Dumpster diving on MTP

TIME FOR some Sunday morning fun. NBC "Meet the Press" host David Gregory interviewed House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers, a Republican from Michigan. Gregory is a good guy, but substance and nuance isn't in his DNA. Forget about thoughtful discussion or the search for insights into the big issues of the day. He's after headlines, baby -- even if it means diving to the dumpster bottom. That's his schtick. That's why we get vapid interviews like this on the subject of Libya:

MR. GREGORY: Is there a terrorist element among [the rebels]?

REP. ROGERS: Well, in most Middle East countries there are elements of al-Qaeda.

News sought: Obama is recklessly aiding the terrorists, right?

MR. GREGORY: Would you like to see Arab special forces units in a lead role, rather than the CIA on the ground?

REP. ROGERS: Well, I mean, special forces and, and intelligence collection I think are two very, very different things. ... If the Arab League is putting those types of forces on the ground, you know, good for them.

News sought: CIA = special forces. What's the diff? Ergo, Obama broke his promise. Our boots are on the ground, right?

MR. GREGORY: The Wall Street editorial this week argued for a more robust, unified voice from the Republicans, saying this: "Republicans ought to prod Mr. Obama," the Journal wrote, "to push for a faster resolution that ends with toppling of Gadhafi and his sons from power. Should that be the view of the Republican Party, to topple him?

REP. ROGERS: Well, I, I do think Gadhafi remaining in power is not an option ... But this is--shouldn't be a Republican issue, a Democrat issue, it shouldn't be an Obama issue vs. a John Boehner issue.

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

News sought: Let's turn Libya into a partisan issue. It's more fun, and doesn't make my brain hurt. The Republicans think Obama is weak on Libya, right?

Mm-hmm.