OxBlog

Monday, April 10, 2006

# Posted 10:09 PM by Ariel David Adesnik  

SUNDAY MORNING ROUND-UP: It was an unusual week, with the House of Representatives flexing its muscle on the airwaves. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) and Xavier Beccera (D-CA) faced off on CBS, followed General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner. John Boehner (R-OH) headlined on ABC, followed by Joe "No Uranium in Niger" Wilson. On NBC, John Kerry led off the hour, followed by a panel of three House Members: Henry Bonilla (R-TX), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and JD Hayworth (R-AZ).
Tancredo: B-. Still a sharp debater, but still no answer about what do with the 11-12 million illegal immigrants already here. If every transition-to-citizenship proram gets branded as an amnesty, there are no options left.

Beccera: B+. Reasonable.

Wagoner: B. I have no frame of reference here, since I can't recall any other business executive being interviewed on the talk shows. Perhaps that should change. Anyhow, Wagoner was pretty frank about GM's dire straits, but I don't see how any spin doctor could fix that one.

Boehner: C+. Humdrum. The substance of what he said was about a 'B'. But Boehner is the newly elected leader of a Republican delegation in deep, deep trouble. He can either rise to the occasion and provide true, inspired leadership, or he can carry on as usual and hope that out-of-control gerrymandering protects the GOP majority.

Wilson: B-. The usual shtick. Got lucky that Stephanopoulos barely challenged his credibility.

Kerry: D. I'll need a full post to justify giving out my lowest grade ever. But not until tomorrow. I'm too tired now.

Bonilla: B-. Kept blaming the Mexican government for our immigration problem. That won't solve it.

Gutierrez: B. Reasonable, but his talk about "compassion" and about "celebrating diversity" made his moderate position sound a bit like that of a moonchild.

Hayworth: B-. The third out of three anti-reform congressmen who won't say a word about what we do with the 11-12 million already here.
And now for the hosts:
Russert: B. Whatev.

Schieffer: B. As always.

Stephanopoulos: B-. At least he asked Joe Wilson one question about his damaged credibility. Then he let the issue drop.
See ya next week.
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