Filed under: Media, Republicans | Tags: CPAC, Media, New York Times, Tucker Carlson
Eric just pointed this out to me. Tucker Carlson speaking some sense about the media at CPAC. Advocating for a conservative news organization that has news as its primary focus. Cites the New York Times as a good example on the Liberal side.
Picture from the 2006 State of the Union:
Picture from Obama’s first speech to a joint session of Congress:
Bitchin
Filed under: 2010 and 2012, Republicans | Tags: 2012, Bobby Jindal, State of the Union
If you saw potential 2012 candidate and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s response to President Obama’s non-State of the Union tonight, you know it was awful. Here is a collection of what people are saying about it.
Let’s start with Fox News, the people most likely to think Jindal did a good job:
Here’s David Brooks’ response:
I think Bobby Jindal is a very promising politician, and I oppose the stimulus because I thought it was poorly drafted. But to come up at this moment in history with a stale “government is the problem,” “we can’t trust the federal government” – it’s just a disaster for the Republican Party. The country is in a panic right now. They may not like the way the Democrats have passed the stimulus bill, but that idea that we’re just gonna – that government is going to have no role, the federal government has no role in this, that – In a moment when only the federal government is actually big enough to do stuff, to just ignore all that and just say “government is the problem, corruption, earmarks, wasteful spending,” it’s just a form of nihilism. It’s just not where the country is, it’s not where the future of the country is. There’s an intra-Republican debate. Some people say the Republican Party lost its way because they got too moderate. Some people say they got too weird or too conservative. He thinks they got too moderate, and so he’s making that case. I think it’s insane, and I just think it’s a disaster for the party. I just think it’s unfortunate right now.
Josh Marshall live-blogged it, picking up the Jindal as Kenneth the Page from 30-Rock reference.
Unfortunately, Jindal’s miserable performance following Obama’s non-SOTU doesn’t matter too much. He’ll still be a strong contender for the Republican nomination for President in 2012. Kathleen Sebelius (Gov. KS) and Tim Kaine (Gov. VA) have given weak responses to past State of the Unions and both are considered strong future candidates for President.
Also, Bill Clinton’s first exposure to a national audience was at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, where he gave an incredibly long speech that even drew boos.
So Jindal had a terrible night. But he’s not down for the count.
UPDATE: Here’s Bill Clinton with Johnny Carson immediately after the botched DNC speech. Should Jindal go on Leno?
Akshay with the scoop! Gary Locke will probably be appointed to head the Commerce Department. He’ll be the second Washingtonian appointed to the Obama administration, after Seattle police chief Gil Kerlikowske got the Drug Czar spot.
Locke was the first Chinese-American governor in U.S. history and always seemed like a good guy to me. Though I remember he gave a pretty weak rebuttal to one of Bush’s early State of the Unions. Still, lets just hope that Locke sails through the nomination.
Mostly links.
See Ezra Klein on Twittering:
So I give: Twittering is the next big thing. It’s the new blogging. It’s like Vampire Weekend combined with Watchmen dusted with affordable hydrogen energy technology. And unlike with blogs, the MSM seems determined to get there first.
I thought the Oscars were alright. But I could not stop thinking about this Kate Winslet scene from Extras
h/t Andrew Sullivan
Filed under: Uncategorized
Cool New Yorker article about Rahm Emanuel.
Did you know that only seven Presidents have had Chiefs of Staff? Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, and Obama.
Filed under: Barack Obama, Foreign Affairs, Friday Brain Dump, General Politics, Race | Tags: Afghanistan, Cabinet, Oscars, Patrick Leahy, Race, Truth Commission, War
There is A LOT to talk about this week! Let’s start with…… Obama! (who else?)
- Fresh off successfully passing of the economic stimulus bill – Obama’s first Presidential priority, Obama has started to focus on foreign affairs. This week, Obama visited Canada and promised to send 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan. I am not sure how I feel about this. Sometimes I wonder if a progressive must advocate for one war (Afghanistan) in order to oppose another (Iraq) with legitimacy. Obama will likely feel some resistence from more liberal congressmen and senators about this decision. I wonder if it’s a mistake to deliberately engage in something as messy as Afghanistan. Clearly, the primary objective of the Obama Presidency is to turn the economy around. If he does this, Obama will be re-elected. If he does not, Obama will write another book in four years. Presidents are often forced to engage in foreign affairs to the detriment of their pet objectives. But why do it willingly? Hopefully we can walk (fix the economy) and chew gum (fix the world) at the same time.
- Senator Patrick Leahy’s call for a truth commission to investigate the wrongdoings of the Bush Presidency seems to be gaining traction. I was initially skeptical of this idea. Why spend time and effort looking backwards when we have so many important things to do? But I think I’m coming around. I am legitimately disturbed by the Bush administration’s tacit approval of torture and general abuse of the Presidency. Holding him accountable and those who help devise the scheme could restore respect to the Presidency and improve American credibility worldwide.
- It looks like Kathleen Sebelius – the popular Democratic Governor of Kansas – is the top choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, the position intended for Tom Daschle. Though I like Sebelius, this is a mistake. In fact, it’s a mistake because I like Sebelius. She was a huge favorite to win the Senate seat being vacated by Sam Brownback in 2010. Kansans love her strong moderate record in the conservative-leaning state. Sticking her at HHS could secure the Kansas seat for another Republican wacko. This dilemma leads Chris Bowers to ask, “Are Cabinet Positions Better than Statewide Office?” The answer seems to be yes.
- The New York Post is run by idiots. That’s not any sort of new or original conclusion, I just thought it should be said. The ultra-conservative paper’s first response to the racist cartoon it ran this week was to condemn civil rights leaders like Al Sharpton for grandstanding and seeking attention on this issue. Classy. The paper’s second response was to issue this non apology. Whether or not the cartoon was intended to be racist, its incredibly stupid and offensive and requires a genuine apology.
- Check out this map! Cool idea for regional high speed train lines. Via Rachel Maddow’s twitter page.
- Matt Cooper says the Democrats picked crappy replacements in IL, NY, and DE. Bennet in Colorado is alright, though. I said this once too!
- As you all know, this weekend is the Oscars. I am very excited, as this is by far my favorite award show. And I like award shows. Nate Silver has predicted the winners based on his highly successful method for predicting the 2008 election. Also, the Times’ David Carr has predicted winners. Both call Slumdog Millionaire the clear winner. While it was a good movie, it wasn’t as great as Milk. You heard it here, Milk will win best picture. Best Actor is the hardest category. Penn or Rourke? Though Sean Penn was probably better, I’m going to say Rourke. Everyone loves a comeback. Also, Danny Boyle (Director), Winslett (Actress), Ledger (Sup actor), and Cruz (Sup actress). On other categories, Benj Button and Slumdog will nearly sweep. Dark Knight for sound categories.
Buchwalter OUT!
Filed under: Foreign Affairs, General Politics | Tags: Michael Bloomberg, Term Limits, Venezuela
From The Economist via NY Daily News:
Q: Mayor, it’s hard to compare New York City to Venezuela but as you know, Hugo Chavez did his second effort – this time sucessful – to extend term limits. You chose to go through City Council. Do you have any second thoughts about this? Do you wish you should have had a chance to take to the…
A: I don’t understand your question. What on Earth do we have to do with Hugo Chavez?
Q: Well, like you, he wanted to extend his term.
A: If you wanted to ask Hugo Chavez, call him up! Maybe he’ll take your call. My suspicion is he doesn’t have press conferences and let people ask questions or if they ask questions, he probably throws them, I don’t know what he does with them…Who knows? (Laughs). I still fail to see a connection.
Ben Buchwalter 
