1) The New Yorker cover: The trouble with satire is always that point where it runs into the nebulous crossroads between Access Hollywood, Google and Grand Theft Auto. It's never the same after it goes through the blender.
2) Not saying that all third party people are posers, but... Jesse Ventura on not running for the Senate on "Larry King Live" [CNN 7-14-08]: "Larry, let me say this to you. It was a difficult decision. But it came down to almost there ----surfing versus the Senate. And I found surfing to be much more honorable than the Senate if I---for the next six years, because the ocean doesn't lie to you, the waves don't lie to you. My government does lie to me today."
3) Bush press conference on the economy: "I'm an optimist." Us too. But this just isn't really the time and place to brag about it.
4) "Idaho Is No Longer a Lock for Republicans" That was actually a headline in this week's Wall Street Journal. Ahhh. Okay. Let's not get too carried away now, shall we? It's still the land of the black helicopter.
5) The trouble with Lieberman: Dick Durbin on Senate Democrats getting fed up with Joe Lieberman's McCain thing: "This is a delicate situation." In the real world, when most folks hear those words from their boss they know they're on the way out.
6) The continuing adventures of the GOP and the Fossella seat: Now that Staten Island Republican leaders have endorsed businessman Robert Straniere as their new candidate to take the seat, former Borough President Guy Molinari tells the press: "It's unthinkable. If there's something I can do against him, I will do it." You gotta love it. For Guy, politics is still personal.
7) Rep. Tom Cole on John McCain's candidacy being good for the GOP: "He helps us change our image and recasts us as a maverick party interested in change." "Interested in change?" Sounds like you're making plans to watch the Discovery channel. And no, he does not make you a "maverick party." Why not change your name to "The Wild Stallions?"
8) John McCain on high tech: "I don't e-mail. I've never felt the particular need to e-mail." [NYT 7-13-08] Sounds like someone's in need of some social networking.
9) Repeat after me, first comes the trip, then comes the speech: Whose idea was it to let Obama talk about Iraq before actually going over there? And as good as taking Hagel along looks now, do they really know what they're going to get from him when it's over. He's not exactly "Mr. Predictable."
10) Mike Dukakis has a good idea: On the Jesse Jackson flap: "This moment only reinforces that we have to let the younger guys take the lead in politics, that they know the issues of today, that we live in a far different world than 20 years ago." Well said.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Political Rule #214: Nothing is ever as it seems except for those instances in which it indeed is.
1) Mr. Mental Case: Mr. Phil "ready money [is] the most reliable friend you can have in American politics" Gramm will forever live out the maxim that academics teach and pols do. Why not send him off to Dayton, Ohio, to open a McCain campaign office among all those foreclosed homes abanoned by all the "whiners."
2) Mark Penn hires Karen Hughes: Have you no sense of common decency...uh, I mean timing? The Washington Post recently called the two "PR wizards." When exactly does the magic start? Have they been waiting for something important to come along?
3) Why people still read Novak: Love him or hate him, Robert Novak can still cut through the crap of Washington. On the recent Obama meeting with Clinton big-money people: "But, in the opinion of the Clintonites, he [Obama] did not open the door to his campaign, because he asked nothing of them. Big-money Democrats who could have expected to be named U.S. ambassadors by President Hillary Clinton realized that they would get nothing from a President Obama. The train had left the station, and they were not aboard." The whole problem explained in three simple sentences.
4) Dead Man Running: Jack Kevorkian has collected enough signatures to get on the ballot for the 9th Congressional District race in Michigan. He'll be the independent candidate facing Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg and Democrat Gary Peters. Wouldn't it give you the creeps if your neighbor had a "Kevorkian for Congress" yard sign? Or a Kevorkian house party?
5) Psychodrama qu'est-ce que c'est? Creepy Bill Clinton returns to the Aspen Ideas Festival to remind the crowd: "If you know anybody who was a POW for any length of time, you will see, you go along for months or maybe even years and then something will happen and it will trigger all those bad dreams, and it will come back." And the next thing you know it's World War III!!!! Hey, I'm just sayin'.
6) Hot Mic! Comin' through here! Hot Mic! Rev. Jesse Jackson, the latest in the long line of clergymen imposing themselves in the middle of the 2008 presidential contest, blames his coarse message to Obama on a "hot mic." Now that would make for a great new reality show. Get Hulk Hogan's kid to host it.
