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Don’t ignore Obama’s economic speech today. It’s a sign of things to come… Is the Pacific trip up in the air? … Another incumbent bites the dust in Alabama. … Is Artur Davis’ loss a surprise, or not surprising at all? … Immigration’s key role in GOP primaries, but does it fizzle in general elections? … Only the third-ever all-female governor’s race. … and when the truth isn’t good enough.
From NBC’s Chuck Todd, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** ’Bam On The Run: President Obama’s trying to make a big case on the economy today on his latest stop on his White House to Main St. tour in Pittsburgh, PA. (He speaks at Carnegie Mellon University at 1:30 pm ET.) But it isn’t going to get noticed in today’s oily news cycle. But don’t ignore the speech. It should be read carefully; because the themes in it will be themes he touches on again, as he tries to sell the recovery (read: fall 2010 and 2012.) By the way, many economists expect big numbers from Friday’s jobs report, but keep in mind it'll be heavy with Census hires.
*** On Oil: The White House is clearly trying to divorce BP now after a shaky marriage. NBC’s Pete Williams reported that a Justice Department investigation of the company began "some weeks ago" into whether criminal and civil laws were violated in the Gulf Oil spill. (By the way, BP’s stock fell 15 percent yesterday after it admitted “top kill” didn’t work. Now, it’s on to the “cut-and-cap” containment strategy.) It was also intriguing yesterday that White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs didn’t immediately say Obama is staying with his Indonesia trip later this month. Critics will say if this trip was canceled once for something more political -- the health-care vote. So if it was postponable for the health care vote, how is it not postponable for this? As awkward as the international diplomacy may be re: canceling for a second time, remember, the president HAS to return to the region later this year for an economic conference.
*** Filling Space: We’ve noted some of the legitimate criticism of this president on the oil crisis, particularly on the P.R. front. But it seems some talkers and columnists have gone into overdrive. There's not much since the weekend that is new as it relates to Obama and the oil spill to warrant further criticism, but they don't know what else to talk about. They have that video without much new to say -- and there’s nothing like having to talk over video when there isn’t much to add. The analysis can't be the same, so the default to fill the space is often more “questions” about the president and the administration’s response. This is a dangerous period, politically, for the administration as it is kind of like an August around Washington with Congress out of session and all eyes only on one story, one region and one president.
*** ‘Yesterday’...: … Another incumbent went down to defeat. Parker Griffith became the latest incumbent to lose, and by a wide margin, 51%-33%. He thought when he made his party switch from Democrat to Republican, it would help his chances at reelection in November and perhaps he would have been right but he'll never know. Instead, he went the way of Arlen Specter. His party switch and his conservative bona fides became the main issue in the primary. And Mo Brooks, a county commissioner, won handily, clearing the 50 percent threshold and avoiding a runoff even against two other candidates. Brooks now becomes the favorite this fall and will likely become the first Republican ever elected from this district to Congress. Party switchers always struggle. But THIS is clearly NOT the year to try it.
*** ‘Maybe I'm Amazed’...: Or maybe not that Rep. Artur Davis lost. Davis was expected to cruise to victory in the Democratic primary for governor of Alabama -- and make history as the first African American in the state to win his party's nomination for the office. But black voters and leaders didn’t rally around Davis. Instead, he lost by a wide margin, 62%-38%, to state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, who is white. Sparks was the one who was able to get the “support from the state's four major black political groups,” AP writes. Why? Davis snubbed black leaders, saying he and black voters needed “no permission” from black groups. Plus, Davis voted against health care -- maybe a good position in Alabama in a general election, but a tough one to get around in a Democratic primary when half the electorate is black and so is the president of the United States. Davis' defeat is a good lesson for any African American or Hispanic politician who thinks they automatically will get support based on skin color or ethnicity. By the way, the two candidates who may be most intrigued by Davis' defeat are Roy Barnes and Thurbert Baker, two Democrats running for governor in Georgia where some believe race could play a role in how the primary turns out.
*** Byrne, Baby, Byrne (and James or Bentley): Sparks will take on the winner of state community college chairman Bradley Byrne and either businessman Tim James or Robert Bentley. (The top two will face off in a July 13th runoff, but the margin between James and Bentley is too close to call yet). By the way, speaking of Ag Commish, Dale Peterson, who gave us that entertaining ad (with all the jump cuts and the rifle) failed to qualify for the runoff for that office. In yesterday’s races, just one of the candidates with the most provocative ads might make it through -- James -- who got wide attention for his English-only ad that helped boost him. That ad and Susana Martinez’s win in New Mexico are signs of just how big a role immigration is playing in GOP primaries this cycle. The question is, does immigration translate to a general election. Remember, immigration played an out-sized role in many GOP primaries in 2006 but fell flat in the general. The president is meeting this week with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed into law that state’s controversial immigration bill, who is on his Council of Governors.
*** 'She's a Woman': We mentioned Martinez in New Mexico. The county prosecutor won last night, giving national Republicans their preferred candidate. That means New Mexico will elect its first female ever to be governor this fall, since Martinez’s opponent will be Lt. Gov. Diane Denish (D). This will be just the third all-female gubernatorial matchup in U.S. history. The others, NBC’s Sarah Blackwill points out, were Kay Orr vs. Helen Boosalis in the 1986 Nebraska governor’s race and then, in 2002, Linda Lingle against Mazie Hirono in Hawaii.
*** ‘Getting Better’? After a string of races in which the NRCC didn’t get its preferred candidate, allowing opponents to push the Tea Party/ideological divide storyline, the NRCC got a win in MS-1. Impressively, in a three-candidate field, state Rep. Alan Nunnelee avoided a runoff by getting more than 50 percent, and now gives the GOP a very good shot at flipping this seat in the fall. By the way, Gallup shows Republicans with a 49%-43% lead in the generic ballot, their largest lead ever in the poll. Republicans are rightfully enthusiastic. But with this Gallup poll be very careful. It has a tendency to swing like an EKG report right after you go running.
*** When the truth isn’t good enough: What strikes us about the flap over Illinois Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk’s award in the military is let’s say he’s only guilty of rounding off the edges. In this day and age, you’re not going to get away with rounding the edges. But what puzzles us, what makes no sense about this, is that his record -- on its own -- is admirable. And his opponent Alexi Giannoulias (D), as Kirk points out, never served. So what was he doing? The truth seemed good enough, but apparently wasn’t for Kirk.
