For Sunday, November 30, 2008

FOX News Sunday (FNS): Host Chris Wallace, or someone, talks to Senator Lindsey Graham and Governor Claire McCaskill about Obama’s foreign policy team.

This Week (ABC): Host George Stephanopoulos, or someone, talks to Senators Jack Reed and Dick Lugar about the terror attacks in Mumbai.

Meet the Press (NBC): Moderator Tom Brokaw, or someone, talks to Laura Bush and Ted Turner. Not at the same time, I’m certain.

Face the Nation (CBS): Host Bob Schieffer, or someone, hosts one of those “A Look At An Historic Election: Annual Books and Authors Show”

Late Edition (CNN): Host Wolf Blitzer, or someone, talks to a thousand people about the news.

~ ~ ~

They’ve run out of things to say. I’m taking the day off from the review, but I will watch some of this if possible.

It’s an old Ramones song, ‘cept that one was about Sheena (is a punk rocker). This is about New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, who has proposed that Hank Paulson resign and President Bush replace him at the Treasury Department with this Geittner fellow. Otherwise, he intones, we’re all gonna die.

Okay, Friedman, let’s replace the entire cabinet with Obama’s peeps! And we’d replace Josh Bolton with Rahmbo, of course, and they could make Bush-Cheney hide in an undisclosed location.

Better yet, Friedman: How about Vice President Cheney resigns, Bush replaces him with Obama, then Bush resigns? Obama could serve the remaining two months of Bush’s term and his own first term, then he would be eligible to run for a second.

Think of the beautiful precedent! Why didn’t Jemmy Madison think of this?

These giddy folks can’t wait for the implementation of hopechangehope, and the expectations are high. Obama has been very reassuring and Presidential in his recent pressers, and I’ll just be that translates into actually running the country. Right?

When your Keynesian solution fails, Friedman, you won’t be able to blame Bush. You can always listen to the Ramones, though.

“LOBOTOMY!”

Unnamed Senator talks to Roger Simon of Politico.com:

“I don’t think we have learned much from the election in terms of what people want to see,” he says. “We have the same gridlock.”

By the “same gridlock,” he means that party hard-liners, both Democrats and Republicans, will remain in control of the machinery of Congress. And that means more of the same. It means more politics as usual — especially in his party.

“We need someone who speaks from the center,” he says. “Sarah Palin is not the voice of our party.”

You lament is typical of your ilk, Senator Collins, Specter, Snowe… or whomever. Gordon Smith is still there, as is that Chuck Hagel guy from Nebraska, but they’re both on the way out. Linc Chafee’s been gone. Your breed is a dying breed, electorally: the watery Republican. Where have you gone, Lowell Weicker, Senator Anonymous turns his lonely eyes to you.

Boo-hoo-hoo.

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Sunday, November 23, 2008

PREFACE:

On FNS, David Axelrod said that his role in the Obama Administration will be working with the President on the communications end of it, not policy formation. Next on FNS, House Republican leader John Boehner refused any blame for the House Republicans’ 50-seat losses in the last two elections. He said that the GOP has to again become a party of solutions based on “our principles.” Sitting next to him, House Dem leader Steny Hoyer argued that Obama will cut taxes for 95% of Americans and that tax cuts have given us the worse economy “since Herbert Hoover.” Go figure.

On TW, Axelrod said that Obama won’t give an answer on Hillary as Sec of State until after the holidays. Next up, Senator Richard Shelby said that the government should not bail out Citibank. Senator Schumer argued that the government should have bailed out Lehman Brothers.

On MTP’s first segment, James Baker said that the Republicans could support what moderator Tom Brokaw described as a “massive public stimulation program that is directed by the government,” suggested by Obama for the start of his term, depending on what is in it. Obama advisor Bill Daley said that it was more likely that Obama let the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010 than repeal them next year.

Next segment, Joe Lieberman smacked Brokaw’s derisive tones around on whether or not he insulted Barack Obama at the RNC. Lieberman also seemed to tacitly accept the Tina Fey-David Frum notion of Governor Sarah Palin.

On FTN, Austen Goolsby suggested that the government could provide “bridge financing” to the auto industry while credit was tight, provided it was not a “bridge to nowhere.” Next on FTN, Nancy said that federal government wanted to be a “partner” to the auto industry but that at some point, Congress might have to fire the Big Three auto execs.

On LE, Mitt Romney favored a bailout package for the auto industry provided they detail a plan for success. (This was contrary to his NYT op/ed and in line with the Pelosi plan.) Next, Michigan Governor Jenn Granholm seemed caught off guard by Romney’s sudden reversal, prepared as she was to attack his op/ed.

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For Sunday, November 23, 2008

FOX News Sunday (FNS): Host Chris Wallace hosts Obama political op David Axelrod and House Republican Leader John Boehner & House Dem Leader Steny Hoyer.

This Week (ABC): Host George Stephanopoulos chats with Axelrod, Chuckie Schumer, and Senator Richard Shelby.

Meet the Press (NBC): Moderator Tom Brokaw (?) talks to James Baker, former Clinton commerce secretary William Daley, and Joe Lieberman.

Face the Nation (CBS): Host Bob Schieffer hosts Nancy and someone named Austan Goolsbee.

Late Edition (CNN): Host Wolf Blitzer talks to Carl Levin (Michigan, Senator), Jenn Granholm (Michigan, Governor), and his usual cast of thousands and thousands.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Axelrod is going to be a White House Senior Advisor, the Karl Rove of the Obama Administration but beloved of the media. On TW, Schumer and Shelby will argue about the Auto Bailout plan. Chuckie’s all for it, but Senator Shelby has been steadfast agin it.

I don’t know what’s going on with MTP.

On FTN, Nancy’s persona grates and Austan Goolsbee is an Obama economic advisor. (David Brooks will wet himself. Goolsbee is a product of Yale with a PhD in economics from M.I.T.)

I’ll have the review of this stuff right here at RedState.com. Bookmark this site.

I’ve a few thoughts before I see my Oncologist this afternoon.

Identity-confused New York Times columnist David Brooks once played an oncologist, as reprinted triumphantly in the Huffington Post:

[Sarah Palin] represents a fatal cancer to the Republican party. When I first started in journalism, I worked at the National Review for Bill Buckley. And Buckley famously said he’d rather be ruled by the first 2,000 names in the Boston phone book than by the Harvard faculty. But he didn’t think those were the only two options. He thought it was important to have people on the conservative side who celebrated ideas, who celebrated learning.

Brooks was “dazzled” by Obama’s “intellect” and “powers of social perception.” Brooks marveled at Joe Biden’s “great virtue,” excusing his gaffes with a double negative: “He can’t not say what he thinks.”

Brooks calls himself a conservative. Brooks calls himself a “reformer,” defining the term thusly:

The reformers tend to believe that American voters will not support a party whose main idea is slashing government. The Reformers propose new policies to address inequality and middle-class economic anxiety. They tend to take global warming seriously. They tend to be intrigued by the way David Cameron has modernized the British Conservative Party.

That is not conservatism, by any bending of the imagination. Thinkers and intellectuals, of which Dave Brooks fancies himself one, have the capacity to construct in their minds interlinking thoughts which can offer proof of the fanciful, but the crystalline thoughts often shatter when confronted with the single tone of A is A reality. And such as what “conservative” Brooks ponders “reforming” the Republican Party could be is not conservatism.

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Mary Ann Akers, who blogs at washingtonpost.com’s The Sleuth, has confirmed that about which a snarky (her adjective) Senate aide had gloated to her earlier: the McCain for President, 20’08 bumper sticker has been partially removed from the back bumper of the car in which Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) is driven.

A Senate aide reports to the Sleuth: “I was in my car on Constitution Avenue in front of the National Gallery waiting for the light to change when I noticed that lo and behold who but Joe Lieberman himself was in the car sitting next to me. He was being driven by a young male staffer and was furiously scrolling through his blackberry. When the light turned green, they pulled ahead of me and I saw a McCain 2008 sticker on the rear bumper, half scratched off!”

The inference, of course, was that Joementum had the sticker removed before the vote of the Senate Dem caucus on his future as chairman of Homeland Security, but an anonymous source connected to Lieberman tells the WashPost blogger that the bumper sticker was partially scraped off by another car in an accident which occurred prior to the November 4 Election Day.

This is serious stuff, folks.

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PREFACE:

On FOX News Sunday this morning, Senator Byron Doran said that the proposed bailout of the automotive companies was all about saving jobs. He said that the Senate Dems will not throw Joe Lieberman out of their caucus. Republican Senator Jon Kyl suggested that the bailout was unnecessary, as the automobile industry could reorganize under Chapter 11 like so many companies have done successfully in the past.

Explaining what a “Sam’s Club voter” is, on FNS, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty insisted that Americans shop at Sam’s Club, Costco, Target, and K-Mart because they have no money and must look for bargains. The federal government, he said, must be the same way. Michael Steele explained that he should be considered for RNC chairman because he brings a “different experience” to the table, that of a “grassroots guy” and a user of the internet.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, on ABC’s This Week, proclaimed that marriage was between a man and a woman but he should not force his opinion on those who want to alter the definition of marriage. He hopes Proposition 8 is overturned by the courts, and he will be consulting with “my lawyer,” Attorney General Moonbeam, about this.

On NBC’s Meet the Press, Michigan Senator Carl Levin said we should bail out the auto industry to save his constituents’ jobs and because Europe is doing it for their auto industry. Senator Richard Shelby said that he understands this will be tough on some people, but the bailout will be the beginning of out-of-control corporate welfare. “Money wasted,” he called it.

On CBS’ Face the Nation, Barney Frank said that his bailout package for the auto industry called for the industry to draft plans on how to improve themselves and to become more energy efficient. Senator Richard Shelby does not like the bailout at all: “Companies fail every day, and others take their place.”

Next on FTN, Newt Gingrich listed Republican governors who had done great things. He mentioned Sarah Palin only when asked, and he applauded her for energizing the party. Both Newt and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal avoided discussing social issues when prompted. (Do they think social conservatism is a loser with the broader electorate?)

On LE, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez stressed that the viability of the auto companies was crucial in helping them. Governor Sarah Palin then deftly crossed Wolf Blitzer’s verbal mine field.

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For Sunday, November 16, 2008

FOX News Sunday (FNS): Host Chris Wallace talks to Senators Jon Kyl and Byron Dorgan, then conversation turns to the future of the GOP with Tim Pawlenty and Michael Steele.

This Week (ABC): Host George Stephanopoulos has California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger about Proposition 8.

Meet the Press (NBC): Moderator [Tom Brokaw?] will host Senators Carl Levin (D-Michigan) and Richard Shelby (R-Alabama), disputing the bailout of the U.S. automotive industry. Then it is oilman T. Boone Pickens on to talk about his energy plan what with falling oil prices.

Face the Nation (CBS): Host Bob Schieffer talks to Shelby, Bobby Jindal, and Barney Frank. And Newt.

Late Edition (CNN): Host Wolf Blitzer talks to Chuck Rangel and Ted Turner, who is hawking a book of sorts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And that will be that.

I’ll have the review up tomorrow at RedState.com.

Joe and Jill Biden dropped in on Dick and Lynn Cheney today at the U.S. Naval Observatory on Thursday. I could argue that the following transcript accurately reflects what was said, and it just might in a parallel universe, but, alas, this is satire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

DOORMAN: Mr. Vice President, Mrs. Cheney, the Bidens are here for the tour of the Naval Observatory.

LYNN CHENEY: Show them in, jeeves.

JOE BIDEN: Pardon me, but Jilly and I have taken the liberty of letting ourselves in.

JILL BIDEN: I don’t much like these drapes.

JOE BIDEN: I’m a working class guy, Jill. We’ll buy new ones at Scranton Draperies & Curtains, where I was born, in Scranton, PeeAy.

JILL BIDEN: Don’t much care for Scranton, PeeAy.

JOE BIDEN: The people of Scranton, bless their little hearts, are all morons. Like the vice president, most dangerous people in the history of American history.

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: The campaign’s over, Joe.

JOE BIDEN: Oh, I meant what I said, alright. You’re a dangerous man, Dick Cheney. I’m carrying Red Peas and a Crucifix. I’m Roman Catholic, you know, just like the Pope, bless his heart, who doesn’t know historical church doctrine on dangerous men, bless his heart.

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: You’re here to see the living quarters. Lynn and I…

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Alaska Congressman Don Young has won his reelection fight against Democrat Ethan Berkowitz. That’s one less for Nancy’s majority, but at this point, it doesn’t matter a whit. At least the seat stays Republican and, with an entrenched Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska Republicans can find a candidate to primary him in two years.

Ted Stevens is not faring so well in his battle to retain his Senate seat, falling behind Democrat Paul Begich. If Stevens can pull this out, his recent felony convictions will disqualify him from serving and he will be replaced by Republican Governor Palin.

Are eyes are still on Alaska.

The Hotline On Call this morning reports a “Draft Michael Steele” effort to elevate the former Maryland lt. governor to the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. The online petition is being pushed by Steele friend Tony Marsh and his consulting firm, Marsh Copsey + Associates:

To rebuild the Republican Party, we need to broaden our outreach to new audiences with messages of conservative principles and values. Ronald Reagan won because he was able to bring a broad coalition of interests together under a ‘big tent.’

Michael Steele is the kind of leader that will rekindle Ronald Reagan’s legacy and translate it to the current political landscape. As RNC Chairman he will focus on what unites us, not on what divides us.

Michael Steele has the vision and the experience to lead the Republican Party in the 21st century. Michael Steele is a true Conservative who has served the GOP with distinction as a former State Party Chairman, as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, as a Senatorial Candidate and as current GOPAC Chairman. An artful public speaker, Mr. Steele can articulate our vision to the American people and inspire Republicans everywhere.

He will make being a Republican a source of pride once again.

It is “rebuild” rather than “tear down and start over.” This is an important distinction.

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Why are they still publishing?

PREFACE:

On FNS, John Podesta, Obama’s transition guru, asserted that there was a progressive wing of the Republican Party but it had died several decades ago. He also admitted that his organization, Center for America Progress, had sucked down Soros dollars.

Next on FNS, Eric Cantor and Mike Pence spelled out that there was no realignment of the electorate in the last election, no move toward big government; rather, it was an expression of voter mistrust of government. Pence specified that it was an individual moment with a compelling candidate.

On TW, incoming Obama CofS Rahm Emanuel didn’t swing at many of Steph’s softballs but did say that energy and health care were the two big issues and that the ongoing economic crisis gave Obama cover to deal with them however he will. He expects that John McCain will be a partner in this.

On MTP, Obama crony and transition co-chair Valerie Jarrett told moderator Tom Brokaw that Michelle Obama was not interested in being “co-President.” He did not ask Ms. Jarrett if she were interested in being the next U.S. Senator from Illinois.

On FTN, Rahm said that for this lame duck Congress’ work on the additional stimulus package, Obama will remain in Chicago doing this and that. He has shown leadership, Obama insisted, through his “call for action.”

On LE, Harry Reid told guest host John King that he has forgiven McCain but still carries around the Thad Cochran statement of revulsion at the thought of a President McCain. But Reid said the Dems have a mandate to stop the divisiveness, and McCain told him that the election was over. Reid would approve of Obama retaining SecDef Gates because Gates is not a registered Republican.

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For Sunday, November 9, 2008

FOX News Sunday (FNS): Host Chris Wallace talks the future of the Congressional GOP, Mike Pence and Eric Cantor, and to former Clinton (Bill) Chief of Staff John Podesta, who now runs Obama’s transition.

This Week (ABC): Host George Stephanopoulos has, near as I can tell, another journalist roundtable.

Meet the Press (NBC): Moderator Tom Brokaw (or some other sap) speaks to Obama-Biden Transition Team co-chair Valerie Jarrett; Senator Mel Martinez (R-Florida); and Representative James Clyburn (D-South Carolina).

Face the Nation (CBS): Host Bob Schieffer speaks to the boss of the yet-to-be-formed Obama Administration, Rahm-bo.

Late Edition (CNN): Host Wolf Blitzer hosts Harry Reid, Ahnold, and his usual cast of thousands.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Post-election transitions. President Bush has made the transition to the next Administration as painless as he can on his end, but he had always said he would do that. After the difficulties the he had from the outgoing, classless Administration eight years ago, this was a certainty. It’s funny, but one of the political assassins from that Administration is the incoming chief of staff.

I’ll have the review here at RedState.com early tomorrow afternoon.

My sister called earlier this evening and asked me of Senator McCain’s chances. Well, he has to win Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Oho… she interrupted me with a giggle, but I stipulated that he can do this.

“And he has to win Pennsylvania, so you and [brother-in-law] must vote tomorrow.”

They will.

My wife and I drove to the mall today, listening to Fox News Channel on XM, and Senator McCain was nearing the end of his speech. We had to stay to hear the end, which was:

I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your President. I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.

Fight for what’s right for our country.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children’s future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

Thank you, and God Bless you.

Wherever you are, vote! Sure, we will disappoint the French. I say that because I saw a Frenchman on BBC America speaking of the “global euphoria” when Obama wins tomorrow. Global euphoria is fine, but that is not why we elect a President of the United States. We elect a President to lead us in the fight for what this country is. Freedom. Security. The right to use our abilities to prosper.

I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

PREFACE:

This morning on FOX News Sunday, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said that the McCain campaign had taken no money away from the effort for the final 72-hours and put it into TV advertising, something confirmed later in the show by Karl Rove. Obama manager David Plouffe promised that Tony Romo would not vote on Tuesday and added that Pennsylvania was not as close as McCain’s peeps claim. Rove was next, and he added that John McCain has a “very steep, uphill climb” to victory on Tuesday.

Over on ABC’s This Week, Davis and Steph argued about whether or not things were going horribly awry for the McCain campaign. Obama strategist David Axelrod was confident, and he kindly added that he would do what he could to see that John McCain hypothetically would be a “successful” President should the thinkable happen: “I love him,” said Axelrod of McCain.

On NBC’s Meet the Press, Fred Thompson told Tom Brokaw that Obama would “take this country down a road toward a liberal welfare state, European-style policy like we’ve never seen before.” Next segment, John Kerry trashed John McCain and Republicans and said that Obama would be bipartisan and appoint Republicans to his cabinet. He sneered that John McCain no longer opposes torture: “It sends a terrible message to the rest of the world.”

On CBS’ Face the Nation, Axelrod said that Obama was going to “shatter the red State-blue State paradigm.” Lindsey Graham boasted: “I will beat Michael Phelps’s swimming before Barack Obama wins North Carolina, and I can’t swim.” On the next segment, Chuckie Schumer said that Dems will be a long shot to gain 60 Senate seats but it is possible. He called this year’s crop of Dem Senate candidates “non-ideological” and “thoughtful.” John Ensign countered with the Al Franken example, and indicated that he did not say yesterday that Sarah Palin was unqualified. He meant that Obama wasn’t qualified.

On CNN’s Late Edition, Senator Arlen Specter said that there would be no Bradley Effect in Western Pennsylvania but there might be a disparity between what people tell pollsters and how they actually vote. He also predicted that whoever won the election, there could be no tax cuts for anyone. Senator Junior Casey, by phone, made incoherent noises and seemed to indicate that his favorite sitcom was Charles in Charge.

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Sixty-six-year-old feminist, poet(aster), and 9-11 Truther Erica Jong is not just worried about riots should Obama lose the election next Tuesday; she told the Italian press that she’s expecting the second United States Civil War. In fact, she recently told the Italian paper Corriere della Sera that should Obama lose, we’ll have Civil War II, blood in on the streets. (She adds that Naomi Wolf and Jane Fonda are also worried that these same things will indeed come after the as-yet-hypothetical Obama defeat.)

Jason Horowitz at the New York Observer provies some Erica Jong excerpts for us. It’s heady stuff, maan.

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For Sunday, November 2, 2008

FOX News Sunday (FNS): Host Chris Wallace hosts McCain campaign manager Rick Davis, Obama’s chief strategist David Axelrod, and Karl Rove.

This Week (ABC): Host George Stephanopoulos talks also to Davis and Axelrod.

Meet the Press (NBC): Moderator Tom Brokaw will hear from Fred Thompson and 2004′s loser, John Kerry.

Face the Nation (CBS): Host Bob Schieffer has Axelrod, Lindsey Graham, and Senators John Ensign and Chuck Schumer.

Late Edition (CNN): Host Wolf Blitzer will host Pennsylvania Senator Junior Casey and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. And his usual cast of thousands. The only Republican listed is CNN commentator Alex Castellanos, whom I think is still a Republican. David Gergen and Ed Rollins, also appearing, were Republicans at one point in their lives but have since left the party.

It will be the Sunday before the election and they will discuss the election. Be nice to Axelrod or he will take a mental note and shut your news organization out of contact with an as-yet-hypothetical Obama Administration.