Zbigniew Brzezinski Calls Joe Scarborough 'Stunningly Superficial'

On this morning's Morning Joe, former U.S. National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski offered his expertise on the conflict in Gaza. It was all very insightful! But you'll want to just skip to the end of this clip, where host Joe Scarborough attempts to ask for Brzezinski's daughter Mika's hand in marriage or something by insisting that "you cannot blame what's going on in Israel on the Bush administration." This prompted Zbig to reply, "You know, you have such a stunningly superficial knowledge of what went on that it's almost embarrassing to listen to you." Burn!

Anyway, things grew only more awkward from there, as Scarborough batted the insult hither and to, while Mika rolled around in her chair, totally chagrined. The show finally, mercifully, cuts to commercial (over the strains of Stevie Wonder's "Superstitious" -- apparently the closest thing the producers had to "superficial'). At that point, Scarborough directed Mika to give her father six dollars to make the mean man go away. Anyway, enjoy.

[WATCH.]

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Comments

[Teritt]

Joe has a blog on the HuffPost homepage on 1/20. For some reason, anyone with a post that says 'stunningly superficial' finds it gets deleted....hmmmmm

[wisey]

Re: Interview with Dr Z.B by Joe S.

Joe, you are ignorant and arrogant as well ! You definitely need to ask more often questions to Dr Z.
How can you approach a subject without even knowing the facts on the ground? How about some history?
Do you have a problem processing information? You have so much to read and learn so you can avoid making a fool of yourself, and spread your ignorance with bravado. Once again,a very sorry and unfortunate illustration of the US reporting. Totally irresponsable.

[classc 1]

OMG...it just gets better and better each time you listen to this clip. Did Dr. Z REALLY tell Joe that it was embarrassing to listen to him sometimes? LOL Do you think Joe will book Dr. Z again?

[Teritt]

The clip doesn't work anymore & MSNBC took it down. How sad.

[classc 1]

It works. I'm watching the clip now...I needed a good laugh tonight and this clip ALWAYS makes my day.

[Teritt]

I had to logon today to watch it again - it was a great way to get that nasty Ann Coulter clip out of my mind.

[Cinci]

Brzezinski recognized Joe's insecurities and stated as much when Joe attempted to conceal his embarrassment. Had it not been so obvious that he wasn't in the same league as Dr. B, Joe probably would've exhibited his "usual" behavior (loud and obnoxious, not allowing his guest to squeeze in another word). When he's not hosting, guests have a better chance to express themselves. His comprehension of what's written and/or what's stated is also questionable.

[Stanford1979]

Though I know facts won't get in the way of this hatefest against the one news program that allows dissent without insults, Dr Z's insult against Scarborough may have been fun to watch but he is dead wrong. Scarborough's position is shared by none other than Bill Clinton, who also blamed Arafat for the collapse of these negotiations. So to did the New York Times, the BBC and every other news outlet. Brzezinski only has allies on this point in the Arafat apologists lobby. Like or hate him, but Scarborough was right on his point that Arafat blew up the Camp David peace process in 2000. If Scarborough is superficial, so to is Clinton and the entire US foreign policy community who agrees with Clinton (and Scarborough).

[pepper47]

Oh really,
President Clinton supports Joe's position?
Can you please support that with something!

The peace proccess just ran out of time.
Here is a fact-Isreal pulled out of negotiations officially on feb. 8 2001
When Bush and Saron threw out Clintons, and the European Unions efforts
to create peace.

google (barak to bush-sharon is not bound by negotiations)

[Chopin]

Good factual counterpunch ! Facts can be checked. ... like F-B-I Joe said, "Facts, ma'am, just the facts."

[wisey]

Please stop spreading half truths and superficial sensationalism. You are not helping one bit !
Dr Z is a treasure of information that we should all benefit from. It's based on real facts and has the US national interest at heart. Take some time and do research before you quote sources, don't act like Joe the superficially simplistic problem definer/solver.
What next? Joe Scarborough and Joe the Plumber on the same show? America deserves so much better.

