Buck Naked Politics

Progressives Ponder Obama's Nobel Prize Win for Not Being George W. Bush; Others Enjoy Wingnut-Baiting Bonus

by Damozel | Neener neener! Ha ha ha! (as Big Tent Democrat is wont to say, speaking for me only). 

Many progressives are disturbed by the award.  Tas of Comments from Left Field calls it ridiculous.  .

If the “feeling” about Obama is the “game changer”, then why not award the Nobel Peace Prize to the entire American electorate?  After all, we’re the ones whose feelings have changed — as shown by us collectively doing as much as possible to remove Republicans from power in Washington and treat the world better....

This prize should only be awarded to those who, as can be shown empirically, brought more peace to the world.  To throw the prize at Obama — or anybody else — who simply causes the Nobel committee to “feel good” only cheapens the award.

Maria of Crooked Timber wrote the post to which Tas is reacting.

[T]his isn’t about domestic politics, or about what he’s done yet. President Obama has changed how the world feels about America. He’s lifted the planet’s mood. This guy is global Prozac.

Walter Cronkite

by Bill Kavanagh: The death of Walter Cronkite at 92 leaves Americans contemplating the changes in our media since his heyday as the preeminent television news anchor.  It is hard to imagine that we once looked to a network news broadcast as a digest of the nation’s daily experience, that one voice was ever regarded as, “the way it is.”  We have so many ways to get our news now, but none are so central to the American experience as the CBS Evening News was in Cronkite’s day.

Deeds' Amazing Win in Virginia Primary; McAuliffe Resoundingly Defeated

by Maggie Temple-Smith  | R. Creigh Deeds -- a "quiet, unpolished lawmaker" and conservative Dem from a rural area -- coming from behind and without his opponents' advantages in funding, won in every region of the state. (WaPo)

His victory was so dominant that he captured 10 of the state's 11 congressional districts, including the one held by Moran's brother, U.S. Rep. James P. Moran Jr. All three campaigns and state political experts had agreed that Deeds was coming on strong in the final days of the race, but no one expected him -- or the other candidates -- to come close to winning the 50 percent of the vote that he captured.

At Balloon Juice, John Cole explains why Democrats should probably think that frontrunner  Terry McAuliffe's defeat at Deeds' hand  is a good thing.  "My strong sense is that quite a few people voted against McAullife," says OTB's James Joyner.  "It...doesn’t help to have a grating personality."  Or to have Bill Clinton campaigning for you, apparently.

The Washington Way: Howard Dean Feels Snubbed?

by Deb Cupples | Thursday, Politico reported:

"The conspicuous absence of Howard Dean from Thursday’s press conference announcing Tim Kaine’s appointment as Democratic National Committee chairman was no accident, according to Dean loyalists.

"Rather, they say, it was a reflection of the lack of respect accorded to the outgoing party chairman by the Obama team. 

The Prevailing of Joe Lieberman

by Damozel | As I wrote earlier today, I wasn't really expecting a different outcome, much as I don't want Lieberman remaining in charge of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.  Frankly, any excuse to relieve him of his gavel would have been good enough for me.  But....politics as usual, as expected.

Others seem to have been genuinely shaken, judging by Jane Hamsher's response.

This is about telling you that you mean nothing.   That democracy is a nice word, but it should never threaten the entitlement of the most exclusive club in the world.

No matter what Joe Lieberman does, the people who are protecting him hate you much more than they hate him.

Colbert Joins Other Prominent Republicans in Endorsing Obama

Heh.

AP's Misleading Article about Florida's & Michigan's Convention Votes

by Deb Cupples |  I'm increasingly troubled by many media outlets' failure to thoroughly and accurately report on issues.

One would expect a reputable journalistic outfit like the Associated Press to get the facts right and report them in a way that gives readers an accurate view (or at least doesn't fuel mis-perceptions) -- especially since "nuance" has become the word of the year.

A recent AP article further erodes that expectation for me.  Below are the first two paragraphs of that article: 

Obama Wants to Restore Florida's and Michigan's Votes, NY Times Fails to Grasp the Situation Again

by Deb Cupples |   I don't know whether some journalists lack analytical skills, embrace laziness, or just plain intend to mislead their readers.  At yesterday's New York Times blog (The Caucus), Katherine Q. Seelye wrote the following:

DNC Officials: Attention, Crybabies! We Grow Weary of Your Intransigence! Give Your Money to Obama Now!

by Damozel | First, this disclosure:  I was a Hillary supporter, and now I support Obama.  In my opinion, that's what all Democrats should do. For me, a McCain presidency ain't an option. I'm even going to donate money to Obama's campaign as soon as that debt of HRC's is retired.. I know for a fact he's going to need money.

