Our Wounded Warriors, Interviews with McCain And Clinton, And, Uh, Mountain Lion Attacks (Monday's First Hour)

Hi everybody. Is it spring yet? I can't take this cold. Anyway, Anderson is back and tonight we are in San Antonio to cover the opening of the Center For The Intrepid at the Brooke Army Medical Center, which is a state of the art facility for our wounded service members. In his rapid fire style, Anderson gives us a preview of what is to come and then we move into interviews he did with John McCain and Hillary Clinton. I usually hate the way 360 chops up their interviews, but actually this section coming up is kind of interesting. Each interview was done separately, but we're shown McCain and Clinton's answers to the same question back to back. Anderson begins by asking about the big battle in Najaf that just occurred. McCain thinks it was good it was a preemptive strike, but other than that really doesn't know what to think about it. Well, at least he's honest. However, Clinton comes to the question locked and loaded with talking points, talking about how we can't escalate the war and blah, blah, blah. Anderson brings up the point that Cheney has said he trusts Maliki and asks them each if they do too. McCain is disappointed with Maliki, which I guess isn't really a definitive answer-not like Clinton gives anyway. She flat out says she doesn't trust Maliki and actually while we're on the subject, she doesn't trust Cheney either. Ha! High five sister!

Up next we have a piece from Anderson that profiles Master Sergeant Daniel Robles and Sergeant Nathan Reed, both amputees. There's not really much I can say here. You kind of need to see the piece. We're then shown a video game type thing that helps the amputees learn to shoot their guns again. And check it out, it's Anderson with a gun! Oh my. Well that was quite a surprising little fangirl moment for me seeing as though I don't like guns. I wonder what he was thinking while holding it, "The Paris Hilton of news my ass!"

On now to some more of the interview, this time just with Clinton. Anderson wants to know why private funds are needed for this kind of hospital and Clinton admits it should not relieve the government of responsibility. Then Anderson refers to a previous Clinton comment about how Bush needs to extricate the troops before he leaves office and Anderson wants to know if she thinks the troops should be out of Iraq by 2008. Clinton hems and haws and to his credit, Anderson presses, but we still don't really get anything. Anderson then asks what the point is to her troop cap proposal and whether those kind of things send a mixed signal to the troops. Clinton doesn't think it does because she's talked to the troops and I guess they're on board. Funny thing is, I'm betting McCain will say he's talked to the troops too and they're on board with him. It must be fun to be stuck in a hell hole AND get continously exploited by both political parties. Anderson brings up the possibility of a genocidal bloodbath if we pull out and Clinton again spews a mouth full of talking points. Maliki is then brought up again and Anderson mentions how Bush thought he could see into Putin's soul or something. He wants to know if she thinks Bush is a good judge of character and Clinton is all like, "um, no." You forgot your favorite, Anderson. How could you not give Brownie a mention? This was a pretty good interview, though the answers were frustrating.

Okay, now it's McCain's turn. Anderson wonders if the full cost of this war is really known, especially in regards to those suffering from PTSD. Dude, I can totally take this one. No, no the full cost of the war is not even close to being known or understood. We will be dealing with this for GENERATIONS and things will come up that we can't even imagine right now. And another thing, about half of Iraq is under 18 and those kids have seen things that most of us have only seen on television. They will grow up some day and they will not forget what's been done to them. We may not pay for Iraq next year or even 10 years from now, but one day we will-whether we deserve it or not. And that's what we're leaving our children, along with a whole bunch of other crap.

Back in the interview Anderson mentions the theory that if we pull out the war can then just be between Shia and Sunni since they're already fighting anyway. McCain gives Anderson the most condescending smile ever and states that that would bring on full genocide. Anderson asks if McCain thinks a troop cap makes sense and he doesn't, but he can't tell us how many more troops are needed. Hmm, well Bush seems to know. You mean 21,500 won't do the trick? Gasp. At least McCain doesn't agree with Cheney that we've had enormous successes. Although I have to wonder why Anderson didn't ask McCain if he thought Cheney was delusional. He posed that question to Clinton, so it only seems fair.

Next up Anderson interviews two soldiers who will be using the facility: Corporal Aaron Mankin and Staff Sergeant Daniel Barnes. Mankin suffered injuries and burns from an IED and Barnes lost his legs to an RPG. This interview kind of acts as a PR commercial for the facility-it sounds like a nice place. Mankin is really optimistic. I mean, seriously gung ho. He could probably totally sell me something right now. After this interview Anderson interviews Bill White, one of the men behind the facility. Anderson wants to know why the government didn't help. Uh, because they suck? Bill is a little more generous, stating that they wanted to do this themselves to let the soldiers know the American people cared. Anderson then keeps at the government angle a little more, which I appreciate. I mean, they SHOULD be doing more.

Transitioning now to a Chris Lawrence piece on that guy who got attacked by a mountain lion. He's 70 and his 65 year old wife fought him off. Don't mess with older ladies man. They have big heavy purses due to years of collecting crap. Anyway, I don't know what the point is here, so allow me take this time to ask CNN a favor. Could you possibly leave up the names of the people being interviewed for more than like two seconds please? I blink and I miss it. I mean, you leave your ugly graphics up the whole show, I don't know what the problem is here. Thank you very much. Pretty good show tonight. B+

So what did you guys think about Hillary and McCain? And Anderson with a gun!?

Screencaps by liberation337.