S16.E25: John Brennan, Kara Swisher, Rick Wilson, Saru Jayaraman, and David Corn

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

John Brennan, Rick Wilson, Saru Jayaraman, David Corn & Kara Swisher

[GHScorpiosRule]

I loved this episode.

Solid interview with Brennan. Bill was actually funny tonight. And he wasn’t as whiny and tone deaf as he’s been recently.

New Ruies was also very good. He had me ???? at “Applezon” and the Google mashup. There were a couple of ?? and groans, but I think this was the best show so far since the show came back.

My barometer is that Bill kept me engaged and entertained despite my having had only two hours of sleep.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Overtime also had me ?????, especially Wilson. Though I wish Brennan could have been there.

[wknt3]

8 hours ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

I loved this episode.

Solid interview with Brennan. Bill was actually funny tonight. And he wasn’t as whiny and tone deaf as he’s been recently.

New Ruies was also very good. He had me ???? at “Applezon” and the Google mashup. There were a couple of ?? and groans, but I think this was the best show so far since the show came back.

I liked this episode a lot too. I don't think I liked it quite as much as you, but I agree Bill wasn't whiny and kept his worst tendencies in check. And yes the top of show interview with Brennan was very good. I do think it was the best panel since the break - the show is always at it's best when Bill is engaged and they have smart guests taking part in actual conversation. The scripted bits were pretty good, but nothing extraordinary IMHO and the Kara Swisher interview was the typical lane Real Time interview, but for me a good panel will almost always equal a good show. Also Overtime was really good so extra credit there.

[iMonrey]

Brennan was definitely a get. And Bill can be a good interviewer when he lets his guests talk. And I think Brennan is ready to talk. I still think Bill has difficulty tamping down his own hysteria and frustration, even when a guest is completely on his side. But say what you will, for all his faults (and let's face it, there are quite a few), Bill does put his money where his mouth is. That's more than can be said for the Hollywood liberals he called out this week. I'm on his side on this one.

Bill raises the same issue every week, whether Democrats should run on impeachment or should use incendiary language like "treason." I share his frustration. I expressed last week how the nuance of politics seem to escape him. And yet, week after week we have apologists spitting out the same tired pablum. "Oh, we just have to talk to the voters about health care and jobs and education." The Democratic establishment has been playing that song for the past 20 years and it's why they keep losing. That's not firing up their base. So I think, within reason, Bill is right. There are exceptions but the Democrats have to do something different this time around. And while Rick Wilson is certainly no fan of Trump he's still not someone that Democrats should take campaign advice from. 

[sistermagpie]

The comparisons of Russia to Sears and a Halloween store actually made me LOL.

[ganesh]

16 hours ago, wknt3 said:

And yes the top of show interview with Brennan was very good.

I've seen enough of Brennan on the news though that I didn't feel he brought any new pov to the show. I was hoping he'd be a little more loose. Though I did like that he hasn't walked back from treason, and I do take Bill's point of asking why aren't more people saying it. I would have liked if Bill asked him what he thought of this huge campaign to smear his credibility.

13 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Bill raises the same issue every week, whether Democrats should run on impeachment or should use incendiary language like "treason." I share his frustration. I expressed last week how the nuance of politics seem to escape him. And yet, week after week we have apologists spitting out the same tired pablum. "Oh, we just have to talk to the voters about health care and jobs and education."

They need a new strategist or something. We've gone over this from so many angles here. I'm not on the side of running on impeachment, but something like, "hey, let's get the adults back in charge" is a good tactic. Or, the "we'll clean up the corruption and hold more administration officials accountable" isn't bad either. But the, "we need to reach out" isn't going to work. The "they're both just as bad so I'm not voting narrative" is already all over the place. That's what they really need to push back on.

I thought the mid show guest was a little weird, but she killed it with "I'm not going down your fucking slide."

But of course Bill has to ruin it with "I'm a free speech person myself." Yes, Bill we all are. However, private companies do not have an obligation to provide a platform for any speech at all. 

Alex Jones can go literally anywhere in this country and say whatever he wants. 

[Milburn Stone]

I expected I'd be FF-ing through Brennan (I'm totally on his team, but I figured he'd be saying things I already think, which is never very interesting to me), but he was compelling.

[GoldenGirl90]

I agree with the positive reviews of tonight’s show. I just got around to watching it and yeah, tonight was solid. I still think that Trump taking Brennan’s clearance away a DAY after the N-word tape/Omarosa controversy was done on purpose but most smart people can and will keep up with it all. Tonight was good. Rick Wilson, a Republican, is funny as hell when he’s debating devoted Trump supporters on network television.

Edited August 26, 2018 by Alexis2291

[Victor the Crab]

9 hours ago, iMonrey said:

But say what you will, for all his faults (and let's face it, there are quite a few), Bill does put his money where his mouth is. That's more than can be said for the Hollywood liberals he called out this week. I'm on his side on this one.

