David Gregory authoritatively proclaimed on Meet the Press last Sunday that when it comes to addressing the crisis in Georgia, "nuance doesn't work for Democrats," and noted Obama's perceived weakness relative to the Bush administration's "very tough language against Russia." Far be it from us to question Gregory's word, but we figured we would take a look for ourselves at just how tough the administration talk against Russia has really been:



TUFF TALK! Where enemies are made, reputations are earned and love is the most risky affair of all.



So to recap:
Question: Has Russia pulled its troops out of Georgia?
Answer: No, but Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates really hope it does that.
Q: What can America do to punish Russia?
A: Russia has been punished plenty. They know what they did. They know how bad they've been.
Q: No, really.
A: Their reputation as a non-other-country-invading country has been seriously damaged by invading that other country. That thing was all over the news. Like, everybody heard about it.
Q: Ok, seriously - what can we do to actually punish them? Kick them out of the G8 like McCain wants to do?
A: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down. No need to get crazy here.
Q: Yes or no - out of the G8? Out of the WTO?
A: We'll think about it, ok? Stop pressuring us! Remember: Russia already feels way worse about all this than we can ever make them feel.
Q: For God's sake, the title of this episode is Tuff Talk! Can we at least agree that Russia is an adversary of the-... wait, I'll temper that a little - more adversary than ally? At the very least?
A: Eh, still a little too tuff. Let's just say its actions have been adversarial. But no, I wouldn't want to call them an adversary. That would be hotheaded and foolish, since as you know there are many, many important things that we need Russia's help with in the world.

Then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates assumed the piano at the country club and sang "I Walk the Night":



TUFF TALK!

Corrections and Clarifications: Vigilant watcher/reader Lovelynina reminds TPMtv that Condoleezza Rice, not Robert Gates, is the concert pianist of the Bush administration. TPMtv regrets the error.