The Sunday Morning Talk Shows - Review
By: Mark Kilmer · RED STATE
The morning began with Tim Russert suggesting that the Shuttle was stuck in space and we needed the Russians to bail us out. For their part, though, the crew looked great, and there was a lot of forward thinking. John Glenn was back to being the man a generation admired (TW).
Mitch McConnell is "still studying" whether taxpayers should fund experimentation using stem cells taken from human embryos (FNS), and Sam Brownback (FTN), confident of a Bush veto on stem cells and a failure to override in the House, is focusing on outlawing the creation of human embryos specifically for these experiments.
Chris Dodd (FNS) says that the President is giving a recess appointment to John Bolton only out of loyalty, and he tells us that Colin Powell predicts Bolton will be a "horrible ambassador."
Arlen Specter might have violated his leash law, made when the Senate GOP agreed to let him be Judiciary chairman in January despite strong objections, that he would support the President's nominees. With Judge John Roberts, Specter says that he will make up his mind when the process is complete.
And Steph tried to ambush Santorum on TW.
Some good stuff this week. Read the show-by-show review below the fold.
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Jul 31st, 2005: 15:15:50
SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS ON MTP AND FNS. Astronauts Eileen Collins, Andy Thomas, and Charlie Camarda were interviewed from the Shuttle separately by both Tim Russert of NBC's Meet the Press and Chris Wallace of FOX News Sunday, As they sped around the globe overhead, Thomas responded to a question by telling Russert that he was "disappointed" about the piece of foam which fell of the booster rocket on liftoff: "very troubled and very disappointed."
Camarda told Wallace on FNS that "it's a clear vehicle, and we're very good to come home." Thomas told Wallace that grounding the shuttle for future missions until the problem is solved was the "correct course of action." He is concerned that some may want to scrap the shuttle, which he argued is necessary as we build the space station and until we have a "replacement vehicle" designed and built.
FROM THE GROUND. On Meet the Press, Tim Russert read from a New York Times editorial as if it were the scientific gospel, and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin then Griffin conceded that had the foam fallen off earlier or taken a different trajectory, it could have cause a "significant amount of damage."
Russert read from the editorial about the risk, and Griffin explained that there is always risk in space travel; the goal of NASA is to reduce it to an "acceptable" level.
"There is no elimination of risk," he said. "There is no absolute confidence."
He explained that Discovery was "the cleanest bird we've had in orbit in recent memory."
Russert, however, seemed convinced by the Times editorialists that they were all going to die. He asked about rescue. Griffin told him that they had enough food to last a month in space, and that Atlantis was ready to launch. Russert pointed out that Atlantis could also be doomed, but what about the Russians, who have offered to bail us out?
Still trying to explain that Discovery was fine, Griffin assured him that there would be no problems with the differences between the Russian systems and ours.
On FNS, Wallace talked to former astronaut Bill Nelson, currently the Dem Senator from Florida,
Nelson explained that the "culture of safety" at NASA has changed since Challenger and Columbia, which accidents he blamed on the fact that "NASA management was not listening to the engineers down the line."
He explained that there is always risk involved in space flight, but the goal of NASA is to reduce the risk to an "acceptable" level.
Neither Russert nor Wallace addressed the privatization of the space program with their guests.
CHRIS DODD AND MITCH MCCONNELL ON FNS. On FOX News Sunday, the first question for Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell of Kentucky dealt with Bill Frist and stem cells. McConnell called Frist "very thoughtful," and he praised the physician's grasp of the "medical and ethical" facets of the problem. For his part, he said: "I'm one of a number of Senators still studying this." [Still uncertain?]
He said that the Specter bill "probably would pass" the Senate, and that this was always the "majority view of the Senate." He further said that they were working on a few unanimous consent issues, which bills and amendments will be brought up concurrently (see Brownback segment below).
Connecticut Democrat Chris Dodd complained that Frist had waited too long to change his mind; he said that he wished Frist had "brought this up in July," when the Senate would have had time to act on it. [NOTE: Not even a Senator of Dodd's power can remove July 29th from the month by simple decree.]
