Drudge currently has this flash headline that says:
HOWARD THE DUCK: DEAN DODGES NBC APPEARANCE WITH REPUBLICAN
Sun Nov 13 2005 09:17:22 ET
Dem Chair Dean Ducks Last Second Joint MEET THE PRESS Appearance With GOP Chair Mehlman
He takes a swipe at Howard Dean for not agreeing to a head-to-head discussion with Ken Mehlman on MTP today.
I have a proposition to Drudge: Why don't you arrange for Bush or Cheney to go head to head with Howard Dean next Sunday on MTP (say in an extended 2 hr segment)? Better yet, why don't you have them both come in and go 2-on-1 against Dean?
Of course, as in the case of their appearance with the 9/11 commission, they don't have to go under oath!
Drudge's full flash report says:
HOWARD THE DUCK: DEAN DODGES NBC APPEARANCE WITH REPUBLICAN
Sun Nov 13 2005 09:17:22 ET
Dem Chair Dean Ducks Last Second Joint MEET THE PRESS Appearance With GOP Chair Mehlman
The DRUDGE REPORT has learned from exclusive sources that Democrat Party Chair Howard Dean turned down Republican Party Chair Ken Mehlman's last minute offer to appear together on NBC's MEET THE PRESS this morning.
Moments before taping was to begin with host Tim Russert, Mehlman asked Dean outside the NBC studio's green room: "There's still time for us to go on together Governor." Dean declined with a shrug of his shoulders and an uncomfortable cackle and then proceeded to walk away into the green room.
DRUDGE has learned MEET THE PRESS producers have been working to get a head to head Dean/Mehlman appearance on the program since Dean was named chair back in February. Dean and his handlers have repeatedly turned down the request. The former Vermont governor only agreed to do this week's program if they appeared in back-to-back interviews.
Mehlman brought up Dean's unwillingness to appear alongside him during the show: "I was hoping that Chairman Dean would be on sitting next to me this morning. Maybe we can do that on a future program. Look, he's somebody I've enjoyed getting to know. We meet in a lot of green rooms...."
Tim Russert: "We invited him -- do you have a question for him?"
Former Dem Party Chair Terry McAuliffe participated in regular head-to-head appearances with his Republican counterparts during his tenure from `01 to `05. McAuliffe went head-to-head with Republican chairmen at least five times on MEET THE PRESS alone, going up against past GOP chairs Ed Gillespie (twice), Marc Racicot (twice) and Jim Gilmore (once).
This weekend on ABC's THIS WEEK the Democrat heads of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Sen. Chuck Schumer, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Rep. Rahm Emanuel, both appeared head-to-head with their Republican committee counterparts Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Rep. Tom Reynolds.
Developing...
If Bush and Cheney turn the idea down, you should then post this, eh?
BUSH/CHENEY THE CHICKENHAWKS: BUSH/CHENEY DODGE NBC APPEARANCE WITH DEMOCRAT
Sun Nov 20 2005 09:17:22 ET
Republican President and Vice President Chicken out of Joint MEET THE PRESS Appearance With Dem Chair Dean
Developing...