But the name 'Democratic National Committee' is a hissing and a byword here in Florida and I am not even close to being over their shenanigans during the primaries.  So even though I agree in principle with the 'party officials' who wrote this letter, I would submit that Donald Fowler ('DNC member-at-large...who was one of Hillary's most prominent supporters') and 'Alice Germond, the Secretary of the DNC) struck just exactly the wrong note (see TPM). Lambert at Corrente has a different shorter version of their email. 

U-N-I-T-Y! A Bloggerama

By Damozel | At The Moderate Voice, Joe Gandelman speculates that the wounds might be too profound to heal.  I personally doubt it.  A month in political time is equal to a year in real time.  And as the subsequent post shows, many Democrats were moved by the event and the speeches.  I can't see the sour feeling of some of the insiders having much of an effect on the average voter. 

Marc Ambinder likewise wonders whether unhappy Clinton donors can be brought into the circle and made to join in the unity boogie.  See above.

At The Reaction, Michael Stickings is optimistic that at last we're on our way:

The Long-Awaited Unity Event: 'We Are One Party'

By Damozel | Hillary pulled out all the stops for Obama at their first 'Unity' rally.  Obama said, 'She rocks.'  Well, for once in quite awhile, he's actually right.  Anyway, I'm glad they're going to pull together.  I'm not so sure they'll be able to pull the divided party together, but here's hoping they can:

A Note to Hillary Supporters: Obama vs. Nobama --- How Punishing Him May Punish Hillary

by Damozel | First, let me emphasize that I am speaking only for myself and not for any of my cobloggers.

I'll say it again (and again and again):  I wanted Hillary to be the Democratic nominee and I certainly haven't cared for the way Obama's campaign and supporters have comported themselves during the primaries, but I am not going to cut off the nation's nose to spite David Axelrod's face.  Obama's political goals are more or less consistent with mine and that matters more to me at the end of the day than whether or not he's my ideal candidate.

So I am astonished that some Hillary supporters think it's more important to punish Obama than it is to repudiate the Bush administration and the GOP. Eight years, people!  Look at what eight years of GOP dominance has done to our standing in the world and our sense of ourselves as a people.  A few months of intraparty squabbling and Obama's very special brand of 'new politics' doesn't begin to compare.

Campaign Official Thinks Obama Got "F*cked" in Florida?

by Deb Cupples |   Apparently, the concept of unity has filled Florida's air like misquotes swarming around swamplands after dusk. Today, the Miami Herald blog Naked Politics reports:

"So much for party unity: As Florida Dems prepare for Saturday's Jefferson-Jackson dinner aimed at bringing the party 'together once and for all,' a spat over the Obama campaign's decision to replace some already-designated Florida delegates with Obama backers has intensified.

"And how. DNC member Jon Ausma [sic] late Thursday e-mailed Dems (and reporters) choice sections of what he says were e-mails from Obama's Florida finance chair Kirk Wagar -- in which Wagar curses Ausman out and criticizes Sen. Bill Nelson and party director Leonard Joseph.

"The highlights: 'You (Jon Ausman) f&^%ed us. We are dealing with it. You need to accept the fact that you f*&^ed us.'"

 

 

Further Proof that the Obama Campaign Needs to Grow Up

by Damozel | Obama has a lot of passionate people working for his campaign. That's a good thing.  But now that we're past the intrafamily infighting, it's time for them to start comporting themselves as reasonable adults. 

Here in Florida, where a lot of Democrats would have preferred Hillary, what's desperately needed is some Obama supporters willing to reach kindly, warmly, and compassionately across the great divide to pull those people across into Obamaland.  Some of them are lost forever.  Some aren't going to go willingly.  But some probably will eventually agree that the issues are more important than one's preferences for a candidate and agree to join hands --- if the surly whippersnappers and angry Hillary-baiters who all too often are held out as Obama's representatives would just learn some basic diplomacy or even just some basic good manners.

For example, consider this exchange between superdelegate Jon Ausman and Obama Florida finance chair Kirk Wagar.

Abramoff Told the Truth about Heavy White House Access: Why it Matters

by Deb Cupples |  Former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff has been rather cooperative with federal investigators, even after he relocated to a federal prison in November 2006. 

In September 2006, the House Oversight Committee released a report which concluded that Abramoff and his ex-associates at Greenberg Traurig (a huge law firm involved in high-stakes lobbying) had had 485 lobbying contacts with White House officials from January 2001 - March 2004. [Documents and summaries are here.]

White house spokesperson Dana Perino flatly denied the Oversight Committee's conclusions, stating that the law firm's billing records and emails were "widely viewed as fraudulent." 

Given his penchant for diligence and fair play, Oversight Committee chairman Henry Waxman decided to investigate his committee's own investigation. The Committee just released a report on that investigation.

