1) Hey McC! What's in your wallet? "If there is a deal with the House involved, it's because of John McCain." Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) in the WP [9-27-08]. So now that the deal fails, what's that say? Huh? Speak up.
2) Politics 302: Humility goes a long way in politics. Sarah Palin to Katie Couric (CBS Evening News 9-30-08), contrasting herself with Joe Biden's three decades of experience: "I'm the new energy. The new face. The new ideas." Never believe your own hype.
3) Last week's financial crisis debacle in a nutshell: Dana Milbank [WP 9-26-08], describing the scene among House Republicans after McC's announcement that he was suspending the campaign and heading to D.C. :"'Daddy's coming home!" joked one.'"
4) What those debates are really like: Jim Lehrer, who has moderated more presidential debates than any other living being, on the tension at the scene: "You can smell it. It's under your arms and in your toes. It is extraordinary what these guys go through." Jim, they have stuff for that now. See your pharmacist.
5) AAAAHHHHH!!! It's him!!!! Commenting on the first '08 presidential debate for The Huffington Post, Bob Shrum said, "Tonight I think we know who the next president will be." Can't somebody get him work in France or something?
6) Bill Agonistes: Appearing on CNN's "Larry King Live" last week, President Bill Clinton explained that he would campaign for Obama after his Clinton Global Initiative ended and after "the Jewish holidays."He added that when he campaigned in Florida he may be assigned to "sort of hustle up what Lawton Chiles used to call the 'cracker vote' there." Following Clinton's appearance on NBC's "The Late Show" the previous night, Chris Rock said to David Letterman, "Is it me, or he didn't want to say the name Barack Obama?"
7) Dumbest column on the McCain decision to suspend his campaign: And the Award goes to Dick Morris and Eileen McGann [NYP 9-25-08], calling it a "bold move" that "helps the country, too." It gets better. "McCain's power in the current situation comes from a simple fact - he, not Obama, can cut the deal by getting President Bush and Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson to back a 'bailout plus' bill." Dude, have any American candidates since Clinton actually paid for your advice?
8) Across the great divide: Rep. Alcee Hastings (D., Florida), in comments to a gathering sponsored by the National Jewish Democratic Council, "If Sarah Palin isn't enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barak Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention. Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through." [ABC News 9-24-08]
9) What was it, parent-teacher night at CBS? Something strange about McC's joint apearance with Sarah Palin before Katie Couric this week to clear up a few things. Kind of like your dad coming down to set that troublesome grade school teacher straight. "And while were at it, you're giving her too much homework, too."
10) Letting his inner Ed Rollins play out: Ed Rollins, to the NYT [9-28-08], "This isn't a lame-duck administration. This is a dead-duck administration."
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
"Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger." - Don Lucchesi, Godfather III
1) Yale Economics: "I decided to act and act boldly. Turns out there's a lot of inter, inter links between the financial system." President George Bush, in the Rose Garden last week. For a similar take, consider the words of "Floyd the Barber" on "The Andy Griffith Show" - "Hey Andy! Did you see that new laundromat up in Mount Pilot? She's a real beauty Andy, a real beauty."
2) How To Do Politics: Chapter 24: Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, on CNN's roundtable of former Secretaries of State [9-20-08], on the Iranian problem: "I think a well-placed, quite private phone call" would be the right approach. Is there any other kind?
3) Ya think? The New York Post's Charles Hurt, suggesting last week that Speaker Nancy Pelosi would depose Charlie Rangel and describing Charlie: "He's perhaps Pelosi's highest-profile committee chairman."
4) Lady de Rothschild feels your pain: Endorsing McC on CNN last week, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, she of the Rothschilds, explained away her sudden split from the party of Hillary by proclaiming that the Dems had developed a bad reputation "with the likes of Adlai Stevenson" and others as their presidential candidates. So Lynn, did Barack do too much organizing down at your local community center, or what?
5) There's politics and there's business. Do we really need any more proof? Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, touting McC by explaining that neither he nor alas, poor Sarah, were CEO material. Yikes! So Carly, what exactly were those political plans of yours?
6) Or as Charlie Peters put it - "How Washington really works" WSJ reporter Elizabeth Williamson, writing about what the top Washington lobbyists for the financial services industry are up to: "It is the 'dirty little secret in town,' said one financial-services lobbyist - that after lambasting lobbyists on the stump, the candidates need their counsel on how to respond to a crisis with origins too complicated for most industry outsiders to understand."[9-19-08]
7) This better turn out to be a really good scene in Woodward's next book: On the crisis meeting with Secty. Paulson, Chuck Schumer says, "When you listened to them describe it, you gulped." And Chris Dodd says, "We have never heard language like this." Please, somebody, give us the full quote already.
8) "Political Turmoil in Thailand Boosts Business for Astrologers" That's a headline from last week's WSJ [9-15-08], explaining that after "two years of political unrest," everyone in Bangkok is running to astrologers for a look into their fortunes, including former "billionaire prime minister" Thaksin Shinawatra, who says that he "frequently refers to the alignment of the stars." Of course he was deposed in a 2006 coup so, you know,............
9) A sacred practice lives on: According to a report in The Guardian [9-15-08], at least six Brazilian political candidates, on the ballot in October's municipal elections, have chosen to run under the now-popular name, "Barack Obama." Brazilian election law allows candidates to run under assumed names. Cool! What a system! [Of course, we cannot in good conscience speak of this subject [changing your ballot name] without bowing our heads in homage to an American master of the technique - Johnston, Rhode Island, Town Administrator Mario R. Russillo, who passed away on March 10, 2001. Running for office in 1964 and recognizing the importance of ballot position, Mario changed his name to "aRussillo." Challenged for reelection four years later by a wiseguy named "aRusso," Mario one-upped with "aaRussillo" and won another term.]
10) Who's more bitter: “I believe that the president is exhausted and the vice president has been marginalized, and what you now have is the Washington interests…dominating the administration. We have now launched big-government Republicanism.”
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on the federal bail-out of Wall Street
Or...
"For McCain, politics is always operatic, pitting people who agree with him against those who are 'corrupt' or 'betray the public's trust,' two categories that seem to be exhaustive - there are no other people." George F. Will [WP 9-23-08]
2) How To Do Politics: Chapter 24: Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, on CNN's roundtable of former Secretaries of State [9-20-08], on the Iranian problem: "I think a well-placed, quite private phone call" would be the right approach. Is there any other kind?
3) Ya think? The New York Post's Charles Hurt, suggesting last week that Speaker Nancy Pelosi would depose Charlie Rangel and describing Charlie: "He's perhaps Pelosi's highest-profile committee chairman."
4) Lady de Rothschild feels your pain: Endorsing McC on CNN last week, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, she of the Rothschilds, explained away her sudden split from the party of Hillary by proclaiming that the Dems had developed a bad reputation "with the likes of Adlai Stevenson" and others as their presidential candidates. So Lynn, did Barack do too much organizing down at your local community center, or what?
5) There's politics and there's business. Do we really need any more proof? Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, touting McC by explaining that neither he nor alas, poor Sarah, were CEO material. Yikes! So Carly, what exactly were those political plans of yours?
6) Or as Charlie Peters put it - "How Washington really works" WSJ reporter Elizabeth Williamson, writing about what the top Washington lobbyists for the financial services industry are up to: "It is the 'dirty little secret in town,' said one financial-services lobbyist - that after lambasting lobbyists on the stump, the candidates need their counsel on how to respond to a crisis with origins too complicated for most industry outsiders to understand."[9-19-08]
7) This better turn out to be a really good scene in Woodward's next book: On the crisis meeting with Secty. Paulson, Chuck Schumer says, "When you listened to them describe it, you gulped." And Chris Dodd says, "We have never heard language like this." Please, somebody, give us the full quote already.
8) "Political Turmoil in Thailand Boosts Business for Astrologers" That's a headline from last week's WSJ [9-15-08], explaining that after "two years of political unrest," everyone in Bangkok is running to astrologers for a look into their fortunes, including former "billionaire prime minister" Thaksin Shinawatra, who says that he "frequently refers to the alignment of the stars." Of course he was deposed in a 2006 coup so, you know,............
