Election Central Morning Roundup
Poll: A Majority Of Republicans Approve Of Obama's Performance
The new AP-GfK poll shows 73% of Americans approve of Barack Obama's performance so far as president-elect -- with 54% of self-identified Republicans giving him a thumbs-up, too. Overall, approval so far spreads across all lines of age, gender, race and income.
Obama Press Conference This Morning, Then Meeting With War Powers Commission Heads
Barack Obama is holding a press conference on health care at 11 a.m. ET in Chicago, at which he is expected to announce the selection of Tom Daschle to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. In addition, he will be meeting with former Secretaries of State James Baker and Warren Christopher, the co-chairs of the bipartisan National War Powers Commission.
Biden Meeting With Hillary Clinton, James Jones
Joe Biden is meeting this morning with Hillary Clinton and retired Gen. James Jones, in their respective capacities as the incoming Secretary of State and National Security Adviser.
NYT: American Constitution Society On The Rise
The New York Times points out that Barack Obama's win is bringing whole new opportunities for the American Constitution Society, the liberal legal society formed as a counter-weight to the right-wing Federalist Society -- most notably with the appointment of ACS board member Eric Holder as attorney general. But with power could come the same pitfalls that the opposition faced, mainly the danger of crossing the line into favoring ideological allies for non-political jobs.
Chicagoans Rediscovering Cynicism
The New York Times reports that Chicago voters, after an election cycle in which their home-town candidate promoted a new politics of Hope and Change, are rediscovering their usual reputation for corruption and cynicism thanks to Rod Blagojevich. "In Chicago, we had just gotten past the old stereotypes," said one local man. "But now we're back to the jokes."
Trib: Blago's Potty-Mouth Shows Decline Of Etiquette
The Chicago Tribune has a new piece bemoaning that Rod Blagojevich's alleged ample use of profanity in the criminal complaint against him, and the lack of shock from the public, shows just how far our culture has fallen: "A cleaned-up version of the complaint would be cratered with blacked-out f-bombs, yet etiquette experts and anti-cursing crusaders say the language, which once would have made the nation blush, now comes across as almost de rigueur."
Oh goodness lord 'a' mercy, that Rod gentlemen used that vulgar word at least a dozen times! Somebody bring me my smelling salts!
December 11, 2008 9:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Have we forgotten that Richard Nixon popularized (expletive deleted) potty-mouth politics back in the '70s?
December 11, 2008 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why General Beauregard, I do believe I have the vapors!
December 11, 2008 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yay! For the Constitution Society. Yay! For sane Repugs.
Can't say a damn word about Blago's language, for obvious reasons. ;)
December 11, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your restraint shows great wisdom, Tena. LOL
December 11, 2008 9:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hahaha, a good laugh to start a day :)
December 11, 2008 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nice to see that a majority of Republicans are on board the Obama train. We all need to be supporting his efforts to move this country forward -- and if the Republicans in Congress will just pay attention to their constituents' approval rating of Obama, then maybe, just maybe, real progress will happen.
December 11, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
And it goes to show how out of touch the R "leadership" is: based on a post by Steve Benen on Political Animal yesterday, Mike Pence (chair of the House Republican Conference) thinks that the party needs to retreat even farther to the right. Balanced federal budget, school vouchers, drilling off the coasts, defending "traditional family values", etc., etc. Warms my heart to know how far from real voters' values they are.
December 11, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
They really are delusional and out of step with the country. They are heading for another massacre in 2010 at this rate, which is a good thing. Either they get with the program or they go the way of the Whig Party. It's their choice.
The old ways that are the republican mantra died almost 50 years ago with a globalized economy. The government needs to play an active role because it is the only entity that can deal on a level playing field with foreign subsidized companies, like airbus or the foreign car manufacturers. They get huge government subsidies and breaks. How can a private company fairly compete? It can't. Republican policies and practices have lead us to this disaster and the public finally gets it. It took awhile, but the public finally woke up.
December 11, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Either they get with the program or they go the way of the Whig Party. It's their choice.
Yup! And I'm lovin' it. I think it's popcorn time!
December 11, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, that is going to be interesting. I always thought the Democrats cooperated with the Bush Administration for just that reason at first - he had high approvals and they thought their constituents wanted cooperation. I bet the Repugs don't react like that.
December 11, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, many republican congress people still have their heads in the sand. Another massacre in 2010 might change the dynamic though. He does have enough senators from the republicans to get stuff through so all they will do is whine and huff and puff and try to be obstructionist. The public will see that and vote more of them out.
Incidentally, I am listening right now to the same mantra that the big 3 should go chapter 11. The press and republicans are really idiots. It would cost the government much more in the long run. The big 3 can't get debtor in possession financing, except from the government. So either the government taints them with a bankruptcy and it makes it harder for them to come out, which is doubtful, and provides financing in bankruptcy or they liquidate and 3 million more people are unemployed and getting government assistance. The only logical option is to finance pre-bankruptcy. All this bankruptcy talk is hurting them already. I wish they would stop it already.
December 11, 2008 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think I read that Ford is passing on the bailout money. So will it be the Big Two?
December 11, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
They don't need a bailout, they were asking for a guarantee of a federal bridge loan if they needed it in the future. I'm thinking they're regreting lumping themselves in with GM and Crysler when going before Congress.
December 11, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Temporarily. If the other two collapse, the collapse will bring ford down as well because of the loss of parts suppliers and such. It would be a huge mess. I believe ford can pass, for now, but when they revisit the issue in march, ford will be there with the other two.
December 11, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agree with your post about the auto industry. Right now the Republicans are only interested in a)trying to mortally wound the auto unions and b)protecting the auto plants in the south.
December 11, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
That Sarah Palin is the real deal, though! Joe the Plumber told Politico.com that, and I trust the guy!
December 11, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll be happy to discuss etiquette, because despite my uncivil tongue, I do know etiquette. I even use it.
December 11, 2008 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Miss Manners is a godess! :-)
December 11, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope that he brings baker on board as a special envoy to the middle east to bring peace to the region. He knows the region and the players and his diplomacy offensive in the Iraq Study Group was very logical and sounded like a total winner. It's a shame that the king ignored him. I hope obama doesn't.
December 11, 2008 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I'm grooving on the Nobel Prize winning scientist he's tapped for Energy Secretary.
Imagine that - a real scientist. People who believe in evolution are going to be in our government again.
I could weep, I'm so happy.
December 11, 2008 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
A "rocket-scientist" no less. Awesome pick. I like all his picks big time, except of course clinton. I hope the clinton pick works out. It is a total roll of the dice.
December 11, 2008 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
My prediction is that Hillary is going to surprise the hell out of her critics.
I predict she will be a great SOS.
December 11, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Apparently Dr. Chu is not a rocket scientist -- he's even smarter. This is from a reader at The Dish:
"Dr. Chu is a Nobel Laureate, a biochemist, and an experimental physicist -- but he's not a rocket scientist! I am a rocket scientist, and my wife is a biochemist, so please believe me on this: rocket science is much simpler than either of those fields."
December 11, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I got smacked on the rocket scientist thing a couple of days ago, that's why I put it in quotes. I was just kidding.
December 11, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm guessing your reference to "rocket scientist" was just a way to describe "smart"? Because I've seen nothing in his resume to suggest he has done any work in that area. His Nobel was for developing a technique of capturing atoms with lasers and he seems to have a particular interest in energy research (although I haven't read up on that part of his background). BTW, most physicists I know don't think being called a "rocket scientist" is a real compliment. ;)
December 11, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, I have gathered that from the smack downs. I'll have to come up with something else.
December 11, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Nobel Laureate will suffice!
December 11, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
HA! Yes being called a rocket scientist is not a compliment at all in my book. I am a rocket scientist IRL and we're a funny bunch. To me it's kind of like being called a grifter. Has some romantic appeal lent to it by the movies but in fact is a term of derogation ;-)
I posted yesterday on that topic as well...
December 11, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was wondering when we'd hear from you on this topic! :) How is it that a Luddite became a RS?
December 11, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
No no no you have it backwards! Being a RS has made me into a Luddite :-)
December 11, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
For some reason I thought that was going to be the answer. :-)
December 11, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
although it's kind of pathetic that we're cheering a scientist who believes in evolution back in government. Like cheering someone who believes in gravity.
My biggest concern right now is all the truly awful executive orders that Bush is pushing through at the last minute. I hope they find a quick way to reverse or override them with new legislation.
December 11, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah it's kind of pathetic, but do you mind if I enjoy it and cheer it?
December 11, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
nope. I'm thrilled. It's truly the best and the brightest. I think Tom Daschle is going to be great as well--these people intend to get things done.
