(CNN) — Conservative political commentator Ann Coulter’s 15-minute address at CPAC played more like a stand-up comedy act than a political speech.
Coulter delivered line after line of jabs at President Obama, the Democratic Party and the media – each met with roaring laughter from the crowd.
The commentator – who is no stranger to controversy – first went after MSNBC, calling the hosts the “alternative prom crowd.”
Pointing to recent comparisons of Obama to Jesus and Abraham Lincoln, Coulter said the media has turned from being the people’s watchdog to the “government guard dog.”
“Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t see Lincoln text messaging with Scarlet Johansson … and I forget, how many times did Lincoln vote present?” she said, to much applause.
Coulter likened members of the media and Democrats to parents “gushing” over a newborn baby.
“Having pulled off their rather mediocre 53 percent to 46 percent victory, liberals can’t stop boasting about their new baby boy,” she said.
She said it was interesting that Obama’s “adorers” in the media compare him to Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, because, “apparently they can’t think of a Democratic president worthy of being compared to.”
“If [Obama] thinks people wanted change in 2009, wait until 2012,” she said.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Limbaugh Rallies Conservatives to Fight Democrats, Find 'Right Candidate'
On the conference's third and final day, the conservative talk radio host was the headliner, and the crowd greeted him with an immense ovation.
"Ladies and gentleman, this is my first ever address to the nation," Limbaugh joked, noting that FOX News and C-SPAN were broadcasting the speech live.
Limbaugh then spent his first 15 minutes giving an impassioned summary of what it means to be a conservative before turning the focus to the movement's recent electoral record.
"We can take this country back. All we need is to nominate the right candidate," he said.
It may have surprised some in attendance at the event to hear Limbaugh praising President Obama -- at least at first.
Despite mocking Obama's regular use of a teleprompter, Limbaugh called the president "one of the most gifted politicians, one of the most gifted men I have ever witnessed. He has extraordinary talent."
But, he added, "It just breaks my heart that he has not used that extraordinary talent and gift to motivate and inspire the American people to be the best that they can be. He's doing just the opposite."
Limbaugh didn't hold back for most of the rest of his speech in skewering liberals, Democrats and the new president on a wide ranges of issues, including Obama's massively costly stimulus package and budget plan.
"It's not new. It's not change. And it's not hope," he said.
Obama is still in the "honeymoon phase," Limbaugh said, but conservatives shouldn't get discouraged.
"We are not quitting. We are not giving up," he said. "The country is too important."
Rmoney is Still a crowd favorite
Sam stien-Huffington Post:
...."He's still a crowd favorite. Outside the halls, attendees were raving about the qualifications Romney could bring to the ticket, one calling him the best hope for 2012.
"He is the only guy who can legitimately run against Obama," said Jason Persinger, who had trekked from Ohio to take in the CPAC weekend. "With McCain running... a lot of people wanted him to pick Romney as his vice president. Considering where the economy is, he would have fared better."
Others were equally convinced. "Absolutely, he would have been our nominee," if the economic situation was then what it is now, said a 48-year-old conservative businessman named Dan from New Jersey.
"He is more important to us today than he was last year," offered Keene. "We didn't know then, because it was before the economic collapse, just how important the values...Mitt Romney had would be to our movement."
...."He's still a crowd favorite. Outside the halls, attendees were raving about the qualifications Romney could bring to the ticket, one calling him the best hope for 2012.
"He is the only guy who can legitimately run against Obama," said Jason Persinger, who had trekked from Ohio to take in the CPAC weekend. "With McCain running... a lot of people wanted him to pick Romney as his vice president. Considering where the economy is, he would have fared better."
Others were equally convinced. "Absolutely, he would have been our nominee," if the economic situation was then what it is now, said a 48-year-old conservative businessman named Dan from New Jersey.
"He is more important to us today than he was last year," offered Keene. "We didn't know then, because it was before the economic collapse, just how important the values...Mitt Romney had would be to our movement."
Mitt Romney winner of CPAC Straw Poll
Mitt Romney had a big win at CPAC as he won the straw poll for the third year in a row. Although the presidential election is over three years away, this will be seen as a big boost to the former GOP presidential candidate.
Results:
Romney 20%
Bobby Jindal 14%
Ron Paul 13%
Sarah Palin 13%
Newt Gingrich 10%
Mike Huckabee 7%
Mark Sanford 4%
Rudy Giuliani 3%
Tim Pawlenty 2%
Charlie Crist 1%
Results:
Romney 20%
Bobby Jindal 14%
Ron Paul 13%
Sarah Palin 13%
Newt Gingrich 10%
Mike Huckabee 7%
Mark Sanford 4%
Rudy Giuliani 3%
Tim Pawlenty 2%
Charlie Crist 1%
Friday, February 27, 2009
Romney at CPAC: We must be the Alternative course
Mitt Romney took shots at Barack Obama's policies, but also warned conservatives, speaking to a packed house at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington today. Romney criticized Obama's economic policy on traditionally conservative lines, warning that health care, education, and national service plans would lead to "universal government," and also took aim at one Obama statement. The president was "misguided and naïve" for telling Al-Arabiya that America had in the past "dictated" to other countries. But Romney, seeking to emerge as a key figure in a divided party, also insisted on offering positive alternatives, and warned conservatives off negativity. "In the last eight years, we saw how a president’s political adversaries could be consumed by anger, and even hatred. That is not the spirit that brings us together. We want our country to succeed, no matter who’s in power. We want America to be prosperous and secure, regardless of who gets the credit. At our best, that has always been the mark of the conservative movement – in good times and bad, the interests of this great nation come first.
..." I’m often asked these days what Republicans and conservatives have to do to recover. And I’ll bet my answer is the same as yours. Our first concern isn’t a political recovery – it’s the recovery of our country".
"America voted for change. America did not vote for a boat-load of new government spending programs that would guarantee higher taxes and high deficits as far as the eye can see and that would threaten our currency, our economy, and our future. We must be the alternative course. We can’t be that if all we say is no. Our plans must be clear, compelling, and first to the table. Our plans must have at least one common thread—they must make America stronger. Better education strengthens our kids; better healthcare strengthens our citizens; and bringing our budget into balance strengthens our economy and preserves our future. Today, as much as ever, conservative principles are absolutely essential to keeping America strong and prosperous and free".
..." I’m often asked these days what Republicans and conservatives have to do to recover. And I’ll bet my answer is the same as yours. Our first concern isn’t a political recovery – it’s the recovery of our country".
"America voted for change. America did not vote for a boat-load of new government spending programs that would guarantee higher taxes and high deficits as far as the eye can see and that would threaten our currency, our economy, and our future. We must be the alternative course. We can’t be that if all we say is no. Our plans must be clear, compelling, and first to the table. Our plans must have at least one common thread—they must make America stronger. Better education strengthens our kids; better healthcare strengthens our citizens; and bringing our budget into balance strengthens our economy and preserves our future. Today, as much as ever, conservative principles are absolutely essential to keeping America strong and prosperous and free".
John Batchelor:Republicans Smell Weakness In Obama
......Asked about the president’s soaring approval ratings, the senior Republican said, “Yeah, he’s really popular, like in the '70s, but it’s his personal approval rating. On his handling of the economy, he’s down around 60 and sinking. That’s why we won’t attack him. We praise him. Bipartisan this and that, bipartisan anything. Go to the meetings, listen closely, shake hands. The president is a star. His financial team isn’t. And he knows it. When he protested that his stimulus bill was going to create all these green jobs, he was told back, what’s that do for a machinist in the UAW who just got his job yanked? And the president smiled and laughed sympathetically and said, ‘I was just joking with you.’”
I reminded my source that once upon a time in the Great Depression, during the very month of March of FDR’s inauguration in 1933, Hollywood produced a wonderful fairy tale called Gabriel Over the White House, in which a pleasant, back-slapping, nonconfrontational President Jasper Hammond, played by the vivacious Walter Huston, piles up his car in a joy ride, and while recovering from the accident is visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who inspires the president to lead without fear. The reawakened Jasper Hammond fires the hack Cabinet, discards Congress and the courts, and assumes dictatorial powers to confront a million-man unemployed army march on the Capitol, face down machine-gun-toting gangsters who attack the White House, and challenge the war-mongering nations who owe the US war debts. He is a wunderkind on the new medium of the national radio broadcast, and the people are inspired by him so much they regain their pride and promise.
“No, no, no, that ain’t Obama,” said my best GOP House source. “Inspiration is not what you hear from the president. The one thing that comes across from being in the chamber with him is, that the thing you felt with Clinton, it’s not there, there’s no magic. The Democrats don’t feel it and we sure don’t. The president didn’t earn what he’s got, and no one’s afraid of him… Dictatorial power? Fascist. That’ll be the day. No one's worried about what he’s going to do. People applaud. What’s it mean? ”
I reminded my source that once upon a time in the Great Depression, during the very month of March of FDR’s inauguration in 1933, Hollywood produced a wonderful fairy tale called Gabriel Over the White House, in which a pleasant, back-slapping, nonconfrontational President Jasper Hammond, played by the vivacious Walter Huston, piles up his car in a joy ride, and while recovering from the accident is visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who inspires the president to lead without fear. The reawakened Jasper Hammond fires the hack Cabinet, discards Congress and the courts, and assumes dictatorial powers to confront a million-man unemployed army march on the Capitol, face down machine-gun-toting gangsters who attack the White House, and challenge the war-mongering nations who owe the US war debts. He is a wunderkind on the new medium of the national radio broadcast, and the people are inspired by him so much they regain their pride and promise.
“No, no, no, that ain’t Obama,” said my best GOP House source. “Inspiration is not what you hear from the president. The one thing that comes across from being in the chamber with him is, that the thing you felt with Clinton, it’s not there, there’s no magic. The Democrats don’t feel it and we sure don’t. The president didn’t earn what he’s got, and no one’s afraid of him… Dictatorial power? Fascist. That’ll be the day. No one's worried about what he’s going to do. People applaud. What’s it mean? ”
John Boehner at CPAC: Democrats Are Taking First Steps Toward Socialism
House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) told conservatives Friday that a "spending barrage" from President Barack Obama is the first step toward an American brand of socialism.
"First it was the stimulus, then the omnibus and now the budget," Boehner said during a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference. "It's all a down payment on a new American socialist experiment."
"The spending barrage is just beginning," he added.
Boehner harshly criticized the president's recently unveiled budget as a "job killer, plain and simple."
"American jobs are under threat," he said.
Boehner also railed against the stimulus package the president recently signed and said that the legislative fight may be a turning point for House Republicans.
"The way the new Democratic majority handled the stimulus reminds me of what happened in the early 1990s," he said. "But we fought back, and we won."
Rasmussen Poll: Obama's rating at 60%, A Majority of Americans agree to the Reagan assertion
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 41% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. That’s his second straight day over 40%. Twenty-six percent (26%) Strongly Disapprove.
Overall, 60% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far while 40% disapprove.
On important national issues, 73% trust the judgment of the American people more than America’s political leaders.
New polling data released today shows he still has work to do on that front—59% still agree with Ronald Reagan’s assertion that “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”
Overall, 60% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far while 40% disapprove.
On important national issues, 73% trust the judgment of the American people more than America’s political leaders.
New polling data released today shows he still has work to do on that front—59% still agree with Ronald Reagan’s assertion that “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”
GOP 2012 Poll: No clear Front runner
(CNN) – As the the first unofficial ballots are cast in the next race for the White House, a new national survey of Republicans indicates that the GOP doesn't have a clear presidential frontrunner — but does have a clear gender gap.
29% of Republicans questioned in a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday say they are most likely to support Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. Right behind is former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 26%
21% of Republicans polled say they most likely would support former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney,9% say they would probably back Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who is considered a rising star in the GOP.
"Since the poll was taken before Jindal's widely-panned speech, his low support is not a reflection on his performance on Tuesday night and is most likely due to the fact that he is not as well known as Palin, Huckabee or Romney, all of whom ran national campaigns in 2008,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
While the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll doesn't indicate a clear frontrunner, it does suggest there's a gender gap among rank-and-file Republicans.
"Among GOP men, the same pattern emerges — no clear advantage for Palin, Huckabee or Romney,” says Holland. “But among Republican women, it's a different story. Palin has a 10-point edge among Republican women, winning 32 percent support among them to 22 percent for Huckabee and 20 percent for Romney. With the sampling error, that's not enough to say for sure that Palin is in the lead, but it does indicate that if the primaries were held tomorrow, Palin would have a good chance of being the favorite among GOP women."
29% of Republicans questioned in a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday say they are most likely to support Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. Right behind is former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 26%
21% of Republicans polled say they most likely would support former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney,9% say they would probably back Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who is considered a rising star in the GOP.
"Since the poll was taken before Jindal's widely-panned speech, his low support is not a reflection on his performance on Tuesday night and is most likely due to the fact that he is not as well known as Palin, Huckabee or Romney, all of whom ran national campaigns in 2008,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
While the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll doesn't indicate a clear frontrunner, it does suggest there's a gender gap among rank-and-file Republicans.
"Among GOP men, the same pattern emerges — no clear advantage for Palin, Huckabee or Romney,” says Holland. “But among Republican women, it's a different story. Palin has a 10-point edge among Republican women, winning 32 percent support among them to 22 percent for Huckabee and 20 percent for Romney. With the sampling error, that's not enough to say for sure that Palin is in the lead, but it does indicate that if the primaries were held tomorrow, Palin would have a good chance of being the favorite among GOP women."
Romney on Fox n' Friends
(Washingtonpost-The fix)....rank the major voices in the GOP in terms of their ability to influence the direction of the party over the next two to four years:
2. Mitt Romney: Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, has the highest work rate of any modern politician we have observed closely. During his run for president last year, Romney's schedule would often be packed with six events a day, a stunning level of activity. He's keeping up that breakneck pace so far in 2009 -- using his Free and Strong America PAC to seed donations to up and coming politicians while penning editorials and providing counsel to congressional Republicans on economic issues. Another major advantage for Romney: much -- though not all -- of his political team has stayed in touch and intact , meaning that if and when he flicks the switch they will be ready to go from, well, day one
Huckabee: MSNBC is 'MSBS'
"It's not MSNBC, but the MSBS channel," Huckabee said in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Huckabee, who appeared on the cable network many times during his 2008 presidential run, chided "Hardball" host Chris Matthews for saying "oh god" as he watched Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La.) walk out to respond to President Barack Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.
"I'm in competition with the other cable networks, and one of them finally found religion," Huckabee said to loud applause. "I call them the 'oh god' network."
Huckabee, who appeared on the cable network many times during his 2008 presidential run, chided "Hardball" host Chris Matthews for saying "oh god" as he watched Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La.) walk out to respond to President Barack Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.
"I'm in competition with the other cable networks, and one of them finally found religion," Huckabee said to loud applause. "I call them the 'oh god' network."
Thursday, February 26, 2009
How Michael Steele Plans to Shake Up the Republican Party
Michael Steele, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, has big plans for the RNC. Among his goals is adopting a 50-state strategy to make the GOP competitive even in areas where it hasn't done well in recent years, such as New York and the West Coast.
In an interview with U.S. News, Steele, who is African-American, also said he plans to extend the party's outreach to African-Americans and Hispanics and their media outlets on a permanent basis, not just at election time. He wants to better explain the GOP's conservative philosophy of optimism, opportunity, and economic growth to minority voters and "make folks understand that we'll walk that walk with them."
Other Steele plans: Make better use of the Web and other technology to spread the GOP message to college students and small businesses, make sure Republicans in Congress and around the country have as consistent a message as possible, and take on the Democrats and the media directly when they mischaracterize GOP positions.
In some cases with his overall agenda, Steele said, "it may be tough sledding, but we're going to get on the sled."
In an interview with U.S. News, Steele, who is African-American, also said he plans to extend the party's outreach to African-Americans and Hispanics and their media outlets on a permanent basis, not just at election time. He wants to better explain the GOP's conservative philosophy of optimism, opportunity, and economic growth to minority voters and "make folks understand that we'll walk that walk with them."
Other Steele plans: Make better use of the Web and other technology to spread the GOP message to college students and small businesses, make sure Republicans in Congress and around the country have as consistent a message as possible, and take on the Democrats and the media directly when they mischaracterize GOP positions.
In some cases with his overall agenda, Steele said, "it may be tough sledding, but we're going to get on the sled."
GOP Coming back to Romney
(Ben Smith-Politico).The Republican Party is, understandably, extremely eager to put forward a new, new face, and so maybe it's no coincidence that of the three who have come to the fore post-election -- Sarah Palin, Michael Steele, and Bobby Jindal, none are white men.
But beyond them, the party's top rank is overwhelmingly white and male. And Jindal's weak performance last night -- along with the fact that, as Jonathan Martin noted, it's very hard for him to run for reelection in 2011 while roaming Iowa -- serves, along with Palin's fading profile, a reminder that the party is unlikely to have an obviously, visibly different face to put forward in 2012.
At this point, though, there's a fairly clear frontrunner, I think: Mitt Romney. While others may be indecisive or distracted, he's already, quietly, clearly focused on solidifying his position inside the party, backing House Republicans through his PAC and appearing at CPAC this week. And he has a crucial advantage over almost all the other Republican candidates who are mentioned: He's not in office, and doesn't have to spend the next two years (at least) raising taxes, cutting services, and/or borrowing huge sums. He's free to articulate a clear voice of opposition, and to position himself to play the role of the turnaround specialist if he can make the case that Obama hasn't delivered.
But beyond them, the party's top rank is overwhelmingly white and male. And Jindal's weak performance last night -- along with the fact that, as Jonathan Martin noted, it's very hard for him to run for reelection in 2011 while roaming Iowa -- serves, along with Palin's fading profile, a reminder that the party is unlikely to have an obviously, visibly different face to put forward in 2012.
At this point, though, there's a fairly clear frontrunner, I think: Mitt Romney. While others may be indecisive or distracted, he's already, quietly, clearly focused on solidifying his position inside the party, backing House Republicans through his PAC and appearing at CPAC this week. And he has a crucial advantage over almost all the other Republican candidates who are mentioned: He's not in office, and doesn't have to spend the next two years (at least) raising taxes, cutting services, and/or borrowing huge sums. He's free to articulate a clear voice of opposition, and to position himself to play the role of the turnaround specialist if he can make the case that Obama hasn't delivered.
Poll: Obama Popularity Lags Bush After First Month
(Newsmax).The media may be smitten with President Barack Obama, but recent Gallup poll results show Americans giving the new president lower marks after one month in the White House than former President George W. Bush earned at the same point in his administration.
Heading into this week’s address to Congress, the Gallup figures showed 59 percent of Americans approved of Obama’s efforts so far, while 25 percent disapproved, and 16 percent had no opinion. According to PollingReport.com, President Bush had a 62 percent approval rating one month into his first term, with 21 percent disapproving, and 17 percent having no opinion.
“For the first time since Gallup began tracking Barack Obama’s presidential job approval rating on Jan. 21, fewer than 60 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing as president,” the Gallup report reads. The drop below 60 percent approval was fueled largely by a drop in satisfaction among independents, Gallup pollsters added.
Late last week, polls showed 62 percent of independents approved of Obama, compared with 54 percent in the last three days, according to NewsBusters. Obama’s approval rating among Democrats has dipped slightly, while approval among Republicans has not changed significantly.
While it may be difficult to tell from the glowing media accounts of his fledgling administration, even Obama’s highest approval numbers were never all that special. Gary Langer, director of polling at ABC News reports that Obama’s early ratings are in line with the one-month of George H. W. Bush, John F. Kennedy, and even Jimmy Carter.
Heading into this week’s address to Congress, the Gallup figures showed 59 percent of Americans approved of Obama’s efforts so far, while 25 percent disapproved, and 16 percent had no opinion. According to PollingReport.com, President Bush had a 62 percent approval rating one month into his first term, with 21 percent disapproving, and 17 percent having no opinion.
“For the first time since Gallup began tracking Barack Obama’s presidential job approval rating on Jan. 21, fewer than 60 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing as president,” the Gallup report reads. The drop below 60 percent approval was fueled largely by a drop in satisfaction among independents, Gallup pollsters added.
Late last week, polls showed 62 percent of independents approved of Obama, compared with 54 percent in the last three days, according to NewsBusters. Obama’s approval rating among Democrats has dipped slightly, while approval among Republicans has not changed significantly.
While it may be difficult to tell from the glowing media accounts of his fledgling administration, even Obama’s highest approval numbers were never all that special. Gary Langer, director of polling at ABC News reports that Obama’s early ratings are in line with the one-month of George H. W. Bush, John F. Kennedy, and even Jimmy Carter.
Tom Tancredo says Jindal speech “a nail in the coffin” of his Presidential hopes
Tom Tancredo at CPAC, says he likes Jindal but that the Louisiana Governor’s speech may have ended his Presidential hopes. Says Mitt Romney is best positioned Republican for 2012.
This is Romney's year to shine
(BRETT JOSHPE-Politico).Last February, on the opening day of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney took the stage, trailing Arizona Sen. John McCain in the GOP presidential primary but gathering steam with the conservative faithful. He delivered a speech that would not be soon forgotten. “I entered this race because I love America,” Romney said. “And because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I have to now stand aside for our party and for our country.” “Nooooo,” the crowd exclaimed in a deflated, collective groan. At that point, the Republican nomination was all but settled. Although Romney won the weekend’s straw poll for the second year in a row, McCain easily won the Republican primary and then selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, instead of Romney, as his running mate. And although McCain ran for the presidency with dignity and restraint, he was never well-positioned to beat Barack Obama and his grass-roots money machine. The economic crisis that exploded in September simply made Obama’s victory a fait accompli.
This February, however, Romney is well-positioned to emerge as the leader of the party and the Republican front-runner in 2012. First, money is no obstacle. Romney can self-finance, but he is also a fundraising machine. He eagerly campaigned for McCain, raising record amounts for his White House run, a gesture for which he earned political capital within the Republican Party and should expect repayment at some point. He is also currently donating money through his political action committee to House Republicans who opposed the stimulus package, and he is campaigning for Republicans around the country, including James Tedisco, who is running for the former congressional seat of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who is running for reelection. Although the 2012 presidential campaign will not begin in earnest for another two years, Romney has several other factors working in his favor. He currently holds no elected office, so in a time when Republicans are rediscovering their voice, Romney does not have to worry about the compromises and horse trading that accompany public office. Instead, he can speak with the voice of a true conservative and hold accountable members of the Republican Party who defect.
He is especially well-poised to speak with authority given that the economy is, and will continue to be for some time, the foremost issue for Americans. Unlike McCain, who never sounded comfortable discussing the intricacies of the economic collapse, Romney is regarded as an expert on financial matters, given his private-sector experience.
If the economy is still lagging in a few years, Obama — and Obama alone — will own the recession, and Romney will be well-positioned to convince Americans that he is the man for the job. As the economic crisis deepens, Mitt Romney is the first name on everyone’s list when someone asks for expertise on the economy, on the markets, on the auto bailout or on innovative health care solutions. In a nation longing for a turnaround, the man known for turnarounds finds his stock growing.” Other potential 2012 candidates will have trouble making as compelling a case for the nomination. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is still very young and may not even run. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will never gain support from fiscal conservatives. Palin has too many detractors within the party. Romney, however, has already answered the tough questions from the GOP skeptics. He is less likely to face questions about his abortion stance, as he did in 2008, or to feel compelled to address his Mormon faith. In fact, Obama’s election should help Romney in that regard by negating identity questions that might have been factors before Americans elected a black man to the highest office.
For Romney, the Republican wilderness should prove especially kind. He can lay the groundwork without the stifling spotlight of the full public attention on him. As such, he can just be Mitt Romney while he lines up the organizational support he will need to challenge Obama in four years. When he speaks this year at CPAC, he might consider telling the crowd, “It’s good to be back. This time, I’m here to stay.”
This February, however, Romney is well-positioned to emerge as the leader of the party and the Republican front-runner in 2012. First, money is no obstacle. Romney can self-finance, but he is also a fundraising machine. He eagerly campaigned for McCain, raising record amounts for his White House run, a gesture for which he earned political capital within the Republican Party and should expect repayment at some point. He is also currently donating money through his political action committee to House Republicans who opposed the stimulus package, and he is campaigning for Republicans around the country, including James Tedisco, who is running for the former congressional seat of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who is running for reelection. Although the 2012 presidential campaign will not begin in earnest for another two years, Romney has several other factors working in his favor. He currently holds no elected office, so in a time when Republicans are rediscovering their voice, Romney does not have to worry about the compromises and horse trading that accompany public office. Instead, he can speak with the voice of a true conservative and hold accountable members of the Republican Party who defect.
He is especially well-poised to speak with authority given that the economy is, and will continue to be for some time, the foremost issue for Americans. Unlike McCain, who never sounded comfortable discussing the intricacies of the economic collapse, Romney is regarded as an expert on financial matters, given his private-sector experience.
If the economy is still lagging in a few years, Obama — and Obama alone — will own the recession, and Romney will be well-positioned to convince Americans that he is the man for the job. As the economic crisis deepens, Mitt Romney is the first name on everyone’s list when someone asks for expertise on the economy, on the markets, on the auto bailout or on innovative health care solutions. In a nation longing for a turnaround, the man known for turnarounds finds his stock growing.” Other potential 2012 candidates will have trouble making as compelling a case for the nomination. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is still very young and may not even run. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will never gain support from fiscal conservatives. Palin has too many detractors within the party. Romney, however, has already answered the tough questions from the GOP skeptics. He is less likely to face questions about his abortion stance, as he did in 2008, or to feel compelled to address his Mormon faith. In fact, Obama’s election should help Romney in that regard by negating identity questions that might have been factors before Americans elected a black man to the highest office.
For Romney, the Republican wilderness should prove especially kind. He can lay the groundwork without the stifling spotlight of the full public attention on him. As such, he can just be Mitt Romney while he lines up the organizational support he will need to challenge Obama in four years. When he speaks this year at CPAC, he might consider telling the crowd, “It’s good to be back. This time, I’m here to stay.”
MACKBERRY- Mccain has Blackberry and is Twittering
http://twitter.com/SenJohnMcCain
Brooke Buchanan, McCain’s spokeswoman, and she said that not only has McCain starting using a Blackberry and Twitter, but it was all his idea.
“He started using [a BlackBerry] in January,” she said. “And he came up with the idea to start Twittering in January. It’s a growing way to reach out to a lot of people.”
Buchanan noted that McCain is fond of the expression “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” but added that “this was something he wanted to do and he’s got a little bit more time now.”
McCain’s new affinity for Twitter shows how quickly the site has made its way through Congress, Buchanan was adamant that her boss insisted on it. “He came up with the idea to Twitter,” she said, “it wasn’t even me…he’s definitely excited and moving forward with his twittering.”
Brooke Buchanan, McCain’s spokeswoman, and she said that not only has McCain starting using a Blackberry and Twitter, but it was all his idea.
“He started using [a BlackBerry] in January,” she said. “And he came up with the idea to start Twittering in January. It’s a growing way to reach out to a lot of people.”
Buchanan noted that McCain is fond of the expression “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” but added that “this was something he wanted to do and he’s got a little bit more time now.”
McCain’s new affinity for Twitter shows how quickly the site has made its way through Congress, Buchanan was adamant that her boss insisted on it. “He came up with the idea to Twitter,” she said, “it wasn’t even me…he’s definitely excited and moving forward with his twittering.”
Rasmussen: Speech Bounce
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows the beginning of a bounce for President Barack Obama following his nationally televised speech on Tuesday night.
Forty-one percent (41%) of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. That’s up two points from yesterday and the first time he’s topped 40 since shortly after his nationally televised press conference a couple of weeks ago. Twenty-five percent (25%) Strongly Disapprove.
Overall, 60% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far while 40% disapprove.
Forty-one percent (41%) of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. That’s up two points from yesterday and the first time he’s topped 40 since shortly after his nationally televised press conference a couple of weeks ago. Twenty-five percent (25%) Strongly Disapprove.
Overall, 60% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far while 40% disapprove.
Boehner: We Need "Spending Sanity" In Washington
BOEHNER:"Hi, I'm Congressman John Boehner. We need some spending sanity here in Washington. You know, we just passed this $800 billion so-called stimulus bill and now we're about to pass a $410 billion omnibus appropriations bill because we didn't finish our work last year. There are nine appropriations bills that [Democrats] are going to wrap together that are $30 billion over budget in a bill that contains 9,000 earmarks. This is absolutely crazy.
"We've asked Speaker Pelosi to give us a chance to have a spending freeze for the balance of this year. It gets rid of all the earmarks and makes it clear that we're not going to - these agencies don't need any more spending than what they had last year. I think at the end of the day, this would be a much more appropriate way in which to spend your money and to show the American people that, listen, if you can live on a budget that's not any bigger than last year and maybe even smaller, the federal government doesn't need to increase spending at any of these agencies either. Hope you have a good day."
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tom DeLay: Obama a hypocrite and speech was worst ever
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay played hardball this afternoon and threw a 100mile per hour fastball at the White House.
Appearing on MSNBC's "Hardball" program, the Sugar Land Republican said that President Barack Obama's agenda "is going to drive our economy into the toilet."
"This was the most irresponsible and hypocritical speech I've ever witnessed," DeLay told host Chris Matthews.
DeLay labeled Obama a hypocrite for advocating $2 trillion in spending restraint at the same time he pushed a $1 trillion economic plan and Democrats are pushing a $410 billion short-term spending package. The conservative Texan said Obama's plans would "take over the entire economy" through a cap-and-trade energy policy. He accused the President of advocating "nationalizing education."
"That's not going to help the economy; it's going to hurt the economy," he said.
"It's insane what he's talking about."
Playing political prognosticator, DeLay said Obama has already sown the seeds of his own political destruction.
"He's not going to be re-elected, that's for sure," DeLay predicted.
more:
Joe the Plumber on Sarah Palin
(washingtonindependent).On Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin:
Absolutely incredible woman. Actually really wants to serve America. Do I think she should give ‘em another chance? I dunno. I mean, America tore her up. The media in general. But of any of the politicians I’ve actually met she seems the most sincere. She actually wants to do what’s right for America. She didn’t have that gleam in her eye of power an money, she had that ‘I want to serve’ look. That’s the kind of character and leadership we need. When you go into politics you want to help your fellow man, not help yourself. I think I’ve got a pretty good B.S. detector and I didn’t smell any from her.
Wurzelbacher wasn’t thrilled by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s GOP response to last night’s presidential address. “The only one I can see who I’d considering voting for is Newt Gingrich.”
Absolutely incredible woman. Actually really wants to serve America. Do I think she should give ‘em another chance? I dunno. I mean, America tore her up. The media in general. But of any of the politicians I’ve actually met she seems the most sincere. She actually wants to do what’s right for America. She didn’t have that gleam in her eye of power an money, she had that ‘I want to serve’ look. That’s the kind of character and leadership we need. When you go into politics you want to help your fellow man, not help yourself. I think I’ve got a pretty good B.S. detector and I didn’t smell any from her.
Wurzelbacher wasn’t thrilled by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s GOP response to last night’s presidential address. “The only one I can see who I’d considering voting for is Newt Gingrich.”
Just words? President Obama wins big points with speech; poll shows bump after first address to Congress
Mission accomplished - President Obama's maiden address to Congress Tuesday night appears to have hit the mark with the public, post-speech polls showed.
In a new CBS News poll, 63% said they approved of Obama's plans for the economy before he spoke - a number that rose to 80% afterward.
Similarly, 71% told CNN/Opinion Research Corp. they thought Obama was moving the country in the right direction before he spoke. By the time he finished talking, that number had risen to 88%.
"These are great numbers for Obama, but they are no better or worse than Bill Clinton or George W. Bush got after their first speeches to Congress," said Keating Holland, CNN polling director.
Still, there was lots for Obama and his team to be happy about in the wake of the address, during which Obama assumed a kind of teacher-in-chief persona and sketched out his plans for restoring the economy, advancing alternative energy technologies and raising educational standards.
Sixty-eight percent said their reaction to his address was extremely positive and another 24 percent somewhat positive, according to the CNN survey.
About 85 percent said his speech made them feel more optimistic about the country's path in the next few years, CNN found.
Seventy-five percent of speech watchers now say they are able to get a good understanding of President Obama's economic plans, compared to 58 percent before the speech, CBS reported.
A similarly large majority, 74%, told CBS they thought Obama's plans will make the economy better. Eleven percent think they will make them worse, while 15 percent think they will make no difference.
In a sign of voters' lingering pessimism, though, respondents were much more split over whether Obama will actually succeed in accomplishing the goals he set out. Only 55% said he could, while 44% thought he would not.
In a new CBS News poll, 63% said they approved of Obama's plans for the economy before he spoke - a number that rose to 80% afterward.
Similarly, 71% told CNN/Opinion Research Corp. they thought Obama was moving the country in the right direction before he spoke. By the time he finished talking, that number had risen to 88%.
"These are great numbers for Obama, but they are no better or worse than Bill Clinton or George W. Bush got after their first speeches to Congress," said Keating Holland, CNN polling director.
Still, there was lots for Obama and his team to be happy about in the wake of the address, during which Obama assumed a kind of teacher-in-chief persona and sketched out his plans for restoring the economy, advancing alternative energy technologies and raising educational standards.
Sixty-eight percent said their reaction to his address was extremely positive and another 24 percent somewhat positive, according to the CNN survey.
About 85 percent said his speech made them feel more optimistic about the country's path in the next few years, CNN found.
Seventy-five percent of speech watchers now say they are able to get a good understanding of President Obama's economic plans, compared to 58 percent before the speech, CBS reported.
A similarly large majority, 74%, told CBS they thought Obama's plans will make the economy better. Eleven percent think they will make them worse, while 15 percent think they will make no difference.
In a sign of voters' lingering pessimism, though, respondents were much more split over whether Obama will actually succeed in accomplishing the goals he set out. Only 55% said he could, while 44% thought he would not.
"Oh God" Heard From MSNBC Set As Gov. Jindal Appears for GOP Response
"Oh God" Heard From MSNBC Set As Gov. Jindal Appears for GOP Response
As Louisana Gov. Bobby Jindal approached the camera to deliver the GOP response to Pres. Obama last night, someone on the MSNBC set whispered "Oh God." But the whisper was loud enough to be heard by anyone who was watching MSNBC.
TVNewser has learned Hardball host Chris Matthews was the anchor who uttered the words. Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow were also a part of the coverage at the time. Some blogs claimed it was Olbermann, but sources tell us it was in fact Matthews.
In addition, Matthews is being criticized for his choice of the word "outsource" when describing Jindal as the GOP's speaker. Jindal is an Indian-American whose parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1970.
A Starry-Eyed Look at the 2012 Republican Field
(fivethirtyeight.com).A long time ago in a galaxy not too far away, I introduced something called the "Planetary Model of Primary Politics". It is basically just a fancy way of noting that there are generally two dimensions by which candidates position themselves in Presidential primaries. One is along an ideological axis (liberal/conservative). The other is what I then called an institutional axis -- whether a candidate seeks to work within existing institutions or to reform them.
I now conceive of the institutional axis as more of a populist axis. Does the candidate stress his connections within the elite, usually expressed in terms of his purported experience, competence, or technical knowledge? Or is he an "outsider" who claims to represent the people in contradiction to the elite? Is he a technocrat or a populist?
These two narratives are so fundamental to American politics that they permeate virtually every election campaign, and allow candidates who are relatively ideological similar (or are dissimilar, for that matter) to differentiate themselves from one another. So why do I call it the "planetary model"? Because it looks something like this:
That is, it looks like a "galaxy" of ideological space, with the candidates representing the equivalent of stars or planets. Depending how fanciful we want to be, we can imagine the planets exerting gravitational forces upon one another, seeking to carve out their own safe space in the universe while at the same time stealing matter (voters) from their opponents.
In looking at the galaxy of prospective Republican candidates, we can divide it into four quadrants:
Conservative Insiders/Technocrats
This is a very crowded space, although it could become more or less so depending on the behavior of two individuals: Mitt Romney and Bobby Jindal.
I think Romney has wasted an awful lot of time over the past couple of years trying to run as a social conservative, chasing voters he's unlikely to obtain because they don't trust either (i) his faith or (ii) his track record (and subsequent reputation for flip-floppery) as governor of Massachusetts. To the extent there's any early indication about Romney's direction for 2012, he seems inclined to continue playing to the right, having recently used his PAC to donate to stimulus opponents. Then again, that strategy wouldn't be mutually exclusive with a campaign based on fiscal conservativism and social moderation, which is what everyone but Mitt Romney seems to think they're getting from Mitt Romney, no matter what Mitt Romney says or does.
Because of his fundraising prowess, Romney should have the first mover advantage in deciding how he wants to position himself; everyone else will have to follow. But there would seem to be more open space to his left than his right if he is bold enough to go there. The one wild card is Jeb Bush, who seems cut from the same sort of cloth as Romney, but even Jeb would probably have to defer to the Mittster.
The whole appeal of Bobby Jindal is that he can play the part of both the technocrat and the populist, a fact perhaps symbolized by his Cajun-fried heritage. The question is whether Jindal will at some point have to decide between the two. Going the populist route would lead to an eventual high-stakes confrontation with Sarah Palin, either early in the primary cycle or perhaps even sooner. Jindal's alternative is becoming the choice of the conservative cognoscenti, which could cut off oxygen from alternatives like Newt Gingirch, John Thune, Eric Cantor and to a lesser extent Kay Bailey Hutchison. Gingrich is the only one of those alternatives who might exert enough gravity on his own to alter Jindal's strategy, although it's a unclear how Gingrich would position himself in the event of an actually running, rather than merely threatening, a campaign.
Conservative Outsiders/Populists
This is Palin Country, and the 'Cuda would appear to have a free ticket to the semifinals unless she is challenged aggressively on her populist credentials by Jindal or perhaps by Mike Huckabee (although I think that Palin and Huckabee can co-exist until a fairly advanced stage of the process). The other potential candidates in this category, such as Fred Thompson, are mere nuisances to Palin, and are probably just hanging around hoping she goes supernova. Mark Sanford and Haley Barbour also seem inclined to move in this direction following their threatened rejection of stimulus monies, but they are poorly-defined candidates in a field with plenty of name recognition, the Doddering Richardsons of the GOP hopefuls.
Moderate Outsiders/Populists
This quadrant is generally sparely populated by the GOP, whose liberal wing owes its heritage to the highly wonkish traditions of the Rockefeller Republicans. Several candidates, however, brush up against its fringe, most notably Huckabee, whose Main Street economic populism creates differentiation with almost every other candidate in the Republican field.
Tim Pawlenty fits vaguely into this category (especially if one believes that having a mullet gives you populist cred). But I've also never particularly understood what Palwenty's appeal is supposed to be: he got a fair amount of free airtime during the Republican veepstakes last year and didn't leave much of an impression.
This is also probably where Ron Paul belongs, although really Paul is in a sort of libertarian hyperspace that few of us can hope to understand. Fellow traveler and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, who endorsed Paul in 2008, could provide for a more credible version of the libertarian message, but is probably too unorthodox a candidate for a party that lacks self-confidence and is groping to find a leader.
Moderate Insiders/Technocrats
This is supposed to be Charlie Crist's space, but I just don't get the sense that Crist is particularly serious about running, having cozied up to Barack Obama while teeing off the Republican establishment. If Crist does not run, or waits until 2016, that could vacate this space for Utah Governor John Hunstman, who perhaps sensing his opportunity is moving hard and to the left on issues like civil unions and the stimulus. A reform-minded candidate like Mitch Daniels could potentially fill this space, as could a recycled one like Rudy Giuliani; this is also where a wild card from the business or the military communities might wind up fitting in. But it will be filled by somebody, as it's a valuable space to own in a year where the other party won't be hosting competitive primaries, leaving independents and Democrats free to weigh in on the GOP contest. The Republicans could wind up with a moderate nominee on accident.
I now conceive of the institutional axis as more of a populist axis. Does the candidate stress his connections within the elite, usually expressed in terms of his purported experience, competence, or technical knowledge? Or is he an "outsider" who claims to represent the people in contradiction to the elite? Is he a technocrat or a populist?
These two narratives are so fundamental to American politics that they permeate virtually every election campaign, and allow candidates who are relatively ideological similar (or are dissimilar, for that matter) to differentiate themselves from one another. So why do I call it the "planetary model"? Because it looks something like this:
That is, it looks like a "galaxy" of ideological space, with the candidates representing the equivalent of stars or planets. Depending how fanciful we want to be, we can imagine the planets exerting gravitational forces upon one another, seeking to carve out their own safe space in the universe while at the same time stealing matter (voters) from their opponents.
In looking at the galaxy of prospective Republican candidates, we can divide it into four quadrants:
Conservative Insiders/Technocrats
This is a very crowded space, although it could become more or less so depending on the behavior of two individuals: Mitt Romney and Bobby Jindal.
I think Romney has wasted an awful lot of time over the past couple of years trying to run as a social conservative, chasing voters he's unlikely to obtain because they don't trust either (i) his faith or (ii) his track record (and subsequent reputation for flip-floppery) as governor of Massachusetts. To the extent there's any early indication about Romney's direction for 2012, he seems inclined to continue playing to the right, having recently used his PAC to donate to stimulus opponents. Then again, that strategy wouldn't be mutually exclusive with a campaign based on fiscal conservativism and social moderation, which is what everyone but Mitt Romney seems to think they're getting from Mitt Romney, no matter what Mitt Romney says or does.
Because of his fundraising prowess, Romney should have the first mover advantage in deciding how he wants to position himself; everyone else will have to follow. But there would seem to be more open space to his left than his right if he is bold enough to go there. The one wild card is Jeb Bush, who seems cut from the same sort of cloth as Romney, but even Jeb would probably have to defer to the Mittster.
The whole appeal of Bobby Jindal is that he can play the part of both the technocrat and the populist, a fact perhaps symbolized by his Cajun-fried heritage. The question is whether Jindal will at some point have to decide between the two. Going the populist route would lead to an eventual high-stakes confrontation with Sarah Palin, either early in the primary cycle or perhaps even sooner. Jindal's alternative is becoming the choice of the conservative cognoscenti, which could cut off oxygen from alternatives like Newt Gingirch, John Thune, Eric Cantor and to a lesser extent Kay Bailey Hutchison. Gingrich is the only one of those alternatives who might exert enough gravity on his own to alter Jindal's strategy, although it's a unclear how Gingrich would position himself in the event of an actually running, rather than merely threatening, a campaign.
Conservative Outsiders/Populists
This is Palin Country, and the 'Cuda would appear to have a free ticket to the semifinals unless she is challenged aggressively on her populist credentials by Jindal or perhaps by Mike Huckabee (although I think that Palin and Huckabee can co-exist until a fairly advanced stage of the process). The other potential candidates in this category, such as Fred Thompson, are mere nuisances to Palin, and are probably just hanging around hoping she goes supernova. Mark Sanford and Haley Barbour also seem inclined to move in this direction following their threatened rejection of stimulus monies, but they are poorly-defined candidates in a field with plenty of name recognition, the Doddering Richardsons of the GOP hopefuls.
Moderate Outsiders/Populists
This quadrant is generally sparely populated by the GOP, whose liberal wing owes its heritage to the highly wonkish traditions of the Rockefeller Republicans. Several candidates, however, brush up against its fringe, most notably Huckabee, whose Main Street economic populism creates differentiation with almost every other candidate in the Republican field.
Tim Pawlenty fits vaguely into this category (especially if one believes that having a mullet gives you populist cred). But I've also never particularly understood what Palwenty's appeal is supposed to be: he got a fair amount of free airtime during the Republican veepstakes last year and didn't leave much of an impression.
This is also probably where Ron Paul belongs, although really Paul is in a sort of libertarian hyperspace that few of us can hope to understand. Fellow traveler and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, who endorsed Paul in 2008, could provide for a more credible version of the libertarian message, but is probably too unorthodox a candidate for a party that lacks self-confidence and is groping to find a leader.
Moderate Insiders/Technocrats
This is supposed to be Charlie Crist's space, but I just don't get the sense that Crist is particularly serious about running, having cozied up to Barack Obama while teeing off the Republican establishment. If Crist does not run, or waits until 2016, that could vacate this space for Utah Governor John Hunstman, who perhaps sensing his opportunity is moving hard and to the left on issues like civil unions and the stimulus. A reform-minded candidate like Mitch Daniels could potentially fill this space, as could a recycled one like Rudy Giuliani; this is also where a wild card from the business or the military communities might wind up fitting in. But it will be filled by somebody, as it's a valuable space to own in a year where the other party won't be hosting competitive primaries, leaving independents and Democrats free to weigh in on the GOP contest. The Republicans could wind up with a moderate nominee on accident.
Obama Job Approval Dips Below 60% for First Time
Gallup -- For the first time since Gallup began tracking Barack Obama's presidential job approval rating on Jan. 21, fewer than 60% of Americans approve of the job he is doing as president. In Feb. 21-23 polling, 59% of Americans give Obama a positive review, while 25% say they disapprove, and 16% have no opinion.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
exclusive excerpts from Governor Bobby Jindal's Response to the State of Union:
As I grew up, my mom and dad taught me the values that attracted them to this country - and they instilled in me an immigrant's wonder at the greatness of America. As a child, I remember going to the grocery store with my dad. Growing up in India, he had seen extreme poverty. And as we walked through the aisles, looking at the endless variety on the shelves, he would tell me: "Bobby, Americans can do anything." I still believe that to this day.
...
Republicans are ready to work with the new President to provide those solutions. Here in my state of Louisiana, we don't care what party you belong to if you have good ideas to make life better for our people. We need more of that attitude from both Democrats and Republicans in our nation's capital. All of us want our economy to recover and our nation to prosper. So where we agree, Republicans must be the President's strongest partners. And where we disagree, Republicans have a responsibility to be candid and offer better ideas for a path forward.
...
The strength of America is not found in our government. It is found in the compassionate hearts and enterprising spirit of our citizens.
...
To solve our current problems, Washington must lead. But the way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians. The way to lead is by empowering you - the American people. Because we believe that Americans can do anything.
...
Democratic leaders say their legislation will grow the economy. What it will do is grow the government, increase our taxes down the line, and saddle future generations with debt. Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It's irresponsible. And it's no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children.
...
In recent years, these distinctions in philosophy became less clear - because our party got away from its principles. You elected Republicans to champion limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility. Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington. Republicans lost your trust - and rightly so.
...
A few weeks ago, the President warned that our nation is facing a crisis that he said "we may not be able to reverse." Our troubles are real, to be sure. But don't let anyone tell you that we cannot recover - or that America's best days are behind her.
...
Republicans are ready to work with the new President to provide those solutions. Here in my state of Louisiana, we don't care what party you belong to if you have good ideas to make life better for our people. We need more of that attitude from both Democrats and Republicans in our nation's capital. All of us want our economy to recover and our nation to prosper. So where we agree, Republicans must be the President's strongest partners. And where we disagree, Republicans have a responsibility to be candid and offer better ideas for a path forward.
...
The strength of America is not found in our government. It is found in the compassionate hearts and enterprising spirit of our citizens.
...
To solve our current problems, Washington must lead. But the way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians. The way to lead is by empowering you - the American people. Because we believe that Americans can do anything.
...
Democratic leaders say their legislation will grow the economy. What it will do is grow the government, increase our taxes down the line, and saddle future generations with debt. Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It's irresponsible. And it's no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children.
...
In recent years, these distinctions in philosophy became less clear - because our party got away from its principles. You elected Republicans to champion limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility. Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington. Republicans lost your trust - and rightly so.
...
A few weeks ago, the President warned that our nation is facing a crisis that he said "we may not be able to reverse." Our troubles are real, to be sure. But don't let anyone tell you that we cannot recover - or that America's best days are behind her.
GOP rising star Jindal's speech a 'coming-out party'Story Highlights
(CNN) -- Thrust into the spotlight as a Republican rising star, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has been depicted as an up-and-comer capable of helping reshape the party and jockeying for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.
Being tapped to give the GOP response to President Obama's address elevates Gov. Bobby Jindal's standing in the party.
And now, Jindal's party is putting him on a national platform, awarding the once little-known congressman the political plum of delivering the Republican's televised response to President Barack Obama's address to Congress Tuesday night.
"The speech is very important. This is his coming-out party," said G. Pearson Cross, head of the University of Louisiana's political science department, who has observed Jindal's political rise. "His speech will put a face on the name."
And put a fresh face on the Republican Party.
The GOP, still reeling from election beatings in 2006 and 2008, is looking to revamp itself by rebuilding from the states up and reaching out to young voters. At 37, the popular Louisiana governor embodies that mission, experts say.
"The job is very important in framing the Republican message really for the rest of the year," said Nick Ayers, executive director of the Republican Governors Association, referring to the response speech Tuesday. "Gov. Jindal provides the outside-the-beltway, not D.C., perspective. And he's one of the smartest policy minds in the country. He's not perceived as a overtly political person."
Being tapped for this prime-time speech, a job normally for congressional leaders, has helped to elevate Jindal's standing in the party dominated by old pros, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner, as well as personalities, such as Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"It's time for another generation to come into play," said GOP strategist Ed Rollins, a CNN contributor. "A lot of Republicans came of age under Reagan, which was 25 years ago ... and we just haven't built on that with young people."
Being tapped to give the GOP response to President Obama's address elevates Gov. Bobby Jindal's standing in the party.
And now, Jindal's party is putting him on a national platform, awarding the once little-known congressman the political plum of delivering the Republican's televised response to President Barack Obama's address to Congress Tuesday night.
"The speech is very important. This is his coming-out party," said G. Pearson Cross, head of the University of Louisiana's political science department, who has observed Jindal's political rise. "His speech will put a face on the name."
And put a fresh face on the Republican Party.
The GOP, still reeling from election beatings in 2006 and 2008, is looking to revamp itself by rebuilding from the states up and reaching out to young voters. At 37, the popular Louisiana governor embodies that mission, experts say.
"The job is very important in framing the Republican message really for the rest of the year," said Nick Ayers, executive director of the Republican Governors Association, referring to the response speech Tuesday. "Gov. Jindal provides the outside-the-beltway, not D.C., perspective. And he's one of the smartest policy minds in the country. He's not perceived as a overtly political person."
Being tapped for this prime-time speech, a job normally for congressional leaders, has helped to elevate Jindal's standing in the party dominated by old pros, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner, as well as personalities, such as Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"It's time for another generation to come into play," said GOP strategist Ed Rollins, a CNN contributor. "A lot of Republicans came of age under Reagan, which was 25 years ago ... and we just haven't built on that with young people."
Monday, February 23, 2009
Palin: Media was on a search and destroy mission
(CNN) — The mainstream media made it a mission to destroy the vice presidential candidacy of Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor says in a new documentary released Monday.
In an interview taped last month for conservative John Zeigler's new film "Media Malpractice," Palin said it is "very frightening, I think, what the media was able to get away with, this go-around.”
"’We are going to seek and we are going to destroy this candidacy of Sarah Palin’s because of what it is that she represents,’" the former vice presidential candidate described as the attitude members of the press adopted.
The movie, available on DVD for the first time Monday, chronicles press coverage of both Democratic primary campaign and the general election, and concludes the media was clearly biased in favor of Barack Obama.
“This is for the sake of our democracy that there is fairness in this other branch of government, if you will, called the media,” Palin also says in the interview filmed in January. “It is foreign to me the way some in the mainstream media are thinking.”
In an interview taped last month for conservative John Zeigler's new film "Media Malpractice," Palin said it is "very frightening, I think, what the media was able to get away with, this go-around.”
"’We are going to seek and we are going to destroy this candidacy of Sarah Palin’s because of what it is that she represents,’" the former vice presidential candidate described as the attitude members of the press adopted.
The movie, available on DVD for the first time Monday, chronicles press coverage of both Democratic primary campaign and the general election, and concludes the media was clearly biased in favor of Barack Obama.
“This is for the sake of our democracy that there is fairness in this other branch of government, if you will, called the media,” Palin also says in the interview filmed in January. “It is foreign to me the way some in the mainstream media are thinking.”
VP Biden to Economy: GET UP...GET UP...GET UP....
President Obama has turned to his own vice president to oversee implementation of the $787 billion economic stimulus package, part of which will be available this week for state Medicaid programs.
Obama announced his decision before the National Governors Association in Washington on Monday, saying Vice President Joe Biden will help ensure the distribution of the money is not just swift, "but also efficient and effective."
"The fact that I'm asking my vice president to personally lead this effort shows how important it is for our country and future to get this right," he said.
Biden, in his new role, would meet regularly with key members of the Cabinet, governors and mayor to make sure their efforts are speedy and effective. He is expected to make regular reports to the president that will be posted online at www.recovery.gov
Obama announced his decision before the National Governors Association in Washington on Monday, saying Vice President Joe Biden will help ensure the distribution of the money is not just swift, "but also efficient and effective."
"The fact that I'm asking my vice president to personally lead this effort shows how important it is for our country and future to get this right," he said.
Biden, in his new role, would meet regularly with key members of the Cabinet, governors and mayor to make sure their efforts are speedy and effective. He is expected to make regular reports to the president that will be posted online at www.recovery.gov
Huckabee: Obama’s Performance ‘Cause for Alarm’
Mike Huckabee in an exclusive Newsmax interview says President Obama’s early job performance is “cause for alarm,” and warns his penchant for talking down the economy is “the worst possible direction he could take.”
Obama’s dark portrayal of the U.S. economy -- apparently intended to lower the high expectations stoked by his rhetoric during the campaign -- is on the verge of becoming a “self-fulfilling prophecy,” Huckabee adds.
“He can no longer talk about the fact that this is all Bush’s fault,” Huckabee tells Newsmax. “First of all there, there was a Democratic Congress that Bush had to deal with, that would not let Bush deal with Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac.
“Now, I think there’s plenty of culpability within the Bush administration, particularly for the TARP [financial bailout] program, which is a dismal failure,” Huckabee concedes. “But Obama ran for president knowing full well what he faced, and as soon as he took command of the ship, it’s his ship to sail or sink.”
Noting that Obama has lost several high Cabinet appointees due to tax and other issues, Huckabee says early indications regarding the quality of the president’s judgment don’t look promising.
“I think it’s cause for alarm,” Huckabee tells Newsmax. “He seems to be tone deaf to his own music. I was very, very disappointed to see him abandon his own rhetoric, as it relates to transparency, ethics, about a new way of doing things in Washington. “I mean, on and on he talked about how he wasn’t going to have a Washington run by a bunch of lobbyists, then about every appointment he makes is given the exception clause, [he’s] appointing people and then insisting they get confirmed who didn’t pay their taxes.
“Those are not the kinds of things that inspire confidence in the lives of people out there in the middle of America who aren’t given a free ride to wait years and years until they’re appointed to some federal job before they pay up,” he adds
Obama’s dark portrayal of the U.S. economy -- apparently intended to lower the high expectations stoked by his rhetoric during the campaign -- is on the verge of becoming a “self-fulfilling prophecy,” Huckabee adds.
“He can no longer talk about the fact that this is all Bush’s fault,” Huckabee tells Newsmax. “First of all there, there was a Democratic Congress that Bush had to deal with, that would not let Bush deal with Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac.
“Now, I think there’s plenty of culpability within the Bush administration, particularly for the TARP [financial bailout] program, which is a dismal failure,” Huckabee concedes. “But Obama ran for president knowing full well what he faced, and as soon as he took command of the ship, it’s his ship to sail or sink.”
Noting that Obama has lost several high Cabinet appointees due to tax and other issues, Huckabee says early indications regarding the quality of the president’s judgment don’t look promising.
“I think it’s cause for alarm,” Huckabee tells Newsmax. “He seems to be tone deaf to his own music. I was very, very disappointed to see him abandon his own rhetoric, as it relates to transparency, ethics, about a new way of doing things in Washington. “I mean, on and on he talked about how he wasn’t going to have a Washington run by a bunch of lobbyists, then about every appointment he makes is given the exception clause, [he’s] appointing people and then insisting they get confirmed who didn’t pay their taxes.
“Those are not the kinds of things that inspire confidence in the lives of people out there in the middle of America who aren’t given a free ride to wait years and years until they’re appointed to some federal job before they pay up,” he adds
CHANGE AND HOPE?? -CNNPoll: 3 out of 4 Americans are scared about state of the country
(CNN) – A new national poll indicates that nearly three out of four Americans are scared about the way things are going in the country today.
Seventy-three percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday say they're very or somewhat scared about the way things are going in the United States. That's six points higher than in an October poll.
Nearly eight in 10 say things are going badly in the country, with just 21 percent suggesting that things are going well. The survey also says that three out of four Americans are angry about the way things are going in the country. But three out of four questioned say that things are going well for them personally.
Seventy-three percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday say they're very or somewhat scared about the way things are going in the United States. That's six points higher than in an October poll.
Nearly eight in 10 say things are going badly in the country, with just 21 percent suggesting that things are going well. The survey also says that three out of four Americans are angry about the way things are going in the country. But three out of four questioned say that things are going well for them personally.
Rasmussen poll: Obama's rating under 60% for 4th day,46% say Obama should address Economy more Optimistic
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 38% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Twenty-seven percent (27%) Strongly Disapprove.
These results come as consumer and investor confidence fell to new record lows again today. Over the past month, assessments of current economic conditions have remained fairly stable while expectations for the future have fallen. Seventy-five percent (75%) oppose the nationalization of banks.
Overall, 58% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far while 40% disapprove. Over the past four days, the overall approval rating has been slightly below the 60% level.
Former President Clinton last week gave fellow Democrat Barack Obama top marks for his handling of the economy but said the new chief executive needs to be more optimistic when talking publicly about economic issues. Forty-six percent (46%) of U.S. voters agree, saying President Obama should speak more positively about the economy.
The $787-billion stimulus plan subsequently passed both the House and Senate but only received three Republican votes. Just 38% of voters think the plan will help the U.S. economy, while 29% think it will hurt.
These results come as consumer and investor confidence fell to new record lows again today. Over the past month, assessments of current economic conditions have remained fairly stable while expectations for the future have fallen. Seventy-five percent (75%) oppose the nationalization of banks.
Overall, 58% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far while 40% disapprove. Over the past four days, the overall approval rating has been slightly below the 60% level.
Former President Clinton last week gave fellow Democrat Barack Obama top marks for his handling of the economy but said the new chief executive needs to be more optimistic when talking publicly about economic issues. Forty-six percent (46%) of U.S. voters agree, saying President Obama should speak more positively about the economy.
The $787-billion stimulus plan subsequently passed both the House and Senate but only received three Republican votes. Just 38% of voters think the plan will help the U.S. economy, while 29% think it will hurt.
