July 13, 2007
Hotline After Dark -- House Of Cards
Last night's TV mainly focused on reports that al Qaeda has built itself back up to the strongest it has been since pre-9/11. There was also discussion on the House voting 223-201 to get all U.S. combat forces out of Iraq by Apr. '08:
Washington Post's Robinson, on the House vote: "It's an important statement. But ... it is not going to become law. I mean, they don't have the Senate and George Bush is going to veto it in the event that it got through. It's certainly a reflection of what's becoming the sentiment in this city outside of the precincts of the White House, that it's time to set a date certain at least to begin a withdrawal, if not to complete one" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 7/12).
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), asked if Senate can pass a 120-day resolution like the House did: "If the Republican senators who have spoken out on the floor of the Senate, as well as back home, about wanting to change direction in Iraq and really break from the president's policy will join us, we have a chance to pass this. But if it's just a speech for hometown consumption and it isn't translated into a vote on the floor, no, I don't think we'll prevail" ("NewsHour," PBS, 7/12).
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), asked if the Senate GOPers are "solid enough" to keep the resolution from passing: "I think so. I really believe that most Americans see that, yes, this is not what we wanted it to be, but we are the strongest country on Earth. We are the only country that has the capability to stand and fight for freedom and also the commitment to do it. And I don't think the American people want the United States Senate to be a cut-and-run, do what's expedient, don't look for the future. They expect us to stand up for the reputation of America" ("NewsHour," PBS, 7/12).
And talk on the interim report:
FNC's Goler: "The 25-page report was required by Congress and was delivered to Capitol Hill today. But Iraq's progress fell short of what was needed to continue U.S. economic aid, forcing Mr. Bush to waive a provision that would have shut it off. The report found satisfactory progress in eight areas, unsatisfactory in eight more and mixed results in two. In general, Iraq's military did well and its government fell short" ("Special Report," 7/12).
CNN's Bash: "The mixed results in the president's report are unlikely to lure more GOP senators to support the Democrats' demand that troops come home by May 1 of next year, a measure that does not have enough votes to pass. But the report also did nothing to calm the concerns of an increasing number of Republicans" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 7/12).
MSNBC's Shuster: "Most of the political benchmarks were unsatisfactory. And on the key issues, including oil revenue sharing, deba'athification and writing a new constitution, the report said the Iraqi
government has made no progress. The report did find some progress in Iraqi security efforts, and the president used that as a reason to be optimistic about the overall situation" ("Hardball," 7/12).
Dep. Sec/State John Negroponte: "The interim report, I would want to stress, that was issued today indicates, the results are mixed. On about eight fronts they are making progress. On eight others, they have not made satisfactory progress. And on a couple of them, it is just too early to assess. But again, I just want to stress, this is an interim report, it is work in progress. And I think we have to give the Baghdad surge and the other elements of the policy at work a chance to show the results" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/12).
CNN's Dobbs: "President Bush today declared that Congress has no business trying to run the war in Iraq. President Bush blasted Democratic and some Republican senators who are now demanding a quick change of course on American strategy. The president's remarks came as an interim report said the Iraqi government has failed to meet key economic and political targets. But the report also showing that Iraq is making satisfactory progress on achievement of most military goals" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 7/12).
WH Press Sec. Tony Snow: "I think what the president did today is tell Americans something maybe
they hadn't have heard a lot of, which is, since we have gone in with the surge, there has been considerable success on the security side. And let's face it; you're not going to have political progress if politicians are worried about their very existence, if they're worried about their survival, and, furthermore, if they're worried about sectarian violence. Fortunately, sectarian violence is down. The casualty counts are down. So, there is now a little bit of breathing space, and it is up to the politicians now to take some of the next steps" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/12).
MORE ON MOORE
Mike Huckabee was on "Tucker" last night:
MSNBC's Carlson: "So Michael Moore could ease the burden that we all share for America's health care if he just dropped a little weight?"
Huckabee: "No, I think the real issue is that Michael Moore has tried to make [the point we] would be better off if we all went to Havana, Cuba to get our health care. What nonsense. ... Moore's film apparently is all about saying that what we need is ... let the government pick your doctor. And frankly, I don't think most Americans want the same people picking our doctor that runs the air traffic control system."
Carlson: "How much do you think he weighs, by the way?"
Huckabee: "I have no idea, but I know this, that a lot of it is probably overblown in some ego. I think he looks at himself as a guy who is going to solve all of America's problems."
Asked if he wants to eliminate fat people: "No, I think what it's a matter of is wanting to see that
children live longer than their parents and grandparents" (MSNBC, 7/12).
WAIT FOR IT ...
And "Hannity & Colmes" aired FNC's Hannity's interview with Fred Thompson at the Freedom Concert in Atlanta 7/10 p.m.
Thompson, on Iraq: "We were supposed to be waiting until September until we got a report back from [Gen. David] Petraeus. And now, it looks like they've moved the time frame on them because of, you know, political pressure that they're feeding. I think that the leadership in Washington and Congress simply does not understand the nature of the battle that we're in and the fact that it's global. In fact, it's going to last a long time."
Hannity, following the interview: "For the record, he didn't say when he'd announce" (FNC, 7/12) [KATHERINE LEHR].
Posted at 09:46 AM
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