November 30, 2006
Hotline After Dark -- Hillary Scared Of Obama?
Lots of talk last night on Pres. Bush not meeting with Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki:
NBC's K. O'Donnell, on the non-meeting: "There was no photo opportunity, no dinner, no nothing" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 11/29).
CNN's Malveaux: "It was clear the president was not consulted, and left the impression of a brush-off. The White House is trying to downplay the no-show, insisting it wasn't, pointing out, Mr. Bush and Maliki's face-to-face talks are still planned for tomorrow" ("AC 360," 11/29).
FNC's Baier: "The change of plans appeared to surprise White House officials, who tried to play down its significance" ("Special Report," 11/29).
FNC's Smith, on Bush: "It does sound like he's has been stiffed" ("On the Record," 11/29).
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "It was a huge embarrassment. It's the last thing you want. ... To have this happen at a time when confidence in the president's handling of the war is plummeting, and events on the ground are spiraling down into crisis, too, I think this is a very bad blow for the president" ("AC 360," CNN, 11/29).
FNC SAYS HRC MAY NOT RUN
FNC's Cameron: "The chairman of Iowa's Democratic party told Fox News that Mrs. Clinton has not been adequately laying the groundwork for her campaign and that first in the nation caucus goers are being told she may not run because of growing buzz over Illinois Freshman Senator Barack Obama's expected candidacy."
Interim IA Dem Chair Rob Tully: "She's been quiet and, you know, there's a question that we all hear is that she may not get in this if Barack Obama gets in. I have never seen a reaction other than Bill Clinton in terms of the excitement that people have to meet Barack Obama. Some people just wanted to touch him" ("Special Report," 11/29).
KERRY'S DOG DAYS
"LKL" last night featured Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman (in separate interviews):
Kerry, asked if Bush was snubbed by Maliki: "Well, it's hard to interpret. But I think what's more important is really what happens tomorrow and what happens in the next days."
Asked if he calls Iraq a civil war: "Yes. And I have for some time. It is a civil war."
On coming in last in the Quinnipiac poll: "I would have voted myself last when it was taken."
On WH '08: "I have said again and again, that decision is down the road" (CNN, 11/29).
During the Chapman segment, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) appeared to discuss why he sent Sec/State Condoleezza Rice a letter asking her to deny Dog's extradition to Mexico.
Tancredo: "I believe that we should never have responded to it. I mean, it was amazing to me, when I first saw this whole thing and first read about it, that we were responding to Mexico's request so aggressively, so willingly, so quickly. I mean, especially it was a request to bring back somebody, to extradite somebody from the United States for a crime that was really a misdemeanor, which is not something we would usually do. ... You have to say to yourself, why would the United States, the Department of State, spend the time, energy and effort getting involved with this thing?"
More Tancredo: "The fact that there are hundreds of thousands of people around this country who are concerned about his welfare and concerned about how the State Department handles this can do nothing but help. But I want to make sure that Mexico understands that I am not being critical of them at this particular juncture" ("LKL," CNN, 11/29).[EMILY GOODIN]
Posted at 07:15 AM
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