the U.S. Senate would think is a good reform. But it's very important that we define it carefully so that it appeals to folks in all 50 states."
More Cooper: "It's very important that the government plan not have any unfair advantage. I think we can construct one that does the key thing, and this is the most important issue and President Obama stressed it again and again, keep the insurance companies honest. We can put together a good public option that does exactly that" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 8/17).
After the jump, more on the public option.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Public (Option) Enemy #1" »
"World News" led with H1N1 flu virus concerns as students head back to school. "Evening News" led with discussions of the H1N1 virus at the N. American Summit. "Nightly News" led with Pres. Obama's discussion of health care at the N. American Summit.
The increasingly contentious health care debate at town hall meetings across the country were discussed across TV last night.
Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) played "Hardball" 8/10 p.m.
Inglis, at the disruptions taking place at some of the meetings: "I'm happy for people to come to town meetings. We had a great town meeting the other night, 350 people there. And some were there to express their very strong opposition to the bill. Opposition in some cases turned into hostility, and hostility turned into hysteria for a few. So a pretty wild time, but by and large it was a good event."
Inglis, on the fear behind some of the hysteria: "It is true, what we have to do is we have to figure out a way to get past the fear here. There are people out there that are selling fear, that trade on fear, and the result is that there isn't a good discussion. There are a lot of things to discuss in this health care plan and there are many reasons to be opposed. ... But that doesn't mean we need to be hysterical about that."
More Inglis: "What it means is we need to have a reasoned debate and say, 'These are our objections, and now here's what we could do that's a positive alternative to that.' And I think, if we could get past some of the hysteria and get the president open to dropping the public option ... we could actually get to a solution" (MSNBC, 8/10).
After the jump, more on health care and the town halls, as well as the war in Afghanistan.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Happy To Have You, Now Go Away" »
"Nightly News," "World News" and "Evening News" all led with the release of American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee from North Korea.
Bill Clinton's trip to North Korea and the pardon of Ling and Lee were all over the airwaves last p.m.
NM Gov. Bill Richardson (D) made the rounds to discuss Clinton and North Korea.
Richardson, on Clinton: "The fact that he saw Kim Jong-Il is huge. I never saw him. He only sees big shots, heads of state. And those were the signals. ... But what the president's trip does, it improves the atmospherics between the two countries. The relationship is really in bad shape right now. There's enormous tension. There's literally no dialogue. So, maybe what the bonus would be is President Clinton's visit could get both sides just to start talking. But I bet you there are no negotiations on nuclear issues going on" ("Situation Room," CNN, 8/4).
More Richardson: "Maybe this visit will lead to ... some kind of dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea, or maybe North Korea decides to resume participating in what is called a six-party talks with South Korea, Japan, Russia, China, to reduce their nuclear arsenal. So ... this is a good news trip, good news for both sides" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 8/4).
Richardson: "I knew, more or less, that it would be good news, that we'd get the release of the two American journalists."
On whether the Obama admin. had been keeping him informed of the situation: "Yes. Yes, I'd been working with them. They consulted me. I've been working with the North Koreans, with the families. But I wasn't involved in the last intricate negotiations that sent President Clinton. But I was very pleased when I learned that, number one, the word amnesty was being used by both sides. That means that the girls ... would be pardoned and that they wouldn't serve the hard labor and that they would be released by a presidential pardon by Kim Jong Il" ("LKL," CNN, 8/4).
After the jump, see more on North Korea, the protestors disrupting health care town halls and Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and ex-Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) hashing out the PA SEN race.
(MAURA O'BRIEN)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- North Korea By Northwest" »
"Nightly News" led with Continental 128's emergency landing. "World News" led with the effect of Cash for Clunkers on U.S. auto sales. "Evening News" also led with the increase in sales for U.S. automakers.
While health care reform and the Cash for Clunkers program were a strong presence on the airwaves 8/3 p.m., there was also a good amount of discussion about Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner and NEC dir. Lawrence Summers' weekend comments about potentially raising taxes.
CNN's Lothian: "The White House really trying to pour water on this, saying that this was nothing more, we shouldn't read into this beyond what they said, that the president really stands behind what he has always said in the past. And again, we were also told that the president met with his economic advisers today. Both Geithner and Summers were in that meeting, and he reiterated to them where he stood, sort of a way to clarify, if you will, where he stands on this" ("Situation Room," 8/3).
CNN's Crowley: "Here's the problem. When you put economists out to make political statements ... they should have backed off that. I mean, look, Larry Summers and Timothy Geithner are economists at the heart of it and they stated the truth. If you've got huge deficits, there's one of two things that you can do to bring that deficit down. The economy just explodes and it's great and everyone has a job or you raise taxes. So I just think you heard a little dose of realism there" ("Situation Room," 8/3).
Ex-AR Gov. Mike Huckabee (R): "Robert Gibbs had to dive on that grenade today because it was going off. And Summers and Geithner did the unthinkable. They spoke the truth. They said what everybody with a brain understands. You can't keep spending money like this and run up these deficits without at some point having to pay for it" ("On the Record," FNC, 8/3).
Conservative blogger Mary Katharine Ham, on Pres. Obama: "He's in a corner here. People are very upset about deficits. And you're going to hear more of that over August recess. So he wants to close the gap, but he also wants to spend a lot of money. ... The AP reports today that the estimates for tax revenue is going to go down 18 percent, which is the biggest drop since the '30s, I believe. So this is just a fundamental problem with what he wants to do and the amount of money he has to fund it especially with the economy still flailing" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 8/3).
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen, on whether Obama will raise taxes on the middle class: "He is not going to do it quickly, in any event. He is certainly going to wait until the recession is over and unemployment comes down. That may be a year-and-a-half, two years. ... Inevitably, the taxes are going to go up, and go up on the middle class. The administration will try first to take it out of people at the high end, but there is not enough money there. And one day, eventually, as -- as so many have done, if you spend a lot of money, as this administration wants to do, and as the Bush administration did, that combination of spending is going to force taxes to go up eventually."
More Gergen, on the timing of a potential tax hike: "I think to raise taxes now, first of all, would be bad economics, with a recession still underway and high unemployment. But, secondly, I think the political price of doing that now would be just horrendous, and Democrats would lose badly in the 2010 elections" ("AC360," CNN, 8/3).
After the jump, see more on the reaction to Geithner and Summers' comments, interviews with Trans. Sec. Ray LaHood, and how health care reform is playing over the recess.
(MAURA O'BRIEN)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Raise The Roof" »
"Nightly News," "World News" and "Evening News" all led with the WH beer summit.
Health care reform took a backseat on TV last night, as the WH "beer summit" with Henry Louis Gates and Sgt. James Crowley dominated the airwaves.
Among those who weighed in on the meeting:
FNC's Goler, on the beer summit: "I'm unimpressed. ... We had hoped for more. The president, as I said, had called this a teachable moment, but by many accounts over the two-week process of this controversy, lessons have already been learned" ("Special Report," 7/30).
CNN's Crowley, on the WH: "As far as they hope, this thing has moved on, as far as they're concerned. What they wanted to do was sort of launch Gates and Crowley off into their own universe and then move on, because, at this point, the president, despite all of the calls for having sort of national forums on race and racial profiling, he -- he just -- you know, we have -- we have the economy out there. We have health care out there. And they really have been knocked off their message since he jumped into it in the news conference" ("AC 360," 7/30).
CNN's Lothian: "The interesting thing about this, the White House really been pushing this meeting, but in the end, the media was kept about 40 feet back from the actual table. Didn't have a chance to ask any questions or hear anything about what's going on. So, you know, interesting, that it's a teachable moment, but we weren't able to really hear what that teachable moment was."
Lothian, on how many beers were consumed: "I mean, certainly, I don't think anybody wanted to get drunk at that event, because that would not have been a good image. So I doubt that they were imbibing too much around the table" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 7/30).
NBC's Guthrie: "Both men brought family members with them today, who got a tour of the White House. At one point, actually, the two groups ran into each other, merged, and then toured together" ("Nightly News," NBC, 7/30).
Journalist Stephen Smith: "With all due respect, let's call it what it is, a complete waste of time, something that has dragged on for entirely too long. It's been eight days that we've been talking about this non-story" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/30).
Dem strategist Paul Begala: "I think, I might have my history wrong, but I think Jimmy Carter brokered the Middle East peace deal between Egypt and Israel over Jell-O shooters at Hooters" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/30).
After the jump, see more on the WH beer summit, an interview with MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and the latest on the health care debate.
(MAURA O'BRIEN)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Beer For My Horses" »
"World News," "Nightly News" and "Evening News" all led with the new H1N1 vaccine guidelines.
Once again, health care dominated last night's TV coverage, this time focusing on the House compromise.
House Min. Leader John Boehner discussed health care in the "Situation Room" 7/29.
Boehner, on Pres. Obama denying that health care reform will be a gov't "takeover": "The facts just aren't there. It's clear in the legislation that after five years, you can't go out and buy a private health insurance policy. You have to go to one of the government exchanges. ... It's in the bill. ... It also says that after five years, all employer-provided health care, provided under ERISA, would have to have an approval from the Department of Labor and the health care choices czar, to make sure that the employer-provided plan meets appropriate federal standards. You can go through this one after another after another. And if you look at the public option, it's there. It's going to compete with the private sector."
More: "But it's pretty clear to most of us that it will undercut the private sector, not provide more competition, driving the private sector out of the market and leaving people with only one option -- and that's the government plan."
Boehner, on the House bill: "It's 1,018 pages. That ought to be enough to tell you that this is a giant government bureaucracy that's going to drive up the cost of health care, drive up the cost of ... health insurance, deny millions of Americans their choice of doctor and eventually lead to rationing health care in America. This is not the kind of plan that Americans want. ... There are 53 new boards, agencies and commissions and agencies set up in this bill."
Boehner, on the prospects for a bipartisan bill: "Listen, I don't know what's going to happen over the next three or four months. But I believe that it's time to hit the reset button. Let's scrap this plan. Let's sit down in a bipartisan way and let's build on the current system, which is the envy of the world" (CNN, 7/29).
Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) stopped by "Your World" 7/29.
Matheson, on why he didn't go along with the compromise: "While some progress was made on the bill, I still have some just fundamental concerns about the structure of the bill and what they're talking about. I am not comfortable with the public plan, the way it has been set up. I think there are different ways to go about doing this. The Senate Finance Committee bill, for example, offers a different way of doing it with state-based co-ops. I just think we need to talk about some different ideas about how we structure this."
Matheson, on whether the co-op idea has been raised among Blue Dogs: "That's what we're trying to work through. But I think it merits consideration. It gets it out of the hands of Washington, D.C., and out of the government, quite frankly. ... At each state level, there would be a nonprofit co-op, just like we have now in the state of Washington and the state of Wisconsin. I think that is a model we ought to take a look at."
Matheson, on whether Obama has reason to feel confident on health care: "He has stayed out of giving specifics on what he really wants. ... I think what he says he wants for sure is, he wants to make sure we that actually control future costs. And we have got comfortable the bill just that. I don't think he's come out with a specific plan. And, to me, what he's looking -- well, I'm not here to speak for him" (FNC, 7/29).
After the jump, see more on the House health care compromise, as well as interviews with LA Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) and CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R).
(MAURA O'BRIEN)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Share The Health" »
"World News" led with the race to develop an H1N1 virus vaccine. "Evening News" led with the investigation into Dr. Conrad Murray's role in Michael Jackson's death. "Nightly News" led with the H1N1 vaccine.
Health care reform dominated last night's TV coverage.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) went on "Hannity" 7/28 p.m.
McCain, on whether Blue Dog Dems will continue to hold out on reform: "Traditionally and historically they bark but they don't bite. And in the case of other bills such as climate change, the speaker peels off enough of them in order to win and gives the other ones a free pass so I'm not confident that the Blue Dogs will hold fast. In fact, I think it's very likely they cave."
McCain, on the three GOPers and three Dems currently working together on reform, including a possible co-op option: "I think it's incrementalism. ... I don't know exactly what is going on among those six Republicans and Democrats, but I know that if they do away with the so-called government option that's not going to make a lot of the liberal Democrats very happy. So we'll have to wait and see" (FNC, 7/28).
After the jump, more on health care, as well as comments on the state of the GOP and an interview with ex-Sec/State Colin Powell.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Hey, It's Your Health Care" »
Yet again, new developments in the investigation into Michael Jackson's death were covered extensively on TV. When Jackson wasn't the focus, SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor was discussed, with health care and ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) resignation discussed as well.
"World News" led with new home sales rising 11%. "Evening News" led with the 911 call leading to Henry Louis Gates' arrest. "Nightly News" led with a study linking obesity to high health care costs.
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) made his first TV appearance on "Your World" since announcing he'll be voting against Sotomayor's nomination.
Sessions, on why he's voting no: "The reason is that I believe her speeches evidence an activist mentality, or a view that judges can allow their personal views and politics to influence decisions. ... And I'm sorry to say I have reached that conclusion. But I do believe that we need to be sure anyone who sits on the Supreme Court of the United States is committed to following the law as it is written and finding facts as they exist."
Sessions, on how many "no votes" Sotomayor may ultimately get: "I don't know. I see maybe Senator Grassley announced today that he would oppose the nomination. So, maybe all ... Republicans but one, perhaps, on the Judiciary Committee have indicated their opposition to the nomination. She has a lot of the votes in the Judiciary Committee."
After the jump, more from Sessions, as well as the continuing health care discussion and Palin's decision to step down.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- They Tried To Make Me Vote For Sonia, I Said No, No, No" »
"World News" led with the recent dip in Pres. Obama's approval ratings. "Evening News" and "Nightly News" both led with the search for captured U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl in Afghanistan.
Obama sat down with PBS' Lehrer for a newsmaker interview that aired on "NewsHour" 7/20 p.m.
The main topic of the conversation centered around the fight for a new health care plan.
Obama, on his interpretation of the dip in his poll numbers with regard to health care: "It means that what we're doing is hard and the truth is, I feel pretty good about the fact that our polls have held up under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. I think we may have set a very high bar for ourselves. Normally at 59 percent, folks would say, 'We'll take it.'"
More Obama: "On health care in particular, there's a reason why this hasn't been done in 50 years and that is because this is a big, complex situation. ... The congressional process, people are always a little suspicious of. I'm confident, though, that in the end, any bill I sign is going to make more people secure in their health care and it's going to drive down costs over the long term."
Obama, on whether he's still confident something will be passed by Aug. recess: "I think this is actually a good example of where the focus tends to be on what we haven't gotten done yet rather than what we've done. We have three out of the five committees that have jurisdiction over this thing have already passed a bill. We've got support from the American Medical Association, so the nation's doctors have said we are supportive of the president's approach."
After the jump, more from Obama's interview, as well as pol reaction to health care reform and an interview with Sec/State Hillary Clinton.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- All Drama Obama?" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's health care fight, and featured interviews with Obama.
Obama sat down with the three broadcast nets to discuss his health care plan.
Obama sat down with MSNBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman for an interview that aired on "Dr. Nancy" 7/15.
Obama, on whether he's concerned his health care message got "derailed" while he was out of the country: "Obviously, when I'm in the country, I am able to communicate a little more directly to the American people, and when I'm not, those who want to defend the status quo are getting their message out more effectively.
More Obama: "Congress, overall, has been making extraordinary progress. We are closer than we've ever been to fundamental reforms that provide people choice, make health care affordable, and solve some of these long-term structural problems that inhibit quality care. So I'm optimistic, but I also understand this is a big deal, a big issue."
Obama, on what the health care plan will require from the American people: "The American people have to recognize that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Right? So we can't just provide care to everybody that has no cost whatsoever, you don't end up having to make any decisions. So, obviously, we've got to have a system that controls costs, gives people choices, but makes sure that we're getting a good bang for the buck. And we've got to have the American people doing something about their own care" (MSNBC, 7/15).
After the jump, more of Obama's interviews, as well as reaction to Sonia Sotomayor's second say of questioning.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- I Am Obama, Hear Me Roar" »
"World News" led with the H1N1 flu summit. "Evening News" led with GM's reemergence from bankruptcy. "Nightly News" led with the IL grave resellings.
The CIA possibly misleading Congress was the big story on TV last night, with pols discussing it across the nets.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), on why he signed the letter to CIA dir. Leon Panetta: "This isn't really about Nancy Pelosi. As a member of the intelligence committee, what I am concerned about is I want to make sure that the CIA is open and honest with you. And clearly, members, Republican and Democrats alike, have complained that they have not been. Not just the CIA, but other aspects of the intelligence community. It's our duty and our right and our responsibility as members of Congress to insist that the CIA is open and honest with us. And clearly, they have not been, not just in the last eight years, but going back 30, 40 years."
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), in response: "I think if we want to have an investigation on specifics, on a specific failure, a criminal investigation, I look forward to it. I want to see it. What I'm concerned about ... is about the speaker. It is about a vague statement that they lie to us all the time, not that there was a program from 2001 that was never briefed in Congress. ... There were hundreds or thousands of programs that were never told to us that happened" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," CNN, 7/9).
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL): "This is serious. To not tell the United States Congress deliberately -- this wasn't an oversight, this wasn't an accident. There was a decision made at the very top levels not to tell the Congress about a very serious operation."
After the jump, more on the CIA, as well as new details on the Sen. John Ensign (R) affair, and Sen. Roland Burris' (D-IL) decision not to run for re-election.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Search Me" »
Much of the talk on TV last night centered around the economy, specifically the latest GAO report and whether a second stimulus package will be necessary.
Politico's Cummings, on whether Cong. Dems will push for a second stimulus: "My instinct is they certainly will not. I think that the Democrats on the Hill have sent the message back loud and clear that they couldn't pass it, even if the White House tried to make a case for it. I think what we've seen from the White House is that they've turned their attention to how they can get the current stimulus money out faster. ... If they can expedite that, then they can demonstrate some progress on that front" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 7/8).
