Sunday Morning "Talking Heads" 8-31-2008

George Wenschhof

This should be a Sunday morning filled with a lot of political buzz and analysis on the Presidential race. The Democratic Convention has just concluded where 38 million viewed Senator Barack Obama's acceptance speech, Senator John McCain has picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, the Republican Convention begins Monday and Obama and McCain are on a battleground states tour.

Topics for discussion remain numerous as the economy continues to tank while energy prices and unemployment continue to rise. Overseas, the cold war threatens to break out anew as Russia and the republic of Georgia disagree on the status of the breakaway regions of South Osettia and Abkhazia. While Pakistan, a nuclear armed country, elects a new President on September 6 after the resignation of Musharraf, a staunch U.S. ally.

NBC "Meet the Press" - Tom Brokaw form St. Paul, Minnesota, home of the Republican convention will interview Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Pawlenty was speculated to be McCain's VP pick all the way until Gov. Palin was announced. Rumors are he and former Governor Mitt Romney, another on the McCain VP short list were furious when they learned who had been selected.

Also, Brokaw will have his political roundtable with Dick Gregory, Doris Goodwin, Andrea Mitchell, Mike Murphy and Kelly O'Donnell.

ABC "This Week" - George Stephanopoulos interviews Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain. Also appearing will be Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator John Kerry (D-Mass)

CBS "Face the Nation" - Former New york Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), David Brooks, and McCain adviser, Carly Fiorina

Fox News - Chris Wallace will have as his guest Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican Party nominee for President. Expect a lot of talk on his VP pick.

CNN "Late Edition - Wolf Blitzer will be previewing the Republican Convention. There was serious debate among Republicans as to whether President George W. Bush suffering from horrible approval ratings should even be given a speaking role. In the end, they gave him a spot on Monday night.

Interestingly, if Hurricane Gustav hits New Orleans on Monday, it wouldn't look too good if George W. was speaking at the Republican Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. It would highlight the Katrina catastrophy, one of the major failures of his administration. If the hurricane hits New Orleans, expect Bush to cancel or reschedule.