Dodd said flatly that the President ought to rethink his potential recess appointment of John Bolton to be U.N. ambassador, though he understands why the President will do it: simply out of "loyalty to Bolton." He "quoted" former Secretary of State Colin Powell as saying that Bolton would be a "horrible ambassador." He said that Bolton is "damaged goods" and "lacks credibility." A recess appoint, Dodd argued, would be an "abuse of the process."
For his part, McConnell reminded that Bolton has "been sort of twisting in the wind since March" and is "what the U.N. needs right now." He said that Bolton will "challenge the establishment" and push reform.
Dodd had mentioned the important issues coming before the U.N. in September as reasons the President should rethink nominating Bolton; McConnell argued that it is because these important matters are upcoming that the President should nominate Bolton. While saying that Bolton would "represent the Administration," McConnell argued that the President would not have time to nominate someone else and have him confirmed by the time the important issues arise in September.
On Judge Roberts, McConnell said: "The Democrats think just about everything is outside the mainstream." Dodd said that Roberts seems qualified for the job and will vote for him, pending his answers on privacy, etc. "This is a nomination, not a coronation," he reminded, adding that though he's not read the Roberts documents the White House has released, he wants more anyway. [NOTE: On the July 10th Face the Nation, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter stated that a Sandra Day O'Connor nomination to be Chief Justice "would be more like a coronation."]
McConnell suggested that the President's social security plan might not be dead, and that he was holding out hope for the support of a few "thoughtful Democrats." Dodd said that it was dead and that the Senate ought to talk about education.
SPECTER AND BROWNBACK ON FTN. Well, Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer (CBS) had Arlen Specter and Sam Brownback on to argue human embryonic stem cells. Schieffer introduced Specter as "leading the battle to put federal money in stem cell research," yet the discussion was on the politics of the matter and the efficacy of the experiments, not the use of taxpayers' money.
Specter said that he thinks "we're getting there," with "there" being the 67 votes need to override his President's veto. He said he's heard, since Frist's statement, from one Senator whose mind was changed and 2 more who told him that they were rethinking the matter. Frist's speech helped his cause in both science, in that Frist is a respected physician, and in politics, in that Frist provides him with "a little political cover."
Specter, acting as his own whip, sees 62 votes at the moment, with "fifteen more thinking it over."
Schieffer asked Senator Brownback if he would filibuster, as he once suggested. Brownback said that the filibuster is "not my focus right now." He will concentrate on the "ethical debate," and getting 6 votes to be taken with the stem cell vote as a package. He wants to prevent cloning and the creation of human embryos for the purposes of destruction with experiments.
Schieffer asked Brownback if he was then backing down and conceding the Specter vote, and Brownback said no. It doesn't have enough votes in the House to override anyway, he said, and he wants to concentrate on these other matters.
Elizabeth Bumiller of the New York Times was in to help Schieffer with the questions this week, and she asked Brownback if he would back away from his claim that the human embryonic stem cell experiments were similar to what the Nazis did. Brownback reiterated that he had not equated anything; rather, he had been talking about experiments using human life. [This is another case of the media failing to grasp the depth of a statement. Grabbing the surface.]
Bumiller asked Specter if this hurt Bill Frist's chances to win the nomination in 2008. Specter said that it helped Frist, because the entire country supports his research and "you don't need to support everything" the Republican Party believes in to win the nomination. He said that he does not believe that an opponent of stem cell research could be elected President. (He used the term "reelected," which I assume was a mistake.) [NOTE: President Bush.]
Schieffer asked specter about Judge John Roberts. Specter said that there were enough papers already released. He doesn't know how he will ultimately vote on the nomination, he said using the imperial "we": he must hear what happens in the hearings, "before we decide." Brownback, who has his own issues with Roberts (another Souter?), said that he too is taking a "wait and see" approach: "trust but verify."
STEPH AND THE ASTRONAUTS ON TW. Shuttle astronauts Elizabeth Collins, Andy Thomas, and Charlie Camarda talked to Steph from space on ABC's This Week. Steph suggested that damage to the craft may prevent reentry, and Collins said the craft had no damage and they were attempting to keep it that way. Thomas said the bubbling was under control, which is always nice, and Camarda said that the heat tiles "looked good."
They seemed, as they did in the previous interviews, in excellent spirits. Steph wanted to know if Collins were playing the mom via e-mail: "A mother's work is never done," sighed Steph. (He would later nearly accuse Senator Rick Santorum of sexism, vis-à-vis women as mothers.)
Steph then talked to a critic, disgruntled former NASA engineer Don Nelson, who said that NASA should never have sent the Shuttle into space and they were all going to die. Former astronaut John Glenn said that there is always risk, and the risk was worth it. It will benefit people on Earth.
Buzz Aldrin looks forward to completing the station, returning to the moon, then "Mars is ours." He took a pass on saying what he would have done differently with the Shuttle.
SANTORUM ON TW. Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum talked to Steph next about Frist, and his book: It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good. Steph was set to ambush, and this was heated in spots.
Steph played Frist's statement, pro-life, life begins at conception, nascent human life. And experiments on embryos.
Santorum disagreed with Frist, you "cannot treat human life with a utilitarian approach." He talked of new techniques to gather the embryonic stem cells without creating an embryo and without destroying one.
Steph mocked those who said "game over" for Frist's nomination and asked Santorum about it. The Senator said that he's leaving it to the "political commentators." He did say that "with the base, the conservative base, this is going to be problematic for him."
To the BOOK. Santorum wrote that Roe v. Wade "created a right to kill a certain class of Americans, the unborn." Steph restrained himself and suggested that Santorum would like to overturn Roe. Steph wondered if it would be enough for Santorum if the decision were merely given back to the States, when in his view it would be giving the States the "license to kill." Steph suggested a Constitutional Amendment, which Santorum said he would support. It would be done "through the Democratic process," not by 9 people on a Court. Besides, he said, such an Amendment wasn't even on the radar screen yet.
Steph quoted from Santorum's book in which Santorum blames radical feminists for forcing the belief upon women that it is more important to have a career than to be a mother. Steph demanded the name of a radical feminist, and Santorum fumbled for one. He though of Gloria Steinem, but he said it was not her of whom he was thinking. [What about the late Andrea Dworkin?]
I had thought Steph was challenging Santorum to "name one," which would have been perfectly legitimate, but Steph wanted Santorum to say the name: Hillary; he didn't, so Steph offered it. Santorum bit, stating that Hillary was, in fact, a "radical feminist." And Santorum also critized the "elite Hollywood culture" for indoctrinating folks that women should not raise children as their fundamental role. Steph personalized the matter, by stating that his wife was a mother who also had a career. Santorum did not bite on that one.
Steph started in on Santorum's statement in 2002 that Boston was the epicenter of the sex scandal in the Catholic church. Santorum said that in 2002, when he made the statement, it was. Steph said that it wasn't, that there were scandals in all sorts of places. Santorum countered that everyone was talking about Boston.
Steph: "I can't believe you're standing by that statement!"
Santorum explained that while it would not be true now, it was at the time.
Steph brought up Senators Kennedy and Kerry, and Santorum said that in 2002, he was "deeply hurt" by what had happened with the church and was trying to change it. Kerry and Kennedy, he said, "did nothing."
Steph then hassled Santorum about whether or not he would run for President in 2008. Santorum said that he's not going to run. Steph said that Santorum had just changed his mind and said that he might. Santorum replied that he was merely trying to allow for extreme circumstances, not lock the door on everything no matter what comes up. Steph accused him, basically, of misleading the people of Pennsylvania. Santorum said that he would not win reelection then march off to New Hampshire. Steph suggested that there were other things he could do if he wanted to run besides march off to New Hampshire. Santorum said (paraphrase): "Look, I am seeking my party's Whip position. Would I take that job then leave my party in the lurch by running for President?"
Unbelievable.
LATE EDITION: MOWAFFAK AL-RUBAIE. On CNN's Late Edition, host Wolf Blitzer first spoke with Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowaffak Al-Rubaie. A 30-day delay in the drafting of the constitution? Rubaie said that they were try to stick to the timetable, and that he is "very much hopeful" that they can do it. Wolf asked him what was the problem forcing the delay which Rubaie just said would be avoided. Rubaie replied: ethnic, religious, Sunni inclusion, and a few days won't make a difference.
"We need to include every part of Iraq," said Rubaie. Blitzer reminded him that under the law, he could extend it by 6-months. He also said that he assumed Rubaie had confirmed the thirty day delay, and Rubaie repeated that they would not delay for thirty days as it would play into the hands of the terrorists.