House Min. Leader Mitch McConnell, on the possibility of a second stimulus: "We passed the first stimulus on the representation the president made that it would keep unemployment from going above 8 percent. Well, we now know it's going to go above 10 percent. And we just discussed how much interest we're paying every day on this ill-begotten venture. To suggest that we want to do it again is truly astonishing" ("On the Record," FNC, 7/8).
GOP strategist Mary Matalin: "The problem here is the political sloppiness of this. Biden says in one place we didn't know. Then why pass it within minutes? I would say that the Democrats and Republicans at the time were not going to read it, pass it, obvious they knew. Then Obama corrects him. We didn't have enough data. So on incomplete or we didn't know, we blew more than all we spent in Iraq in seven years? That's a big stimulus. Half the Democrats saying stimulus 2. The other half saying, no. It's a lot of sloppy politics" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/8).
After the jump, more on the stimulus, as well as discussion about health care, AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and reports on Obama's trip abroad.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Just Say No" »
"World News" and "Evening News" both led with Michael Jackson's will. "Nightly News" led with CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) declaring a fiscal emergency in CA.
During an appearance on "O'Reilly Factor," WH dep. press sec. Bill Burton was asked if Obama will break his campaign pledge to raise the money to pay for the new health care plan by taxing people who earn less than $250K a year on the health care benefits they get from their jobs.
Burton: "I want to be crystal clear about where we are right now in this moment negotiating out where health care reform is going to end up. The president has been clear that that is not what he prefers. He put his principles forth in the campaign. He's been talking about them as president. And right now, we're sitting down at the table with Republicans and Democrats, folks in the House and in the Senate, to try to find the best way forward. When he began this process, he didn't carve his plan into stone tablets."
NPR's Williams: "But Bill, this is a read my lips moment. Don't you think? This is something that he pledged during the campaign. ... So if he believes this, why doesn't he say this to the people who are working on the legislation?"
Burton: "For starters, you don't get more people to the table and more people to talk to you about reform by immediately closing people out of it, by waving your veto pen and saying things you're not for to begin with. People know exactly where the president stands. ... We want to keep this table as big as possible. We want to keep everybody in their chairs" (FNC, 7/1).
After the jump, more on health care, as well as continued speculation over SC Gov. Mark Sanford (R).
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- We Will, We Will Raise Your Taxes" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" all led with the FDA panel's recommended ban on prescription painkillers.
Last night's guests weighed in on the unanimous MN Supreme Court decision naming entertainer Al Franken (D) the winner in his months-long SEN contest against ex-Sen. Norm Coleman (R).
MN's "other" senator, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), on Franken's victory: "He really has been waiting for this moment now for eight months since the election. He really wants to focus on health care ... to make health care more affordable for all Americans and he's ready to go. I think this time has actually given him time to get his staff together and to figure out exactly what he wants to focus on in Washington. So, while it has been a tremendously long time for my staff, they've done double the work for the people of Minnesota, I think he's ready to go."
Klobuchar, on Coleman: "Norm Coleman had such grace today when he conceded this election. I talked to him on the phone but I also know that this was a very difficult time for him and for his family. And he didn't have to do this. His chances would have been small but he could have gone up to the U.S. Supreme Court. He could have gone to federal court, and he did what he felt was right for the state of Minnesota. So, all in all, our people have been patient, but they were ready for this to end. And it's a good day today for our state" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 6/30).
RNC chair Michael Steele, on whether he thinks Franken really won the race: "I don't. I think that this is just craziness at its worst here. ... The whole thing is suspect at best, but look, my hat goes out to my good friend Norm Coleman. He fought the good fight. He really was a good public servant for the folks of Minnesota. I think they're going to rue the day on this one. I think they already have, quite frankly" ("Hannity," FNC, 6/30).
After the jump, NSA James Jones takes on his critics and sizes up the situations in Iran and Iraq.
(FELICIA SONMEZ)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Minnesota Nice" »
"World News" and "Evening News" both led with the Bernie Madoff sentencing. "Nightly News" led with Michael Jackson's death.
Last night's guests weighed in on the SCOTUS reversing the New Haven firefighters case decision endorsed by SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
FNC's Hume, on why the ruling is "likely to deal no more than a glancing blow" to Sotomayor's confirmation prospects: "For one thing, the court was narrowly divided with four justices basically agreeing with Judge Sotomayor's position. That hardly constitutes a stinging rebuke. Sotomayor had also been criticized for failing to address serious constitutional questions raised by this case, in which white firefighters were effectively denied promotions based on their skin color. But the Supreme Court did not address those constitutional questions either."
More Hume: "I just think that on the basis of this case, the court, short of affirming what she had done, did her about as much good as they could do" ("Special Report," 6/29).
NBC's P. Williams: "While the majority does reverse her today, they don't come down on her like a ton of bricks. There's no wording in this ruling today saying, man, were they ever wrong" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 6/29).
CNN's Borger: "It does give her critics some new ammunition to say that she's a judicial activist, that she rules based on empathy rather than the law. However, her supporters will say that what this proves today is that it's just the opposite. That, in fact, the Second Circuit, including Judge Sotomayor, followed precedent, and that what the Supreme Court did today was offer a new interpretation of the civil rights law. So, this is clearly something we're going to be hearing more about" ("Situation Room," 6/29).
After the jump, WH press sec. Robert Gibbs on "Don't ask, don't tell" and SC LG Andre Bauer's (R) pressure on SC Gov. Mark Sanford (R) to resign.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- She's Seen Fire And She's Seen Rain" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Michael Jackson's death.
When Michael Jackson's death wasn't being discussed, talk centered around SC Gov. Mark Sanford (R), and the revelation he visited his Argentine mistress during a state-funded trip to South America in '08.
CNN's Hill: "A day after confessing to an extramarital affair, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford today admitting he saw his mistress in Argentina a year ago, while there on a government-funded trip. In a statement he promised to reimburse the state for what he called a mistake" ("AC 360," 6/25).
CNN's Yellin: "The fact that he has now acknowledged that he visited with this woman while he was on a taxpayer-funded trip certainly raises the political stakes for him and the pressure on his future in politics" ("Situation Room," 6/25).
CNN's Borger, on whether the issues are "over" for Sanford if he reimburses the state for his '08 Argentina trip: "No, I don't think it is, because what it is an admission that he did something that he should not have done. And I think this gives his political opponents, many of whom are in the Republican Party in that state, an opportunity to perhaps say that we ought to impeach him. And while it's early to talk about that, nobody has called for that at this particular point, I think that this does give them an opening" ("Situation Room," 6/25).
After the jump, more on Sanford and the possibly nat'l implications of his indiscretions.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Man In The Mirror" »
"World News," Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with SC Gov. Mark Sanford's (R) admission of an affair.
All angles of the Sanford affair were covered on last night's TV coverage. One of the remaining questions is whether Sanford will resign as gov.
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer: "He is toast politically. And resigning from the Republican Governors' Association chairmanship is not going to do it, and the reason is that there is a dereliction of duty here. ... The governor of the state is chief executive, and if there is a disaster in the state, and this guy is incommunicado ... you cannot recover from that. I think he doesn't last a week in the office of governor."
More Krauthammer: "And the idea that he could actually have an affair in Argentina as an acting governor is sort of insane. ... You can't hide it. I don't want to play psychiatrist on the show every night. However, the oddity of this and the self-destructiveness would suggest even to a layman that this is a near intentional political suicide" ("Special Report," FNC, 6/24).
Politico's Allen: "He may wind up resigning. This is South Carolina. This is not going to play. This is not David Paterson in New York. ... In every way, he showed that there was no survival plan here. The fact that he went out there without his wife. That's disastrous in South Carolina" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 6/24).
Ex-Sanford CoS/SC state Sen. Tom Davis: "I don't think he should resign. ... In his statement ... he says he wants to devote his energy and the time remaining in office to building back the trust of the people of the state. And I think he deserves that shot. I think that South Carolinians, in particular, and Americans in general, have a tremendous capacity for forgiveness, if the person is truly contrite."
More Davis: "I also think those same individuals can spot a hypocrite. And so I think the burden is on the governor to go forward and to make his peace and to build his trust with the people of South Carolina. And I think he deserves that chance. And I take him at his word when he says he's going to try" ("LKL," CNN, 6/24).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- This Stuff's Made In New York City!" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's fourth news conference. "World News" also featured a taped interview with Obama.
During a joint appearance on "NewsHour," Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) were asked for their thoughts on Obama's response to Iran during the news conference.
Graham: "The president did today what I was hoping he would do before because he is the leader of the free world, not me. His voice does matter. He's an eloquent spokesman for freedom, and I think what he said today will penetrate in Iran, and I'd like to see the U.N. Security Council, led by us, condemn the Iranian regime. I'd like to see more sanctions. And I'd like to see the president continue to speak out about freedom in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, because he is such a strong voice for these ideas. So that was my criticism."
Kerry, asked if he heard something materially different from Obama today: "The president has been absolutely square on and correct in his statements about Iran. You know, there's a difference between politics and statesmanship. And the president has to be a statesman and the leader of our nation in terms of foreign policy."
After the jump, more Iran, interview with Obama on health care and the return of SC Gov. Mark Sanford (R).
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A War Of Words" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" were all preempted by local coverage of the DC metro crash.
The disappearance of SC Gov. Mark Sanford (R) was a hot topic on TV last night. The roundtable on "Hardball" concluded the whole situation was "weird."
Salon.com's Walsh: "It's still a pretty interesting story because even if what they're saying now holds true, that he went to take some time for himself to work on something he's writing, well, why didn't he say that in the first place? Why didn't his wife know where he was? Also, why didn't he clearly leave state government in somebody else's hands?"
More Walsh: "All the accounts that I've read, nobody could reach him, not his wife, not his staffers. And that's why people started getting alarmed today. So there's protocol. When Arnold Schwarzenegger had surgery, you turn things over to your lieutenant governor. You do not just disappear. The question is what was he writing? The best possible explanation is still pretty terrible, which is Mark Sanford is totally distracted from South Carolina by the business of running for the 2012 nomination."
MSNBC's Matthews: "You've raised the issue of misery, of Steven King disappearing for a few days and trying to finish off his book, like James Caan did in the movie, when Kathy Bates got a hold of him."
After the jump, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) says no to a CA GOV run and more on Iran.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Misery Loves Company" »
"World News" led with severe weather. "Evening News" and "Nightly News" both led with a plane landing safely after pilot's death.
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) made the TV rounds last night to discuss Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) criticism of Pres. Obama's response to the situation in Iran.
Kerry, on McCain saying Obama is not taking the leadership that is incumbent upon a POTUS: "I don't know where he was when the president went to Cairo and gave a speech and stood up in Cairo and talked about democracy and the rights of women and people to be able to express their views. I think the president has been more than powerfully heard across the world about his support for those kind of movements."
More Kerry: "For the president of the United States to get in the middle of what is happening in Iran right now, I believe -- and I think many people believe -- would be an enormous mistake, because it just gives the Iranian clerics, who are already, in some cases, oppressive and restrictive with respect to what people in Iran can do -- more excuse to make America the target and America an excuse for their actions."
More after the jump, including McCain on Obama's approval numbers and George W. Bush's recent remarks.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Kerry On My Wayward Son " »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the situation in Iran.
During a 6/16 interview with CNBC, Pres. Obama spoke out against FNC, saying he has one TV net "entirely devoted to attacking" his admin. Most of the FNC anchors responded on their respective shows last night.
FNC's Bill O'Reilly: "Are we unfair to President Obama? Let's look at it methodically. First of all, a study by the Pew Research Center said flat out FOX NEWS had the most balanced coverage of the presidential campaign in the cable news world. That is irrefutable. Secondly, the president is now moving the country left. So, Reagan conservatives like Sean Hannity are going to have a problem with that, so will Libertarians like Glenn Beck. There are very few conservative Republicans on TV, so that may be why the president is horrified by some criticism. I mean, everybody knows liberals own the media."
More O'Reilly: "In the FOX lineup, Bret Baier seems to be neutral, so does Shepard Smith and Greta [Van Susteren]. FOX NEWS commentators Alan Colmes, Juan Williams, Mara Liasson, Marc Lamont Hill, Ellis Henican and Bob Beckel all generally support President Obama. Neil Cavuto's a fiscal conservative. ... Anyone who watches this broadcast knows I've tried hard to be fair to the president, often giving him the benefit of the doubt. Well, my job's to look out for you. So, when the president's policies are wrong, in my opinion, I say it, just as I say it when he does something right."
After the jump, more FNC/Obama, same-sex benefits, financial regulation proposals and Sen. John Ensign's (R-NV) affair.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- All's Fair In Love And Media?" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the continuing protests in Iran.
During a sit-down with CNBC's Harwood, Pres. Obama was asked about the situation in Iran.
Harwood: "You took your time reacting to the protests in Iran after the election. What are you watching for in the handling of those protests and in the investigation of the results, and how will that influence the dialogue that you seek to have with Iran?"
Obama: "It's important to understand that although there is amazing ferment taking place in Iran, that the difference between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi in terms of their actual policies may not be as great as has been advertised. Either way, we were going to be dealing with an Iranian regime that has historically been hostile to the United States, that has caused some problems in the neighborhood and is pursuing nuclear weapons. And so we've got long-term interests in having them not weaponize nuclear power and stop funding organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas. And that would be true whoever came out on top in this election."
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- False Advertising" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with protests in Iran over the election. "Evening News" also hosted Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Much of last night's TV talk focused on what Pres. Obama should be doing in response to the protests in Iran.
BBC's Kay: "The kind of mess that you have in Iran at the moment makes it difficult for the Obama administration to know how to play their cards, how to engage. ... If Ahmadinejad stays in power, the Obama administration is going to have to carry on dealing with them. And if they have come out here in Washington ... forcefully saying, 'We dispute this election,' that's going to weaken their position, potentially, dealing with
him in the future" ("Harball," MSNBC, 6/15).
Weekly Standard's Hayes: "It's good that he said something. Let's get that out there. But saying only that he is only deeply troubled, that puts him above the French in his level of outrage. I don't think that is a good place to be" ("Special Report," FNC, 6/15).
Johns Hopkins Univ. prof. Fouad Ajami, on whether Obama should speak out and denounce the results: "What could he say? The critics of President Obama are making this election a verdict on President Obama. This has nothing to do with the President Obama. As the election in Lebanon, a week or so ago had nothing to do with President Obama. This is really an account in Iran, between those who want liberty and those who want piety" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," CNN, 6/15).
After the jump, more Iran and health care.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Give Peace A Chance" »
"World News" led with the Holocaust museum shooter being charged with murder. "Evening News" led with the Senate passage of the FDA tobacco bill. "Nightly News" led with the swine flu being declared a global pandemic.
Most of last night's TV coverage centered around news about the Holocaust museum shooter, swine flu and other miscellaneous topics. There was also some talk of Pres. Obama's health care pitch at a WI town hall meeting.
MSNBC's Schultz: "He took it to the heartland today, Green Bay, Wisconsin, where there's been a lot of tough times. The president punched back, he slammed right-wingers for creating a bogeyman, but President Obama also had a serious message aimed at conservative Democrats: any reform plan must include a public option" ("Ed Show," 6/11).
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on Obama's criticism of his proposal to tax health benefits during the campaign: "He spent tens of millions of dollars attacking me on that. ... Life isn't fair, elections have consequences and it's interesting how there's been numerous shifts on the president's positions on a number of issues since the election" (FNC, 6/11).
Ex-Bush speechwriter David Frum: "This is vintage Barack Obama. You appear as if ... if you want a middle ground and then elbow your opponents while they're not looking. The president, I think, has the votes. He's got the power. One thing about this taxing of benefits, by the way. A footnote to history. This was an idea that originated at the Heritage Foundation during the term of the first President Bush, because it actually doesn't make a whole lot of sense that health care benefits are excluded. They're income. Why aren't they treated as income? And that's actually the source of the irrationality. It was a John McCain idea, too" ("Situation Room," CNN, 6/11).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Throw Dem Bows " »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the Holocaust museum shooting.
During last night's "Late Show," CBS' David Letterman addressed the controversy surrounding the recent jokes he made about AK Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter.
Letterman: "We were, as we often do, making jokes about people in the news, and we made some jokes about Sarah Palin, and her daughter, the 18-year-old girl ... Bristol. ... So, now they're upset with me. Let me read you how upset they are, because I didn't realize this until today. ... Keep in mind, I can't really defend these. They're just jokes. It's like, some jokes are fine. Some jokes are not fine. And of course we make mistakes left and right."
Letterman went on to read the statements from both Palin and her husband, Todd.
More Letterman: "I'm not necessarily proud of these jokes. I mean, we do stuff all the time, and our objective here is to get a laugh and, thank God, we don't have to go to the Hague before the world court to defend them. It's a joke, that's all it's supposed to be. ... Everything the governor and Todd said, I absolutely agree with."
After the jump, more Letterman and Speaker Nancy Pelosi on health care reform.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Don't Call Me Daughter" »
"World News" led with the Obama admin. allowing big banks to repay TARP money. "Evening News" led with airline safety. "Nightly News" led with the pending sale of Chrysler.
Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) threatened to hold up Senate business until Congress passes legislation blocking the release of photos showing detainee abuse.
Graham went "On the Record" about their threat.
Graham: "The Senate unanimously allowed Senator Lieberman and myself to put an amendment into the supplemental bill, war funding bill, that would be outcome-determinative in court, that would allow the government to win at the Supreme Court on this issue. And the House, the Progressive Caucus, has been in revolt, and I am now being told they've stripped that language. ... The most liberal people in the House are saying they won't vote for the supplemental bill to fund the war if these photos are protected from being released."
More Graham: "And I will do anything I can to make sure that the language that Senator Lieberman and I came up with preventing these photos from being released, anything, shutting down the Senate, anything. ... Let me just say the Democratic leadership in the Senate was terrific."