December 11, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
:)
December 11, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes and no. I agree that it's bizarre to be cheering things that ought to be utterly mundane and normal, but I think in the days to come after we get used to it, we would do well to remember that we can't take "utterly mundane and normal" for granted any more.
Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom from authoritarian conservative repression...
December 11, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well after Bill O'Reilly and Mark Penn, what do you fuckin' expect?
December 11, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
54% of self identified R's approve of the way Obama is handling the Transition, but the RNC needs to know more about Obama's Blago ties....
It is so much fun to watch the Republican Party hang itself.
December 11, 2008 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
You betcha! Wink!
My favortie stupid headline yesterday (from MSNBC's website): Joe the Plumber mad at John McCain. Seems he didn't like McCain's stand on the bank bailout--made him so mad he wanted to storm off the bus. All I could think is, "This is a headline? Who cares?" But JTP just LOVES Sarah, and we all know that she's the future of the Republican Party. . .
December 11, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
The aftermath of that whole sad episode kinda makes me feel sorry for the old man McCain, and just makes me want to laugh, and laugh at J.T.P. and Sarah Barracuda, also too.
December 11, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Michael, I really have to comment on your wish about Baker. I take great exception to that. James Baker is the Bush Famiglia consigliere and I don't want him anywhere near the administration. Furthermore I don't think Obama would consider it nor do I believe Baker would work for Obama.
And thank god.
December 11, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agree! We don't want James (bleep) Baker anywhere near an Obama administration.
No way, no how.
Baker has the Bush stink on him and it will never rub off.
December 11, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I know that taints him, but in my book it's results that matter. Just a couple of them:
1. The way he handled the sos job under bush I was incredible. He did a really great job and bush I's foreign policy was probably the best in 50 years. We had syrian troops with us trying to drive saddam out of kuwait?????? You have to give credit where credit is due.
2. The iraq study group smack down of the king. That was all baker and the bush I foreign policy crowd. His recommended active diplomacy in the region, splitting syria from iran, dealing with the palestinian problem. It was a good strategy that the king ignored and obama signed onto.
3. He actively dealt with all of the leaders and pols in the region during gulf war I and had the arab countries with us. He was well on his way to trying to resolve the arab-isreali conflict.
He really would be a great middle east envoy. Based on the iraq study group smack down, I bet, and I have heard in the press, that the bush I people were very distraught over how the king handled foreign policy. I think that he would be great. I don't care about the label, it's the results that matter.
December 11, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, how about this? Baker as co-head of the war powers commission wants to limit the ability of a president to wage war.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92357020&ft=1&f=1003
I have to reiterate, baker would be great. I really believe that above all else, the country comes first in his book. Again, as evidenced by the iraq study group smack down of the king, among other things.
December 11, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know he's a smart guy and I also know that Poppy didn't break everything he put his hands on, though I despise Poppy and Bar as much as I do their crooked goddamn sons.
I'll say this, Michael - I'd hand the Israeli-Palestinian mess to anyone who could fix it.
If I thought he could fix it, I'd say full speed ahead. I just don't trust the man at all.
December 11, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cool. I really think that he would totally handle the arab-isreali conflict. Incidentally, maybe him being "untrustworthy" is a plus in solving the problem.
December 11, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Any of you who are in the Arlington, VA area may want to dash over to the McCain/Palin 2008 campaign headquarters for the big blowout sale of campaign equipment -- get 'em while they last:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/12/fire_sale_on_all_mccain-palin.html
December 11, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bwahahahahahah!
December 11, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dang, it started on Monday; anything good is probably gone by now.
It is revealing, though. It used to be true that Republicans always had more money, and Democrats always had more volunteers, and it sounds from this like the McCain campaign wasn't able to get out of the habit of operating as if they had the cash. I don't know how it was at Chicago HQ, but every Obama office I saw was operating on donated and used stuff, and trying to sell any of it off for "36% off list price" wouldn't have been a bargain.
December 11, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
December 11, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Fitz was nice enough to clean it up for them, but they're still complaining that in private conversations that were being wiretapped, Blago wasn't considerate enough to avoid language that would make "the nation" blush, even though he presumably didn't think "the nation" was listening.
It's like the tut-tutting "think of the children" crusaders, who insist that adults not be allowed anything on cable or the Internet that isn't appropriate for children (because there's no less restrictive way to protect them, y'know.)
December 11, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
This bashing of the bible is a bit unsetteling. Evolution is a touchy subject. We lose these culture wars people, move on.
December 11, 2008 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink