Meet the Press spoilers

[karynnj]

They are not on together and Thompson is first -

Thompson is still a complete hack

has to win everything that is now a toss up and then take PA. He said that is virtually the only way win.

Brokaw led with a RW op-ed that said McCain definitely wins the national security question. He later let Thompson get away with making the financial bailout about regulating Franie Mae and Freddie Mac - when McCain signed on to a bill that had already been dead 10 months and the PRIVATE SECTOR of loan consolidators bought 83% of the bad loans.

Now asking about Thompson's early support of Palin - played both Eagleburger comments. Brokaw did ask what question she was asked was unfair. Asked why he says the media is unfair to her. He said it was a vicious attack on her, unprecendented in American politics (!!! yeah Gore and Kerry were treated so well) What a political hack. Says that we haven't heard anything this week on Palin because she didn't make any mistakes.

Spoke of how Obama is untested and Frank said they would cut the military. Typical RW spiel.

[JI7]

1. i'm on the west coat, let me know how Kerry does

i think Fred Thompson is a male version of Sarah Palin. and in some ways they are similar, both hyped up by the media but as they started the actual campaign they did horribly.

[karynnj]

4. That view will not change -

Thompson was clearly reading lines - he is an actor. He also did not get a single tough question. Though that may sound good for McCain - it really isn't. the questions are out there - and as they were not asked, they were not answered.

Kerry was very good, getting out the message he wanted (and likely the Obama campaign) even when they weren't all that related to the question though with very smooth transitions.

Nicest frame - 2 big moments in general election.
- VP choice, where McCain picked someone totally unqualified
- the financial crisis - where Obama was calm and all of his 4 principles were included in the Congressional legislation , while McCain was erratic.

Nicest (deadly) comment - McCain got Cheney's endorsement and he earned it by having voted 90% with Bush/Cheney.

[karynnj]

2. Kerry is up now

Wearing a reddish orange tie. Asked about his loss when Bush was below 50% and the OBL tape came out. Said that everyone is cautious and shoulc work as hard as possible until Tuesday night, Brokaw dsaid that McCain is doing better. He then played a Arnold tape speaking of socialism. Asked it Obama has to change his positions given the financial situations. Kerry said that both Thompson and Arnols are trying to scare people. Palin choice went back on promise to pick someone ready on day one. Second moment - the financial crisis - same comments as usual. These were the 2 Presidential momenets and Obama was calm and McCain was irratic.

He then defended Obama's foreign policy experience and judgment. Brokaw then brought up the VP 2004 issue - Kerry used the list of McCain changes. Kerry then spoke of fiscal responsibility and spoke of passing things with large majorities rather than passing things by 51 votes. Listed the Republicans backing Obama.

Then read a Bob Kerrey op-ed against one party rule and the fear that they would repeal good things. Said that McCain got Cheney's endorsement and that he earned it.

Brokaw then spoke of obama either changing his mind or breaking his promise on public financing. Kerry was forced to pull out of three states due to not enough money. Obama needed to get the 527 money out - as he and Weld did. He said that Obama does not take lobbyists money - not fat cats.

He then asked why Kerry did not stay and speak with Lieberman, a fellow Democrat, last time he was there - Kerry said he must have been in a hurray maybe had to catch a plane. Said that he knew Lieberman since school. Said he does want to keep Leiberman as a Democrat.

Brokaw summary - every Kerry question was a jab (all failed), He fed Thompson softballs and tried to guide him.

[JI7]

3. why he didn't stay and speak with Lieberman where ?

i'm sure Kerry will get some attacks for the Lieberman comments. but anything else he said would have been made into an issue we don't need just days before the election and then having Obama forced to comment on it.

[karynnj]

5. Sorry, that was very unclear - I'm a slow typist

Brokaw was speaking of the last time they were on Meet the Press together. Remembering that joint appearance, Lieberman was AWFUL to Obama and to Kerry, for that matter. Kerry's answer might be completely truthful - or it could be that he was disgusted with Lieberman. In that appearance Kerry did say that he did not want Leiberman stripped of his leadship role.

This was a question where Kerry took the high road - I think every Democrat can see what you said - that saying that Lieberman was a disgrace to the party would be counterproductive - and more importantly, cut against the Obama message (and Kerry's) articulated as wanting super majority consensus, not narrow party wins. (If we can't accept Lieberman, how do we work with many Republicans?)

[ginnyinWI]

8. Brokaw is so transparent.

And he's the reason I'm staying away from NBC on election night. Undecided where I'll watch but it is between MSNBC and CBS. Probably CBS--I like Jeff Greenfield and it will eliminate seeing any Brokaw or Gregory. I heard that CBS will be carrying coverage all night from 6 p.m until 1 a.m. Let's hope, though, that when the polls close here in the Midwest (8 p.m. local time) that Obama will be carried over the top.

Where are all of youse guys going to watch coverage?


Anyhoo--loved Kerry this morning. Calm, intelligent,confident and sincere, where Thompson and all the other RW talkers this morning looked worn and resigned to spouting their talking points one last time. ( Doesn't do to make political enemies so the show goes on.) Lindsey looked absolutely pooped.

Kerry will be a hellova great support for Pres. Obama in the Senate. Looking forward to that. And with Biden out of the SFRC, Kerry moves up one seat to #2, right? And Dodd gets the chair?

[whometense]

9. Comedy Central

Seriously - Stewart and Colbert are covering the returns live. That's what I'll be watching - though probably flipping occasionally to MSNBC to see what the numbers are.

[karynnj]

10. As to chair of SFRC, a senator can have just one chair

Dodd is chair of Banking and he is second on Kennedy's Health, Education, Labor and Pension. I think there is another committee that he is the senior member on as well - but even without that - he would likely have his choice of all three in the coming year or years. I may be very wrong, but given some of his work - I think that HELP might ultimately be the one he wants - so if Kerry remains a Senator (ie does not take SoS or anything - he is 37 points ahead of his oponent) he could well become the chair of SFRC. (able to have all the investigations he wants - I think :) )

[beachmom]

6. Shorter Kerry:

If Election Day goes as we hope, the grown ups are going to be in charge for a change.

[ProSense]

7. Video

link posted here