Last night’s airing of CNN’s evening show “Paula Zahn Now“ (transcript,  11/27/2003) .

One of their guests was Howard Kurtz [media writer for "The Washington Post"/host of  CNN’s "RELIABLE SOURCES"] .  Mr Kurtz, when prompted by the show’s host, began by saying “Well look, it's a great thing for the president to have gone to Baghdad, boosted the morale of the troops and probably boosted his own political standing as well. But … the White House lied to the press.”.  He went on to clarify his assertion with ….

• They put out a story saying the president will be spending Thanksgiving in Crawford with his family.   They even put out the menu, free range turkey, if you're interested, and a lot of the journalists I've talked to today are upset that this kind of deception was engaged in, not for military secrecy -- although clearly there was a security aspect, but to set up this grand turkey photo op for the president.  [So, what?  He was trying to deceive your lot!]
• ..  the White House <put some reporters> in the uncomfortable position of having to keep that secret.  [<whispers> .. and reporters never use ‘anonymous sources’, eh?]
• there was no real live coverage …. The White House got a really good ride on television today.

So … they feel left out. ;)

Even CNN anchor Carol Lin seemed to have trouble understanding why Kurtz & Co. were bent out of shape.

"Well, if you have full access, Howard – I mean, what's the downside, really?" Lin asked. "What's the dark side of a trip like this? It was great for troop morale. It made pretty pictures. It made people feel good on an American holiday."

MOST of The Neanderthal Nine (aka DNC’s presidential candidates) have been relatively quiet thus far … I mean, who can fault the President for going to be with the troops on Thanksgiving Day?    Two of them have spoken out about the trip … but I can’t remember exactly who said exactly what – and it appeared, but once, in a very brif segment on CNN Friday afteroon.

It will be rather funny/interesting to wait and see just what ramifications might come from Bush’s surprise.

I can’t wait to see the spin ;)