9) A sacred practice lives on: According to a report in The Guardian [9-15-08], at least six Brazilian political candidates, on the ballot in October's municipal elections, have chosen to run under the now-popular name, "Barack Obama." Brazilian election law allows candidates to run under assumed names. Cool! What a system! [Of course, we cannot in good conscience speak of this subject [changing your ballot name] without bowing our heads in homage to an American master of the technique - Johnston, Rhode Island, Town Administrator Mario R. Russillo, who passed away on March 10, 2001. Running for office in 1964 and recognizing the importance of ballot position, Mario changed his name to "aRussillo." Challenged for reelection four years later by a wiseguy named "aRusso," Mario one-upped with "aaRussillo" and won another term.]
10) Who's more bitter: “I believe that the president is exhausted and the vice president has been marginalized, and what you now have is the Washington interests…dominating the administration. We have now launched big-government Republicanism.”
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on the federal bail-out of Wall Street
Or...
"For McCain, politics is always operatic, pitting people who agree with him against those who are 'corrupt' or 'betray the public's trust,' two categories that seem to be exhaustive - there are no other people." George F. Will [WP 9-23-08]
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Secret of American Politics: No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be, The only one for me is you, and you for me, So happy together
1) See Scott and Sarah run a state: Since when did the 2008 presidential race become Roman Hruska's revenge? "Quit it, Todd!!" The First Dude, indeed.
2) You might want to check with the late John Tower about that: Fred Thompson on the stump last week for Sarah Palin: "This woman has undergone the most vicious assault we've ever seen in public life." [MSNBC 9-10-08]
3) Check out the big brain on Bob: Bob Barr backs out of the third-party-unity movement before it starts, saying, "This is not a time, as Dante Alighieri said many years ago, to remain neutral....To paraphrase him, woe be unto those who remain neutral." You know, the "epic poem fan" vote has pretty much gone to hell in recent cycles.
4) Drop everything: And read today's Norman J. Ornstein op-ed in the Wash Post (9-15-08). Commenting on the skills that the next president will need to bring "change" to Washington, Ornstein says, "That kind of consensus is forged through the political process. It's done by finding allies and building coalitions via intense bargaining and politicking. The skills needed are far more likely to be possessed by Washington insiders than iconoclastic outside reformers." Go insiders!
5) Livin' in the future: Why do we foresee a Palin presidency as ominous? Some weird mix of "Wild in the Streets" and "Advise and Consent." But then again, there was that whole Agnew thing.
6) How we lived before MySpace: Commenting on the fact that Sen. McC often hugs Gov. Palin on the trail, Democrat Geraldine Ferraro explained that she and Vice President Walter Mondale never touched while campaigning together because they didn't want people to think they "were dating."Never crossed our mind. Honest.
7) Why American politics ain't what it used to be: Chuck Norris is the guest on CNN's "Larry King Live" last week to comment on the presidential race. Chuck was also hawking his new tome, "Black Belt Politics." He says he's studied our problems and has come up with the answers. Uh oh.
8) Get me Jack Germond! Stat! We knew this would be the ultimate consequence of Gov. Bill Clinton appearing in People magazine way back when. Now "The View's" Joy Behar trips up McC on his ads - "We know that those two ads are untrue." And "TMZ" shows Biden gaffes! We can hardly wait to see Mary Hart explain the electoral college. That comes on Nov. 5th.
9) Politics 101: "The correct way to eat crow": Alaskan Sen. Lisa Murkowski's comments on Sarah Palin went largely unmentioned during the GOP convention except by one short note in the NYT [9-4-08]. Frank's daughter said, "It is an absolute historic moment for the state of Alaska. People need to know how excited people here, in this convention hall, are about Sarah, our Sarah." Well done.
