Maybe nothin', but... (Bob Schieffer in Rosslyn, VA)

[sofa king]

Tonight my pal and I wandered into the Olsson's book store in Rosslyn, and much to my surprise Bob Schieffer of CBS News was hawking his book there. By the time I arrived he was taking questions from an audience of about 30 people, including us.

I only caught the last couple of questions, and forgive me for being slow on the uptake, but he was speaking specifically about what kinds of questions he was going to pose to the candidates in next week's debate. Unfortunately, I didn't pay too much attention.

Then, I noticed there were at least three people in the audience taking notes.

Then, I remembered that the national Bush campaign headquarters is in the building next door to Olsson's.

After Schieffer wrapped up, I went over to the DNC guy on the corner across the street (someone always draws the shortest straw and has to fund raise in front of the Bush-bots) and asked him if we had anyone in on the book signing. The poor dude didn't even know there was a book signing there.

Probably nothing, but I thought I'd mention it.

[wurzel]

1. During a recent interview Schieffer said he had 'plenty of Foreign policy

questions to ask. The debate is supposed to be on domestic affairs. I don't know why Kerry agreed to have this guy as a moderator.

[RummyTheDummy]

7. Scheiffer is a class act

I've been watching this guy 20 years and Ive never caught so much of a inkling that he's a repug.

Charley Gibson is the one we should be worried about. Scheiffer is one of those old style "journalists", one of the last of a dying breed.

[wurzel]

9. There is no doubt in my mind he is a Republican.

But he is not a Neocon.

[RummyTheDummy]

11. Perception is reality.

However, I strongly disagree. My parents are Repugs. It doesn't make me one as well.

[Cheswick2.0]

2. so what are you going to do now?

[Ruby Romaine]

3. his Bro was appointed by Bush as ambassador to Australia & he's a Bush

pioneer
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/7583.htm

[demnan]

4. This is nothing surprising

Bush always plays with a stacked deck. I don't think it's going to help him. People are worried about the Iraq war and he was responsible.

[roguevalley]

5. he had nothing but disdain for Bush's last performance. we shall see.

[kainah]

6. do you remember any of the questions you did hear?

If so, I hope you made sure to tell the folks at Dem headquarters. However, I've noticed that Schieffer has been all over the cable shows, too. I couldn't figure out why -- I tend to not listen & simply to read the trailer -- but probably to promote this book. It sounds too me like one of those "coincidences" that he's got a book to promote at the time he gets tapped to moderate. In any case, it's likely that he's been asked this question by lots of people and so there was probably no great secret loosed.

[kokomo]

8. Bob Schieffer's brother Tom was TX Rangers partner of Shrub.......and

Bush appointed Tom Schieffer as Ambassador to Australia. The Dallas Schieffers are old Texas friends of the Bush's. Not only was Tom Schieffer a business partner of George W. Bush, but he was a supporter of Bush's campaigns for governor and president. Tom Schieffer who made his fortune in oil and baseball, served 3 terms in the Texas legislature as a Democrat. But a Democrat in Texas can be anything, many have become Republicans.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/7583.htm

http://www.bushfiles.com/bushfiles/SweetheartDeal.html

http://www.opensecrets.org/bush/ambassadors/schieffer.asp

[sofa king]

10. Well, now don't get me wrong.

I don't see any conspiracy or anything else behind it. I've been watching Bob my whole life and I'm convinced that he's the correspondent's correspondent. I think the fact that there were (possible) Bush minions taking notes on his talk suggests that Schieffer isn't telling anyone privately what he's willing to discuss in public. He's not gonna stack a deck against either one of them.

He might, however, stack the deck against both. Heh.

What sort of bothers me is that I've seen firsthand that Bushco is obviously working hard to prepare for these debates... this time. I sort of hope that at least one of those note-takers was one of ours.

[discopants]

12. so what...

Bush can have all the questions in advance, weeks to memorize his canned cliche focus-group-approved responses, a typed crib sheet in front of him, a fucking earpiece wired directly to Karl Rove... and he still won't be able to construct a logical, coherent, intelligent answer.