7) Jesse Helms R.I.P.: Equally scorned and worshiped, an American original and a successful pol. As Ferrel Guillory, a figurehead of NC political journalism put it in the NYT obit [7-5-08], "He was a very polarizing politician. He was not a consensus builder. He didn't want everybody to vote for him. He just wanted enough." And what's so wrong with that?
8) Two political guys with fistfulls of cash walk into a bar: The news out of New York this week is that Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano, himself a three-time loser for governor of that state, will spend $5 million on this year's state legislative races in an effort to push a "reform" agenda. If a candidate agrees with his views, he'll pony up the cash. In a more traditional move, House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel has so far this year handed out $849,392 to Democrats running for Congress. Obviously planning for a rainy day.
9) Hey Joe, where you goin' with that nominating speech in your hand? The new website LiebermanMustGo.com has irked the Senator and his staff with their petition drive to get theDemocratic leadership to strip him of his rank in the party caucus and deny him a committee chairmanship. Lieberman spokesman Marshall Wittman said that the drive was the product of "old petty partisan politics." Aren't they the best kind?
10) From the folks who brought you the guillotine: Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's new CD, laced with love songs to her husband the President of France. Sample lyrics: "You're my orgy....I am burning for you like a pagan woman." Further evidence that French politics is not really politics. More like a fancy lunch. Name one American political spouse who could get away with saying this stuff in public. Mrs. Kucinich does not count.
2) Mark Penn hires Karen Hughes: Have you no sense of common decency...uh, I mean timing? The Washington Post recently called the two "PR wizards." When exactly does the magic start? Have they been waiting for something important to come along?
3) Why people still read Novak: Love him or hate him, Robert Novak can still cut through the crap of Washington. On the recent Obama meeting with Clinton big-money people: "But, in the opinion of the Clintonites, he [Obama] did not open the door to his campaign, because he asked nothing of them. Big-money Democrats who could have expected to be named U.S. ambassadors by President Hillary Clinton realized that they would get nothing from a President Obama. The train had left the station, and they were not aboard." The whole problem explained in three simple sentences.
4) Dead Man Running: Jack Kevorkian has collected enough signatures to get on the ballot for the 9th Congressional District race in Michigan. He'll be the independent candidate facing Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg and Democrat Gary Peters. Wouldn't it give you the creeps if your neighbor had a "Kevorkian for Congress" yard sign? Or a Kevorkian house party?
5) Psychodrama qu'est-ce que c'est? Creepy Bill Clinton returns to the Aspen Ideas Festival to remind the crowd: "If you know anybody who was a POW for any length of time, you will see, you go along for months or maybe even years and then something will happen and it will trigger all those bad dreams, and it will come back." And the next thing you know it's World War III!!!! Hey, I'm just sayin'.
6) Hot Mic! Comin' through here! Hot Mic! Rev. Jesse Jackson, the latest in the long line of clergymen imposing themselves in the middle of the 2008 presidential contest, blames his coarse message to Obama on a "hot mic." Now that would make for a great new reality show. Get Hulk Hogan's kid to host it.
7) Jesse Helms R.I.P.: Equally scorned and worshiped, an American original and a successful pol. As Ferrel Guillory, a figurehead of NC political journalism put it in the NYT obit [7-5-08], "He was a very polarizing politician. He was not a consensus builder. He didn't want everybody to vote for him. He just wanted enough." And what's so wrong with that?
8) Two political guys with fistfulls of cash walk into a bar: The news out of New York this week is that Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano, himself a three-time loser for governor of that state, will spend $5 million on this year's state legislative races in an effort to push a "reform" agenda. If a candidate agrees with his views, he'll pony up the cash. In a more traditional move, House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel has so far this year handed out $849,392 to Democrats running for Congress. Obviously planning for a rainy day.
9) Hey Joe, where you goin' with that nominating speech in your hand? The new website LiebermanMustGo.com has irked the Senator and his staff with their petition drive to get theDemocratic leadership to strip him of his rank in the party caucus and deny him a committee chairmanship. Lieberman spokesman Marshall Wittman said that the drive was the product of "old petty partisan politics." Aren't they the best kind?
10) From the folks who brought you the guillotine: Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's new CD, laced with love songs to her husband the President of France. Sample lyrics: "You're my orgy....I am burning for you like a pagan woman." Further evidence that French politics is not really politics. More like a fancy lunch. Name one American political spouse who could get away with saying this stuff in public. Mrs. Kucinich does not count.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
What would John Adams do?
1) McCain campaigning down Colombia way: In perhaps the strangest campaign move since 2001 New Jersey GOP gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler decided to campaign in Israel in September of that year (and found himself stuck there following the 9/11 attacks), Sen. McC has decided to go South for reasons his own folks can't explain. The good news is he's apparently polling well in the Bogota suburbs.
2) All roads lead back to "Predator": Following in the footsteps of fellow castmates Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura, former actor Sonny Landham has decided to run for elective office, challenging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Kentucky Senate race. Sonny will play the role of the Libertarian candidate (if he gets the 5,000 signatures to get on the ballot). Remember that scene where he takes on the Predator with just a hunting knife? It was a good death.
3) Obama and Bill finally speak: What did you think was going to happen? Should they have met under a bridge like Tony and Johnny Sack? Only New York politicos meet in their cars at night. Not that there's anything wrong with it.
4) Post Post-Modern Politics: One of McC's former Vietnamese jailers, Tran Trong Duyet, has endorsed his candidacy. "If I were an American voter, I would vote for John McCain," he said to the AP, explaining that McC was "tough, has extreme views, and is very conservative." He also looks forward to meeting "as two old friends." I hope the campaign has the foresight to avoid leaving them alone in a room. After all, if he could go after a Sandinista who didn't know him from Adam.....
5) Arianna advises Ob not to move to the center: Have you learned nothing about how American politics works? You've certainly been going on and on about it for years now. You don't have to like Nixon to admit he was right on the basics of modern presidential campaigning. It's why they call it a dance!
6) Endorsements ain't what they used to be: As Rep. Henry Cuellar said not so long ago, "I find that with any endorsement, you get half of their friends and all of their enemies." Case in point: This week Barbara Streisand endorsed Obama. Erik Estrada endorsed McCain. Do James Brolin and Larry Wilcox follow suit? Let the betting begin.
7) Speaking of endorsements: With Joe Lieberman clinging to McC like a third arm, just where is Hadassah? Isn't it time for some cablenet goffer to get her on tape concerning the '08 race? Does she do lunch with Cindy?
8) George Orwell, call your office: Those planning to protest at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this August will be kept far from the proceedings and well out of sight behind fenced enclosures. The protesters refer to the fencing as "freedom cages." Democracy apparently ain't what it used to be either.
9) Just think of what we're missing had he been the nominee: Speaking up on behalf of McC, Rudy Giuliani told reporters this week, "I thought I was best qualified [to be president], but I thought John was number two." Hey, thanks.
10) Politics is a learning experience: It may have taken the threat of voters being mean to him but Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal flipped and vetoed the bill that would have given state legislators a hefty pay raise. Let's see, break a promise to state legislators or face a recall. Hmmm... Go back on my word or face a recall. Hmmmm.... It's okay governor. It'll get easier now.
2) All roads lead back to "Predator": Following in the footsteps of fellow castmates Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura, former actor Sonny Landham has decided to run for elective office, challenging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Kentucky Senate race. Sonny will play the role of the Libertarian candidate (if he gets the 5,000 signatures to get on the ballot). Remember that scene where he takes on the Predator with just a hunting knife? It was a good death.
3) Obama and Bill finally speak: What did you think was going to happen? Should they have met under a bridge like Tony and Johnny Sack? Only New York politicos meet in their cars at night. Not that there's anything wrong with it.
4) Post Post-Modern Politics: One of McC's former Vietnamese jailers, Tran Trong Duyet, has endorsed his candidacy. "If I were an American voter, I would vote for John McCain," he said to the AP, explaining that McC was "tough, has extreme views, and is very conservative." He also looks forward to meeting "as two old friends." I hope the campaign has the foresight to avoid leaving them alone in a room. After all, if he could go after a Sandinista who didn't know him from Adam.....
5) Arianna advises Ob not to move to the center: Have you learned nothing about how American politics works? You've certainly been going on and on about it for years now. You don't have to like Nixon to admit he was right on the basics of modern presidential campaigning. It's why they call it a dance!
6) Endorsements ain't what they used to be: As Rep. Henry Cuellar said not so long ago, "I find that with any endorsement, you get half of their friends and all of their enemies." Case in point: This week Barbara Streisand endorsed Obama. Erik Estrada endorsed McCain. Do James Brolin and Larry Wilcox follow suit? Let the betting begin.
7) Speaking of endorsements: With Joe Lieberman clinging to McC like a third arm, just where is Hadassah? Isn't it time for some cablenet goffer to get her on tape concerning the '08 race? Does she do lunch with Cindy?
8) George Orwell, call your office: Those planning to protest at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this August will be kept far from the proceedings and well out of sight behind fenced enclosures. The protesters refer to the fencing as "freedom cages." Democracy apparently ain't what it used to be either.
9) Just think of what we're missing had he been the nominee: Speaking up on behalf of McC, Rudy Giuliani told reporters this week, "I thought I was best qualified [to be president], but I thought John was number two." Hey, thanks.
10) Politics is a learning experience: It may have taken the threat of voters being mean to him but Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal flipped and vetoed the bill that would have given state legislators a hefty pay raise. Let's see, break a promise to state legislators or face a recall. Hmmm... Go back on my word or face a recall. Hmmmm.... It's okay governor. It'll get easier now.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Mistakes were made.....
1) Charlie Black channels his inner Ed Rollins: Or did he? The big news is Black making such a blunder. Not to get too Machiavelli and all but he did manage to get the terror thought back out into the media for about three news cycles. And at what cost to the candidate? None. So...
2) Obama and the FISA fight: For those still waiting for the man to jump into this one for the good of all mankind, here's a name you may have forgotten - Sister Souljah. Ring a bell? Capiche?
3) Whatever's the matter with Ralphie? Dead white man walking here. Make way. Or, as he explained his unending quest to the Washington Post [6-25-08]: "It's the rational approach. If you're locked out of the governmental system, if you can't get a hearing, and I can't, you go to the electoral system. What's my alternative? Should I go to Monterey and watch the whales?" YESSSS!!!! Wonderful idea. Here, we'll help you pack.
4) From the "Counting your chickens" Department: The Great Seal of Obama. We blinked and you were gone. What bothered you more, the forced Latin or the creepy new-agey wave thingy in the eagle's chest? And that was one pissed-off looking eagle.
5) Political Journalism Awards 2008: First nominee is Daniel Libit's piece on Politico.com [6-25-08], "Meet the make-believe strategists of TV." Thank you Daniel. We collectively knew that we had never heard of any of those people strategizing anything in real life. To read them explaining away their labels hurts the eyes.
6) Gordon Smith starts a trend: Endangered GOPers clinging to an association with Barack Obama. Let's call it the "Politics of Oz." Instead of "Don't look behind the curtain," it's "Don't look at that 'R' after my name!" The part of Toto will of course be played by Frank Luntz.
7) What hath Fossella wrought? The sad and untimely death of Francis Powers, the retired Wall Streeter hand picked to serve as the GOP candidate in the race to fill Vito Fossella's Staten Island Congressional seat, has made this contest no longer a laughing matter. In fact, this seat could soon become like that house down the street that never sells because of what happened there a long time ago. Maybe the NRCC should just move on and forget all about this one.
8) Hey Sen. McCain, what's on your Victrola? Enough with "the Lexington Project" and the references to "Imperial Japan" and anything else that happened more than twenty years ago. You're scaring the kids. Or at least leaving them really confused.
9) You may already be a winner: Ever since McCain offered the $300 million prize for the better car battery why do we have visions of guys in top hats lining up outside the White House with their perpetual motion machines tucked under their arms? You know this will turn into some weird Soap Box Derby type competition where there'll be an explolsion in somebody's garage and they'll sue the campaign.
10) Sam Nunn, now and forever: Thanks to NYT's Mark Leibovich [6-22-08] for reminding us just how many times over the past 24 years that former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn's name has been tossed around as a potential vice presidential running mate. And to Ralph Reed for calling the modern day vetting of possible veeps "the equivalent of a total G.I. track exam."
2) Obama and the FISA fight: For those still waiting for the man to jump into this one for the good of all mankind, here's a name you may have forgotten - Sister Souljah. Ring a bell? Capiche?
3) Whatever's the matter with Ralphie? Dead white man walking here. Make way. Or, as he explained his unending quest to the Washington Post [6-25-08]: "It's the rational approach. If you're locked out of the governmental system, if you can't get a hearing, and I can't, you go to the electoral system. What's my alternative? Should I go to Monterey and watch the whales?" YESSSS!!!! Wonderful idea. Here, we'll help you pack.
4) From the "Counting your chickens" Department: The Great Seal of Obama. We blinked and you were gone. What bothered you more, the forced Latin or the creepy new-agey wave thingy in the eagle's chest? And that was one pissed-off looking eagle.
5) Political Journalism Awards 2008: First nominee is Daniel Libit's piece on Politico.com [6-25-08], "Meet the make-believe strategists of TV." Thank you Daniel. We collectively knew that we had never heard of any of those people strategizing anything in real life. To read them explaining away their labels hurts the eyes.
