411 Politics Fact or Fiction: Week 43

Posted by Ryan Latimer on 05.14.2007

Three good questions and one bad one. But I'm man enough to admit it.

Good Monday, 411 folk, and welcome to edition numero 43 of Politics Fact or Fiction. I'm your host Ryan Latimer, and I apologize for being responsible for globbing paint all over that Rush Limbaugh billboard in Baltimore last week. It was an accident. I swear.

The years-long tense political climate has yet to fail me again this week, as we have plenty of stuff to talk about with 411 Politics own Enrique and Justin Baragona tackling such issues as Nancy Pelosi's recent legal threat to President Bush, a one-day gas boycott, the ratings failure Katie Couric and the always-reliable Ann Coulter making the mistake of speaking again. One of these days I'm going to have to dedicate an entire column to her. It wouldn't be too terribly difficult, I'd imagine. Throw in Michael Moore (who we will get to next week) and my work is cut out for me for 2 months.

But anyhow, that's enough talk from me. Have at it, gentlemen…


1) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has threatened to take President Bush to court if he issues a signing statement as a way of sidestepping a carefully crafted compromise Iraq war spending bill. Bush noted in his veto that the legislation is "unconstitutional because it purports to direct the conduct of operations of the war in a way that infringes upon the powers vested in the presidency," resulting in Pelosi showing fangs. Pelosi is out of line.

Enrique: FACT - After her little jaunt to Syria recently, there's nothing Pelosi won't do. I suppose in her mind that Bush has basically ignored the Constitution, so she must figure that it's all good for her to do the same. "What? Bush can wiretap people without a warrant and I can't even violate the separation of powers? NOT FAIR!" Speaking of her trip to Damascus, this week President Bashar al-Assad said that Syria will not cooperate with a UN tribunal set up to try suspects in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri. Sooooo, I guess that dialogue with Assad didn't really pay any big dividends, did it Nancy ? Unless you consider handing a state sponsor of terror a propaganda victory big dividends. Madame Speaker should stick to what she knows – presiding over an increasingly socialistic U.S. Congress.

Justin Baragona: FICTION - I wouldn't say she is out of line. This is her job, to stand up for her party and not back down to the GOP. This is why she was put in the position. It has been noted previously that the President uses signing statements sort of as a line item veto, and he uses them more than any other president ever has. She should call him out on this and take him to task, at the very least for the reason that the American public should know about this.

Look, it‘s becoming painfully obvious that there is only one way to solve this spat between Bush and Pelosi. Two words: steel cage. Throw it on PPV and watch the national deficit plummet. Ok, I‘ll stop.0 for 1


2) It has been reported that CBS Evening News, headed by Katie Couric since last September, recently received its lowest ratings since 1987. Also, a recent Gallup poll showed one-third of Americans have a negative view of Couric, her personal popularity lagging behind rivals Charles Gibson and Brian Williams. CBS needs to cut it's loses and correct the mistake of hiring Couric.

Enrique: FICTION - The news division of any TV network is a money-loser, since ratings for evening news have been spiraling downwards since the advent of cable. If networks were concerned about cutting losses, they'd have all cut their news programming entirely by now. A news division is a prestige thing for TV execs – they'll keep taking the losses as long as they believe their upholding their Constitutional "duty" to support a free press. And since Katie is the First Girl National News Anchor, CBS will stick with her. In fact, they'll probably blame her low ratings on chauvinism and patriarchy and whatnot.

Justin Baragona: FACT- But not because of ratings, as that should have no bearing when it comes to a network's news division and how seriously it is taken. They should cut her because of the lack of credibility she brings as a serious news journalist. She's perky and cute, but that's about it. She should never have been put in that position to begin with. If CBS wanted to put a woman in that position, there were far more worthy candidates than Couric.

Yes, network news in general has dropped for years with no end in sight, but CBS's has done so exceptionally. The reason why can be debated, but the result is still the same. They may want to consider replacing her. News or not, it‘s still TV, and TV is dictated by viewership.0 for 2


3) Gas prices across the nation have hit near-record highs again, going over $3 per gallon and creating an internet-based boycott. Under this boycott, Americans are encouraged to avoid the pump on May 15th to send a message to anyone who will listen. Citizens should partake in this worthwhile and productive boycott.

Enrique: FICTION - Gas prices won't decline after one day of reduced usage. Only a prolonged period of reduced demand will reduce gas prices. Rather than avoiding the pump for one day, we would all have to take the bus to work for a month to make a significant impact. Anyone want to do that? No? Of course not. Because although we complain that gas is $3 a gallon, we still pay for it. Which means the price won't go down. Simple supply-and-demand.

Justin Baragona: FICTION- Actually, I could have said Fact on this because I don't really care. There is no message that will be received with this boycott, even if it is successful, because it is only for one day and people will still be going to the pumps on May 16th and after. The potential loss for the one day will mean nothing because of the gains that will be seen on the days before and after, as people fill up so they can do this boycott. While the intention is honorable, the message would be better received through either a more prolonged boycott or perhaps people buying more fuel efficient cars and pressuring their congressmen to push for more alternative fuel research and development. In the end, this is pretty much meaningless.

I‘m glad to know I‘m not the only one who feels this is sort of pointless. It may be considered a worthwhile effort only for the creators‘ dedication to making a change, but I doubt that change will come from not going to the pumps on one day. We will just go to the pumps the next day. But as always, maybe I'm missing something. Who knows what could happen.1 for 3


4) Controversial author and commentator Ann Coulter stated last week on Fox News that a recent Newsweek poll showing Democrat Barack Obama leading top Republican presidential hopefuls is "doing more push polling for al-Qaeda." Coulter was out of line for stating this, and she has no credibility anymore.

Enrique Bakemeyer: FICTION - Coulter lost her credibility long before this comment, but in fact, her point that the Democrats are the de facto party of choice for al-Qaeda is, you know, obviously true. Bush bombs Muslims, Pelosi lends legitimacy to Syrian autocrats – Pelosi's worldview is self-evidently closer to al-Qaeda's than Bush's. And if Ann Coulter was making the point that Barack is a lightweight than no Islamist would be afraid of, then she's obviously correct about that as well. Does anyone think for a moment that Ayman al-Zawahiri is quaking in his boots worrying about Barack and his foofy NATO alliance disrupting al-Qaeda's plans for global Shar'ia domination? Of course not – I can't believe for a minute that President Barack Obama would deploy U.S. troops for anything other than hurricane clean-up. So even though the points Ann Coulter makes are true and correct, the fact remains that she still looks like the reanimated corpse of a female impersonator, and I hope she drives off a bridge. Screw Ann.

Justin Baragona: FACT - But does anyone take her seriously anymore? Hasn't she been exposed numerous times as a political hack who only gets airtime by saying outrageous things? Why are we even discussing her in this forum? She's completely irrelevant and I no longer get upset when she says things like this.

Well, I‘m sure Enrique‘s answers will no doubt generate enough feedback from readers, so I won‘t bother here. But it‘s all good; as we say on 411, if you don‘t give feedback to our fine writers, the terrorists win! 1 for 4


Yeah, question #4 wasn't very good, but I can't be on all the time. Besides, a lot of other good stuff transpired during creation of this week's column, so I'll get to the Tony Blair resignation and Michael Moore's dumb butt next week. But hey, only one clear agreement, so I still have a little talent.

-rl