More after the jump, including TARP money, health care and SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Speak Now Or Forever Hold Up Business" »
"World News" (from Boston) led with the SCOTUS delaying sale of Chrysler. "Evening News" led with Pres. Obama pressing cabinet to speed stimulus spending. "Nightly News" led with the Air France investigation.
AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R) is back in the spotlight, particularly due to her recent interview with FNC's Sean Hannity.
Palin, on the current state of the economy: "The federal government is about $11 trillion in debt, and we're borrowing more to spend more. It defies any sensible economic policy that any of us ever learned going through college, defies economy practices and principles that tell you you've got to quit digging that hole when you are in that financial hole. ... America is digging a deeper hole, and how are we paying for this government largesse? We're borrowing from China."
More Palin: "And when you consider that now we own 60 percent of General Motors, or the U.S. government does, consider, but who is the U.S. government becoming more and more indebted to? It's China. So that leads you to have to ask, who really is going to own our car industry, then, in America?"
Hannity: "It does harken back a little to the campaign. Spread the wealth, patriotic duty."
Palin: "Kind of a 'we told you so'?"
Hannity: "Well, is that how you feel?"
Palin: "That's how I feel."
After the jump, more Palin, stimulus spending and the sale of Chrysler.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- For Palin, Feeling Is Believing" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's Cairo speech.
The Cairo speech continued to be the talk of the TV.
ABC's Tapper: "The tenor and the tone of what the president is saying is markedly different from what he said as a candidate, but it is, of course, a different day" ("World News," 6/4).
CBS' Reid: "At 55 minutes, the speech was the president's longest yet, but amid all those words there was not a single specific new policy" ("Evening News," 6/4).
NBC's Todd: "The president used this speech to talk to three or four different audiences, including explaining Islam to Americans, explaining America to Muslims and trying to jumpstart a conversation between Israelis and the Arab world" ("Nightly News," 6/4).
CNN's Amanpour: "The results that are coming in terms of reaction from the Muslim world are showing a quite uniform praise for this speech. Many people are saying this is a completely different way than we've ever been addressed by the president of the United States" ("Situation Room," 6/4).
More after the jump, including an interview with Sec/State Hillary Clinton.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- We're All Ears" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's arrival in Saudi Arabia and Osama bin Laden's new tape.
A majority of last night's TV talk focused on what Obama should and shouldn't say in his Cairo speech. We will have reaction from the a.m. shows on the speech later today in The Hotline. Meanwhile, SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor also continued to be a hot topic of discussion.
During an interview with FNC's Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh was asked about saying Sotomayor's "wise Latina woman" comment was "reverse racism."
Limbaugh: "I got a little grief from people for saying that there's no such thing as reverse racism, just call her a racist, and they're right. That is a racist thing to say, and it's bigoted, and she would bring, no question about it, racism and bigotry to the court if she is confirmed."
More Limbaugh: "But I've been thinking about this, and there's something else going on with Sonia Sotomayor. We don't know what she thinks about Roe versus Wade. She hasn't said. ... She has no record. ... If I could be assured that she is actually a pro-life person, and does think that Roe versus Wade is bad constitutional law, and if she would rule on the right side on the life issue, I might look past this racism and even deal with that."
More after the jump, including part two of "Inside the Obama WH."
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Not Rushing To Judgment" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with debris found along route of missing Air France plane. "Nightly News" also previewed "Inside the Obama WH" and featured a taped interview with Pres. Obama.
Part one of NBC's "Inside the Obama WH" aired last night. During Brian Williams' one-on-one interview with Obama, the two discussed the POTUS' upcoming speech in Cairo. This portion of the interview was previewed on "Nightly News."
Williams: "It's been said it's a speech that your predecessor perhaps could not have given constitutionally, given who he is, and could not have given because the attack came on his watch. Other than your personal style, what has changed to enable you to give this address?
Obama: "I'm not sure that it's true that President Bush couldn't have given a speech in the Muslim world. I think that a U.S. president, even where there is a lot of tension in the various parts of the world is always received as a critical figure. ... People want to know what they have to say."
More Obama: "So I wouldn't suggest that somehow I'm uniquely positioned to deliver this speech. And I also don't want to, you know, load up too many expectations on this speech. After all, one speech is not gonna transform very real policy differences and some very difficult issues surrounding the Middle East and the relationship between Islam and the west. But I am confident that we're in a moment where in Islamic countries, I think there's a recognition that the path of extremism is not actually gonna deliver a better life for people."
Obama: "I think there's a recognition that simply being anti-American is not gonna solve their problems. The steps we're taking now to leave Iraq takes that issue and diffuses it a little bit. And the question then is, how do we now go forward with an honest, serious relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interest? And so what I hope will happen, as a consequence of this speech, is people will have a better sense of how America views its relationship to the broader world and to Islam" (NBC, 6/2).
After the jump, more Obama, the SCOTUS nod and WH '12.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Lend Me Your Ear" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with GM's bankruptcy filing.
Days before his speech in Cairo, Pres. Obama spoke with NPR's Norris/Inskeep about how to improve American credibility in the Muslim world. The interview aired in two parts on 6/1's "All Things Considered" and this a.m.'s "Morning Edition."
Obama: "The United States has to follow through on what it says. ... I haven't said anything yet, because it's early in the process. But it is important for us to be clear about what we believe will lead to peace and that there's not equivocation and there's not a sense that we expect only compromise on one side; it's going to have to be two-sided, and I don't think anybody would deny that, in theory. When it comes to the concrete, then the politics of it get difficult, both within the Israeli and the Palestinian communities. But, look, if this was easy, it would've already been done."
Obama, on what he says to people in the Muslim world who feel that the U.S. has blindly supported Israel: "There's no doubt that the United States has a special relationship with Israel. There are a lot of Israelis who used to be Americans. There is huge cross-cultural ties between the two countries. I think that as a vibrant democracy that shares many of our values -- obviously we are deeply sympathetic to Israel."
After the jump, GM's bankruptcy filing and Obama's date night in NYC.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Talk Like An Egyptian" »
"World News" led with SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor. "Evening News" led with GM heading for bankruptcy. "Nightly News" led with a new report on foreclosure numbers.
Pres. Obama's WH meeting with Palestinian Pres. Mahmoud Abbas was a big topic of discussion on TV last night.
Int'l Crisis Group's Robert Malley: "If the meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu was tough and the speech that President Obama is going to give in Cairo will be a challenge, this was spring break. This was the presidents getting along and actually agreeing on virtually everything. It's hard to see where they might have disagreed in their private meeting. It certainly wasn't apparent in their public meeting."
More Malley: "And I suspect that President Abbas comes back very comforted by what he heard, which is a president who said basically, 'You're on the right track.' That's what he said to the Palestinians, and saying to the Israelis, 'Now you've got to get your act together'" ("NewsHour," PBS, 5/28).
CNN's Lothian, on Abbas: "Just looking at his body language, he seemed very comfortable. But he was also very confident and then committed to the peace process" ("Situation Room," 5/28).
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer: "We have to start understanding that Abbas is an illusion. He is a fiction. He is a ghost. ... Even the presidency he holds is a dubious legality. ... You got a man who doesn't have anything in his control. ... There are some, however, in the administration who believe you can actually have a real settlement in this administration. I think it's an illusion. There's an old adage in the Middle East, 'He whom the gods would destroy puts it in his head to solve the Arab-Israeli dispute'" ("Special Report," FNC, 5/28).
More after the jump, including Sotomayor's stance on abortion and the future of GM.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Friendly Ghost" »
"World News" led with the housing market showing signs of recovery. "Evening News" and "Nightly News" both led with GM heading for bankruptcy.
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) called into "Hardball" to discuss the recently released tape of his conversation with Robert Blagojevich, the brother of ex-IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D).
Burris: "It was a normal fundraising conversation. I had supported the governor in previous fundraising events, and his brother was fundraising. ... I told the governor's brother when he called earlier to call me back after November because I was supporting other candidates for the November election. And he called me back after the election. And of course, by that time, I had become very concerned about my interest in getting appointed to the Senate seat, as well as, you know, how could I help him with the fundraising."
More Burris: "And I had come to the conclusion that that was not really a wise thing to do, that I could not give money to the governor because I was interested in being appointed to the Senate seat. So on the bottom line, there was no money ever given, nor was there any money ever raised."
More after the jump, including SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor, PA SEN and ex-VP Cheney.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Wright Kind Of Wrong?" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
Last night's TV coverage tackled several dimensions of Pres. Obama's selection of Sotomayor. First up, how will how GOPers react?
ABC's Stephanopoulos, asked how GOPers oppose the first Hispanic nominated, given how increasingly important that voting block is to their party: "As one White House official told me today, he said, I dare them. Now, the Republicans are very aware of the danger here. So, they're going to tread carefully, but they believe that they have got to make these arguments about her judicial philosophy, the president's judicial philosophy so they can preserve those arguments for the next nominee who might not have Judge Sotomayor's background or who may come at a time when the Democrats ... don't have such overwhelming numbers in the Senate" ("World News," 5/26).
NPR's Liasson: "No Republican has came out of the gate saying no. When Judge Bork was nominated, Ted Kennedy was on the floor that day manning barricades against him. So that hasn't happened yet, and I think they will think very hard and long about opposing the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice" ("Special Report," FNC, 5/26).
Harvard Law prof. Charles Ogletree: "The Republicans should be applauding this because this is a person who's tough on criminal justice issues, who sides with business frequently" ("AC 360," CNN, 5/26).
Politico's Allen: "Republicans' hearts are not in this. Republicans will tell you this was a smart pick. ... When she was confirmed as a federal appeals court judge, among the senators voting for her were Senator Bill Frist and Senator Rick Santorum. Tell me that isn't pretty good insurance for the White House" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 5/26).
Much more after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Highway To The Danger Zone " »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with North Korea's nuclear test.
In light of the news of North Korea's nuclear test, some pols and pundits offered Pres. Obama advice on how to handle the situation.
Weekly Standard's Hayes: "President Obama has to take decisive action, and take it soon. ... We have seen again and again, including the second term of the Bush administration, North Korean provocations followed by U.S. either passivity, or, in many cases, flat out concessions. ... What [Obama] needs to, I think, look to prevent at this point is doing something that seems passive, not only because of the implications it would have for North Korea, which are obvious and significant, but for the implications with Iran" ("Special Report," FNC, 5/25).
CNN's Schneider: "It's certainly a challenge to President Obama. But you can also argue this demonstrates the failure of the Bush administration's policies with North Korea and Iran, policies of isolation and ostracism towards those countries in order to dissuade them from their ambition to become nuclear powers. That doesn't seem to have worked. Both countries seem to be even more determined now to become nuclear powers, so President Obama is determined to try a different course" ("Situation Room," 5/25).
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): "This is an opportunity for the president to send a very clear message that he is going to strengthen and put more efforts, enhance our missile defense systems, that this is a time that he is going to deploy that, and make certain that we are not only protecting ourselves, but protecting our allies" ("Your World," FNC, 5/25).
After the jump, ex-Sec/State Colin Powell clarifies his party preference.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- May The Force Be With You" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the Pres. Obama/ex-VP Cheney speeches and policy debate.
All of the nets dedicated the majority of their coverage last night to the Obama/Cheney Face/Off.
ABC's Stephanopoulos: "We've never seen this stark of a debate this early in an administration between a president and a former vice president. The timing to have these speeches in the same day and the same hour was something of a coincidence, but it really made for a stunning split screen. ... It was also striking to me how personal it seemed beneath the surface. They were directly talking to each other" ("World News," 5/21).
WH historian Richard Norton Smith: "It's highly unusual, not so much in the criticism itself as in the timing of the criticism. ... Fifty years ago, when the Bay of Pigs disaster took place, a 100 days ... into the Kennedy presidency, former Vice President Richard Nixon stepped forward and praised the president, lent support, as did his boss. There is a sort of gentleman's code that exists in which former presidents and vice presidents withhold their fire for a certain indeterminate period of time. On the other hand, that code works both ways. The incoming administration is also expected to hold its fire, in effect, regarding its predecessors" ("NewsHour," PBS, 5/21).
Pat Buchanan: "Clearly Cheney helped himself and I think he won, but I don't think Barack Obama necessarily lost. I thought it was an elegant speech by him. But Cheney [was] clearly up there against the heavyweight champion, and he did a terrific job and he rallied his troops" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 5/21).
Much more after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Da Cheney Code" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Senate Dems rejecting Pres. Obama's request for funding to close Guantanamo Bay.
Among the reaction to Senate Dems rejecting Obama's request:
CNN's J. King, on whether the WH was surprised by the Dem reaction: "In a word, yes. And they're giving credit to the Senate Republican leader, Mitchell McConnell, who almost every day for two weeks has gone to the floor of the United States Senate and drummed up this issue. Republicans have been out on every news show ... talking about this issue. And Democrats going home are getting increasingly nervous about ... the not in my backyard [issue]" ("Situation Room," 5/20).
Politico's VandeHei: "You don't even need to listen to us for a critique of this. Dianne Feinstein and other Democratic senators say that this was a big defeat for Obama because he did not get involved and he did not articulate where exactly" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 5/20).
Newsweek's Wolffe: "The administration did itself no favors in failing to give these Democrats a narrative, a story to say about what's going to happen to the detainees when Guantanamo Bay is closed down. ... But that's the extent of my reasonableness on this one, because frankly this is a spineless position for Senate Democrats to take. For start, 2008, the whole campaign was in large part debated and argued and contested about the politics of fear. You would think that the results of that election could draw an easy conclusion about where that politics should be left."
More Wolffe: "Secondly, if they're worried about polls, about terrorism, they should look at different polls because there's plenty of numbers out there that suggest Democrats, for the first time in a very long time, have drawn up in parity with Republicans on national security questions. And thirdly, Democrats gave this one of the biggest applause lines through the whole campaign. Closing Guantanamo Bay was part of restoring America's position to the world. Isn't that obvious to people, even inside the Senate?" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 5/20).
More after the jump.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- My Backyard Looking In " »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the Senate passing the credit card crackdown bill.
Much of last night's TV coverage focused on the Senate joining the House in withholding money for Pres. Obama's proposal to shut down Guantanamo Bay. Dems are deciding not to fund the closing until the admin. has a plan.
FNC's Angle: "Given the views of leading Democrats, it's hard to see what kind of plan Mr. Obama can come up with that would pass muster even in his own party. In addition, many Democrats are disgusted with the White House for leaving them exposed on this issue and having no plan to resolve the matter" ("Special Report," 5/19).
CNN's Bash: "Republicans are reveling in a rare victory here. They're not letting go. They're offering a measure on the Senate floor that will prohibit any detainee currently at Guantanamo Bay from coming to U.S. soil and being detained on U.S. soil. I just asked the number-two Democrat, Dick Durbin, ... whether or not he thought it would pass, and he said, yes, ... they would get enough Democratic support for it to pass" ("Situation Room," 5/19).
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer: "When you have Harry Reid chiming in and saying nowhere, no how, nobody, you got a problem. And I must say that Obama deserves it. He is the last prisoner on Gitmo right now, and he incarcerated himself. ... Walking all the way back on the promise of Guantanamo is going to be a hell of a thing for him to swallow. It will be a huge embarrassment" ("Special Report," FNC, 5/19).
After the jump, reax to RNC Chair Michael Steele's speech and Obama's new fuel efficiency standards.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Bay Of Dems" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's new fuel efficiency standards.
Obama's meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was dissected during last night's TV coverage.
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer: "There were two new, important elements. One was overt and one was implied. The new element ... was that, for the first time, Obama stated that his negotiations with Iran are not open-ended. He set not a deadline, but a timeline. ... Secondly, they both implied that the negotiations will not be just between Israel and Palestinians. A two-way will become a three-way. The premise here is that the Palestinians are too weak. ... So what is going to happen is you will see Israel start to make small concessions" ("Special Report," FNC, 5/18).
Int'l Crisis Group's Robert Malley: "This is not a marriage made in heaven. There are serious differences between the two sides. ... And it's as if each one spent those 30 minutes, [with Obama] saying, 'Well, Netanyahu agrees with me,' and then Netanyahu saying, 'No, no, no, Obama agrees with me,' trying to paper over differences that are not really germane today, but are likely to become more relevant in the months to come" ("NewsHour," PBS, 5/18).
CNN's Zakaria, on Netanyahu not endorsing a two-state solution: "That seemed, to me, the one place where if the Obama administration had been hoping for some kind of a conversion or an attempt to be nice to the Americans, Netanyahu did not come through. He clearly understood what the Obama administration wanted him to say at that moment and he did not say it. ... To my mind, it was, in a sense, a rejection of the two states" ("Situation Room," 5/18).
More after the jump, including Obama's Notre Dame speech and Bush admin. secrets revealed.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- It Takes Two" »
"World News" and "Nightly News" both led with Chrysler shutting down 789 dealerships. "Evening News" led with NASA's Hubble mission.
CNBC's Harwood spoke with Speaker Nancy Pelosi after her press conference in which she accused the CIA of misleading Congress about waterboarding.
Harwood: "Karl Rove wrote in the Wall Street Journal today that you weren't telling the truth. ... But it's not just coming from conservatives. Jon Stewart the other night on the 'Daily Show' had a segment that raised questions about your account in April said that you hadn't known about waterboarding. Do you understand why some people feel misled by your previous statement?"
Pelosi: "No."
Harwood: "And is it hurting your leadership?"
Pelosi: "Absolutely not. Karl Rove is going to say what Karl Rove has said, so why even go there? Jon Stewart, I'm a big fan, I watch him every night and mocking Congress is just stock and trade of what many of those shows do. But the fact is is that the CIA misled the Congress in how it briefed us. ... They specifically said waterboarding wasn't being used when they knew that it was."
After the jump, more Pelosi, military tribunals and detainee photos.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- You Can't Handle The Truth!" »
"World News" and "Evening News" both led with Pres. Obama's reversal on detainee photos. "Nightly News" led with the hearings on the Buffalo plane crash.
