Let's see how many ways TBPNTOTV!!!* can create news where there is none! Which begs the question we've all been asking ourselves: Who is TBPNROTV!!!*** of TBPNTOTV!!! ? For that answer and more, let's listen in! Today's team consists of the ever-present Wolf joined by Jessica Yellin, Time Magazine's Rick Stengel, and CNN's very own Joe Johns!
Wolf: Can there be an "Extreme Makeover" [Ooo, clever, Wolf!] in Florida and Michigan?
Rick: The superdelegates and voters want them seated.
Joe: These are tough questions. It costs millions. No one can coalesce around one idea.
Jessica: The organizers aren't getting much communication from the campaigns. They'll go with what Howard Dean says.
Wolf: If there were actual primaries in Michigan and Florida, Hillary would win, right?
Rick: That's not a certainty. Obama did well everywhere he had chance to campaign, and he didn't campaign in those states.
Wolf: It's Florida and Michigan's fault for moving up their primaries. [Shows a Howard Dean clip saying there are no resources to pay for it]
Joe: There was total foreseeability by these states. And for the DNC too. Everyone can be blamed. Florida and Michigan voters had no idea this could be such a mess, and they're the ones who could be punished.
Wolf: Ironic how Florida and Michigan could end up being THE most decisive players.
Jessica: True. They could have the last word. We're focusing on differences and divisions in the Democratic party, but the elders are excited by this debate, how energized the voters are in Michigan and Florida. It signals how strong the Democrats are and bodes well for the general election.
Wolf: Time Magazine's cover shows Hillary "the fighter". Time talks about how willing she'd be to have Obama on her ticket, and if she would be on Obama's ticket.
Rick: I asked her about that. It's in her interest to ask Obama to be on her ticket. The twofer thing. If Obama is the nominee, would she accept an invitation to be on his ticket? She said it's too early to talk about that now...but not too early to consider the reverse.
Joe: Obama says it's premature. Bottom line: Republicans have to plan for that possiblility. Wild card: Bill Clinton, and concern he'd be "the V.P." with Obama sitting there.
Jesica: The Obama camp thinks it's a strategy by Hillary, saying he'd make a good president "one day" and now this is a way to reframe that. He could get legs by being her veep. Obama wants to say, it's a head-on contest. It may be a good argument for her, but it's not Obama's message. He wouldn't need her as a V.P. if he were to win.
Wolf: The Mississippi primary is coming up. 33 delegates are at stake. Their only issue is recovery from Hurricane Katrina. 70% of the voters are African Americans. Next: Bush endorsed John McCain.
Joe: McCain looked like a deer caught in the headlights. This endorsement will help the base (staying the course), but not Independents. They are the name of the game in November.
Rick: It's an effective strategy. There's a bad economy and a president with low popularity, so McCain has to walk a fine line.
Jessica: Obama's trying to tie Hillary to McCain. Hillary is trying to say she has the same national security credentials as McCain, but Obama has a lack of experience. Obama hasn't sharpened his message as much as Hillary has sharpened her national security issues. Now let's wait and see what he does.
Wolf: Hillary is getting criticism from Democrats because she of her remarks lauding McCain's experience.
Rick: The irony is that she also says Obama would make a good vice president. Democrats also say Hillary is dissing her Democratic opponent; you'd never see the Republicans do that.
So, who won? Who was today's TBPNROTV!!! ?
TICYMIS!!!**
Ed Rendell: Nobody is as ready and experienced as Hillary. She's the best prepared.
Tom Daschle: It's hard to connect being the First Lady with that... In the number of years served, Obama has more years.
The Florida/Michigan do-over:
John Kerry: Rules are rules. How can you run for President and say "change the rules midstream"?
Bill Nelson: They should have mail-in ballot voting.
Howard Dean: The Democrats just took Hastert's seat. If we can do that, it means the people want a change.
Mike Pence: In Iraq, Democrats keep saying they want a diplomatic surge. There has been one there, adopting laws, a budget, etc.
*THE BEST POLITICAL NEWS TEAM ON TELEVISION!!!
**THE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT SEGMENT!!!
***THE BEST POLITICAL NEWS REPORTER ON TELEVISION!!!!

Me,too.