Wolf Blitzer AKA Ghostface Blitzah’s is one of the worst Sunday talk shows. As opposed to say, MTP where guests get almost 20 uninterrupted minutes, Ghostface only allows 3 minutes per topic. Yes, Blitzer’s interviews are short and to the point, but you have to sit through two hours, almost half of which is ads, to get to them.

Quotes/summaries from notes, not transcript, which should appear here eventually.

Iraq

Ghostface Blitzah: Who killed peace activist Tom Fox?

US Ambassador in Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad: The terrorists did. They want nothing good. Today was a good day in Iraq… As far as the formation of a coalition government is concerned.

Jack Kemp: The ambassador is doing a heckuva fabulous job. The US must announce unequivocally: no permanent bases, that we plan to get out by 2008. Set a time certain for pullout.

Ghostface Blitzah: John Edwards, is your position on Iraq closer to Murtha or Lieberman’s?

John Edwards [sitting in a dark room somewhere in Cackalacka, his head framed by a halo-like backdrop] Let me speak for myself. We should reduce number of troops.

Portgate

Jack Kemp: Congress’ reaction to the Dubai Ports deal was the betrayal of a friend. Thanks for going to Dubai, Ghostface. This is a Globalization thing. Tom Friedman is right, the world is becoming flatter.

John Edwards: The key question is “Who is going to provide for the security and operation of our ports?” It should be American companies.

Russia/Putin

John Edwards: Not confident Putin is a small D democrat. There has been good economic development. But Putin is moving in the wrong direction politically. Controlling the press, suppressing political parties, abolishing direct election of governors. At this point we only have a selective partnership with Russia.

Jack Kemp: the upcoming G-8 meeting in St. Petersburg is important. Economical liberalization leads to political liberalization in my study of history. Get them into this flattening thing a la Tom Friedman.

I think Jack should get back to studying his history and throw crazy Tommy’s books in the garbage where they belong (except maybe From Beirut to Jerusalem).

Democrats in 2006, Howard Dean

Poll: Do Democrats have a clear plan for Iraq?
No: 70%
Yes: 24%

Dean said something like of course we have a plan. He missed the opportunity, as so many Dems do, to say that George Bush has no plan for Iraq.

That said, I can’t see what’s stopping the Democratic party from putting together a proposal for Iraq designed by experts (military, academics, diplomats, etc.) Well, sometimes I think I can see it: their carefully crafted plan is to sit on their hands and watch Bush and the GOP turn Iraq into a bloody mess that gets worse every day.

Howard Dean: There’s resolution in Congress, a letter by Levin, saying this is a transitional year, it’s time to start reducing troop levels.

The Democratic Party stands for real security, openness and honesty in government. Bush hasn’t been truthful. He misled us on Katrina, Iraq, on his promise to fire any White House leakers of classified information.

Ghostface Blitzah: So are you saying Bush is lying?

Sorry, Chicago Dyke, even the human scream wouldn’t say the L-word.

Howard Dean: It’s no secret, I look at Newt Gingrich’s Republican Revlolution as the model, strategically. We need to give a consistent message about what democrats want. But we won’t call it Contract with America. It’s going to be about real security, jobs, healthcare, education…

In other words, the same old Democratic “safe” issues. Nothing about the War, nothing about abuse of power, nothing about Corporations screwing working people.

Ghostface Blitzah: The Democrats have raised far less campaign money than Republicans

Howard Dean: The DNC had a record year. We have 200 organizers in every state. If money won elections we would be in office now. Infrastructure is what you need.

Bombshell

Ghostface Blitzah: Hillary’s consultant Harold Ickes has basically given the DNC a vote of no confidence as far as their database infrastructure.

Howard Dean: The DNC has to be the one to build and maintain the party’s voter database, it’s mandated by law. I’ve got good tech people. Candidates can build their own databases if they want to. But the DNC database is not just built for congressional races, it needs to be useful for state level races: mayors, governors, etc.

Ghostface Blitzah: My Democratic sources tell me that if the Democrats don’t take advantage of W’s disastrous blunders there will be hell to pay.

[You got that right, at least, Wolfie]

Howard Dean: I don’t look at it at taking advantage of Republican mistakes. This is about the future of this country. Democrats are the only ones who have run a surplus. Homeland Security means Hometown Security. We’re the most diverse party in the world, if you look at our voters, the people who put us in power.

Things are Going Grrreat in Iraq

Fredricka Whitfield from CNN HQ’s in Hotlanta: 35 people dead, 100 wounded in marketplace bombings today in Sadr City, a Shiite district in Baghdad and home of the Mahdi Army, the militia controlled by Topo Gigio-looking Radical Cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr. Security breach at Baghdad Airport: Cigarette box containing explosives found next to airplane. No travel for US officials. Trial of Saddam continues.

Ghostface Blitzah: Thanks Fred.

Anesh Raman reporting from Baghdad: Khalilzad was putting a putting a diplomatic spin on the situation earlier. [I don’t know what the hell he was talking about with his “Today was a Good Day” in Iraq nonsense.] Prime Minister (?) Al-Jafaari shows no indication he wants to step down, he thinks the opposition to him is personal.

To Pull Out, and When, Those are the Questions

Carl Levin: We have to make it clear we’re not there for an indefinite time. Unless they come to a prompt political solution, we have to pull out. This is the only way to defeat the insurgency.

Ghostface Blitzah: The counterargument is that it encourages the insurgents if we set a timetable.

John Warner: it’s up to the people on the scene not Congress. [Civil War is the Iraqi’s problem]

Carl Levin: The Terrorists don’t need encouragement. The only hope is for them to reach a political solution or this thing is doomed. The only leverage we have is to put our presence on the line. We’re not setting timetable, but conditions. It’s a mistake when the President says we’re there as long as they need us.

Portgate

John Warner: Americans did not have the whole picture. I wish we had had more time. We NEED the UAE and moderate [what does that mean? What are the requirements, if any?] Arab states as allies in the WOT.

We’ve complicated immesurably this sale. It looks in all respects like a total divestiture. [Yeah, I’m sure it looks that way] I don’t think congress should take any more action on this issue. 75 to 80% of US ports are foreign owned.

Carl Levin: We’re supposed to have checks and balances in this country, but it hasn’t worked that well with this admininstration. They tried to sidestep the 45 day review required by law.

Feingold’s initiative to censure Bush over Warrantless Wiretapping

Carl Levin: Even though I think Bush was wrong, I think we should wait for investigation.

[In other words, he won’t support Censure. Jeebus, can’t even the two most liberal Senators get on the same page?]

John Warner [with disdain]: Feingold failed to mention he’s running for president. We have to support a strong presidency. This weakens the president’s power in his diplomatic relations with the world.

I support writing a law so that there is not a perception that the president is breaking the law. The president must be allowed to act quickly.

[It sounded really bad, as if the most important reason for new legislation is to make Bush look good].

Sexy Saxby does Dubai

Saxby Chambliss, semi-live from Dubai: Well, the deal is over and done with with now

[not quite, Saxby, we have yet to find out who the US entity will be].

We’ve made assurances to the UAE rulers that the strong relationship will continue, great allies in the WOT. Members of PM’s cabinet were educated in the US. The leadership is on board. We’ve explained to them that we’re living in very political times.

[Basically Saxby is on an ass-kissing mission]

Ghostface Blitzah’s Dubai Infomercial: Vegas on the Gulf

Ghostface Blitzah: I had exclusive access to DP world. Dubai customs have mobile X-ray machines that scan containers while their still on the truck. They also have radioactivity meters and strange computer greaphics.

And [thank goodness] they are not worried about political correctness, it depends where the cargo is coming from.

Customs Official: Some countries we inspect 100 bpercent, some countries no, some countries 30%.

Dubai Ports Official: Can you imagine the value of the shipments that come through here? Why would companies bring their ships to our terminals if they didn’t trust us.

US Navy Official: I feel very safe. At least one US ship per day in Dubai. DP World handles services, fuel, logistics. What grade would I give them? At least an A+

Ghostface Blitzah: It is true two hijackers were from UAE

Sultan bin Sulayem: Eh, it’s a country of 3 million people. How can you blame 3 million people?

Ghostface Blitzah: Dubai is fa-bu-lous! Why shouldn’t we trust them?

The Burj el Arab Hotel, 321 feet tall. One of the most expensive in the world. Suite is $5K per night.

They have a mall. They have snow: Ski Dubai indoor slopes.

Construction is amazing. World’s tallest builting under construction. They also have Robot Camel jockeys.

That’s why they call it Vegas on the Gulf.

Bonus Ghostface Killah Lyrics:

The arsonist, who burn with his pen regardless
Slaying all these earthlings and fake foreigners
In the Phillipines, pick herbal beans, bubbling strings
Body chemical CREAM, we burn kerosene
The conviction of my tape is rape, wicked like Nixon
Long-heads inscriptions with three sixes in
Kiss the pyramid experiment with high explosive
I slapbox with Jesus, lick shots at Joseph
Zoomin like binoculars, the rap blacksmith
Money’s Rolex, with sparkles, Chef’s ragtop is spotless
I’m Iron Man no cheap cash metal I’m steel alloy
True identity hidden inside secret tabloids

- “Daytona 500” from Ironman (1996)