October 09, 2007
Sunday Snapshot
John Edwards was on "Meet the Press":
On Richardson saying Edwards would "change the mission" while Richardson would "end the war": "What I would do instead is outside of Iraq, probably in Kuwait, maintain a quick reaction force. And that quick reaction force would be focused on the possibility of al- aeda operations, not terrorism at large. The problem with what I hear with Senator Clinton saying, and I've heard others say is when you talk about maintaining troops, combat troops inside Iraq, based there, and they're focused on anti-terrorism activity within Iraq, that's very similar to what President Bush says. It's very hard to understand where that ends, where the limits are. I do think we need to end this war in Iraq. I'm for getting our combat troops out of Iraq. I'm going to be responsible and protect the embassy like we do everywhere else in the world, but we will maintain a quick reaction force just outside of Iraq in Kuwait, so that if there are al Qaeda -- let me be very specific, not general terrorist activity. I mean, terrorist activity can include any sort of action against civilians and against the state. I'm talking specifically about public enemy number one, al Qaeda, that's responsible for a small percentage of the insurgent activity in Iraq."
More: "I'm saying something very different than what Senator Clinton's saying. Senator Clinton has said she will maintain troops inside Iraq, and that they will engage in combat operation, combat missions, I think is her term, inside Iraq. I will not do that. To me, that is a continuation of the war, and this war needs to be brought to an end. I do think that America, like we would anywhere else in the world, is focused on al Qaeda, focused on public enemy number one, and we have to be ready to respond if they're planning attacks inside Iraq, attacks against us or our embassy inside Iraq, or attacks outside of Iraq. We have to be prepared to respond to that, and that's why I'd keep a quick reaction force in Kuwait. But I would not, as Senator Clinton would, keep combat troops inside Iraq and continue combat missions in Iraq."
Asked if he favors cutting off funding for troops: "No, sir. No. I'm saying the same thing now I said in February. What I have said all throughout the course of this campaign is what we need to do and what the Congress needs to do is they need to force George Bush's hand. I think the American people sent an absolutely clear mandate in November of 2006 that they expect the Congress to stand strong, to be firm. And the way for the Congress to do that is to ensure that every funding bill that goes to this president actually has a timetable for withdrawal."
Asked if he's changed since '04: "I'm exactly the same person that I was in 2004. I run for president for exactly the same reason. ... I do believe that there's been some changes both in America and in the world. The war in Iraq is much worse than it was in 2003 and 2004, and it's continued. Our healthcare situation is dysfunctional. It does not work. And I am convinced that the only solution to this is true, universal healthcare. Global warming is now, by anybody's measure, a crisis. A crisis that America has to deal with and has to respond to. We have five million more people who've fallen into poverty while George Bush has been in office."
Asked about his association with hedge funds: "I think this is a perfectly fair question. And let me answer it. First of all, I was the first candidate, Democrat or Republican, to lay out an aggressive plan to get rid of the tax breaks that are available, including the offshoring that you just spoke about, that are available to hedge fund managers. They're not right, they're not fair. ... If you look at what I have spent my life doing, including the time since the last election ... I did a whole variety of things. ... I ran a poverty center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which I started ... My wife, Elizabeth, and I started a college-for-everyone program, for kids who are willing to work when they were in school to be able to go to college; I personally did humanitarian work in Africa. These are the things that I spent my time doing, and I don't apologize for them. I'm proud of what I've spent my life doing."
More: "When I found out that there were foreclosures going on in Louisiana, in New Orleans, which is specifically what you're asking about, I responded immediately. Called the people at Fortress, told them that they needed to take action. I thereafter took any investments that I had in that operation out. On top of that, we have started a fund, a home rescue fund, with a local community activist group in New Orleans to actually provide help to people who are having their homes foreclosed on in New Orleans."
Asked if he's the best candidate to help down-ballot candidates: "I am the candidate running for president on the Democratic side who's actually won an election in a red state running against the Jessie Helms political machine. I know what you have to do to win in battleground states, and to win in tough, tough congressional districts, and what you have to do to put out your message that works in those kind of places. ... I do believe when I am the Democratic nominee for president that there is no place in America that I can't go and campaign and help our congressional candidates and help our Senate candidates. I think at the end of the day it's for voters to determine what impact Senator Clinton would have. But I think there are clear choices between the two of us. I've been elected in a red state, I believe that, at least based on the empirical data that's out there, indicates that I am the strongest candidate on the Democratic side in these battleground areas, in these battleground states."
On DailyKos saying he shouldn't be the nominee because he doesn't have enough money: "This is going to be an election ... it's not going to be an auction. You know, we're not going to determine who can raise the most money and thereby who should be president of the United States" (NBC, 10/7).
NO SENATE FOR ME, THANKS
Bill Richardson was on "This Week":
On the '08ers saying they can't guarantee U.S. troops out of Iraq by 2013: "It's a calculating message. I am decisive. I say that I will get all of our troops out, no residual forces within a year of my presidency. Why is that? Because our troops have become targets. Our kids are dying. This is not a military solution, this is a political solution, and the window for that political solution is vanishing. You cannot start a political settlement, a possible partition, an all-Muslim peacekeeping force, donors coming in to help Iraq reconstruct again, Iran and Syria being part of the solution -- you cannot do all that with any of our troops behind."