Islam, he said, would be the basis for all laws, as Iraq is an Islamic country: "This is very normal; it does not mean that there is discrimination against other religions." Wolf suggested that Iraq could turn out to be another Iran, and Rubaie said that those making that claim do not understand that Iraq is made up of all sorts of religions and nationalities. (But they just happen to be Moslem?)
Rubaie said that it was very realistic that the "multi-national coalition" would leave areas where the Iraqis have gained control. Blitzer wanted hard numbers. Rubaie suggested that "tens of thousands" would leave by the "first part of next year." Then even more by the end. Blitzer again demanded hard numbers, but Rubaie again refused, saying that this would "play into the hands of the terrorists." Blitzer said that Pete Pace said that there weren't that many fully capable Iraqi forces. Rubaie predicted that "more than a third" will be ready by the end of the year.
Blitzer pulled out a State Department report which described the Iraq security forces, basically, as misfits. Rubaie admitted "a few problems" in training and vetting. But "we are doing the work." A year ago, he reminded, Iraq had no policemen, no military.
Rubaie predicted ("I very much hope…") that Saddam will be on trial, "in the box," by October. Blitzer asked him when it would be over, and Rubaie said that this would not be political: "We will not let him be another Milosevic." They're not going to wait for "all his crimes" to be ready to try, as they are "innumerable." He gave no length for Blitzer, though, because he said he doesn't want to influence the independent judiciary: "Everybody will watch this trial live on television."
Blitzer wanted to know how people could actually live in the conditions of fear in Iraq. Rubaie replied that the prime minister has a 12-point plan for security.
KYL AND LIEBERMAN ON LE. Senators Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) and Joe Lieberman (D-Connecticut) spoke next to Blitzer. Kyl told Blitzer that it is up to the President, General Casey, and the others whether or not we bring home tens of thousands of troops by next summer. Lieberman said we should raise expectations, declare victory before the war is won, or "offer encouragement" to those who demand a deadline.
Kyl explained the tension between staying too long to see that it is done our way and letting the Iraqis do it themselves. Lieberman called for a troop increase "between now and the end of the year," and Blitzer started talking about hard numbers again.
Lieberman said that the U.S. "army's not big enough."
Blitzer wanted to know if the U.S. is prepared for attacks like the ones in London. Kyl said he had several answers. First, it's impossible to protect every single place in the country in every situation. Kyl stressed protecting the infrastructure and intelligence, and taking the offensive against terrorists. He said that we've "thwarted over a hundred attacks abroad," with our intelligence.
Blitzer suggested that we don't have enough spies to infiltrate all these groups, and Lieberman said that no one can be satisfied. Blitzer's key was that our intelligence has not improved since 9-11, and Lieberman, like Kyl, said that we have but we still must continue to improve.
Kyl agreed that there should be profiling, but not based on religion or race. "Because we care about the rights of our citizens and those visiting us." However, he specified, when he says not based on religion or race, he does not mean that we shouldn't profile base on appearance, of which ethnicity may be a component.
Blitzer asked Lieberman, why not concentrate on Arabic Moslems, not "random threats." Lieberman said that the random threats are there, and he praised New York for looking in people's bags. ("The enemy's out there. They're trying to kill us.")
Lieberman said that it would have been a better idea for the President to have given Biden and Dodd the docs they wanted so that he could have been approved, but now he'll have a cloud over his head. Kyl agreed that it "would have been better had he been confirmed," but he's the President's man and he'll give the U.N. the "tough love" that he needs.
On Roberts, Lieberman mentioned that he was a member of the "Group of 14." (No reason. He just had to say it.) He didn't know how he would vote, doesn't want someone who would "blow up the place," Roberts seems qualified. Kyl gave Roberts excellent marks.
Blitzer asked Kyl if he were influenced by Frist's stem cells, and Kyl asserted that he respects Frist's knowledge on this issue, "but I'm inclined to agree with Senator Frist's previous position." Blitzer accused him of not having an open mind.
Lieberman said that this research would cure everything and we should hunt down "frozen embryos" for experiments. He conceded, however, that the measure would not have the votes in the House to override President Bush's veto.
~~~~~
Kyl wins "smile of the week." To think that we were "this close" to having that man run the Senate Judiciary Committee; let's hope Arlen doesn't leave us longing for what almost was.
Have at it!
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