The downside is, if the Democrats capture the House and perhaps the Senate, Bill will be strutting his smug arrogant self, taking credit for the Dems success by putting his signature on a cheque, and demanding credit for their success from the left, and wanting something in return for his "generosity", like his whiningly demanding an interview with Obama two years ago, the goddamn douche.

I don't agree with a lot of stuff John Brennan did during his career. But I like the way he's put the feet to the fire of Drumpf and his administration. He certainly has more credibility in this situation, unlike some people in their position (James Comey, I'm looking right at you, you fucking skunk!).

The New Rules sermon was interesting. But I'm not sure Bill's suggestion that Democrats align themselves with the Chinese government is a smart move. It just looks like a lame case of two wrongs making a right. Perhaps the Dems should look to someone more friendly to their agenda, like say, oh, I dunno..... Canada?!!

[wknt3]

On 8/25/2018 at 10:00 PM, Victor the Crab said:

The downside is, if the Democrats capture the House and perhaps the Senate, Bill will be strutting his smug arrogant self,

But if the Democrats don't capture the House or Senate, or tie, or if Trump goes full dictator and cancels the elections, Bill will be strutting his smug arrogant self so I'm not really sure that counts as downside...

Quote

The New Rules sermon was interesting. But I'm not sure Bill's suggestion that Democrats align themselves with the Chinese government is a smart move. It just looks like a lame case of two wrongs making a right.

I actually thought that this was the one scripted piece this week that rose above pretty good, but nothing special. Bill has been pretty astute in his observations about the Trump base's relationship with Russia and I think the intent of the bit was less of a serious suggestion, or even an unserious one, that the Democrats should actually align themselves with China, and more pointing out that we should be focusing more on China (in a serious way instead of a pissing contest over tariffs) and that this is yet another area where American conservatives are aligning themselves with the past and ignoring that history is passing them by. I would have liked it if had been a little bit more explicit in making the connection like pointing out that it wasn't just like merging with Sears, but like doing everything to prop up the coal industry while also doing all you can to delay the growth of renewable energy, but to me the point was made and the idea that Democrats should collude with China was just a way of getting there.
 

Quote

Perhaps the Dems should look to someone more friendly to their agenda, like say, oh, I dunno..... Canada?!!

Canada? They're not even a real country anyway!

Edited August 28, 2018 by wknt3
autocorrect fail

[Gemma Violet]

Quote

something like, "hey, let's get the adults back in charge" 

That's perfect.  

[sistermagpie]

1 hour ago, wknt3 said:

I actually thought that this was the one scripted piece this week that rose above pretty good, but nothing special. Bill has been pretty astute in his observations about the Trump base's relationship with Russia and I think the intent of the bit was less of a serious suggestion, or even an unserious one, that the Democrats should actually align themselves with Russia and more pointing out that we should be focusing more on China (in a serious way instead of a pissing contest over tariffs) and that this is yet another area where American conservatives are aligning themselves with the past and ignoring that history is passing them by. I would have liked it if had been a little bit more explicit in making the connection like pointing out that it wasn't just like merging with Sears, but like doing everything to prop up the coal industry while doing everything you can to delay the growth of renewable energy, but to me the point was made and the idea that Democrats should collude with China was just a way of getting there.

That's exactly what I got out of it. It really is the whole idea of Russia. They reflect their ideals where they think if they just refuse to live in the 21st century everybody will have to live there with them. There's no other reason anybody would be eager to merge with Russia.

22 hours ago, ganesh said:

I'm not on the side of running on impeachment, but something like, "hey, let's get the adults back in charge" is a good tactic.

Or not so much adults but adults that aren't drunk racist uncle, who is pretty much in charge right now. That guy at the end of the bar who spouts off on everything without actually knowing anything except that he hates all those other people. As Rick Wilson said, their whole platform is "owning the libs."

[The Mighty Peanut]

On 8/25/2018 at 12:54 PM, ganesh said:

something like, "hey, let's get the adults back in charge" is a good tactic.

Why We Can't Have Nice Things: 20/20 in 2020.

Not that Trump is a nice thing. This was a good panel, I concur with everyone else. I hope it's as good next week and no one tries to defend Trump's refusal to keep the flag at half mast for McCain. 

IMO this is the democrats' first chance in a long time to actually accomplish winning the votes of moderates. I have to believe there is a largely silent base that doesn't like to draw attention to the fact that they voted for a buffoon simply because there was an R next to his name and he wasn't Hillary. I know his base doesn't care about the porn star(s), trophy wives, fraudulent businesses, grab em by the pussy, sexual assault allegations, making fun of the disabled, vulgar tweets, Omarosa hiring, white nationalist sympathizing, instability, nepotism, roving staff, 92 million dollar military parade having, and inability to pass legislation. But I hope, I really hope, that there are some middle aged white conservatives out there who got the point that sometimes the R is crazy enough to vote for the D or stay home.

Edited August 27, 2018 by The Mighty Peanut

[b2H]

On 8/26/2018 at 10:30 AM, Gemma Violet said:

That's perfect.  

How’s this?

[GoldenGirl90]

I love it @b2H .