*** The Rest of the Day: Before heading to Pittsburgh, President Obama meets with Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq (remember Iraq?). When Obama returns to Washington, he and the first lady will host a concert in honor of singer Paul McCartney. McCartney is being awarded the Third Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress. Vice President Biden is in New York City touting the stimulus and what it's done for jobs and infrastructure in the state at 2:45 pm ET. Dr. Jill Biden receives an award from the group behind Sesame Street at 7:00 pm ET in New York City.
*** 'Jet'-setter: Tune into MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports, as Mitchell reports live from Israel, as she covers the Gaza flotilla story.
*** More Midterms: In Illinois, Bloomberg reports there’s “another video featuring U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk of Illinois making false claims of being the U.S. Navy’s intelligence officer of the year.” … Charlie Crist laments fair-weather friends. … A liberal group is running ads targeting senators on climate-change legislation.
Countdown to CA, IA, ME, NJ, ND, SC, SD, and VA primaries, and AR run-off: 6 days:
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 153 days
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Bam on the Run? I don't think that President Obama is on the run even though he sure has a lot on his plate. I'm glad that Barack is getting back to the economy to get people focused on the fact that we have more problems than the Gulf oil spill to worry about. We need to remember that we need to regulate the Wall Street Banking Thieves, I'm sure they're glad BP Oil is hogging all the oxygen out of the room as they hope that financial reform will just be forgotten. We need Congress to finish what it started with financial reform and not be sidetracked so easily by the oil spill. I'm glad that President Obama is focusing on Jobs, Jobs, Jobs while the dopes of nope focus on petty partisan political garbage.
Maybe they mean "on the run" like he is really busy?
If you notice, many of the headlines are Paul McCartney-themed. That's what the first one is -- a take on Band on the Run. It's not the best, but just trying to keep it light...
Ohhhh now I got it! :0))) Thanks Domenico!
Domenico...that's one of my favorite things about First Thoughts is that you guys usually have some sort of pop culture theme going in your subtitles. Keep up the good work!
Domenico -- ahhh, guess my coffee wasn't strong enough this morning because I didn't get it until others started pointing it out. Appreciate the lighter touch and the explanation.
It will be an ENORMOUS tragedy if the story of the BP spill really gets to be about taking down a politician instead of fixing a broken regulatory scheme. If that's all we get out of it then we deserve to have our air fouled, our water poisoned, our flora and fauna killed. After all, the world will go on no matter what we do. Nothing says it has to include us.
Exactly right.
as a liberal, it is sad to say that obama is not a leader. we need someone to lead in these times and not lecture. the sad thing is that the house, senate and president will all be GOP again in 2010 & 2012.
A new teabagger claiming to be a Liberial. It doesn't work eli it's been tried many times here and no one can pull it off, so go back to being a teabagging conservative.
Hey Mo!
Nice to see you made it... ;0)
Just because the President is not in front of the camera making a scene and over-emoting does not mean he isn't doing everything he can to stay on top of the issues. I was so encouraged to hear Mark Halperin say last night on Hardball that he "respectfully and strongly disagrees with the pundits who say the President isn't doing enough in the Gulf." Then Mr. Halperin went on to enumerate all the things the Adminstration has done and is doing on that front and the many other things the President is responsible for. He further stated and I agree wholeheartedly he doesn't want his President spending 24/7 on one issue (the Gulf) and neglecting the myriad of other duties he has. Can you say multi-tasking. Not all leaders are cowboys. Some are quiet thinkers and doers.
Leading doesn't mean being angry, it means working behind the scenes to solve the problem and fixing the system so that it never happens again. The press has done a great job of making it a story about the President when the real story is about big corporations being allowed to run the show from Wall Street to BP. The real story is the one the media ignores--why years of deregulation, demonization of government and failure to put people in charge WHO are experts--heck of a job Brownie, the previous horse show expert put in charge of FEMA, is one example.
Yea, well, some people would only think the pres. was doing something if he bombed it and invaded it. "Shock and awe" and all of that, don't you know...
Obama should be standing on an aircraft carrier or something wearing a flight suit that he didn't earn with a dopey smile on his face like some dumb kid who just got to ride a pony and he could say "We have achieved victory against the BP oil leak" every time BP has another failure to stop the out of control oil gusher a mile underwater.
Good to be back Feisty, it took me all day yesterday to get on here. Finally figured it out this morning.
But I hope the little doggies figure it out so we can have some fun with them.
Hey Eli.......you are not a liberal......not even close
Hey Gingerbread Mamma so glad to see another one of my favorite ladies made the transition. Been missing you lately but you did say you'd be busy. Hope your keeping well
It's funny how most all of the people criticizing Obama's leadership are Republicans, pundits/talking heads, those on the far right, and a select group of Democrats either too close to the oil spill to have prospective, or Hillary supporters (or both with James Carville).
The criticism would be laughable if not intended to be serious. It is amazing the number of people who have called this Obama's Katrina. There is no comparison, and even people like Joe Scarbourgh admit that comparison is nuts. Katrina was a natural disaster that a competent administration would have been able to handle effectively. Those who have criticized Obama for not doing more, have not come up with concrete ideas on what he, or the administration should be doing. Unlike in Katrina where the necessary response was obvious (rescue people, get them out of the Super-dome, get supplies down immediately etc), what specifically has the administration failed to do, after the spill that has had a negative effect? Much blame can be spread regarding this and prior administrations oversight, and regulating off shore drilling, but that is a separate issue.
Maureen Dowd and others criticize Obama for not being America's Daddy, excuse me, but I have yet to hear any regular person upset about the oil spill talk about how they wish Obama would yell, and show emotion. I also don't see how Obama spending the night, or an afternoon a week in the gulf will change anything. Does anyone expect the President to be the one with the scientific answers to the spill, as opposed to the one who after hearing from those with knowledge calls the shots based upon the best evidence? Does anyone expect him to get on waders and clean up birds. Seriously, the idea that unless Obama is emoting or present in the gulf Americans won't understand the administration is doing all that can be done at the moment is an insult to the intelligence of Americans.
During the primary pundits assumed Obama couldn't win without going negative, they assumed that his inability to master the sound bite would kill him, and yet Obama has consistently respected the intelligence of the public as a whole. The public has not cried for Obama to go to the gulf to show us he cares, to go for publicity stunts (optics), and yet the media still doesn't get it. They listen to others in the media, (or GOP spin) complain and repeat the mantra, assuming that this is what Americans feel. They fail to see the disconnect from their claims about an outraged public at the WH response, ignoring that Obama gets better marks on his reaction than congress in polls, and the fact that the number of Americans supporting off shore drilling still exceeds 50%.
Apparently most Americans are smarter than pundits who accept partisan spin, and assume their own anger at the failure to watch Obama blow up is shared by the masses. Sorry, but most people understand this is a big disaster, and while we hope and pray the oil is stopped before the relief well is completed, we realize the odds are slim. We don't need to see Obama lose his cool, if voters wanted someone who lacked composure inn crisis McCain wouldn't have lost the election during the financial crisis. Give the people credit, and stop imposing your own needs for an angry show on the rest of us.
Great post. I agree 100% with you. I don't want all the emotional stuff. I want the President to concentrate on the problems this nation is facing. He truely has been "tested" as Joe Biden said he was going to be. And I believe he is up to the challenge. As long as the rest of us Americans support him and don't keep whining about everything that WE thought he should be and cannot live up to our standards.
"LoL, Eric ~ I've been called a LOT of things in my time, but NEVER a conservative."
Anna Molly
Hey Anna Molly - sorry I didn't recognize your new moniker and just thought your comment was some repugnant one whining about Chuck Todd and Savannah Guthrie for no good reason. I never waste time watching Mourning Jerky Joe so missed where Chuck Todd went off the deep end dissing President Obama. Only after I posted my comment did I see that several known Democratic supporters were going ballistic at what Chuck said on the Mourning Jerk's show.
So Anna Molly sorry my bad I didn't know at the time that what you said was actually correct, but I do now. Keep up the great work posting your witty Democratic Party supporting comments under your usual moniker and I do enjoy your posts. I sure hope that Chuck Todd comes clean and apologizes to us Democrats for his outrageous anti-Obama comments. Everyone can have a bad moment, but most important is to recognize it and apologize!
Maybe First Read should do a story about the Chuck Todd verbal malfunction. Maybe FR could show us the video of Chuck's foot in mouth moment that has caused Democrats here to really be peeved. Most of all maybe Chuck Todd could apologize for having his normally levelheaded speaking compromised by being so close to Mourning Jerky Joe.
I'm glad that Traitor Griffith got his comeuppance after switching parties. I think FR and the media hypes are making much ado about nothing regarding Specter and Griffith being defeated because they were incumbents. Because they switched parties how incumbent were they when they were running in the other party and losing? I think they proved that switching parties doesn't delay their inevitable defeat.
I hope Bill Halter wins. When is it, next week?
Clara, I received email from Newsvine. I accepted your invitation but don't know if I did it correctly. Please let me know.
Chuck Todd I know is an LA Dodgers fan. Does that mean he's a Lakers' fan as well? Are there any bets out there?
Hey Pat - Chuck Todd certainly appears to be a Lakers fan as he did a nice segment last week when the Lakers won. Like me Chuck has good taste in the teams he roots for. :-)
Go Lakers!
Good Morning Pat:
Thanks for your comments from yesterday.
I do believe Bill Halter will win. The anti-incumbent feelings are just to strong for Lincoln to survive. Will Halter win in a general election? Who knows. Arkansas is essentially a red state.
Oh: Go Celtics...
Hi Ron. You are very welcome. I feel bad to be honest coming on MSNBC's Boards and railing against their hosts/pundits/journalists. But because of the lax reporting in the lead up to the Iraq War, I think now more than ever we need to push back when we feel they have it wrong. And honestly, I appreciate that Mark and Domenico allow us to.
I always liked Chris Matthews, Andrea Mitchell, Joe Scarborough, Mika, Ed Schultz, Howard Fineman. Mika's father means a great deal to me personally (even though I have never met him). But you get the impression that these guys on tv really aren't looking for truth. They're looking for ratings and for some of them, for the GOP to get back in power so they can screw the American people even more. So they create controversy.
It's what they do on talk radio. I think President Obama is a good president. Maureen Dowd, Noonan - they can dictate all they want. It doesn't matter. Their shallow mean opinions are not important to the rest of us. This presidency is.
GWB started a war where he shouldn't have started one. That is why he was dissed. For good reason. btw, I guess our military killed another important terrorist yesterday.
Ron in my opinion it isn't anti-incumbent feelings. It's voting like a Republican, Spector was a Republican trying to be a Democrat and Lincoln has been voting like a Republican for the last two years. If you've noticed all the Democrats voted out have been voting with the Republicans, and their just not smart enough to understand that's why thier losing. The teabaggers have absolutly no impact on any election.
nope, doesn't look like it took. only got Ron, IN; IR VA and Feisty on my first 'outing'. Will try again soon. thanks,
I witnessed what the "media" can do if a real story doesn't exist. I recently returned from a long road trip (Dallas, TX to Portland, OR) to see my daughter graduate from college. I spent a lot of time listening to talk radio, and couldn't always find an NPR station. I told myself that as much as I criticize Rush and Sean and Glen, it would be a good idea to actually listen to them for a while to see if my criticisms were valid. Oh. My. God.
I couldn't believe the outright lies and not-so-subtle manipulation of "facts" that they used to slam the President. It's as if they are all mind-readers, and have the inside track to what's on the mind of our leaders. I was surprised to find out that Obama hates the constitution, the military, AND the American people (that last one from Glen Beck), and that the Liberal left is helping the "evil regime" destroy the constitution and take over everything (banks, businesses, etc.).
Even more disturbing to me were the listeners that called in to thank the host for "finally" telling them the truth, and for standing up to those communists!
I was so happy to get home and watch real television and get on line for First Read. Thank you all for keeping me sane.
I can totally relate, Mark. It's very rare that I catch Limbonehead these days but I used to be a ditto head until about 1996, you know, until I started to ask simple questions and look up the answers myself. With rush it was his constant insulting and rebuking of scientific data concerning global warming that was the final nail in the coffin.
I just kept wondering "Well, how in the hell does this guy, a radio DJ now a talk show host, know anything about the subjects he regularly puts down?" When I listen to him today he sounds like a total idiot and liar.
I almost never watch/listen to beck. The few times I have I have found him to be a liar from the word go who is absolutely infatuated with Nazis and Hitler. The only reason people listen to him is because they found someone who will tickle their ears with everything they want to hear "Obama is a socialist, Nazi, listen to me because I have the answers, white people are superior, money is more important than anything else, you want to be rich like me".
