TPMDC Morning Roundup
Florida GOP Chairman Defends Steele, Blasts Critics
Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer has sent a letter to RNC members, defending Michael Steele -- and lambasting his critics: "What I find so disturbing is that some Republicans cannot see the absolute necessity of providing unwavering loyalty and support to Chairman Steele as he embarks upon leading the Republican Party into the future."
Steele Hires Chief of Staff For RNC
The RNC announced that Michael Steele has hired Ken McKay, former campaign manager and chief of staff to Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri, to be the new RNC Chief of Staff. One of the criticisms of Steele in the last month and a half is that he has been slow to fill the key staff positions, but he is now starting to make progress on that front.
Obama's Day Ahead: Focusing On The Economy
President Obama is having a closed meeting with Economic Recovery Advisory Board Chairman Paul Volcker at 12 p.m. ET. At 12:45 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks from the Oval Office on the economy. At 1:15 p.m. ET he is meeting with Vice President Biden for lunch.
Biden Promoting Stimulus With Dem Members of Congress -- And Specter
Vice President Biden will be administering the oath of office to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis this morning. At noon, he will head up an event at Union Station to announce funding for Amtrak as part of the stimulus program. Others in attendance include Democratic members of Congress such as Senators John Kerry, Jay Rockefeller, Frank Lautenberg and others -- plus Republican Senator Arlen Specter.
Big Day In Minnesota: Closing Arguments
Closing arguments in the Minnesota election trial are scheduled for today. Each side will have an hour at bat to make their final case to the judges. After that, the judges are expected to spend two to three weeks working on a determination of who has legally won the most votes, and is entitled to the certificate of election -- a decision that is likely to be appealed.
WaPo: U.S. Attorney Situation Remains Unclear
The Washington Post reports that the Obama Administration faces some very complicated choices in appointing new U.S. Attorneys, between the interest of appointing their own people versus the need in some cases to keep current Attorneys in places to pursue pending cases. Perhaps the most controversial example involves Mary Beth Buchanan, a conservative U.S. Attorney from western Pennsylvania who is quite publicly refusing to resign.
Virgil Goode Files Papers For Potential 2010 Comeback Bid
Former Congressman Virgil Goode (R-VA), who was defeated in a huge upset by Democrat Tom Perriello by a margin of 727 votes out of over 315,000 in 2008, has filed papers to run again in 2010. Goode is perhaps best known for denouncing the election of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim member of Congress.
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
Michael Steele's Most Stunning Admission Has GOP Reeling
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=6557
March 13, 2009 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
These things are always incredibly, incredibly lame. You do know that, don't you?
March 13, 2009 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
let's have republicans declare their support or removal of Michael Steele as the leader of the GOP. Add this to the Limbaugh dialogue amd it would make for some entertaining responses.
March 13, 2009 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
No comment or post on the daily show smackdown of cramer and more importantly the whole financial "industry" last night? It was unbelievable. The guy is probably one of the best real journalists left in the country, out of all maybe 5 of them. He's really, really good. Anybody who didn't see it, should. He brought the problem down to its clear core and explained it and discussed it with cramer. I have yet to see any journalist do that or ask questions about it. Maybe they should watch the show to see how to do a freaking interview. Amazing.
March 13, 2009 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
He did hold him up by the ankles and spank that @ss! I agree with your assessment of Stewart's journalistic skills. The ironic part is that whenever someone tries to point that out to him he denies it and claims his show is just "snake oil advertised as snake oil."
March 13, 2009 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
All true. I have seen stewart do many interviews of pols and others and he really does a good job. He's not a jerk by any means and is very factual. Sometimes he gets his point across with humor, but obviously the dire situation that was addressed with cramer had very little humor. I actually learned more about what the cause of the problem was from that interview than what I have learned from reading thousands of articles and opinions. It's actually good for the country that young people like the daily show and watch it, because they are actually getting information and news, unlike what occurs on the alleged news channels.
Also, I like the fact that he has figured out a way to tease obama. Many comedians have found it hard to do, but he has been able to come up with some very funny and humerous bits on obama. It shows that noone is immune, which is a good thing.
See, every once in a while we agree on something.
March 13, 2009 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I see two sides of it. Yes, Cramer looked like a puppy who knew he'd made a mess on the carpet from the moment he came on. But, even so, I think he did okay for himself. He seemed much more sympathetic, at least to me, than he did earlier this week on Joe Scar's show.
March 13, 2009 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Scar tried to use the feud for anti-liberal propaganda by agreeing with Cramer about Stewart being just a comedian. As if funny people can't be seriously informed and have opinions about real issues. It's the same refrain heard from wingers about why they don't think liberal entertainers such as Sean Penn shouldn't be taken seriously.
Say that about St. Rush and the winger buzz saw gets fired up.
March 13, 2009 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
"As if funny people can't be seriously informed and have opinions about real issues."
Like me...
March 13, 2009 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait. You're funny?
March 13, 2009 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
...are you kidding? I'm hilarious!
March 13, 2009 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Walls, you need to learn the difference between when people are laughing with you and when they are laughing at you ;). Keep posting though, you're a hoot to spar with.
March 13, 2009 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe this will satisfy your appetite:
Jim Cramer Issues a ‘Mea Beaten to a Pulpa’
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=6551
March 13, 2009 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wait a second. I thought all US Attorneys submit their resignation as a matter of form whenever a new administration enters anyway. And anyway, it's the President's decision whether to a US Attorney remains in place or not. How do you refuse to resign without being a jackass?
Or did I just answer my own question?
March 13, 2009 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
"And anyway, it's the President's decision whether to a US Attorney remains in place or not."
Unless it's Bush, then we need to investigate the removal of any of them!
March 13, 2009 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
The President is in the same position as employers in a right to work state in this matter. One may fire an employee for no reason if one wishes, but not for an illegal reason.
March 13, 2009 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
In case you're not aware of it, what Bush did that was unusual was the firing of his own people because they weren't loyal enough. He took what really shouldn't have been a political process (but obviously was), and made it even more political.
That said, there will always be partisan disagreements on the proper way to adjudicate, so completely removing politics from the process has probably never been possible. It's just that Bush/Rove/Cheney took it to a whole new level.
March 13, 2009 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wally, why are you on here? Can't you make any friends on the conservative blogs? I think you have a point that we all typically view things from our own political lens, but I truly think there's a difference in this situation. The Bush administration had the right to pick who they wanted for the Justice Department, but I don't think they had the right to fire people who would not do their politically bidding. Our system of government is predicated on an independent judiciary. That got lost in the mix. With the case of Obama, he has the right to hire people he wants at the start of his administration but he would be wrong if he started firing these people for not doing partisan work.
March 13, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is actually my training ground...after "discussing" issues here, I can easily sway...less commited Dem's without breaking a sweat. Thanks for your help by the way.
March 13, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
How do you refuse to resign without being a jackass? Or did I just answer my own question?
Yes. This has been another edition of simple answers to simple questions.
March 13, 2009 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Quimby closing argument: I realllly need this job. Pleeeeese can I get it back? Boo hoo.
Franken closing argument: Res ispa loquitur
Judges: Congratulations Senator Franken. Go and serve Minnesota well.
March 13, 2009 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
March 13, 2009 9:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Republicans luvs them some absolute necessity of providing unwavering loyalty and support to their Leader, worthy or not.
You know, unless the Leader in question goes back on a pledge not to raise taxes or even hints at the possibility that maybe people who don't vociferously support rolling back Roe v. Wade aren't necessarily the walking incarnation of Evil.
March 13, 2009 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is what he finds disturbing? Not following in absolute lock-step behind a master uber-leader over whatever cliff he may lead? That's disturbing? and not... oh say... that there isn't a thoughtful critique of a person's pluses and minuses. Come on, this Greer guy couldn't have written that. Someone put it out under his name to make him look bad. Right? Right...?
March 13, 2009 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
After watching videos like this one... http://www.governmentalityblog.com/my_weblog/2009/03/tent-cities-another-result-of-our-economic-crisis.html
it reassures me that President Obama will be focusing on the economy today.
March 13, 2009 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Glennzilla.
Cramer is not unique.
March 13, 2009 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
That was a pretty good article, and I would love to see the self examination of the mainstream press expand from here. Probably wishful thinking, but hey.
March 13, 2009 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wishful thnking? More like waiting for lightning to strike twice. You think American media stars are going to the kind of self examination necessary to reveal to themselves they are as stupid as they appear?
March 13, 2009 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
American Media: TSTBB
March 13, 2009 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Stewart's broader point is that he shouldn't have to be the one doing what he does, because that's the job of journalists.
When he said, "I know you are trying to make finances light and entertaining, but I gotta tell you man, it's not a fucking game," you could tell that there was real emotion there. A real sense of outrage that I think should drive all journalists.
Which is why I no longer watch cable news, and only get my journalism from various written sources, and places like TPM. Because that's where real journalism is to be found.
March 13, 2009 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink