Hit and Run

Obama on 'Face the Nation'

Did you miss President Obama on Face the Nation yesterday? Here's the video:

Mitch McConnell, Then And Now

Daily Kos calls out Mitch McConnell for his stunning hypocrisy:

Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was on CNN's State of the Nation, whining that:

I must say I'm disappointed. After two months, the president has not governed in the middle as I had hoped he would. But it's not too late. He's only been in office a couple of months. Still before him are the opportunities to deal with us on a truly bipartisan basis.

And back when Republicans controlled the White House, Senate and the House?

How can we have bipartisanship in the Congress if Democrats won't take 'yes' for an answer?

Hypocrite.

Today's editorial comics

(Click image to enlarge)

Signs of hope in Obama's Afghan plan

Today's column by Trudy Rubin reviews Obama's Afghanistan strategy:

...consider what, to my mind, makes this plan so impressive: The troop increase is part of a much broader strategy encompassing the entire South Asia region. It emphasizes economic aid and diplomacy as much as guns.

As Richard Holbrooke, Obama's special representative for AfPak, put it: "The media is talking about a military surge. What Obama is talking about is a comprehensive surge." The word comprehensive is key.

This approach contrasts sharply with the Bush administration's narrow take on the Iraq war, which ignored Iraq's neighbors and permitted al-Qaeda and the Taliban to regroup on the AfPak border.

The Republican budget

The Number Zero

Obama to appear on 'Face the Nation' this Sunday

President Barack Obama is scheduled to appear on CBS's Face the Nation this Sunday, March 29. Locally, the show can be seen on Channel 12 at 10:30 am. Please tune in!

Today's GOP on the comics page

(Click for larger image)

Making the world work again

President Obama penned an op-ed piece that appeared in newspapers around the world today, including the Los Angeles Times. Here's an excerpt:

We are living through a time of global economic challenges that cannot be met by half-measures or the isolated efforts of any nation. Now, the leaders of the G-20 have a responsibility to take bold, comprehensive and coordinated action that not only jump-starts recovery but launches a new era of economic engagement to prevent a crisis like this from ever happening again.

No one can deny the urgency of action. A crisis in credit and confidence has swept across borders, with consequences for every corner of the world. For the first time in a generation, the global economy is contracting and trade is shrinking. Trillions of dollars have been lost, banks have stopped lending and tens of millions around the globe will lose their jobs. The prosperity of every nation has been endangered, along with the stability of governments and the survival of people in the most vulnerable parts of the world.

...My message is clear: The United States is ready to lead, and we call on our partners to join us with a sense of urgency and common purpose. Much good work has been done, but much more remains. Our leadership is grounded in a simple premise: We will act boldly to lift the American economy out of crisis and reform our regulatory structure, and these actions will be strengthened by complementary action abroad. Through our example, the United States can promote a global recovery and build confidence around the world; and if the London summit helps galvanize collective action, we can forge a secure recovery, and future crises can be averted.

Obama's recent TV appearances

In case you missed President Obama's recent appearances on The Tonight Show and 60 Minutes, here's the video of each:

The Tonight Show interview


60 Minutes interview, part 1


60 Minutes interview, part 2

'You're trying to do too much'

(Click for larger image)

Obama to appear on '60 Minutes' tomorrow

President Obama is scheduled to appear on CBS's 60 Minutes tomorrow, March 22. Locally, the show can be seen on Channel 12 at 7:00 pm. Please tune in!

President Obama's weekly address

The President reflects on lessons from his time spent outside Washington this week, which only reinforced the four core principles in his budget.

Republicans on Executive Compensation

The DNC has a great new ad highlighting Republican hypocrisy:

Gov Beshear announces stimulus web site

Governor Beshear issued this press release today:

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear today unveiled the new “Kentucky at Work” Web site – a virtual information center that will give Kentuckians access to how federal stimulus dollars are being spent in the Commonwealth.

“One of the cornerstones of the federal recovery effort is to be transparent and accountable with every dollar being spent in Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “This new site is one important way we can be transparent and accountable with the dollars we are using in the commonwealth to save and create jobs.”

