POLITICAL PUNDITS DEBATE QUALITIES OF CLINTON, DOLE

Bob Beckel is unabashedly liberal. Tony Snow is solidly conservative.

But they agree on one thing: Bob Dole is history in this presidential election.

Neither believes the Republican nominee can overtake President Clinton.

"The Republican campaign today is rudderless, punchless and clueless," Snow said. "Who is advising these guys, Dr. Kevorkian?"

Dole won the GOP nomination because he was up against a "bunch of bums," Snow said.

Both Snow and Beckel said Dole is up against a great campaigner in Clinton.

Beckel said the Oklahoma City bombing helped Clinton. "He did grieve well."

The bombing exposed right-wing extremist groups, which scared the general public, Beckel said.

Snow and Beckel delivered political jabs at a noon-hour debate at Academic Hall Auditorium Wednesday. A crowd of about 150 people attended the debate, which was the second in a series of Common Hour programs at Southeast Missouri State University.

The once-a-week Common Hour will offer lectures, concerts and other events on campus. No classes are scheduled during that time.

Beckel managed Walter Mondale's failed 1984 presidential campaign. He co-hosts CNN's "Crossfire Sunday."

Snow is the host of the Fox television network's new public-affairs program, "Fox News Sunday." He also is a guest host for conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh's radio program.

"Greetings, ladies, gentlemen and ditto heads," Snow said, referring to Rush Limbaugh supporters. The line drew applause from some in the crowd.

Beckel acknowledged he was in Limbaugh's hometown.

"The only thing I have to do is get out of here with my life," he joked.

Both debaters questioned Dole's new commitment to tax cuts.

Beckel said the GOP convention in San Diego confirmed that life exists on Mars.

He talked of right-wing leaders such as Phyllis Schlafly, whom he described as the "wicked witch of the Midwest."

For his part, Snow said Clinton was an embarrassment. He said Clinton's staff is the shadiest group since "The Dirty Dozen" misfits of movie fame.

Snow said Clinton's staff members are either dead, indicted, convicted or under investigation.

Snow said Clinton has no strong convictions. "The case against Bill Clinton is he believes in nothing and he believes in everything."

Beckel said Clinton has defined himself by what he isn't; he isn't Newt Gingrich.

He said the Republican Party's right-wing is viewed as moral interventionists. "There seems to be a sense of intolerance," he said.

Both pundits said there has been plenty of negative political campaigning and little real discussion of the issues in what amounts to a political soap opera.

Snow said the upcoming presidential debates aren't about issues either.

"It's all how you present yourself," he said.

Snow said the president's decision to fire cruise missiles at Iraq amounted to a $200 million commercial designed "to make the campaign a no-fly zone."

Beckel said it was shameful the way the Democratic Party suggests that Social Security and Medicare cuts will leave old people out on the street.

He admitted that the current welfare system doesn't work.

But Beckel said the country still needs federal programs from student loans to highway construction.

Snow said Americans want to revive the American dream.

"We are a country created by people who would normally have sat in the back of the class," he said.