Comments on: freeSpeech: Bob Schieffer

CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent Speaks Out About The 'Abuse Excuse'

[mwe3wm]

Thanks CBS for this form.

We all agree with Bob.

However I think with Bob's 4th appearence, CBS now needs to call Free Speech Bob's Editorial's.

If Kati can't keep the audience then give Bob back the anchor.

Michael Edwards
Texas

[teford2]

Thank you Bob, for saying the truth, and not holding back the things that needed saying.Bob this type reporting, brings back memories of when the news really had something to say.



Tim&Charlene

[rattlesnakec]

Schieffer's analysis was on-point, succinct, and brilliantly written. House Leadership did not care enough for Foley to ask him to step down to seek treatment, and they did not care to protect the pages. They cared only for themselves and the one family the Republican Congress values, the family of the Bush Administration: that is why they work to keep Congress predominantly Republican.

I wish Schieffer had included one other point: Republicans have been in charge of Congress since the early 1990's. While the Republican-led House was screaming "family values," damning Bill Clinton for a dalliance with a woman over the age of 21, and ultimately impeaching him, one of their own was seeking sexual contact with, and trying to seduce, teenage boys, and House leadership knew it.

It is more than ironic that Republicans have stirred up their base of support with the rallying cry of "family values" to get Bush elected in the first place, get him reelected, to deprive *** of Constitutional and Civil Rights, all the while the same Republicans are ignoring or covering up (aiding and abetting) Foley as a sexual predator. A minor is sexually abused when a sexual predator tries to seduce that minor, regardless of the result of that seduction. If Foley is found guilty of crimes that occurred after House Leadership was informed of his behavior, each one of them should be charged with being an accessory, as they allowed the abuse to take place. So much for family values.

[joeshields56]

Bob Schieffer is the new Eric Sevareid. Long may he reign (and often we hope).

[aircal]

As a former DC resident, and frontline airline employee at National Airport, I was privy to lots of political rumors. I was also privy to lots of bad behavior by big name politicians as they thought they were invisible at the airport. Closeted *** Congressman lusting after cute Pages was "an open secret." Cheating Congressmen who made "inappropriate remarks" were to be tolerated. We were expected to know when they were traveling with their spouse and when the affectionate woman they were with was not related. As airline employees we were supposed to Bow to the Power and never to do anything that would turn a member against our airline.
Bob is right on. Cover Up.. but of course.

[aircal]

As a former DC resident, and frontline airline employee at National Airport, I was privy to lots of political rumors. I was also privy to lots of bad behavior by big name politicians as they thought they were invisible at the airport. Closeted *** Congressman lusting after cute Pages was "an open secret." Cheating Congressmen who made "inappropriate remarks" were to be tolerated. We were expected to know when they were traveling with their spouse and when the affectionate woman they were with was not related. As airline employees we were supposed to Bow to the Power and never to do anything that would turn a member against our airline.
Bob is right on. Cover Up.. but of course.

[huronman]

Bob...I always thought you were a light weight...your last two appearances - troops - page scandal have given me hope. How refreshing

[nhdobbins-2009]

GOOD WORK BOB,
I HAVE READ THE REPLYS TO YOUR COMMENT TODAY (10-04-06) MOSTLY POSITIVE. IN ANSWER TO ONE "NOT HEARD IN 50 YEARS"..........YOUR ALRIGHT BY ME AND A JOB WELL DONE. THANKS FOR BRINGING IT TO THE FOREFRONT.
NHDOBBINS

[nhdobbins-2009]

Right on Bob, you had more positive mail than the negative even if it was 50 years of "No Comment" you said it right tonight and I commend you for doing so.
Neil Dobbins

[leblack-2009]

Fantastic! Watching this Congress has been increasingly disappointing and heartbreaking. Small people who have lost their focus and intent - they are not conducting themselves as honorable individuals, sent to Washington to act in the greater good. I would welcome a candidate ( from either party ) who offered evidence of good character. Disgusting? You bet.

[tarquinius2]

The US has become a de facto Oligarchy. In fact, most true oligarchys had a lower incumbancy rate then our so called Democratic Republic.

