I saw Hardball last night w /David Gregory

[mitchtv]

They had Susan Molinari and some Dem, I forget his name. It was a classic example of a smart , evil republican, who know their business, taking over the show, taking longer, getting more attacks in, and in general out performing the Dem, who sat their emotionless, stone faced, and politely waited for his turn, while she interrupted , made faces, and took over the conversation. I half expected the Dem to pick his nose, although he did say some good things, it was not enough, or aggressive enough. Where is the new blood?. It was, frankly, embarrassing



Oh Yeah, that was followed with the "liberal" Margaret Carlson

[gatorboy]

1. I agree. And as much as those despise Tweety

and there are alot of good reasons to, I don't think he would've given her as much slack as Gregory did. David's fine as a one on one reporter but he isn't very good at controlling a debate...Plus, he seemed to be the first to open up a suggestion that the gas crises is the fault of Democrats. :wtf:

[mitchtv]

11. Gregory was gruesome

It was like the GOP spin show with Susan Molinari always the last word to the PUKE. the Dem has to learn to tell her not to interrupt and shut up til he's finished

[gatorboy]

12. Unfortunately, I think they're given him a spit shine for his own show.

He seems to be making quite a few guest rounds lately. And it's not that I don't think the man's a lousy reporter. He's just a very lousy host. :(

[Missy M]

2. Susan Molinari is still around......

I thought it was good riddance to her long ago. What is her husband up to? Is he a lobbyist? To me they were the couple from hell!!!

[LSparkle]

4. I can't remember her husband's name but I thought he was up for press secy

Rob somebody ... ???

[Missy M]

6. Her husband's name is Bill Paxon and I think his downfall...

was when he tried a coup against Newt Gingrich.

[Mabus]

9. There was also the rumor of his affair with Brit Hume's son

It was reported in the Jerusalem Post that Paxon had been involved in an homosexual affair with journalist Sandy Hume. Some people speculated that if the reported affair did occur, then Hume's suicide may have led to Paxon's sudden retirement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Paxon

[Missy M]

13. He was from my area and there were rumors around here...

about his being gay and I often thought that is why he married Molinari. He is ultra-conservative.

[Mabus]

27. Wouldn't surprise me

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It wouldn't be the first time.

[Mabus]

7. Current husband - Bill Paxson, from NY Rep

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/gen/resources/players/paxon/

[LSparkle]

3. I think it was Steve McMahon (Howard Dean's former campaign mgr)

Tweety makes a POINT of having on ineffectual Democrats -- Bob Shrum is another perennial. My favorite Democratic strategist on "Spitball" of late has been Hillary Rosen (she kicks more ass than most of the guys they've had on).

[mitchtv]

10. I think you are right

Irish names are hard for me to remember

[AlCzervik]

14. like Al Franken wrote in "Lies" they pick the dem with the lazy eye

and head trauma to appear on their shows--something like that anyhow.

[seabeyond]

5. so if our people dont throw tantrums like a two year old, you are

embarrassed?

[mitchtv]

8. this is a lot of difference between tantrum

and knowing what to say , and learning to hold the floor. Although he is sometimes an asshole, Karel could teach these dems how to attack the pukes back -no nose picking

[jayfish]

15. The Meehan / Blackburn Segment Was Worse.

Here is an example:

GREGORY:Is there an attempt in Congress at political cover when there‘s really nothing that can be done in the short term?

MEEHAN: Well, I think there is something that can be done in the short term. All you have to do is look at the profit margins of these oil companies, look at the CEO leaving Exxon-Mobil with a $400 million retirement package. Why is it that this Congress, the Republican leadership and the administration, has continually passed energy bills? The latest energy bill, $20 billion in tax breaks.

So there is something that could be done here. We should provide investments in alternative fuel, alternative energy...

BLACKBURN: And we did, $8 billion worth.

MEEHAN: There are a lot of things that we could do. But the fact of the matter is as long as this oil and gas industry buy and pay for their policies in Washington, the energy bill, then we‘re never going to hold people accountable.

How hard would it have been for him to say; "eight billion dollars? We spend ten billion a month in Iraq"? I just want to put my foot through the TV when these nincompoops attempt to speak for us. I watched the repeat of "Real Time" last night and Rahm Emanuel wasn't much better.


NOTE: The Hardball transcript reads that Blackburn said "800 billion" but I watched the show live and she definitely said eight.
Jay

[Avalux]

16. Agreed. I was wincing watching that exchange.

Althought the Molinari/McMahon segment was bad, I wanted to punch Blackburn in the face. It wasn't just her though - as you've pointed out, Meehan sat there looking like a deer in the headlights and did not come across well at all. I agree completely with your comment about Emanuel too. If these guys are gonna get out there and represent, they need to pick it up A LOT.

[jayfish]

26. Word! -NT-

Jay

[mitchtv]

17. I was clenching my teeth by the end of that segment

also when she said we need to put more into exploration, why didn't he interrupt and say WHAT ABOUT ALTERNATIVES??

[jayfish]

19. There Was So Much Wrong With The Whole Thing.

Gregory didn't impress either with the whole "it's the Dems fault too" line. All Meehan had to say was "...and when were the Democrats last in power". These folks need to learn the three A's IMO: accuracy, brevity and clarity. They have a long, long way to go.

Jay

[SoCalDem]

18. They are TRAINED..SCHOOLED..in the techniques

ALL the talking-head repubes know how to burn the clock. They use 500 words for a 50 word point. They know that as long as THEY are talking, the democrat is NOT.. Dems are loathe to interrupt, or do so politely. The repube always get the FIRST crack at whatever the issue is, and the dem has to hurry through their ideas because "it's almost time for a station break"...

Repubes also KNOW our points, so just as the speaker is about to get to IT, they interrupt and throw the speaker off point..and then it's time for a commercial..

They learned this from talk radio for the last 35 years.. Take ALL the time for YOUR message, and there's no time for any other..ONE message becomes THE message..

These shows need a point-counterpoint format with a dump button for interrupters.

[mitchtv]

20. so there is no "deer in the headlights" smilie?

:freak:

[jayfish]

21. Still No Excuse For The Flaccid Responses...

our peeps do eventually eek out. One good sentence can defuse a book of RW BS.

Jay

[SoCalDem]

22. Repubes are aggressive..democrats come off as learned-but passive

We send poodles to do combat on air with pit bulls & dobermans..

[jayfish]

24. I've Seen Some Pretty Nasty Poodles,...

that I wouldn't get anywhere near, in my days. ;)

Jay

[mitchtv]

23. did you see Heather Higgins on Real Time?

Independent womans forum. I think it backfired on her, rudely interrupting General Zinni, she almost got backhanded in the mouth, dressed in red leather. Just like the rest

[jayfish]

25. She Controlled A Great Deal Of Time On That Episode.

I was waiting for Zinni to do just that (verbally at-least) but he never did it. It looked like he was about to a few times but the talk machine just drowned him out. Maher should put a stopwatch to that show and try to promote just a hint of fairness.

Jay