More: "Now, I would put some troops in the region, in Kuwait, in Bahrain. I would take some of those troops into Afghanistan, where the threat of al Qaeda, the Taliban terrorism is real."
Asked his case against HRC: "I am positive. I am developing my message that I'm the person that can deliver change. I've done it as a governor, as a diplomatic troubleshooter, as an ambassador, as a secretary of energy. And I've got the most experience, particularly as a CEO, as a governor, as a diplomat, as somebody that has delivered change, not just internationally but also in this country. ... Look, this race is three months to go. These are name-recognition polls. I know she's very strong. But I am very confident that in the months ahead, my message of change and experience is going to get through. ... It's grassroots. It's getting out there. I'm outworking everybody. My fund raising is going well. My momentum is picking up. You know, this race is not over."
More: "I feel good. This country likes underdogs. Iowa and New Hampshire, they like underdogs. My message is getting through. I've been moving up slowly, steadily. I've got a ground game. My message of hope and opportunity and change and experience is getting through."
Asked if he'll reconsider running for NM SEN by the 2/8/08 filing deadline: "No, I'm not going to reconsider. By the time February 8th, I will have won the California and New Mexico and Arizona primaries. I will be on my way" (ABC, 10/7).
SAYING A LITTLE PRAYER
Speaker Nancy Pelosi was on "Fox New Sunday":
Asked if she was briefed about the secret DoJ memos on torture: "No, not about the secret memos. But let me say also, again, as one who appreciates the value of intelligence to protect the American people, I think it's very important that we have the best possible intelligence. And there's international cooperation on this, and there are international standards on it. And I think that protecting the American people being our top priority, we should do so in a way that is within the law, and experts agree that you do not obtain reliable intelligence through using these tactics."
Asked if she is satisfied when the Dem '08ers said they could not guarantee all U.S. troops out of Iraq in 2013: "Well, it depends on what they mean by 'all.' I think that the Democrats in the House of Representatives are much more optimistic than that."
More: "I would describe a minimal, temporary force to be there for a few years following the end of next year. ... I just met with President Talabani a couple of days ago, the president of Iraq, when he was here, and his view was much more optimistic, as well, about what would needed, a very minimal force. We're not even talking about tens of thousands of troops. ... So my view would be much more optimistic than what our presidential candidates are saying."
On what she prays for Pres. Bush: "I pray for his health, his well being. I pray that he makes the right decisions for the American people."
Asked if she prays he changes his politics: "All the time. But let me draw a line. When I was growing up in politics, we were always told that we shouldn't pray for a political outcome, that we just pray that God's will would be done."
Asked if HRC would drag down Dems in House districts: "Members of Congress always run on their own. It's a very singular activity. And they are independent representatives of their districts, and as such, they run on their own individual platforms. Of course, they would not be menaced by a national platform about security and economic growth and families and accountability and -- did I say growing the economy. But we do it one district at a time" (10/7).
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE WOMAN
The "Fox News Sunday" Power Player was HRC campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle:Solis Doyle: "Being a frontrunner is not where we think of ourselves. We are working aggressively every day."
More: "I oversee the fundraising department, the budget department, the political department. I just make sure that we are a cohesive and effective team."
Solis Doyle: "Sometimes consensus is not reached and then someone has to make the decision, make the call, and that's what I do."
FNC's Wallace: "You have been called brutally competitive. How do you plead?"
Solis Doyle: "Guilty, absolutely."
Wallace: "What does that mean?"
Solis Doyle: "I'm a mean scrabble player. I'm a mean poker player. I like to win."
Asked if they purposely upstaged Obama on his big speech day by releasing their 3rd Qrt numbers, Solis Doyle: "Well, we thought that it was a good day to go" (10/8).
NOT TO BE RUDY ...
Family Research Council's Tony Perkins was on "Face the Nation":
Asked about Giuliani: "If the Republican Party decides to retreat from its defense of the unborn, we're not going to go with him."
More: "It's very premature to assume that he is the nominee. There are many pro-life, pro-family candidates out there for the nomination and if you look at the national polling, Rudy Giuliani is leading. But if you look at the early states, which are key in deciding who the nominee will be, he's not doing so well. In fact, if he doesn't win Florida he could be out of this by Super Tuesday" (CBS, 10/7).
ROUNDTABLE ROUNDUP
The "Late Edition" roundtable discussed WH '08 and Larry Craig.
The "Fox News Sunday" roundtable discussed WH '08 and the interrogation of terror suspects.
The "Meet the Press" roundtable discussed WH '08 [EMILY GOODIN].
Posted at 07:20 AM
Comments
Post a comment
The Watergate · 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-739-8400 · fax 202-833-8069
NationalJournal.com is an Atlantic Media publication.