[oddjob123]

Yay! well said we need more people like him! good at telling the cold hard truth well said.

[joeshields56]

'an incumbent protection society, which accomplishes virtually nothing' ... exactly right!

Once in, an incumbent has it made with so much special interest money it hardly matters how bad they are, there is no way for an honest challenger to defeat them. They can run unlimited (dishonest) attack ads against their challengers that makes it impossible to overcome. Many good people don't even try.

What can be done to correct this?

The Supreme Court has ruled that money is a form of speech (and they are right, money sure talks)and to deny Special Interest groups the right to contribute to candidates denies their rights. But what about the representative right of the common man with his one vote (and a much smaller wallet)?

Wouldn't a compromise work here? How about letting wealthy corporations and special interest groups continue to contribute all they want to candidates for the Senate, but implement the needed campaign finance reforms and ethic rule changes for House of Representative candidates such that they can not take special interest money.

Return the House of Representatives to the common man as it was originally conceived by our founding fathers (maybe even with term limits).

Remove the obstacles and distractions for at least this government body to do the will of the people and perhaps honest hardworking men and women can go to Washington and lead the other bodies by good example alone.

Would be a nice check and balance that is missing now.

[lestb35]

Right on drskouby. I really like Bob Schieffer but this is political from top to bottom and nobody knows at this point who knew what when. And I still maintain this stuff is pretty tame as far as teen activity (not condoning just commenting.)

[cadego]

drskouby seems to be offended that a member of the media actually has an opinion worth sharing. How is this any different than any op-ed page in every major newspaper in the country?

At the risk of offending Mr Schieffer, I have to say I didn't much care for his style as the evening anchor. However I find his op-ed style on Free Speach quite refreshing and a great addition to the evening news. I wouldn't mind listening to his opinions every night, much the way I look forward to Andy Rooney's on 60 minutes each Sunday. I don't always agree with him, but he does provoke thought.

I surely hope the nay sayers of this journalistic approach to the evening news do not sway Curric and company to take it away. I for one am hooked on it.

[pointswest8]

BRAVO, BRAVO, BOB - Most of the time it seems that those who are (so called) running things couldn't be further "off the mark". And the rest of us (the American people) are left out of the running of "our" country. Government has taken on a life of it's own and that has NOTHING to do with the "job" of doing what should be done for "The Good of the Whole". Thank you for saying the words and thinking the thoughts of the People. EVERYONE in D.C. should go home, permanately, and be replaced by American citizens who want to do (what WE do best) a good job and get a paycheck for that job; and if not done well, get fired. Bob, have you seen Aaron Russo's documentary American: Freedom to Fascism? If not - well, see it, hear it, feel it. And those of us in Denver, Co. do support your comments. Keep up the straight-talk.

[lydiarich]

Wonderful! Hooray for you! So imperative that we have people like you in the media that aren't afraid to take a risk and tell it like it is.
We applaud you here in Denver, Colorado - many of us educators and parents agree wholeheartedly with you comments tonight!

[knugentrn]

Just listened to your commentary (WED 10/04), AMEN!!! Did you know the opposite of progress is congress. I am currently taking a Western Civilization course at the local community college. I cannot believe the similarities between ancient Rome before the revolution and our congress today. ***, lies, greed, cover ups, and the answer that congress can come up with is to end the page program?? Why punish those who want to learn the workings of the government because some adults do not and cannot behave appropriately. Has the catholic church taking over congress, too. Thank you for your sane assessment of the situation.

[uforje]

Bravo Bob Schieffer Bravo! Finally someone in the media coming out and telling it like it is. I am fed up with this administration and Congress. They work for me and in any other business I would fire such incompetents. So stand up and do the job you were hired to do and stop wasting my hard earned tax dollars. Maybe if the rest of the media had taken such a stand earlier, acting as a watchdog for the people, we would not be mired in the hell hole known as Iraq.

[erythangel]

Fantastic reporting, Bob! I hope the people in Washington are paying attention and start doing their job!