Obama announced 5/13 that he will not release hundreds of photos potentially showing U.S. military members abusing prisoners.
ABC's Stephanopoulos, on what changed: "The White House argues that first of all, the president did realize he could make new legal arguments. The second is, these commanders came in hard on the president. ... They said, you are harming our troops. The president was convinced by this argument."
More Stephanopoulos: "But what I think you see here is that there has been a tension between the president's desire for a clean break from the past and his continuing responsibilities as commander in chief. He's siding increasingly with his responsibilities as commander in chief" ("World News," 5/13).
CBS' Plante: "Candidate Obama pushed for full disclosure. President Obama has decided that there are times when transparency is a tough call" ("Evening News," 5/13).
GW prof. Jonathan Turley: "What President Obama is saying today is diametrically against the federal law. And if he succeeds, instead of having a transparent government, he would create this opaque government. ... It's an incredibly dark moment for civil libertarians. It's just more evidence that this administration is becoming the greatest bait and switch in history. Then, you know, he's morphing into his predecessor" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 5/13).
CNN's Henry: "You know something really strange is happening here at the White House when Republicans like Mitch McConnell are praising the president and liberal groups like the American Civil Liberties Union is ripping him apart" ("Situation Room," 5/13).
More after the jump, including interrogation hearings.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A Picture's Worth A Thousand Criticisms" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the hearings on the Buffalo plane crash.
FNC's Cavuto's wide-ranging interview with ex-VP Cheney received a lot of attention from the TV world.
Cheney, on the WH planning to release pictures showing various interrogation methods: "What I think is important is that there be some balance to what is being released. The fact of the matter is, the administration appears to be committed to putting out information that sort of favors their point of view, in terms of being opposed to, for example, enhanced interrogation techniques. But, so far, they have refused to put out memos that were done by the CIA that I requested be declassified that show the positive results of the detainee program."
Cheney, on daughter Liz Cheney saying the WH should have called him about reversing the policy: "I didn't discuss it with anybody in the administration, but I'm not offended by that. I mean, they campaigned all across the country, from one end of the country to the other, against enhanced interrogation techniques. ... They called it torture. I don't believe it was torture."
More after the jump, including FL SEN, Afghanistan and health care reform.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Ol' Ball And Cheney" »
"World News" led with a U.S. soldier opening fire at a Baghdad base. "Evening News" led with the Baghdad base shootings and featured a taped interview with Gen. David McKiernan. "Nightly News" led with NASA launching its last Hubble mission.
McKiernan sat down with CBS' Couric for his last interview before resigning. Highlights from the interview were aired on last night's "Evening News."
Couric: "It turns out telling McKiernan face-to-face he was being relieved of his duties was the primary reason Secretary Gates traveled to Afghanistan last week. Sources close to the defense secretary say McKiernan showed extraordinary class when he heard the news and did this interview shortly thereafter. He gave no indication his time in this troubled country might be coming to a close and expressed optimism about the mission."
McKiernan: "Every day that I'm here in Afghanistan, I understand the people of this country a little better, and they're very, very big-hearted people that want peace. They are friends of the United States of America. So I don't lose hope."
More after the jump, including health care reform.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Goodbye Guy" »
"World News" and "Nightly News" both led with the bank stress test results. "Evening News" led with the CA wildfire.
Ex-PA Gov./ex-DHS Sec. Tom Ridge (R) appeared on "Hardball" to discuss why he will not seek the GOP nod in the '10 PA SEN race.
Ridge: "I've been a congressman 12 years and governor for 6 years, 9 months and 5 days, toughest personal and political decision I ever had to make. And at this time in my life, I decided that I can do what I want to do for my party, which I enthusiastically joined almost 40 years ago. I prefer to do it as a private citizen, in addition to promoting other causes that are important to me. Pure and simple."
Ridge, on Sen. Arlen Specter (D): "I worked for him and literally thousands and thousands of Republican committee people in Pennsylvania worked very, very hard for him for 30 years. So we accepted him and his views as a Republican."
MSNBC's Matthews: "And you didn't believe he was a Democrat all these years pretending to be a Republican?"
Ridge: "No, we accepted him. He ran as a Republican, we supported him as a Republican, and he was a Republican."
More after the jump, including budget cuts and bank stress test results.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Out Of Shape" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's meeting with Afghan Pres. Hamid Karzai and Pakistani Pres. Asif Ali Zardari. "Evening News" also hosted Gen. David McKiernan.
Did Obama's first face-to-face meeting with the two leaders accomplish anything?
Karl Rove: "There are a couple of good things that did come out of today. First of all, I was very interested in the language by both Karzai and Zardari in the news conference today. ... Karzai talked about Pakistan and Afghanistan being conjoined twins in the battle against terrorism. ... Zardari replied in the same kind of language, referred to Karzai as his dear brother. ... This is the kind of language we need to hear from these two men and language that needs to be acted upon."
More Rove: "I think their big question is going to be, and they have every reason to ask it, is will the United States be a resolute ally in this battle? The reason they've got some concern about this is because of the language of President Obama during the campaign about getting out of Iraq. If he was willing to flee Iraq when America's strategic interests were so apparent and the world's interests were so apparent, what they're worried about is will he leave us out to dry?" ("Hannity," FNC, 5/6).
Washington Post's Chandrasekaran: "The Pakistan problem, which had been seen until recently as simply a necessary part of trying to stabilize Afghanistan, has now turned into its own challenge, and that was underscored by the fact that Secretary Hillary Clinton actually engaged in a bit of unscheduled diplomacy. She drove out with her special envoy, Dick Holbrooke, to President Zardari's hotel for an hour's worth of meeting before the formal program actually began today. That reflects the grave concern on the part of this administration about the situation in Pakistan" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 5/6).
Washington Post's Constable: "There's a great deal of enmity and suspicion between Afghan and Pakistani leaders. That's going to be a very difficult thing to overcome. Certainly, a meeting in Washington will not suffice" ("NewsHour," PBS, 5/6).
More after the jump, including Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) being stripped of his seniority and more GOP infighting.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Blood Brothers" »
"World News" led with swine flu. "Evening News" and "Nightly News" both led with Fed Chair Ben Bernanke seeing signs of economic recovery.
Bernanke's assessment was met with some skepticism.
CNN's Dobbs: "This is the Federal Reserve chairman's most optimistic assessment of the economy since this recession began almost a year and a half ago" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 5/5).
Wall Street Journal's Moore: "Ben Bernanke does not have a crystal ball. He is not the oracle. In fact, I would make the case that Ben Bernanke and Alan Greenspan -- those two were probably more responsible for the financial meltdown than any two human beings on the planet. ... So when Ben Bernanke says everything is just going to be fine, I'm not so sure. I mean, after all, he was caught with his pants down when the financial crisis hit back in September" ("On the Record," FNC, 5/5).
Johnson Illington Advisors' Hugh Johnson: "It's hard to make the case that the economy is going to expand, an economy which essentially grows on money and credit, when bank lending is slowing. It's still not the case. ... And unless we start to see bank lending start to improve, it's going to be very hard to make the case for an expanding economy. I think we're a long way from that point, and that's the number-one thing that worries me."
More Johnson: "There's nothing worse than raising expectations too high and then having to deal with the disappointment if the economy isn't as good as you've led those expectations to believe. I think they're doing a pretty good job. Both the president and Chairman Bernanke, especially Chairman Bernanke, is really kind of telling it like it is" ("NewsHour," PBS, 5/5).
More after the jump, including an interview with Pakistani Pres. Asif Ali Zardari.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Use The Good Crystal" »
"World News" led with the economy rallying. "Evening News" led with Pres. Obama's plan for the tax code. "Nightly News" led with the swine flu.
Much of last night's TV focused on Obama's new tax code plan.
CNN's Todd: "President Obama acknowledged a lot of these tax havens are legal, but he says the tax code, of course, in his mind, should be rewritten so that these companies can stop sheltering some of this revenue overseas and start paying more tax in the U.S" ("Situation Room," 5/4).
VP Biden chief economist Jared Bernstein: "It's going to be a fight, but it's going to be a good fight. Remember, the president was engaged in this type of legislation when he was a senator. This was very much a campaign promise. Senator Baucus, Senator Levin, very powerful Chairman of Ways and Means Congressman Rangel, they are all behind the president. ... Now, will there be lobbyists out in force to try to protect some of these ill-gotten gains? Of course there will be. There always are. But this is a good fight" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 5/4).
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer: "The economics of it are bad. ... The politics, however, are wonderful. ... Obama is sort of living out the Bill Clinton idea that he wakes up every morning finding a new way to help the American people. Every day you turn on your television, and there's Obama with a new idea that he's presenting, always himself, that is going to help America. So he looks energetic and always out there acting on your behalf" ("Special Report," FNC, 5/4).
More after the jump, including the GOP's rebranding effort.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Hide And Seek" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Chrysler filing for bankruptcy.
NPR's Nina Totenberg exclusively reported 4/30 p.m. on "All Things Considered" that SCOTUS Justice David Souter plans to retire at the end of the Court's current term.
"Souter is expected to remain on the bench until a successor has been chosen and confirmed, which may or may not be accomplished before the court reconvenes in" Oct. (release, 4/30).
Totenberg, on the NPR site: "He has made clear to friends for some time that he wanted to leave Washington, a city he has never liked, and return to his native New Hampshire. Now, according to reliable sources, he has decided to take the plunge and has informed the White House of his decision."
NBC's P. Williams also broke in to the "Rachel Maddow Show" with the news.
Williams: "He's 69. He just passed the period where he would be choosing his clerks and that's what got the gossip going, that maybe he wasn't going to stay around. ... Now, this would mean, of course, that Barack Obama would be nominating a replacement on the Supreme Court. And it's important to remember that that probably will not change the philosophical lineup of the court in any big seismic shift."
More Williams: "He has, though appointed by the first President Bush, tended to vote with the more liberal members of the court. ... To have his successor chosen by a Democratic President Barack Obama and confirmed by a Democratic Senate ... means that we're going to get a moderate to liberal justice" (MSNBC, 4/30).
More after the jump, including VP Biden's recent gaffe and the future of Chrysler.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Tired Of This Town" »
"World News," Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the swine flu outbreak and featured taped interviews with WH CoS Rahm Emanuel.
Pres. Obama's third prime-time press conference held on his 100th day in office was met with pretty mediocre reviews.
Karl Rove: "The news conference was boring. ... We had a news conference that was not important, except that they said it was important because it was the 100th day. ... They clearly prepared for tonight's event, but it was flat. It was dull. There were a couple of very important moments in it. I don't deny that, but it was a boring, boring news conference" ("Hannity," FNC, 4/29).
Weekly Standard's Hayes: "I thought he was tremendously disingenuous on interrogations. You know, he said he couldn't talk about these memos that Dick Cheney has been talking about because they're still classified. ... He sort of kicked that question aside. I thought that was a tremendously unfair way to treat the issue" (CNN, 4/29).
MSNBC's Matthews: "He's obviously looked at his polling and he wants to soften his image. He doesn't want to look like too big a government guy. ... He wants to be very pro-military. ... He wants to lessen the harshness of the reputation he's getting by the people complaining about the Notre Dame speech, that he's too pro-choice" ("Countdown," 4/29).
After the jump, interviews with WH sr. adviser David Axelrod and Emanuel.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Mr. Sandman" »
"World News," Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the swine flu outbreak.
Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-PA) decision to switch parties rocked the political world. In addition to general reaction, pols and pundits weighed in on what this means for the PA SEN race, the Dems' voting power in the Senate and the future of the GOP.
FNC's Hume: "This is not really about Arlen Specter being a liberal or conservative. He was never really much of either. What Arlen Specter has always been is a survivor. ... He survived cancer. He survived a farcical run for the presidency on his own part back in 1996, and he survived many a close race. Now he looked at one he didn't think he could win, switched parties to a situation where he thinks he can win. That is really what this is all about" ("Special Report," 4/28).
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "This is on the eve of the 100th day for President Obama. He planted these seeds, too. And, back in the primaries and the general election, he persuaded, with his campaign, some 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania to leave their party and go over to the Democratic side. If those 200,000 were still on the Republican side, it's a very good chance Arlen Specter might have won that primary and stayed in the party" ("AC 360," CNN, 4/28).
Newsweek's Fineman: "This is an Ed Rendell/Joe Biden production because one of the things that had to happen here is that they essentially had to clear the Democratic primary field, basically, and being able to promise Arlen Specter that they could deliver the Democratic nomination to him were he to switch parties. I don't think that's going to be a problem" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 4/28).
Much more after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- I Do What I Want" »
"World News," Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the swine flu outbreak.
There was very little on TV aside from swine flu and the torture debate. S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom (D) appeared on the "Rachel Maddow Show" to talk about his candidacy for CA GOV.
Newsom: "Republican registration is way down. We have a governor that candidly, is acting more like a Democrat each and every day. He's not the governor that came in. ... He's still not, from my perspective, progressive enough, but he's moved in the right direction."
Newsom, asked how Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is not progressive enough: "There's a lot of various bills that he vetoed not once but twice, the same-sex marriage bill. He says one thing on that and then acts in a different way. It's not atypical, I'm sort of used to hearing politicians say one thing and doing ultimately another. ... He actually advanced a lot of initiatives that helped put the state in this fiscal deficit. ... He's borrowing more prolifically than any governor of any state in American history."
More after the jump, including GM CEO Fritz Henderson on the auto industry.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Call Off The Hunt" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's meeting with the heads of top credit card companies.
In addition to the ongoing debate on torture, much of last night's TV focused on Obama approaching his 100th day in office. There was also talk of the credit card meeting, with many nets showing pictures of NEC Chair Lawrence Summers nodding off during Obama's remarks to the execs.
CNN's Dobbs: "President Obama today had some tough words for the credit card industry, amid rising concern about high interest rates and excessive fees. In a meeting, at the White House, President Obama demanded a law to provide what he called strong and reliable protections for credit cardholders. Missing from that meeting, Vice President Joe Biden, who is a close ally of the credit card industry and as a senator helped write the bankruptcy law of 2005, making it more difficult for consumers to erase their debts."
Dobbs, on Summers: "It is not the first time Summers has been caught napping at a public event at the White House. He dozed off during a fiscal responsibility summit meeting some two months ago" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 4/23).
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), on whether he agrees with what Obama said to the companies: "Certainly his language. He didn't get involved in endorsing particular provisions, but I enjoyed hearing him say no more of this any time, any reason clause, which is used far too often to have rate increases go into effect. And certainly these late fees, or fees that are unfair, that are being imposed on consumers" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 4/23).
More after the jump, including interviews with House Min. Whip Eric Cantor and the Bushes.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" »
"World News" led with the Freddie Mac CFO committing suicide. "Evening News" led with reaction to Pres. Obama's torture remarks. "Nightly News" led with the Census Bureau reporting fewer Americans are moving.
TV coverage continues to focus heavily on Obama keeping the door open to the prosecution of Bush admin. attys and policymakers.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), on whether these investigations would end up "dwarfing" Obama's ability to get the rest of his agenda through: "It's hard to tell. It depends on where the evidence leads. If there is a case of some kind against contractors ... who were involved, I doubt that would provoke the sympathy and outrage of Americans in a way that would interfere with President Obama's ability to accomplish his agenda."
More Whitehouse: "If the conduct was so bad, and so nefarious, and so clearly outside the boundaries and the predicates of these authorities that these people were amenable to a criminal prosecution, that a cold look at this by a hard-headed prosecutor, saying, 'This is a case that can and should be made,' if it gets to that point, I think that the public will understand that, 'Gosh, that was worse than I thought. That's a case that can and should be made. All right. Let's go ahead with it'" ("NewsHour," PBS, 4/22).
FNC's O'Reilly: "It is time for President Obama to stand up and show some leadership. No witch hunts, Mr. President. You have enough to do keeping us safe from another attack and fixing the economy. If you don't stand up to the far left lunacy, this country will be gravley damaged."
More O'Reilly: "Eric Holder was second in command to Janet Reno. Eric Holder and Janet Reno put the wall up between the FBI and the CIA, which led to the 9/11 attacks. ... If anybody should be prosecuted, it's him" ("O'Reilly Factor," 4/22).
More after the jump, including a look at life with the Bushes.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A Full-Court Press" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama saying officials who justified torture could be investigated. "Evening News" also featured a taped interview with Defense Sec. Robert Gates.
Much of last night's TV coverage focused on Obama opening the door to DoJ prosecutions of Bush admin. attys and policymakers who approved interrogation techniques.
CNN's Henry: "A dramatic reversal. Really the first time in these first 100 days where we've seen a very disciplined White House not really singing from the same song sheet. ... On Sunday, Rahm Emanuel, the chief of staff, very clearly on ABC said that there should not be prosecution of top Bush officials who may have devised this policy. Monday, when I asked Robert Gibbs, the press secretary, about it, he said the same as Rahm Emanuel, essentially" ("Situation Room," 4/21).
FNC's Hume: "He must have thought that when he went against the advice of his intelligence advisers and released those legal memos ... that would be enough. His base on the left would be placated and a new inquisition into intelligence methods would be avoided. But the left and its many adherents in his party were not placated. ... Overnight, presto change-O, as unambiguous flip-flop as you'll ever see raising anew the question of whether this president will ever buck his political base" ("Special Report," 4/21).
Newsweek's Wolffe: "No president is an island and no White House is fully detached from political pressures. But the complex legal issues at the heart of this case are very messy indeed. ... The internal division inside the administration ... the infighting has been so intense about this, that if it's possible for a decision coming out of the White House to be detached from politics, I think this might just be one of them" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 4/21).
More after the jump, including interviews with ex-VP Cheney and Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA).
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Flipping Out" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's CIA visit. "Evening News" led with Wall Street's worst drop in two months. "Nightly News" led with Obama's CIA visit.
In an interview on "Hannity," ex-VP Cheney said that he would like a few more CIA memos disclosed.
Cheney: "One of the things that I find a little bit disturbing about this recent disclosure is they ... didn't put out the memos that showed the success of the effort. And there are reports that show specifically what we gained as a result of this activity. They have not
been declassified. I formally asked that they be declassified now."
More Cheney: "I haven't announced this up until now, I haven't talked about it, but I know specifically of reports that I read, that I saw that lay out what we learned through the interrogation process and what the consequences were for the country. And I've now formally asked the CIA to take steps to declassify those memos so we can lay them out there and the American people have a chance to see what we obtained and what we learned and how good the intelligence was, as well as to see this debate over the legal opinions" (FNC, 4/20).
More after the jump, including a new twist on an old scandal involving Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA).
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Fun With Dick And Jane" »
"World News" led with the housing market continuing to stumble. "Evening News" led with Pres. Obama's trip to Mexico. "Nightly News" led with the housing market.
Obama was the sixth U.S. POTUS to visit Mexico City in the last 100 years. Among the reaction to his trip:
American Univ.'s Robert Pastor, on Obama and Mexican Pres. Felipe Calderon pledging close cooperation in the drug war: "They have ushered in a new era away from the finger-pointing between Mexico and the United States blaming each side for the other side of the problem to recognizing you can't manage the problem, let alone solve it, unless you feel a certain shared responsibility."
More Pastor: "But I think very soon they're going to have to realize they have to fit this into a broader context, because our economic and social relationship in many ways is much more important or at least as important as this" ("NewsHour," PBS, 4/16).
FNC's Garrett: "The White House has made a tactical political decision here that if they bring a gun control issue to Congress now, when they're trying to get health care and energy legislation and other things on the Obama agenda that are a higher priority than this, the gun control issue could overtake those and cost the president things he cares more about. ... So he's just simply not going to make that fight now. He'll try to work with the existing laws. But it is clearly a political calculation, and it's playing out here as the drug war is debated" ("On the Record," 4/16).
More after the jump, including newly-released CIA memos.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Once Upon A Time In Mexico" »
"World News" led with a taped interview with Maersk Alabama crew members and featured an interview with Mexican Pres. Felipe Calderón. "Evening News" led with the Tax Day Tea Parties. "Nightly News" led with Tax Day Tea Parties and featured an interview with Calderón.
"Hannity" was live from the tea party in Atlanta. Guests included ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R), "Joe the Plumber" Samuel Wurzelbacher, ex-AR Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) and Rep. Tom Price (R-GA).
FNC's Hannity: "I am joined by well over 15,000 Americans. By the end of this night, it may be close to 20,000. They have gathered here on this tax day to make their voices heard."
Gingrich, from a tea party in NY: "This is a key day. I hope every American across the country will call their senator and their congressman and say, beat the budget, make them write a new budget, take out the spending increases, take out the tax increases, get government under control. ... This is a battle between responsibility and absolute power grabs by irresponsible politicians."
More after the jump, including Calderón on Pres. Obama's upcoming trip to Mexico.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Upside Of Anger" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's speech on the economy.
The talk of the TV was Obama's 4/14 speech at Georgetown Univ.
NBC's Williams: "The president decided on a tone that was more fireside chat than it was fire and brimstone. In fact, while FDR gave us the New Deal, President Obama today used the phrase 'new foundation'" ("Nightly News," 4/14).
ABC's Stark: "The reason you are getting a mixed message from the president and the Fed chairman is because the economy is sending mixed messages. ... Economists say when you get these kind of mixed messages, these conflicting signals, it's usually a sign of a turning point" ("World News," 4/14).
CNN's Lothian: "The administration really billed this as a major economic speech, but there were no new initiatives, no policy shift" ("Situation Room," 4/14).
More after the jump, including today's Tax Day Tea Parties.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Hope (Sorta) Floats" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the U.S. Navy freeing the American captain.
Many weighed in on Pres. Obama's role in the freeing of the American captain:
CNN's Borger: "What we saw about President Obama is the way that he operates. He did hold 17 briefings. He did make sure that the agencies were talking to each other. You know, we've had that trouble in the United States, where one agency doesn't talk to another agency. The coordination on this was good and he made a decision and stuck with it. That's important for people to know" ("Situation Room," 4/13).
NBC's Todd: "There actually seems to be some true hesitance with this White House. They feel like they're getting a lot of credit, and I think they're almost nervous that they're getting too much credit because ... had it gone badly, it would have been a big political problem for him" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 4/13).
FNC's Hannity: "This would be standard operating procedure, and it seems like the media wants to hold him up and say that this is Obama's decision. ... I don't see that this is extraordinary in any way. If there's Americans being held hostage and we've got a shot, you take the shot. ... The White House steered clear of the pirate crisis until, that is, the president swooped in to take all the credit" ("Hannity," 4/13).
After the jump, grab your tea cup.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A Sea Of Support " »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with pirates hijacking a U.S. ship off the coast of Somalia. "Evening News" also featured the second part of a taped interview with AG Eric Holder.
The hijacking by pirates dominated the news cycle. However, there was some reaction to Pres. Obama's admin. saying it will participate directly in group talks with Iran.
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), asked if anything can change in dealing with Iran: "I think we've got a good probability that things may work out for our betterment. Here's why: I have seen no reason why we could not sit down with this nation, Iran, and discuss things. That doesn't mean having a cup of tea. It means sitting down, laying out what our goals, and having sanctions, carrots and sticks, as necessary. We've done it with the Soviet Union. How can we not do it with Iran. Second, there are common interests that we have."
More Sestak: "But then you come to the big issue. How can we work to make it a common interest that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon? And that's where the conundrum begins. But not sitting down and discussing it means not trying to resolve it peacefully" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 4/8).
Dick Morris: "When Obama is talking to Iran, it gives Iran a way to surrender diplomatically. On the other hand, Iran is going into these talks because they hope that by giving the illusion of progress, they'll get Obama to rein Israel in and stop Netanyahu from hitting them" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 4/8).
CNN's Crowley: "They have looked at this in practical terms. They watched eight years of the Bush administration saying, hey, we will talk as soon as you do something about your nuclear capabilities. And the Obama administration looks at this and says, well, this hasn't worked. ... It should come as no surprise that they are making incremental steps to move toward Iran. And I think you will see those [poll] numbers move, depending on success or failure" ("Situation Room," 4/8).
After the jump, the gay marriage debate heats up.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- I-Ran So Far Away" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's surprise visit to Iraq. "Evening News" also featured a taped interview with AG Eric Holder.
The big news of the evening was Obama wrapping up his overseas trip with an unannounced four-hour stop in Iraq.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, asked if it was a good idea for Obama to go to Iraq: "Yes. The president was close by. He would always take the opportunity to pay his respects to our troops. ... It was important for him to get some ground truth about speaking with the leadership of Iraq and, of course, speaking with our military leadership there, as well" ("LKL," CNN, 4/7).
FNC's O'Reilly: "The Iraq stop was necessary to bolster his credibility among the military and those who support him back home. It was a logical step" ("O'Reilly Factor," 4/7).
Washington Post's Robinson: "It's a picture, an image, that I think is important both for the president's relationship with the military, both in terms of reminding everyone that we still have tens of thousands of our forces in Iraq ... and sending a message, I think, to the country, again, Barack Obama as commander-in-chief, not as candidate" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 4/7).
CNN's Yellin: "The last time a U.S. president was in Iraq, he got a shoe thrown at him. Very different reception today" ("No Bias, No Bull," 4/7).
More after the jump, including interviews with Defense Sec. Robert Gates, Holder and VP Biden.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A Shoe-In" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the earthquake in Italy.
Last night's TV coverage was laden with North Korea policy talk. There was also a fair amount of reaction to AK Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) statement about Levi Johnston's appearance on the "Tyra Banks Show."
A Palin family rep wrote on official AK gov. stationery to People: "Bristol did not even know that Levi was going on the show. ... It is unfortunate that Levi finds it more appealing to exploit his previous relationship with Bristol than to contribute to the well being of the child."
CQ's Crawford: "Sarah Palin is convinced that these cultural type stories just keep her in the news. And they certainly do that. I don't see where, in the long run, it helps her. ... I have a feeling if she had just left it alone that a lot of folks probably wouldn't have covered this, if at all, very much. So she did manage to making it a bigger story by reacting and reacting so stridently" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 4/6).
Dem strategist Bob Beckel: "I can tell you one thing about that boy. He is missing a few dogs from under his front porch. I mean, there ain't no sharp knife in that drawer. Give the guy a break" ("Hannity," FNC, 4/6).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Mommie Dearest " »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the conclusion of the G-20 summit.
The reviews of Pres. Obama's performance in London are in:
PBS' Warner, asked if Obama can leave the G-20 summit with a set of accomplishments to talk about: "He certainly thinks so. He was modest and said, 'I'll leave it to others to judge.' But they are certainly pleased with the fact that they got a global response to this crisis. And President Obama did clearly play a role here in bringing people who were already at the table to an agreement" ("NewsHour," 4/2).
DailyBeast.com's Brown, on Obama appearing "humble" while overseas: "He has to be humble right now, actually. When you think of what he arrives in England on the waves of, it's unbelievable what he's carrying in terms of sort of toxic vibes towards America with this financial meltdown happening. ... [George W.] Bush used to call himself 'the decider.' But I have to say that in the case of Obama, you'd have to call him the diffuser. He is really brilliant at lowering the temperature" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 4/3).
European Parliament member Daniel Hannan: "All of the coverage has been how wonderful, we've saved everything because we've ... pumped a trillion dollars into the world economy. Yes. From where? ... All we've done is taken money that would have been spent by individuals and given it to great international global institutions to spend for us" ("Hannity," FNC, 4/2).
More after the jump, including the indictment of ex-IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and interviews with Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- It's Cold In Here, There Must Be An Obama In The Atmosphere" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama in London for the G-20 summit and featured interviews with Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner.
Last night's TV coverage continued to focus on the summit abroad.
NBC's Todd, asked how the admin. feels about what was accomplished: "It was a diplomatic decathlon of sorts. It was unbelievable, what they tried to get done today, in a span of about 12 hours, which normally could have filled up an entire month of an international agenda. They feel the best about what happened with Russia. They are really pushing behind the scenes this idea that, you know, people are not appreciating the significance of restarting nuclear disarmament talks with the Russians."
More Todd: "What I found fascinating was sort of this way that the meetings today that the president had, that they were bookends. ... One was very 20th century, right, a flashback to the '80s, nuclear arms talks with the Russians. And one was very 21st century, an acknowledgement that China, the sleeping giant of the 20th century, is now truly America's equal, at least economically" ("1600," MSNBC, 4/1).
FNC's Van Susteren, on the Obamas' "smashing" gift to the queen: "An iPod loaded with videos and pictures of the queen's 2007 visit to the United States. Some interesting songs were also put on to the iPod. Some of our favorites, 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend,' that one seems appropriate, 'Maria' from 'West Side Story,' and 'Memory' from 'Cats'" ("On the Record," 4/1).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Queen And I" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's arrival at the G-20 summit.
Obama's arrival in London for the G-20 summit was the talk of TV, with many pundits offering their words of wisdom.
CNN's Henry: "This mantra from the White House of both leading and listening, is by design. It's not by accident. It's an attempt to show a break from the [George W.] Bush years and suggest that with President Obama's popularity around the world, and with his fresh approach, he can actually deliver some results."
More Henry: "That could be very difficult, though. ... There is already friction breaking out. You've had German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggest, look, no one's going to tell me how to spend money in Germany. ... Then Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, suggesting today he may walk out of this G-20 summit in the next couple of days if there's not serious regulatory reform. ... And then you had Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, the host here of this summit, today suggesting the U.S. bears a lot of the blame for this crisis" ("Situation Room," 3/31).
FNC's O'Reilly: "If the USA cannot fix its economy, the rest of the world will suffer greatly. ... So President Obama should politely ask for cooperation. He should lay out his vision for what's needed to stabilize the banking system worldwide. On the economy, the president needs to be a persuader right now. And he's good at that, but he should also warn the world about ... terrorists and anarchists. ... Terror and economic chaos go hand in hand. ... President Obama has a nice opportunity here to show the world he's smart and honest. But he must also demonstrate that he understands evil and will deal with it. Knocking out the war on terror description was a mistake" ("O'Reilly Factor," 3/31).
More after the jump, including HHS Sec.-designate/KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' (D) tax troubles.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The In Crowd" »
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's auto industry plan and featured interviews with GM CEO Fritz Henderson.
Much of last night's TV focused on Obama's auto industry plan and the firing of GM CEO Rick Wagoner.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): "You would have to call this tough love. ... I believe that this president and the auto task force are committed to a stronger, viable auto industry. ... And I also very much believe he's committed to working with us in communities where plants have been closed, where there's a lot of work that needs to be done to create new jobs in those communities. I think he's going to do that" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/30).
MI Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D), on whether the WH consulted with her ahead of firing Wagoner: "No, they didn't consult with me about Rick Wagoner. I've been talking with them and beating the halls of the Treasury and burning up the phone lines about making sure that whatever is done, that there is a response for communities and families and people. And that's what I was pleased to hear, that the president looked us in the eye and said, I will fight for you" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/30).
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), on the Obama admin.: "They got rolling late. The plans were submitted on February the 17th, and they were dead on arrival. They were not aggressive. And they've waited around. There were no real negotiations taking place. ... So they fired Rick Wagoner this weekend to make it look as if they were taking action. And then in the process, they've taken over the company. So yes, I think that very much is a power grab" ("On the Record," FNC, 3/30).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Wheelin' and Dealin'" »
"World News" led with the tornadoes in Mississippi. "Evening News" led with the flooding in ND and MN. "Nightly News" led with the flooding.
Treasury Sec. Timothy Geithner was back on Capitol Hill yesterday, trying to convince members to give him more regulatory powers. But was he successful?
Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA): "It seems to me very difficult to assume that someone could be looking over an organization or economic activity and anticipate that it will be a systemic risk to the system. I think we should have overseers. I think we should have analyzers and reviews. And I don't think we should construct another regulatory body" ("NewsHour," PBS, 3/26).
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY): "All of us as taxpayers want to make sure there is accountability and oversight and transparency. But we do not want to overburden people. And I was visiting yesterday with the prime minister from Australia -- who is certainly not a conservative -- but he said if you regulate people to death, what you get is death. So I have many reservations about what the treasury secretary is recommending" ("On the Record," FNC, 3/26).
FNC's Cameron: "Reviews were decidedly mixed even without many details. Geithner says the fine print will be hammered out in the weeks ahead. The U.S. government is in totally uncharted territory here. They are quite literally making it up as they go along" ("Special Report," 3/26).
After the jump, more on Geithner's proposal, the GOP's answer to Obama's budget, and yesterday's virtual town hall meeting.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- I Am Economic Czar, Hear Me Roar" »
"World News" led with the floods in ND. "Evening News" led with Pres. Obama's visit to Capitol Hill to discuss his budget. "Nightly News" led with Obama's visit to the Hill.
Was Obama able to sell his budget to Senate Dems during his 41-minute meeting on the Hill?
OMB Dir. Peter Orszag: "The president got a very warm response from the Senate Democrats. The chairman's mark that is being considered by the Senate Budget Committee today is fully in line with the four principals that the president has put forward: cutting the deficit in half; investing in health care; investing in education; and investing in clean energy. I'm confident that what will come out of the Senate is something that fulfills the budget priorities the president has put forward" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/25).
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), asked if Obama's right to think about passing the budget through reconciliation: "I do. He's not the first president to do that. ... Now, ideally, you wouldn't have to resort to that. But on the budget itself, as opposed to some other things, I don't think you'll see any Republican votes for the budget. Now, Max Baucus and Kent Conrad and other Democrats have said reconciliation should not be used for something like health care, possibly cap and trade."
More Bayh: "If you use reconciliation to pass something, it disappears. It goes away at the end of the five-year period. So if you're completely reforming the health care system, you probably don't want to run the risk that that's going to ... go back to the way it was after four years. ... So on the budget, yes. On some of those broader things, it's a little more difficult" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 3/25).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Death Of A Sales Pitch?" »
"World News" previewed Pres. Obama's press conference. "Evening News" previewed Obama's press conference. "Nightly News" led with Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner and Fed Chair Ben Bernanke asking Congress for new powers to regulate financial companies.
The reviews of Obama's second press conference are in, with much of the analysis also focusing on the performance of the press.
Bill Bennett: "There is a conservative strain of thinking that says the press is in love with Barack Obama. Not tonight. He went through a murderer's row. ... Most of what he did tonight, in response to very sharp, pointed questions, was to give that same speech. And I don't think it cut. I do not think he had a good night" (CNN, 3/24).
Washington Post's Robinson: "I think they have to be pretty exalted at the White House this evening in the sense that he got basically as much time as he wanted without a lot of serious specific challenge from the press corps to be able to set out his basic budget message" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 3/24).
FNC's O'Reilly: "While the president was authoritative tonight, he was also dull and repetitive. Only a few times did he connect with the folks. ... Most of the time President Obama gave long-winded answers and he evaded direct questions" ("O'Reilly Factor," 3/24).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- An Affair To Remember" »
"World News," Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's bank rescue plan.
Much of last night's TV coverage focused on the markets rallying after Pres. Obama's bank rescue plan was unveiled.
WH Council of Economic Advisers' Austan Goolsbee: "The president was clear. When the stock market is down, he was saying this is not ... how we should evaluate our economic program. And when the stock market's up, he's going to say same thing. This is not the way you evaluate the economic or financial program. What we want to evaluate is that this is one important brick in a whole lot of bricks that are going to make up a new house. And what we had is a house that burned down" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 3/23).
Nat'l Economic Council Dir. Lawrence Summers, on whether he thinks the market response was "directly connected" to the announcement: "I think the response of any number of participants in the markets indicating interest in this program does speak to the fact that there will be interest in investing under it. As to single days' movements in the stock market, we've got a very clear approach. We do not get panicked on days when the market goes down; we do not become euphoric on days when the market goes up. History will render a verdict on these policies, and that verdict will be based on what happens to the income of American families over time, not based on what happens to the market over a day or a week or a month" ("NewsHour," PBS, 3/23).
FNC's Barnes: "The market reaction today, I mean, one day doesn't mean that much, but it's not nothing. Just think if the market had gone down, we would all be saying it has been rejected out of hand. That certainly wasn't the case" ("Special Report," 3/23).
More after the jump, including an interview with Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner and reax to Obama laughing on "60 Minutes."
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- It's Just Another Brick In The Wall" »
"World News" led with the House passing the bonus tax bill. "Evening News" led with the House passing the bonus tax bill. "Nightly News" led with Pres. Obama's trip to CA.
Pres. Obama made the first appearance by a sitting POTUS on a late-night talk show 3/19, with an interview on the "Tonight Show."
Jay Leno, on the amount of Secret Service protection Obama now has: "It's funny, because the last time you were here, you walked in, you had your jacket on your finger, and you have two guys with you. ... And that was it. Big change?"
Obama: "This is an example of life in the bubble. We landed at the fairground down in Costa Mesa. And I see the fairground, where I think we're having this town hall meeting. I said, 'Why don't we walk over there?' The Secret Service says, 'No, sir. That's 750 yards.' So I was trying to calculate. 'Well, that's, like, a 5 minute walk.' 'Yes, sir. Sorry.' Now, they let me walk on the way back. ... But, you know, the doctor's behind me with the defibrillator. Michelle jokes about how our motorcade, we've got the ambulance, and then the caboose, and then the dog sled, the submarine. There's a whole bunch of stuff going on."
Leno: "Now, it's only 59 days now, right? ... And so much scrutiny. Is it fair to judge so quickly?"
Obama: "Well, look, we are going through a difficult time. I welcome the challenge. You know, I ran for president because I thought we needed big changes. I do think in Washington, it's a little bit like 'American Idol,' except everybody is Simon Cowell. ... You know, everybody's got an opinion. ... But that's part of what makes for our democracy. You know, it's contentious, and people are hitting back."
After the jump, the House's bonus tax bill and Tres. Sec. Tim Geithner speaks about AIG and the calls for him to resign.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Boy In The Bubble" »
"World News" led with the AIG bonuses. "Evening News" led with the AIG bonuses. "Nightly News" led with the AIG bonuses.
The AIG bonuses continued to dominate the news cycle, with much of last night's TV focusing on AIG CEO Edward Liddy's testimony before Congress.
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), on whether he got the answers he wanted from Liddy: "Not all of them. One of the things that the committee was very interested in was getting the $165 million in bonuses back for the taxpayers. And he's struggling to do that. But we didn't get an absolute answer. But it looks like, at least, he's trying" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/18).
Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA): "I think today was an excellent first step. ... [Liddy] made an executive decision that I didn't necessarily agree with. And I've been in communication with Mr. Liddy over a period of the last 60 days. So this isn't a new issue to me. ... As he testified today, he confided with the Federal Reserve, kept it to the Federal Reserve and himself, and made the decision on Friday night to pay the bonus, and that's the first time that he disclosed that decision to us" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/18).
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer: "The morning and afternoon of the interrogation of the head of AIG was Congress at its absolute demagogic worst. I mean, let me count the ways. Here's a guy who comes out of retirement to work for a dollar a year, who is not even in AIG at the time of the take over by the government, who's being attacked by members of Congress earning $175,000 a year, who have just received in January a raise of $4,700. Secondly, the Democrats are the ones who passed the stimulus package, which had this provision in it."
More Krauthammer: "Lastly, the money here involved in the scheme of things is absolutely trivial; it's $165 million. That's what CC Sabathia is getting to front the Yankees for his left-handed changeup. If Bill Gates, out of the goodness of his heart were to pay the bonuses for 100 years, he would still have half his fortune left. ... It's a distraction and the Democrats and Republicans in Congress are using it for political advantage, and nothing else" ("Special Report," FNC, 3/18).
More after the jump, including Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) on his role.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A Bonus Round" »
"World News" led with the AIG bonuses. "Evening News" led with the AIG bonuses. "Nightly News" led with the AIG bonuses.
Many questions were raised about Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner's future after it was revealed he knew about the AIG bonuses last week. The WH, however, said Geithner's job is not in jeopardy.
CNN's Henry: "White House officials revealing that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner actually knew about these bonuses last Tuesday, but he waited until Wednesday before he started pressing AIG officials about the matter. And he waited until Thursday to let the president know about this. This is raising new questions about Geithner's effectiveness. But I can tell you, top officials within the White House are telling me tonight his job is not in jeopardy. The president still has confidence in him" ("AC 360," 3/17).
Wall Street Journal's Moore: "I'm not sure this is an impeachable offense, by any means, but this is another strike against Secretary Geithner on top of the non-paid taxes, and of course, his failing grades when he's gone on Capitol Hill. ... I think the real problem here is why didn't he tell anyone about this? Didn't he realize that there would be outrage on Capitol Hill, let alone with the American people?" ("On the Record," FNC, 3/17).
Newsweek's Fineman: "The reason why Rahm Emanuel had to come out and issue a statement saying that Tim Geithner's job is not in jeopardy is because his job is in jeopardy, because, certainly, within the Treasury and probably the Fed, they knew full well exactly what the terms were of giving these new bonuses to AIG" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 3/17).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- If They Could Turn Back Time..." »
"World News" led with AIG bonuses. "Evening News" led with AIG bonuses and featured a taped interview with special inspector gen. for Iraq Stuart Bowen Jr. "Nightly News" led with AIG bonuses.
Last night's TV coverage was dominated by Pres. Obama's announcement that he asked Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner to use all legal tools to block the AIG exec bonuses. Among the reaction:
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA): "In fairness to the president, he's getting blamed for the mistakes of a prior administration. This was being done by the Federal Reserve last September without any congressional input. ... I'm afraid that the ability of the Obama administration to get the funding with the proper safeguards to help us get out of this will be hindered politically because of the failures last year to do it right" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 3/16).
More Frank: "I do think, as the owner of the company, we can say, 'You know what?' ... You were going to get a bonus for this or that performance. I mean, even in those companies, you don't get a bonus for breathing. There has to be some performance. And I think it is possible to argue as the owners that the performance did not, in fact, meet reasonable standards. I don't know that; that's the line we're going to pursue" ("NewsHour," PBS, 3/16).
WH Council of Economic Advisers' Austan Goolsbee, on his comment that AIG should have gotten the Nobel Prize for evil: "What I was talking about was the financial products division, where AIG essentially was an insurance company that strapped a hedge fund on its back that ran wild and ... brought multi-hundred billion dollar obligations onto the American taxpayer. And now, this same group have given themselves multi-million dollar bonuses. And boy, after the year that they have just had, I found that to be pretty cheesy" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/16).
Weekly Standard's Ham: "There's nothing that brings people in Washington together from both sides of the aisle faster than the need to get on the right side of a populist backlash" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 3/16).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Resident Evil?" »
"World News" led with the Bernard Madoff case. "Evening News" led with the Madoff case. "Nightly News" led with the Madoff case.
Last night's TV coverage was dominated by the Bernard Madoff case, drug violence in Mexico and the Chris Brown/Rihanna abuse controversy. There was also talk of Pres. Obama and Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner receiving failing grades from a Wall Street Journal survey of economists.
Wall Street Journal's Moore: "It's a survey of the top blue-chip economists from around the country. ... There's just no vote of confidence here. It was two thumbs down. ... The stimulus plan, the banking plan and the housing rescue plan -- all of those have been unpopular on Wall Street and they're also unpopular with the majority of economists."
More Moore: "These are some of the top economists around the country. Now, economists don't tend to be best predictors of the future. ... But, you know, the good news for Barack Obama -- his public approval ratings are still pretty good" ("On the Record," FNC, 3/12).
Weekly Standard's Hayes, on Geithner: "Jeez, I gave him a D yesterday. I guess I'm not a very tough grader. ... This has to concern them, really. ... One of the most important things that the Treasury secretary needs to do is inspire confidence in the markets and people who tend to the markets, like these economists who were part of this survey. If Timothy Geithner in particular doesn't have the confidence of these economists and others, I think it sends real troubled signals about what's going to happen in, you know, in two months, in four months, in six months" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/12).
More after the jump, including RNC Chair Michael Steele under fire.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- There's No "E" For Effort" »
"World News" led with the shooting rampage in AL. "Evening News" led with the shooting rampage in AL. "Nightly News" led with the shooting rampage in AL.
Calling it an "imperfect" bill, Pres. Obama signed the spending bill 3/11. Much of the reaction focused on the fact the bill included earmarks:
NBC's Yang: "On the same day he was signing the bill that was full of earmark projects ... he announced changes to the process. ... They've sort of laid down the gauntlet here on earmarks. And [WH press sec. Robert] Gibbs actually used the 'veto' word ... when he was asked how the president was going to enforce these rules in the future" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/11).
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "If the president had told the Congress, I'm not going to sign this bill until you clean it up, the Congress would have folded like a cheap suit. ... He has never told Nancy Pelosi no or Harry Reid no on anything, and that's the most disturbing thing about his presidency. ... He's the one that got the Democratic Party in power, and he's yet to discipline a Congress that seems to have no boundaries" ("On the Record," FNC, 3/11).
Ex-McCain spokesperson Nicolle Wallace: "What he did today is the equivalent of sitting there with a half gallon of mint chip ice cream, finishing off the whole thing and saying, tomorrow, I'm going to Weight Watchers" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/11).
After the jump, more spending bill and things get a little heated on "Hardball."
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Choosing His Battles" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama lifting the stem cell ban. "Evening News" led with Obama lifting the stem cell ban. "Nightly News" led with the global economic crisis.
Pres. Obama lifting restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research was the talk of the TV.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): "What President Bush did a number of years ago was inserted his own views and the views of people who are in the minority of opinion in America, into the personal lives of millions of Americans. And that is not what our American government should be all about. We should make sure that we foster science and make sure that we use the government to help improve people's lives."
Schultz, on Obama leaving it for Congress to decide whether federally funded researchers can create their own stem cell lines: "We are going to certainly look at whether we pass a statute that authorizes stem cell research, but immediacy was important here. I mean, we need to make sure that we can get the funding into this research as quickly as possible. ... Congress has a tremendously large legislative plate right now and the odds of getting to that legislation quickly, as quick as President Obama lifting the executive order could, were small" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 3/9).
FNC's Garrett: "I asked the White House if in any way, shape or form what the president said today did not open the door to therapeutic cloning. I got this statement from the White House: 'There are number of ways to derive cells that have the properties of embryonic stem cells. The president has asked the National Institutes of Health to come up with guidelines and how to responsibly use the cells.' In other words, it leaves the door open" ("Special Report," 3/9).
After the jump, more stem cell and Limbaugh's impact on the GOP.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- He Blinded Me With Science" »
"World News" led with the threat of GM's bankruptcy. "Evening News" led with bad news in the Fed's latest report on the economy. "Nightly News" led with the threat of GM's bankruptcy.
The 3/5 WH health care summit was the talk of the airwaves last night.
Time's Tumulty, on the difference between Pres. Obama's summit and the Clinton admin.'s attempt at fixing health care: "It was the exact same cast of characters. You would have recognized just about everybody in the room. But what never happened in '94 was seeing all those people in the same room. So is this going to hold together? Are these people going to keep talking together? Are they going to keep moving in the same direction? I don't know. But it does seem to be a more promising start" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 3/5).
NBC's Yang, on the summit: "There was a lot of sort of good feelings, but you had people in that room who fought tooth and nail against the Clinton health care reform plan. ... Now we'll have to see -- the proof is in the pudding, the proof is in what comes now, what comes later as they try to put a bill together" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/5).
Ex-HHS Sec. Donna Shalala, on how she would describe the summit: "Extraordinary, because everyone was there. And I thought what was interesting was not simply that all the stakeholders, the interest groups were represented, but that the leaders of Congress were represented, and they were at the breakout sessions." Shalala, on what has changed since '94: "The president made it clear ... that people would be able to keep the plans they currently have. ... We've learned from that experience that the vast majority of people want to keep the plan that they have, and they want to have choices" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/5).
CNN's Blitzer: "I was struck at how open the president says he is. He doesn't have a monopoly on the best ideas. He wants to hear from everyone and then come up with a -- a plan. That was pretty extraordinary, I think" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/5).
Dem strategist Paul Begala, on the summit: "I'm hugely optimistic. I think the way this new president is going at it is just right. Congressional leaders were there. One of the mistakes we made was we hatched our plan in private and then brought it to congress. Big mistake" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/5).
Ex-Romney nat'l press sec. Kevin Madden: "There seems to be a growing consensus quite frankly among the American electorate that health care has to get done. I think the big challenge for President Obama right now is using the leverage of his popularity versus the popularity of some of the policies. That is where the opportunity is for those who are opponents of the president's plan" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/5).
After the jump, more on the WH health care forum, and CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks about withdrawing his name from surgeon gen. consideration.
(MAURA O'BRIEN)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Here's To Your Health Care" »
"World News" led with the economic stimulus package. "Evening News" led with the economy. "Nightly News" led with the housing crisis.
There was discussion last night about a Politico report that says elevating Rush Limbaugh to the leader of the GOP was a Dem strategy cooked up by Dem strategists James Carville and Paul Begala. Begala responded to the report on "AC 360."
Begala, on whether he and Carville are working with the WH to "paint" Limbaugh as the leader of the GOP: "I don't have to. ... I don't work for the White House or any other politician. I live my life out loud. If I think something, I say it. ... This is one of those occasions where ... I try to be an honest analyst. And, of course, I'm also a committed partisan. In both roles, the statement is, I believe inarguably true, that Mr. Limbaugh is the leading, most powerful force in the Republican Party. I think it's an undeniable truth. Go ask Michael Steele."
CNN's Cooper: "But you didn't answer the question. Are you working with James Carville, perhaps Rahm Emanuel, others in the White House, as part of a concerted effort to do this?"
Begala: "I don't know what you mean by concerted effort. I guess the short answer is no. I do what I do" (CNN, 3/4).
After the jump, more on the Limbaugh conspiracy, as well as interviews with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and DHS Sec. Janet Napolitano.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Keep Going, We're In No Rush" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's economic plan. "Evening News" led with Obama's economic plan. "Nightly News" led with the economic crisis.
Rush Limbaugh and his impact on the GOP continued to be discussed last night, with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), among others, weighing in during an appearance on "Your World" last night.
McCain, on the voices within the GOP and whether Limbaugh is the biggest voice: "I think there's a lot of voices in our party. Rush Limbaugh is one of them, Michael Steele, I respect enormously, the governors, [Tim] Pawlenty and [Bobby] Jindal and [Sarah] Palin and others. ... I appreciate all of them, and, for us to get into some kind of contest, when we've just lost an election, about who does what, let's all work together as a party and get our party back on track."
More McCain: "We just lost two elections in a row, big-time. Let's get together. ... I think Mr. Limbaugh speaks for a number of Republicans ... I think I speak a little for the Republican Party. ... Let's all speak for the things we value and the things we believe in" ("Your World," FNC, 3/3).
MSNBC's Maddow, on WH press sec. Robert Gibbs calling Limbaugh the head of the GOP: "Can you imagine a better negotiating position for the Democrats to be in heading into the budget fight? Can you imagine a better position politically than having it characterized as Barack Obama versus radio host?" ("Rachel Maddow Show," 3/3).
After the jump, more on Limbaugh and the GOP, as well as Sec/State Hillary Clinton's trip to the Middle East.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A Bridge Over Rush-ing Water" »
"World News" led with AIG/the Dow closing at a 12-year low. "Evening News" led with AIG/the Dow closing at a 12-year low. "Nightly News" led with AIG/the Dow closing at a 12-year low.
Rush Limbaugh's comments about Pres. Obama, as well as the WH's strategy to make Limbaugh synonymous with the GOP, continued to be the talk of the TV.
Huffington Post's Grim: "The fact that Michael Steele stood up to him, and the day the stories come up about his standing up, that he backs down immediately, that's remarkable. The RNC chairman can't stand up to Rush Limbaugh? Who can? That remains to be seen. Is it going to be a governor? It's unlikely, because the governors are out spending money, and nobody in the Republican base likes the word spend. That leaves Congress. ... We'll see if anybody there will stand up to him. Otherwise, Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party. Obama is extremely happy about that" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/2).
FNC's O'Reilly, on the WH's strategy to elevate Limbaugh to a high position in party: "This is usually done by surrogates. ... But now it's inside the White House. Now it's to the chief of staff level. ... The economy is so bad and so shaky, and the Obama vision has not worked at all. ... I think they're trying to get a culture war going here to divert attention. You know? Start a little fire. Get that on there, and get out of the economic realm" ("O'Reilly Factor," 3/2).
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "The real point is that the Democrats completely outfoxed the Republicans on this thing. ... James Carville has been going around saying, Rush Limbaugh is the king of the party. Rahm Emanuel, his friend, comes along and says essentially the same thing. Rush gives this speech. What does Mr. Steele do, chairman of the party? He takes the bait. He takes the bait and goes after Limbaugh and now creates this brouhaha, which makes the Republicans look like they're self-immolating" ("AC 360," CNN, 3/2).
More after the jump, including Sebelius' impact on health care plans and Jindal critiques his GOP response speech.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- A Rush To Judgment" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's budget proposal and featured a taped interview with ex-FLOTUS Laura Bush. "Evening News" led with Obama's budget proposal. "Nightly News" led with Obama's budget proposal.
Pres. Obama's budget proposal continued to be the talk of the TV.