[islanbatman]

Former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski rulez. See little children this is why we have free libraries. Joe, a typical GOP talking head. He got EMBARRASSED on his own show dang. GO CHIEF.

[VivaZapata]

It's stunningly diplomatic to call Morning Joke's take on the Gaza situation "stunningly superficial." What he needed to emphasize was Scarborough's TOTAL reliance on mainstream media talking points on nearly every subject; he is completely lacking in analytic ability.

[pepper47]

Theres alot of jokes about Mika taking ambien on the show,
Check her out at about 4:50 min. to 5:10 min. into the CLIP.
Is she nodding out, untill starteled by someone in her earphone ?

[cinemabon]

Joe should know better than to challenge Zbig... maybe he doesn't?

[CaptainHowdy]

Wow... I guess none of you losers have ever read Brzezinski's "The Grand Chessboard".

[paulita]

Well first of all I was a teenager at the time he was in the Carter Administration. and Secondly, I assume you are referring to thoughts such as the below quote from page 211.

I think it proves his point even more. The extent of the threat if put in context with the size of the US and its attacker was used in a demogaugery fashion to instill fear. Like he said on Afterwards, we showed more fear toward BL than we did the Soviet Union which really could have destroyed the entire country. That is his point exactly.

The threat has to be acted upon, but acted upon appropriately, not just used fear monering to win an election.


"Moreover, as America becomes an increasingly multi-cultural society, it may find it more difficult to fashion a consensus on foreign policy issues, except in the circumstance of a truly massive and widely perceived direct external threat." (p. 211

[VivaZapata]

Why not inform, oh great winner?

[paulita]

If anyone watches CSPan II Book tv, there is a very interesting conversation with Mr. Brzenzinski, Brent Scowcroft, and David Ignatius on AFTERWARDS

I think Mr. Brejenski sounds extremely wise. He made the most interesting point that fear after 9/11 was used almost in a demagoguery fashion. If you look up the definition in this context "impassioned appeals to the prejudices and emotions of the populace," it is exactly right on point.

Even the Repub Scowcroft, makes some very good points, worth watching. Mr. B. is definitely my new Hero!

[gjchitchat]

Bush-apologist Joe Scarborough finally got his come-uppance from foreign policy expert Zbigniew Brzezinksi on his show "Morning Joe," which I confess to watching every day - not because of Joe, but because of the variety and quality of the guests who provide a much more balanced "sound byte" view of current political events the rest of MSNBC's "news" programming. The problem is that shows that try to deal with the complex issues that constitute politics generally and foreign policy specifically do not get high rates usually. One of my favorites is PBS' "Newshour with Jim Lehrer" and the entire PBS Friday lineup that is probably the best "news" on television. But who's watching it beside those of us who want more than quick "sound bytes" that are easily digested? To use another metaphor, the American public wants their news presented like "Monday Night Football" with two teams with opposite views that they root for based on where they're from (party affiliation) and the color of their uniforms (classification as "liberal" or "conservative"). Like Blago, Joe is a poster child for narcissistic personality disorder, taking every disagreement (let alone, criticism!) as a personal attack and denouncing Jimmy Carter while extoling the dubious accomplishments of the most unpopular President in recent history. The show is my my wake-up call and a reminder that Friday night is coming and I'll get to watch Bill Moyer!

[mk16000]

You are so my friend. We think alike when it comes to the Morning Joe show. Yes, I too watch it in the mornings. Not because of Joe but due to the guests and the you're right the balanced political views they bring to the table. Joe is so interested in promoting his ultra conservatie right-wing views it seems impossible for him to see beyond this. Mika-I have no desire to listen to her. She seems so uninformed and unintellible on the subject matter. That is if Joe lets her talk at all. When she does, it's like she is echoing Joe. Does she have an original thought?

[RJII]

At first, I didn't care for the Zbig because of the flake called Mika. But now, the Zbig is my hero. I can't stop watching this clip. Amazing. Joe Scare is a total idiot.