Post mortem

Commentary on cable.

FOX -- “Psycho” Krauthammer is commenting on Bush. Almost too eager for an American action against Iran.

Juan Williams wants specifics on when we will withdraw. Bush isn’t stupid. There will be no specifics and the Democrats won’t get much mileage out of that critique.

MSNBC -- Chris Matthews gets it. He asks Nora O’Donnell [those eyes!] if Bush can win by losing in these battles with Congress. She says “Yes!” Bush will put huge pressure on Red State Democrats, and will compromise, getting part of what he wants, and claim victory.

Democrats have never come up with an alternative to reform.

Whoops, Ron Reagan is on. I can’t watch him. Back to FOX.

Wallace says Bush has successfully set the agenda for the coming session of Congress.

CNN has Larry King, Michael Beschloss, and Senator Warner on. SNORE! Must escape. Back to FOX. The panel is saying the obvious. Nothing interesting here. Over to Matthews. Paydirt!

Brian Williams confirms my suspicions. There will be less emphasis on Iraq. Seniors are vitally interested in Social Security. There will be a fight. The spotlights are swinging. Iraq will be off the front pages by tomorrow.

Russert is still on his old, split the Republicans theme. Bush is soft on abortion. I, as you know, think that this is the most promising line of attack for Democrats. Pressure Bush into either alienating his base, or take an unpopular position.

Andrea Mitchell, Bush is pressuring Iran. Europeans want a deal with Iran. Are offering incentives. US has not been a participant. Simply making hostile noises. I would submit to Ms Mitchell, this is a “good cop/bad cop” scenario. We are working in tandem with, not opposed to Europe.

We are not trying to impose our values on anyone else. She characterizes this as a shift, and a welcome surprise to Europe, but it’s what Bush has been saying all along. Is she really that dense, or is it just Europe?

Bush is finally getting involved in Palestine. Maybe staying aloof and refusing to recognize Arafat was the right course. Europe doesn’t believe so. With this one exception she consistently takes the European [simplistic] line on Bush’s policies.

It’s interesting to watch Matthews. Before the elections he was unrelentingly hostile to Bush’s initiatives in Iraq. Now he’s turned on a dime and seems to feel that Bush was right after all. Chris is MSNBC’s Geraldo. His heart, not his mind, is in charge.

David Frum repeats my earlier point. We seem to have passed a psychological turning point. The Iraq elections marked a turning of the tide.

He also reinforced my point. With regard to Iran, there have to be sticks as well as carrots.

John Meacham: "This is the speech of an American emperor." Get real, man!