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "The main headline: President proposes dramatic change of course for the United States. Subhead: The cost of popular programs bring sticker shock. ... It's important to remember that President Obama campaigned on these reforms. He did get the country's support. And he's now following through on the reforms. I don't think people quite understood, when they elected him, how much they would cost cumulatively. That was not clear until we really got this budget" ("AC 360," CNN, 2/26).
Ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R): "I'm afraid it is actually dangerous. I don't think people in this country generally understand that we face, not just a short-term economic strain right now with a potential of falling into a more severe recession, but also a risk that if we continue to borrow excessively that the world may decide that the dollar isn't worth very much. ... We could have a kind of economic collapse which would wipe out the savings of middle class Americans and put us in a very long-term, depressed situation. ... It's the wrong course for us to take as a nation" ("Hannity," FNC, 2/26).
Ex-Clinton Labor Sec. Robert Reich: "Finally, we have a budget that actually, instead of a top-down supply side economics trickle-down budget, is a bottom-up, grassroots, help-the-actual-public budget for a change" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 2/26).
After the jump, more on the budget, troop withdrawals from Iraq and Laura Bush's first interview since leaving the WH.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Can We Spare Some Change?" »
"World News" led with ABC's recent poll on the economy. "Evening News" led with Pres. Obama's economic agenda. "Nightly News" led with Obama's economic agenda.
MSNBC's Chris Matthews was heard saying "Oh, God" as LA Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) approached the camera to deliver the GOP response to Pres. Obama's speech 2/24. He addressed his comments on last night's "Hardball."
Matthews: "The party coming into power has a leader and is proud to say so. The party that lost power did its best to deny last night it ever had power and put forth a spokesman who spoke as if the main perpetrator during the past eight years of budget deficits, untamed spending, Jack Abramoff and an unpopular war was not the very party he was representing. Add to that the peculiar stagecraft of the opposition party, that seen in the Louisiana governor's mansion, Governor Bobby Jindal walking from somewhere in the back of this narrow hall, this winding staircase looming there, the odd antebellum look of the scene."
More Matthews: "Some people heard my reaction at the time. What was the message in all this? Was this a mimicking of a president walking along the state floor to the East Room? And at the same time, that the Republicans are so far from Washington, they can't be blamed for anything?"
Ex-House Maj. Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), in response: "Listening to your introduction, somebody's going to accuse you of being biased" (MSNBC, 2/25).
After the jump, more Matthews, Jindal's future, Obama's budget and interviews with Geithner and Pelosi.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Are You There God? It's Me, Chris" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's address to Congress and featured a taped interview with WH sr. adviser David Axelrod. "Evening News" led with Obama's address and featured taped interviews with Axelrod and House Min. Leader John Boehner. "Nightly News" led with Obama's address and featured a taped interview with Axelrod.
The reviews of Pres. Obama's address to Congress and LA Gov. Bobby Jindal's (R) rebuttal are in:
Time's Halperin: "I think it's the youngest combined age of a president and the responder from the other party in the history of the United States. Two kids ... addressing the country. ... In the case of both of these guys, if they weren't confident and accomplished, I think being young would be seen as a handicap. In this, I think, for both of them, it shows younger people and older people a sense of action and a sense of newness that given all the promise the country has I think is a pretty positive development for both parties" (CBSNews.com, 2/24).
Syndicated columnist Mark Shields: "Barack Obama, according to polls, is more popular than his policies. He has concluded, obviously from this speech tonight, that political capital is not to be hoarded. It is to be spent. ... That was an ambitious, ambitious proposal" ("NewsHour," PBS, 2/24).
Sen. John Thune (R-SD): "He had been advised that he needs to change his tone and provide some hope and some inspiration for the American people, so in that respect, the speech tonight was good. It was well delivered, and I think he had a right tone and I think probably created some confidence in the American people. It's going to be very hard, however, to deliver on all the things he promised tonight. And he was very short on specifics and details" ("Hannity," FNC, 2/24).
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "This was the most ambitious we have heard in this chamber in decades. The first half of the speech was FDR fighting for the New Deal. And the second half was Lyndon Johnson fighting for the Great Society. And we have never seen those two presidents rolled together in quite this way before" ("AC 360," CNN, 2/24).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Confessions Of A Spendaholic" »
"World News" led with the Dow's 250-point drop. "Evening News" led with Pres. Obama's fiscal summit. "Nightly News" led with the banks' impact on the market.
During yesterday's fiscal summit, Pres. Obama announced plans to cut the federal deficit in half by '13.
Ex-Clinton Labor Sec. Robert Reich, asked if Obama calling on pols like they were students was effective: "It was enormously effective. ... [It was] as if the president was the professor and everybody else are students. ... I thought Obama maintained not only good humor, even joking with the Republicans, but more importantly, a sense that he was completely and totally in control and in command. And he's not only commander-in-chief of the military, he's commander-in-chief of the economy. And there was no doubt about that today" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 2/23).
Dick Morris: "It's like Mike Tyson heading the nonviolence summit. What he does is pass the most irresponsible piece of legislation in spending in 50 years of American history, and then he convenes a financial responsibility summit so that he can try to put a different face on it. ... Everybody says now we need to cut the deficit, and what that means is a consensus for big, big tax increases" ("Hannity," FNC, 2/23).
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' Robert Greenstein, a summit attendee: "Today's session wasn't designed itself to produce some set of agreements in three hours. It was just the beginning of a process. There was a very good bipartisan feel in the room at the end. It was a very good first step. ... The president was completely in command of the room at the end of the day and expressing a real determination to make progress on these problems" ("NewsHour," PBS, 2/23).
CNN's Borger: "On the one hand, it was kind of academic, talking about breakout groups, about these economic problems. On the other hand, it was kind of like a parliamentary Q & A system, where the president called on John McCain, the leader of the opposition, if you will ... and then started having a conversation with Republicans and Democrats about the dire financial situation that we're in, in front of the American public. It was a little stilted at times, but ... on the whole, we haven't seen anything like this in years and years" ("Situation Room," 2/23).
After the jump, pundits weigh in on what Obama should say in tonight's address to Congress.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Hot For Teacher" »
"World News" led with the Dow closing at a six-year low. "Evening News" led with the FBI finding financier R. Allen Stanford. "Nightly News" led with backlash to the housing rescue plan.
A good majority of last night's TV coverage focused on Pres. Obama's first foreign trip to Canada.
CNN's Henry: "He was here for only a few hours, didn't even stay for dinner. And I'm told by officials who helped organize this trip that that was on purpose, that the president did not want to have a big ostentatious dinner, a lavish party, which would be traditional for a first foreign trip like this, while Americans are back home suffering from a recession. He realized that image would not be good, those pictures going home" ("AC 360," 2/19).
More Henry: "The substance of this trip was trying to stress this is a global financial crisis, so we're not going to get out of it on our own. We're going to have to work with allies like Canada to turn it around, coordinate our stimulus packages. And he was trying to calm Canadian fears about some of those buy-American provisions in the new stimulus law and also try to reassure them that he's not going to be scrapping some of these free trade agreements. That's a far cry from what he was saying during the campaign last year" ("No Bias, No Bull," 2/19).
National Review's Lowry: "I think he did great. And there is something inspiring about seeing a young African-American representing the United States up at that podium with another foreign leader. But I think he owes Austan Goolsbee an apology. When Obama was engaging this demagogic rhetoric during the campaign, Austan Goolsbee goes up there and supposedly tells the Canadians what turns out to be entirely true -- don't believe it. ... And the Obama campaign said no, it never happened. We never would have made such an assurance to the Canadians. And it really goes to a certain cold-bloodedness, admirable in its way, of Obama, where he said exactly what he need to do to secure the Democratic nomination, and now he's going to do what he thinks to do to succeed when he's governing" ("Special Report," FNC, 2/19).
NBC's Yang, on why Obama didn't ask Canadian PM Stephen Harper about troops in Afghanistan: "It's hard for the president to make a request now, to ask someone, the leader of another country, to send more troops, or to commit to stay in Afghanistan ... to ask them to stay when ... the United States doesn't have a policy itself" ("1600," MSNBC, 2/19).
More after the jump, including reaction to Steele's hip-hop comments and Santelli's rant.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Let's Give Them Something To Talk "Aboot"" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's housing rescue plan. "Evening News" led with Obama's housing rescue plan. "Nightly News" led with Obama's housing rescue plan.
Among the reaction to Pres. Obama's housing rescue plan:
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ): "He didn't need to come to Arizona to do it. We know how bad the circumstances are out here, which is why I applauded the fact that we were trying to deal with housing, though I've got some concerns about his announcement today" ("On the Record," FNC, 2/18).
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), asked if the plan is enough: "I believe it is. These are areas where no one can be certain. ... I think the $75 billion should be. If it isn't, we can always decide to do more. We have the ability to make judgments. ... The recovery plan was important, but the foreclosures have been at the center of this" ("1600," MSNBC, 2/18).
Dem strategist Robert Zimmerman: "We're facing a crisis to our economy that focuses on, that begins with and addresses the foreclosure crisis. The housing crisis is the core of this economy. The fact that George Bush did not make this a priority during his tenure and the fact that Barack Obama did move forward and in just four weeks and one day in office, I think speaks to the kind of new leadership we need. Is it a big package? Yes, it's bold, it's very bold" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," CNN, 2/18).
More after the jump.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The House That Barack Built" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama signing the stimulus bill. "Evening News" led with auto companies requesting more bailout aid. "Nightly News" led with auto companies requesting more bailout aid.
Three stories dominated last night's TV coverage: Pres. Obama signing the stimulus bill, Obama saying he will send an additional 17K U.S. troops to Afghanistan, and GM and Chrysler seeking more bailout aid. First up, will the stimulus package work?
Bill Clinton: "I think it will do what it's designed to do. ... Given how fast it had to be done and the compromises that had to be made, it's quite a good bill" ("LKL," CNN, 2/17).
Ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R): "It's the beginning. And if they realize that they went too far and rein it in, it's not going to be a catastrophic mistake. But if this is the beginning of more and more out-of-control spending -- I mean, you can't spend much more than this. I don't think that Congress has ever passed a bill with this kind of expenditure all at one time ... with almost no consideration except the politics of it. That doesn't give you a lot of confidence with regard to the economy. Let's hope this is ... a rookie mistake, as opposed to something that is kind of set what's going to come in the future" ("On the Record," FNC, 2/17).
MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), asked if he will turn down the money since he thought the stimulus bill was a bad idea: "I think it could have been done better. I was in favor of a stimulus bill, I was disappointed in this one for a variety of reasons. But in Minnesota's case, we are going to accept the money for this reason -- we pay in for every dollar to the federal government. ... If you buy the pizza, it's OK if you have a slice. It doesn't mean you can't express concerns about the bill or offer suggestions on how it could have been better" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 2/17).
More after the jump.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Will The Bill Fit The Bill?" »
"World News" led with federal spending. "Evening News" led with the upstate NY plane crash investigation. "Nightly News" led with the upstate NY plane crash investigation.
With Pres. Obama scheduled to sign the stimulus bill today in Denver, much of last night's TV talk focused on the timing of the signing and Obama's attempts at bipartisanship.
FNC's Hannity: "The House clerk delivered the bill to the White House where it awaits the president's signature tomorrow in Denver. But why wait? Why isn't the bill being signed today? ... Maybe passing the bill on a Friday was less about averting a financial meltdown and more about politics? Maybe Democrats didn't want everyone to read the bill before it passed, or perhaps the speaker of the House didn't want to miss her flight to Italy? Well, that's where she is today, Rome."
More Hannity: "Did [Obama] spend the weekend reading the 1100 pages that he forced down the throats of the American people? Well, it would appear not. He traveled home to Chicago this weekend for a hair cut and a game of pickup basketball. So where has the ominous threat of urgency gone?" ("Hannity," 2/16).
Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL): "The process was terrible. We had less than 24 hours from the time this bill was filed to vote on it. And the president said in New Hampshire, when he was in the primary, that he would require at least five days of sunlight on any bill that comes before Congress. So it was in violation of his own campaign pledge" ("1600," MSNBC, 2/16).
Dem strategist Hilary Rosen: "He's doing it tomorrow. And I'm not sure there's a big difference between today and tomorrow. The urgency was met by Congress" ("Situation Room," CNN, 2/16).
More after the jump, including Burris in hot water and the Palin family talks teen pregnancy.
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"World News" led with the ruling saying there's no link between autism and childhood vaccines. "Evening News" led with Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) withdrawing his commerce secretary bid. "Nightly News" led with Gregg's withdrawal.
News that Gregg (R-NH) backed out of consideration for Pres. Obama's commerce sec. nominee was the major topic discussed last night.
CNN's Yellin: "Inside the White House tonight, there's a real sense of irritation over this. One angry Democrat close to the process told me that they feel like Gregg's decision to withdraw was erratic. I mean, Gregg says he changed his mind when he realized the president's politics were too different from his own and he just couldn't compromise."
CNN's Borger, in response: "I call him the runaway bride" ("No Bias, No Bull," 2/12).
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), on Gregg's announcement: "Obviously, it is a surprise, but not for the reasons that Senator Gregg indicated. We know he has strongly held views when it comes to fiscal policy. ... I know he feels very strongly about these issues and it's to his credit that he recognized that, acknowledged it, and made what was obviously a very difficult decision."
More Snowe, on whether she got an "inkling" Gregg might withdraw: "No, not at all. I did happen to see Senator Gregg in Leader [Harry] Reid's office yesterday just in passing but there was no discussion, no speculation whatsoever that this was about to happen" ("1600," MSNBC, 2/12).
Fortune's Easton: "This is a great loss, and I think the sad thing is it probably could have been avoided. I think if a stimulus plan had come out of Obama's shop rather than sending it to Congress and losing control over it, basically, I think you could have possibly kept a Judd Gregg onboard" ("Special Report," FNC, 2/12).
CBS' Schieffer: "This is either the weirdest thing that's happened in Washington, or we've found one honest man" ("Evening News," 2/12).
After the jump, more on Gregg, as well as the economic stimulus package
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- He's Just Not That Into You" »
"World News" led with the economic stimulus package. "Evening News" led with the economic stimulus package and hosted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Nightly News" led with the economic stimulus package.
Pelosi sat down with CBS' Couric for an interview that aired on "Evening News" last night.
Pelosi, after speaking with Pres. Obama the phone, and whether she is surprised by how "intimately" he has been while trying to pass the stimulus package: "Quite frankly, yes. I said, 'Mr. President, neither of us has time for this conversation ... really,' but we understand each other, we know where we need to go."
Couric: "Can you tell us anything he said to you, like 'get cracking'?"
Pelosi: "No, never that. We're always cracking. But it was really a moment for us to have an appreciation that in just a little while, maybe a couple of days, we will have passed legislation that will take the country in a new direction, which will begin us down the road of recovery."
Couric: "Is the devil in the details?"
Pelosi: "I hope the angels are, because what is in the details are how we will create those jobs, how we do it in a transparent way for the world to see with accountability to the public, again to build jobs, build confidence and stabilize the economy. The bill that we passed one week and one day after the president's speech, honoring the promises he made in that speech, 90 percent of that bill is contained in the Senate bill."
After the jump, more from Pelosi's interview, and discussion about the stimulus package.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Paging Pelosi" »
"World News" led with the the stock market plunged and Treasury Sec. Timothy Geithner's press conference. "Evening News" led with the stock market plunging following Geithner's press conference. "Nightly News" led with the stock market plunging following Geithner's press conference.
Pres. Obama sat down with ABC's Moran for an interview in Fort Myers, FL, that aired last night on "Nightline."
Obama, on Wall Street's plunge following Geithner's press conference: "Wall Street, I think, is hoping for an easy out on this thing and there is no easy out. Essentially, what you've got are a set a banks that have not been as transparent as we need to be in terms of what their books look like. And we're going to have to hold out the Band-Aid a little bit and go ahead and just be clear about some of the losses that have been made because until we do that, we're not going to be able to attract private capital into the marketplace."
Obama, on why he can't give a "ballpark figure" of how much the stimulus package will end up costing American taxpayers: "Well, because ultimately, what happens is going to depend on how the markets respond over the long term, not today or the next day but a month from now or two months from now. How effective we are in actually cleaning out some of these bad assets out of these banks. If we're doing a good job and we've got a template that creates transparency and accountability, clarity and consistency in terms of how we're applying this program, then what we'll end up seeing is private capital coming back into the marketplace."
More Obama: "If we do a poor job, then private capital will continue to stay out and frankly, at, at a certain point, the government can't replace all that private capital, so you know, our job is to get this right, get the model right. We've got 350 billion dollars of the TARP money that's been allocated but we also have the Federal Reserve Bank and the FDIC, all of whom were consulted in designing this plan. ... I think the most important thing is to give both the market, but also the taxpayer, confidence that we're spending that money well. And if we do that well, then I think we can make an assessment down the road in terms of what else we might have to do."
After the jump, more from Obama's interview, and Geithner makes the TV rounds.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Economy Rules" »
"World News" led with baseball player Alex Rodriguez's admission of steroid use. "Evening News" led with Pres. Obama's proposed economic stimulus package. "Nightly News" led with Obama's proposed economic stimulus package.
Reaction to and analysis Pres. Obama's news conference last night dominated post-9pm newscasts.
MSNBC's Matthews: "I thought he was very eloquent tonight and very useful to our representative democracy into explaining why he's not getting tougher with the Republicans. He used the velvet glove a couple of times ... he was very nice about it, even subtle. But clearly, he was making his points but he's really making an effort, it seems, to build a four-year record ahead of him. I have never seen such forward-looking attitude from a politician. He kept saying, 'I'm not doing this for this week, I'm doing this for the next four years,' which is to try to build civility and to get past these bad habits of partisanship."
MSNBC's Maddow, in response: "It was sort of a velvet glove. That he did take a couple of little whacks at Republican positions here, but nothing like we have seen actually in the last few days when we saw ... a lot more aggression from him. I thought he seemed sort of calm, cool and collected here" ("Countdown," 2/9).
