First, this column would like to say that it great to be back after a two-week layoff. The life of one mired in the middle class gets in the way sometimes of such minor endeavors, one of which is keeping a blog.
With that said, let's get on with it.
In the past few posts, this column has expressed concern that Meet The Press was not addressing anything else but the numbers of presidential election politics. This week faith, oddly enough on Easter Sunday, was restored. Presidential politics was discussed, but in the past week, too many significant happenings has gone, highlighted by open discussions of race, economic meltdowns, foreign policy blunders, and endorsements. Today's guests included Maria Bartiromo and Erin Burnett discussing the economy. In the context of MTP, this is overdue as some perspective needed to be given. Ms. Bartiromo maintains an optimism about the economy that it is cyclical and that with the Bear Sterns meltdown, we've seen the worse. However, in this particular cycle, Ms. Burnett pointed out that Alan Greenspan said it is the worst since WWII. And in this cycle, we're seeing people being wiped out. Foreclosures and stagnant wages, the former being an understated constant tragedy of the Bush Administration, make it difficult for a middle class worker to feel optimism that struggles are only cyclical.
Also, Ms. Burnett, who has been interviewing CEOs of companies that interact directly with consumers (she mentioned Little Ceasar's, Papa John's, Rainforest Cafe), see this economic downturn lasting for at least the next 18 months or more. A daunting prospect to say the least. At least exports are booming, right? Well, yes, but that props up the confidence of foreign consumers, it doesn't do much for the confidence of American consumers.
However, this column agrees with Ms. Bartiromo in that the FED chairman, Mr. Bernake is doing a good job in employing whatever tactic he can to keep the economy from running down a sink hole. If you're forced into a position in which you have to cut interest rates, you'll do it to maintain the minimum collective health of ordinary workers and consumers.
This week it has been pointed out that America is no longer focused at all on the Iraq war/occupation and that the economy dominates. What people need to remember is that Iraq is the central virus that creates all of America's ills. A projected cost of 3 trillion dollars sucked out of the U.S. economy doesn't serve any good purpose here in The States. Again, Iraq is the virus that cripples us, and in some aspects it will be permanent.
This is tied directly to the start of the discussion in the second portion of the show, which focused on the comments of Rev. Wright and Barack Obama's 'race' speech addressing it. After seeing the clip ad nauseum of Rev. Wright's comments, would we say that his tone was inflammatory? Yes. Would we question whether they were well thought out? Also, yes. Would we say that they showed a limited understanding of the real politik? Definitely. But we can also say that some of the comments were accurate in their essence. One of those points is simple physics. We put troops in Saudia Arabia and Muslim extremists found it intolerable. Any action will cause an equivalent reaction. Although assessing equivalents in politics is a matter of perspective. And Eugene Robinson was correct to point out, and it should be repeated, that this clip does not sum up the entire ministry of Rev. Wright. Do we know this first hand, you ask. No, but nor can we condemn learning of this second hand.
And it should also be pointed out that the comments didn't concern race as much as it did politics, yet it has been spun that way and Iraq is the backdrop for all of this.
With that said, Barack Obama felt that it was a necessity to give that speech in Philadelphia. Most of the media agrees, as they should, that the speech was a good first step in maturely discussing a problem that permeates throughout our 'great experiment' of an American society. This column's concern is that we, as a society, will only fixate on the speech itself and no one will pick up the ball per se. We'll have to wait and see.
All of this should not negatively affect Barack Obama's campaign, but as Jon Meacham pointed out, it does show that if Sen. Obama does walk across Lake Michigan, he might sink. (Leave it to Mr. Meacham to use the most appropriate of analogies on an Easter Sunday.)
And speaking of divisive comments, Bill Clinton is two steps away from permanently, critically damaging his legacy as President. He has been the single most divisive force in the Democratic National Primary. We will not speculate on the psychology of Mr. Clinton's thinking and whether he 'owes' it to his wife for any past embarrassments, etc. What is significant is the clear and present embarrassment he is becoming to Mrs. Clinton's campaign. This is projecting out to be classic political crash and burn - legacy damaged, lost nomination, political clout looking like the U.S.'s present moral standing in the world. How will all this affect Mrs. Clinton's determination in the Senate. Again, we have to wait and see.
One of the greatest things about America is that there is an adverse effect on society, hence action taken to remove an entity that is perceived to have too much control over something. It may seem that Americans do not act enough in this capacity, we really we do. Our first great lesson of the 21st Century is that we shouldn't have remained complacent when we witnessed the Bush Administration consolidating power. We bring this up because today's discussion touched on a perception that the Clintons control the Democratic party and wield all the influence, a 'magic voodoo' as Peggy Noonan put it. If they, in fact, did have this control, we are now seeing cut off at the knees.
If there is an endorsement that really does matter, it was Bill Richardson's endorsement of Barack Obama. That was a significant chop. Not only is it a former presidential contender endorsing another, but it serves as a significant rebuke of Mrs. Clinton. Remember that Gov. Richardson served the Clinton administration in various significant capacities. And for Mrs. Clinton's part in this rebuke, it is unfortunate that well... Mrs. Clinton doesn't necessarily lie, but she exaggaerates and alters past events and statement greatly, playing the Dick Cheney game of what I'm saying now is the truth and no matter what you think I said or recorded I said or did in the past simply isn't so because I say.
Lastly, Eugene Robinson surmised that the superdelegates should aline with the elected delegates and for the sake of the Democratic Party they should. However, as Mr. Meacham pointed out, it is rare that a primary election would affect the general election, but in this political cycle, it could happen. If this is to be the case, it could very well ruin the Democratic Party.
chick todd scrubs the numbers very well...
do with the pledged delegates - the supers - according to Gene Robinson
primary battle rarely effectsa general election but it could happen here...
War and the econony...
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