TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Visiting Muslim World; Bin Laden Puts Out New Message Against Him
President Obama has arrived in Saudi Arabia for a multi-nation tour in the Arab world, most notably including a speech addressed to all Muslims tomorrow in Egypt. And just in time for Obama's arrival, Osama bin Laden has released a new recording, saying Obama was following in the steps of George W. Bush, and planting the seeds for "revenge and hatred."
Obama's Day: Saudi Arabia
President Obama arrived this morning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At 8:10 a.m. ET, he attended a welcome reception with King Abdullah at the King's farm. At 9:20 a.m. ET, he will hold a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah.
Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will hold a roundtable meeting at 12 p.m. ET, along with Sec. of Transportation Ray LaHood, governors and federal and local transportation officials from across the country, to discuss the High Speed Rail Grant Program contained in the stimulus bill. At 2:45 p.m. ET, he will keynote the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards Ceremony at the Pentagon. Afterwards, he will go to the White House to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Feinstein: Sotomayor Says "Wise Latina" A "Poor Choice Of Words"
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) told reporters yesterday that Sonia Sotomayor regrets her "wise Latina" remarks from 2001. Said Feinstein, after meeting with Sotomayor: "She said, 'Obviously it was a poor choice of words if you read on and read the rest of my speech you wouldn't be concerned with it but it was a poor choice of words.'"
GOP Senator Says Sotomayor Could Get 75 Votes
The Hill reports that an anonymous Republican Senator on the Judiciary Committee predicted that Sonia Sotomayor will be confirmed -- potentially with a landslide margin, depending on how she handles the process. "It could be with 75 votes or it could be with 57 votes," the Senators said, "and it depends on whether she assures people."
Chris Christie Wins GOP Nomination In NJ-GOV Race
Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie won the Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey last night, taking 55% against right-wing challenger Steve Lonegan's 42%. Christie now faces Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine, who scores low approval ratings in polls but has the advantage of running in a very Democratic state that has in the past voted for Dems with only lackluster ratings -- but isn't particularly willing to vote for a Republican.
Obama: America "One Of the Largest Muslim Countries"
In an interview on French TV, President Obama made an interesting statement in his outreach to the Muslim world -- based on the numerically large populations of just about every demographic in the United States. "And one of the points I want to make is, is that if you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we'd be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world," said Obama. "And so there's got to be a better dialogue and a better understanding between the two peoples."
Obama: Americans "Love All French Things"
Also during his interview on French TV, Obama sought to repair the enmity between America and France from the Bush years -- the era of "freedom fries" and other such name-calling. "I think the American people continue to love all French things," said Obama. As examples of what he himself likes about France: "Let's see, we have the food, we have Paris, we got the south of France, Provence, the wine."


















Looking forward to see what results from Obama's trip.
Wonder how the Muslim community will react to this?!
June 3, 2009 9:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
If some people think Obama is a secret Muslim pretending to be a Christian, I wonder what they'll make of bin Laden denouncing him.
June 3, 2009 9:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bin Laden's statement indicates seeds of hatred and revenge against the U.S., in case that is not clear from the context, not seeds of hatred and revenge (in Americans) against al-Qaeda/Muslims/etc.
Leastwise that is what I have gleaned, I had to look it up.
June 3, 2009 9:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not buying it. Bin Laden is dead. It has been too long since a credible video came out to believe that he is still alive. The last video from 3 years ago had a doppleganger with a darkened beard and a different nose. It is time for the media to look at this Bin laden propoganda with a skeptical eye. It is to the terrorists' benefit to spread credible propoganda and they have been unable to do it in video for at least 5 years.
June 3, 2009 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
I had the misfortune to turn on MSNBC while eating my english muffin this morning. As usual Jughead Joe Scarborough was missing the point by a wide margin, and no one was calling him on it.
(I paraphrase a bit, mostly at the end): "I'll bet there are liberals who are surprised today that Osama Bin Laden hates Barack Obama as much as he hated George W. Bush. Which I think is very funny. All that time liberals were saying Osama and Al Qaeda hate us because of Bush, and all the terrible things Bush was doing. Well now what do those liberals say, now that Osama has released a sophisticated 8-track denouncing their hero, Prince Obama?
Oh, and aren't I just such a smug bastard? And isn't Obama just so clueless? What a novice, why can't he be more like Ronald Reagan? Harr-de-harr-harr...What do you think Mika?"
Mika just crinkles her nose before introducing their next guest, an author of a new book about, you guessed it, Ronald Reagan. The author will go on to argue that Reagan was fully in charge of every decision made in the White House, and was more committed to World Peace than Gandhi. My English muffin no longer tastes good at this point.
Imagine if you had been watching that.
Now you've lost a few minutes of your life too.
June 3, 2009 9:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Poor Joe is stuck on stupid like every rightwinger.
June 3, 2009 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mika is as useless as Joe
June 3, 2009 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, but at least the medicine goes down better when you read it while looking at the Hawaian Punch guy and not Joe Douchborough's puss (tip o the hat to Jon Stewart there)! Thanks, Dorn76! :)
June 3, 2009 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric, I'm a little surprised TPM is so accomodating (gullible?) in stating that this audio tape is actually Bin Laden. Surely you guys know how easily it is for voices to be digitally cloned.
Chances of this tape being authentic is anyone's guess.
June 3, 2009 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm surprised that neither we nor any of our Mid-East allies has ever taken on Al Qaida on its central premise: how many Muslims have the States killed in Pakistan, and how many Muslims have Al Qaida and the Taliban killed in Pakistan? How many suicide bombs, car bombs, in Mosques, in markets, on the streets, designed to kill Muslims?
Just surprised.
June 3, 2009 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ever? I don't have links handy, but I've read quite a lot (probably over at Juan Cole's place) about Muslim leaders denouncing the killing of civilians (and especially Muslims) by extremists. I can't recall political leaders speaking out specifically, but it wouldn't surprise me if they had. I doubt it would be more prominent than page 24 over here if they did, but that doesn't mean they're not doing it.
I agree that it's a good idea, I just don't think we can be sure it hasn't happened.
June 3, 2009 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
So the media don't even wait for Intelligence to "authenticate" the voice anymore before identifying the speaker as the Bogeyman?
Very well. Did Osama complain in this latest audio about his credit card rates going up?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/the-ghost-in-the-machines-the-mystery-of-the-wtc-hard-drive-recoveries/
June 3, 2009 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I think the American people continue to love all French things," said Obama.
Ha! - I'm sure the folks on FOX News will love this - not.
June 3, 2009 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Doesn't OBL look younger than in the last videotape?
June 3, 2009 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Botox? Fish oil? You be the judge.
June 3, 2009 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink