Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Lefty Blogger: Obama Wave the White Flag in the Limbaugh War
(Huffingtonpost).Obama and the Democrats should wave the white flag in their strawman war on Rush Limbaugh. The Media Research Center delivered the grim casualty figures for the Democrats. Since January, the top talk show gabber's ratings have soared off the charts. Radio affiliates that carry Limbaugh's syndicated show call the ratings boost he's gotten from the Democrat's orchestrated attack on him a "dramatic surge." This writer predicted as much when President Obama cracked to Congressional Republicans in late January that they should knock off listening to Limbaugh if they expected to get anything done in Congress and with his administration.
The gabber instantly snatched at the quip and turned it into a multi show bonanza. No matter what topic Limbaugh gassed on, he managed to slide in a reference to Obama's prop up of him as the Democrat's prize punching bag. This did three things. It gave him an even bigger pile of fodder to puff himself up as the emperor of talk radio, claim to be the real kingmaker in the GOP, and in a perverse way paint himself as a credible and thoughtful political critic. It snapped many shell shocked Congressional Republicans out of their post election funk. Now suddenly feisty and combative, they draw a deep line in the sand against any and everything that Obama proposed. And it stiffened the spines of many timid Republicans and made them determined not to be bullied, or at least appear not to be bullied, by a mere talk show host into standing up to Obama.
This should have been the red flag warning to the Democrats to drop Limbaugh from their enemies rolodex. But no, they continued to blunder on. They took out ads, radio spots, and email blasts bashing and trashing bogeyman Limbaugh. The idea was to make sure that when the public thought GOP, they thought Limbaugh.
This was even more grist for Limbaugh. An he went on a tear. In quick succession he picked a fight with Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele, Newt Gingrich, a handful of GOP accomodationists, and the usual suspect to him liberal Democratic interest groups. But the real payoff was that it let him pad his bully pulpit to further whip up the pack to nit pick, poke fun at, and blow up any and every alleged slip or misstep by Obama. This in turn added even more steam to his inflammatory campaign of rumors, half truths, distortions, and flat out lies about Obama, liberals, and just about any other issue he rants on.
The gabber instantly snatched at the quip and turned it into a multi show bonanza. No matter what topic Limbaugh gassed on, he managed to slide in a reference to Obama's prop up of him as the Democrat's prize punching bag. This did three things. It gave him an even bigger pile of fodder to puff himself up as the emperor of talk radio, claim to be the real kingmaker in the GOP, and in a perverse way paint himself as a credible and thoughtful political critic. It snapped many shell shocked Congressional Republicans out of their post election funk. Now suddenly feisty and combative, they draw a deep line in the sand against any and everything that Obama proposed. And it stiffened the spines of many timid Republicans and made them determined not to be bullied, or at least appear not to be bullied, by a mere talk show host into standing up to Obama.
This should have been the red flag warning to the Democrats to drop Limbaugh from their enemies rolodex. But no, they continued to blunder on. They took out ads, radio spots, and email blasts bashing and trashing bogeyman Limbaugh. The idea was to make sure that when the public thought GOP, they thought Limbaugh.
This was even more grist for Limbaugh. An he went on a tear. In quick succession he picked a fight with Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele, Newt Gingrich, a handful of GOP accomodationists, and the usual suspect to him liberal Democratic interest groups. But the real payoff was that it let him pad his bully pulpit to further whip up the pack to nit pick, poke fun at, and blow up any and every alleged slip or misstep by Obama. This in turn added even more steam to his inflammatory campaign of rumors, half truths, distortions, and flat out lies about Obama, liberals, and just about any other issue he rants on.
McCain: Let's see who runs in 2012
(AP) — Sen. John McCain isn't committing to supporting his vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, if she runs for president in 2012.
McCain — the GOP's presidential nominee last year — says he wants to see who the other candidates are and what the situation might be.
The Arizona senator elevated Palin to the national stage with his surprise pick. He says he has great affection for Palin and her family. But he also cites three other governors — Utah's John Huntsman, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty as potential candidates.
McCain joked he was going to get himself in trouble for forgetting a name.
McCain — the GOP's presidential nominee last year — says he wants to see who the other candidates are and what the situation might be.
The Arizona senator elevated Palin to the national stage with his surprise pick. He says he has great affection for Palin and her family. But he also cites three other governors — Utah's John Huntsman, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty as potential candidates.
McCain joked he was going to get himself in trouble for forgetting a name.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
"Its the Economy, Stupid" - New GOP Strategy to Regain Power
(FOXNews).Sixteen years ago, Bill Clinton surged to an improbable presidential victory over incumbent George H.W. Bush, primarily on the strength of a snarky campaign phrase: "It's the economy, stupid."
Now, Republicans appear to be crafting their own version in an effort to recapture both chambers in Congress next year.
Their message: President Obama's fiscal policy "spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much."
While that phrase lacks the same zing as Clinton's, Republicans have persistently wielded it every chance they get.
Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour unleashed the phrase in the last two weekly Republican addresses. Other GOP leaders to hurl it include House Minority Leader John Boehner, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
"Obama is providing us with a message by definition of the trillions of dollars in spending for the stimulus and spending packages," said Bill Lee, a GOP consultant who once defeated Clinton in a gubernatorial race. "Obama is the best messenger the Republicans have at this juncture. He's ably assisted in this regard by [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid."
Lee said he doesn't know which slogan will help restore power to Republicans.
"But it certainly is going to center around that subject," he said.
Brian Walsh, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee said Democrats cleverly hung Bush around the neck of Republicans in the last election cycle. But they won't have him to kick around next year, Walsh said.
"They're the party in charge," he said.
"If they continuing doing what they're doing," Walsh said of Democrats, "I'm increasingly optimistic about Republicans' chances in 2010.
Now, Republicans appear to be crafting their own version in an effort to recapture both chambers in Congress next year.
Their message: President Obama's fiscal policy "spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much."
While that phrase lacks the same zing as Clinton's, Republicans have persistently wielded it every chance they get.
Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour unleashed the phrase in the last two weekly Republican addresses. Other GOP leaders to hurl it include House Minority Leader John Boehner, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
"Obama is providing us with a message by definition of the trillions of dollars in spending for the stimulus and spending packages," said Bill Lee, a GOP consultant who once defeated Clinton in a gubernatorial race. "Obama is the best messenger the Republicans have at this juncture. He's ably assisted in this regard by [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid."
Lee said he doesn't know which slogan will help restore power to Republicans.
"But it certainly is going to center around that subject," he said.
Brian Walsh, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee said Democrats cleverly hung Bush around the neck of Republicans in the last election cycle. But they won't have him to kick around next year, Walsh said.
"They're the party in charge," he said.
"If they continuing doing what they're doing," Walsh said of Democrats, "I'm increasingly optimistic about Republicans' chances in 2010.
Obama Town Hall Questioners Were Campaign Backers
(WApo).President Obama has promised to change the way the government does business, but in at least one respect he is taking a page from the Bush playbook, stocking his town hall Thursday with supporters whose soft -- though far from planted -- questions provided openings to discuss his preferred message of the day.
Obama has said, "I think it's important to engage your critics ... because not only will you occasionally change their mind but, more importantly, sometimes they will change your mind,".
But while the online question portion of the White House town hall was open to any member of the public with an Internet connection, the five fully identified questioners called on randomly by the president in the East Room were anything but a diverse lot. They included: a member of the pro-Obama Service Employees International Union, a member of the Democratic National Committee who campaigned for Obama among Hispanics during the primary; a former Democratic candidate for Virginia state delegate who endorsed Obama last fall in an op-ed in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star; and a Virginia businessman who was a donor to Obama's campaign in 2008.
Read more here:
Obama has said, "I think it's important to engage your critics ... because not only will you occasionally change their mind but, more importantly, sometimes they will change your mind,".
But while the online question portion of the White House town hall was open to any member of the public with an Internet connection, the five fully identified questioners called on randomly by the president in the East Room were anything but a diverse lot. They included: a member of the pro-Obama Service Employees International Union, a member of the Democratic National Committee who campaigned for Obama among Hispanics during the primary; a former Democratic candidate for Virginia state delegate who endorsed Obama last fall in an op-ed in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star; and a Virginia businessman who was a donor to Obama's campaign in 2008.
Read more here:
Friday, March 27, 2009
OBAMA GETS PERSONAL STIMULUS: Obama raised cash after leaving Senate
(washingtontimes).President Obama continued collecting money for his 2010 Senate re-election campaign even after he resigned his seat from Illinois, including a maximum $2,300 donation the day after Christmas from a top executive of a Wall Street firm that had received a government bailout.
Four contributions - $4,800 in all - were donated to the Obama 2010 fund on Dec. 26, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
The money came from some of Mr. Obama's top presidential fundraisers: Bruce A. Heyman, managing director at Goldman Sachs, which received a $10 billion bailout last year; Steven Koch, vice chairman at Credit Suisse First Boston; and John Levi, a lawyer at the law and lobbying firm of Sidley Austin LLP.
The donations are legal, but the timing is unusual because Mr. Obama formally left the Senate on Nov. 16 and already had a surplus in his Senate campaign treasury.
Under federal election law, Mr. Obama and five other former members of Congress now serving in his Cabinet or the White House can retain congressional campaign funds for years, even if they don't plan to run for Congress again. They can spend the money for any political purpose.
Four contributions - $4,800 in all - were donated to the Obama 2010 fund on Dec. 26, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
The money came from some of Mr. Obama's top presidential fundraisers: Bruce A. Heyman, managing director at Goldman Sachs, which received a $10 billion bailout last year; Steven Koch, vice chairman at Credit Suisse First Boston; and John Levi, a lawyer at the law and lobbying firm of Sidley Austin LLP.
The donations are legal, but the timing is unusual because Mr. Obama formally left the Senate on Nov. 16 and already had a surplus in his Senate campaign treasury.
Under federal election law, Mr. Obama and five other former members of Congress now serving in his Cabinet or the White House can retain congressional campaign funds for years, even if they don't plan to run for Congress again. They can spend the money for any political purpose.
Mccain was right...."someday he will come after you"
Byron York-washingtonexaminer).Barack Obama used to get very upset about federal budget deficits. Denouncing an "orgy of spending and enormous deficits," he turned to John McCain during their presidential debates last fall and said, "We have had, over the last eight years, the biggest increases in deficit spending and national debt in our history…Now we have a half-trillion deficit annually…and Sen. McCain voted for four out of five of those George Bush budgets."
That was then. Now, President Obama is asking lawmakers to vote for a budget with a deficit three times the size of the one that so disturbed candidate Obama just a few months ago. And Obama foresees, for years to come, deficits that dwarf those he felt so passionately about way, way back in 2008.
Everywhere you go on Capitol Hill, you hear echoes of the last campaign's spending debate. So on Thursday morning, as the budget fight raged, I asked McCain about the president's seemingly forgotten concern about deficits. McCain doesn't like to rehash the campaign -- "The one thing Americans don't like is a sore loser," he told me -- but when I read him Obama's quote from the debate, he said, "Well, there are a number of statements that were made by then-candidate Obama which have not translated into his policies."
That's an understatement. The deficit issue could be one of the most, if not the most, consequential of Obama's unkept campaign promises. Just how consequential was made clear last week in a little-noticed conference call featuring Budget Director Peter Orszag. Orszag was trying to explain to reporters how the Obama administration calculated its rather rosy forecasts for economic growth. Near the end of the call, he was asked whether deficits along the lines of those predicted by the Congressional Budget Office are sustainable."
Orszag at first dodged the question, saying he was sure the final Obama budget will "reflect a fiscally sustainable path." But the questioner persisted: Are those deficits sustainable? Relenting, Orszag said such deficits, in the range of five percent of the Gross Domestic Product, "would lead to rising debt-to-GDP ratios in a manner that would ultimately not be sustainable."
The simple version of that is: If the Congressional Budget Office projections are correct, we're headed for hell in a handbasket.
I asked McCain what might happen if Obama and Orszag get their way. First, the U.S. could have to print a lot of new money, "running the huge risk of inflation and returning to the situation of the 1970s, only far worse," McCain said. The second option is to raise taxes.
Just this week, former Clinton budget director Alice Rivlin conceded that Obama's budget could present a "scary scenario" that would "raise deficits to unsustainable levels well after the economy recovers." The solution, she wrote, is higher taxes, and not just for the richest of the rich.
Of course, that's what McCain said during the campaign. And it's what the much-maligned Joe the Plumber said, too. Remember when he took so much flak for objecting to Obama's plan to raise taxes only on those Americans making more than $250,000 a year? Joe didn't make anything near that, the critics said, so why was he worrying?
The point was not that Joe made that much, or that anybody at McCain's rallies made that much -- the vast majority didn't. The point was that Obama was promising so many things that to pay for them he would eventually have to raise taxes on people making far less than $250,000. Look out, McCain warned -- someday he'll come after you.
That was then. Now, President Obama is asking lawmakers to vote for a budget with a deficit three times the size of the one that so disturbed candidate Obama just a few months ago. And Obama foresees, for years to come, deficits that dwarf those he felt so passionately about way, way back in 2008.
Everywhere you go on Capitol Hill, you hear echoes of the last campaign's spending debate. So on Thursday morning, as the budget fight raged, I asked McCain about the president's seemingly forgotten concern about deficits. McCain doesn't like to rehash the campaign -- "The one thing Americans don't like is a sore loser," he told me -- but when I read him Obama's quote from the debate, he said, "Well, there are a number of statements that were made by then-candidate Obama which have not translated into his policies."
That's an understatement. The deficit issue could be one of the most, if not the most, consequential of Obama's unkept campaign promises. Just how consequential was made clear last week in a little-noticed conference call featuring Budget Director Peter Orszag. Orszag was trying to explain to reporters how the Obama administration calculated its rather rosy forecasts for economic growth. Near the end of the call, he was asked whether deficits along the lines of those predicted by the Congressional Budget Office are sustainable."
Orszag at first dodged the question, saying he was sure the final Obama budget will "reflect a fiscally sustainable path." But the questioner persisted: Are those deficits sustainable? Relenting, Orszag said such deficits, in the range of five percent of the Gross Domestic Product, "would lead to rising debt-to-GDP ratios in a manner that would ultimately not be sustainable."
The simple version of that is: If the Congressional Budget Office projections are correct, we're headed for hell in a handbasket.
I asked McCain what might happen if Obama and Orszag get their way. First, the U.S. could have to print a lot of new money, "running the huge risk of inflation and returning to the situation of the 1970s, only far worse," McCain said. The second option is to raise taxes.
Just this week, former Clinton budget director Alice Rivlin conceded that Obama's budget could present a "scary scenario" that would "raise deficits to unsustainable levels well after the economy recovers." The solution, she wrote, is higher taxes, and not just for the richest of the rich.
Of course, that's what McCain said during the campaign. And it's what the much-maligned Joe the Plumber said, too. Remember when he took so much flak for objecting to Obama's plan to raise taxes only on those Americans making more than $250,000 a year? Joe didn't make anything near that, the critics said, so why was he worrying?
The point was not that Joe made that much, or that anybody at McCain's rallies made that much -- the vast majority didn't. The point was that Obama was promising so many things that to pay for them he would eventually have to raise taxes on people making far less than $250,000. Look out, McCain warned -- someday he'll come after you.
Politician in Chief's risky overexposure
(CNN) — The President is not just the commander-in-chief — he's also the politician-in-chief. And lately, we're seeing President Obama more and more in that role.
Two town halls in California last week. This week, a virtual town hall. Appearances on The Tonight Show . . . 60 Minutes . . . ESPN. Two prime-time news conferences.
Then there's door-to-door canvassing by his grass-roots supporters, and a TV ad from his supporters in the Democratic Party that urges Americans to call their members of Congress and tell them to vote for the Obama budget.
Is the President risking overexposure? You hear that criticism in the press. New York Times columnist Gail Collins wrote, "Barack Obama is going to be on television every day forever. No venue is too strange."
Is President Obama violating his promise to change the tone of American politics?
Two town halls in California last week. This week, a virtual town hall. Appearances on The Tonight Show . . . 60 Minutes . . . ESPN. Two prime-time news conferences.
Then there's door-to-door canvassing by his grass-roots supporters, and a TV ad from his supporters in the Democratic Party that urges Americans to call their members of Congress and tell them to vote for the Obama budget.
Is the President risking overexposure? You hear that criticism in the press. New York Times columnist Gail Collins wrote, "Barack Obama is going to be on television every day forever. No venue is too strange."
Is President Obama violating his promise to change the tone of American politics?
Palin unplugged in speech to Alaska GOP dinner
(CNN) – In a little-noticed speech to a GOP dinner in Alaska last week, Palin riffed for nearly an hour on a variety of topics — including her relationship with former McCain staffers, the Bush administration's anti-terror efforts, and actress Ashley Judd.
But the Alaska governor returned multiple times to the "unprecedented level of media slant" that she witnessed during her two-months on the Republican ticket with John McCain.
Her speech, delivered last Friday to the Anchorage Lincoln Day Dinner, was recorded by the Alaska Republican Party and posted online Tuesday.
Reflecting on the campaign, Palin said there were "a variety of reasons" Republicans lost in November, namely the faltering economy, but she seemed to place most of the blame on the press.
"Some in the media actually participated in not so much the 'who-what-where-when-why' objective reporting on candidates and positions, those five W's that I learned when I had a journalism degree so many years ago in college, when the world of journalism was quite different than it is today," she said.
"No, things have changed," she continued. "But complaining? Or whining? Absolutely not. But I am going to call it like I see it. It doesn't do any good to whine about any of this. But I can call it like I see it. Sometimes it gets me in a lot of trouble when I speak candidly, and I speak from the heart and I do such a thing. But I am going to."
"And there was that media slant this go round," she said. "And unless things change, the GOP had really better can stand together, 'cause we got that on the battlefield also. I call it like I see it and like I lived it on the campaign trail. Not complaining, but dealing with reality."
"Those are the cards that are dealt us," she said, "and we had better learn to play that hand and do things right and do things better."
Later in the speech, she told a story about praying for strength before last October's Vice Presidential debate with Joe Biden in St. Louis.
"So I'm looking around for somebody to pray with, I just need maybe a little help, maybe a little extra," she said. "And the McCain campaign, love 'em, you know, they're a lot of people around me, but nobody I could find that I wanted to hold hands with and pray." As the crowd laughed, Palin grinned and said she meant no disrespect to the McCain campaign. She said she ultimately prayed with her daughter Piper.
The governor also took a shot at an environmental group fronted by actress Ashley Judd — the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund — that has mounted a campaign against the governor to halt the practice aerial wolf hunting in Alaska. Palin called on her fellow Republicans to "stand up to those goofy Defenders of Wildlife celebrity starlets who don't even know about Alaska."
She mocked the Obama administration's elimination of the term "enemy combatant" and reminded the crowd that "we're at war." She lauded former President Bush for his efforts to prevent another terrorist attack after September 11, standing up for the 43rd president even though "the political and media elite ridiculed and mocked him."
"It's no small accomplishment that no terrorist attack has occurred since 9/11," Palin said.
Adding her voice to the debate over the future of the GOP, Palin said the Republican Party would be happy to welcome Democrats and independents who might grow frustrated with Democratic overreach, but she rejected the suggestion that the party should become more moderate. Instead, she argued, Republicans need to better communicate their ideas.
"Sometimes, the middle of the fence is really the most uncomfortable place to be," she said. "How about we just keep it simple? To grow, we've got to be who we are."
But the Alaska governor returned multiple times to the "unprecedented level of media slant" that she witnessed during her two-months on the Republican ticket with John McCain.
Her speech, delivered last Friday to the Anchorage Lincoln Day Dinner, was recorded by the Alaska Republican Party and posted online Tuesday.
Reflecting on the campaign, Palin said there were "a variety of reasons" Republicans lost in November, namely the faltering economy, but she seemed to place most of the blame on the press.
"Some in the media actually participated in not so much the 'who-what-where-when-why' objective reporting on candidates and positions, those five W's that I learned when I had a journalism degree so many years ago in college, when the world of journalism was quite different than it is today," she said.
"No, things have changed," she continued. "But complaining? Or whining? Absolutely not. But I am going to call it like I see it. It doesn't do any good to whine about any of this. But I can call it like I see it. Sometimes it gets me in a lot of trouble when I speak candidly, and I speak from the heart and I do such a thing. But I am going to."
"And there was that media slant this go round," she said. "And unless things change, the GOP had really better can stand together, 'cause we got that on the battlefield also. I call it like I see it and like I lived it on the campaign trail. Not complaining, but dealing with reality."
"Those are the cards that are dealt us," she said, "and we had better learn to play that hand and do things right and do things better."
Later in the speech, she told a story about praying for strength before last October's Vice Presidential debate with Joe Biden in St. Louis.
"So I'm looking around for somebody to pray with, I just need maybe a little help, maybe a little extra," she said. "And the McCain campaign, love 'em, you know, they're a lot of people around me, but nobody I could find that I wanted to hold hands with and pray." As the crowd laughed, Palin grinned and said she meant no disrespect to the McCain campaign. She said she ultimately prayed with her daughter Piper.
The governor also took a shot at an environmental group fronted by actress Ashley Judd — the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund — that has mounted a campaign against the governor to halt the practice aerial wolf hunting in Alaska. Palin called on her fellow Republicans to "stand up to those goofy Defenders of Wildlife celebrity starlets who don't even know about Alaska."
She mocked the Obama administration's elimination of the term "enemy combatant" and reminded the crowd that "we're at war." She lauded former President Bush for his efforts to prevent another terrorist attack after September 11, standing up for the 43rd president even though "the political and media elite ridiculed and mocked him."
"It's no small accomplishment that no terrorist attack has occurred since 9/11," Palin said.
Adding her voice to the debate over the future of the GOP, Palin said the Republican Party would be happy to welcome Democrats and independents who might grow frustrated with Democratic overreach, but she rejected the suggestion that the party should become more moderate. Instead, she argued, Republicans need to better communicate their ideas.
"Sometimes, the middle of the fence is really the most uncomfortable place to be," she said. "How about we just keep it simple? To grow, we've got to be who we are."
No bounce Mr. Teleprompter
President Obama has not received a bounce in his approval ratings following Tuesday night’s prime-time televised press conference. Following his first prime-time press conference and his nationally televised address to Congress, the President’s numbers bounced significantly before returning to earlier levels.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 35% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty percent (30%) Strongly Disapprove.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 35% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty percent (30%) Strongly Disapprove.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
John Boehner on budget: 'Here it is, Mr. President'
(CNN) -- House Republicans on Thursday said they have come up with an alternative proposal to the president's budget, following criticism from Democrats that they have become the "party of no."
Rep. John Boehner says President Obama's budget is "completely irresponsible."
"Two nights ago the president said, 'We haven't seen a budget yet out of Republicans.' Well, it's just not true because -- Here it is, Mr. President," said House Minority leader Rep. John Boehner, as he held up a booklet that he said was a "blueprint for where we're going."
The details of the GOP budget will be presented on the House floor next week, said Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin.
"We're going to show a leaner budget, a budget with lower taxes, lower spending and lower borrowing," Ryan said.
Rep. John Boehner says President Obama's budget is "completely irresponsible."
"Two nights ago the president said, 'We haven't seen a budget yet out of Republicans.' Well, it's just not true because -- Here it is, Mr. President," said House Minority leader Rep. John Boehner, as he held up a booklet that he said was a "blueprint for where we're going."
The details of the GOP budget will be presented on the House floor next week, said Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin.
"We're going to show a leaner budget, a budget with lower taxes, lower spending and lower borrowing," Ryan said.
McCain: People voted 'mostly for Sarah Palin' last year
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain has no illusions about the 2008 White House race.
"God bless them," McCain said Thursday at the Heritage Foundation when reminded of the tens of millions of people who voted for him last year.
"Over 50 million people voted for me and Sarah Palin - mostly for Sarah Palin," McCain said to an eruption of laughter. But "there was a sizable majority of the other party returned to Congress. And, elections have consequences. Elections have consequences. And these consequences we are seeing now in full display."
McCain described himself as "very nervous" about the Obama administration's proposal for FDIC-like resolution authority over non-bank financial institutions like AIG in order to prevent another near calamity in the global financial system.
"I understand that we need some of these institutions to be taken over before they are total failures but I am very nervous about that . . . about the expansion of government oversight," McCain said. "But we have to do a better job of regulation and transparency. The status quo is not acceptable either."
McCain's speech Thursday at the conservative think tank focused on the country's economic crisis and dire long-term fiscal outlook. Before he spoke, the former presidential candidate was greeted by a standing ovation in an auditorium filled with people primarily in their 20's and 30's.
Gen. Richard Myers: U.S. Enemies Seek WMDs to End 'Our Way of Life'
Former top military commander Gen. Richard Myers tells Newsmax that America’s enemies in the war on terror are “ruthless” and “relentless” and will not hesitate to use nuclear or biological weapons if they obtain them.
“They want to do away with our way of life,” Myers tells Newsmax TV’s Ashley Martella. “They could bring great harm to this country and our friends and allies.”
Myers, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 2001 until September 2005, tells Newsmax that the U.S. focused too narrowly on tactical battles and failed to develop a long-rang strategy to battle terrorism.
“After 9/11 we had some things we had to do right away,” said Myers, author of the new book, “Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security.”
“Afghanistan was one of them. Then we went into Iraq. But the development of a strategy to deal with the whole issue of violent extremism — we didn’t take the time to do that because we were so busy with the day to day.
Myers said the further America gets from the events of 9/11, the more complacent it gets, and the more danger the country is in.
“I’m not an alarmist but I did spend four years right after 9/11 looking at all this intelligence from violent extremists,” he says. “ They could [attack America] through biological weapons. God forbid if they get their hands on nuclear materials, they could do it that way as well. And they’re ruthless so we know they’d use them.”
“They want to do away with our way of life,” Myers tells Newsmax TV’s Ashley Martella. “They could bring great harm to this country and our friends and allies.”
Myers, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 2001 until September 2005, tells Newsmax that the U.S. focused too narrowly on tactical battles and failed to develop a long-rang strategy to battle terrorism.
“After 9/11 we had some things we had to do right away,” said Myers, author of the new book, “Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security.”
“Afghanistan was one of them. Then we went into Iraq. But the development of a strategy to deal with the whole issue of violent extremism — we didn’t take the time to do that because we were so busy with the day to day.
Myers said the further America gets from the events of 9/11, the more complacent it gets, and the more danger the country is in.
“I’m not an alarmist but I did spend four years right after 9/11 looking at all this intelligence from violent extremists,” he says. “ They could [attack America] through biological weapons. God forbid if they get their hands on nuclear materials, they could do it that way as well. And they’re ruthless so we know they’d use them.”
Karl Rove:Obama's spending Agenda may bring the GOP to power back again
(WSJ).Something powerful is stirring in the land, and it may not be good news for President Barack Obama, his agenda or the Democratic Party. Mr. Obama said Tuesday night his budget moves America "from an era of borrow and spend" to "save and invest." But people are realizing he would add $9.3 trillion to the national debt, doubling it in six years and nearly tripling it in 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). How can that be "save and invest"?
In his inaugural address, Mr. Obama told us, "The stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply." He wants to turn to new issues of education, health care and green jobs, which he plugged at every opportunity in Tuesday's press conference.
Suddenly, though, it doesn't seem like a time of new politics and new concerns. Many Americans are anxious -- and in some cases angry -- about a set of old issues: deficits, taxes and the national debt. Mr. Obama's radical budget, his administration's slapdash operating manner, and events such as the AIG bonuses have revived animosity over government's size and cost.
In response, tea parties are sprouting up, and opposition is growing to more bailouts, more spending, higher taxes and larger deficits, even among Congressional Democrats.
Last fiscal year, the deficit was $459 billion. For this fiscal year, it was $569 billion when Mr. Obama took office. Under his proposals, another $1.276 trillion will be added to the deficit this year, for a total of $1.845 trillion.
Federal spending will under Mr. Obama top $4 trillion this year. This translates into 28.5% of GDP -- a level exceeded only at the height of World War II. According to the president's plans, spending will thereafter slow for three years, but then grow faster than the economy for the next seven years and beyond. Spending rises by $3.1 trillion from 2009-19, including $911 billion for legislation signed during his first two months in office, including the stimulus bill and the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (and not including interest on the mushrooming debt). Mr. Obama is violating every tenet of his promise "to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day."
Americans are also worried about Mr. Obama's plans for $1.9 trillion more in taxes. These tax hikes won't just affect the "rich," as he claims. His cap-and-trade carbon tax will hit everyone who consumes energy -- that is, every American. Taxes on the top 5% of filers will result in lost jobs and wages for small businesses and less charitable giving. The administration claims higher taxes are required for deficit reduction. But its spending increases are half again as large as its tax hikes.
The dynamic he has set in motion could spur the emergence of strong competitors to Mr. Obama in 2012 who take a strong, principled stand against record-setting deficits, debt and taxes. It may also strengthen Republican chances in next year's midterm elections.
Democrats should, for example, be troubled by a new National Public Radio poll showing Republicans tied or ahead in generic matchups for Congress. And while the midterms are 20 months off, Republican gubernatorial hopefuls in Virginia (Attorney General Bob McDonnell) and New Jersey (former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie) are ahead in two states Barack Obama carried last year that vote this fall.
Tuesday night's news conference showed a fluid, self-assured president -- but one who seems to think that repeating a false argument will make it true. The man who promised to end "finger-pointing" has developed the habit of blaming everyone who came before him. Invoking the language of fiscal responsibility, he is engineering prosperity-killing deficits and bankrupting spending. Mr. Obama has put front and center a set of issues -- spending and taxation -- that brought Republicans to power in the past and may bring them back again. It looks as if we may be heading back to the future.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Obama told us, "The stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply." He wants to turn to new issues of education, health care and green jobs, which he plugged at every opportunity in Tuesday's press conference.
Suddenly, though, it doesn't seem like a time of new politics and new concerns. Many Americans are anxious -- and in some cases angry -- about a set of old issues: deficits, taxes and the national debt. Mr. Obama's radical budget, his administration's slapdash operating manner, and events such as the AIG bonuses have revived animosity over government's size and cost.
In response, tea parties are sprouting up, and opposition is growing to more bailouts, more spending, higher taxes and larger deficits, even among Congressional Democrats.
Last fiscal year, the deficit was $459 billion. For this fiscal year, it was $569 billion when Mr. Obama took office. Under his proposals, another $1.276 trillion will be added to the deficit this year, for a total of $1.845 trillion.
Federal spending will under Mr. Obama top $4 trillion this year. This translates into 28.5% of GDP -- a level exceeded only at the height of World War II. According to the president's plans, spending will thereafter slow for three years, but then grow faster than the economy for the next seven years and beyond. Spending rises by $3.1 trillion from 2009-19, including $911 billion for legislation signed during his first two months in office, including the stimulus bill and the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (and not including interest on the mushrooming debt). Mr. Obama is violating every tenet of his promise "to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day."
Americans are also worried about Mr. Obama's plans for $1.9 trillion more in taxes. These tax hikes won't just affect the "rich," as he claims. His cap-and-trade carbon tax will hit everyone who consumes energy -- that is, every American. Taxes on the top 5% of filers will result in lost jobs and wages for small businesses and less charitable giving. The administration claims higher taxes are required for deficit reduction. But its spending increases are half again as large as its tax hikes.
The dynamic he has set in motion could spur the emergence of strong competitors to Mr. Obama in 2012 who take a strong, principled stand against record-setting deficits, debt and taxes. It may also strengthen Republican chances in next year's midterm elections.
Democrats should, for example, be troubled by a new National Public Radio poll showing Republicans tied or ahead in generic matchups for Congress. And while the midterms are 20 months off, Republican gubernatorial hopefuls in Virginia (Attorney General Bob McDonnell) and New Jersey (former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie) are ahead in two states Barack Obama carried last year that vote this fall.
Tuesday night's news conference showed a fluid, self-assured president -- but one who seems to think that repeating a false argument will make it true. The man who promised to end "finger-pointing" has developed the habit of blaming everyone who came before him. Invoking the language of fiscal responsibility, he is engineering prosperity-killing deficits and bankrupting spending. Mr. Obama has put front and center a set of issues -- spending and taxation -- that brought Republicans to power in the past and may bring them back again. It looks as if we may be heading back to the future.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Thompson: I don't want Obama's policies to succeed
(CNN) - Count former GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson among the growing chorus of prominent Republicans who want President Obama's policies to fail.
Thompson told CNN's John Roberts Wednesday that he agreed with some of his fellow Republicans who have said publicly they do not want the president's policies to be successful.
"I want his policies that I believe take us in the wrong direction to fail," Thompson told Roberts on CNN's American Morning.
"If he takes us down the road of tripling our national debt in ten years and making us vulnerable to higher interest rates and higher inflation, and things of that nature, I want all those policies not to succeed," he said.
"If he wants to do that, I will join with him. I'll do everything I can to make him succeed with regard to that because that's the whole ball game in terms of our fiscal future in this country," said the former Tennessee senator.
Thompson criticized Obama's ambitious health care agenda, telling Roberts the president's plans would cost the government more than they would save.
Thompson told CNN's John Roberts Wednesday that he agreed with some of his fellow Republicans who have said publicly they do not want the president's policies to be successful.
"I want his policies that I believe take us in the wrong direction to fail," Thompson told Roberts on CNN's American Morning.
"If he takes us down the road of tripling our national debt in ten years and making us vulnerable to higher interest rates and higher inflation, and things of that nature, I want all those policies not to succeed," he said.
"If he wants to do that, I will join with him. I'll do everything I can to make him succeed with regard to that because that's the whole ball game in terms of our fiscal future in this country," said the former Tennessee senator.
Thompson criticized Obama's ambitious health care agenda, telling Roberts the president's plans would cost the government more than they would save.
Early ratings: 'TELEPROMPTER IDOL' viewership declines
(thrfeed).Most TV shows start strong in the ratings, then decline as their novelty wears off. Apparently that trend also holds true for the president's primetime telecasts.
According to the early Nielsen ratings, Barack Obama's Tuesday night press conference showed some audience slippage compared with his two most recent live events.
The news special drew a 21.1 metered market household rating across the four major broadcasters -- down 14% from from his Feb. 24 address and Feb. 12 conference (which drew a 24.5 and 24.4 in the metered markets).
According to the early Nielsen ratings, Barack Obama's Tuesday night press conference showed some audience slippage compared with his two most recent live events.
The news special drew a 21.1 metered market household rating across the four major broadcasters -- down 14% from from his Feb. 24 address and Feb. 12 conference (which drew a 24.5 and 24.4 in the metered markets).
PALIN/GIULIANI 2012?
(Alex Knepper-Race42008) ....Put a Cheney/Biden-style vice-president on her ticket if she wins the nomination. Rudy Giuliani seems an obvious vice-presidential selection for Sarah Palin, quite honestly: beloved by hawks, known for his competence, is less divisive and abrasive on cultural issues than Palin. They make a nice contrast, but can come together on several of the most important issues. Is Palin the only candidate that could deliver a moderate (albeit strict constructionist) Vice Presidential nominee, such as Rudy Giuliani, to the Republican ticket in 2012?
Answer: Yes
These are the reasons:
His age and standing with some pro-life voters: His potential role as Vice President will never lead to a run for President (age), which was a major concern for many pro-life voters when the 71 year old McCain was hinting at a pro-choice running mate in 2008. As well, Rudy does not have a poor standing with all Christian conservative voters. His views on federal judges, the endorsements he received from pro-life leaders and his willingness to support the Republican party platform, makes Rudy a very unique pro-choice candidate.
Rudy negates most of the attacks Palin will receive from liberals: Rudy’s shining success as mayor of New York, both from a crime prevention and economic standpoint and the heroism he displayed during the 9/11 attacks will counter-act the Democratic campaign against Palin, ‘that she is not ready for the job’. Obama faced many of the same critiques in 2008, and his selection of Senator Biden silenced many of the ’not ready for the job’ detractors. Obama will no doubt claim victory in Iraq, as well as a slew of other manufacturered foreign policy success during his first term. Rudy is an elder statesman, with a proven record of handling a security crisis. His consulting firm provides assistance, such as strategic security planning, to political jurisdictions around the world. Rudy solidifies the pro-growth Republican base (he received the endorsement of the CFG in 2007), neoconservatives and suburban Catholics.
Answer: Yes
These are the reasons:
His age and standing with some pro-life voters: His potential role as Vice President will never lead to a run for President (age), which was a major concern for many pro-life voters when the 71 year old McCain was hinting at a pro-choice running mate in 2008. As well, Rudy does not have a poor standing with all Christian conservative voters. His views on federal judges, the endorsements he received from pro-life leaders and his willingness to support the Republican party platform, makes Rudy a very unique pro-choice candidate.
Rudy negates most of the attacks Palin will receive from liberals: Rudy’s shining success as mayor of New York, both from a crime prevention and economic standpoint and the heroism he displayed during the 9/11 attacks will counter-act the Democratic campaign against Palin, ‘that she is not ready for the job’. Obama faced many of the same critiques in 2008, and his selection of Senator Biden silenced many of the ’not ready for the job’ detractors. Obama will no doubt claim victory in Iraq, as well as a slew of other manufacturered foreign policy success during his first term. Rudy is an elder statesman, with a proven record of handling a security crisis. His consulting firm provides assistance, such as strategic security planning, to political jurisdictions around the world. Rudy solidifies the pro-growth Republican base (he received the endorsement of the CFG in 2007), neoconservatives and suburban Catholics.
Bradley Blakeman, Republican strategist:You can fool people some of the time
(Politico)..... it's interesting to note that the style of last night's Press Conference was different. If you recall, at the last Press Conference, the President read prepared remarks from a teleprompter. The screens the President read from where placed on either side of the podium and clearly visible to the television audience. He caught a lot of criticism for using a teleprompter at a News Conference. Last night, the President again read his prepared remarks with the aid of a teleprompter, but, this time the screen was placed at the back of the room and not visible to the television audience. You can fool some of the people some of the time.......Most everything this President says is read and everything that is read is written by someone else for him to say. President Obama obviously believes in the biblical passage, "so it is written, so it shall be read."
EU President: Obama Policies Put US On Way to Hell
(FOX News).The Czech head of the European Union presidency says the U.S. economic rescue plans are "a way to hell."
Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek says the Obama administration's stimulus package and financial bailout "will undermine the stability of the global financial market."
One day after he offered the resignation of his government, Topolanek took the EU presidency on a collision course with Washington over the economic options to solve the world economic crisis. Many EU nations favor regulation over more bailout efforts.
Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek says the Obama administration's stimulus package and financial bailout "will undermine the stability of the global financial market."
One day after he offered the resignation of his government, Topolanek took the EU presidency on a collision course with Washington over the economic options to solve the world economic crisis. Many EU nations favor regulation over more bailout efforts.
Obama's newsless news conference
(Latimes).Tuesday morning The Ticket examined the White House's current political strategy and asked the question who would show up at Barack Obama's second nationally-televised news conference that evening: the president or the senator?
And if you remember one of those required college lecture courses in the large auditorium at 8:10 a.m. listening to a droning don, and how it felt, slumped in the cushy seats having skipped breakfast for an extra 13 minutes of ZZZZ.
This is the problem with trying to drive the political debate by scheduling a primetime news conference nearly a week in advance. It gets superseded by events, especially by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's financial package finally.
True, Obama created real problems in his first national news conference by promising Geithner would deliver too much the next day. And when the inarticulate bureaucrat didn't, the markets plummeted.
But this news conference seemed anticlimatic. At times the president appeared to be mailing in his delivery.
He made no notable news, and did so quite smoothly. Unless sticking by his guns over cutting charitable deductions is news.
And the former constitutional law professor did go on in his answers, perhaps not by accident. Holding the floor is another means of control for any president. Like males hold the TV remotes.
The result: only 13 questions in 57 minutes.
And as The Ticket noted during its live-blogging, not one single question on either war, including the one the commander-in-chief recently ordered 17,000 more Americans to march into.
Gone from the presidential podium were the ubiquitous, much-noted teleprompters that gave rise to embarrassing suggestions that Obama needs to be fed his words to avoid Special Olympics or Nancy Reagan gaffes. In the twin teleprompters' place? A larger teleprompter in the back of the room where no one watching on TV could see it.
And if you remember one of those required college lecture courses in the large auditorium at 8:10 a.m. listening to a droning don, and how it felt, slumped in the cushy seats having skipped breakfast for an extra 13 minutes of ZZZZ.
This is the problem with trying to drive the political debate by scheduling a primetime news conference nearly a week in advance. It gets superseded by events, especially by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's financial package finally.
True, Obama created real problems in his first national news conference by promising Geithner would deliver too much the next day. And when the inarticulate bureaucrat didn't, the markets plummeted.
But this news conference seemed anticlimatic. At times the president appeared to be mailing in his delivery.
He made no notable news, and did so quite smoothly. Unless sticking by his guns over cutting charitable deductions is news.
And the former constitutional law professor did go on in his answers, perhaps not by accident. Holding the floor is another means of control for any president. Like males hold the TV remotes.
The result: only 13 questions in 57 minutes.
And as The Ticket noted during its live-blogging, not one single question on either war, including the one the commander-in-chief recently ordered 17,000 more Americans to march into.
Gone from the presidential podium were the ubiquitous, much-noted teleprompters that gave rise to embarrassing suggestions that Obama needs to be fed his words to avoid Special Olympics or Nancy Reagan gaffes. In the twin teleprompters' place? A larger teleprompter in the back of the room where no one watching on TV could see it.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Primetime phobia - Obama skips major papers: No NYT, WaPo, WSJ, USA
(Politico).During President Obama's second East Room news conference, he took questions from 13 reporters over about an hour.
But in quite a departure from the first presser -- and White House protocol -- Obama skipped over the nation's top newspapers. Indeed, there were no questions from the NY Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal or USA Today. That might not sit well with the already insecure newspaper industry.
In exchange, Obama opened things up to a wider variety of outlets, including Spanish-language television, a military news outlet, and black-oriented media. It's another example of the White House going over the typical Washington press corps "filter."
So the only newspapers that got a question were the Washington Times, Stars and Stripes, and POLITICO -- although the latter is known by many, especially outside DC, as primarily a website.
DrudgeReport adds: "SOURCE: Reporters were told in advance if president was going to call on them. Senior Administration Officials notified reporters from Stars & Stripes, Univision and other news outlets that they should have question ready. Several reporters moved up in assigned seats as result".
But in quite a departure from the first presser -- and White House protocol -- Obama skipped over the nation's top newspapers. Indeed, there were no questions from the NY Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal or USA Today. That might not sit well with the already insecure newspaper industry.
In exchange, Obama opened things up to a wider variety of outlets, including Spanish-language television, a military news outlet, and black-oriented media. It's another example of the White House going over the typical Washington press corps "filter."
So the only newspapers that got a question were the Washington Times, Stars and Stripes, and POLITICO -- although the latter is known by many, especially outside DC, as primarily a website.
DrudgeReport adds: "SOURCE: Reporters were told in advance if president was going to call on them. Senior Administration Officials notified reporters from Stars & Stripes, Univision and other news outlets that they should have question ready. Several reporters moved up in assigned seats as result".
Jindal:We oppose Obama's policies because we want America to Succeed
"There is a very important role in our Republic for the loyal opposition. And we must be both. We are loyal to this country, and to the Republic on which it stands, one nation under God. And we will always be so. And we are loyal to the President of the United States, whether he is a Democrat or a Republican.
But make no mistake, loyalty does not mean we have to agree with his policies.
And we are also at present the opposition party. We are the party out of power. And it is altogether right and proper, and healthy for our Democracy, for us to speak up when we do not agree with the policies that this President pushes and proposes.
I will not be brow beaten on this, and I will not kow-tow to their political correctness. We will be the loyal opposition.
So…my answer to the question is very simple –
“Do you want the President to fail?”
It depends on what he is trying to do.
There is something far more important to us than whether the President or ANY politician fails.
Far more importantly, we don’t want America to fail
Let me repeat in case anyone misses the point, when and if the President pursues those policies, I do NOT want him to fail, I want him to succeed.
How…ever –
When the President wants to spend our country into interminable debt, putting not only this generation but future generations into a position where the only way out will be massive tax increases…we oppose that policy, not because we want the President to fail, but because we want America to succeed.
When the President wants to increase taxes on small biz owners, the very people who create 70% of the jobs in the country…we oppose that policy, because we want America to succeed.
When the President wants to change the law so that taxpayer’s money is used for abortions…we say no, because we want all Americans, born and unborn to succeed.
When the President wants to use the stimulus bill as an opportunity to radically grow the size of government …we oppose him because we want America to succeed.
When the President wants to change the rules so that union elections are no longer conducted by private ballot, the way all American elections are conducted …we will not go along, because we want America to have the freedom to succeed.
When the President considers attempts to squelch media outlets that are not favorable to him by pursing the unfair “fairness doctrine” …we will not support that policy, because liberty is a key ingredient of American success.
When the President talks about striking the very word “enemy combatant” from our vocabulary …we disagree because we want Americans to succeed in every corner of the world.
When the President pursues polices that spend too much, tax too much, and borrow too much … we will not go along, because we are committed to making sure that America succeeds both now and in the future.
And when the President pursues polices that are akin to those of European socialism … policies that taken too far could cause America to fail, we will oppose, and we will stand up and be counted, and we will do so proudly, not because we want the President to fail, but because we want America to succeed".
.
But make no mistake, loyalty does not mean we have to agree with his policies.
And we are also at present the opposition party. We are the party out of power. And it is altogether right and proper, and healthy for our Democracy, for us to speak up when we do not agree with the policies that this President pushes and proposes.
I will not be brow beaten on this, and I will not kow-tow to their political correctness. We will be the loyal opposition.
So…my answer to the question is very simple –
“Do you want the President to fail?”
It depends on what he is trying to do.
There is something far more important to us than whether the President or ANY politician fails.
Far more importantly, we don’t want America to fail
Let me repeat in case anyone misses the point, when and if the President pursues those policies, I do NOT want him to fail, I want him to succeed.
How…ever –
When the President wants to spend our country into interminable debt, putting not only this generation but future generations into a position where the only way out will be massive tax increases…we oppose that policy, not because we want the President to fail, but because we want America to succeed.
When the President wants to increase taxes on small biz owners, the very people who create 70% of the jobs in the country…we oppose that policy, because we want America to succeed.
When the President wants to change the law so that taxpayer’s money is used for abortions…we say no, because we want all Americans, born and unborn to succeed.
When the President wants to use the stimulus bill as an opportunity to radically grow the size of government …we oppose him because we want America to succeed.
When the President wants to change the rules so that union elections are no longer conducted by private ballot, the way all American elections are conducted …we will not go along, because we want America to have the freedom to succeed.
When the President considers attempts to squelch media outlets that are not favorable to him by pursing the unfair “fairness doctrine” …we will not support that policy, because liberty is a key ingredient of American success.
When the President talks about striking the very word “enemy combatant” from our vocabulary …we disagree because we want Americans to succeed in every corner of the world.
When the President pursues polices that spend too much, tax too much, and borrow too much … we will not go along, because we are committed to making sure that America succeeds both now and in the future.
And when the President pursues polices that are akin to those of European socialism … policies that taken too far could cause America to fail, we will oppose, and we will stand up and be counted, and we will do so proudly, not because we want the President to fail, but because we want America to succeed".
.
Jindal:Time to focus on America's Future
(CNN) – Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal called on Republicans Tuesday to put the 2008 election behind them and embrace its role as the loyal opposition to President Obama and the Democratic Party.
''We are now in the position of being the loyal opposition,'' Jindal said at a Republican congressional fundraising dinner that only by coincidence fell on the same night as Obama's news conference. ''The right question to ask is not if we want the president to fail or succeed, but whether we want America to succeed.''
"Let’s agree on this tonight, the time for talking about the past is now over," Jindal told 1,200 people attending a House GOP fundraiser here in Washington. "It has been healthy for Republicans to look in the mirror. It has been healthy for us to realize and admit the mistakes of the past. We have done that quite a bit. I personally have done that quite a bit since the election last fall. It’s now been close to five months since the last election.
He added, "It’s time to declare our time of introspection and navel gazing officially over. It’s time to get on with the business of charting America’s future. So as of now, be it hereby resolved, that we will focus on America’s future, and on standing up for fiscal sanity… before it is too late.
Jindal credited his former colleagues for standing united in opposing Obama's policies.
"Thanks primarily to the Republicans in the House of Representatives, the Republican Party has once again decided to be the conservative party in this country," Jindal said.
''We are now in the position of being the loyal opposition,'' Jindal said at a Republican congressional fundraising dinner that only by coincidence fell on the same night as Obama's news conference. ''The right question to ask is not if we want the president to fail or succeed, but whether we want America to succeed.''
"Let’s agree on this tonight, the time for talking about the past is now over," Jindal told 1,200 people attending a House GOP fundraiser here in Washington. "It has been healthy for Republicans to look in the mirror. It has been healthy for us to realize and admit the mistakes of the past. We have done that quite a bit. I personally have done that quite a bit since the election last fall. It’s now been close to five months since the last election.
He added, "It’s time to declare our time of introspection and navel gazing officially over. It’s time to get on with the business of charting America’s future. So as of now, be it hereby resolved, that we will focus on America’s future, and on standing up for fiscal sanity… before it is too late.
Jindal credited his former colleagues for standing united in opposing Obama's policies.
"Thanks primarily to the Republicans in the House of Representatives, the Republican Party has once again decided to be the conservative party in this country," Jindal said.
Obama not used being Tough Questioned! Schneider: Obama gives tough answer to CNN
(CNN) — President Obama gave a pretty tough answer to CNN's Ed Henry when asked why he waited days to express outrage on the AIG bonuses.
"It took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak," he said.
It seemed to imply the question was impertinent.
"After Ed Henry, he looked like he wanted to go home," conservative talk radio host and CNN Contributor Bill Bennett said.
"It took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak," he said.
It seemed to imply the question was impertinent.
"After Ed Henry, he looked like he wanted to go home," conservative talk radio host and CNN Contributor Bill Bennett said.
New ad targets Obama on hypocrisy
(Hotair.com) The National Republican Senatorial Committee has a new web out titled “Change You Can Believe In?” Instead of aiming at the Senate, though, they’ve decided to aim higher — at the White House. The ad reviews Obama’s promises as a candidate and compares them to his actions in his first 63 days as President. Needless to say, the comparison doesn’t make Obama look good:
MY FRIENDS....I am pro-Obama,and against conservative bullies says Meagan Mccain
(Dailynews).Sen. John McCain's daughter continued her all-out media tour with a stop on CNN's "Larry King Live" Tuesday night, voicing support for her father's campaign opponent, President Obama, but none for her Republican critics.
Meghan McCain, a columnist for TheDailyBeast.com, also tried to take the high road after conservative radio host Laura Ingraham had joked about the 24 year-old's weight last week.
"As far as I'm concerned with what's going on with Laura Ingraham, on my end, it's over," McCain told King. "There are nine million women in this country suffering from eating disorders. And I'm not going to be bullied around about my weight and what kind of standards I'm not fitting."
In the past few weeks since she started her career as a political columnist, McCain has angered conservatives - especially after she blasted pundit Ann Coulter, calling the author, "offensive, radical, insulting, and confusing all at the same time." Ingraham had poked fun of McCain's weight on her radio show, then back-peddled on an interview with Fox News a few days later.
"I have taken heat, but in fairness to me, I am a different generation than the people that are giving me heat," McCain told King. "I'm 24 years old. I'm not in my 40s, I'm not in my 50s and older."
But perhaps her most controversial view as far as Republicans are concerned is her support for Obama to succeed as president.
"He's our president and when the election was over and when President Obama won, all negative feelings were gone," McCain said on the CNN show. "I support the president."
Meghan McCain, a columnist for TheDailyBeast.com, also tried to take the high road after conservative radio host Laura Ingraham had joked about the 24 year-old's weight last week.
"As far as I'm concerned with what's going on with Laura Ingraham, on my end, it's over," McCain told King. "There are nine million women in this country suffering from eating disorders. And I'm not going to be bullied around about my weight and what kind of standards I'm not fitting."
In the past few weeks since she started her career as a political columnist, McCain has angered conservatives - especially after she blasted pundit Ann Coulter, calling the author, "offensive, radical, insulting, and confusing all at the same time." Ingraham had poked fun of McCain's weight on her radio show, then back-peddled on an interview with Fox News a few days later.
"I have taken heat, but in fairness to me, I am a different generation than the people that are giving me heat," McCain told King. "I'm 24 years old. I'm not in my 40s, I'm not in my 50s and older."
But perhaps her most controversial view as far as Republicans are concerned is her support for Obama to succeed as president.
"He's our president and when the election was over and when President Obama won, all negative feelings were gone," McCain said on the CNN show. "I support the president."
Obama's Job Performance Drops Under 50%
(Zogby). A March 20-23 Zogby Interactive survey shows 45% of likely voters believe the nation is headed in the right direction, a gain of five points from a similar survey completed on March 5. At the beginning of the year, only 14% held that positive view.
However, President Barack Obama's ratings for job performance and favorability did not improve over earlier this month. In the most recent survey, 49% rate his job performance as excellent or good and 50% as fair or poor (less than 1% were not sure.) That is a dip of three points from the previous poll. The percentages who feel very or somewhat favorable toward Obama remained unchanged between the two polls, with 55% now and 56% in the previous poll.
However, President Barack Obama's ratings for job performance and favorability did not improve over earlier this month. In the most recent survey, 49% rate his job performance as excellent or good and 50% as fair or poor (less than 1% were not sure.) That is a dip of three points from the previous poll. The percentages who feel very or somewhat favorable toward Obama remained unchanged between the two polls, with 55% now and 56% in the previous poll.
WHIO IS TALKING???? Obama: GOP needs to figure out what it stands for
(CNN) – President Obama thinks the Republican Party needs to figure out what it stands for, at the risk of appearing obstructionist.
"I do think that the Republican Party right now hasn't sort of figured out what it's for," Obama told a group of reporters from regional newspapers on Monday, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. "And so, as a proxy, they've just decided 'we're going to be against whatever the other side is for.' That's not what's needed in an economic crisis."
The president said that unlike the early 1990s, "when basically we were pretty prosperous," the current economic muddle calls for a more productive tone in Washington. "Right now, everybody's got to pull together," he said.
Obama criticized Republican legislators for attempting to stand up for fiscal responsibility, even though the Bush administration spent eight years growing the federal budget.
"I understand their efforts to brand themselves in that fashion," the president said. "I just want to make sure that when it comes to solving this current economic crisis, that we don't get so caught up in short-term politics that we're missing the big picture."
"I do think that the Republican Party right now hasn't sort of figured out what it's for," Obama told a group of reporters from regional newspapers on Monday, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. "And so, as a proxy, they've just decided 'we're going to be against whatever the other side is for.' That's not what's needed in an economic crisis."
The president said that unlike the early 1990s, "when basically we were pretty prosperous," the current economic muddle calls for a more productive tone in Washington. "Right now, everybody's got to pull together," he said.
Obama criticized Republican legislators for attempting to stand up for fiscal responsibility, even though the Bush administration spent eight years growing the federal budget.
"I understand their efforts to brand themselves in that fashion," the president said. "I just want to make sure that when it comes to solving this current economic crisis, that we don't get so caught up in short-term politics that we're missing the big picture."
Sen. Grassley Warns of Dangerous Obamanomics
Sen. Charles Grassley tells Newsmax there’s an “outrage” at America’s grass-roots level over the huge bonuses paid to executives at financial basket case AIG.
The Iowa Republican, former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and now the ranking Republican on the committee, also said corporate executives receiving “retention bonuses” could be replaced by talent that would work for less – and could do a better job.
Newsmax TV’s Ashley Martella asked Sen. Grassley if, in the wake of the AIG bonus scandal, he has confidence in Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
“I think he’s raised a lot of questions about whether or not he’s handling things well, and every time he slips up you lose a little bit of confidence,” Grassley said.
“But he’s been in office two months and I don’t call for resignations after just two months.”
Martella noted that AIG reportedly paid out $218 million in bonuses, $53 million more than it had disclosed, and asked whether Grassley supports the House-passed measure to tax those bonuses at a rate of 90 percent.
“I would vote for the House measure,” he responded.
“But I would also very much support the Baucus-Grassley bill [levying a 70 percent tax on 'excessive executive compensation'] that we wrote at a time when the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee was saying that nothing should be done in this area…
“I just returned last night from Iowa, being there Friday Saturday and Sunday, and going to three different events where grass-roots America was represented. Not Republican events, not Democratic events, just common ordinary people coming out to do things.
“And I can tell you that there’s an outrage at the grassroots of my state, and I assume an outrage throughout the entire country, about these bonuses being paid. Not the bonuses per se because I don’t think my constituents mind people being appropriately (recompensed). But you’ve got to remember that they’re working for a company that is underwater. They’re working for a company that has a big injection of more than a hundred billion dollars of taxpayers’ money.
“We have not seen any remorse, any apologies. We’ve not seen or heard any contrition on the part of these people, AIG or any other Wall Street firm.
“They ought to be more contrite than ever before because their company wouldn’t exist presumably without the taxpayers’ help.”
The Iowa Republican, former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and now the ranking Republican on the committee, also said corporate executives receiving “retention bonuses” could be replaced by talent that would work for less – and could do a better job.
Newsmax TV’s Ashley Martella asked Sen. Grassley if, in the wake of the AIG bonus scandal, he has confidence in Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
“I think he’s raised a lot of questions about whether or not he’s handling things well, and every time he slips up you lose a little bit of confidence,” Grassley said.
“But he’s been in office two months and I don’t call for resignations after just two months.”
Martella noted that AIG reportedly paid out $218 million in bonuses, $53 million more than it had disclosed, and asked whether Grassley supports the House-passed measure to tax those bonuses at a rate of 90 percent.
“I would vote for the House measure,” he responded.
“But I would also very much support the Baucus-Grassley bill [levying a 70 percent tax on 'excessive executive compensation'] that we wrote at a time when the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee was saying that nothing should be done in this area…
“I just returned last night from Iowa, being there Friday Saturday and Sunday, and going to three different events where grass-roots America was represented. Not Republican events, not Democratic events, just common ordinary people coming out to do things.
“And I can tell you that there’s an outrage at the grassroots of my state, and I assume an outrage throughout the entire country, about these bonuses being paid. Not the bonuses per se because I don’t think my constituents mind people being appropriately (recompensed). But you’ve got to remember that they’re working for a company that is underwater. They’re working for a company that has a big injection of more than a hundred billion dollars of taxpayers’ money.
“We have not seen any remorse, any apologies. We’ve not seen or heard any contrition on the part of these people, AIG or any other Wall Street firm.
“They ought to be more contrite than ever before because their company wouldn’t exist presumably without the taxpayers’ help.”
Telepromter of USA stumbles over company name Orion
(Jsonline).The idea that led to the founding of Orion Energy Systems received a presidential salute of sorts today.
President Barack Obama just finished speaking at a White House roundtable on clean energy efficiency attended by Neal Verfuerth, Orion president and chief executive. Obama saluted Orion.
…
All terrific press for Orion, except that Obama kept pronouncing the company’s name wrong, calling it OAR-ee-on.
After finishing his remarks and talking with a few people, the president returned to the microphone and said his prepared remarks led him to pronounce the firm’s name wrong.
“I suspect this is Or-EYE-on as opposed to OAR-ee-on. Just wanted to make sure that when I’m giving you a plug, that we’ve got the right plug. It’s Or-EYE-on.”
President Barack Obama just finished speaking at a White House roundtable on clean energy efficiency attended by Neal Verfuerth, Orion president and chief executive. Obama saluted Orion.
…
All terrific press for Orion, except that Obama kept pronouncing the company’s name wrong, calling it OAR-ee-on.
After finishing his remarks and talking with a few people, the president returned to the microphone and said his prepared remarks led him to pronounce the firm’s name wrong.
“I suspect this is Or-EYE-on as opposed to OAR-ee-on. Just wanted to make sure that when I’m giving you a plug, that we’ve got the right plug. It’s Or-EYE-on.”
new Zogby poll to be released: Obama's rating slips to 50-50
(bostonherald).The honeymoon is over, a national poll will signal tomorrow as President Obama’s job approval stumbles to about 50 percent over the lack of improvement with the crippled economy.
The sobering numbers come as the president backpedals from two prime-time gaffes - one comparing his bowling score to a Special Olympian and another awkwardly laughing about the economy, which prompted Steve Kroft of “60 Minutes” to ask “are you punch-drunk?”
Pollster John Zogby said his poll out in the morning will show Americans split on the president’s performance. He said the score factors out to “about 50-50.”
Some polls show Obama coasting with a 65 percent job approval, but not in Zogby’s tally.
“The numbers are going down,” Zogby told the Herald. “It’s not because of the gaffes, but a combination of high expectations and that things aren’t moving fast enough with the economy.”
The sobering numbers come as the president backpedals from two prime-time gaffes - one comparing his bowling score to a Special Olympian and another awkwardly laughing about the economy, which prompted Steve Kroft of “60 Minutes” to ask “are you punch-drunk?”
Pollster John Zogby said his poll out in the morning will show Americans split on the president’s performance. He said the score factors out to “about 50-50.”
Some polls show Obama coasting with a 65 percent job approval, but not in Zogby’s tally.
“The numbers are going down,” Zogby told the Herald. “It’s not because of the gaffes, but a combination of high expectations and that things aren’t moving fast enough with the economy.”
Monday, March 23, 2009
RNC names new media director
(CNN) — The Republican National Committee tapped a former Microsoft executive to spearhead the party's efforts to vastly improve its use of technology, RNC chairman Michael Steele announced Monday.
Todd Herman, a former general manager of media strategy for MSN and an Internet radio pioneer, will serve as the RNC's New Media Director beginning next month.
"I am excited to be adding Todd, a recognized thought-leader in digital media, to my team at the RNC," Steele said in a statement. "Todd brings the kind of outside of the beltway, real-world experience to Washington D.C. and to our party that we need as we reclaim the lead in the use of digital media to communicate with America."
The need to improve the party's tech savvy was a major issue in the RNC chairmanship's race last January, following an election cycle in which Republicans were grossly outmatched in implementing online strategies.
Mindy Finn, co-founder Rebuild the Party — a group of conservative activists who have called on the RNC to overhaul its use of technology — said the pick is a step in the right direction.
"I'm pleased to see that the new RNC administration has prioritized new media to a point where the new media director is one of their first handful of hires," Finn told CNN's Abbi Tatton. "That signals an understanding of how times have changed."
Todd Herman, a former general manager of media strategy for MSN and an Internet radio pioneer, will serve as the RNC's New Media Director beginning next month.
"I am excited to be adding Todd, a recognized thought-leader in digital media, to my team at the RNC," Steele said in a statement. "Todd brings the kind of outside of the beltway, real-world experience to Washington D.C. and to our party that we need as we reclaim the lead in the use of digital media to communicate with America."
The need to improve the party's tech savvy was a major issue in the RNC chairmanship's race last January, following an election cycle in which Republicans were grossly outmatched in implementing online strategies.
Mindy Finn, co-founder Rebuild the Party — a group of conservative activists who have called on the RNC to overhaul its use of technology — said the pick is a step in the right direction.
"I'm pleased to see that the new RNC administration has prioritized new media to a point where the new media director is one of their first handful of hires," Finn told CNN's Abbi Tatton. "That signals an understanding of how times have changed."
GOP victory in hand if we offer voters a better vision for the future
(Michael Barone-Usnews)......The common factor in all these races is that, as compared with November 2008, Democratic turnout is way down, much more than Republican turnout. Democrats are less enthusiastic, less motivated than they were last November. Remember that turnout was robust in November 2008. As Curtis Gans of the Center for the Study of the American Electorate reported, 63 percent of eligibles turned out to vote, the highest percentage since 1960. 2008 was the year Americans elected our first black president, and 95 percent of blacks voted for him. Turnout was up 7.3 percent over 2004, although population rose only 3.8 percent in that period. Turnout seems to have increased by greater percentages among blacks and those under 30. According to the exit poll, blacks amounted to 13 percent of the electorate in 2008, compared to 11 percent in 2004 and 13.5 percent of 2007 population; those under 30 amounted to 18 percent of the electorate in 2008, compared to 17 percent in 2004 and 22 percent of 18-and-over population.
The decline in the Democratic percentage in the generic vote and the sharp drop-off in Democratic turnout in special elections suggest that in future contests in 2009 and 2010 Democrats will not be able to count on the robust turnout that contributed to the Obama and Democratic congressional victory margins in 2008. At least if opinion stays where it is right now. I should add, however, that opinion right now is not where it was in November 2008. I think we are in a period of what I call open field politics. Since 2004, starting around the time of Katrina and increased violence in Iraq, the generic vote and party identification have been considerably more unstable and volatile than they were in the years 1995-2005. That instability worked to Democrats' advantage in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Now it seems to be working against them—I was going to write to Republicans' advantage, but I think what we are seeing is more disillusionment toward Democrats than any positive feeling toward Republicans. In the short run, Republicans can benefit from this. In the longer run, they need to offer voters a better vision for the future, or they risk losing once again if there is a revival of enthusiasm among Democrats and warm feeling toward them among independents.
The decline in the Democratic percentage in the generic vote and the sharp drop-off in Democratic turnout in special elections suggest that in future contests in 2009 and 2010 Democrats will not be able to count on the robust turnout that contributed to the Obama and Democratic congressional victory margins in 2008. At least if opinion stays where it is right now. I should add, however, that opinion right now is not where it was in November 2008. I think we are in a period of what I call open field politics. Since 2004, starting around the time of Katrina and increased violence in Iraq, the generic vote and party identification have been considerably more unstable and volatile than they were in the years 1995-2005. That instability worked to Democrats' advantage in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Now it seems to be working against them—I was going to write to Republicans' advantage, but I think what we are seeing is more disillusionment toward Democrats than any positive feeling toward Republicans. In the short run, Republicans can benefit from this. In the longer run, they need to offer voters a better vision for the future, or they risk losing once again if there is a revival of enthusiasm among Democrats and warm feeling toward them among independents.
REVOLUTION '10! Independents now favor Republicans by 14% margin
If Republicans really have pulled even among independents, it's an ominous sign for Democrats.
(Charlie Cook-Nationaljournal).Just as the economic news was relentlessly negative until the last few days, poll numbers for Republicans were horrific for months. So the GOP should be heartened by the first encouraging polling news it has received perhaps since Lehman Brothers defaulted in mid-September: Republicans have pulled even with Democrats on the generic congressional ballot test, according to a survey by a respected pair of firms.
In the new NPR poll conducted by the Democratic polling company Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and its Republican counterpart, Public Opinion Strategies, 42 percent of the 800 likely voters surveyed March 10 to 14 said that if the next congressional election were held today they would vote for the Republican candidate; an identical percentage of respondents said they would vote for the Democratic one. For several years, Democrats held a substantial lead on this question.
Democrats still outnumbered Republicans in terms of party identification in this poll by 6 points, 45 percent to 39 percent. Democrats also favored their own party's congressional candidates 83 percent to 7 percent. But voters who call themselves independents gave GOP candidates the edge by 14 points, 38 percent to 24 percent. And self-identified Republicans supported their own party's candidates 85 percent to 3 percent.
Republican pollster Glen Bolger, who worked on the survey for Public Opinion Strategies, says that this is the first time since 2004 that he has seen independents favoring Republicans on the generic ballot test. Although he concedes that poll participants agreed -- by margins of 6 to 11 points -- with Democrats more than Republicans on each of the issues tested, he contends that the generic question's results are "evidence that voters, particularly independents, are worried that they overcorrected in the 2006/2008 elections combined, and now have more of a liberal slant to government than they want. They want change but with checks and balances."
In the new NPR poll conducted by the Democratic polling company Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and its Republican counterpart, Public Opinion Strategies, 42 percent of the 800 likely voters surveyed March 10 to 14 said that if the next congressional election were held today they would vote for the Republican candidate; an identical percentage of respondents said they would vote for the Democratic one. For several years, Democrats held a substantial lead on this question.
Democrats still outnumbered Republicans in terms of party identification in this poll by 6 points, 45 percent to 39 percent. Democrats also favored their own party's congressional candidates 83 percent to 7 percent. But voters who call themselves independents gave GOP candidates the edge by 14 points, 38 percent to 24 percent. And self-identified Republicans supported their own party's candidates 85 percent to 3 percent.
Republican pollster Glen Bolger, who worked on the survey for Public Opinion Strategies, says that this is the first time since 2004 that he has seen independents favoring Republicans on the generic ballot test. Although he concedes that poll participants agreed -- by margins of 6 to 11 points -- with Democrats more than Republicans on each of the issues tested, he contends that the generic question's results are "evidence that voters, particularly independents, are worried that they overcorrected in the 2006/2008 elections combined, and now have more of a liberal slant to government than they want. They want change but with checks and balances."
Geithner Hides from TV Cameras Announcing $1 Trillion Bank Plan
(Newsmax).The Obama administration took a fresh shot at ending a national paralysis in lending Monday, teaming up with investors to buy bad bank assets and ease credit for hard-pressed consumers and businesses.
The program, announced by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was not the first such attempt by the new administration to revitalize an economy mired in recession.
Geithner pleaded for patience, saying work to rehabilitate the banking and financial industry has to go forward despite "deep anger and outrage" over bad lending and investment practices.
The newest initiative, he told reporters, will seek to harness government and private resources to purchase an initial half-trillion dollars of bad assets off the balance sheets of banks. And he held out the expectation that the program eventually could grow to $1 trillion
The program, announced by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was not the first such attempt by the new administration to revitalize an economy mired in recession.
Geithner pleaded for patience, saying work to rehabilitate the banking and financial industry has to go forward despite "deep anger and outrage" over bad lending and investment practices.
The newest initiative, he told reporters, will seek to harness government and private resources to purchase an initial half-trillion dollars of bad assets off the balance sheets of banks. And he held out the expectation that the program eventually could grow to $1 trillion
FLIP FLOP...FLOP FLIP...Obama ponders Afghan 'exit plan'
(BBC).President Obama said Afghanistan would be "a tough nut to crack"
President Barack Obama has said that the US must have an "exit strategy" in Afghanistan, even as Washington sends more troops to fight Taleban militants.
He was speaking in a CBS interview, as the White House prepares to unveil a comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan.
Mr Obama said preventing attacks against the US remained its "central mission" in Afghan operations.
The government of Afghan leader Hamid Karzai said it welcomed the US review but warned against any "quick fixes".
Correspondents say the review comes at a particularly low point in relations between Washington and President Karzai's government.
But only back in September Barack Obama was lecturing Bush and McCain on Afghanistan being the central front in the War on Terror:
President Barack Obama has said that the US must have an "exit strategy" in Afghanistan, even as Washington sends more troops to fight Taleban militants.
He was speaking in a CBS interview, as the White House prepares to unveil a comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan.
Mr Obama said preventing attacks against the US remained its "central mission" in Afghan operations.
The government of Afghan leader Hamid Karzai said it welcomed the US review but warned against any "quick fixes".
Correspondents say the review comes at a particularly low point in relations between Washington and President Karzai's government.
But only back in September Barack Obama was lecturing Bush and McCain on Afghanistan being the central front in the War on Terror:
Kroft of '60 minutes' to Obama:Are you Punch drunk?
President Barack Obama said he believes the global financial system remains at risk of implosion with the failure of Citigroup or AIG, touching off “an even more destructive recession and potentially depression.”
His remarks came in a “60 Minutes” interview in which he was pressed by an incredulous Steve Kroft for laughing and chuckling several times while discussing the perilous state of the world’s economy.
“You're sitting here. And you're— you are laughing. You are laughing about some of these problems. Are people going to look at this and say, "I mean, he's sitting there just making jokes about money—” How do you deal with— I mean: explain. . .” Kroft asks at one point.
“Are you punch drunk(definition=suffering cerebral injury usually from many minute brain hemorrhages that is a result of repeated head blows received in boxing and is typically marked by mental confusion) ?” Kroft says.
“No, no. There's gotta be a little gallows humor to get you through the day,” Obama says, with a laugh.
His remarks came in a “60 Minutes” interview in which he was pressed by an incredulous Steve Kroft for laughing and chuckling several times while discussing the perilous state of the world’s economy.
“You're sitting here. And you're— you are laughing. You are laughing about some of these problems. Are people going to look at this and say, "I mean, he's sitting there just making jokes about money—” How do you deal with— I mean: explain. . .” Kroft asks at one point.
“Are you punch drunk(definition=suffering cerebral injury usually from many minute brain hemorrhages that is a result of repeated head blows received in boxing and is typically marked by mental confusion) ?” Kroft says.
“No, no. There's gotta be a little gallows humor to get you through the day,” Obama says, with a laugh.
OYBAMA! Obama Upsets Sarkozy With Letter to Jacques Chirac
(Monsters and Critics).US President Barack Obama has indirectly praised former French president Jacques Chirac's fierce opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq, the online edition of the daily Le Figaro reported on Thursday.
In a letter described by Chirac as 'very nice,' Obama wrote, 'I am certain that we will be able to work together, in the coming four years, in a spirit of peace and friendship to build a safer world.'
The use of the word 'peace' was taken to be an indirect reference to Chirac's stance against the US intervention in Iraq, which Obama had also opposed as senator.
In a letter described by Chirac as 'very nice,' Obama wrote, 'I am certain that we will be able to work together, in the coming four years, in a spirit of peace and friendship to build a safer world.'
The use of the word 'peace' was taken to be an indirect reference to Chirac's stance against the US intervention in Iraq, which Obama had also opposed as senator.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Does Obama relize that he is realy in Charge?
(Kathleen Parker-WaPo).What a relief to hear Barack Obama tell a California audience the other day: "I am the president of the United States of America."
Who knew?
Lately, it's been hard to tell whether Obama himself knows that he is the leader of the country formerly known as The Most Powerful Nation on Earth. Obama's self-identification centered around the American International Group's bonus problem, which, Obama reminded us, he did not create, but . . . "the buck stops with me."
Giving the man his length of slack, Obama has had more reality than most. As he has said more than once, he'd be delighted to have just one crisis or just one war to deal with, but he's got a couple of each. Still, one can't help wishing Obama would pinch himself a little harder and get on with it.
The White House mess, to steal a title from a Christopher Buckley book, sure is. Who's in charge over there?
"I think they're drinking water from a fire hose even more than we were," a Bush White House official said to me a few days ago. "I actually feel sorry for them."
Who knew?
Lately, it's been hard to tell whether Obama himself knows that he is the leader of the country formerly known as The Most Powerful Nation on Earth. Obama's self-identification centered around the American International Group's bonus problem, which, Obama reminded us, he did not create, but . . . "the buck stops with me."
Giving the man his length of slack, Obama has had more reality than most. As he has said more than once, he'd be delighted to have just one crisis or just one war to deal with, but he's got a couple of each. Still, one can't help wishing Obama would pinch himself a little harder and get on with it.
The White House mess, to steal a title from a Christopher Buckley book, sure is. Who's in charge over there?
"I think they're drinking water from a fire hose even more than we were," a Bush White House official said to me a few days ago. "I actually feel sorry for them."
Hamas leader welcomes Obama's "new language"
Reuters- U.S. President Barack Obama is using a "new language" in relations with the Middle East and an official overture toward Hamas is only a matter of time, the Islamist group's leader Khaled Meshaal said in a newspaper interview. "A new language toward the region is coming from President Obama. The challenge for everybody is for this to be the prelude for a genuine change in U.S. and European policies. Regarding an official opening toward Hamas, it's a matter of time," Meshaal told Italian daily La Repubblica in an interview published on Sunday.
Biden at Gridiron dinner poking fun at his Boss...
"Axelrod really wanted me to do this on teleprompter -- but I told him I’m much better when I wing it. … I know these evenings run long, so I’m going to be brief. Talk about the audacity of hope. … President Obama does send his greetings, though. He can’t be here tonight -- because he’s busy getting ready for Easter. (Whisper) He thinks it’s about him. …
“You know, I never realized just how much power Dick Cheney had until my first day on the job. I walked into my office, and you know how the outgoing president always leaves the incoming president a note in his desk? I opened my drawer and Dick Cheney had left me Barack Obama’s birth certificate".
Source: Politico
“You know, I never realized just how much power Dick Cheney had until my first day on the job. I walked into my office, and you know how the outgoing president always leaves the incoming president a note in his desk? I opened my drawer and Dick Cheney had left me Barack Obama’s birth certificate".
Source: Politico
Gregg: 'This country will go bankrupt'
(CNN) – Even though he was almost a member of the new Obama administration, New Hampshire Republican Judd Gregg Sunday slammed President Obama’s approach to handling the country’s fiscal outlook.
“The practical implications of this is bankruptcy for the United States,” Gregg said of the Obama’s administration’s recently released budget blueprint. “There’s no other way around it. If we maintain the proposals that are in this budget over the ten-year period that this budget covers, this country will go bankrupt. People will not buy our debt, our dollar will become devalued. It is a very severe situation.”
Gregg, known as one of the keenest fiscal minds on Capitol Hill, also told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King that he thought it was “almost unconscionable” for the White House to continue with its planned course on fiscal matters with unprecedented actual and projected budget deficits in the coming years.
“It is as if you were flying an airplane and the gas light came on and it said ‘you 15 minutes of gas left’ and the pilot said ‘we’re not going to worry about that, we’re going to fly for another two hours.’ Well, the plane crashes and our country will crash and we’ll pass on to our kids a country that’s not affordable.”
“The practical implications of this is bankruptcy for the United States,” Gregg said of the Obama’s administration’s recently released budget blueprint. “There’s no other way around it. If we maintain the proposals that are in this budget over the ten-year period that this budget covers, this country will go bankrupt. People will not buy our debt, our dollar will become devalued. It is a very severe situation.”
Gregg, known as one of the keenest fiscal minds on Capitol Hill, also told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King that he thought it was “almost unconscionable” for the White House to continue with its planned course on fiscal matters with unprecedented actual and projected budget deficits in the coming years.
“It is as if you were flying an airplane and the gas light came on and it said ‘you 15 minutes of gas left’ and the pilot said ‘we’re not going to worry about that, we’re going to fly for another two hours.’ Well, the plane crashes and our country will crash and we’ll pass on to our kids a country that’s not affordable.”
Thomas Friedman slams Obama:"we have an absence of inspirational leadership"
(Thomas Friedman-NYT).I ran into an Indian businessman friend last week and he said something to me that really struck a chord: “This is the first time I’ve ever visited the United States when I feel like you’re acting like an immature democracy.”
You know what he meant: We’re in a once-a-century financial crisis, and yet we’ve actually descended into politics worse than usual. There don’t seem to be any adults at the top — nobody acting larger than the moment, nobody being impelled by anything deeper than the last news cycle. Instead, Congress is slapping together punitive tax laws overnight like some Banana Republic, our president is getting in trouble cracking jokes on Jay Leno comparing his bowling skills to a Special Olympian, and the opposition party is behaving as if its only priority is to deflate President Obama’s popularity.
....President Obama missed a huge teaching opportunity with A.I.G. Those bonuses were an outrage. The public’s anger was justified. But rather than fanning those flames and letting Congress run riot, the president should have said: “I’ll handle this.”
He should have gone on national TV and had the fireside chat with the country that is long overdue. That’s a talk where he lays out exactly how deep the crisis we are in is, exactly how much sacrifice we’re all going to have to make to get out of it, and then calls on those A.I.G. brokers — and everyone else who, in our rush to heal our banking system, may have gotten bonuses they did not deserve — and tells them that their president is asking them to return their bonuses “for the sake of the country.”
Had Mr. Obama given A.I.G.’s American brokers a reputation to live up to, a great national mission to join, I’d bet anything we’d have gotten most of our money back voluntarily. Inspiring conduct has so much more of an impact than coercing it. And it would have elevated the president to where he belongs — above the angry gaggle in Congress.
“There is nothing more powerful than inspirational leadership that unleashes principled behavior for a great cause,” said Dov Seidman, the C.E.O. of LRN, which helps companies build ethical cultures, and the author of the book “How.” What makes a company or a government “sustainable,” he added, is not when it adds more coercive rules and regulations to control behaviors. “It is when its employees or citizens are propelled by values and principles to do the right things, no matter how difficult the situation,” said Seidman. “Laws tell you what you can do. Values inspire in you what you should do. It’s a leader’s job to inspire in us those values.”
Right now we have an absence of inspirational leadership. From business we hear about institutions too big to fail — no matter how reckless. From bankers we hear about contracts too sacred to break — no matter how inappropriate. And from our immature elected officials we hear about how it was all “the other guy’s fault.” I’ve never talked to more people in one week who told me, “You know, I listen to the news, and I get really depressed.”
You know what he meant: We’re in a once-a-century financial crisis, and yet we’ve actually descended into politics worse than usual. There don’t seem to be any adults at the top — nobody acting larger than the moment, nobody being impelled by anything deeper than the last news cycle. Instead, Congress is slapping together punitive tax laws overnight like some Banana Republic, our president is getting in trouble cracking jokes on Jay Leno comparing his bowling skills to a Special Olympian, and the opposition party is behaving as if its only priority is to deflate President Obama’s popularity.
....President Obama missed a huge teaching opportunity with A.I.G. Those bonuses were an outrage. The public’s anger was justified. But rather than fanning those flames and letting Congress run riot, the president should have said: “I’ll handle this.”
He should have gone on national TV and had the fireside chat with the country that is long overdue. That’s a talk where he lays out exactly how deep the crisis we are in is, exactly how much sacrifice we’re all going to have to make to get out of it, and then calls on those A.I.G. brokers — and everyone else who, in our rush to heal our banking system, may have gotten bonuses they did not deserve — and tells them that their president is asking them to return their bonuses “for the sake of the country.”
Had Mr. Obama given A.I.G.’s American brokers a reputation to live up to, a great national mission to join, I’d bet anything we’d have gotten most of our money back voluntarily. Inspiring conduct has so much more of an impact than coercing it. And it would have elevated the president to where he belongs — above the angry gaggle in Congress.
“There is nothing more powerful than inspirational leadership that unleashes principled behavior for a great cause,” said Dov Seidman, the C.E.O. of LRN, which helps companies build ethical cultures, and the author of the book “How.” What makes a company or a government “sustainable,” he added, is not when it adds more coercive rules and regulations to control behaviors. “It is when its employees or citizens are propelled by values and principles to do the right things, no matter how difficult the situation,” said Seidman. “Laws tell you what you can do. Values inspire in you what you should do. It’s a leader’s job to inspire in us those values.”
Right now we have an absence of inspirational leadership. From business we hear about institutions too big to fail — no matter how reckless. From bankers we hear about contracts too sacred to break — no matter how inappropriate. And from our immature elected officials we hear about how it was all “the other guy’s fault.” I’ve never talked to more people in one week who told me, “You know, I listen to the news, and I get really depressed.”
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Obama slams Cheney on '60 Minutes'
(Politico).Obama's tough words for Cheney represent the latest Salvo in what has become a shooting war between the new administration and the forner vice president.
President Obama is reprising some of his most familiar campaign rhetoric to criticize Dick Cheney, saying in an interview that the former vice president has no room to criticize him on national security.
“How many terrorists have actually been brought to justice under the philosophy that is being promoted by Vice President Cheney?” Obama asked on “60 Minutes,” according to excerpts released by CBS ahead of its Sunday airing. “It hasn't made us safer. What it has been is a great advertisement for anti-American sentiment.”
Obama’s volley comes a week after Cheney said the new president was taking steps to “raise the risk to the American people of another attack.”
President Obama is reprising some of his most familiar campaign rhetoric to criticize Dick Cheney, saying in an interview that the former vice president has no room to criticize him on national security.
“How many terrorists have actually been brought to justice under the philosophy that is being promoted by Vice President Cheney?” Obama asked on “60 Minutes,” according to excerpts released by CBS ahead of its Sunday airing. “It hasn't made us safer. What it has been is a great advertisement for anti-American sentiment.”
Obama’s volley comes a week after Cheney said the new president was taking steps to “raise the risk to the American people of another attack.”
Special Olympics Bowler: I Can Beat Obama!
(NEWSMAX).The top bowler for the Special Olympics looks forward to meeting President Barack Obama in an alley.
"He bowled a 129. I bowl a 300. I could beat that score easily," Michigan's Kolan McConiughey told The Associated Press in an interview Friday.
The athletic-minded president made an offhand remark Thursday on "The Tonight Show" comparing his weak bowling to "the Special Olympics or something." He quickly apologized and told the Special Olympics chairman he wants to have some of its athletes visit the White House to bowl or play basketball.
McConiughey, who is mentally disabled, is just the bowler for the job. He's bowled five perfect games since 2005.
"He bowled a 129. I bowl a 300. I could beat that score easily," Michigan's Kolan McConiughey told The Associated Press in an interview Friday.
The athletic-minded president made an offhand remark Thursday on "The Tonight Show" comparing his weak bowling to "the Special Olympics or something." He quickly apologized and told the Special Olympics chairman he wants to have some of its athletes visit the White House to bowl or play basketball.
McConiughey, who is mentally disabled, is just the bowler for the job. He's bowled five perfect games since 2005.
HOW MANY STILL TO GO? Top 10 gaffes by Barack Obama and Joe Biden
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/toby_harnden/blog/2009/03/20/top_10_gaffes_by_barack_obama_and_joe_biden_
Barack Obama Is a Terrible Bore
(Michael Wolff- newser).Sheesh, the guy is Jimmy Carter.
That homespun bowling crap on Jay Leno, followed by the turgid, teachy fiscal policy lecture, together with the hurt defensiveness (and bad script for it) that everybody in Washington "is Simon Cowell… Everybody's got an opinion," is pure I’m-in-over-my-head stuff. Even the idea of having to go on Jay Leno to rescue yourself from the AIG mess is lame. Be a man, man.
The guy just doesn’t know what to say. He can’t connect. Emotions are here, he’s over there. He can’t get the words to match the situation.
This began, I’d argue, from the first moment. He punted on the inaugural. Everybody ran around like crazy trying to praise it because if Barack Obama couldn’t give a speech then what?
But now, at week 11, we’re face-to-face with the reality, the man can’t talk worth a damn.
You can see the fundamental mistake he’s making. Having been so successfully elected, he’s acting like people actually want to hear what he thinks. He’s the great earnest bore at the dinner party. Instead of singing for his supper, he’s just talking—and going on at length. The real job of making people part of the story you’re telling, of having them hang on your every word, of getting the tone and detail right, the hard job of holding a conversation, he ain’t doing.
He’s cold; he’s prickly; he’s uncomfortable; he’s not funny; and he’s getting awfully tedious.
He thinks it’s all about him. That we want him for himself—that he doesn’t have to seduce, charm, surprise, show some skin.
So Jimmy.
It’s instructive and humorous to remember that Carter ran a brilliant campaign that succeeded largely because his voice was new. Simple, direct, basic, human. And then, of course, he turned into a sad-sack twit.
What happens when you move into the White House?
Well, shit, of course. The true secret of the power of language is in quickness. Barack Obama can’t keep up. He evidently needs too much preparation. And then there’s the organization. He’s undoubtedly got too many people debating what he should say. That’s the other secret of language: You’ve got to just go for it. Can’t think too much about it. It’s like hitting the ball. And then there’s knowing who you want to be—which is different than knowing who you are. You’re on the stage. You’re acting. You’ve got to make yourself believable, cleverly make yourself up as you go along.
This guy is leaden and this show is in trouble.
That homespun bowling crap on Jay Leno, followed by the turgid, teachy fiscal policy lecture, together with the hurt defensiveness (and bad script for it) that everybody in Washington "is Simon Cowell… Everybody's got an opinion," is pure I’m-in-over-my-head stuff. Even the idea of having to go on Jay Leno to rescue yourself from the AIG mess is lame. Be a man, man.
The guy just doesn’t know what to say. He can’t connect. Emotions are here, he’s over there. He can’t get the words to match the situation.
This began, I’d argue, from the first moment. He punted on the inaugural. Everybody ran around like crazy trying to praise it because if Barack Obama couldn’t give a speech then what?
But now, at week 11, we’re face-to-face with the reality, the man can’t talk worth a damn.
You can see the fundamental mistake he’s making. Having been so successfully elected, he’s acting like people actually want to hear what he thinks. He’s the great earnest bore at the dinner party. Instead of singing for his supper, he’s just talking—and going on at length. The real job of making people part of the story you’re telling, of having them hang on your every word, of getting the tone and detail right, the hard job of holding a conversation, he ain’t doing.
He’s cold; he’s prickly; he’s uncomfortable; he’s not funny; and he’s getting awfully tedious.
He thinks it’s all about him. That we want him for himself—that he doesn’t have to seduce, charm, surprise, show some skin.
So Jimmy.
It’s instructive and humorous to remember that Carter ran a brilliant campaign that succeeded largely because his voice was new. Simple, direct, basic, human. And then, of course, he turned into a sad-sack twit.
What happens when you move into the White House?
Well, shit, of course. The true secret of the power of language is in quickness. Barack Obama can’t keep up. He evidently needs too much preparation. And then there’s the organization. He’s undoubtedly got too many people debating what he should say. That’s the other secret of language: You’ve got to just go for it. Can’t think too much about it. It’s like hitting the ball. And then there’s knowing who you want to be—which is different than knowing who you are. You’re on the stage. You’re acting. You’ve got to make yourself believable, cleverly make yourself up as you go along.
This guy is leaden and this show is in trouble.
Palin shocked at Obama's joke
“I was shocked to learn of the comment made by President Obama about Special Olympics,” Governor Palin said. “This was a degrading remark about our world’s most precious and unique people, coming from the most powerful position in the world.
“These athletes overcome more challenges, discrimination and adversity than most of us ever will. By the way, these athletes can outperform many of us and we should be proud of them. I hope President Obama’s comments do not reflect how he truly feels about the special needs community.”
“These athletes overcome more challenges, discrimination and adversity than most of us ever will. By the way, these athletes can outperform many of us and we should be proud of them. I hope President Obama’s comments do not reflect how he truly feels about the special needs community.”
Obama's troubled numbers
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 36% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-two percent (32%) Strongly Disapprove.
Overall, 55% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance so far. Forty-four percent (44%) disapprove.
Overall, 55% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance so far. Forty-four percent (44%) disapprove.
Friday, March 20, 2009
MRC annual Dinner award Maher & Matthews Dishonor awards
(CNSNews.com) – Political commentator and TV host Bill Maher won “Quote of the Year” at the Media Research Center’s annual Dishonors Awards for his remarks about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Maher – on HBO’s “Real Time” in September 2008-- questioned whether Palin’s infant son Trig was her child or that of her teenage daughter, Bristol.
“I’m not that convinced that that’s her baby,” Maher said. “It’s not like they’re not willing to lie about everything else
The group held a mock awards show, “roasting the most outrageously biased liberal reporting of the year” by giving “dishonor” awards to things like the “Obamagasm” of the year for the greatest example of the news media’s passion for the new president.
“We are here to love them [the news media] as much as they love us,” said L. Brent Bozell III, the night’s master of ceremonies. “When covering the White House, reporters ought not need kneepads.”
The group gave Matthews the “Media Messiah” award for his infamous quote ("I felt this thrill going up my leg" when Obama spoke), and gave CNN founder Ted Turner the “Dan Rather Memorial Award for Stupidest Analysis” for his comment on PBS’s “The Charlie Rose Show,” when he said that global warming will cause mass death and cannibalism.
The attendees -- from radio personalities such as Mark Levin to former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese to Joe the Plumber to Fox News' Brit Hume -- were not especially in the mood to fret over the political sensibilities of a rock star. They were there to start the crowd up, and it worked.
"Ever heard of Newsweek?" Mr. Levin asked. "It's a magazine that was popular about 30 years ago. It's sort of like Pravda with photos."
Obama too important to go through doors...
(ryanseacrest).As final preparations were made at NBC Studios in Burbank, CA for President Obama's visit to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno studio, network chairman Ben Silverman filled Ryan in on the details of his visit.
"To get him into the stage, they literally wanted to have the ability to drive his limo into the set and onto the stage," said Silverman. "The weight [of the President's Limo] is so intense that it would've collapsed the stage, so now we have to build this whole structure next to the stage to he can drive right up to it."
"To get him into the stage, they literally wanted to have the ability to drive his limo into the set and onto the stage," said Silverman. "The weight [of the President's Limo] is so intense that it would've collapsed the stage, so now we have to build this whole structure next to the stage to he can drive right up to it."
Dissaproval rating starting to catch up
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 35% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-one percent (31%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of +4.
Obama has been on the job for two full months and a review of the numbers shows a significant increase in the number of Americans who believe government spending will rise during the Obama years. Additionally, 50% now worry that the government will do too much rather than too little in dealing with the economic crisis. That’s up seven-percentage points over the past month.
Overall, 55% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far. That’s his lowest overall rating to date. Forty-three percent (43%) disapprove.
Obama has been on the job for two full months and a review of the numbers shows a significant increase in the number of Americans who believe government spending will rise during the Obama years. Additionally, 50% now worry that the government will do too much rather than too little in dealing with the economic crisis. That’s up seven-percentage points over the past month.
Overall, 55% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far. That’s his lowest overall rating to date. Forty-three percent (43%) disapprove.
Obama Closes Press Award Ceremony... to the Press!!
(Newsbusters).Barack Obama is about to be crowned "Newsmaker of the Year" by the National Newspaper Publishers Assn. The ceremony is to take place this afternoon,March 20, at the White House.
And here is the kicker... it's CLOSED to the press!
Seriously! This guy is getting an award from the press and he's closed the ceremony to the press. Where is the outrage? Where is the screaming about how Obama is the most "secretive president" since Bush? Where are comments about the lack of "transparency"? More to the point where are the guffaws about just how ridiculous this move is?
And here is the kicker... it's CLOSED to the press!
Seriously! This guy is getting an award from the press and he's closed the ceremony to the press. Where is the outrage? Where is the screaming about how Obama is the most "secretive president" since Bush? Where are comments about the lack of "transparency"? More to the point where are the guffaws about just how ridiculous this move is?
Easy,Friendly time on Leno
(AP).If TV talk shows have become a battleground where hosts and newsmakers duke it out, Jay Leno and President Barack Obama didn't get the message.
"Mr. President, I must say this has been one of the best nights of my life," a beaming Leno announced at the end of Obama's visit Thursday to the "Tonight" show.
Leno queried Obama about difficult issues — including AIG's executive bonuses and criticism of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner — but with minor exception allowed the president to answer without challenge.
It was a sharp contrast to the recent high drama of CNBC host Jim Cramer's painful woodshed appearance on Jon Stewart's show or David Letterman's roasting of John McCain during the presidential campaign.
Obama might have sensed from the outset it would not be a grueling exercise. Leno asked if it was fair to be "judged so quickly" after less than two months in office.
"I welcome the challenge," Obama said. "In Washington, it's a little bit like `American Idol,' but everybody is Simon Cowell. Everybody's got an opinion."
The tone turned serious when the economic crisis was the topic, but Leno wasn't going to make the president sweat.
Obama had appeared "angry" and "stunned" about the AIG bonuses, Leno observed.
"Stunned is the word," Obama replied, then launched into a lengthy, wonkish description of how the insurance giant foundered and why the company bonuses symbolize the larger issue of Wall Street's "attitude of entitlement."
If Leno had a bone to pick, it was with federal efforts to tax the AIG bonuses out of existence.
"If the government decides they don't like a guy, all of a sudden, `Hey, we're gonna tax you,'" the talk show host said.
He did tweak Obama at one point, after bringing up criticisms of Geithner. As Obama defended the treasury secretary for taking the right steps against a host of problems, Leno joked, "I love that it's all his problem."
But the biggest dig was against Leno's own network.
"A lot of people were surprised that the president came to NBC. You'd think by this time he'd be tired of big companies on the brink of disaster with a bunch of overpaid executives," Leno said during his monologue.
It was a far different atmosphere when CNBC "Mad Money" host Cramer appeared on Stewart's "The Daily Show" earlier this month and the Comedy Central host railed at him for putting entertainment above journalism. Last year, Letterman gave McCain a tough time after the GOP presidential contender canceled a "Late Show" appearance.
On "Tonight," Obama had enough running room on to display his comedic chops as Leno delved into what he called "some personal things" with the president.
Leno pressed him on when daughters Malia and Sasha would get their pet dog.
"This is Washington. That was a campaign promise," Obama replied to the pet question, drawing audience laughter. "No, no, no, no, no, I'm teasing. The dog will be there shortly."
"How cool is it to fly in Air Force One?" a dazzled Leno asked at one point.
The 35-minute presidential interview was the only one on the show, which ended with a performance by Garth Brooks — and with Leno warmly applauding Obama.
It may be tough times in Washington for Obama, but not on Leno's "Tonight."
"Mr. President, I must say this has been one of the best nights of my life," a beaming Leno announced at the end of Obama's visit Thursday to the "Tonight" show.
Leno queried Obama about difficult issues — including AIG's executive bonuses and criticism of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner — but with minor exception allowed the president to answer without challenge.
It was a sharp contrast to the recent high drama of CNBC host Jim Cramer's painful woodshed appearance on Jon Stewart's show or David Letterman's roasting of John McCain during the presidential campaign.
Obama might have sensed from the outset it would not be a grueling exercise. Leno asked if it was fair to be "judged so quickly" after less than two months in office.
"I welcome the challenge," Obama said. "In Washington, it's a little bit like `American Idol,' but everybody is Simon Cowell. Everybody's got an opinion."
The tone turned serious when the economic crisis was the topic, but Leno wasn't going to make the president sweat.
Obama had appeared "angry" and "stunned" about the AIG bonuses, Leno observed.
"Stunned is the word," Obama replied, then launched into a lengthy, wonkish description of how the insurance giant foundered and why the company bonuses symbolize the larger issue of Wall Street's "attitude of entitlement."
If Leno had a bone to pick, it was with federal efforts to tax the AIG bonuses out of existence.
"If the government decides they don't like a guy, all of a sudden, `Hey, we're gonna tax you,'" the talk show host said.
He did tweak Obama at one point, after bringing up criticisms of Geithner. As Obama defended the treasury secretary for taking the right steps against a host of problems, Leno joked, "I love that it's all his problem."
But the biggest dig was against Leno's own network.
"A lot of people were surprised that the president came to NBC. You'd think by this time he'd be tired of big companies on the brink of disaster with a bunch of overpaid executives," Leno said during his monologue.
It was a far different atmosphere when CNBC "Mad Money" host Cramer appeared on Stewart's "The Daily Show" earlier this month and the Comedy Central host railed at him for putting entertainment above journalism. Last year, Letterman gave McCain a tough time after the GOP presidential contender canceled a "Late Show" appearance.
On "Tonight," Obama had enough running room on to display his comedic chops as Leno delved into what he called "some personal things" with the president.
Leno pressed him on when daughters Malia and Sasha would get their pet dog.
"This is Washington. That was a campaign promise," Obama replied to the pet question, drawing audience laughter. "No, no, no, no, no, I'm teasing. The dog will be there shortly."
"How cool is it to fly in Air Force One?" a dazzled Leno asked at one point.
The 35-minute presidential interview was the only one on the show, which ended with a performance by Garth Brooks — and with Leno warmly applauding Obama.
It may be tough times in Washington for Obama, but not on Leno's "Tonight."
Thursday, March 19, 2009
SHOCK - Israel's chief of staff cuts US visit early after doors close for the Iran issue in Obama's Washington
(WorldTribune). Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi cut short his visit to Washington after getting an extraordinarily cool reception from the new U.S. administration.
On March 12, Ashkenazi left for a five-day visit to the United States meant to lobby the Obama administration to abandon the planned U.S. dialogue with Iran, Middle East Newsline reported. Ashkenazi, scheduled to meet with the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, was expected to have brought new Israeli intelligence on Iran's nuclear weapons and missile programs.
But the diplomatic sources said the administration made it clear that nobody in a policy-making position was available to sit with Ashkenazi. This included the president, Vice President Joseph Biden, Gates, National Intelligence director Dennis Blair or Mullen.
["With regards to a meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, one was not scheduled between Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi and Adm. Mullen," the IDF stated. "Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi has met with Adm. Mullen five times in the past year."]
"The administration is sending a very clear message to Israel, and this is we want to talk about Palestine and not Iran," a diplomat who has been following U.S.-Israel relations said.
Ashkenazi obtained an appointment with National Security Advisor James Jones. But the sources said the meeting was to focus on U.S. demands for Israel to ease military restrictions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
"The Obama administration believes that Israel is as much or more of a problem as it is an ally, at least until Israel's disagreements with its neighbors are resolved," former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, said.
The sources said Israel has sought a U.S. commitment to limit its dialogue with Iran. Israel has also urged Obama to make it clear that the military option against Iran's nuclear program exists.
But Obama and his top aides appear uninterested in hearing Israel's position.
"Ashkenazi sees this U.S. refusal as what has been undermining Israeli deterrence toward Iran and boosting the confidence of the Teheran regime," the source said. "The mullahs in regime have concluded that America has dropped the military option and won't allow such an option to Israel."
On March 12, Ashkenazi left for a five-day visit to the United States meant to lobby the Obama administration to abandon the planned U.S. dialogue with Iran, Middle East Newsline reported. Ashkenazi, scheduled to meet with the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, was expected to have brought new Israeli intelligence on Iran's nuclear weapons and missile programs.
But the diplomatic sources said the administration made it clear that nobody in a policy-making position was available to sit with Ashkenazi. This included the president, Vice President Joseph Biden, Gates, National Intelligence director Dennis Blair or Mullen.
["With regards to a meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, one was not scheduled between Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi and Adm. Mullen," the IDF stated. "Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi has met with Adm. Mullen five times in the past year."]
"The administration is sending a very clear message to Israel, and this is we want to talk about Palestine and not Iran," a diplomat who has been following U.S.-Israel relations said.
Ashkenazi obtained an appointment with National Security Advisor James Jones. But the sources said the meeting was to focus on U.S. demands for Israel to ease military restrictions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
"The Obama administration believes that Israel is as much or more of a problem as it is an ally, at least until Israel's disagreements with its neighbors are resolved," former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, said.
The sources said Israel has sought a U.S. commitment to limit its dialogue with Iran. Israel has also urged Obama to make it clear that the military option against Iran's nuclear program exists.
But Obama and his top aides appear uninterested in hearing Israel's position.
"Ashkenazi sees this U.S. refusal as what has been undermining Israeli deterrence toward Iran and boosting the confidence of the Teheran regime," the source said. "The mullahs in regime have concluded that America has dropped the military option and won't allow such an option to Israel."
Obama insults disabled by comparing his bowling skills to the Special Olympics
(ABC).The first appearance by a sitting president on "The Tonight Show" may well end up being the last.
President Obama, in his taping with Jay Leno Thursday afternoon, attempted to yuk it up with the funnyman, and ended up insulting the disabled.
Towards the end of his approximately 40-minute appearance, the president talked about how he's gotten better at bowling and has been practicing in the White House bowling alley.
He bowled a 129, the president said.
"That's very good, Mr. President," Leno said sarcastically.
It's "like the Special Olympics or something," the president said.
Romney on Larry King:It is time for Obama to "Focus,Focus,Focus..."
(NYformitt).Mitt Romney on Larry King said that with "the economy hanging by a thread" it is time for Obama to "focus, focus, focus" on one or two important issues rather than try to herd cats as the President has been doing this past couple of months.
A Third grader questions Obama at town hall meeting but gets no answer
(CNN) — For a brief moment Thursday, President Obama wasn't the star of his own town hall meeting in Los Angeles.
Ethan Lopez, an eight year old third grader asked the final question during a townhall meeting.
"Hi," says the boy, "my name is Ethan, President Obama. Our school is in big trouble because of budget cuts. Twenty-five of our teachers have already been fired to get pink slips, and the whole school, my class, we made this." He gestures to the envelope.
"Are those letters for me?" asks Obama. "Is that your mom? She looks very nice."
Obama assures Ethan that he plans to do all that he can to "protect teachers," but also uses the moment to plug his school construction program, which he says he forgot to mention earlier. Then he realizes he is still talking to a third-grader.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" the president asks the boy.
"A cop," says Ethan with finality.
Obama Does 'Tonight Show,' But Did He Strike the Right Tone?
President Obama appears Thursday on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" -- the first such appearance of any sitting president.
Timing is everything in comedy -- but was President Obama missing his cue with a late-night TV appearance in the middle of an economic crisis?
Obama, who is in California for a set of town hall meetings, appears Thursday on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."
Though late-night shows are a staple nowadays for any political candidate, traditionally they've been avoided by anyone in the Oval Office. The Leno visit marks the first such appearance of any sitting president.
And with the markets still well below their highs and the sudden firestorm over bonus pay at AIG, critics suggest Obama might be showing a little tone-deafness by heading to Hollywood.
"It's not an accident that no sitting president has ever done a show like this," media analyst Steve Adubato told FOX News.
Obama didn't shy away from typical late-night banter with Leno, joking about his bowling skills and the clothes worn by Leno's band leader, Kevin Eubanks, but the president also discussed a range of hot issues in Washington, from AIG bonuses to the performance of his treasury secretary.
Adubato noted the difficulty any commander-in-chief would have balancing levity and seriousness in that Los Angeles setting at a time of crisis.
"I'm not convinced this was the smartest move," he said Thursday before Obama's TV appearance.
Mary Kate Cary, a speechwriter for former President George H.W. Bush, wrote in a U.S. News & World Report column that Obama's Leno appearance could be damaging.
"There's a reason presidents don't do comedy on television, especially in tough times," she wrote. "Doing Jay Leno lessens the stature of the office, and diminishes the man. On Leno, he becomes just one more talk show guest."
Timing is everything in comedy -- but was President Obama missing his cue with a late-night TV appearance in the middle of an economic crisis?
Obama, who is in California for a set of town hall meetings, appears Thursday on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."
Though late-night shows are a staple nowadays for any political candidate, traditionally they've been avoided by anyone in the Oval Office. The Leno visit marks the first such appearance of any sitting president.
And with the markets still well below their highs and the sudden firestorm over bonus pay at AIG, critics suggest Obama might be showing a little tone-deafness by heading to Hollywood.
"It's not an accident that no sitting president has ever done a show like this," media analyst Steve Adubato told FOX News.
Obama didn't shy away from typical late-night banter with Leno, joking about his bowling skills and the clothes worn by Leno's band leader, Kevin Eubanks, but the president also discussed a range of hot issues in Washington, from AIG bonuses to the performance of his treasury secretary.
Adubato noted the difficulty any commander-in-chief would have balancing levity and seriousness in that Los Angeles setting at a time of crisis.
"I'm not convinced this was the smartest move," he said Thursday before Obama's TV appearance.
Mary Kate Cary, a speechwriter for former President George H.W. Bush, wrote in a U.S. News & World Report column that Obama's Leno appearance could be damaging.
"There's a reason presidents don't do comedy on television, especially in tough times," she wrote. "Doing Jay Leno lessens the stature of the office, and diminishes the man. On Leno, he becomes just one more talk show guest."
Area Palin fans say, ‘You go, girl!’
(NEWHAVENREGISTER)— If you ask Paul Streitz, it’s never too early to start planning for the future, especially if your hope for the future is to see Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin run for president — and win — in 2012.
So, over coffee, pie and burgers at Denny’s restaurant on Sawmill Road Tuesday night, Streitz held the first community "Sarah meet-up" for supporters of the former Republican vice presidential candidate to get together and talk about the future.
Never mind the fact that newly elected President Barack Obama has only been in office for 1½ months and the Republican Party is still picking up the pieces after its presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lost in November.
"There is no ‘start time’ for an election. After November, I said, ‘Let’s get going on this,’" Streitz said.
And he did. Just weeks after the election, Streitz, who lives in Darien and is co-director of Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control, co-founded the first federally registered committee with the goal of raising money to draft Palin for president in 2012. So far, the committee has collected about $3,000.
The 2012 Draft Sarah Committee is based in Colorado Springs, Colo., where the group’s other founder, David Kelly, lives, and officially filed paperwork Nov. 20 with the Federal Election Commission. The goal of the "meet-ups" is to provide a chance for like-minded people who want Palin to run in 2012 to get together and chat.
"Her values resonate with the American public," Streitz said Tuesday while fumbling through his bag looking for a "Vote Sarah Palin 2012" sticker for the newest arrival to the group.
Six people showed up for the gathering, most of them friends of Streitz’s who share his desire for tougher anti-immigration laws. Discussion shifted to various topics including Obama, conservative commentator Ann Coulter, illegal immigration and, of course, Palin.
"I think she’s a beautiful-looking woman," said North Branford resident Ted Pechinski.
"And she has a good brain to go with it," added Veronica Kivela of North Haven.
Kivela said she does not know who she will support in 2012, but she has great respect for Palin.
"She is a fine American. She’s just everything that we need in this country: An honorable woman who can stand with men," she said.
The group’s only newcomer, Jim Troyer, who resides in Bridgeport but lived for years in Arizona, said he can relate to her as a Westerner. He also praised her experience as governor.
"The thing I like best about her is she has international experience and she started at the very bottom and moved to the top," he said. When asked to elaborate, Troyer replied: "Her state does not border any other state. It borders Russia and Canada, and China isn’t too far away."
So, over coffee, pie and burgers at Denny’s restaurant on Sawmill Road Tuesday night, Streitz held the first community "Sarah meet-up" for supporters of the former Republican vice presidential candidate to get together and talk about the future.
Never mind the fact that newly elected President Barack Obama has only been in office for 1½ months and the Republican Party is still picking up the pieces after its presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lost in November.
"There is no ‘start time’ for an election. After November, I said, ‘Let’s get going on this,’" Streitz said.
And he did. Just weeks after the election, Streitz, who lives in Darien and is co-director of Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control, co-founded the first federally registered committee with the goal of raising money to draft Palin for president in 2012. So far, the committee has collected about $3,000.
The 2012 Draft Sarah Committee is based in Colorado Springs, Colo., where the group’s other founder, David Kelly, lives, and officially filed paperwork Nov. 20 with the Federal Election Commission. The goal of the "meet-ups" is to provide a chance for like-minded people who want Palin to run in 2012 to get together and chat.
"Her values resonate with the American public," Streitz said Tuesday while fumbling through his bag looking for a "Vote Sarah Palin 2012" sticker for the newest arrival to the group.
Six people showed up for the gathering, most of them friends of Streitz’s who share his desire for tougher anti-immigration laws. Discussion shifted to various topics including Obama, conservative commentator Ann Coulter, illegal immigration and, of course, Palin.
"I think she’s a beautiful-looking woman," said North Branford resident Ted Pechinski.
"And she has a good brain to go with it," added Veronica Kivela of North Haven.
Kivela said she does not know who she will support in 2012, but she has great respect for Palin.
"She is a fine American. She’s just everything that we need in this country: An honorable woman who can stand with men," she said.
The group’s only newcomer, Jim Troyer, who resides in Bridgeport but lived for years in Arizona, said he can relate to her as a Westerner. He also praised her experience as governor.
"The thing I like best about her is she has international experience and she started at the very bottom and moved to the top," he said. When asked to elaborate, Troyer replied: "Her state does not border any other state. It borders Russia and Canada, and China isn’t too far away."
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