Meet the Press watch October 11; Yet another anti-Trump show…Minor improvements…Trump makes anti-Trumpism easy

I, a half-century professor of political rhetoric, first took a look today at ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopolous,” which is  moderated by Jonathan Karl. Karl is a premier hater of President Donald Trump. But the show at least sported two Democrats and two Republicans—including smart-as-a-whip former governor of New Jersey Republican Chris Christie.

Once again, NBC’s Meet the Press (MTP), has as moderator Kristen Welker, who is anti-Trump. Although she is not as virulently hostile to the president as Karl.

Guests: Two anti-Trump principals, Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis.

Interview with El-Sayed: Asked about the “list of his failures” for which he claimed Barack Obama, who was set to campaign for El Sayed (to the former president’s everlasting shame), was responsible.

El-Sayed said this was old news (2012), emphasized Obama’s alleged elegance…was handed, said El-Sayed, George W. Bush’s basket of terrible things. El-Sayed now says Obama did his best with what he had.

There was no follow-up question by Welker.

El-Sayed said he supports Medicare for all…people can keep their private insurance as well…no questions from Welker.

There was no follow-up about failures and exorbitant costs of such programs elsewhere.

El-Sayed: We need accountability…Trump is making great money…no point from Welker on Trump’s not taking his salary.

El-Sayed said he regrets the remark about attacks on Jewish people at synagogue: “Hurt People Hurt People,” not because it was inexcusable, but because it hurt people’s feelings.

No pressing of El-Sayed on his opposition to war with Iran or his lengthy history of anti-Semitism.

El-Sayed said he has no ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, accused of such by opponent Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan.

Again, there was no follow-up by Welker.

Weak interview by Welker…could have been worse.

Interview with Tillis

Second Anti-Trump interview out of two…have some pro-President Trump moments, Ms. Welker!

Full disclosure: Trump is really rubbing this critic the wrong way with his attacks on Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump’s support of televising the execution of Fort Hood mass murderer Nidal Husan.

Asked about Trump’s “I suggest they get a new leader” in Ukraine:

Tillis: I witnessed Putin’s malefactions and claims that Trump ignores the fact that Putin wants to freeze the Ukrainians.

Putin wants to bury us, said Tillis, reminiscent of Nikita Krushchev’s infamous line about America.

Anti-televising of Hasan execution…so too would the late-Sen. Lindsey Graham have disagreed.

Tillis’ book is critical of Trump and Obama, but says he wants everyone on the Republican ballot to win.

Tillis’ claim that he is a Trump supporter rings hollow.

Panelists: Three, better than the usual four, 3-1 anti-Trump and Republicans of the past. But the group in its few minutes gives nothing but the usual anti-Republican palaver, disorganized with few if any really interesting insights.

Welker and the producers should get some more interesting panelists and give them longer to analyze this most interesting time in politics and rhetoric.

Co-anchor anti-right PBS News Hour’s Amna Nawaz: Things look good for Democrats…the president ran on mass deportation…questionable, said she…yawn.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson: Anti-right…criticizes ICE attacks…literally no mention he worked as general counsel for the Department of Defense under former President Obama.

The Dispatch’s editor Stephen Hayes: Incredulous at Trump’s attacks on Zelensky…said we’re on the side of the bad guys…convincing on this point…people don’t like seeing the excesses of ICE.

Throughout the entire show, there was no defense of the Trump Administration anywhere. It should be embarrassing to NBC, but it was not apparently.

Meet the Press used to be the model for good Sunday takes on politics and rhetoric…no more. They have a brilliant but wasted mind of the moderator.  This show would be so easy to improve. But they remain self-satisfied with bragging that it is the longest-running show on television.

My cousin Herman’s great-grandfather is 108 this day and has accomplished little beyond existing.