Election Central Morning Roundup
Obama: I Will Use My Middle Name At Inauguration
In a new interview with the Chicago Tribune, Barack Obama confirmed that he will use his middle name, "Hussein," as he takes the oath of office in January. "I'm not trying to make a statement one way or another," Obama said. "I'll do what everybody else does."
No Obama Or Biden Public Events Today
Barack Obama and Joe Biden are in Chicago today, holding private meetings. No public events are scheduled for today.
Hillary Meeting With Lugar
Hillary Clinton will meet today with Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana, the head Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as part of the transition into her new role as Secretary of State.
The Hill: GOP Gets To Attack Dem Corruption Now
The Hill reports that Republicans seem to be enjoying the new round of Democratic scandals, after the Dems took power in 2006 and 2008 thanks in part to GOP corruption. "The worm has turned," a senior Republican aide on Capitol Hill told the paper.
Chicago Papers: Blago Must Resign Or Be Impeached
Both major newspapers in Chicago have now released editorials calling for the removal of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The conservative Chicago Tribune and liberal Chicago Sun-Times, papers that usually don't agree on much, have come to the same conclusion: Blago should resign now, and if he doesn't then the legislature should impeach him.
RNC Chairman To Seek Another Term
RNC chairman Mike Duncan will reportedly run for another term at the helm of his party after an election cycle that did not exactly work out for them. Duncan is facing a crowded field of competitors who are all arguing for various changes to be made in the party, so there's no guarantee that he'll be able to hold on.
Senators Ask D.C. To Cancel 24-Hour Inaugural Bar Times
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) have sent a letter to the D.C. mayor and city council, asking them to reverse their recent decision to allow bars to remain open non-stop during the days before the presidential inauguration. The city passed this special bill in order to boost the local economy, but the Senators are worried that it would place too much strain on police.
Tuskeegee Airmen Given Free Tickets To Inauguration
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is giving free tickets to the surviving members of the Tuskeegee Airmen, the famed black fighter pilots of World War II who served at a time when most African-Americans were not even allowed the opportunity to distinguish themselves in combat. "I didn't believe I'd live long enough to see something like this," said one airman, who unfortunately is unable to make it because of physical limitations.
Carter just used "Jimmy Carter" in his oath.
December 10, 2008 9:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
And the NYT kept calling him "James Earl" anyway.
Will it call Obama "Barack Hussein"?
December 10, 2008 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope they do. It's his name. He'd be pretty much ball-less if he didn't take it back.
December 10, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/12/questions-arise.html
Drip...drip...drip...
December 10, 2008 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
My favorite line in the article:
"You betcha," said Obama.
LMAO!
December 10, 2008 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup, he supported a guy for office 6 years ago who turned out to be a shitheel.
Devastating.
December 10, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
You betcha!
December 10, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
yawn...Fail.
December 10, 2008 9:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
There is no drip.
Axelrod said he misspoke and Obama had no contact with Blagojevich about the Senate seat. Since all the conversations that Blagojevich had since October 22nd were taped and Fitzgerald said that Obama wasn't involved and didn't know about this than what Obama is saying is true.
December 10, 2008 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."
Sounds pretty definative...but I guess he could've "mispoke" like Hillary "misremembering" dodging sniper fire...lol
December 10, 2008 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Irrelevant either way--read the transcripts.
My guess is that someone from Obama's team communicated with him, and wasn't willing to play the governor's game. The guy was already kryptonite by then, he hated Obama, especially after Obama threw his support behind a state ethics reform bill.
Better luck next time.
December 10, 2008 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Assume everything you said is true...the next question will be what did Obama's "team member" do after he was approached...this isn't going away with yesterday's non-denial.
December 10, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is it a crime to reject a bribe? Of course it won't go away any time soon, you losers need something to do with your time.
December 10, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's not a crime to accept a bribe...is it a crime to not report an attempted bribe?
December 10, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you're going to post on a political site, it would help if you actually read the paper sometime.
December 10, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
...translation: "We don't have anything directly connecting him, yet."
December 10, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
translation: nothing is going to connect him, no matter what his inbred detractors hope for.
December 10, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, we know facts do nothing to dispel the conspiratorial urges of desperate partisans. This is not surprising to anyone. The only question for us is whether you'll show enough self-respect to not play the part of the guy whose frantic, uninformed inferences get rebuffed by reality time and time again.
December 10, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Certainly not frantic, just asking questions, that hasn't been outlawed yet, has it?
December 10, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, and fortunately for you, making pathetic insinuations isn't a crime either.
December 10, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are so fucking lame and desperate.
December 10, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
It sounds like your cranial fluids are leaking.
December 10, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure you're right...I'm over reacting...I'm sure this will blow over and be off the front page by the next news cycle...LOL!
December 10, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, according to Fitzgerald's statements and all the evidence that has been made available, that is exactly what a rational person would expect (at least in terms of Obama). Judging by your manic use of ellipses and exclamation points, however, I'm guessing that you're intent on setting yourself up for disappointment.
December 10, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/12/what-jake-tapper-doesnt-know-about-what.html
December 10, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
You see, Wallace, you view us as the opposition. We're not. We're honestly trying to save you from making an ass of yourself. When you recognize who your true friends are, you'll be on your way to winning your first argument.
December 10, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah...I see, since Natedog says it it's got to be true...never mind that Axlerod already "mispoke" a completely different story.
December 10, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, alright, get your hopes up. I honestly don't see the appeal of setting yourself up for disappointment, but if you insist, go right ahead. For your sake, when your fantasies don't pan out this time, I hope you'll take the opportunity to reflect on what led you to that point.
December 10, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just as long as the illiterate moose hunter from Alaska isn't the VP, I'm good.
December 10, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Come on now, she's literate, she reads all the papers...all of them.
December 10, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad he's using his middle name - that rocks. He should. We have a lot of citizens whose families originated in the Middle East and this will make them feel more like they belong here and that's a good thing after the last 8 years.
December 10, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
...of course if we used his middle name during the election we were racist xenophobs...but I'm glad it's acceptable now.
December 10, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
that's because you were obviously using it to try to scare people, another epic fail. The same way you drips use "liberal" or "democrat" as a dirty word.
How'd that work out this year?
December 10, 2008 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
..because most of you were knuckle-dragging xenophobes.
December 10, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I just gotta say, thanks for the entertainment. We should all thank you to SFCWallace. These boards would be incredibly boring without his posts, no matter how uninformed many of them are.
December 10, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess uninformed yet entertaining beats knuckle dragging xenophob...thanks.
December 10, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
See, now that was entertaining. Thanks.
December 10, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Its hard to tell the two apart actually.
December 10, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Word.
How many times will Wallace have to read the part where Blagojevich says: "motherfucker...for nothing? Fuck him!" about Obama before he abandons this stupid attempt?
December 10, 2008 9:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Come on now...y'all are all about chanting "what did he know and when did he know it?" I guess it doesn't apply to the chosen one...
December 10, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you know the answer, why ask again?
Unless the point is just to be obnoxious....
December 10, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
The point is that this meets the standard of evidence to light the torches and grab the pitchforks for any suppossed infraction by Bush/Chenney.
December 10, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Any supposed infraction?????? Are you kidding me? Do you know the concept of war crimes? The blood of hundreds of thousands of iraqis and thousands of americans are on their hands. Supposed infraction? That's ridiculous.
December 10, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know the laundry list...I'm saying if this was Bush/Chenney y'all would be bouncing off the walls.
December 10, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Today, absolutely. We have seen the criminal acts of the king and his cronies over the years. Now, in 2000, I dunno. I would think that notwithstanding the supreme court annointing the king, he would have had some benifit of the doubt. Today. Fuggetaboutit.
December 10, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
and if cats were dogs they'd taste just like hamburgers.
December 10, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
He makes nice speeches, but can he shoot and skin a moose?
December 10, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope the Dems rethink their "the past is past, we're focused on the future" when it comes to shining a bright light on all of the criminal activities of the Bush years.
The GOP will stop at nothing, and I do mean nothing, to try to discredit President Obama and the Democratic-controlled congress. Just look at how they handled Clinton's BJ.
BushCo is attempting to rewrite history right now, and should the Dems allow it to happen while the GOPers and the corporate media smear them, it's their own fault.
PEACE
December 10, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
...it wasn't the BJ, it was the perjury about the BJ.
December 10, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
What is it they say? It's not the crime, it's the cover up.
December 10, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
...gets you every time.
December 10, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
We barely rember the sex scandles of the past but Teapot Dome and Watergate live on in the collective memory. Bush will be rembered for his his power grabs long after the world has forgotten Bill's dalliances.
December 10, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, unfortunately, I don't think the world will ever forget mr. bill's bj. It's too salacious for it to be wiped from the collective memory. That's basically what his presidency will be remembered for a bj that resulted in an impeachment.
Now the history of the king's presidency is yet to be written. Notwithstanding the power grabs, the issue is war crimes. This issue will be studied in poli-sci and international law classes for generations to come. That will be the king's legacy, even if he doesn't get convicted in the hague. The war crimes president. First in american history. At least he is first in something.
December 10, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were crimes against our collective humanity even if they weren't crimes under the geneva convention (I think they'd count though).
The nuclear blasts in japan killed countless civilians and resulted in medical problems in the region for years afterwards. All to destroy munitions factories that had long since been shut down because there weren't enough people left to run them and simultaneously keep themselves alive with food production.
I am not saying that the Japanese Imperial Army were righteous or their methods were good (far from it, they too were war criminals), but I don't think anything excuses what was done to civilians in 1945.
Bush wasn't the first president to commit crimes in a time of war.
December 10, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
From the NYT piece on the Tuskegee Airmen, listing obstacles:
" ... accommodations are scarce ..."
Ten bucks says there's already a long list of people offering spare rooms free to those guys.
If there isn't, shame on everybody who lives within 50 miles of the Capitol.
December 10, 2008 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
My god you people love love love to pass out blame. "It's their own fault." They haven't done anything or failed to do anything yet and you want to blame them before the fact.
I get really tired of this.
December 10, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
The comment on the "worm has turned" regarding dem corruption is laughable.
Here is the big difference between dems and republicans. Dems get it out there and deal with it. Follow the rule of law. The party label is immaterial. Any corruption is unnacceptable. Also, of interest, is when foley was going down and vitter had his escort issue, and craig in the sex sting and stevens and I can't remember all of them the dems were basically silent on the individual claims. I thought it was odd at first, but the dems knew that they have their own bad apples, ala 90k in literally cold hard cash in a freezer jefferson, among many over the years, so they didn't want to pile on because it would boomerang on them. Bottom line dems don't cover it up.
Now, on the flip side, the "culture of corruption" issue was the institutionalization of corruption by republicans. The cover-ups, the denials, the rampant corruption in congress when they were in charge. K-street funneling of cash to republicans, Pay to play, etc. The list goes on and on. Also, the republicans profess to be law and order and lily white, when they aren't, which reveals the hypocrisy.
Bottom line, all dems are way up front hoping that the illinois governor resigns and goes to prison, while republicans would be complaining that it was another witch hunt by an overzealous prosecuter. Huge difference and I believe that the public is seeing it for what it is. That explains 06 and 08 in part. I am sure that more republicans will be going down over the next two years, they just can't help themselves.
December 10, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Bottom line dems don't cover it up."
Which will all be shown true once the "what did he know, when did he know it, what did he do about it" questions are answered.
December 10, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Give me a break. Just read the newspapers. It was public knowledge that the criminal was under investigation for rampant corruption. Obama knew as much as the general public did, which was more than enough to know to avoid the criminal like the plague. What did he know and when did he know it? He knew the guy was a criminal years ago that's why the criminal, his home state governor, wasn't at the dem convention, never campaigned for obama and was shunned by the campaign. Duh. That's what he knew and when did he know about it. Also, the guy was under investigation already, what else was he supposed to do?
December 10, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Except, of course, you don't ask specific questions and you don't accept the answers, even though the Federal prosecutor himself is content with them. Good job setting yourself up for months of conspiracy theory blathering, though.
December 10, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great for Barack to use his full name at the inauguration, if for no other reason than to hear the choking sound of freeper nation when he says "I, Barack Hussein Obama ..."
Here is what America will remember about Barack in the Blogo incident: Blogo was pissed that the Obama folks would not pay him for the appointment of their favorite candidate, and he said "(BLEEP) them" in reference to our newly elected President.
End of story.
December 10, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
What do you guys think Uncle Ted's seat is worth? They cut up my RNC Visa at Neiman's last Saturday, and, also too, I'm a little short for the Holidays.
December 10, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe joe the plumber can float you a loan. He says that you are the real deal and he was very disappointed with mccain. And we all know that joe the plumber is a political genius and we should follow every word that he says.
Palin/Joe the Plumber in 2012. You betcha!
December 10, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Aren't Uncle Ted and "Wide-stance" Larry Craig still officially sitting senators? If they won't boot their own actual criminals, I'm not inclined to take them seriously regarding this Obama non-scandal.
December 10, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
My uninformed guess is that he's in a good position. He's got a lot of challengers, but none of them stands out. His opposition is hella divided.
December 10, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Steele will be his only true challenger.
December 10, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nah, the republican establishment would never allow that one. Steele is just a novelty to them, not to be taken seriously. Steele will got back to being a fox commentator for life. Someone else will come out of the woodwork.
December 10, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hussein is from an Arabic root which means beautiful, wonderous, harmonious,,,,, so being inaugurated as one who is blessed (barack) and beautiful (hussein) is a good way to go.
Now, will the wingnuts get all bent out of shape on whether he uses his 'Junior' or not. In any event, life will go on.
December 10, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
His father's name is also BHO but I don't believe the prez-elect was actually given the suffix "Junior" as part of his legal name, so I expect he won't use it.
December 10, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
No comment thread is complete, since the campaign, without a dead and skinned moose. Oh well, I guess I had it coming.
December 10, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
These aren't new scandals. The feds have been investigating Jefferson since 2006 and Blago even longer than that. Everybody knew these guys were going down eventually it was just a matter of time.
And liberal Chicago Sun-Times? On what planet?
December 10, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
leave it to VICE mayor feinstein to put the kibosh on teh booze. ugh.
December 10, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
...but the Senators are worried that it would place too much strain on police.
Yeah, because the Senators are in the best judge of what the DC police can handle, not the City Council, right?
This really pissed me off when I saw the press release. Deal with it, guys, it's going to be a huge party, and you can't just have your black-tie balls and make the rest of us peons stay off the streets and out of your way.
December 10, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink