July 29, 07: Opinionator Playoffs

With the end of the political season upon us [read session is out (thank God)] so it seemed like the commentator playoffs this week with 7 people at the table. And before we get into this week's show and topics, I just want to throw out a couple of not so pithy comments about the commentators that were persona non grata but are regulars. First example being Robert Novak - wouldn't make the playoffs - old and irrelavant. He rendered himself that way with his conduct in Valerie Plame matter. Until now, he had acted as though he were a part of every Republican Administration for the last 50 years. Then the heat came and they tossed him aside. This is the adminstration's protocal when it comes to the enablers, with the except of Gonzo. More about him later.

Another is David Broder... not in the playoffs this year either. He's got the experience without a doubt... He's the Gordy Howe, but I find that now his opinions don't pack the same punch as they used to. I can barely make it through his written column and sometimes I just can not.

Lastly, there's David Brooks... the New York Times conversative conscious, or unconscious as the case maybe. He strikes me as having been that kid in school who everyone knew was smart and would have been asked for help if he weren't such a dick about it. Then being smart, he felt that he achieved a different plane of thinking - beyond everyone else - but it was just extremely off base, sort of like a William Krystol light. He would have gone far in the playoffs, but overconfidence got him swept in the first round.

Which brings us to this week's show.

At this point, there is no avoiding discussion about the presidential campaign, but MTP has been beating it to death. Yes, there was news this week with Obama and Clinton but it wasn't until 20 minutes into show that another candidate was even mentioned. Obama calling Clinton Bush-Cheney light is minorly astounding. There is no one in that league - too much to get into here, but take it as not good.

The LA Times, should thank their lucky stars to have Ron Brownstein on staff. I live in Los Angeles and that paper is completely suspect as a decent paper. Brownstein keeps them ligit. And his comment on the two candidates being on the different tracts is somewhat accurate, but it was almost like he was patting down the fire.

Through the analysis, you can always count on Chuck Todd to supply the catchy analogy - Obama has gotten his 'sea legs' and the 'punching the champ..' He was a damn good blogger. I am not one.

John Harwood's comment that Hillary Clinton's neckline on the floor of the Senate was contrived was ridiculous and completely cynical. He invalidated himself right there for the rest of the hour. By that rationale, Andrea Mitchell should have worn a low neckline if she wanted to be heard.

Simply, Dan Balz is usually too busy to be on these types of shows and take that as good.

Lastly, I read Eugene Robinson's column all the time and he's always on MTP. He always states things that are obvious and completely lucid and filled with common sense. It just seems like no one within the beltway seems to understand this language. Whereas David Brooks thinks he's ahead of the curve, Eugene Robinson actually is.

When the commentary switched to the Democratic primaries, specifically in Iowa and New Hampshire, all felt that if Obama finished third in one of those, then he would be in trouble.

He is going to finish third in Iowa and maybe New Hampshire (despite polling well) and this is what is going to be his problem - winning primaries. Maybe in New York, California, Illinois, Michigan (possibly), but those first two (IA & NH) - third. Definitely. Based on the primary tallies, he won't get the nomination. Dan Balz threw out the possibility of Clinton finishing third in Iowa - no way.

With regard to the Republican nominees, I really have trouble taking any of them seriously. Having lived in New York many years (and during the entire Guiliani administration), Rudy isn't an option. Isn't obvious that he's not equipped to be POTUS? And that he leads in South Carolina says one of two things - either the choices are incredibly poor or the median IQ in South Carolina is suspect. Like Bush, Guiliani talks out his ass. And George Bush does - "Heck of a job Brownie." Enough said.

Fred Thompson says he's been testing the waters and they're feeling warm. News for him, that's where many tiger sharks swim so he best beware - caveat em-presiden-tor.

Then lastly we come full circle to Gonzo. At this point what else can we possibly say? By now, I would make a better Attorney General than Lil' Al. He's completely perjured himself and has got to go. When you're AG breaks the law.... hello?


Some final comments for this week:
All the poll figures on the show this week drove me nuts.
Next week - get a politician and talk about Iraq. People are still dying there.
I don't do the Take Two online after the show. Love the Podcast but I'm not that crazy.

Signing Through -

July 5, 07 (22:44pst): Bush's Legacy in Full Effect

It's sad to think that a president so concerned with his legacy neglects the here and now that eventually builds it. If The President could just try to get a handle on the occupation of Iraq, stop wiretapping us here at home, and work on being energy self-sufficient, then he would have performed miracles and live up to the legend that is in his mind. However, it looks pretty certain that the next person to take the office is going to have to clean up the mess. And I'm talking mess like the one at the end of the food fight scene in Animal House kind of mess. Do I really need to go into the messy examples? OK, just a few then - Iraq, Afghanistan, Health Care, Katrina and New Orleans, Prescription Drugs, Immigration, Commuting I. Lewis Libby, and who can forget that silliness with Social Security. He was going to fix it all right, by taking the 'social' and the 'security' completely out of the equation.

However, George Bush shouldn't worry about that frivolous list or his legacy. Like I said, someone will come to clean it up. Take The Texas Rangers, they have... well, they haven't completely recovered since George Jr. owned them, but with a couple of good prospects...

The fact is that George W. Bush's legacy is in full effect. The two justices that he has appointed to the Supreme Court have already proven to be insufficient in fulfilling the title of judge. What we've seen is partisan decision making. Their decisions on Campaign Finance, School Desegration, and the Death Penalty wreak of political favoritism - toward The President's party. These decisions are Bush's legacy and we're going to have to get used to it. Hopefully by the time they are replaced (and hopefully with more rational and progressive thinking judges), we'll still be alive enough to care.

July 1, 07: Chertoff is a Hack

Sometimes, all you want is a straight answer from the people who you actually need it from the most. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff for example: 'Will you step up the amount of air marshalls on flights to England and Scotland? Will you increase security during the 4th of July?' Yes or no questions. His answer involved things you'll see and things you won't see for the latter question. He then adds that the government is asking the public 'to be cautious' or something like that. How about examples? Empty rhetoric like that puts more fear into me than the notion of a terrorist attack. We can not have a political hack as our head of homeland security. And what's with the different facial hair everytime that guy is on the show. Is he trying to stay incognito or what? With the terrible job he is doing he better stay in disguise.

Senator Patrick Leahy is pissed off... Well, as pissed off as he can get and I have one word for him, 'gotcha!' Play it and don't be afraid to say it. I do believe that you're pissed off for the right reasons so in as much as you represent me, this American citizen asks you, on my behalf, play 'gotcha.' You could tell that he is angry by the way he mentioned more than once that he was a former proscutor, It is as simple as this. If I were to illegally wiretap someone, I'd be in trouble with the law. Our government? This is American Democracy 101. Wait... What's that?... Oh, right, that course was eliminated by the No Child Left Behind Act, I forgot - my bad. It's illogical for lawmakers to be partisan on this issue. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, then you investigate with every tool available. They get paid to think this way.

So a straight answer from Sen. Leahy? Well, Mr. Russert let him give an answer as he kept the questions to a minimum to let the Senator speak. That's one indicator to what opinion Mr. Russert agrees with. The other is that Tim was sitting back a little in his chair. When Mr. Russert really wants to hammer someone, he takes a posture like the Andre The Giant of mongooses facing a corbra. But Sen. Leahy got the cautious grizzley.

For this week's roundtable, I really didn't expect too much. None of the MTP allstars were on - Eugene Robinson, David Broder, Roger Simon, Gwen Iffil, Kate O'Beirne - but the perspectives were refreshing. It wasn't just commentators who needed to hear themselves talk so I thought they were all good - but I couldn't pay attention to David Brody however. Sorry David but I don't know who the hell you were. Also, you part of the Christian Broadcasting Network, which I am hearing about for the first time. Which brings me to ask, why don't the have someone from the Saivism Science Monitor on the show. Why is it always the Christian something or other... just saying.

And I love Chuck Todd, always has good insight, quality talking head. But he does get all the questions that require an expanded explanation. He is the NBC Political Director after all. However, wasn't he writing for some web site just two years ago. You can totally tell that Russert got him that job. Which just goes to show that you can go from being a blogger to the Political Director at NBC. But I say - good for him! This column isn't bitter toward newspeople, just skeptical. It is bitter toward politicians, if only slightly.

With regard to Judy Woodruff and Tavis Smiley, these two are proof that good things happen to nice people. They're both now on PBS.

What has been bothering with the round tables of late is the predominance of time has been focused on the presidential races. It just seems like MTP, where Mr. Russert makes the content decisions, has purposefully stayed away from these ridiculous statements and actions from the Vice President. Even today, with Sen. Leahy, VP Cheney's name wasn't mentioned. Also this week, he didn't have the roundtable weigh with regard to what was found in London and what happened over the weekend and how it relates to us. Mentions of the Iraq War! Only mentions! And what was galling is that the occupation was only mentioned in terms of presidential politics - please.

Judy Woodruff had the most to offer today with her knowledge of the voting habits of the 17-29 year olds - good stuff. But Mr. Russert misspoke when he said 17 to 19 year olds, no big deal, but that age group is not Gen X. It's Gen Y... and why do we have these classifications? One is disenfranchised and the other self-absorbed.

So blah blah blah the canidates have this and that or they don't. This column will weigh in on the race, but not now. Now, we're only getting posturing. Maybe we'll talk about all the candidates by process of elimination. That could be good.

Lastly, thank God her brought back the MTP MInute. Should be in every show! The problem is that there was no discussion ot the CIA documents disclosed recently. So the Minute almost exists in a void. It doesn't matter really, there should just be more.

Signing Through -