February 01, 2007
Hotline After Dark -- Biden's "Clever" Move?
There was still a lot of talk on Iraq last night, along with reports on scary cartoons in Boston, but pundits' favorite subject was Joe Biden:
Time's Carney: "What Biden was saying, and this is Biden's fault for not being clear in what he was saying in this interview, is that there hasn't been a candidate, a viable African-American candidate with all those qualities in one ... who is mainstream" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 1/31).
Dem strategist Donna Brazile: "I was shocked to read those comments. Look, I know Joe Biden. I believe his intentions are good. He has a strong civil rights record. But it came across pretty damaging. His first, you know, major event, his announcement, and he stepped on his own story" ("Situation Room," CNN, 1/31).
Washington Post's Kornblut: "This is classic Joe Biden. ... He tends toward the hyperbolic often in his speech, and he talks and talks and talks" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 1/31).
Newsweek's Alter: "This guy does have a foot in mouth disease. He has ever since he arrived in the U.S. Senate at age 30" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 1/31).
Newt Gingrich: "I have occasionally put both of my feet in my mouth, and it's not a very comfortable feeling, because you have nothing left to stand on. And I think Senator Biden just had one of those moments" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 1/31).
Washington Post's Milbank: "Nobody sees Joe Biden as a racist. They just see him as a man who just can't seem to, you know, get that governor in control in between his brain and his mouth" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 1/31).
FNC's Hannity: "Trent Lott apologized multiple times. He made his first apology to me after making a joke at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday. Nobody accepted his apology" ("Hannity & Colmes," 1/31).
Weekly Standard's Kristol: "I think it's a very clever move by Senator Biden. Seriously, if he had just announced his candidacy, he'd be like the ninth Democrat in the race, who would care? He'd be on page A-7 in the papers, we would not be discussing him here -- anymore than we didn't discuss Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd an all the other people who are running. And here we are and he's on every news show. He's got people airing his criticisms of his competitors, Senator Edwards and Senator Clinton and Senator Obama" ("Special Report," FNC, 1/31).
STILL STANDING ALONE
Pres. Bush spoke with FNC's Cavuto:
On Sen. Arlen Specter's not the "sole decider" comment: "He wants to make sure the legislative body has input in the process and they do. They decide funding levels, for example. ... You shouldn't be surprised that members of the legislative body want to have input."
More: "I don't take any of this stuff personally. I really don't. ... It's a difficult time on Capital Hill. There are people who are doubtful."
Bush: "When times are good there are millions of authors of the plan, when times are bad there is one author and that would be me."
Asked what the troops would think of a Pres. Obama: "Oh I don't know. He hasn't been elected yet. He hasn't even gotten his party's nomination. He's an attractive guy. He's articulate. I've been impressed with him when I've seen him. But he's got a long way to go to be president."
Asked about Hillary Clinton's criticism of Iraq: "She's not nominated either" ("Your World," 1/31).
Posted at 07:18 AM
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