...Okay, I have my answer on who'd be the most solicitous of Bush tonight. Wouldn't ya know it, with all the overly deferential questioners in the presser with Dubya, Matthews would go and grab the prize. Leave it to MSNBC to provide a post-op that feels as good as a gentle Mother's Day massage...
Matthews praised the president effusively for stiff-arming the James Dobson axis over judges and faith, pronounced himself positively proud of George for telling the truth about the POTUS not being able to lower gas prices, and seemed genuinely tickled by Bush's sparkly demeanor. Sheesh. If he was any more loving I'd have to start calling him Abdullah...
For his part, Russert serves up the standard issue Bushnalysis: not too harsh, try to sound tough. He breaks down the same points as Matthews, plus an extended riff on Bush's "sliding scale" Social Security plan, and how the Dems are going to attack it like starved, wild dogs on Friday.
TimRussert: First, it’s clear this president is deeply concerned about the energy problems in the country, particularly the high price of gasoline. He acknowledged there is no quick fix, and it is having an effect on consumer confidence and job creation and the economy. Secondly, on his plan laying out for Social Security — he called it a “sliding scale” in terms of benefits. Look for the Democrats to say that that plan would cut benefits anywhere from 20 to 40 percent for the next two generations of recipients, and that will commence a very big battle on Capitol Hill. Third, his answer on faith and judicial opponents — it is a clear break from what many of his supporters said this past Sunday: that these nominees were blocked because of their belief in faith. He said that is not the case. He thinks they are blocked because of the strict constructionists. That will cause unease amongst some Christian activists in the Republican Party.
I'd tell you what they had to sa on CNN, but I just couldn't stomach even five minutes of Bush gagaism from Paula Zahn. |
