Meta-gas du jour: Democrats are absolutely right about the Imperial Presidency, unlawfullness of domestic surveillance, Republican inability to govern—but it doesn’t matter because the Nation Is Not With Them (i.e. doesn’t care, or in the case of surveillance actively supports Der Leader) about these issues, and besides, although Republicans can’t govern for shit, the Republicans Always Win on Message.

Now on to the gory details….

Smilin’ Georgie S. opens with Condaleeza Rice. Either they’ve adjusted her meds or she has “grown into the job” as they say, although of course in the Republican view the job is Giving Good Television, not necessarily being an effective diplomat.

On Iran: We have a real coalition this time! Really! And everybody, not just us, sez Iran must back off the nuke weapons program. If they want peaceful nuclear power they should buy it from Russia or the Europeans, because we can’t trust them with the toys—er, I think she meant “tools”—of basic nuclear research because they might play badly with them and wind up with bombs just by oopsie.

On the Sunday (UK) Telegraph story (which interestingly enough is being reported heavily all over the fucking world except the US) on Pentagon plans for a “devastating strike” in Iran’s nuclear site, she in essence confirmed every word, falling back on the “President must keep all options on the table” line. Message to Security Council: Do what we want so we don’t have to do this. Stop us before we bomb again.

On the Cartoon Riots—Heavy push on Iran, Syria. Riots government-instigated, because nobody does anything in those countries without government control. Unworthy of comment were the peaceful demonstrations—which I note came to Philadelphia yesterday, so Mayor Street had best watch his ass—all over the world. Syria Syria Syria, Iran Iran Iran. Oops, wait a sec while I whap the side of my head, obviously a needle is stuck somewhere.

On Hillary’s quote noting that the US “Can’t seem to catch the tallest man in Afghanistan”—Slight fluster here, Condi annoyed at Uppity Woman. We may not have caught him exactly but he’s On The Run which is just about as good. Weak attempt to play “Clinton should have caught him in the ’90s” card and complete failure to mention any even earlier time when Osama was our buddy and we sent him weapons and stuff. We are shocked, shocked at this lapse.

Closed with a “We look to a hopeful future” bit of blather about spreading democracy and women’s rights. Excuse me while I go swallow then hack up a hairball, which is the only response I can think of to that line.

On to Guest No. 2: Sen. Joseph Biden (D-MBNA). Mr. Talks Great, Votes..Eh, Not So Much. He was on his game today though, so give him a B+:

George S: The public favors Democratic positions on every single issue except National Security. Can you fight this perception?

Joe B: Yeppers. Look at Bush’s own speech (“Axis of Evil”) then look at where we are with North Korea and Iran. Iraq is in chaos. Our ports and shipping aren’t protected. Their focus is out of focus. Bush’s own Inspector Generals’ report on the $9 billion missing in Iraq, his own IG calling the situation “chaos”. Failing grades across the board from the 9-11 Commission. Cutting $1 billion from local law enforcement in the just-released budget. Under Bush’s priorities we are not as secure.

Biden Bullet Point: George S. asks about Iran, is there anything that could have been done.

Biden: There’s something we can do NOW: Prepare the nation for oil sanctions against Iran. Our allies [unspoken dig at Condi’s assertion that they really are “allies”][the word “China” comes to mind] must join in to support the oil boycott to keep Iran from just selling it elsewhere. George S appeared severely startled by this proposal but couldn’t follow up as they were out of time.

[Skipping the Lynn Swann interview as it is of primarily local PA interest. Only item of national note was a query about wtf blacks should vote Republican. Swann first tried to pitch the notion that most blacks are now middle class and should therefore vote their money not their principles, but didn’t seem to even believe that himself. Then he pointed out that you could get WAY more attention as a suck-up token Republican, citing Colin and Condi and that loon Steel of Maryland and a number of Cabinet appointees, some of whom are not even under indictment yet, as examples of the shining future Black Republican Tokens could expect. Of course he did not phrase it quite that way.]

On the Round table, things were not quite as grim as one would anticipate with a lineup of David Gergen, Donna Brazille, and the never-goes-the-fuck-away George Will.

Gergen was his usual milquetoasty self—his major message was that while of course Republicans were wrong on everything it didn’t matter because Republicans always “win on message.” George Will chimed in to agree that Democrats had a good case on the surveillance issue but should drop it because “the country isn’t with them and won’t be,” nobody cares if the Gummit listens in on their phone calls.

Brazille made a much better than usual comeback on this, reiterating that Dems “would bring the battle” and “would fight on national security subjects”.

Um, hint, Donna? This is more of the “yeah, this is what we’re gonna do” crap. You are supposed to use these occasions to, like, fucking DO the crap. In fairness she then tried, using what I hope will be a Democratic Talking Point next week and thereafter, that Bush Could Have Done This Shit Legally But Didn’t.

Gergen blathered something about the Gang of 14 should solve the wiretap business and that Democrats have nothing to offer going forward. This writer took opportunity to massage hand cramp.

George Will, who God help us may be what passes for a Principled Conservative these days, creaked up onto his hind legs to say some Rude Things at this point. The words “Monarchial Assertions” passed his withered lips in reference to his president. The FISA proposals and indeed the Patriot Act essentially allow the executive to shut down the other 2 branches of government.

George Steph jumps in to agree that the country doesn’t care about the government listening in on their communications. (Hmm, does it seem to anybody else that there was quite a project to say this over and over and over again today? Hmmm.)

George Will got in a couple of other PC cracks on other subjects. Noted that the Brownie hearings and other reports confirm that Bush was just lying his ass off with “there was no way anybody could anticipate” a disaster with New Orleans. National Weather Service gave warning 56 hours before landfall of precisely that. And that the “we didn’t know” line after it happened “lacked truthfullness” as there were 28 recorded reports of disaster the first day.

Gergen now notes that a House committee is due to hand in a 600 page report Monday eviscerating the Federal response to Katrina. Hastens to add that while this “calls into question Republican competence”…they’re still Better On Message so Democrats won’t be able to use this against them.

The Funnies were relatively weak this week, although he did run Colbert’s take on Gonzales line that “Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Wilson and Roosevelt all used electronic surveilance against their enemies.” A good laugh was had by all.