The screen graphic claimed that Jimmy Carter was playing "hardball." But this wouldn't have qualified as softball. Not even T-ball. This was David Shuster coming down off the pitcher's mound to help his octogenarian guest swing the bat.
Guest hosting for Chris Matthews on this afternoon's Hardball, on three different occasions Shuster took up the cudgel for the man he repeatedly referred to as "the 39th President of the United States." I couldn't help but imagine Shuster saying to himself - "wow, Chris is away, and here I am, interviewing a former POTUS!"
Shuster first served as pinch hitter in the context of Iraq, asking Carter "does it anger you?" when President Bush points the finger at Al Qaida in explaining the troubles there. With Shuster having clubbed W for him, Carter was able to diplomatically allow that he was not angered and understood the need of a president to defend his policy.
Next, Shuster essentially asked if Donald Rumsfeld was fired harshly enough to suit Carter's taste: "Were you satisfied in the way in which his departure was announced, that the Bush administration said we need a fresh look, a new set of eyes to look at Iraq. Was that good enough for you?"
Finally, Shuster invited Carter to join in him in deriding the ignorance of "top policy makers" when it comes to the various sectarian groups in Iraq: "are you frustrated at all that Washington doesn't know more about the Muslim world, about these sectarian conflicts?"
Ah, if only people were as well-informed as David Shuster. Indeed, with a host so willing to prompt his liberal guests, why not cut out the middle man, eliminate the guests, and just have Shuster opine for the hour?
See Shuster swing for the fences here, here and here.
Finkelstein recently returned from Iraq. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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I could only listen to three
November 28, 2006 - 19:54 ET by bigtimerI could only listen to three minutes of the BS with Shuster, let alone listen to another word from Carter today hawking his book or his leftist filthy blather...
Shyster is the utmost in what the msm is all about, they keep this guy on no matter what, he has been proven wrong so many times with his false insinuations and reports that most people would of fired him he would of been an outcast and had to find another line of word, like running for dog-catcher in Frisco....
He got to bash the President for free today with another leftist ex-leader.
Pelosi is most likely next....
"Ooooh, Mr. President!
November 29, 2006 - 00:52 ET by Scout Finch"Ooooh, Mr. President! Can you tell me who was the wool spinster than wove your fine warm woolen sweater back in 1979? As a young lad, I longed to wear a fine warm wrap like yours to chase off the cold winter chills as my parents 'dialed down'. So tell me again how to ward off "malaise" and how to malign our current president?"
Shuster is the pea-brained id
November 28, 2006 - 20:44 ET by TEShuster is the pea-brained idiot who alleged that Karl Rove would be "indicted" for "revealing" the "identity" of the worthless, one-time federal bureaucrat Valerie Plame. Shuster is also the idiot who alleged that Dennis Hastert would "resign" following the Mark Foley revelations.
Talking about Plame.Anyone
November 28, 2006 - 20:57 ET by Jack BauerTalking about Plame.
Anyone else noticed how the "leftoids" have suddenlt stopped pretending they support the intelligence agencies?
And resumed their default position of DESPISING and loathing the CIA?
I mean Pelosi even wants to put an impeached and convicted Judge in charge of the House intelligence committee.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
Jack....I guess she just said
November 28, 2006 - 21:07 ET by bigtimerJack....
I guess she just said no to Hastings....
Of course she had her own snafu today about Al Qaeda and the war with the 9/11 Commission Report...has her aides running about to correct what she really meant to say...going to be fun with her as Speaker of the House...the left already covering for her in the msm with the likes of Mara Liason, Mort Kondrake....lol!
If the situation were reversed, say Gingrich or Hastert...What a bunch of hypocrites....
BT -- Pelosi's already tryi
November 28, 2006 - 21:20 ET by Jack BauerBT -- Pelosi's already trying to renege on one of the few election "promises" the Democrat party actually committed to scrutiny....
That they would "implement the 9/11 commission in full."
In that case, they should leave Harman in place because it was a recommendation of the committee that current Intelligence Committee members should remain in place and not be removed because of previous term limits.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
JBGood pick up!This is just t
November 29, 2006 - 00:02 ET by ghotifunJB
Good pick up!
This is just the first crack in the intelligence community's dismantlement. The Dems don't have a clue about intelligence gathering and assimilation. It's just not "touchy-feely" enough.
The thought that Carter is an
November 28, 2006 - 23:58 ET by ghotifunThe thought that Carter is an expert on the Middle East is laughable.
The thought that the MSM view these fluff questions as good journalism is even more laughable.
When is someone in the media gonig to get the cajones enough to ask the questions that really matter?
"Mr. Carter, when did you realize that your decisions and inaction regarding the hostages in Iran were a disaster? There are many people in this country that view your administrations inactions in 1979 as directly leading to and emboldening extremists to carry out terrorist attacks against the U.S. and its interests over these past 27 years. What is your response?"
"Mr. Frank, your gay lover had many traffic citations dismissed after it was discovered that he was running a male prostitute business out of the apartment that the American taxpayers provided you. Can you respond to these allegations that the Middle American taxpayer base can understand?"
"Mrs. Pelosi, you are viewed by some to be a champion of workers rights. How is it, that in that light, you hire nonunion and undocumented-illegal-workers for you vineyard, restaurant and hotel in California? Isn't it disingenuine to claim you know the hardships suffered by transient farm laborers when your personal fortune is estimated to be as high as twenty five million dollars?"
The MSM hacks could relly hit a homer with these questions.
As an aside, Barney Frank was pathetic questioning Chris Wallace's line of questions.
well said
November 29, 2006 - 04:30 ET by foolnomoreg/fun :,,it's, the don't ask ,don't tell ,even if your ask'ed to tell!! quick look in-to the sky it's a plame no maybe it's th'ee missile over head,no no it'" is" just a blue dress that's blow'n in the wind,,thanks i sleep? known'n your look'en over me!!
nap'ie time
November 29, 2006 - 04:15 ET by foolnomorethat was one of the tell'ie's tubbys talking to the late mr roger's, come on, tazer'a,, those blood sucker's,, i rolled-over an took a nap, more rewarding!!
I just can't get excited abou
November 29, 2006 - 05:30 ET by jdhawkI just can't get excited about anything the poor, pathetic, Carter has to say. Having been marked as the worst president in the last half of the 20th century, he earneslty attempts to get back on the world stage and prove that he is somebody. Despite his often lamentable efforts since he left office (the peace accords with North Korea during the Clinton administration, the "certification" of Hugo Chavez' election, this stupid book, etc.., he will be remembered for his presidency and with it the misery index, the worst economic period since the Depression, and Iran's kidnapping of our U.S. embassy personnel. What he longs for is the regard that Reagan had during and after his presidency and the nation's tribute to Reagan upon his death.
He is kind of like Duddedly Do-Right - seemingly well meaning, but ultimately damn dangerous like Chucky of horror movie fame. Let's just hope that Dimocrats don't give him any "tasks" while they hold Congressional power or worse the presidency in 2008.
Carter with one of his enable
November 29, 2006 - 06:41 ET by Andrew H.Carter with one of his enablers in the MSM--predicable script, reliaby anti-American and consistently weak.
Never relent.