6) Gordon Smith starts a trend: Endangered GOPers clinging to an association with Barack Obama. Let's call it the "Politics of Oz." Instead of "Don't look behind the curtain," it's "Don't look at that 'R' after my name!" The part of Toto will of course be played by Frank Luntz.
7) What hath Fossella wrought? The sad and untimely death of Francis Powers, the retired Wall Streeter hand picked to serve as the GOP candidate in the race to fill Vito Fossella's Staten Island Congressional seat, has made this contest no longer a laughing matter. In fact, this seat could soon become like that house down the street that never sells because of what happened there a long time ago. Maybe the NRCC should just move on and forget all about this one.
8) Hey Sen. McCain, what's on your Victrola? Enough with "the Lexington Project" and the references to "Imperial Japan" and anything else that happened more than twenty years ago. You're scaring the kids. Or at least leaving them really confused.
9) You may already be a winner: Ever since McCain offered the $300 million prize for the better car battery why do we have visions of guys in top hats lining up outside the White House with their perpetual motion machines tucked under their arms? You know this will turn into some weird Soap Box Derby type competition where there'll be an explolsion in somebody's garage and they'll sue the campaign.
10) Sam Nunn, now and forever: Thanks to NYT's Mark Leibovich [6-22-08] for reminding us just how many times over the past 24 years that former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn's name has been tossed around as a potential vice presidential running mate. And to Ralph Reed for calling the modern day vetting of possible veeps "the equivalent of a total G.I. track exam."
Friday, June 20, 2008
Politics: Just another verb masquerading as a noun
1) Political Play of the Week: Luke Russert gets McCain and Obama in the same pew and then preaches his dad's political philosophy to them from the pulpit. Smooth move.
2) Patti Solis Doyle to the Obama ranks: Yes, the whole thing is its own parlor game. But Axelrod roots run deep, no?
3) What does Ron want? Now that he has officially stopped his quest for the GOP nomination Ron Paul can concentrate on just what he's going to do with that room full of folks at his anti-convention. And what to do with all that Internet cash? I say he buys gold. Lots of it.
4) Rudy G. sets new standard in being helpful: Giuliani will go to any length to help elect any Republican this year. For a price. Why not go the whole way and offer to sell "Rudy" ice and bottled water at all campaign events? This answers the question of what Trump would be like as a candidate.
5) Tony Schwartz R.I.P.: Everybody knows the "Daisy" ad inside out and it was great. But nothing was so simple, yet effective, as John Q. Voter siting in his living room easy chair laughing hysterically at the idea of Spiro T. as a heartbeat away from the presidency. From his Washington Post obit: "We can hear four times as fast as we can talk. So the question is, what do you do with the other time?" [WP 6-17-08] And, from his NYT obit: "The best political commercials are Rorschach patterns. They do not tell the viewer anything. They surface his feelings and provide a context for him to express these feelings." [NYT 6-17-08]
6) Just what are you gettin' at fella? Asked if he plans to be a Democrat "forever," Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman says: "You know, forever is a long time." Geez, goin' to the GOP Convention and all, why not JUST SAY IT!!!!!! [USA Today 6-19-08]
7) Bob Barr threatens to take away votes from McCain: Hey, don't the authorities look into schemes where non-existent organizations try to raise money for non-existent causes? I'm just askin'.
8) Dennis Agonistes: Kucinich, in his quest for articles of impeachment, observes that "there are some things that yield to reason, and there are other things that yield to politics. I cannot understand what the political reason would be to not [impeach the President]." Dennis, go back and review the first sentence. [Washington Post's "In The Loop"]
9) Obama opts out: Yeah, he said he wouldn't. Now, what are you going to do about it? And who exactly will spend the time trying to make people understand this? And, even if someone does try, who will remember come September? I say TV ad buyers everywhere are partying hearty this weekend.
10) Michelle O hits "The View": Seems like a homer. Disarms (or at least quiets) Hasselbeck, impresses with simple Republican cloth dress, dispels evils of the fist bump, and tips her hat to Laura Bush. What more could the campaign ask? Oh, and makes Cindy McC look a couple of weeks late.
2) Patti Solis Doyle to the Obama ranks: Yes, the whole thing is its own parlor game. But Axelrod roots run deep, no?
3) What does Ron want? Now that he has officially stopped his quest for the GOP nomination Ron Paul can concentrate on just what he's going to do with that room full of folks at his anti-convention. And what to do with all that Internet cash? I say he buys gold. Lots of it.
