From last night’s Special Report with Brit Hume:
—On Edwards and the War on Terror—
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Well, what Edwards said, you can understand a critique of the term “the war on terror,” and say it’s not perhaps the most accurate. It ought to have been the war on radical Islam. But we know why the president chose “the war on terror,” after 9/11 he didn’t want to antagonize the Muslims around the world by using that phrase. So perhaps it’s not the most accurate, but the underlying reality — whatever is the phrase that you’re going to use — is undeniable . . . There is a war against radical Islam that’s out to get us. That’s a fact, and to deny it or to minimize it and to mitigate it the way that Edwards appears to be doing is a complete sellout to the anti-war left. . . .
MARA LIASSON: That’s not what John Edwards said. He didn’t say there aren’t terrorists trying to hit us, he just doesn’t like the way the president is fighting the war on terror. He didn’t say we shouldn’t be having a fight against terrorism. I think this was one of those debates where both parties were completely talking past each other.
FRED BARNES: Well, why would John Edwards be attacking the phrase “war on terror?” Of course it’s a bumper sticker, it’s shorthand, it’s a way of — in a few words, describing what you’re doing, you’re fighting a war against terrorists. Why would he, other than to appease the anti-war left, as Charles said, why would he make an issue over this?
—On the Immigration Bill—
HUME: 48% oppose this bill, only 26% favor the bill. . . . Today, the Senate acted to cut the guest worker program in half, from 400,000 workers coming in here a year under that program, to 200,000. They took out a clause that would allow that number to grow automatically over time — it would have to grow only by legislation, now. Where does this matter now stand in terms of its prospects — Charles?
KRAUTHAMMER: When you get a public opinion poll that shows it has less support than the war in Iraq, you know it’s got trouble. And, actually, for the president to add this on his plate when he’s already reeling on the war in Iraq, very unpopular proposal is a form of political self-immolation. I’m sure is he sincere on this. I know he is. He has talked about it for decades. But this is a hell of a time to do it. And it’s a hell of a bill. . . .
I’d support amnesty, whatever you want to call it, overnight if you could have the president tell us that we have reduced illegal immigration across the southern border by 80 or 90 percent, instead of these bureaucratic triggers.