Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
'Gimme a Minute'
Aired November 21, 2003 - 08:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It's Friday, it's time for Gimme a Minute, and the gang's all here, our A-list. In Washington, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.
Donna, happy Friday.
DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Happy Friday to you.
HEMMER: Jonah Goldberg with the National Review Online.
Good to see you, Jonah. Good morning to you.
JONAH GOLDBERG, THE NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE: Good to see you.
HEMMER: And the Cleveland Browns lover himself Andy Borowitz of the New Yorker. How are you, Andy? Good morning.
ANDY BOROWITZ, "THE NEW YORKER": That was brutal, bill.
HEMMER: That was brutal. That's OK, though. We're only at the midpoint of the season. Donna, let's start with you. President Bush is in Britain. Tell us, was it worth the trip?
BRAZILE: Well, I think the president went over there to change some hearts and minds, but I think he's going to come back tonight a little empty handed.
HEMMER: Yes? You think so, why?
BRAZILE: Well, I don't believe that he was able to convert anybody over there who wasn't already on his side. And our approach to foreign policy leaves a lot to be desired.
HEMMER: Jonah, what about that? Headed home in two hours. Did he need to change any minds, if that's the case?
GOLDBERG: Well, one, I'm not sure that he didn't change any minds. The latest Gallup poll has, I think it's 56 percent of Americans thinking that the war was a good idea. If that many Americans voted for Bush, he'd win in a landslide. Second of all, the expectations were so low and so crazy that I think Bush actually did a very good job, and handled himself with pretty good grace and style.
HEMMER: How about it, Andy, the Texas cowboy sleeping in the palace?
BOROWITZ: I give him a lot of credit. You know, it's always hard to visit a country where you don't speak the language.
HEMMER: That was good, Drew.
The AARP this past week signs on to this Medicare plan now being pushed in Congress. Jonah, start it out with us right now. Is this good for seniors, this deal they're reaching?
GOLDBERG Well, I think it's probably bad for America, because it's a massive new entitlement, and you're going to see a lot more conservatives rebelling against it than it seems right now. But if you go by these things as measured by what the AARP says and what people who think free subsidies for older people is good, then it's good for seniors, and it's the right thing to do right now.
HEMMER: A lot of people wondering, Donna, if the Republicans are stealing this issue from Democrats.
BRAZILE: Well, what's clear to me today is that the bill as crafted will not give seniors what they need most, which is relief from the high cost of prescription medicine. I think seniors better figure out how to get the next bus to Canada to get their medicine next year.
HEMMER: Andy is a card carrying member.
BOROWITZ: Yes, I don't know about this bill, but I think seniors need the same access to drugs that baseball players enjoy.
HEMMER: THG.
Donna, take us to Michael Jackson right now. Some say it's media madness gone overboard. Tell us, do you think the alleged crime fits the intrigue? What are your thoughts on that?
BRAZILE: Well, it's November, so it's still sweeps month. Let me just tell you, I'm heartbroken. As a young fan of Michael Jackson, I spent years of my life postering up my wall with his picture. I'm taking it down now until we get to the truth of this.
HEMMER: Well, there are millions that probably agree with that. What do you think, Jonah, arguably the best entertainer alive today?
GOLDBERG: Well, I don't know if he's the best entertainer alive today. I think he was probably awhile ago. I think this is a great story. I think it's unfortunate that it's, you know, covering up some of the stuff in Turkey, and Bush's trip in Iraq and all that kind of thing.
But let's face it, this is a guy who at least in my opinion, got out from underneath very serious child molestation charges because he had a lot of money and powerful lawyers and now he's caught again. He deserves the scrutiny he's going to get. In my opinion, he deserves to go to jail, and you can't blame the media for providing America with the freak show that they want to see.
HEMMER: Four seconds, Andy. BOROWITZ: Until this is resolved, the king of pop is Jonah Goldberg.
HEMMER: Ditto on that. That madness brought to you by your local cable provider, by the way.
Jonah, quickly, under your radar, what did we miss this past week? What are you looking at?
GOLDBERG: For all I know, we've missed everything because of Michael Jackson. I think the undercovered story of the week has been Donna Brazile until this morning had a poster of Michael Jackson up on the well.
HEMMER: Can you defend that, Donna, or do you want to?
BRAZILE: Well, you know, ever since Michael went out and got a jheri curl I've been behind the curve on him as well.
But let me tell you, I think the best story this week is that the House Republicans passed a bill to create a national museum in honor of African-Americans on the mall. Go Republicans.
HEMMER: Andy?
BOROWITZ: Well, one week after John Kerry's motorcycle stunt, a new poll shows him gaining support among voters who describe themselves as dorks.
HEMMER: Is that what Gallup found? I knew they were looking for something, Andy.
Thanks to all three of you, Donna, Jonah, Andy, great to see you. Have a great weekend.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 21, 2003 - 08:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It's Friday, it's time for Gimme a Minute, and the gang's all here, our A-list. In Washington, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.
Donna, happy Friday.
DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Happy Friday to you.
HEMMER: Jonah Goldberg with the National Review Online.
Good to see you, Jonah. Good morning to you.
JONAH GOLDBERG, THE NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE: Good to see you.
HEMMER: And the Cleveland Browns lover himself Andy Borowitz of the New Yorker. How are you, Andy? Good morning.
ANDY BOROWITZ, "THE NEW YORKER": That was brutal, bill.
HEMMER: That was brutal. That's OK, though. We're only at the midpoint of the season. Donna, let's start with you. President Bush is in Britain. Tell us, was it worth the trip?
BRAZILE: Well, I think the president went over there to change some hearts and minds, but I think he's going to come back tonight a little empty handed.
HEMMER: Yes? You think so, why?
BRAZILE: Well, I don't believe that he was able to convert anybody over there who wasn't already on his side. And our approach to foreign policy leaves a lot to be desired.
HEMMER: Jonah, what about that? Headed home in two hours. Did he need to change any minds, if that's the case?
GOLDBERG: Well, one, I'm not sure that he didn't change any minds. The latest Gallup poll has, I think it's 56 percent of Americans thinking that the war was a good idea. If that many Americans voted for Bush, he'd win in a landslide. Second of all, the expectations were so low and so crazy that I think Bush actually did a very good job, and handled himself with pretty good grace and style.
HEMMER: How about it, Andy, the Texas cowboy sleeping in the palace?
BOROWITZ: I give him a lot of credit. You know, it's always hard to visit a country where you don't speak the language.
HEMMER: That was good, Drew.
The AARP this past week signs on to this Medicare plan now being pushed in Congress. Jonah, start it out with us right now. Is this good for seniors, this deal they're reaching?
GOLDBERG Well, I think it's probably bad for America, because it's a massive new entitlement, and you're going to see a lot more conservatives rebelling against it than it seems right now. But if you go by these things as measured by what the AARP says and what people who think free subsidies for older people is good, then it's good for seniors, and it's the right thing to do right now.
HEMMER: A lot of people wondering, Donna, if the Republicans are stealing this issue from Democrats.
BRAZILE: Well, what's clear to me today is that the bill as crafted will not give seniors what they need most, which is relief from the high cost of prescription medicine. I think seniors better figure out how to get the next bus to Canada to get their medicine next year.
HEMMER: Andy is a card carrying member.
BOROWITZ: Yes, I don't know about this bill, but I think seniors need the same access to drugs that baseball players enjoy.
HEMMER: THG.
Donna, take us to Michael Jackson right now. Some say it's media madness gone overboard. Tell us, do you think the alleged crime fits the intrigue? What are your thoughts on that?
BRAZILE: Well, it's November, so it's still sweeps month. Let me just tell you, I'm heartbroken. As a young fan of Michael Jackson, I spent years of my life postering up my wall with his picture. I'm taking it down now until we get to the truth of this.
HEMMER: Well, there are millions that probably agree with that. What do you think, Jonah, arguably the best entertainer alive today?
GOLDBERG: Well, I don't know if he's the best entertainer alive today. I think he was probably awhile ago. I think this is a great story. I think it's unfortunate that it's, you know, covering up some of the stuff in Turkey, and Bush's trip in Iraq and all that kind of thing.
But let's face it, this is a guy who at least in my opinion, got out from underneath very serious child molestation charges because he had a lot of money and powerful lawyers and now he's caught again. He deserves the scrutiny he's going to get. In my opinion, he deserves to go to jail, and you can't blame the media for providing America with the freak show that they want to see.
HEMMER: Four seconds, Andy. BOROWITZ: Until this is resolved, the king of pop is Jonah Goldberg.
HEMMER: Ditto on that. That madness brought to you by your local cable provider, by the way.
Jonah, quickly, under your radar, what did we miss this past week? What are you looking at?
GOLDBERG: For all I know, we've missed everything because of Michael Jackson. I think the undercovered story of the week has been Donna Brazile until this morning had a poster of Michael Jackson up on the well.
HEMMER: Can you defend that, Donna, or do you want to?
BRAZILE: Well, you know, ever since Michael went out and got a jheri curl I've been behind the curve on him as well.
But let me tell you, I think the best story this week is that the House Republicans passed a bill to create a national museum in honor of African-Americans on the mall. Go Republicans.
HEMMER: Andy?
BOROWITZ: Well, one week after John Kerry's motorcycle stunt, a new poll shows him gaining support among voters who describe themselves as dorks.
HEMMER: Is that what Gallup found? I knew they were looking for something, Andy.
Thanks to all three of you, Donna, Jonah, Andy, great to see you. Have a great weekend.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