The site – www.kentuckyatwork.ky.gov – is named for the state’s stimulus initiative, “Kentucky at Work.” The site includes a link to the federal stimulus site – www.recovery.gov, as well as links that will allow Kentuckians and other interested parties to track how dollars are being spent as they come into the state.

The site also contains a welcome message and video from Gov. Beshear as well as a breakdown of where federal stimulus dollars are going.

The Web site’s debut comes as the governor has officially confirmed to the federal government that Kentucky will be accepting stimulus dollars. The official letter, required to receive recovery aid, is also posted on the Web site.

The Kentucky at Work initiative will receive about $3 billion over the next 28 months for strategic investments in health care, education, energy, infrastructure and economic development. In addition, the state will be able to compete for further investments in areas such as energy research and education.

The majority of those dollars, Gov. Beshear said, will help Kentucky mitigate the impact of declining revenues resulting from the deep recession in the state and national economies on our highest priorities of education, healthcare and public safety. Gov. Beshear said it’s critical that one-time dollars from the stimulus effort be used wisely and strategically to preserve commitments and save and create jobs and economic opportunities where possible.

To that end, Gov. Beshear’s interagency work group that is planning the Kentucky at Work initiative continues to move forward with its work. Last week, State Budget Director Mary Lassiter joined other state leaders from across the country for a meeting on stimulus efforts. The group was addressed by both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Vice President Biden has been directed by President Obama to oversee much of the stimulus implementation at the state and local levels.

“The President and Vice President – along with other administration officials – made it very clear that transparency and accountability are keys to a successful recovery effort,” Lassiter said. “Our Web site – kentuckyatwork.ky.gov – is an important pillar in that process.”

Republicans: Still the Party of NO

Busted: Mitch McConnell

Think Progress busts Mitch McConnell for making misleading statements on CNN:

This afternoon on CNN, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) pretended as though he had favored capping the salaries of bankers whose firms accepted TARP funds, claiming that his position has been that bailed-out companies “are going to have to operate in a different sort of way.” When host Wolf Blitzer asked whether Congress should have passed salary caps on bailout recipients, McConnell acts as though he had been in favor of such a proposal.

...However, he opposed such a move at the time, telling ABC News, “I really don’t want the government to take over these businesses and start telling them everything about what they can do... We have to resist the temptation to basically dictate to these businesses how to run every aspect of their operation.” On CNN today, McConnell accused AIG of “trying to have it both ways.” Pot, meet kettle.

Republicans: The Party of No

Here's a great new ad from the DNC:

America won't take NO for an answer

A new ad from Americans United for Change:

President Obama's weekly address

President Obama makes key announcements regarding the safety of our nation's food.

Governor Beshear's weekly address

Editorial comic round-up

(Click for larger image)

Earmark Hypocrisy

NBC News calls out Mitch McConnell over his galling hypocrisy:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called [yesterday's $410 billion omnibus] spending bill a "missed opportunity" and urged President Obama to veto it. "The bill costs far too much for a government that should be watching every dime," he said...

But as it turns out, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense... McConnell had 36 [solo earmarks] totaling $51 million.

In case you're wondering how that $51 million compares with the rest of the Senate, here's some perspective -- only eight Senators exceeded that figure and five of them were Republicans.

How utterly shameless.

Damon Thayer owes us an explanation

The Herald-Leader has the details:

At the [payday lender] industry's request, the Senate State and Local Government Committee last week approved a 10-year moratorium on new payday loan outlets opening in Kentucky.

The effect would be to protect the companies that are already here from new competition and preserve their market shares.

...Observers of the State and Local Government Committee said it was obvious that chairman Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, and the bill's sponsor, Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow, didn't understand anything about the 10-year moratorium other than that the industry wanted it.

