TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Obama Plays Comedian At Correspondents' Dinner
President Obama told all manner of jokes last night at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, roasting himself, his administration, his party, the opposition, and the press:
My personal favorite: "Now Sasha and Malia aren't here tonight, because they're grounded. You can't just take Air Force One on a joyride to Manhattan. I don't care whose kids you are."
Cheney: Opponents "Prepared To Sacrifice American Lives"
Former Vice President Dick Cheney appeared today on Face The Nation, and he had a tough response to the Obama Administration's opposition to his approved methods of interrogation: "Well, then you'd have to say that, in effect, we're prepared to sacrifice American lives rather than run an intelligent interrogation program that would provide us the information we need to protect America."
Biden Gives Commencement Speech At Syracuse
Vice President Biden delivered the commencement address this morning at Syracuse University, his alma mater, describing both the challenges facing the country right now and his optimism that they will be overcome: "I am more optimistic today than I have ever been in my life, because of you, because of where we are."
Pelosi Wants To Strengthen U.S. Intelligence In Iraq
Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a surprise trip to Baghdad today, where he she called for a vigorous U.S. intelligence presence in the country. "If we are going to have a diminished physical military presence," said Pelosi, "we are have to have a strong intelligence presence."
Jones: Unknown whether Bin Laden Is Alive Or Dead
National Security Adviser Jim Jones appeared on This Week, and said it is unknown whether Osama bin Laden is alive or dead. "The best intelligence is that we, we gauge our reaction based on what intelligence we have, and it is inconclusive," said Jones.
Petraeus: Al Qaeda No Longer Based In Afghanistan
Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, U.S. CENTCOM Commander Gen. David Petraeus said that al Qaeda is no longer based in Afghanistan. "They do come in and out of Afghanistan," said Petraeus. "But al Qaeda - precise al Qaeda, if you will - is not based per se in Afghanistan. Although its elements and certainly its affiliates...certainly do have enclaves and sanctuaries in certain parts of Eastern Afghanistan."
Gingrich Criticizes Notre Dame For Obama Invite
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Newt Gingrich criticized the University of Notre Dame for planning to grant President Obama an honorary degree next weekend. "To the degree that Notre Dame still thinks of itself as a Catholic institution, it raises real questions," said Gingrich. He added: "But look -- I'm a new convert. I'll let the Vatican speak for the church. I'm just speaking for Newt Gingrich."
Bunning Reaffirms That He's Running In 2010
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), who has accused his party leadership of trying to force him into retirement, reaffirmed at last night's state GOP Lincoln Day Dinner that he is running again in 2010. "I am nobody's puppet, I am my own man," said Bunning. Bunning and his co-Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate GOP Leader, sat at different tables.
| TOPICS: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Dick Cheney, Iraq, Joe Biden, KY-SEN, Nancy Pelosi, Newt Gingrich, Senate '10
Josh
Matt
Eric
My favorite was his razzing on Boehner for his Fake 'n' Bake tan and then tying it back to his "whazzup?!" riff on Steele.
May 10, 2009 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
May 10, 2009 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've gotta watch Wanda Sykes's speech. It's one of the related videos that pop up at the bottom of the clip when it finishes. Hilarious.
May 10, 2009 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here are links to C-SPAN's postings of the speeches by Obama and Sykes.
FWIW, I thought Sykes was a bit lame. But maybe no WHCD comic is ever gonna seem less than a little lame since Stephen Colbert's tour de force two years ago.
May 10, 2009 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Big Fat Idiot will be ranting about that all week.
Don't expect her to apologize, though.
May 10, 2009 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dickwad Cheney on BigO's opposition to torture:
So, what does the US armed forces death toll in Iraq now stand at? 4200+? Big words from a cowardly braggart who's now runnin' scared.
Newt Gringo objecting to Notre Dame having Obama give the commencement speech:
I think your GOOPer chairman has a few words he wants to whisper in your ear: Understand that when you come into someone's house, you're not looking to change it. You come in because that's the place you want to be.
So come on in, sit down, and shut up. And don't forget to genuflect as you cross the center aisle.
Phillies manager Gene Mauch shakes his head, steps out of the dugout and walks towards the mound....
May 10, 2009 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cheney is astounding. He's not doing the Republicans any favors, and he's not doing the "we can't investigate this because it will be too hard for the country" crowd any favors, either, because whatever Dick Cheney is against, the American people will probably view favorably.
He obviously is thinking solely of himself with the constant criticism of Obama.
Obama's "performance" last night, which will get played and replayed by cable news, if this morning is any indication, which just endear him further to the American public, and make Cheney look even more bitter and nasty.
May 10, 2009 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pretty much right on. Though maybe I'd throw in Rummy and Libby.
May 10, 2009 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's why I'm sort of rooting for the dickhead to keep doing it (even if his crap makes me puke).
May 10, 2009 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
They'll take the "74th day I rested" out of context and chew on it all week as an example of megalomania and tyranny. Who does he think he is, blah blah blah.
May 10, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cat.
Cheney needs the loud-mouths and mouth breathers for him to stay out of prison, they are his gang now.
what he wants is for them to see him as their hero being persecuted by the BIG BAD O-AMA.
The problem is he is hugging them to political death. but he does not care, as long as he stays out of jail.
which means he must have done some horrible things that are yet to come out.
he is trying to bully the Obama administration in to not going after him,
May 10, 2009 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
The prevailing wisdom I keep hearing is that this is a pushback for the benefit of the Beltway brahmins, to create an aura of inevitability that there is another, more grownup "side" to the emerging evidence of indictable criminality on the part of Vice President Cheney.
And therefore, any discussion of indicting the man would obviously be nothing more than grousing from the weak sisters with a cheap political agenda.
Cheney is simply trying to weaken the perceived legitimacy of any impending criminal investigation. Reference Harry Reid's comments about this, in which he basically confesses that there's absolutely nothing more important to America than the rule of law... unless we ain't got the political will, in which case, never mind. Cheney is working the refs on the political will.
There was one takeaway from Cheney's special guest appearance of the week that I'm surprised has not blown more socks off:
Oh. My. God. Do NOT be lulled into thinking that this was merely a unified, "Yeah, we meant to do it and we'd do it again". This is not "unity" between Bush and Cheney.
More like, "If *I* get indicted, this is my defense! I was not the president! THE PRESIDENT DID IT!"
TAKE IT TO THE BANK. WHAT YOU HEARD THERE WAS JURY TAMPERING.
May 11, 2009 1:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great point about jury tampering.
PRobably why the Republicans in Congress are pushing and pushing and pushing to implicate Nancy Pelosi in this as well. The story they want is "Everyone knew--even the Dems!!" and not "It's illegal, assholes, no matter who knew".
Cheney's comments are pretty astounding, actually. He's pretty sure Bush knew???
May 11, 2009 8:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Five Deferment Dick doesn't think Powell's a Republican any longer?
This is obviously GREAT NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS!!!
May 10, 2009 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
If by protecting America, one means attempting to extract false confessions showing a connection between Saddam and Al Qaeda in order to justify a needless and costly invasion of Iraq.
~
May 10, 2009 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
You absolutely hit the nail on the head. But that is the dirty little secret that the Bush people don't want the American people to know. Dickwad wants us to think they were really trying to protect the American people. It is such a lofty goal, and who can argue it. The reality, and the MSM does not touch it, is that they were trying to extract false confessions connecting Saddam and Al-Queda in order to justify their war. I hope there is an especially hot place in hell for Mr. Cheney.
May 10, 2009 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, exactly. To beat false information out of them in order to justify their insane military mega-fiasco.
This really is what an international criminal court is designed for. So the next bunch of lunatics will think twice.
May 11, 2009 6:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Newt Gingrich is what, a twice-divorcee? Thrice? I forget. In any case, according to the Bible, he is an adulterer. The Bible prescribes a much stiffer penalty for adulterers than it does for people who kill unborn children.
May 10, 2009 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Newt is a true Christian:
http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/news/Jul2000/PWMSNewtsEx.html
How wouldn't respect this man's moral authority?
~
May 10, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
May 10, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup, protecting us from the non-existent weapons of mass destruction.
May 10, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cheney's memoirs as per president Obama:
Dick Cheney's impending moment of truth for his crimes and atrocities has him pathetically struggling to muddy the waters all the while as he increasingly ends up the sad butt of everyone's jokes.
May 10, 2009 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Newt also compared prosecuting torturers to McCarthyism. Insane:
http://www.gotchamediablog.com/2009/05/gingrich-compares-prosecuting-torturers.html
May 10, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The republicans are big on trying to shape public perception.
Dick is going to keep wrapping the 'torture' in a nice pretty box telling us this is good and keeps us safe and trying to get us to accept his 'gift'
He belongs behind bars with his cohorts and run out of the country on a rail for being such a calculated, bold-faced LIAR!
Break the law, bankrupt the country, send soldiers to die in unjust wars, and sit there and look us in the eye and say 'we did it all to keep you safe'...
What a f'n bastard!!
And the kicker, worst thing of all is that we as a country and our soldiers are definitely NOT safer afer what the Bush adminstration and their cohorts have done!
There must be accountability across the board.
Period!!
Cheney is starting to look as pathetic as Blagojevich running around looking guilty as hell telling us how innocent he is... same thing, he is trying to get the public behind him.
May 10, 2009 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like a call for the extraordinary rendition Dickwad is so fond of. Hmmm. I wonder what country would be the most effective at getting the truth out of that slimy little bastard...
May 10, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well you know... if it will make the country 'safer' I am sure it is a sacrifice Dick is wiling to make :)
May 10, 2009 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROTFLOL! :)
May 10, 2009 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
We have a perfectly good justice system here. It's about time we used it.
May 10, 2009 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cheney sacrificed 3000 Americans on 911 because he failed to keep us safe. Cheney sacrificed over 4100 America soldiers to fight his war in Iraq based on lies. Please don’t lecture anyone including Obama sacrifice
May 10, 2009 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, thanks for reminding us. They were warned sternly about Al Qaeda terrorism, repeatedly, with increasing alarm as the day of the attack drew near, and they instead pursued Bush's ridiculous fantasy of missile defense while the Justice department hounded the porn industry to no effect. Also moved to reduce anti-terrorism budget. Then they screwed up the Afghanistan situation badly and created a quagmire, didn't catch Bin Laden, and then lied their way into the world's craziest war, which they hideously mismanaged. Then they urinated all over the Constitution, and ran the Justice Department like the mafia. His number 2 guy got convicted, the legal action is moving his way, and if he leaves the United States he may be arrested.
With these appalling failures making up Cheney's record, he has the breathtaking temerity to be lecturing us.
May 11, 2009 7:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think that every time Gingrich is mentioned it should be prefaced by 'disgraced Republican'.
May 11, 2009 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
What a simply splendid idea!
May 11, 2009 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's important to keep in mind that Cheney is not a trustworthy source.
At this point, he'll say anything.
What do you expect? Cheney to say he was wrong?
May 11, 2009 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink