sunday mtp minute

Sometimes, when Daylight Saving Time zaps an hour out of your day, you get to MTP a little late.

But, that's another entry. Onward to the wrapup:

- Sens. Chuck Schumer and Lindsey Graham butted heads over the issue of the century, the crumbling state of the economy. A lot of the conversation centered around the usual arguments that are circulating around the Beltway regarding the economy: stimulus, tanking markets, omnibus, and earmarks. The discussion of the last point was actually the most compelling one, where both senators essentially supported the practice of earmarking. Mr. Gregory did a great job of pressing the issue on both of the senators, although I think he understood that they were not the worst offenders by far. Senator Schumer did make me feel a little better about how earmarks are now more transparent than ever before: they can be tracked online and each one is tagged to whomever added it in to the bill.

- Roundtable: considering all of the personalities present, I think it was very mild - especially compared to the yakking of last week. I found former speaker Gingrich's take on the administration to be Limbaugh-esque... "Bush-Obama spending bill" and "trial lawyers and judges rewriting mortgages" were especially rich (Rush?). I don't feel like ranting now, but he was just being an Rump Party ass (par for the course). Mort Zuckerman's "popularity, but not credibility" was an especially piercing line.

David Gregory Match Rating: 8.5 - a great showing with the roundtable and the senators, I really think he is growing into his role on the show.