CBS’s Nancy Giles Describes ‘Carnage’ of Bush Administration

On Monday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez asked Sunday Morning liberal commentator Nancy Giles about the incoming Obama Administration and Giles could not resist bashing Bush: "Well, Barack Obama's going to have his hands full with a lot of the carnage that was left by the previous administration." Republican strategist Bay Buchanan was seated next to Giles and Giles defended her statement: "I had to put it that way, Bay. It is carnage." Buchanan joked: "I was told it would cease-fire here for two days." Giles replied: "I know, I'm sorry, carnage just slipped out, but I mean, he's going to have his hands full."

Co-host Harry Smith then chimed in, saying to Giles: "I spent the entire afternoon yesterday talking to people, and there were actually very few people who were echoing the sentiments you were echoing...There were some people who were angry and still carrying grudges. But moreover, it was a sense of for the moment, no more Republicans, no more Democrats, we're all on the same page, at least for a moment."

In contrast to her view of Bush’s "carnage," Giles praised Obama: " Barack Obama said something last year that I heard him say about his definition of homeland security and national security. It had to do with making education a real important thing. He felt that educating our young people would make the nation that much more secure. And I love that way of thinking."

At the end of the segment, Buchanan attempted to discuss Obama’s accountability as president: "And then Harry...And then next year you can't keep looking back and blaming other people...then it's all Obama's responsibility in two days, fellas." However, she was cut short by Smith declaring: "So for 48 hours, we will beat the swords into plow shares," and Rodriguez singing "Kumbaya."

Here is the full transcript of the segment:

7:43AM SEGMENT:

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Euphoria in Washington, D.C. on the eve of the inauguration of Barack Obama. A crowd has already gathered here on the National Mall. We're joined now by Bay Buchanan who is a Republican strategist, as well as Nancy Giles who is a CBS News Sunday Morning contributor. And we're here to talk about what happens-

HARRY SMITH: Who's dressed like a bear.

NANCY GILES: I didn't mean to, but it's cold.

RODRIGUEZ: What happens after this, after the fun, after the party when we have to get down to business? Right?

GILES: Well, Barack Obama's going to have his hands full with a lot of the carnage that was left by the previous administration. I had to put it that way, Bay. It is carnage.

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Are you pushing her buttons?

GILES: No, we actually have been getting along in the make up room, we sort of bonded.

BAY BUCHANAN: That's right, I was told it would cease-fire here for two days.

GILES: I know, I'm sorry, carnage just slipped out, but I mean, he's going to have his hands full.

SMITH: You know, it's interesting, because we -- I spent the entire afternoon yesterday talking to people, and there were actually very few people who were echoing the sentiments you were echoing.

GILES: Oh, dear.

SMITH: No, no, no. There were some people who were angry and still carrying grudges. But moreover, it was a sense of for the moment, no more Republicans, no more Democrats, we're all on the same page, at least for a moment.

BUCHANAN: And that's the way it should be.

SMITH: How long can that last?

BUCHANAN: It can last two days. I mean, come on.

GILES: Thank you for saying that, because I was feeling like carnage was-

BUCHANAN: In fairness, they should celebrate, they -- it's time to celebrate.

GILES: We should all celebrate.

BUCHANAN: Because they did win, they won fair and square. There's a great tradition in this country that we have orderly transfer of power. And then there's this idea of fresh ideas that kind of come, new policies, a new, fresh outlook on things, and Mr. Obama's a very optimistic, positive person that gives you a feeling that things can be turned around. But listen, all of those things are good, but we need really some very strong policies that are going to change the direction of the country. That's what we're going to be starting to talk about in two days. Are the policies he's implementing going to work or are they not? Is there going to be a real effort on the part of conservatives to try to move it into some direction that we feel that can possibly work for this nation.

RODRIGUEZ: Even he is downplaying expectations, though, he's saying this is going to take a lot of time.

GILES: Which I think is a smart thing to do because there is a lot to handle. But I'll say one thing along the lines of what you were saying about, you know, these new ideas. He's -- Barack Obama said something last year that I heard him say about his definition of homeland security and national security. It had to do with making education a real important thing. He felt that educating our young people would make the nation that much more secure. And I love that way of thinking. And I think that that's going to inspire a lot of young people and a lot of older people. And that inspiration may help get some of his policies in place, don't you think?

SMITH: So for 48 hours, we will beat the swords into plow shares.

BUCHANAN: And then Harry-

RODRIGUEZ: Kumbaya.

SMITH: Hold hands, hold hands.

GILES: Her hands are cold-

RODRIGUEZ: Kumbaya.

BUCHANAN: And then next year you can't keep looking back and blaming other people-

GILES: Come on, bay, sing with me-

BUCHANAN: -then it's all Obama's responsibility in two days, fellas-

GILES: Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya-

BUCHANAN: Never learned-

GILES: She won't sing it with me. Oh well, we tried.