OBAMA: After they drove the car into the ditch, made it as difficult as possible for us to pull it back, now they want to keys back. No! You can’t drive! We don’t want to have to go back into the ditch. We just got the car out. Jon Chaitt adds: I think we can see his main political theme … Read More
Obama At The Correspondents’ Dinner
He was pretty funny (38 minutes long): The Chicago Sun-Times has the full transcript. A few zingers: On speaking ahead of hired entertainer Jay Leno: "I'm also glad that I'm speaking first, because we've all seen what happens when somebody takes the time slot after Leno's." On his low approval ratings: "It doesn't bother me. Beside I happen to know … Read More
Does The Public Support Obama Or The GOP?
Nate Silver has an excellent post wherein he breaks down 25 major issues being pushed by Obama and the Democrats, and sizes them up against public opinion polling. The bottom line? Of these 25 issues, Obama's position appears to be on the right side of public opinion on 14: the bank tax, repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, … Read More
Question Time
Something unusual happened today in American politics — something never before seen. President Obama appeared at the Republican party retreat. Their invitation. He gave a speech, hitting on the same points as his State of the Union, and then…. …. he took questions. He took questions from Republican congressmen. It was much like "Question Time" that they have in the … Read More
What I Would Like To See In The State Of The Union Tonight
I would like to see Obama move away from bi-partisanship. He has left so much to Congress (especially health care) and it has given him a big fat zero. I don't think he needs to slam Republicans, but he needs to show resolve in getting the things he promised us done.
Obama In Norway
It is a little awkward that Obama is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize just weeks after announcing that he is sending more troops into Afghanistan. To his credit, he didn't shy away from addressing this elephant in the room when he received the Prize in Norway today: And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy … Read More
Obama’s Slo-Mo Catch
It's a nice ad, even if it is about how we're going to indoctrinate kids into socialism:
Pardoning Courage
If you're into that sort of thing, the White House is pardoning a turkey at 11.28 a.m. today, and you can view it live on the White House website here. The turkey's name is "Courage", and he's from North Carolina. In the meantime, here's a classic scene from The West Wing where CJ asks President Bartlet to pardon a second … Read More
What’s Obama Done For Me Lately?
Many conservatives and many liberals have taken up the meme that Obama really hasn't done that much in his first year. Esquire's John Richardson shoots this down. A healthy excerpt: These days, the argument that Obama hasn't accomplished anything may be the only example of real bipartisanship in America. Here's the conventional wisdom in a single paragraph: Three hundred and sixty-four … Read More
Yup, Obama Called Kanye A “Jackass”
From the B-roll, just chatting with the CNBC reporter before the "real" interview. Obama is kind of aware that he may have stepped in it, asking "Where the pool?" (meaning the press pool), but he laughs it off:
Obama’s Media Criticism
At a town hall forum at the DNC yesterday, Obama was asked where the lies about health care reform are coming from. After laughing and making reference to "certain" news channels (he didn't mention them by name, but we all know which ones), this is what Obama supposedly said: "…I have to say, part of the reason it spreads is … Read More
A Pox On Both Houses?
Barney Frank took a protester to task after she refered to Obama's "Nazi" health care reform. He asked the woman "on what planet" does she live, and said that trying to have a serious discussion with her about health care would be like talking to a dining room table. Now, comes the tut-tut of the conservative media. How both sides … Read More
Who Do Americans Trust To Handle Terrorism?
For decades, the American people believed that the Republican Party, despite whatever else they may lack, was the go-to party on issues involving national security and terrorism. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll from 2002 said that 57% of Americans felt Republicans were better on handling terrorism (only 22% favored Democrats). An NBC/WSJ poll from 2002 said that 49% of registered voters preferred Republicans to deal with terrorism (compared to 13% … Read More
Cute [UPDATED with pic and video]
Smile of the day: GREEN BAY, Wis. – Ten-year-old Kennedy Corpus has a rock-solid excuse for missing the last day of school: a personal note to her teacher from President Barack Obama. Her father, John Corpus of Green Bay, stood to ask Obama about health care during the president's town hall-style meeting at Southwest High School on Thursday. He told … Read More
Basketball Jones
From the White House blog, when Obama met with the women's college champions, the UCONN Huskies: