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26 Aug 2009 03:06

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U.S.: Ted Kennedy’s death creates a scramble for his seat

  • It has a profound impact on Massachusetts politics and elected office. Everything’s going to fall down because everyone will start moving around either jockeying for his seat or for the other positions that could open up.
  • Boston University statehouse program director Fred Bayles • Discussing the “domino effect” Kennedy’s death will have on politics in Massachusetts. Kennedy’s death leaves a reliable Democratic Senate seat open at the peak of the health care debate. While Kennedy had recently pushed for finding a replacement, he made the announcement just days before his death, leaving the state with little time to come up with a suitable replacement. We’re guessing the two-thirds majority stays put. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 5 Comments • Permalink

24 Aug 2009 22:24

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Politics: A prescription for what ails Obama: A move to the right?

  • For months polls have shown a huge gap between the popularity of the president and the unpopularity of his policies. Sooner or later, one of these had to give.
  • Wall Street Journal columnist William McGurn • Discussing Obama’s health care policy in the wake of his declining poll numbers. McGurn says that by letting go of the fight, Obama will strengthen his position as president – just like Bill Clinton did in 1994. Regarding Clinton, McGurn notes: “Though he continues to deny GOP contributions to his success, after his 1994 health-care defeat, Mr. Clinton did what all smart pols do: He appropriated the most appealing parts of his opponents’ agenda.” Our counterpoint: If Obama does that and loses the battle, we all lose health care reform. One would argue that if Obama actually pulls it off. his legacy will be even greater. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Aug 2009 22:26

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Politics: Max Headroom: We want a Joe Lieberman/Alec Baldwin battle royale

  • Lieberman smacks back A while back, Alec Baldwin threatened to move to Connecticut to essentially run against Democrat-turned-indie politician Joe Lieberman. Lieberman’s response: “Make my day.” It’s on now.

  • Lieberman smacks back A while back, Alec Baldwin threatened to move to Connecticut to essentially run against Democrat-turned-indie politician Joe Lieberman. Lieberman’s response: “Make my day.” It’s on now.

  • Wrong place, wrong story Fox News gets this great idea: Let’s take Geraldo Rivera and put him near Hurricane Bill … so that he can discuss Obama’s declining poll numbers. Shouldn’t you be discussing the storm?

  • Lieberman smacks back A while back, Alec Baldwin threatened to move to Connecticut to essentially run against Democrat-turned-indie politician Joe Lieberman. Lieberman’s response: “Make my day.” It’s on now.

  • Wrong place, wrong story Fox News gets this great idea: Let’s take Geraldo Rivera and put him near Hurricane Bill … so that he can discuss Obama’s declining poll numbers. Shouldn’t you be discussing the storm?

  • McCain misses Ted. Bad. It doesn’t matter that they’re in opposite parties: John McCain laments the declining health of Ted Kennedy and the fact that it’s kept him out of the health care debate. It’s tearjerking.

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Aug 2009 00:35

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U.S.: Many people like President Obama, but think his decisions suck

  • 57% approve of President Obama source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 6 Comments • Permalink

22 Aug 2009 12:18

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U.S.: Did Obama’s appeal to nontraditional voters get him into office?

Obama vote infographic
  • Good Magazine crunched up some numbers and compared different states’ voter turnout to see whether the groups Obama appealed to the most – black voters and young voters – really had an effect on voter turnout. From the looks of things, it may have been an election lost by McCain rather than the other way around. The biggest decrease in votes from 2004 to 2008 was in McCain’s home state. Thanks to Good Magazine for the tip.source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Aug 2009 10:05

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U.S.: Tom Ridge sez Bush was using the warning system to play politics

  • Ridge says they tried to use it just before the election. Former Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge dropped out of the Bush administration after the first term due (in part) to his concern that the administration was using terror alerts to play politics. The 2004 election incident, specifically, pushed him over the edge. “After that episode, I knew I had to follow through with my plans to leave the federal government for the private sector,” he wrote in his new book. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Aug 2009 21:35

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Politics: The Democrats “hope” Obama can “change” his health care talk

  • I don’t think the messaging has been very clear … the campaign to disseminate the messaging has not been as relentless and organized as it needs to be.
  • Democratic pollster Celinda Lake • Discussing Obama’s health care rhetoric. In general, many political types say that Obama’s message on health care is lacking – there’s no “change” or “hope” to drive the campaign like there was in January. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs admits there have been stumbles: “I don’t think anybody here believes we’ve pitched a no-hit game or a perfect game. I don’t think that’s the case.” • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

19 Aug 2009 10:20

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U.S.: Polls: Town hall protesters aren’t changing anyone’s minds

  • 62% of people aren’t being swayed by town hall critics source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Aug 2009 12:23

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U.S.: Twitter’s abuzz with talk of “Crossfire” icon Robert Novak’s death

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Aug 2009 22:20

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Politics: Max Headroom: Sick of talking about health care yet?

  • Not so public Kathleen Sebelius, the Health and Human Services Secretary, spent her morning trying to explain to John King how the single-payer public option wasn’t needed to reform health care.

  • Not so public Kathleen Sebelius, the Health and Human Services Secretary, spent her morning trying to explain to John King how the single-payer public option wasn’t needed to reform health care.

  • AARPing biased Fox News stacked the deck against Obama in this interview with an AARP leader on whether they support his health care plan, prefacing it with a slanted two-minute introduction.

  • Not so public Kathleen Sebelius, the Health and Human Services Secretary, spent her morning trying to explain to John King how the single-payer public option wasn’t needed to reform health care.

  • AARPing biased Fox News stacked the deck against Obama in this interview with an AARP leader on whether they support his health care plan, prefacing it with a slanted two-minute introduction.

  • Captain obvious Usually-bright journalist David Gregory was on “Meet the Press” this morning analyzing the health care debate, saying it’s gotten away from Obama. No, really bro? Duh. Way to call it, man.

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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