May 23, 2007
Hotline After Dark -- No Bloom On This Campaign
The Iraq funding compromise led most of the news last night:
NBC's B. Williams: "To many people it looks like the Democrats might have rolled over and the president might have gotten what he wanted" ("Nightly News," 5/22).
FNC's Hume: "Congressional Republican leaders said it was a win. And Democrats claim they have made their point. But no matter how the thing is spun, it appears House and Senate negotiators have agreed on language for a bill funding the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan that President Bush will accept" ("Special Report," 5/22).
MSNBC's Shuster: "After weeks of refusing to back down to the White House, today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did just that" ("Hardball," 5/22).
STILL NO BLOOM ON THIS CAMPAIGN
Mike Bloomberg was in the "Situation Room" last night:
On Hagel saying, "It's a great country to think about a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation," Bloomberg: "Well, maybe he was talking about somebody else from New York. Chuck Hagel's a good guy. He's very smart. He's independent. He says what he thinks. And I'm proud to have him as a friend."
CNN's Blitzer: "I think he was referring to you, though."
Bloomberg: "We don't know. You'll have to go ask Chuck. He's doing the right thing. He's out there trying to give the public more choice. And I think that is an interest. I'm not a candidate for president, and I don't know whether Chuck Hagel is, but the more candidates, the better the public will be served" (CNN, 5/22).
SAME OLD AL
Al Gore was on "LKL" last night:
On the Dems sending Bush a war-spending bill without a timetable for withdrawal: "The tools that are available to the legislative branch of government are not always very precise. They are often blunt instruments. And they passed a measure that would have required a timetable. The president vetoed it. They were not able to override the veto. So their options have been sharply limited. Again, I have not seen the details of what they have done but I have a lot of confidence in Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and rest of the leadership in the House and Senate now."
On whether he will enter WH '08: "You know my answer, that's the problem. Because I don't want to sound repetitive. I am not thinking about being a candidate. I have no plans to be a candidate. But, yes, it's true, I have not made a so-called Sherman statement and ruled it out for all time. I see no reason or necessity to do that. But that's not an effort to be coy or to prop the door open or to invite such speculation. Look, I don't know why it's ordained that as soon as one presidential campaign is over with, the next one begins right away. I'm one of those who doesn't like to see the Christmas goods put into storage right after Halloween."
On whether he will endorse a candidate: "I don't know" (CNN, 5/22).[EMILY GOODIN]
Posted at 08:36 AM
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