Governor Beshear coming to NKY

According to the Enquirer, Governor Steve Beshear will be coming to NKY on March 26:

The 30-minute program, A Conversation with the Governor, begins at 7 p.m. in the NKU Student Union Ballroom. Beshear, a Democrat elected in 2007, will be interviewed by former "Comment on Kentucky" host Al Smith, who will also moderate a question-and-answer session with a panel of citizens. The audience will also be permitted to question the governor.

Please attend if you can. Here's a map to Northern Kentucky University:


View Larger Map

Jim Bunning is losing it

The Enquirer points out yet more exemplary behavior from Kentucky's embarrassment of a Senator, Jim Bunning:

Kentucky U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning has conducted a statewide poll on his re-election prospects, but he wasn't willing this morning to discuss the results with reporters.

During a conference call with Kentucky reporters, Bunning was asked about the results.

"It's none of your (expletive) business," Bunning said.

Asked if that means the media can infer the results were unfavorable, Bunning said reporters can take from his comments "any damn thing you choose."

No wonder Time named Bunning one of the five worst Senators.

The Party of 'No'

Who’s Filibustering Now?

Today's New York Times calls out Senate Republicans over their hypocrisy:

When President George W. Bush was stocking the federal courts with conservative ideologues, Senate Republicans threatened to change the august body’s rules if any Democrat dared to try to block his choices, even the least-competent, most-radical ones. Filibustering the president’s nominees, they said, would be an outrageous abuse of senatorial privilege.

Now that President Obama is preparing to fill vacancies on federal benches, Republican senators have fired off an intemperate letter threatening — you got it — filibusters if Mr. Obama’s nominees are not to their liking. Mr. Obama should not let the Republicans’ saber-rattling interfere with how he chooses judges.

...A filibuster can be an appropriate response when it is clear that a particular nominee would be a dangerous addition to the bench. The Republicans’ rush to threaten filibusters in the absence of actual nominees is not only at odds with their previous views on the subject, but shows a lack of respect for the confirmation process.

GOP love means saying you're sorry

Be sure to check out today's column by Leonard Pitts Jr:

People keep asking, in the wake of two consecutive shellackings at the voting booth, what is wrong with the GOP. They have wrung their hands and hung their heads over Steele's goofy attempts ("off the hook") to bring street cred to the party of big business and social conservatism, over the way Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal seemed to channel Howdy Doody in delivering the GOP response to President Barack Obama's speech before a joint session of Congress.

But if you want to know what ails the elephant, you need look no further than the sight of its putative leader groveling before the throne of a radio talk show host and declaring his "enormous respect" for this "ugly" and "incendiary" fellow.

It must be crowded at the base of the throne. Steele is only the latest GOP official (Georgia Rep. Phil Gingrey and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford preceded him) to find himself offering clarifications and apologies for making the mistake of speaking honestly about the party's bloviator in chief. It's a sign that, for all the talk about rebranding and reinventing, the party remains too reluctant and regressive to match its words with actions. And that bodes ill for both it and the nation.

GOP tussles over leadership, party's future path

The Associated Press highlights the sorry state of the Republican party:

The [Rush Limbaugh] skirmish has cast a bright light on the GOP and its search for leadership in the Obama era. But the personality-driven diversion has deflected attention from the deeper problems the party faces.

Simply put, the public isn't buying what Republicans are selling right now.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll this past week put Republican popularity at near historic lows. Just 26 percent in the survey viewed the party positively, compared with 68 percent for President Barack Obama, despite the economic crisis and sharp GOP criticism of his $3.8 trillion budget plan.

Miracles Take Time

Today's column by Bob Herbert is good:

Barack Obama has only been president for six weeks, but there is a surprising amount of ire, anger, even outrage that he hasn’t yet solved the problems of the U.S. economy, that he hasn’t saved us from the increasingly tragic devastation wrought by the clownish ideas of right-wing conservatives and the many long years of radical Republican misrule.

...I don’t know whether President Obama’s ultimate rescue plan for the financial industry will work. He is a thoughtful man running a thoughtful administration and the plan, a staggeringly complex and difficult work in progress, hasn’t been revealed yet.