10) Why don't these people ever run for County Commissioner first? In one of the more surreal moments on CNN's "Lou Dobbs" in recent memory, Lou banged the gong again about the need to overturn the convictions of two U.S. Border Patrol agents, turning to guest Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party presidential candidate, and asking what viewers can do to help. Baldwin replies that they can "vote for me" and the first thing he'll do as President is to commute their sentences. Okay Chuck, so what else can they do?
2) You might want to check with the late John Tower about that: Fred Thompson on the stump last week for Sarah Palin: "This woman has undergone the most vicious assault we've ever seen in public life." [MSNBC 9-10-08]
3) Check out the big brain on Bob: Bob Barr backs out of the third-party-unity movement before it starts, saying, "This is not a time, as Dante Alighieri said many years ago, to remain neutral....To paraphrase him, woe be unto those who remain neutral." You know, the "epic poem fan" vote has pretty much gone to hell in recent cycles.
4) Drop everything: And read today's Norman J. Ornstein op-ed in the Wash Post (9-15-08). Commenting on the skills that the next president will need to bring "change" to Washington, Ornstein says, "That kind of consensus is forged through the political process. It's done by finding allies and building coalitions via intense bargaining and politicking. The skills needed are far more likely to be possessed by Washington insiders than iconoclastic outside reformers." Go insiders!
5) Livin' in the future: Why do we foresee a Palin presidency as ominous? Some weird mix of "Wild in the Streets" and "Advise and Consent." But then again, there was that whole Agnew thing.
6) How we lived before MySpace: Commenting on the fact that Sen. McC often hugs Gov. Palin on the trail, Democrat Geraldine Ferraro explained that she and Vice President Walter Mondale never touched while campaigning together because they didn't want people to think they "were dating."Never crossed our mind. Honest.
7) Why American politics ain't what it used to be: Chuck Norris is the guest on CNN's "Larry King Live" last week to comment on the presidential race. Chuck was also hawking his new tome, "Black Belt Politics." He says he's studied our problems and has come up with the answers. Uh oh.
8) Get me Jack Germond! Stat! We knew this would be the ultimate consequence of Gov. Bill Clinton appearing in People magazine way back when. Now "The View's" Joy Behar trips up McC on his ads - "We know that those two ads are untrue." And "TMZ" shows Biden gaffes! We can hardly wait to see Mary Hart explain the electoral college. That comes on Nov. 5th.
9) Politics 101: "The correct way to eat crow": Alaskan Sen. Lisa Murkowski's comments on Sarah Palin went largely unmentioned during the GOP convention except by one short note in the NYT [9-4-08]. Frank's daughter said, "It is an absolute historic moment for the state of Alaska. People need to know how excited people here, in this convention hall, are about Sarah, our Sarah." Well done.
10) Why don't these people ever run for County Commissioner first? In one of the more surreal moments on CNN's "Lou Dobbs" in recent memory, Lou banged the gong again about the need to overturn the convictions of two U.S. Border Patrol agents, turning to guest Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party presidential candidate, and asking what viewers can do to help. Baldwin replies that they can "vote for me" and the first thing he'll do as President is to commute their sentences. Okay Chuck, so what else can they do?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
vet (vet) v. 1 to find nasty secrets before they find you/Remember to vet her.
1) Remember this come the morning of Nov. 5th: If McC wins the election, "Sarah Palin may be the vice president, but Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, that's the kitchen cabinet." Chuck Todd, MSNBC [9-2-08]
2) The new journalism is a lot like the old math: So the Daily Kos lets anybody post anything. Or as Markos Moulitsas said, "I feel a little weird about the questions being asked, but I also feel a little weird about saying, 'Shut up, people.' It takes a lot for me to step in and squash what's on Daily Kos." [WP 9-2-08] Just think for a moment, what if it was all a set up. But that would be really deep politics now, wouldn't it? And let's not even go there. Still....
3) Hey Joe, where you runnin' with that speech in your hand? Will there be retribution for Lieberman's sins? Guess it all depends on how those Senate races go. But something tells me his parking space may be moved down a few levels. And his office might get replastered and painted. Like once a week.
