Connie Mack has passed on running for Mel Martinez's Senate seat. Too bad...after Jeb Bush, Mack was probably the best candidate the GOP had.
Anybody know Katherine Harris's number? Kidding, kidding! Unless the Florida GOP has a death wish, they should make it a capital crime to utter her name at any party convention from now until the sun burns out.
I just remembered something vaguely interesting I read a little while back. In 2000, Bush's second choice for VP--after Mr. Republican himself, Colin Powell--was Connie Mack III, father of the current Mack.
How would things have turned out if the ticket was Bush-Mack instead of Bush-Cheney? Well, first of all, there would have been a bunch of lame puns about "Bush smack." But puns are unavoidable in politics. It's not like the GOP is innocent--"Sore Loserman," anyone?
Mack probably would have been enough to deliver Florida; I also assume the rest of the the map would remain the same, because I somehow doubt Dick Cheney was the reason Bush carried New Hampshire.
No recount...no "Re-Defeat Bush" bumper stickers...no endless bellyaching about the electoral college...doesn't sound too bad. Throw in chocolate falling from the skies, and you might have a perfect world there.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Resistance is (Not Quite) Futile
Quick reaction to the passage of Obama's budget:
It's good to see that the GOP has finally decided to take the whole "loyal opposition" idea seriously. If there's a twelve-step program for parties recovering from irrelevance, the Republicans have just completed the first two:
1) Stop running around like a chicken with your head cut off
Done. It took a little longer then we might like, but what can you do?
2) Actually start fighting back
To win in politics, you have to be willing to engage your enemy. There's no dancing around that. Bipartisanship is nice, but in the end, somebody's knuckles are going to get bloody. Politics is boxing without the punching--unless you happen to be Cynthia McKinney.
To extend the boxing metaphor a little further: a prizefighter isn't going to win anything if he never goes into the ring. You might not ever lose, either, but what good is a perfect record when it's 0-0?
So kudos to the Republicans for finally standing up to Obama. The easy part is done. Now on to step three in the process:
3) Start coming up with good ideas
There are nine others after that, but this is pretty much the only one that matters. So--ideas! Anybody got some good ones? Not yet? Well, keep thinking. We've still got a year or two before we need to start worrying.
It's good to see that the GOP has finally decided to take the whole "loyal opposition" idea seriously. If there's a twelve-step program for parties recovering from irrelevance, the Republicans have just completed the first two:
1) Stop running around like a chicken with your head cut off
Done. It took a little longer then we might like, but what can you do?
2) Actually start fighting back
To win in politics, you have to be willing to engage your enemy. There's no dancing around that. Bipartisanship is nice, but in the end, somebody's knuckles are going to get bloody. Politics is boxing without the punching--unless you happen to be Cynthia McKinney.
To extend the boxing metaphor a little further: a prizefighter isn't going to win anything if he never goes into the ring. You might not ever lose, either, but what good is a perfect record when it's 0-0?
So kudos to the Republicans for finally standing up to Obama. The easy part is done. Now on to step three in the process:
3) Start coming up with good ideas
There are nine others after that, but this is pretty much the only one that matters. So--ideas! Anybody got some good ones? Not yet? Well, keep thinking. We've still got a year or two before we need to start worrying.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Stewart/Murrow
After reading Eric Alterman's article "Is Jon Stewart Our Ed Murrow?" I'd just like to ask: does Alterman think Stewart should be canonized now, or only after he is carried up to heaven in a flaming chariot accompanied by a chorus of angels?
Sheesh. The man is funny, but he's no Edward R. Murrow. Heck, even Murrow himself was no Edward R. Murrow. "Edward R. Murrow" is a fictional character, the man everybody holds up as the exemplar of responsible journalism. Did he really exist? Not really, no. But everyone has got to have their saints, and journalists are no exception.
Sheesh. The man is funny, but he's no Edward R. Murrow. Heck, even Murrow himself was no Edward R. Murrow. "Edward R. Murrow" is a fictional character, the man everybody holds up as the exemplar of responsible journalism. Did he really exist? Not really, no. But everyone has got to have their saints, and journalists are no exception.
Dress to Impress
Didja hear what Michelle Obama was wearing? Didja didja didja?
That, according to Howard Kurz, is how most papers are covering Obama's European trip. He offers some examples.
From the Huffington Post:
Will Michelle Obama wear sleeves to meet Queen Elizabeth II later this week? Flats? Perhaps a hat? Will she recycle a previously worn ensemble, as a nod to the global economy's perilous state -- which everyone blames on America -- or debut a dazzling new outfit?
Goodness! So many choices! I hope she chooses correctly--wouldn't want to get in a tiff with the queen!
Or how about this one, from Britain's Daily Mail:
Let's be positive and see Michelle Obama's wardrobe thus far as a metaphor for all the sparkling, bright change the G20 summit will effect. For however weighty the political issues on the agenda, Mrs O should be commended for the lightness of touch she brought to the breakfast table today.
To quote Benjamin Franklin: "Oh, barf."
Yes, Michelle Obama is a beautiful and stylish lady. That is undeniable. Also undeniable: the fact that there are many, many more important things going on at the G20 summit than Michelle's wardrobe.
Just like Obama was prematurely anointed the next FDR, Michelle is already becoming the new Jackie O. Well, good luck to her. But do we really need to hear about it non-stop for the next four years?
That, according to Howard Kurz, is how most papers are covering Obama's European trip. He offers some examples.
From the Huffington Post:
Will Michelle Obama wear sleeves to meet Queen Elizabeth II later this week? Flats? Perhaps a hat? Will she recycle a previously worn ensemble, as a nod to the global economy's perilous state -- which everyone blames on America -- or debut a dazzling new outfit?
Goodness! So many choices! I hope she chooses correctly--wouldn't want to get in a tiff with the queen!
Or how about this one, from Britain's Daily Mail:
Let's be positive and see Michelle Obama's wardrobe thus far as a metaphor for all the sparkling, bright change the G20 summit will effect. For however weighty the political issues on the agenda, Mrs O should be commended for the lightness of touch she brought to the breakfast table today.
To quote Benjamin Franklin: "Oh, barf."
Yes, Michelle Obama is a beautiful and stylish lady. That is undeniable. Also undeniable: the fact that there are many, many more important things going on at the G20 summit than Michelle's wardrobe.
Just like Obama was prematurely anointed the next FDR, Michelle is already becoming the new Jackie O. Well, good luck to her. But do we really need to hear about it non-stop for the next four years?
Tampering in Dodd's Domain
Edwin Edwards, former governor of Louisiana and frequent resident of the Bayou State's penal system, once remarked that the only way he would lose an election was if he were "caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl."
Something worse happened to poor old Chris Dodd--he got caught in bed with AIG executives. And now he's paying the price:
Dodd trailed former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) by a 50-to-34 percent margin in the Quinnipiac University poll. Simmons is considered the GOP's top contender.
Dodd also trailed two other Republican candidates in head-to-head match-ups in the poll. State Sen. Sam Caligiuri (R), who announced his candidacy Wednesday, beat Dodd by a 41-37 percent margin, while Dodd trailed Tom Foley, a former ambassador to Ireland who is expected to join the contest, 43 percent to 35.
Those numbers might ruffle even Dodd's perfect coiffure. To be down by sixteen points, more than a year out from the election, is not a good sign. It's not a bad sign either. It's a terrible, terrible sign, the sort that makes incumbents suddenly decide they want to "spend more time with their family."
Something worse happened to poor old Chris Dodd--he got caught in bed with AIG executives. And now he's paying the price:
Dodd trailed former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) by a 50-to-34 percent margin in the Quinnipiac University poll. Simmons is considered the GOP's top contender.
Dodd also trailed two other Republican candidates in head-to-head match-ups in the poll. State Sen. Sam Caligiuri (R), who announced his candidacy Wednesday, beat Dodd by a 41-37 percent margin, while Dodd trailed Tom Foley, a former ambassador to Ireland who is expected to join the contest, 43 percent to 35.
Those numbers might ruffle even Dodd's perfect coiffure. To be down by sixteen points, more than a year out from the election, is not a good sign. It's not a bad sign either. It's a terrible, terrible sign, the sort that makes incumbents suddenly decide they want to "spend more time with their family."
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Highlights of Obama's European Tour
April 1: Visit Queen Elizabeth; pump her about the secrets of the regal wave
April 2: Meet with Gordon Brown to discuss A) the world economic crisis and B) which nation's version of "The Office" is better
April 3: Take a trip to the suburbs of Paris to see how French handle young Muslim immigrants; see what the French do, make note to do the exact opposite
April 4: Hint to Sarkozy that we might be willing to slip a couple billion his way if he renames the "Arc de Triomphe" the "Arc de Obama"
April 5: Let's see...the Czech Republic? Who the hell put that on the itinerary?
April 6: Visit the grave of some Turkish guy who, according to your handlers, was sort of a big deal over there
April 7: Don't forget to pick up souvenirs!
April 2: Meet with Gordon Brown to discuss A) the world economic crisis and B) which nation's version of "The Office" is better
April 3: Take a trip to the suburbs of Paris to see how French handle young Muslim immigrants; see what the French do, make note to do the exact opposite
April 4: Hint to Sarkozy that we might be willing to slip a couple billion his way if he renames the "Arc de Triomphe" the "Arc de Obama"
April 5: Let's see...the Czech Republic? Who the hell put that on the itinerary?
April 6: Visit the grave of some Turkish guy who, according to your handlers, was sort of a big deal over there
April 7: Don't forget to pick up souvenirs!
The Bloody Twentieth
Political junkies, rejoice! It looks like the special election in NY's 20th congressional district isn't as over as we thought:
The too-close-to-call race in the 20th Congressional District between Republican Jim Tedisco and Democrat Scott Murphy just got considerably closer.
Following a review of votes in Columbia County, Murphy still leads Tedisco — but only by 25 votes, 77,217 to 77,192.
That result peels off 127 votes for Murphy and 93 for Tedisco from last night's results.
Both parties, naturally, are claiming victory. But what else would you expect? Neither candidate is going to politely step aside and say "The seat is yours. Take it, I insist!"
It's rather ironic that one of the best exemplars of the gracious loser in American politics is Richard Nixon. Sure, he could have protested the 1950 election, but he decided that no good would come of prolonging the election.
What are the chances of Tedisco or Murphy pulling a Nixon? Slim to none. That means it's time to sit back, pop some popcorn and watch the partisan fur fly.
The too-close-to-call race in the 20th Congressional District between Republican Jim Tedisco and Democrat Scott Murphy just got considerably closer.
Following a review of votes in Columbia County, Murphy still leads Tedisco — but only by 25 votes, 77,217 to 77,192.
That result peels off 127 votes for Murphy and 93 for Tedisco from last night's results.
Both parties, naturally, are claiming victory. But what else would you expect? Neither candidate is going to politely step aside and say "The seat is yours. Take it, I insist!"
It's rather ironic that one of the best exemplars of the gracious loser in American politics is Richard Nixon. Sure, he could have protested the 1950 election, but he decided that no good would come of prolonging the election.
What are the chances of Tedisco or Murphy pulling a Nixon? Slim to none. That means it's time to sit back, pop some popcorn and watch the partisan fur fly.
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