transcripts from Meet the Press Jan. 4, 2004
MR. RUSSERT: Bill Safire, do you believe that the capture of Saddam Hussein has changed the debate in the Democratic Party? Or is the party activists–are they so adamantly opposed to the war that it will have little effect?MR. SAFIRE: I don’t think it’s changed the debate at all. I think the people who are for Dean are a–not only a minority in the country but may or may not be the majority in the Democratic Party. When we see Dean ahead, we’re talking about ahead of a field of nine. When it comes down to, oh, March, then we’ll see Dean against somebody. Great likelihood at the moment is Wesley Clark, because he’s not taking a chance in Iowa. He is betting everything on New Hampshire. But it becomes one against one, Dean vs. the anti-Dean, then we will see what I hope is Dean’s winning of the nomination. I’m a right-winger. I’d like to see another McGovern because I envision a Dean candidacy that not only reaffirms a second term for George W. Bush but drags down Democrats all across the country.
MR. RUSSERT: Isn’t this exactly what the Jimmy Carter White House was saying about Ronald Reagan?
MR. SAFIRE: Ah, you’re looking at history. Look ahead. Look ahead. And I can hear David Broder laughing out there in Iowa. David is–the problem David has is he’s both a reporter and a pundit. And he sometimes lets the facts warp his opinions.
(laughs)
and boy oh boy did it stick with me. here it is, 5 days later, and I’m still thinking about that comment Mr. Safire made (bolded for your convenience).
