Get a transcript if you can, less for Bremer's weary appearance, than for the discussion between Broder, Brownstein and Lisa Meyers after McCain and Bremer left the stage.
Salient points:
- 9/11 had 'a thousand fathers'. In the end, Clinton, Bush, the media, the Institutions of the FBI, CIA, etc. all failed on 9/11 (it happened) and while Bush can't escape responsibility, he will share it in the eyes of the American people. That summarizes what he did pre-9/11 (and unless there's more to come out, that's how it'll stay).
- Post-9/11 there is no such diffuse responsibility. This is Bush's war. Not Congress, not Kerry, but 'one father here', and the architect of this war is George W Bush. It is his signature response to terrorism, and he will be judged on its success or failure. Maybe that's why Bremer and Sanchez looked so tired.
- Regardless of that, the country is divided over church-going and all the other cultural issues so that Bush can't fall tremendously in the polls, no matter how sucky a job he's done.
- Despite that, Broder adds that just because it's close now does not mean it'll end up that way.
See
a gilas girl's diary re Face the Nation and Biden's comments. I didn't catch Stephanopolous.
The conventional wisdom has been well-defined by this discussion. We, of course, are unconventional people. What say you?
[editor's note, by DemFromCT] CNBC will rebroadcast Meet the Press:
• Sunday night at 10 p.m. ET and 1 a.m. ET
• Monday night at 10 p.m. ET and 1 a.m. ET