What I know is that the renegade clowns who ruined this economy, the Republican right in alliance with big business and a fair number of feckless Democrats — all working in opposition to the interests of working families — have no credible basis for waging war against serious efforts to get us out of their mess.

President Obama's weekly address

President Obama capped off a busy week in Washington remarking on new lending guidelines aimed at lowering mortgage payments; an initiative to generate funds for small business and college loans; the release of his administration's first budget which includes $2T in deficit reduction; and the start of long overdue health care reform.

Governor Beshear on the stimulus package

Republicans Look for a Reliever in Kentucky

Today's New York Times covers our own Jim Bunning:

Mr. Bunning is known on Capitol Hill for gruffly blowing past reporters and colleagues in hallways and for cranky outbursts at his staff. “He is perceived as being out-of-touch, hot-headed and generally counterproductive,” said Phil Musser, a Republican consultant and former official in the Bush administration.

As a native Kentuckian and sports legend in a solidly Republican state, Mr. Bunning long enjoyed a solid base of support. But his penchant for self-immolation nearly cost him re-election in 2004 — and set off a swirl of questions about his mental fitness.

...“The question is whether it’s time for him to hang up his cleats,” Mr. Musser said. “My basic contention is it probably is.”

PolitiFact: Mitch lied

Mitch McConnell made this claim at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference:

"In just one month, the Democrats have spent more than President Bush spent in seven years on the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan and Hurricane Katrina combined."

Well, the fact-checkers at PolitiFact looked into that, and here's what they found:

This is quickly becoming a Republican talking point. Rep. John Boehner, the House Minority Leader, used the same line in a statement on March. 4.

...we take issue with McConnell's calculations of Democratic spending and Bush's war spending.

...McConnell's claim stands up only if you treat tax cuts as spending, accept an incomplete estimate of the wars' costs and group several years of planned spending into a one-month spending spree by the Democrats -- but not for Bush. That is, it doesn't stand up at all. We find this claim False.

Rush on the comics page

McConnell, Bunning approval ratings

The latest Survey USA poll is out, and it shows that both of Kentucky's Senators are unpopular:

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Mitch McConnell is doing as United States Senator?

Approve 46%
Disapprove 49%
Not Sure 5%

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Jim Bunning is doing as United States Senator?

Approve 41%
Disapprove 44%
Not Sure 14%

Please note that this data was obtained February 20 through February 22 -- before the story about Bunning's asinine prediction of Justice Ginsburg's death hit the newspapers. His numbers are surely worse now.

DCCC Launches 'ImSorryRush.com' Website

Today the DCCC issued this press release:

The DCCC announced today the launch of ImSorryRush.com, a new website spoofing Republicans who criticize Rush Limbaugh and then turn around and quickly beg his forgiveness. The site allows users to customize their own Limbaugh apology letters modeled after the recent Republican mea-culpas to Rush.

"If you're one of the growing number of Republicans who need a quick and easy way to apologize to Rush Limbaugh after you cross him, look no further than ImSorryRush.com," said Jennifer Crider, Communications Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Even if you're not a Republican, this new site gives you the opportunity to apologize to Leader Rush just like the elected Republicans did."

The DCCC's new Rush Limbaugh apology tool can be found at www.ImSorryRush.com.

The Republican Party's REAL Leader

The Rush-publican Party

It's becoming more and more obvious that Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party. Politico has the story:

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says he has reached out to Rush Limbaugh to tell him he meant no offense when he referred to the popular conservative radio host as an “entertainer” whose show can be “incendiary.”

“My intent was not to go after Rush – I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh,” Steele said in a telephone interview. “I was maybe a little bit inarticulate... There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership.”

...Asked if he planned to apologize, Steele said: “I wasn’t trying to offend anybody. So, yeah, if he’s offended, I’d say: Look, I’m not in the business of hurting people’s feelings here... My job is to try to bring us all together.”

It's pathetic that nobody in the Republican Party has the nerve to stand up to Rush and state that their party doesn't hope for failure.

Editorial comic round-up