It's pathetic and just kind of scary.
It is definitely scarey that so many people actually believe it without ever checking the facts or for that matter, using their heads to think.
I can believe it. I live in the "most Red of Red" states and can tell you that the majority here believe everything that is said by the "Right" regardless of who is doing the talking.
I don't post very often but I do read all of the post's and agree with nearly all of you. I, too, am liberal on most issues and agree with what our President is trying to accomplish. I wish him well.
It sure is nice to have all the rightwing riffraff gone and their clueless little whiny rants with them. I'm sure they were all dazed and confused yesterday when they couldn't just make up monikers and post their rants like usual. Guess not many of them were signed up with NewsVine, they all signed up for NewsWhine at Fox and Freaks and now they're stuck in limbo.
I always thought that First Read reader comments from the rightwing reminded me of the cowardly gang members here in Salinas who commit driveby shootings. The uptighty righties came here merely to junk up a Liberal blog with their America hating racist rants against our first black president and like the cowards they are posted under multiple alias monikers to hide their few numbers. Nope I'm glad that First Read got the Newsvine upgrade for reader comments. Much nicer now to not have to rush posting comments or worrying if we'll get our comment posted or censored.
But it sure was fun pointing out all the lies the right-wing brought to the board, and watching them get all bent out of shape when they were shown to be liars. Especially moon monkey gang of one.
FR-- This is a dangerous period, politically, for the administration as it is kind of like an August around Washington with Congress out of session and all eyes only on one story, one region and one president.
I beg to differ-- media has it wrong and have had it "wrong" for quite some time. You all were thinking that HCR would bury incumbents because they voted in favor of it. As it turns out (especially in traditionally Red States) those incumbents that didn't vote "for" HCR are losing races along with those that switched parties. We demand that they (lawmakers) work with this administration as opposed to being against it.
We are no longer driven by the media because the media gave us GWB-- and look where that got us. When you all stop trying to force your candidates of choice on us because after all; you are the "CORPORATIONS" that benefit from the elected officials that keep you operating, it will serve your business better.
We are tuned into what's happening in our nation more than ever now and we're not having any of it. My suggestion to you all is to pattern your survival off of people like Maddow, Olbermann and Schultz is earning his spot quite nicely...that will be the only way that you'll all survive. We want truth and fact, we are not stupid. Mr. President do what you must because you were sold a bill of goods that were nothing but lies. MSM-- just because you SAY so; it doesn't make it fact. We control this and we control you for that matter...
Great post Anita, I agree with you 100%.
The media didn't give you GWB. The man was popular and he was a good Governor. The media gave us BHO. If you continue to rely on Maddow, Olbermann and Shultz for your news; you will continue to be just another "tunnel vision opinion receptical".
Maddow is what she is; a .......t liberal, the other two are blowhards. You say the media does not drive your opinion...When you mention your viewing taste, I knew your opinion even before you spit it out, all we have to do is re-run a Maddow episode and we will hear it word for word.
BTW: I don't watch Fox because it is the same as MSNBC. Both stations are boring, matter of fact all of those political shows are boring.
Oh LORD! I knew it was only a matter of time before our resident anger management drop out chimed in! :0))))
Thanks MO-- and Feisty you couldn't have said it any better! lol!!
ITM; since you swerved in my lane I may as well smack that butt! Who asked your pot to boil? I don't recall turning the heat up on your ass in quite sometime. Bust since to decided to DIP your spoon in this vat of acid I may as well oblige.
GWB and all of the Lawmakers that voted to overturn ALL safety laws are responsible for this disaster and every frigging thing else that happening in this Nation. Now you can continue to sit with you thumb up your butt (as usual) or open your eyes to the stark reality of what's happening-- it's your choice. The majority of MSM are playing politics and still attempting to shove BS down our throats because their owners benefit and it job security for them. It's all about ratings and Maddow, Olberman and Schultz seem to get it-- they are remaining true to facts.
But these lastest elections are teaching them a thing or two and you too for that matter--if you chose to EDUCATE yourself. Now get yourself a good pot of vittles to sample because these are not to your liking.
Inthemiddle,TX the media did not give us either Obama or Bush. The Supreme Court gave us W, but that is a separate issue. I was in Iowa, and Obama worked hard in the state, and had a great staff. Clinton was the presumed winner by the national media, who bought into meaningless national polls, and meaningless Iowa polls (meaningless due to the nature of the caucus system). It was clear to those active on the ground that Hillary could not come in better than second, and would likely come in 3rd. However the national media made it appear that Iowa was a road bump at worst, they would talk to David Yepsen (formerly of the Des Moines Register) and accept his drivel as gospel, despite the fact he only knows the spin he's provided. If the media had picked the President Hillary would have won the Democratic nomination, but the voters made the choice, not the media.
No doubt most in the media supported Obama against McCain, but the general public are not sheep, they don't just vote for the media's favored candidate. In early September McCain was ahead in the national polls, While many started to be concerned about his choice of running mates it wasn't until the collapse of the financial industry and McCain showed he was erratic and unprepared to be president, that the majority of Americans rejected his candidacy.
Clearly you don't think Obama was the best choice for president in 08, I firmly disagree with you, however just because the public rejected your candidate does not mean it was not an intelligent choice based upon the two options. To claim the media elected Obama denigrates the majority of the public who disagreed with your choice.
Nicely stated...
Donovan? That you?
Should be interesting to see the jobs numbers on Friday. Hopefully, they'll be able to split it between census and non-census jobs. (Which I think they can do). Hopefully companies are hiring more! Amazing though that the economy has become completely overshadowed by the oil spill. Certainly down here, people are worrying. The next few days are supposed to have consistent winds out of the south and southwest, putting the coastlines of Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle at risk. There are some gorgeous beaches there. Thankfully, the oil hasn't entered the loop current and has thus far spared the bulk of Florida, but I think it's only a matter of time. :-(
Amazing how we've had all this talk of elections and yet the general election is still 5 months away. Still a lifetime in politics. The new Gallup poll is certainly interesting (in a good way if you ask me), however, my guess is that next month it will return to a more neutral result. The key is going to be whether or not GOPers are still more fired up than the Dems come November. Right now, they certainly are, but Novembers still a long time away. Remember fellow conservatives, if you don't like the way things are going, quit whining and complaining and do what you can to get Republicans elected. The Dems did it to us in 2006 and 2008 and they are reaping the benefits of that hard work. We need to do the same.