FNC's Colmes: "I thought he did a very good job explaining his position, explaining ... what he needs to do, what the stimulus is going to accomplish and why his position is a good position. ... Here's where I think it was negative for him. I would not have gone as deep into what happened in the '90's. Rather than putting blame, which I thought he did ... two or three times during the news conference, he went back and said, 'Look what these guys did. Look what I inherited.' I think he needs to be more forward-looking" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 2/9).
After the jump, more reaction to Obama's press conference, along with discussion of the stimulus package.
(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Velvet Underground" »
"World News" led with SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's surgery for pancreatic cancer. "Evening News" led with the released air traffic tapes of Hudson plane crash and previewed an interview with pilot Chesley Sullenberger. "Nightly News" led with the released air traffic tapes of Hudson plane crash.
With his economic stimulus package facing GOP opposition, Pres. Obama traveled to Williamsburg, VA, last night to address House Dems. The trip also marked the first time Obama has left DC since taking office.
CNN's Henry: "This was a fired-up president who perhaps realizes he has lost control of the message a bit. So, he tried to seize that megaphone right back by reviving ... the intensity of the campaign with this speech tonight. ... The White House was going to close this to TV cameras, just a private pep talk with House Democrats in Williamsburg, Virginia. But, instead, in the last 24 hours, they opened it up to TV cameras, because they wanted him to reach beyond just Democrats, go to a wider audience, and try to sell this stimulus plan. He took the gloves off. And that carries some political risk, because he dropped a lot of the bipartisan talk, and instead really ripped into Republicans in his pushback" ("AC 360," 2/5).
FNC's Garrett: "He said on the flight down to Williamsburg, Virginia, that $800 billion is the range. It's the comfortable figure that he wants. ... So with his words and enthusiastic response from House Democrats, the president essentially tonight is trying to reengage debate, put more energy behind his side of the argument and also signal what he's willing to live with, which is about $800 billion" ("O'Reilly Factor," 2/5).
The Hill's Stoddard: "I actually haven't seen that Barack Obama in many months, and he's taking the campaign mode, taking a clue from the Republicans who have been in campaign mode now against his bill for 10 days, two weeks. It might be a little too late, but I think that, you know, to coin a phrase they use at graduations, the Senate vote is not an end, it is a beginning" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 2/5).
More after the jump.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Fight Club" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama capping executive pay for firms tied to bailout. "Evening News" led with Obama's stimulus package and hosted Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). "Nightly News" led with Obama capping executive pay for firms tied to bailout.
Much of last night's TV talk focused on Pres. Obama imposing a $500K pay cap on some sr. execs whose firms are receiving taxpayer bailout money.
Dem strategist Paul Begala: "What the president did today is wonderful. It's an example of moral leadership. You know, back in the '20s, Babe Ruth made more money than President Hoover. ... They said, Babe, 'How come you're making more money than the president?' He said, 'I had a better year.' Well, these folks on Wall Street did not have a better year. They don't deserve taxpayers to subsidize their enormous compensation packages. And I think the president's dead on with that. Why should taxpayers be subsidizing multibillion dollar bonuses to guys and gals who have failed in their jobs?" ("LKL," CNN, 2/4).
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): "I don't have a problem with it. ... I think a more effective way would say that shareholders have to vote any compensation for executives of those corporations. The shareholders have a real interest in making sure that excessive pay and benefits are not granted to CEOs. So I don't have a problem with the $500,000 deal. I think it would be more effective to say shareholders are the ones that decide" ("On the Record," FNC, 2/4).
New York Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman: "This isn't to say that I don't think there should be some bit of compensation cap in some of these firms, but there should be an overall cap. They shouldn't be limited to specific individuals, because the very talented people that you're going to need to help these companies get out of the troubles they're in are simply going to be able to move to non-regulated companies. ... That is a mistake for what, in fact, we are trying to accomplish, which is trying to rebuild these companies" ("1600," MSNBC, 2/4).
After the jump, the stimulus debate continues and Cheney reemerges.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Sky's Not The Limit" »
"World News" led with Tom Daschle's withdrawal from consideration for HHS Sec. and featured a taped interview with Pres. Obama. "Evening News" led with Daschle's withdrawal and featured a taped interview with Obama. "Nightly News" led with Daschle's withdrawal and featured a taped interview with Obama.
In a series of TV interviews last night, Pres. Obama was asked to respond to Tom Daschle's withdrawal from consideration for HHS Sec.
Obama, asked if this has been an embarrassing day for the admin.: "Well, I think it has. I mean, I think that any time one of your nominees pulls out, that's an issue. ... I take responsibility for the situation that we're in. ... I think Tom Daschle would have been the best person to help shepherd through a health care bill through a very difficult process in Congress. And so, you know, I regret the fact that he's not going to be serving, but we're going to move forward."
ABC's Gibson: "But there's more of a problem than just Daschle. ... You've now got three major appointees who, it turns out, haven't paid all their taxes. What kind of a message does that send about responsibility?"
Obama: "Well, I think it sends the wrong one. And that's, you know, something I take responsibility for. I think that all of these were honest mistakes, but ultimately there's no excuse for them."
More after the jump.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Taking One For The Team" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's stimulus package. "Evening News" led with winter weather. "Nightly News" led with layoffs at Macy's.
Most of last night's TV talk focused on the news Pres. Obama will name Sen./ex-NH Gov. Judd Gregg (R) to the vacant commerce sec. post later this a.m.
Atlantic Media's Brownstein: "For Obama to bring a third Republican into his cabinet would be quite extraordinary. I think you have to go back to Franklin Roosevelt's first cabinet in 1933 to find the last time a president had three members of the opposite party in his cabinet at the same time. So it is a statement. It has a political advantage. ... It will be interesting for me to see if, as a member of the economic team, is Gregg willing to defend the overall economic strategy of Obama, including allowing the Bush tax cuts to be repealed and this ... large investment spending that's in the stimulus plan. Will Judd Gregg be a spokesperson for those kinds of initiatives? That would be striking to see" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 2/2).
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer: "The job is not really worth a pitcher of warm spit, to quote a famous vice president years ago. It a second-level job in the cabinet. It doesn't have a lot of influence. ... It might be that Gregg, looking at an upcoming reelection campaign in two years, thinking that his state has been trending Democratic as the southern part of New Hampshire becomes a colony of liberal Massachusetts, that he may lose. And so he wants a graceful exit. That's possible" ("Special Report," FNC, 2/2).
NH Institute for pol. dir. Jennifer Donahue, on who will take Gregg's seat: "I'm hearing [it] is perhaps Bonnie Newman, who was a staffer for Gregg, who worked under the Reagan and Bush administrations, close with the Bush family. And she basically is sort of a Republican but a nonpartisan. She ran UNH during an interim phase. She is a director of Fair Point Communications. She is not someone who will run for Senate in 2010. So the bottom line is, if Lynch wants this to be clear, if he wants to not play politics with it, and I have ever reason to believe he doesn't, then he would put her someone like her, a neutral, as a place holder, so that it was a wide open primary race for potentially Representatives Hodes, Shea Porter and others" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 2/2).
More after the jump, including Daschle's tax problems.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Good Juddgment" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama criticizing the $18B in Wall Street bonuses. "Evening News" led with Obama criticizing the $18B in Wall Street bonuses. "Nightly News" led with Obama criticizing the $18B in Wall Street bonuses.
Most of the TV talkers applauded the IL Senate for voting unanimously to impeach IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D).
Ex-Chicago Tribune managing ed. Jim Warren, on Blagojevich's closing argument: "This was a classic Rod Blagojevich, rather disingenuous performance. Articulate. Passionate. Threw in historical analogies. Remember that even that bizarre one about meeting Senator John Warner, getting him coffee and making a lot of the other fact that Warner wants to be married to Elizabeth Taylor? I thought he was setting up maybe an insanity defense at that point" ("Hannity," FNC, 1/29).
More Warren: "For the first time ever, I must admit that I really wanted Rod Blagojevich to talk even longer than he did. You know, I was fearful of a Castro-like three or four hours. But the 46 or 47 minutes, in a weird way, seemed insufficient, given all the questions that remained which he failed to address" ("1600," MSNBC, 1/29).
Chicago Sun-Times' McKinney, asked why the IL Senate went a step further by barring Blagojevich from ever holding public office in the state again: "The Blagojevich name right now is so toxic that as we head into an election cycle here, you know, pretty much at the end of this year, I don't think anybody wanted any baggage left over from the Blagojevich era out on the campaign trail" ("On the Record," FNC, 1/29).
More after the jump, including Biden on the stimulus bill's chances in the Senate.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Don't You Know That You're Toxic?" »
"World News" led with the CIA station chief in Algeria accused of rapes. "Evening News" led with the stimulus package passing the House without any GOP votes. "Nightly News" led with the U.S. Postal Service threatening to take away a day of mail delivery.
Although the stimulus bill passed the House 244-188, not one GOPer voted in favor of the plan. 11 mostly conservative Dems also voted against the measure. A number of GOPers and one Dem who defected spoke about their opposition to the package:
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN): "Every single Republican in the House of Representatives decided to stand with the American people and reject this so-called stimulus bill. ... This was a partisan bill, exclusively written by the Democratic leadership in the House. ... I'm proud of the House Republicans who took a stand for our alternative, which would be not a massive wish list of liberal spending, but tax relief for working families, small businesses and family farms" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," CNN, 1/28).
Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), on the WH promising blue dogs "pay as you go": "President Obama ran on change. This isn't change. George Bush during the height of the war cut taxes, increased spending, doubled the national debt on his watch. And this is just more of the same, in my opinion. ... The nation borrowed $800 billion between the Revolutionary War through Gerald Ford's presidency. In one vote, the nation's going to borrow another 800 billion. This is nuts" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," CNN, 1/28).
Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL): "We had $825 billion bill, about $90 billion worth for infrastructure, $50 million for national endowment for the arts, $1 billion for post 2010 census examination. You can go on and on and on and on. This was not a stimulus bill. Just a tiny portion was. ... If it had been a true stimulus bill, I would have voted along with the rest of Republicans" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 1/28).
More after the jump.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- All For One, One For All" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama's Hill meeting with GOPers. "Evening News" led with winter ice storms. "Nightly News" led with Obama's Hill meeting with GOPers.
Pols and pundits weighed in on Pres. Obama's meeting with GOPers on the Hill.
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN): "What this bill is and what President Obama heard in what was a frank but cordial dialogue on the House side of the Capitol today was, Look, this bill is a long litany of liberal pet programs that will have very little to do with actually getting this economy moving again. "
More Pence: "This is a flawed bill. And as I said to the president personally, this is a bill that was not fashioned with what I believe is his very genuine desire for a bipartisan compromise on issues like the stimulus. The Democrats in Congress, as I told him, have completely ignored his call for bipartisan compromise, and they're bringing a partisan Democrat bill to the floor tomorrow that will not create jobs, will not lift our economy, and Republicans are poised to oppose it" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 1/27).
CNN's Blitzer, to House Min. Whip Eric Cantor: "Before the meeting, you were urging your fellow Republicans to vote against the measure tomorrow. Do you still feel like that after the meeting?"
Cantor: "This is the message that we delivered to the president. Somehow, his goal of trying to change the way things work here in Washington has not seeped through to the congressional Democrats. In fact, the bill that they are bringing forward to the floor tomorrow does not do what we need to do to stimulate the economy. ... We're in, as the president has said, unprecedented economic times. We have got to get some relief for the families of this country. This bill is not the way to do that."
More after the jump, including the Blago PR blitz and Coleman's first interview since the recount.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Bringing Down The House?" »
"World News" led with Pres. Obama issuing two presidential memoranda dealing with the environment. "Evening News" led with massive layoffs. "Nightly News" led with massive layoffs.
IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) continued to make the TV rounds. Some highlights from his appearances:
Blagojevich, asked if he is a dirty pol: "No, I'm a very honest politician and I see myself -- and you can laugh and call this delusional -- but when all the facts come out you will see that I'm right."
ABC's McFadden: "But your political career is over now, wouldn't you agree to that?"
Blagojevich: "Well, I think it's not very promising right now and to be put in a place in the not too distant future, where I'll be looking for another livelihood, but I'm not as important..."
McFadden: "No, but I mean all these big dreams. You talked about running for president in 2016. That's over isn't it?"
Blagojevich: "Let me say that, things are taken out of context and what I have to do now is focus on doing the best I can while I'm still the governor of Illinois."
After the jump, Obama goes green.
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Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Still Crazy After All These Years" »
Two stories dominated last night's TV coverage: A close source to NY Gov. David Paterson (D) saying he had "no intention" of picking Caroline Kennedy (D) for SEN after "potentially embarrassing personal issues" surfaced and Pres. Obama ordering the Guantanamo Bay prison to be closed within a year. First up, Kennedy:
New York Post's Dicker, on the personal issues involving "taxes, her nanny and possibly her marriage": "We don't know if it's true, but it was interesting that someone close to the governor, who was considered authoritative, would bring it up" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 1/22).
Newt Gingrich: "You're watching Mr. Geithner, who has a tax issue, and he's not throwing in the towel. He's trying to brazen his way to the secretary of the Treasury job. ... The governor could pick her with any kind of problems she has. And if he names her, she is the senator. So I think, you know, that's not necessarily a problem. I wonder, though, if deep down, as she looked at her life, if she really wanted to try to do this" ("On the Record," FNC, 1/22).
Chicago Sun-Times' Sweet: "Here's why she needs to clean this up, though, because I can only guess that she would be up, if she wanted, for some appointment within the Obama administration. ... I would think that she needs to clear this up for her own future. There are many years where she could take an appointment and many places she could be plugged in. So I think the onus is on her" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 1/22).
More after the jump.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Nanny Diaries" »
Last night's TV talk focused largely on Pres. Obama's first acts in office. Obama instituting ethics rules, freezing WH salaries over $100K, meeting with military leaders and allowing more public scrutiny received a fair amount of praise.
ABC's Stephanopoulos: "On day one, symbolism is substance. Today it was all about showing that he was keeping the promises of the campaign. ... He was trying to demonstrate that he didn't forget what got him here" ("World News," 1/21).
CNN's J. King: "It was very important to get off to a good first step, especially since the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton, had a horrible beginning in the early days. ... These new lobbying restrictions and the other restrictions he had put on his staff are being applauded by all of the groups that watch these things outside of government as groundbreaking and landmark. So, in that regard, he's off to a good start. ... The whole idea of trust, trust me, you can trust me, is very important as he begins to spend billions and billions of dollars" ("AC 360," 1/21).
FNC's Barnes: "I liked that order on transparency and openness in government. ... I think that was probably the most important thing that happened today. ... The Freedom of Information Act is some that probably should be opened up a little bit more" ("Special Report," 1/21).
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO): "He kept a lot of promises today. He's got a lot to keep, but he kept a lot today on ethics, on transparency and on meeting with the military leaders, listening to them, but most importantly, saying, 'The policy I'm setting is we must get out of Iraq as quickly and as reasonable as we can, hopefully one brigade a month over the next 16 months'" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 1/21).
More after the jump, including Caroline Kennedy's withdrawal and Pelosi on the stimulus.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Back Where I Come From" »
The reviews of Pres. Obama's inaugural address are in:
WH historian Doris Kearns Goodwin: "There were echoes of Roosevelt, echoes of Lincoln -- he made it his own. He made it his call to this generation to be able to experience what other generations in our country have been lucky enough to experience, a time when their concerns were larger than their individual lives and they felt that sense of being summoned to a larger spirit. ... It sort of was a profound level below the ordinary domestic policy speech or the foreign policy speech. It was a return to the values that America stood for. America has never been just a country. It's always been an ideal that ordinary people could govern themselves" (MSNBC, 1/20).
Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC): "I am ready to do many of the things that were said in the speech, but I just want to be met half way" (FNC, 1/20).
Syndicated columnist Mark Shields: "It was not a great speech. Speeches have brought Barack Obama to where he is: the speech of 2004; certainly, the Reverend Wright speech; memorable speeches along the way, his announcement speech; the speech accepting the nomination. This was not his greatest speech. But the speeches have brought him to where he is. And now it's time for action and decisions, but it's given him that chance to become a great president" ("NewsHour," PBS, 1/20).
Ex-Sec/State Colin Powell: "I think it was a very powerful statement, and I think it was a proper statement. We do have foes out there, and they should be on notice that America will deal with them. ... But I think he also made it clear that his preference is to find peaceful ways to talk to people and to work with our friends and allies" (CNN, 1/20).
More after the jump, including Obama's thoughts on the historic day.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- Speech! Speech! Speech!" »
CBS' Couric sat down with Pres.-elect Obama. In the interview, Obama was asked if Treas. Sec.-designate/NY FED Pres. Tim Geithner's failure to pay taxes is embarrassing.
Obama: "Well, I think he's embarrassed about it. ... But we knew about this before we nominated him. It was an innocent mistake, a common mistake that's made. But here's the bottom line: Nobody denies that he is uniquely qualified for this job, that he has more experience in dealing with international crises. He has been uniformly praised by Republicans and Democrats and by the marketplace, and so I'm confident he will be confirmed and I'm confident he will do an outstanding job."
More from the interview:
Couric: "Forty percent of your stimulus package relies on tax cuts with the hopes that people will invest that money or put it back into the economy. ... But some critics have said, hey, that didn't really happen the last time. Why will it this time?"
Obama: "First of all, I think it's important to understand that the majority of our spending is direct government spending on critical infrastructure that will set the table for long-term economic growth. We're going to double alternative energy, we're going to rebuild our schools and community colleges and public universities. We're going to invest billions of dollars in health information technology so that we can drive down costs for average families. So that's where the majority of the money is going."
After the jump, Obama reaches out to the right and legacy tour '09.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
Continue reading "Hotline After Dark -- The Age Of Innocence?" »