4) Rudy G. sets new standard in being helpful: Giuliani will go to any length to help elect any Republican this year. For a price. Why not go the whole way and offer to sell "Rudy" ice and bottled water at all campaign events? This answers the question of what Trump would be like as a candidate.
5) Tony Schwartz R.I.P.: Everybody knows the "Daisy" ad inside out and it was great. But nothing was so simple, yet effective, as John Q. Voter siting in his living room easy chair laughing hysterically at the idea of Spiro T. as a heartbeat away from the presidency. From his Washington Post obit: "We can hear four times as fast as we can talk. So the question is, what do you do with the other time?" [WP 6-17-08] And, from his NYT obit: "The best political commercials are Rorschach patterns. They do not tell the viewer anything. They surface his feelings and provide a context for him to express these feelings." [NYT 6-17-08]
6) Just what are you gettin' at fella? Asked if he plans to be a Democrat "forever," Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman says: "You know, forever is a long time." Geez, goin' to the GOP Convention and all, why not JUST SAY IT!!!!!! [USA Today 6-19-08]
7) Bob Barr threatens to take away votes from McCain: Hey, don't the authorities look into schemes where non-existent organizations try to raise money for non-existent causes? I'm just askin'.
8) Dennis Agonistes: Kucinich, in his quest for articles of impeachment, observes that "there are some things that yield to reason, and there are other things that yield to politics. I cannot understand what the political reason would be to not [impeach the President]." Dennis, go back and review the first sentence. [Washington Post's "In The Loop"]
9) Obama opts out: Yeah, he said he wouldn't. Now, what are you going to do about it? And who exactly will spend the time trying to make people understand this? And, even if someone does try, who will remember come September? I say TV ad buyers everywhere are partying hearty this weekend.
10) Michelle O hits "The View": Seems like a homer. Disarms (or at least quiets) Hasselbeck, impresses with simple Republican cloth dress, dispels evils of the fist bump, and tips her hat to Laura Bush. What more could the campaign ask? Oh, and makes Cindy McC look a couple of weeks late.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Politics, much like Denise Richards, is complicated
1) SnopesObama.com: The Obama campaign announced its new rumor mill debunking operation by proclaiming: "The Obama campaign isn't going to let dishonest smears spread across the Internet unanswered." Bravo! And thanks. Where would American politics be without the "honest smear?"
2) What's wrong with these people? First Fox's E.D. Hill suggests that the Obama fist bump could be "a terrorist fist jab" and now they've referred to Michelle Obama on screen as "Obama's baby mama." Just what is it with that network? Do you think they just have problems relating to folks from Chicago? Is that it? God forbid they're trying to be hip like the kids. Next thing you know Bill O will be saying that he got jiggy with it. And we all know he did.
3) That a way to turn out the vote: Sen. John Ensign, Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has set a new high in lowballing expectations, telling reporters this week that if the GOP only loses three Senate seats in November, it "would be a terrific night for us. I don't want to slip below the four-seat loss." Hey John, is it true you're going to host a special screening of "Paths of Glory" before the big election night party?
4) Happy Father's Day, Dad! In the bizarro world that is the race to succeed Staten Island's Vito Fosella, GOP candidate Frank Powers is facing his son Fran Powers, who's running as the Libertarian candidate. Dad, a retired Wall Street exec, told the press that he had tried to help Fran "live a healthy lifestyle." His remarks were accompanied by a comment from a GOP source who referenced Fran's "carefree" music business career. In response, Fran, a product of Frank's first marriage, countered, "I'm not out here doing heroin. I have a regular life. Do I have a beer? Yes. I'm having one now." Fran is in the Staten Island band, Box of Crayons. [Staten Island Advance 6-5-08] Gabba, Gabba, Hey! Have you registered to vote yet?
5) The hubbub over the supposed Clinton Enemies List: Duh! People who write and talk about politics for a living expressing surprise that two professional politicians remember who was with them and who wasn't? That's news? Does the phrase "ABC Common Traitor" ring a bell? The only people who can't understand this have never worked around other people before. Whether it's CNN or a Kinko's. Or Dunder Mifflin.
6) Political Humor Awards '08: Mark Penn's NYT Op-ed piece [6-8-08] on "What Went Wrong" with the Clinton campaign. That was great. Really. A knee slapper. I mean, could anyone get through that with a straight face? I mean, "we needed a different kind of operation to win caucuses and to retain support of superdelegates." That's gold, Jerry! Gold!