I'm starting to like this new format. You can go to a user's page and find out a little more about them. Plus, you can respond to specific postings. Pretty cool I think.
Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!
Grimey, it is a pleasure to read your posts. It's good to hear from a conservative with some common sense. Keep posting.
Chris, Dorr, MI - Hang in there old friend and keep on trying the Newsvine posting format. I know that once you get the hang of it you'll really like it. I saw you post a few comments yesterday and hope that you will keep on trying. Yeah I know that without the righty riffraff it's not as much fun as before when we could poke fun at them, but hey it's so much more intellectual now that they're gone!
I disagree, that this site is better without our conservative thoughts. I think this forum needs right wing comments as well as progressive thoughts. I know FOX claims the Fair and Balanced monicure, but it really lacks progressive thoughts and hosts, while MSNBC is missing that conservative slant with the exception of Morning Joe, and even that show seems to slant towards the Host and keep bringing the same ole tired guests back. Balance and fresh thoughts and ideas are the key to a great site.
I was tired of First Read because it had turned into gossip girls instead of intellectural discourse on the topic of the day.
Is anyone else curious if a monicure is where a single thought goes to get it's nails done?
I am still trying to get used to this new format... it is growing on me.
My only comment today is about the situation in the Gulf. NOW can we start the dialogue on 'clean' energy? NOW can we start looking at alternatives to fossil fuels? Why does it have to take a catastrophe - and the harm that comes with it - before people will look at alternatives? WHERE is the GOP representation for these poor people in Gulf that has had their livelyhoods wiped out by unmitigated greed?
And the GOP thinks that they will control the Congress in November? Yeah, right.
I find it amusing how everyone wants to hang this on President Obama as his 'Katrina'. I also find it amusing that these same people will be standing hat in hand asking this same President for Federal Assistance.
Maybe we should use the salaries of their GOP representation instead of the relief fund to help the people in the Gulf States... it's just a thought...
LMAO!!! I've been leaning HARD on the fact that the GOP governor's are looking at FEDERAL dollars (that big government and spending) and Louisiana is quickly becoming a "welfare state" right along with Mississippi. Note...they all have/had Republican governors except for Florida that recently went Independent,and we all know what happened to Palin..."Drill Baby Drill":
Check this out:
A 1982 federal law largely prohibits offshore drilling in every state but Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and parts of Alaska and California.
This is why it's important for them (Republicans) to keep the coastal southern states RED and California Arnold was all for off-shore drilling until this disaster happened in the Gulf. This is all coming together quite nicely in my opinion...all we need to do is open our eyes to their dealings...
I ask you and everyone else that is against off-shore drilling; Do you like driving? Do you like mowing the lawn? etc. If the answer is yes, then stop with the fake drama.
ITM,
As usual, you are ASSuming that I am against off-shore drilling. I am not. I am just saying that with this disaster in the Gulf, NOW can we start talking about alternative energy sources? If anyone is a drama queen it's you. You really should take those blinders off once in a while, or are you THAT comfortable with them on?
ITM always gets incorrect information and runs with it-- you must understand what you're dealing with. LMAO :)
ITM- Cars and lawnmowers can NOW work on electricity/batteries/solar etc..you are welcome!!!
LMAO!!
LMAO!!
They have always had electric lawnmowers but do you see an abundance of them mowing lawns? Electric cars...mmm...how many do you see daily on the road? Now you are WELCOME.
You must really enjoy the abuse there ITM!
You're handed your a@@ and you keep coming back for more! :0))
Pietro,
As usual your taking what I said to the left. I think it is a tragedy as to what is going on in the Gulf. I just think it is just as tragic to start laying blame on Bush again. Deregulation was going on during the Clinton years and before. I know, I was peddling Amway (Quixtar) at the time and I can remember all types of multi-level marketing from electric to gas to cable all being deregulated as to larger companies allowing small start-ups to sypher off of their infrastructure. This was in 93'.
Bush didn't blow that damn rig up just as Obama can't do a thing about stopping the leak. We as Americans can continue to blame a damn POTUS for everything that happens in America or we can come together and stop with the BS and solve problems. We will never be worth a sh!t if neither side is willing to give in.
Fiesty,
Who are you talking about handed me my azz? There is not ONE person in this room that can walk in the shoes that I have worn. You are laughable.....That comment is right up there with Blumenthal's lie.
handed me my azz.....LOL........
Inthemiddle,TX unlike most American I have long been opposed to off shore drilling. Despite the BP disaster the majority of Americans still support off-shore drilling. Do I like driving? I rarely enjoy it, but it is my usual mode of transportation. And I hate mowing my lawn, but it is a necessary evil. Cars can and do run on other sources of fuel (bio or electric)? And while I haven't seen many electric lawn mowers they do exist, as do push mowers that run simply on human energy. Growing up I used a push mower on a regular basis. I know a lot of people who have electric snow-blowers, and I'm sure if as much effort was put into making electric lawn mowers affordable, and efficient as has been put into electric snow blowers more consumers would purchase them.
It is not hypocritical or fake drama to be outraged at the oil spill, despite the fact that I am a consumer of oil. I would readily supporter higher fuel taxes to help promote conservation, and to pay higher taxes to support research into renewal fuel, and increased fuel standards, etc.
Never mind the lives lost due to our addiction to oil!The reality is that "drill baby drill", or McCain's pre-Palin mantra of "drill here, drill there, drill now" ignores the realitythat there is a finite source of oil, this not a new discovery. All those who complain about pushing the debt onto our children ignore the environmental damage we are doing, and the fact that our children, and their children will eventually have to face the reality that oil is a finite source and we can't simply ignore it and hope it solves itself.
Inthemiddle,TX your statement "There is not ONE person in this room that can walk in the shoes that I have worn. " tells a lot about who you are. You are very self centered and self absorbed. I have no clue what problems you have endured in life, and even though you seem like a real jack ass I don't wish ill on you, or any one else. But just as I have no clue regarding the walk you have endured in life, you have no idea what anyone else has endured, and yet you claim there isn't one person who can endure what you've endured in life. That my friend is an indication that you are very self absorbed.