4) I see politics future: Check out the new Maytag Repairman commercial where he emerges from a voting booth with a bunch of mangled punch cards, hanging chads and all and tells everyone he fixed the jam in the machine.
5) When ya got the podium, flaunt it baby, flaunt it: Rudy so loved the applause that he went long and bumped the Sarah Palin bio film. Great to be back on the boards, right Rudy? But now it's gone.
6) Hot mic! Hot mic! Comin' thru here! Hot mic! Special thanks to Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy for putting the pageantry in perspective. Noonan: "The most qualified? No. I think they went for this - excuse me - political bullshit about narratives." Murphy: "The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical." [Politico.com 9-3-08]
7) My opponent has masticated a snail, I tell you! Mike Huckabee, during his GOP convention speech [9-3-08], said that he wasn't bothered by Ob going to Europe, but that "It's what he brought back. European ideas!" that really got him going. Is this about that whole kissing thing or what?
8) So Tony says to Paulie.....: Kudos to New Jersey Rep. Rob Andrews. Loses that dumb Senate primary try in June but has his wife run for, and win, the nomination for his House seat. Now pulls the old switcheroo and he's back in the saddle. Webster's should just list "New Jersey" as one of the definitions for the word "politics." You make us all proud, Rob.
9) Wha? Huh? Wha?: Veteran GOP pollster/strategist Whit Ayres on why this year's GOP convention's sarcastic tone was nothing like the 1988 GOP convention's culture war: "There is a difference between sarcasm toward individuals and sneering toward an entire group of people." [NYT 9-5-08]
10) Why politics and business are different: Look no further than the GOP convention speeches of former business execs Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman. Hey, are they still talking? What day is it? Is it over?
2) The new journalism is a lot like the old math: So the Daily Kos lets anybody post anything. Or as Markos Moulitsas said, "I feel a little weird about the questions being asked, but I also feel a little weird about saying, 'Shut up, people.' It takes a lot for me to step in and squash what's on Daily Kos." [WP 9-2-08] Just think for a moment, what if it was all a set up. But that would be really deep politics now, wouldn't it? And let's not even go there. Still....
3) Hey Joe, where you runnin' with that speech in your hand? Will there be retribution for Lieberman's sins? Guess it all depends on how those Senate races go. But something tells me his parking space may be moved down a few levels. And his office might get replastered and painted. Like once a week.
4) I see politics future: Check out the new Maytag Repairman commercial where he emerges from a voting booth with a bunch of mangled punch cards, hanging chads and all and tells everyone he fixed the jam in the machine.
5) When ya got the podium, flaunt it baby, flaunt it: Rudy so loved the applause that he went long and bumped the Sarah Palin bio film. Great to be back on the boards, right Rudy? But now it's gone.
6) Hot mic! Hot mic! Comin' thru here! Hot mic! Special thanks to Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy for putting the pageantry in perspective. Noonan: "The most qualified? No. I think they went for this - excuse me - political bullshit about narratives." Murphy: "The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical." [Politico.com 9-3-08]
7) My opponent has masticated a snail, I tell you! Mike Huckabee, during his GOP convention speech [9-3-08], said that he wasn't bothered by Ob going to Europe, but that "It's what he brought back. European ideas!" that really got him going. Is this about that whole kissing thing or what?
8) So Tony says to Paulie.....: Kudos to New Jersey Rep. Rob Andrews. Loses that dumb Senate primary try in June but has his wife run for, and win, the nomination for his House seat. Now pulls the old switcheroo and he's back in the saddle. Webster's should just list "New Jersey" as one of the definitions for the word "politics." You make us all proud, Rob.
9) Wha? Huh? Wha?: Veteran GOP pollster/strategist Whit Ayres on why this year's GOP convention's sarcastic tone was nothing like the 1988 GOP convention's culture war: "There is a difference between sarcasm toward individuals and sneering toward an entire group of people." [NYT 9-5-08]
10) Why politics and business are different: Look no further than the GOP convention speeches of former business execs Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman. Hey, are they still talking? What day is it? Is it over?
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