7) Madam, I believe your pants are on fire. Too bad LBJ isn't around to deal with the "new breed" of Internet political blogger/reporter/citizen journalist/folks with too much time on their hands and no visible source of income-types who prey on the unsuspecting and then express such surprise that they've managed to make national news. Case in point, this week's Howard Kurtz [WP 6-9-08] profile of Mayhill Fowler, who got Bill C. to call Todd Purdum a "scumbag." Says Fowler, "I have no journalistic training. I just discovered that I'm impelled to get out there and get the truth of the matter." Aw shucks, you didn't have time to identify yourself. How lucky for you.
8) Old School still applies: Speaking of LBJ, USA Today's Susan Page references the man in her piece this week on how to choose a Veep [6-12-08]. Johnson, speaking on the phone to Sargent Shriver in 1964: "I think a man (who) runs for vice president is a very foolish man. [The] man who runs away from it is very wise. I wished I'd run farther away from it than I did...And don't you ever be a candidate and don't let anybody else be a candidate, and tell them anybody that runs for it never gets it." Yo, Mitt!
9) Your own worst enemy is sitting right there on the Straight Talk Express: Come now, "not important????!!!!" Obviously the McCain campaign is in for a very long five months. Time to turn the conversations back around to William Jennings Bryan, I'd say.
10) R.I.P. Tim Russert. American politics has lost a source of insight, historical perspective, and darn good questions. We're all a bit dumber for the loss.
2) What's wrong with these people? First Fox's E.D. Hill suggests that the Obama fist bump could be "a terrorist fist jab" and now they've referred to Michelle Obama on screen as "Obama's baby mama." Just what is it with that network? Do you think they just have problems relating to folks from Chicago? Is that it? God forbid they're trying to be hip like the kids. Next thing you know Bill O will be saying that he got jiggy with it. And we all know he did.
3) That a way to turn out the vote: Sen. John Ensign, Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has set a new high in lowballing expectations, telling reporters this week that if the GOP only loses three Senate seats in November, it "would be a terrific night for us. I don't want to slip below the four-seat loss." Hey John, is it true you're going to host a special screening of "Paths of Glory" before the big election night party?
4) Happy Father's Day, Dad! In the bizarro world that is the race to succeed Staten Island's Vito Fosella, GOP candidate Frank Powers is facing his son Fran Powers, who's running as the Libertarian candidate. Dad, a retired Wall Street exec, told the press that he had tried to help Fran "live a healthy lifestyle." His remarks were accompanied by a comment from a GOP source who referenced Fran's "carefree" music business career. In response, Fran, a product of Frank's first marriage, countered, "I'm not out here doing heroin. I have a regular life. Do I have a beer? Yes. I'm having one now." Fran is in the Staten Island band, Box of Crayons. [Staten Island Advance 6-5-08] Gabba, Gabba, Hey! Have you registered to vote yet?
5) The hubbub over the supposed Clinton Enemies List: Duh! People who write and talk about politics for a living expressing surprise that two professional politicians remember who was with them and who wasn't? That's news? Does the phrase "ABC Common Traitor" ring a bell? The only people who can't understand this have never worked around other people before. Whether it's CNN or a Kinko's. Or Dunder Mifflin.
6) Political Humor Awards '08: Mark Penn's NYT Op-ed piece [6-8-08] on "What Went Wrong" with the Clinton campaign. That was great. Really. A knee slapper. I mean, could anyone get through that with a straight face? I mean, "we needed a different kind of operation to win caucuses and to retain support of superdelegates." That's gold, Jerry! Gold!
7) Madam, I believe your pants are on fire. Too bad LBJ isn't around to deal with the "new breed" of Internet political blogger/reporter/citizen journalist/folks with too much time on their hands and no visible source of income-types who prey on the unsuspecting and then express such surprise that they've managed to make national news. Case in point, this week's Howard Kurtz [WP 6-9-08] profile of Mayhill Fowler, who got Bill C. to call Todd Purdum a "scumbag." Says Fowler, "I have no journalistic training. I just discovered that I'm impelled to get out there and get the truth of the matter." Aw shucks, you didn't have time to identify yourself. How lucky for you.
8) Old School still applies: Speaking of LBJ, USA Today's Susan Page references the man in her piece this week on how to choose a Veep [6-12-08]. Johnson, speaking on the phone to Sargent Shriver in 1964: "I think a man (who) runs for vice president is a very foolish man. [The] man who runs away from it is very wise. I wished I'd run farther away from it than I did...And don't you ever be a candidate and don't let anybody else be a candidate, and tell them anybody that runs for it never gets it." Yo, Mitt!