Hawkeye,
WE ARE DEPENDENT on oil and will always be probably the rest of our lives. Maybe our children and grandchildren will figure out a way to ween off of it but it will not be anytime soon.
Yes, I'm self-absorbed when it comes to someone making an assinine statement as to someone handing me my ass. I have bled and survived several conflicts so twerps like you can sit on a computer and complain about this country.
Quick... someone call a Whaaaambulance!
What is it with you? Most vets I know don't have to remind us daily no less that you served? As a matter of fact most vets only speak of service amongst themselves...
I know I'm married to someone who did 2 tours in Viet Nam!
Bam on the run? What is that supposed to mean? Does First Read want to ignore that the economy, albeit slowly, is getting better? Or is it just Chuck Todd's need to do some Obama daily bashing?
And to all who want "a leader": we have one. You just can't listen to the anyone in the media for too long. The only interest those with a media platform has is to bring down anyone who strives to do well. It is the build them up, bring them down. We expect our politicians to be super humans. We expect that our every desire and wish, our individual ones, is an entitlement. We want everything NOW. And when we don't get what we want instantly, we whine like the spoiled children we are.
MSNBC used to be the best. It is mediocre now. Chris Matthews is bonkers; Ed Schultz looks like he's about to have a heart attack on air; Andrea Mitchell has a conflict of interest. And who knows what's going on with Chuck Todd? Maybe he should understand he will never be intellectually smarter than Obama.
We have a highly intelligent, pragmatic, logical, thinker as head of this country. And yet we are intent on doing him in. Americans, the vast majority, really are basically stupid, non-thinking, self-obsessed individuals. We deserve what we get.l
Ya know, Chandler, you seem like a nice guy and this isn't meant to bash but, no "we" don't.
The people who deserve having an idiot for a CNC are those who voted for McCain/Palin and those who stupidly follow the right wing wacko talk show types.
I don't think you deserve an idiot n chief. I certainly don't nor does anyone who voted Obama.
I realize this probably sounds like a bit of hair splitting but, damn, I'm just tired of hearing that everyone deserves a crappy life because often times the majority of people are fools.
I feel better already. It's been depressing lately watching the daily Obama bash fest. Nice to read some reaffirming thoughts which run along the lines of my own. I'll take one highly intelligent Pres Obama over two dozen Ws and fifteen Cheneys combined.
Free Ali! Hey FR guys don't be all macho male chauvinist posting your pictures and bios while skipping Ali Weinberg's. Just because she's the newest member of First Read doesn't mean she should be treated like she's Casper the Ghost. Now be proper gentlemen and get her picture and bio posted ASAP. Maybe Ali could do a story on how the awesome First Read crew likes or dislikes the new posting format.
Anna Molly a conservative? I don't think so. Anna Molly is more akin to a kindred soul whose intelligent pragmitism matches the same high level of her insight into the deeper meaning of things in this life.
I see some bloggers were criticizing the spelling and grammar of others on this blog who had criticized Palin for her spelling errors. Like the two are o nthe same level. Palin ran for V.P. palin keeps herself open to run for President. Palin is running around the country getting media coverage when she endorses a political candidate and who is able to persuade some peope how to vote and who to vote for. Palin makes thousands giving a speech. Palin receives monetary doantions from people across the country who support her as a serious political right wing leader. And those of us on this blog (your average Joes and Josephines) are supposed to be held to the same level of spelling and grammar proficiency as Sarah Palin? I don't think so. Making sure one's spelling is error free in a post on this blog versus making sure one's spelling is error free when publically endorsing a political candidate as a person with some political stature and clout in this country are not the same I'm afraid. Especially when that person with political stature and clout can't even spell the name correct of the candidate she is endorsing. You folks on the right just need to own up to the fact that Palin is an idiot. You would be much better off and much closer to reality in your thinking.
Co-signed!
CA: Yes, all that you say about Anna Molly is true. We all love her dearly. However, I come across occasionally photos of the fattening food she throws at everybody late at night on Countdown's diary. mmmm good! Thank goodness I have the common sense to turn off the computer and go to bed. lol
Eric, I hear Kobe is a great player. I also hear the Celtics have a v. good all around "team". Gonna be interesting. Tix in some cases are going for a grand here in Boston. Ridiculous isn't it?
Concerning those who follow Palin, apparently you are forgetting to whom you are speaking of.
This is the "Is our children learning" crowd...
I sure hope that President Obama didn't sign a prenuptual agreement with BP Oil as that would make for a messy divorce. I really hope to see the Obama Administration come down on BP Oil like a ton of bricks for their oil spilling perfidy. We see CEO Criminal Wayward Hayward lie all the time trying to cover BP Oil's guilty behind. He tries to deny that the sickened workers cleaning up the spill are only suffering from food poisoning not from the noxious fumes emanating from the spilled oil and toxic dispersants. He tries to deny the oil plumes beneath the water's surface. This corporate criminal Wayward Hayward is the typical big corporate CEO criminal who thinks only of his own bonus.
If BP Oil tries to weasel out of paying a single dime by trying the bankruptcy route then President Obama needs to nationalize BP Oil by seizing all of it's assets here in the USA and off our shores. Seize all of their oil rigs, oil refineries, gas stations, buildings and whatever other stuff they have here and sell them off to pay for their perfidy. It's about time for Big Government to teach Big Business a lesson on who rules this country. Put all of their high executives in prison and throw away the keys to teach them that they can't just slime our shores with their filthy oil and think they will escape proper judgment and justice.
Day 42 of the worst act of eco-terrorism in the history of mankind...
Day 4 of Chuck Todd proving to us opinions DO matter! And so do the consequences...
We're still waiting Chuck...
Chuck Todd --- Day 5, Still Waiting …………..
No reputable reporter or journalist would ever make a statement like you did.
That was absolutely out of bounds.
Leave that to the commentators and pundits. Apologize or resign and step down to their level.
Hey Red! What do you expect? We're going to put it where it should be until they have no choice. We control this and we've got this. As my mom used to say--"don't get too big for your britches"! LMAO I'll see you later today. :)
Thanks Dennis... you're right it is day (5)
That's what happens when you're up all night thanks to natures rock & roll show! We had lightening last night that would put the best pyrotechnics to shame!
I'm not holding my breath that we will EVER get the apology that we deserve! Hard to apologize for something when you believe in what you said! No wonder President Obama has disdain for the dude! Chuck earned it!
Hey my fellow cougar! Did you get an invite from Clara? Check you're e-mail... I joined earlier her earlier.
Nice job Clara! Kinda like FB without the pic's...
Ps: LOVED the first topic :0)))
In this case it is not about what Chuck Todd actually believes it is about professionalism.
I’m sure he sees himself at the anchor desk for the Nightly News. He could be there but a couple more miss speaks like last Friday and his dream is over.
I got it Red..it is like FB.
Glad that Obie woke up and smelled the coffee. It was a very dumb move to initially not to meet with the Gov of AZ. No time to meet, now, not ever. Maybe if she said that a cop acted stupidly they could of had a beer in the rose garden. After public pressure, not ever became this Thursday. Just go to show how out of touch Obie is with the problems of this nation
Bam on the run? Despite being tacky, it is far from true.
Criticism. It seems the media has moved from journalism to criticism. For the past year and especially the past few weeks, every reporter is a critic. The media has assumed the role of running with trivial fluff as if it is the sum and substance of events--like Pres Obama's preference for Dijon mustard on his cheeseburger.
I am a big supporter of freedom of the press. But at what point does the press become the creator of the storyline instead of reporting the facts of the story. I think the media has crossed that line. The BP oil spill is the latest example. Instead of reporting what the administration was and is doing, the media reports perception and voices criticism about Pres Obama being too calm, not involved, not angry enough, not flailing his arms about in frustration, that it's Obama's Katrina. That's not journalism, that's creating the storyline and it is a disservice to the Public. In the WH press briefing, heard any substantive questions lately or when they are asked, do we hear the answer reported or do we hear the perception of what the reporter?
Maybe the media's over-reaction is because they failed so badly in the run up to the Iraq war and they now overcompensate by looking for the slightest tidbit to promote questions in people's minds. It is as if the media is looking for some tidbit of failure and looking under every rock to justify the search.
This morning Chuck Todd gave the next line of media creating and driving a storyline--should Pres Obama postpone his already once postponed trip overseas. The issue isn't whether or not he should, the issue is that in the BP oil spill crisis, there is little the President can do personally to "fix" it; he has capable people in charge, scientists working to find solutions, people cleaning up the mess and most importantly, he has a telephone on Air Force One.
In this 24/7 media world, there is a point at which criticism for the sake of criticism becomes a destructive force for our democracy. When the media starts creating the story instead of reporting the substantive story, every President is doomed to failure.
Good Morning Jody:
I thought "Bam on the run" was tacky also. It is ironic that Chuck is being slapped down on his own website. He has veered away from using the customary verbage, "President Obama".
If Chuck is driving the story line that President Obama should postpone his vacation, has Chuck forgotten that Air Force One does have communications systems on board and our President will be in complete communication with government staff while on ground.
I'm beginning to wonder if there is a back-story here. i.e. What's going on with Chuck Todd?
Hi Jody,
The media creating the story and then driving the storyline is nothing new, but I couldn't agree more that they seem to have crossed a dangerous new line lately in the quest for the almighty ratings. Case in point - the local Fox affiliate here in Philadelphia, which has changed its format in the last few months and now is closer to a radio talk show than anything resembling factual news. Their new style is to spend about 20 seconds "reporting" a story - often leaving out at least two of the "Who/what/when/where/why" questions that I was taught way back in fifth grade were the basic foundation of journalism - then they go to a split screen and bring on two "experts" on opposing sides to spend the next five minutes debating the issue - at least one of whom every night actually IS a radio talk show host! Then the "news anchor" eggs them on and even contributes his or her own opinions, usually in a very partisan tone that leaves no doubt as to which side he or she is on. If they were billing themselves as a talk show, that would be one thing, but they still claim to be reporting the news.
It's not just on politics, either; they do it on health reports, science news, traffic accidents and local crime as well. And I'm not just attacking Fox here, because I can see the other tv stations heading down the same road, and newspapers too, in a last-ditch effort to avoid extinction.
Part of me is outraged that they think the audience is really stupid enough to fall for this. The other part of me is seriously afraid that they're right.
Talk about being spot on!!!!
FR--‘Getting Better’? After a string of races in which the NRCC didn’t get its preferred candidate, allowing opponents to push the Tea Party/ideological divide storyline, the NRCC got a win in MS-1. Impressively, in a three-candidate field, state Rep. Alan Nunnelee avoided a runoff by getting more than 50 percent, and now gives the GOP a very good shot at flipping this seat in the fall.
Aw come on FR! lol!!! we are talking Mississippi here! LMAO!!! what did you all expect when hate is spewed and fanned in the media. It doesn't take much to push them over the edge.
Running late to the fray this morning and still trying to adjust to our new circumstances here at F.R. so I'm kind of short on perpective this morning.First "BAM" fellows haven't we listened to enough of this kind of thing from some folks around here. Far be it from me to call our hosts on anything but this kind of ranks up there with "Obie" etc for me and is something that kind of puts my teeth on edge. Oil spill: Liability for the past transgresions of Cheney especially as related not to just the secret energy meetings and policy and several other questionable practices have been overlooked for to long. I think that this administration has avoided it because the calling to account would be a very divisive issue especially in this political climate. It was an admirable position for them to take but I think that we have reached the point where they are just going to have to let the truth come out and rely on We the People to deal with it and pursure where its going to take us and let Justice be served. I do hold out a little hope that this new thing that BP is going to try will be a little more sucessful than "top kill" . It is at least working on some engineering pricipals that I recognize as succesful in similar circumstances in the past. I hope for some relief for the folks in the Gulf before a hurricane comes through and spreads this thing from heck to breakfast. Right now given which way it tracked we are subject to it raining oil from the Gulf coast to New England. I do like our new circumstances here and would just add to several others that have pointed out that the bright white screen is tiring to old Bifocal ridden eyes. For my friends I did not mean to cause confusions In the screen names Independent Redneck Va. is I.R.Va still is,always was and I hope always will be. Had to register one name with the work address and one with the house address so when you'll see or try to get in touch with either one rest assured that there ain't but one of me setting on that back deck looking out over the Blue Ridge. I'm a little slow with a lot of this stuff and I'm not going to be around tommorrow but I'm looking forward to adjusting and getting back to a little more level discourse with all my friends and neighbors
I guess one good thing about this new format is that you need to register. That should stop a lot of the trolling that occurs and clogs up the message board. But, I gotta say, I feel like I'm on an island all of the sudden. I don't think I've seen any other conservatives post today.
By the way...can someone point me to a transcript of "what Chuck Todd said". I was on vacation with the family and missed it. But, I've seen many a reference to it and would like to judge for myself. Thanks in advance guys!
Happy to oblige Grimey ;0)
NRSC
Transcript follows
Transcript provided by NRSC
[not exactly verbatim - but nothing mischaracterized or omitted - emphasis added]
JOE SCARBOROUGH: first though, chuck, i want to go to you with what we’ve been talking about this morning regarding the white house appearing to be tone deaf. we’re stunned that president obama went to san francisco instead of new orleans at the same time the head of the epa was heading to new york city for a fund-raiser for democratic be senators and they would have done it if politico hadn’t outed them. i’m stunned. who is in charge of making these decisions because whoever it is needs to be put in a back room.
[How much longer are the going to pretend the "WH didn't know". That is not an excuse. It provides proof they're not on top of things. During an EPA disaster - they should know where their EPA director is at all times. And why is that type of an official doing partisan fundraisers?]
CHUCK TODD: what’s worse, ignorance or incompetent on this one? and the sad thing is the white house didn’t know about this. so that is okay, didn’t know about this lisa jackson fund-raiser. that means somebody, who was not thinking? it doesn’t take a lot of common sense. you’re right. the minute politico reported this, it was like they frantically tried to figure out what happened and how this happened. but then that gets to the whole other point of this which is, who’s using political common sense over there? so it’s either being stupid, arrogant or ignorant and none of the responses are a good one on this one. i think it gets at this whole — they’re overwhelmed not the right word but just every part of this oil spill thing that just, they seem a step behind.
It took me a little bit to figure out the registration thing, apparently I had an old Newsvine one. Here's hoping that some of the other voices of conservatism make it back. I like it best when there is reasoned discussion and debate going on.
You want an apology from Chuck Todd for what exactly? That he said the WH was stupid, arrogant or ignorant because it's EPA Director was attending a Fund Raiser as a live shot of oil was spewing into the gulf? Maybe you you would prefer that he called the last minute cancellation politically astute.
Boy you have thinner skin than a NJ teacher!
Actually Alan, the story from Peggy Noonan about the EPA Director attending a Fund Raiser was proven to be a lie. As usual.
Well this is not from Peggy Noonan and it states that she was scheduled to attend a fund raiser, but her appearance was canceled. Don't know if the fund raiser went ahead without her. So the actual story that Chuck Todd was commenting on appears to be true.
EPA chief cancels DSCC appearance
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37763.html
True or not... those were his words... not mine!
And quit raggin on NoJoAll blow will ya!
Thanks for the transcript Red I hadn't been able to find this myself and was curious although Mr Todd has been a little suspect to me since I saw him and heard his response to the Blackwater author one Saturday night last fall. Don't worry Grimey judging by what I've seen you can do a more than adequate job of holding up your end and you might come out better not having to carry all the dead wieght of the some of the other less insightful folks on the right side of the ailse.
IR; I've been trying to answer you! I got you posting on yesterday...thanks **hug to you**
Anita right back at you my dear I'm really looking forward to being able to conversate with the "cougars" in closer to real time. This is going to turn into so much fun
Chuck's comments seem to align with perceptions of the BHO White House. At times the White House seems to be a gluster f.
IR; I am looking forward to it as well! It is going to be FUN! ;0)
And what is problem with Chuck's comment? The BHO White House, sometimes, gives perception of gluster f.
Your moniker explain your paltry comment quite nicely I may add.
Grammar level explains much.
I may "DIP" from time to time-- but I'm like some of you baggers. Baby I've got the dough...do you? LMAO!!
I see the oil slick is nearing th beaches of Pensacola. If anyone has been just west of there near places like Panama City Beach, Fl. you will know that these beaches are rated as some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Then as you travel further east along the panhandle of Florida you will recognize why some people refer to this part of Florida as the forgotten coast. Why? Because the area is not built up or commercialized like much of Florida. No condos and high-rises stacked one after the other along the shoreline. The panhandle is still a quaint and pristine, natural and beautiful part of the country. Lived in this area for 10+ years and all I can think of is what the oil is going to do to the dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, grouper, red fish, spanish mackeral, sea trout, sharks, other marine life, the alligators. bird sancturaires, and the natural and beautiful marshes and flats where fishing was always great. It sickens me to think of the death and destruction this oil spill will bring to this area.
CA - I hadn't heard the news about the oil reaching Pensacola. Having visited there many times I share your opinion on the beauty of the beaches in the area. While I know that no matter where the oil touches it will change life there for years - it's more impactful to me when it hits a place that is special to me.
Way up here in Oregon we are buffered from the impact on the lives of the coastal residents in the south. I hope everyone out there will continue to share so I can get that added perspective!
CA; I'm holding my breath in hopes that they can keep it from the beaches in Pensacola and the Panhandle I truly hope that those booms hold out until clean-up gets under way. There is NO way that BP will be able to pay for this damage. I fear that they might file for bankruptcy...this is a devastating lesson to learn and those that allowed lax regulations without proper safety measures should pay for this.
Riley and Crist seem to be working to do what GOVERNORS are suppose to do-- oversee our states. They all voted in favor of off-shore drilling all but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the only Republican that was against it-- later changed his mind and now supports a ban on off-shore drilling in California. I suppose after seeing what lax regulations cause-- the price was too high to pay. I Am sadden by these events...
Jody, I just saw the Bam on the Run comment as a 'clever' play on the McCartney thing and way of saying that he's got a lot going on, not that he's running from anything. I do agree with your comments on the 24/7 media world - like a lot of folks in this world, some media people sometimes feel that they have to create a perceived need for their own existence - in a professional sense anyway. I do think that the administration would benefit from having someone in an 'official' category providing updates on activities and efforts, it certainly doesn't have to be the President. I don't think that there is any doubt that this spewing oil well is a major catastrophe, so no one will be any more alarmed by knowing the truth about the situation and actions planned or contemplated than they already are.
Good point, I had not thought of that. Guess the 24/7 criticism made me think the worse.
I think the Thad Allen daily briefings has helped but I like your idea for a WH "official" in charge of briefings on any and all things related to the BP oil spill.
I like the new First Read foramt and the new text editing options for comments, but I wish they'd do something about the faint gray font on a blinding white background in the comments section.