Bobby Jindal Explains Why He Would Turn Down Stimulus Money
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Sunday, February 22, 2009
LEADERSHIP:Bobby Jindal refuses Obama’s payout for Louisiana
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has announced that he will decline stimulus money specifically targeted at expanding state unemployment insurance coverage, becoming the first state executive to officially refuse any part of the federal government’s payout to states.
In a statement, Jindal, who is slated to give the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s message to Congress on Tuesday, expressed concern that expanding unemployment insurance coverage would lead to increased unemployment insurance taxes later on, Politico.com reported.
“The federal money in this bill will run out in less than three years for this benefit and our businesses would then be stuck paying the bill,” Jindal said.
“We must be careful and thoughtful as we examine all the strings attached to the funding in this package. We cannot grow Government in an unsustainable way.”
Jindal is one of a small group of Republican governors, which includes South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Mississippi’s Haley Barbour, who have said they might refuse some or all of the stimulus money targeted to their states.
In a statement, Jindal, who is slated to give the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s message to Congress on Tuesday, expressed concern that expanding unemployment insurance coverage would lead to increased unemployment insurance taxes later on, Politico.com reported.
“The federal money in this bill will run out in less than three years for this benefit and our businesses would then be stuck paying the bill,” Jindal said.
“We must be careful and thoughtful as we examine all the strings attached to the funding in this package. We cannot grow Government in an unsustainable way.”
Jindal is one of a small group of Republican governors, which includes South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Mississippi’s Haley Barbour, who have said they might refuse some or all of the stimulus money targeted to their states.
Obama's rating falls under 60%
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 38% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Twenty-seven percent (27%) Strongly Disapprove to give Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of +11.
Overall, 58% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far while 41% disapprove. For most of his time in office, the President’s overall approval rating has stayed between 60% and 62%. Over the past three days, it has been slightly below the 60% level. It remains to be seen whether this modest decline represents lasting change or is merely statistical noise.
Overall, 58% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far while 41% disapprove. For most of his time in office, the President’s overall approval rating has stayed between 60% and 62%. Over the past three days, it has been slightly below the 60% level. It remains to be seen whether this modest decline represents lasting change or is merely statistical noise.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Rasmussenpoll:America's best days are ahead of us or past?
U.S. voters are a little more pessimistic about the days to come this month. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of voters believe America’s best days are in the future, while 40% say they are in the past.
The number of people who say the nation’s best days lie ahead is the lowest found since July 4 of last year and is down from 48% just before Barack Obama’s inauguration a month ago. Last month, 35% of voters said the nation’s best days had come and gone.
More than one in five voters (21%) are undecided, up from 17% last month and 16% in December.
Men are more evenly divided on the question, with 43% who say the best days are still to come and 40% who say the opposite. Among women, 41% believe America’s best days have come and gone, while 35% say they are still ahead.
Given the current political landscape, it's no surprise that most Republicans (55%) say the nation’s best days are in the past, while most Democrats (51%) say they are still to come. The plurality (45%) of unaffiliated voters thinks America’s best days have already past.
Government workers say the best days are ahead 56% to 33%, while those who work for private companies take the opposing view, 47% to 32%
.
The number of people who say the nation’s best days lie ahead is the lowest found since July 4 of last year and is down from 48% just before Barack Obama’s inauguration a month ago. Last month, 35% of voters said the nation’s best days had come and gone.
More than one in five voters (21%) are undecided, up from 17% last month and 16% in December.
Men are more evenly divided on the question, with 43% who say the best days are still to come and 40% who say the opposite. Among women, 41% believe America’s best days have come and gone, while 35% say they are still ahead.
Given the current political landscape, it's no surprise that most Republicans (55%) say the nation’s best days are in the past, while most Democrats (51%) say they are still to come. The plurality (45%) of unaffiliated voters thinks America’s best days have already past.
Government workers say the best days are ahead 56% to 33%, while those who work for private companies take the opposing view, 47% to 32%
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Palin on the Stimulus: Veto the Bill...
Governor Palin shares her thoughts on the stimulus bill and more
Monday, February 16, 2009
Change! Liberals not pleased with go-slow approach by Obama
(LAT).Slowly over the last few weeks, some of Barack Obama's most fervent supporters have come to an unhappy realization: The candidate who they thought was squarely on their side in policy fights is now a president who needs cajoling and persuading.
Advocates for stem cell research thought Obama would quickly sign an order to reverse former President Bush's restrictions on the science. Now they are fretting over Obama's statement that he wants to act in tandem with Congress, possibly causing a delay.
But Obama, in announcing his own faith-based program this month, said only that the discrimination issue might be reviewed.
And Obama's recent moves regarding a lawsuit by detainees have left some liberal groups and Bush critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, feeling betrayed, given that Obama was a harsh critic of Bush's detainee policies when running for office last year.
The anxiety is also being felt in the labor movement, one of Obama's most important support bases. Some union officials and their allies are frustrated that at a crucial point in negotiations over his massive stimulus package, Obama seemed to call for limits on "Buy American" provisions in the bill aimed at making sure stimulus money would be spent on U.S.-made materials.
Obama has been president for less than a month, and his liberal critics concede that the economic crisis has understandably taken the focus off their issues. But some of the issues in play were crucial to building excitement on the left and mobilizing grass-roots support for Obama's candidacy.
"He made very clear promises, and he should live up to them," said Arthur Stamoulis, director of the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign, which received an unqualified "yes" from Obama on a campaign questionnaire last year when the group asked if he would support "Buy American" requirements. "The fact that he's hedging on this is not promising. He's catering much too much to the desires of Republicans who are not going to support the change that voters wanted."
Advocates for stem cell research thought Obama would quickly sign an order to reverse former President Bush's restrictions on the science. Now they are fretting over Obama's statement that he wants to act in tandem with Congress, possibly causing a delay.
But Obama, in announcing his own faith-based program this month, said only that the discrimination issue might be reviewed.
And Obama's recent moves regarding a lawsuit by detainees have left some liberal groups and Bush critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, feeling betrayed, given that Obama was a harsh critic of Bush's detainee policies when running for office last year.
The anxiety is also being felt in the labor movement, one of Obama's most important support bases. Some union officials and their allies are frustrated that at a crucial point in negotiations over his massive stimulus package, Obama seemed to call for limits on "Buy American" provisions in the bill aimed at making sure stimulus money would be spent on U.S.-made materials.
Obama has been president for less than a month, and his liberal critics concede that the economic crisis has understandably taken the focus off their issues. But some of the issues in play were crucial to building excitement on the left and mobilizing grass-roots support for Obama's candidacy.
"He made very clear promises, and he should live up to them," said Arthur Stamoulis, director of the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign, which received an unqualified "yes" from Obama on a campaign questionnaire last year when the group asked if he would support "Buy American" requirements. "The fact that he's hedging on this is not promising. He's catering much too much to the desires of Republicans who are not going to support the change that voters wanted."
Rasmussen:Obama slips 7% in opinion polls in 4 days
While the number of Americans who approve of Barack Obama’s job performance remains steady and high, the number who Strongly Approve has slipped. Following Congressional passage of the stimulus bill, consumer confidence has fallen to another all-time low.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 36% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Obama is performing his role as President. That’s the lowest total of strong support yet measured for the President, on Feb. 12 Obama's strongly approve rating was 43%.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 36% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Obama is performing his role as President. That’s the lowest total of strong support yet measured for the President, on Feb. 12 Obama's strongly approve rating was 43%.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Where's the President Obama who promised to unite us?
(nydailynews).Before it gets lost in the mists of time, here's a fact worth recalling. Prior to President Obama's inauguration, his team had big dreams about the stimulus bill. As Politico.com reported early last month, "Obama aides have said they want to get 80 votes in the Senate to demonstrate bipartisan support and so that Democrats alone cannot be blamed for the breathtaking spending."
That's only six weeks old, but already it feels like ancient history. The hopes of our government uniting to face the staggering financial crisis have been dashed. Instead, we have a deepening mistrust that is so infuriating because it is so ordinary.
With only three Republicans supporting the $800 billion stimulus package, and with its 1,100 pages getting a final vote before they are read, the measure that was supposed to lift the nation has added to the sense of breakdown.
The solution is now part of the problem.
Obama deserves most of the blame. Because he's the President with a mandate and a congressional majority, Republicans would have had to go along - if the President had kept his word to change Washington.
But Obama isn't keeping his word. He is shutting out views that don't match his own, and is back on the campaign trail, as though giving a speech to adoring crowds liberates him from the burdens of the White House. After more than two years of campaigning to get there, one would think he would be ready to govern.
The evidence that he is instead choosing a partisan path and a permanent campaign lies most recently in Sen. Judd Gregg's abrupt withdrawal to be commerce secretary. The New Hampshire Republican's decision to join the administration was hailed as proof of Obama's sincere bipartisan outreach, so Gregg's withdrawal over his unease with Obama's policies must be seen as proof to the contrary.
This is no small moment in the making of an administration. The sense of disappointment in Obama is spreading, as are concerns about the consequences of a bait-and-switch presidency.
The global selloff in stock markets after Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner put out a half-baked plan for fixing the financial system is a clear verdict. His arguing that investors missed the point is telling.
Once again, a White House has all the answers and everybody else is wrong. Obama, like his predecessor, doesn't lack for confidence, only for others who share it.
Of course, bipartisanship is no guarantee of good government. It is often just a big word for mutual gluttony, where both Republicans and Democrats lard up legislation with their pet projects.
Nonpartisanship is closer to what we need now. Better yet, simple competence, unencumbered by political posturing and obligations.
That's only six weeks old, but already it feels like ancient history. The hopes of our government uniting to face the staggering financial crisis have been dashed. Instead, we have a deepening mistrust that is so infuriating because it is so ordinary.
With only three Republicans supporting the $800 billion stimulus package, and with its 1,100 pages getting a final vote before they are read, the measure that was supposed to lift the nation has added to the sense of breakdown.
The solution is now part of the problem.
Obama deserves most of the blame. Because he's the President with a mandate and a congressional majority, Republicans would have had to go along - if the President had kept his word to change Washington.
But Obama isn't keeping his word. He is shutting out views that don't match his own, and is back on the campaign trail, as though giving a speech to adoring crowds liberates him from the burdens of the White House. After more than two years of campaigning to get there, one would think he would be ready to govern.
The evidence that he is instead choosing a partisan path and a permanent campaign lies most recently in Sen. Judd Gregg's abrupt withdrawal to be commerce secretary. The New Hampshire Republican's decision to join the administration was hailed as proof of Obama's sincere bipartisan outreach, so Gregg's withdrawal over his unease with Obama's policies must be seen as proof to the contrary.
This is no small moment in the making of an administration. The sense of disappointment in Obama is spreading, as are concerns about the consequences of a bait-and-switch presidency.
The global selloff in stock markets after Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner put out a half-baked plan for fixing the financial system is a clear verdict. His arguing that investors missed the point is telling.
Once again, a White House has all the answers and everybody else is wrong. Obama, like his predecessor, doesn't lack for confidence, only for others who share it.
Of course, bipartisanship is no guarantee of good government. It is often just a big word for mutual gluttony, where both Republicans and Democrats lard up legislation with their pet projects.
Nonpartisanship is closer to what we need now. Better yet, simple competence, unencumbered by political posturing and obligations.
Romney: Dems not committed to working with GOP
(Map, News) - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney accused Democrats of not working with Republicans despite President Obama's call for bipartisanship.
Romney made the comments in an appearance on a weekly radio program hosted by fellow Republican and former Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich on Baltimore radio station WBAL-AM.
Romney said the only way Obama is going to succeed is if he adopts policies that work, and that means including those from the other side of the aisle.
Romney made the comments in an appearance on a weekly radio program hosted by fellow Republican and former Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich on Baltimore radio station WBAL-AM.
Romney said the only way Obama is going to succeed is if he adopts policies that work, and that means including those from the other side of the aisle.
Flashback: Obama's Broken Promises
Obama: "Public Will Have 5 Days To Look At Every Bill That Lands On My Desk"
7 Broken Promises:
1. Make Government Open and Transparent
2. Make it "Impossible" for Congressmen to slip in Pork Barrel Projects
3. Meetings where laws are written will be more open to the public (republicans shut out)
4. No more secrecy
5. Public will have 5 days to look at a Bill
6. You'll know what's in it (Republican Senators didnt know)
7. We will put every pork barrel project online
7 Broken Promises:
1. Make Government Open and Transparent
2. Make it "Impossible" for Congressmen to slip in Pork Barrel Projects
3. Meetings where laws are written will be more open to the public (republicans shut out)
4. No more secrecy
5. Public will have 5 days to look at a Bill
6. You'll know what's in it (Republican Senators didnt know)
7. We will put every pork barrel project online
This is happening in Obama's time:55% Say Personal Finances Getting Worse
The Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures consumer confidence on a daily basis, fell more than two points on Sunday to 56.5. It is down slightly from a week ago, down four from a month ago, and less than half a point above the all-time low established last Thursday.
Just 15% of consumers say their own personal finances are getting better and 55% say they are getting worse. Overall, 32% rate their own finances as good or excellent. Assessments of the overall economy are even worse.
Just 15% of consumers say their own personal finances are getting better and 55% say they are getting worse. Overall, 32% rate their own finances as good or excellent. Assessments of the overall economy are even worse.
Republican Weekly Address
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) delivered the Republican weekly radio address during which she spoke about the economy and the GOP response to the Congressional passage of the economic stimulus package.
Romney:Stimulate the Economy,not Government
Mitt Romney is showing no sign of leaving the national political stage anytime soon, or dampening speculation that he's lining up a possible second try for president in 2012.
Now comes word that he will headline an event circled on many political calendars -- the National Republican Senatorial Committee's annual fund-raiser.
"Mitt Romney expects to be helping Republicans running for office in the 2010 cycle," Fehrnstrom added.
Now comes word that he will headline an event circled on many political calendars -- the National Republican Senatorial Committee's annual fund-raiser.
"Mitt Romney expects to be helping Republicans running for office in the 2010 cycle," Fehrnstrom added.
Romney will likely match or exceed his schedule last year, when he did events for 33 Republican candidates running for federal office, including five US Senate candidates, Fehrnstrom said.
here is a message from Mitt Romney on his site http://www.freestrongamerica.com/blog/:A few months have passed since the election, and that's enough time to consider the outcome and take stock of our party's future. I want to make clear that I'm optimistic: our ideas are good, and our agenda will make America freer and stronger.And our voice needs to be heard, now more than ever.
This is a time of hardship and uncertainty for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, the new President and the Democratic Congressional majority seem more concerned with stimulating the government than stimulating the economy. They have a lot of campaign rhetoric to make good on and plenty of special interests to pay back.
As the opposition party, we are entirely free to do what is right for the country. There are certain advantages to that kind of freedom, and I suggest we make the most of them.
I know I have been.
Recently, I addressed the House Republican Conference Retreat with my thoughts on how to turn around the economy and get America back on the right track. I also testified before Congress about the importance of making tax cuts the centerpiece of the 2009 economic stimulus package. And with your support, I will continue to fight for the principles in which we both believe.
Will you join me in making the most of this opportunity and making your voice heard? One way to do so is by contributing $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 - or even the maximum $5,000 - to my Free and Strong America PAC. And if you contribute at least $30, we will send you a signed, limited edition "Stimulate the economy, not the government" button. This is the perfect way to show your friends and neighbors where you stand at this critical time for our party and our nation.
This great party of ours has seen setbacks before. They have never defined us. For our party, I believe this will be remembered as the time when we demonstrated the strength of our convictions, when we defended the foundations of America's prosperity, security and liberty. The comeback for our nation and for our party starts with you. I hope I can count on you as an ally in the work ahead.
What Sarah Palin must do next
(Telegraph)....I recently had a conversation with Jim Nuzzo, a Republican strategist and consultant who worked as a senior policy adviser in the first Bush White House. He was the first Republican I came across who was touting Mrs Palin's credentials as a running mate for John McCain.
Mr Nuzzo is a fan of Mrs Palin and genuinely believes she can reinvent herself as the new Margaret Thatcher, or a female Ronald Reagan, depending on your preference. But he thinks she now needs to hunker down and get out of the public eye and prepare for a dramatic and persuasive relaunch in the year before the next election.
Here's what he said when I spoke to him a week ago:
"She needs to be enough in public and elite opinion so she doesn‘t fall off the radar screen entirely but she also has to step back and allow Obama his time on the stage and not get worn out herself, not become a figure that the public gets bored of.
"The second thing is to get together with a number of experts and basically do the heavy lifting of learning all the minutiae of what Washington government is all about, with the idea that she produces a book of her ideas in three years time.
"Most presidential candidates do that. It's critical for her. She has to have a book that says: ‘These are the problems of America and this is how we solve them.' And they have to be intellectually sound enough and deep enough that people will give her a second look, while maintaining her no nonsense personal approach to politics. She has to be slightly off the stage to do that."
Mr Nuzzo is keen to stress that this does not mean Mrs Palin should take tutelage from the wise old McCain campaign sages who filled her head with nonsense during the election campaign. And he stresses that she has been the victim of both sexism and class based prejudice. But he added:
"She's got to be that much smarter and that much more in tune than her rivals. What is clear is that she is very bright and a very quick study. In a short period of time a set of advisers can get her to the stage where she is thinking creatively about the solutions to the nation's problems.
"The McCain campaign came in and treated her like an idiot and demanded that she memorise and regurgitate.
"What she needs are people who recognise that she is a brilliant woman and want to give her understanding, which is completely different from giving her a set of facts. She doesn't need someone who is going to hand her an atlas and say: ‘Memorise every capital city and spit it back at me.' What she needs is someone who is willing to work with her so she develops her own understanding of these things, that it becomes Sarah Palin's ideas, owned by Sarah Palin. It requires someone who respects Sarah Palin's intelligence."
Some of these ideas have already been offered by Newt Gingrich, who told The Hill recently that Mrs Palin could become "very formidable" in the coming years as long as she "seeks out a group of sophisticated policy advisers".
Mr Nuzzo is a fan of Mrs Palin and genuinely believes she can reinvent herself as the new Margaret Thatcher, or a female Ronald Reagan, depending on your preference. But he thinks she now needs to hunker down and get out of the public eye and prepare for a dramatic and persuasive relaunch in the year before the next election.
Here's what he said when I spoke to him a week ago:
"She needs to be enough in public and elite opinion so she doesn‘t fall off the radar screen entirely but she also has to step back and allow Obama his time on the stage and not get worn out herself, not become a figure that the public gets bored of.
"The second thing is to get together with a number of experts and basically do the heavy lifting of learning all the minutiae of what Washington government is all about, with the idea that she produces a book of her ideas in three years time.
"Most presidential candidates do that. It's critical for her. She has to have a book that says: ‘These are the problems of America and this is how we solve them.' And they have to be intellectually sound enough and deep enough that people will give her a second look, while maintaining her no nonsense personal approach to politics. She has to be slightly off the stage to do that."
Mr Nuzzo is keen to stress that this does not mean Mrs Palin should take tutelage from the wise old McCain campaign sages who filled her head with nonsense during the election campaign. And he stresses that she has been the victim of both sexism and class based prejudice. But he added:
"She's got to be that much smarter and that much more in tune than her rivals. What is clear is that she is very bright and a very quick study. In a short period of time a set of advisers can get her to the stage where she is thinking creatively about the solutions to the nation's problems.
"The McCain campaign came in and treated her like an idiot and demanded that she memorise and regurgitate.
"What she needs are people who recognise that she is a brilliant woman and want to give her understanding, which is completely different from giving her a set of facts. She doesn't need someone who is going to hand her an atlas and say: ‘Memorise every capital city and spit it back at me.' What she needs is someone who is willing to work with her so she develops her own understanding of these things, that it becomes Sarah Palin's ideas, owned by Sarah Palin. It requires someone who respects Sarah Palin's intelligence."
Some of these ideas have already been offered by Newt Gingrich, who told The Hill recently that Mrs Palin could become "very formidable" in the coming years as long as she "seeks out a group of sophisticated policy advisers".
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Obama’s news conference - like watching paint dry but 50 million watch
(Csmoniter).No, it wasn’t the most exciting thing you could ever watch.
It wasn’t like a spectacular car chase, or that evolution of dance video, or what’s been called the greatest moment in sporting history (except if you were rooting for the USSR), but it wasn’t supposed to be entertaining.
Still, nearly 50 million people (49.5) tuned in to watch President Obama’s first prime time press conference Monday night on eight networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Univision, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC).
How does this compare to other presidential news conferences? It wasn’t a record breaker.
President Clinton had 64.3 million people watch his first press conference in 1993. And 64.8 million tuned for President George W. Bush’s prime time address following the 9/11 attacks in October 2001.
It wasn’t like a spectacular car chase, or that evolution of dance video, or what’s been called the greatest moment in sporting history (except if you were rooting for the USSR), but it wasn’t supposed to be entertaining.
Still, nearly 50 million people (49.5) tuned in to watch President Obama’s first prime time press conference Monday night on eight networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Univision, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC).
How does this compare to other presidential news conferences? It wasn’t a record breaker.
President Clinton had 64.3 million people watch his first press conference in 1993. And 64.8 million tuned for President George W. Bush’s prime time address following the 9/11 attacks in October 2001.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Rasmussen poll:Support for Stimulus Package Falls to 37%
Support for the economic recovery plan working its way through Congress has fallen again this week. For the first time, a plurality of voters nationwide oppose the $800-billion-plus plan.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 37% favor the legislation, 43% are opposed, and 20% are not sure.
Two weeks ago, 45% supported the plan. Last week, 42% supported it.
Opposition has grown from 34% two weeks ago to 39% last week and 43% today.
Sixty-four percent (64%) of Democrats still support the plan. That figure is down from 74% a week ago. Just 13% of Republicans and 27% of those not affiliated with either major party agree.
Going to the other extreme, 72% of voters oppose a stimulus plan that includes only new government spending without any tax cuts.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 37% favor the legislation, 43% are opposed, and 20% are not sure.
Two weeks ago, 45% supported the plan. Last week, 42% supported it.
Opposition has grown from 34% two weeks ago to 39% last week and 43% today.
Sixty-four percent (64%) of Democrats still support the plan. That figure is down from 74% a week ago. Just 13% of Republicans and 27% of those not affiliated with either major party agree.
Going to the other extreme, 72% of voters oppose a stimulus plan that includes only new government spending without any tax cuts.
BOOBOOBAMA
President Barack Obama waves and learns the door on Marine One is much shorter than he is, and bumps his head slightly.
Romney Against Stimulus Package
Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney says tax cuts are the most effective way to stimulate the economy.
SNL Spoofs Reid, Pelosi Over Stimulus Debacle
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were spoofed on "Saturday Night Live" over the fight to pass the stimulus package.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
RNC video address
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele delivers his weekly Republican address.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
McCain blasts Obama
John McCain took his most direct shot at President Barack Obama since the presidential campaign on Friday morning, using a Senate floor speech to criticize the president for mocking the Republican concerns over the massive economic stimulus package. In a fiery speech Thursday night before House Democrats, Obama rejected the GOP’s characterization that the stimulus package was merely another spending bill. “What do you think a stimulus is? That’s the whole point. No, seriously, that’s the point,” Obama said at the retreat in Williamsburg, Va. On Friday morning, McCain fought back. “The whole point, Mr. President, is to enact tax cuts and spending measures that truly stimulate the economy,” McCain said. “There are billions and tens of billions of dollars in this bill which will have no effect within three, four, five or more years, or ever. Or ever".
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Obama losing the stimulus message war
At this crucial juncture in the push to pass an economic recovery package, President Obama finds himself in the most unlikely of places: He is losing the message war.
Despite Obama’s sky-high personal approval ratings, polls show support has declined for his stimulus bill since Republicans and their conservative talk-radio allies began railing against what they labeled as pork barrel spending within it.
The sheer size of it — hovering at about $900 billion — has prompted more protests that are now causing some moderate and conservative Democrats to flinch and, worse, hesitate.
The anxiety over lost momentum seemed almost palpable this week as the president in television interviews voiced frustration with his White House’s progress and the way his recovery program was being demonized as a Democratic spending frenzy.
In Obama’s own words in an NBC interview, it’s his job to “get this thing back on track.”
Already, he’s trying — rolling out Michelle Obama to talk stimulus Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday (at a train station, no less) and sitting down with key senators one-on-one.
But this is unfamiliar turf for a team that achieved near epic status for its communication skills during the presidential campaign. It has rarely ever had to play catch-up.
With the president’s gifted oratory and a technologically savvy team, the Obama camp was able to seize control of the national conversation as early as April and never fully relinquish it right through his inaugural address two weeks ago.
To be sure, some of Obama’s headaches stem from the normal dysfunction that occurs when a White House is in transition. Phones don’t work, chains of command are fuzzy, and there are formalities that need tending to.
But the Obama team also made its own mistakes. The president’s troubled cabinet nominees added to the cacophony that at times drowned out the White House economic messages in the past two weeks.
And it seems more apparent each day that the nascent Obama administration isn’t fully prepared for the task at hand.
The president’s decision to push through a massive stimulus bill, while perhaps unavoidable, is forcing the much-vaunted Chicago crowd to adapt at lightning speed to its more skillful adversaries on Capitol Hill, while at the same time taking a crash course on harnessing the full power of the bully pulpit. If he doesn’t figure it out soon, Obama is likely to find out that his stimulus package looks very different than he had in mind indeed.
Despite Obama’s sky-high personal approval ratings, polls show support has declined for his stimulus bill since Republicans and their conservative talk-radio allies began railing against what they labeled as pork barrel spending within it.
The sheer size of it — hovering at about $900 billion — has prompted more protests that are now causing some moderate and conservative Democrats to flinch and, worse, hesitate.
The anxiety over lost momentum seemed almost palpable this week as the president in television interviews voiced frustration with his White House’s progress and the way his recovery program was being demonized as a Democratic spending frenzy.
In Obama’s own words in an NBC interview, it’s his job to “get this thing back on track.”
Already, he’s trying — rolling out Michelle Obama to talk stimulus Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday (at a train station, no less) and sitting down with key senators one-on-one.
But this is unfamiliar turf for a team that achieved near epic status for its communication skills during the presidential campaign. It has rarely ever had to play catch-up.
With the president’s gifted oratory and a technologically savvy team, the Obama camp was able to seize control of the national conversation as early as April and never fully relinquish it right through his inaugural address two weeks ago.
To be sure, some of Obama’s headaches stem from the normal dysfunction that occurs when a White House is in transition. Phones don’t work, chains of command are fuzzy, and there are formalities that need tending to.
But the Obama team also made its own mistakes. The president’s troubled cabinet nominees added to the cacophony that at times drowned out the White House economic messages in the past two weeks.
And it seems more apparent each day that the nascent Obama administration isn’t fully prepared for the task at hand.
The president’s decision to push through a massive stimulus bill, while perhaps unavoidable, is forcing the much-vaunted Chicago crowd to adapt at lightning speed to its more skillful adversaries on Capitol Hill, while at the same time taking a crash course on harnessing the full power of the bully pulpit. If he doesn’t figure it out soon, Obama is likely to find out that his stimulus package looks very different than he had in mind indeed.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Cheney warns of new attacks
Former Vice President Dick Cheney warned that there is a “high probability” that terrorists will attempt a catastrophic nuclear or biological attack in coming years, and said he fears the Obama administration’s policies will make it more likely the attempt will succeed.
In an interview Tuesday with Politico, Cheney unyieldingly defended the Bush administration’s support for the Guantanamo Bay prison and coercive interrogation of terrorism suspects.
And he asserted that President Obama will either backtrack on his stated intentions to end those policies or put the country at risk in ways more severe than most Americans — and, he charged, many members of Obama’s own team — understand.
“When we get people who are more concerned about reading the rights to an Al Qaeda terrorist than they are with protecting the United States against people who are absolutely committed to do anything they can to kill Americans, then I worry,” Cheney said.
Protecting the country’s security is “a tough, mean, dirty, nasty business,” he said. “These are evil people. And we’re not going to win this fight by turning the other cheek.”
Citing intelligence reports, Cheney said at least 61 of the inmates who were released from Guantanamo during the Bush administration — “that’s about 11 or 12 percent” — have “gone back into the business of being terrorists.”
The 200 or so inmates still there, he claimed, are “the hard core” whose “recidivism rate would be much higher.” (Lawyers for Guantanamo detainees have strongly disputed the recidivism figures, asserting that the Pentagon data have inconsistencies and omissions.) Cheney called Guantanamo a “first-class program,” and “a necessary facility” that is operated legally and with better food and treatment than the jails in inmates' native countries.
But he said he worried that “instead of sitting down and carefully evaluating the policies,” Obama officials are unwisely following “campaign rhetoric” and preparing to release terrorism suspects or afford them legal protections granted to more conventional defendants in crime cases.
In an interview Tuesday with Politico, Cheney unyieldingly defended the Bush administration’s support for the Guantanamo Bay prison and coercive interrogation of terrorism suspects.
And he asserted that President Obama will either backtrack on his stated intentions to end those policies or put the country at risk in ways more severe than most Americans — and, he charged, many members of Obama’s own team — understand.
“When we get people who are more concerned about reading the rights to an Al Qaeda terrorist than they are with protecting the United States against people who are absolutely committed to do anything they can to kill Americans, then I worry,” Cheney said.
Protecting the country’s security is “a tough, mean, dirty, nasty business,” he said. “These are evil people. And we’re not going to win this fight by turning the other cheek.”
Citing intelligence reports, Cheney said at least 61 of the inmates who were released from Guantanamo during the Bush administration — “that’s about 11 or 12 percent” — have “gone back into the business of being terrorists.”
The 200 or so inmates still there, he claimed, are “the hard core” whose “recidivism rate would be much higher.” (Lawyers for Guantanamo detainees have strongly disputed the recidivism figures, asserting that the Pentagon data have inconsistencies and omissions.) Cheney called Guantanamo a “first-class program,” and “a necessary facility” that is operated legally and with better food and treatment than the jails in inmates' native countries.
But he said he worried that “instead of sitting down and carefully evaluating the policies,” Obama officials are unwisely following “campaign rhetoric” and preparing to release terrorism suspects or afford them legal protections granted to more conventional defendants in crime cases.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Rasmussen poll:55% of Republicans say party should be more like Palin
GOP voters (43%) say their party has been too moderate over the past eight years, and 55% think it should become more like Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in the future, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 24% think failed presidential candidate John McCain is the best future model for the party, and 10% are undecided.
Only 17% of Republican voters say their party has been too conservative, and 30% say its actions and positions have been about right, with nine percent (9%) not sure.
…
Regarding the future of the party, 46% of unaffiliated voters say follow Sarah Palin, while 26% like McCain. Just five percent (5%) give the nod to Bush, and 22% are not sure which way the party should go
Only 17% of Republican voters say their party has been too conservative, and 30% say its actions and positions have been about right, with nine percent (9%) not sure.
…
Regarding the future of the party, 46% of unaffiliated voters say follow Sarah Palin, while 26% like McCain. Just five percent (5%) give the nod to Bush, and 22% are not sure which way the party should go
Romney tries to rally GOP troops
Mitt Romney praised House Republicans for unanimously rejecting President Obama's economic recovery package, saying, "You put the best interests of the American people ahead of politics."
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who ran for president last year and is in the conversation for 2012, said the $819 billion plan is chock full of unnecessary spending and doesn't include real tax cuts that could stoke the economy.
"The difference between us and the Democrats is this: they want to stimulate the government, and we want to stimulate the economy," he said.
Romney said that he is optimistic about the GOP's future and that the way to recover from the November election, when it lost numbers in Congress as well as control of the White House, is to stand firm for the party's core principles.
"I have often been asked what I think the Republican Party must do to recover. What I’ve said is this: My first concern isn’t about our party—it’s about our country," he said at the House Republican Conference Retreat hosted by the Congressional Institute at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.
"In fact, the two are closely related. The best way for us to advance the prospects of our party is to do what we know is right for the country. This is what the American people expect of us. And that’s what we should expect of ourselves."
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who ran for president last year and is in the conversation for 2012, said the $819 billion plan is chock full of unnecessary spending and doesn't include real tax cuts that could stoke the economy.
"The difference between us and the Democrats is this: they want to stimulate the government, and we want to stimulate the economy," he said.
Romney said that he is optimistic about the GOP's future and that the way to recover from the November election, when it lost numbers in Congress as well as control of the White House, is to stand firm for the party's core principles.
"I have often been asked what I think the Republican Party must do to recover. What I’ve said is this: My first concern isn’t about our party—it’s about our country," he said at the House Republican Conference Retreat hosted by the Congressional Institute at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.
"In fact, the two are closely related. The best way for us to advance the prospects of our party is to do what we know is right for the country. This is what the American people expect of us. And that’s what we should expect of ourselves."
Obama shares spotlight with Palin at Alfalfa Dinner
(AP) - President Barack Obama shared Washington’s high-society spotlight on Saturday night with an unlikely co-star — Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
Wearing a black satin evening gown, Palin was spotted by journalists making her way into the ballroom at the Capitol Hilton for the Alfalfa Dinner, an annual closed-door roast of the city’s political and business elite.
Following in the footsteps of White House predecessors, Obama served as headline speaker at the light-hearted black-tie affair, which in accordance with a 96-year tradition bars reporters.
So it was not known whether the president had any choice words from the podium for Palin, who as Republican vice presidential nominee in the 2008 election rarely missed a chance to lash into Obama.
But, according to a few of Obama’s joke excerpts released by the White House, he had a few zingers for his hard-driving chief of state, Rahm Emanuel, who has a reputation for sometimes harsh language.
“It was actually Rahm’s idea to do the swearing-in ceremony again,” he said. “Of course, for Rahm, every day is a swearing-in ceremony,Rahm Emanuel is a real sweetheart,” Obama added. “Every week the guy takes a little time away to give back to the community. Just last week he was at a local school, teaching profanity to poor children.”
Of his battle to guard part of his pre-White House lifestyle after his Jan. 20 inauguration, he said, “In just the first few weeks, I’ve had to engage in some of the toughest diplomacy of my life. And that was just to keep my Blackberry.”
Wearing a black satin evening gown, Palin was spotted by journalists making her way into the ballroom at the Capitol Hilton for the Alfalfa Dinner, an annual closed-door roast of the city’s political and business elite.
Following in the footsteps of White House predecessors, Obama served as headline speaker at the light-hearted black-tie affair, which in accordance with a 96-year tradition bars reporters.
So it was not known whether the president had any choice words from the podium for Palin, who as Republican vice presidential nominee in the 2008 election rarely missed a chance to lash into Obama.
But, according to a few of Obama’s joke excerpts released by the White House, he had a few zingers for his hard-driving chief of state, Rahm Emanuel, who has a reputation for sometimes harsh language.
“It was actually Rahm’s idea to do the swearing-in ceremony again,” he said. “Of course, for Rahm, every day is a swearing-in ceremony,Rahm Emanuel is a real sweetheart,” Obama added. “Every week the guy takes a little time away to give back to the community. Just last week he was at a local school, teaching profanity to poor children.”
Of his battle to guard part of his pre-White House lifestyle after his Jan. 20 inauguration, he said, “In just the first few weeks, I’ve had to engage in some of the toughest diplomacy of my life. And that was just to keep my Blackberry.”
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