9) Your own worst enemy is sitting right there on the Straight Talk Express: Come now, "not important????!!!!" Obviously the McCain campaign is in for a very long five months. Time to turn the conversations back around to William Jennings Bryan, I'd say.
10) R.I.P. Tim Russert. American politics has lost a source of insight, historical perspective, and darn good questions. We're all a bit dumber for the loss.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Wheel in the Sky keeps on turning
1) Exit, Stage Right: Charlie Rangel on that HRC conference call: "She wanted to talk to supporters and get advice, so she got advice. Love and affection doesn't have a damn thing to do with counting votes." [Politico.com 6-5-08]
2) "Today, we settle all family business." Last Saturday the Obama team worked out the Michigan and Florida mess while the candidate resigned from his troublesome church. Michael Corleone would have been proud.
3) Dude, enough already: Will somebody tell Chris Matthews to stop noting that if HRC was to take the Veep spot she would "have to obey." Saying the word "obey" once was weird. Repeating it over and over, day after day, was getting creepy. Did Nixon ask Agnew if he was ready to "obey?" Okay, so Johnson probably did ask HHH, but come on.
4) Jordan Wright RIP: Dedicated collector of American political memoribilia for the last 40 years, he went way beyond a mere button collection. You've got to love a guy who had "Clean Up With Ike" bars of soap. Quoted in his NYT obit: "There hasn't been an election since Washington's when we didn't go to the voting booth holding our nose." [NYT 6-1-08]
5) Cheney's West Virginia Quip: Recounting Cheneys on both sides of the family tree, "So I had Cheneys on both sides of the family and we don't even live in West Virginia....You can say those things when you're not running for reelection." Funny as a crutch, Rich.
6) On knowing a lose/lose situation when you see one: NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg's Deputy Mayor, Kevin Sheekey, passes on the RNC offer to manage the GOP Convention in Minnesota.
7) Didn't he hear about the notebook thingy? Rep. Artur Davis (D., Alabama), Obama campaign adviser, suggests list of names for possible VP pick, including ex Florida Sen. Bob Graham, who is probably making note of that (and other things) as you read this.
8) Shelby, quit while you're ahead: Shelby Steele's book about Obama was titled: "Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win." He also predicted HRC would take the nomination.
9) Ralph Reed writes a novel: And titles it "Dark Horse." And says it's the "most honest book, without question, I've written." Say no more.
10) The Pres speaks: As quoted in The Washington Post's "In The Loop" column this week, GWB delivering a speech on May 27th in Arizona: "And so the fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place." As the man said, it's "The working, the working, just the working life," indeed.
2) "Today, we settle all family business." Last Saturday the Obama team worked out the Michigan and Florida mess while the candidate resigned from his troublesome church. Michael Corleone would have been proud.
3) Dude, enough already: Will somebody tell Chris Matthews to stop noting that if HRC was to take the Veep spot she would "have to obey." Saying the word "obey" once was weird. Repeating it over and over, day after day, was getting creepy. Did Nixon ask Agnew if he was ready to "obey?" Okay, so Johnson probably did ask HHH, but come on.
4) Jordan Wright RIP: Dedicated collector of American political memoribilia for the last 40 years, he went way beyond a mere button collection. You've got to love a guy who had "Clean Up With Ike" bars of soap. Quoted in his NYT obit: "There hasn't been an election since Washington's when we didn't go to the voting booth holding our nose." [NYT 6-1-08]
5) Cheney's West Virginia Quip: Recounting Cheneys on both sides of the family tree, "So I had Cheneys on both sides of the family and we don't even live in West Virginia....You can say those things when you're not running for reelection." Funny as a crutch, Rich.
6) On knowing a lose/lose situation when you see one: NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg's Deputy Mayor, Kevin Sheekey, passes on the RNC offer to manage the GOP Convention in Minnesota.
7) Didn't he hear about the notebook thingy? Rep. Artur Davis (D., Alabama), Obama campaign adviser, suggests list of names for possible VP pick, including ex Florida Sen. Bob Graham, who is probably making note of that (and other things) as you read this.
8) Shelby, quit while you're ahead: Shelby Steele's book about Obama was titled: "Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win." He also predicted HRC would take the nomination.
9) Ralph Reed writes a novel: And titles it "Dark Horse." And says it's the "most honest book, without question, I've written." Say no more.
10) The Pres speaks: As quoted in The Washington Post's "In The Loop" column this week, GWB delivering a speech on May 27th in Arizona: "And so the fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place." As the man said, it's "The working, the working, just the working life," indeed.
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