Hillary Endorses Obama: Public Mauling Might Cease Soon

by Deb Cupples |   Today in Washington, Hillary Clinton (once again) voiced support for her former opponent.  Her website is already calling for people to "sign up now" and "support Barack Obama."  Some may disagree with her, but she has said for months that she thinks Obama would be better than McCain.

I am not trying to persuade anyone to agree with Hillary.  I honestly don't yet know how I will vote in November.  Fortunately, I have about five months to ponder and decide.

Unfortunately, I've seen comments around the blogosphere over the last few days expressing anger at Hillary because of her stated support for Obama.

It's hard to tell from watching how some media outlets and DNC "leaders" treated (and still are treating) her, but Hillary Clinton is made of the same flesh and blood that we all are -- and she has faced considerable brutality.

Starting in early March, certain pundits and DNC "leaders" commanded Hillary to drop out of the race.  Instead, she exercised her right to hold her head high and carry on -- and she racked up impressive victories along the way.  This angered some members of the Thunderdome-ish crowd, whose sentiments steadily grew even more toxic.

The Angry Ones cranked up their vituperations to the verbal equivalent of a mob taking her to the town square, tearing off her frock, and taking turns lacerating her flesh with a raw hide whip.

What About Getting Over it, Moving On and Looking Forward?

by Deb Cupples |   I was in Florida during Recount 2000, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided to stop the vote counting and hand the White House to George Bush.  The "victors" shouted derisively at any Al Gore supporter who dared gripe or vent or publicly question what had happened.  "Move on," they bellowed, sounding like Sgt. Carter from Gomer Pyle.  "Get over it, and look forward."

Even after Bush began occupying the White House, the "victors" refused, for quite a while, to actually "move on" themselves.  Instead, they kept insulting Gore and Lieberman.  Some clever person renamed the then-defunct ticket "Sore Loserman."  They snidely dismissed Democrats as whiners.  They even kept right on griping about Bill Clinton, though he had already sent the U-Haul to the family home and left the White House -- that and he could not legally become president again.

While right-wing pundits and Bush supporters continued to shriek like peacocks about the election they had already "won," George Bush stood at various podiums talking about unifying the nation.

I'm reminded of all this by an article I read today, which states:

Helpful Hint to Obama Campaign Representatives: Stop Confusing Voters

by Deb Cupples |   Being consistent purely for its own sake can be a bad thing.  We learned this from watching President Bush, with great regularity, stubbornly refused to alter his positions even after overwhelming evidence showed his earlier stances to be flat wrong. 

On the other hand, sometimes consistency is a good thing -- especially for a political campaign.  I bring this up, because of two articles I recently read.  Today's Washington Post quotes Sen. Obama as saying the following:

"We're going to try to reach out to all her [Hillary's] supporters and tell them that we want to unify the party.... I understood that they were as inspired by her candidacy as some of my supporters are inspired by mine. They're not alone in drawing inspiration from her campaign. My own daughters now take the possibility of a woman being president for granted."

That's a gracious message: a positive step toward party unity.  But it's nearly the opposite of a message that came from an Obama campaign representative a few days ago, according to The Politico:

DNC Devises Plan to Stand Firm Against Lobbyists -- While Taking their Money

by Deb Cupples |  The Democratic National Committee (DNC) needs oodles of cash to pay for TV ads, to help Barack Obama beat John McCain in November.  Now, more than ever, the DNC needs a First Rate Fund Raising Plan. 

This was made necessary after millions of ordinary democrats closed their wallets to the DNC.  Apparently, they're still upset because DNC leaders disenfranchised Florida -- that and many ordinary Dems simply don't grasp the Hyper-Sophisticated Math that DNC leaders relied upon when tallying the one half of Michigan's primary votes that the DNC was willing to count.

Whatever one does, some out there just has to gripe.  If it's not voting rights, its shoddy health care or costly wars.  You can't please everyone.

Back to my point: the DNC needs a First Rate Fund Raising Plan (FRFRP, correctly pronounced Furfurp), and it has come up with one.  McClatchy's blog reports:

Hillary to End Bid and Promote Unity

by Deb Cupples |  Hillary Clinton -- the first viable woman candidate for the U.S. presidency -- has decided to end her candidacy and cede the nomination to Barack Obama. (ABC) 

On Tuesday, super-delegates committed to Obama, helping him reach the magic delegate number  before full election results were  reported for the Montana and South Dakota primaries.   Obama is the first black man to become a major party's nominee for the presidency.

Though she didn't win the majority of delegates, Hillary got more votes than any other Democratic primary candidate in our nation's history.  In short, the Democratic presidential race made history on several fronts.  Yesterday, Sen. Clinton's campaign released the following statement:

"Senator Clinton will be hosting an event in Washington, DC to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity. This event will be held on Saturday to accommodate more of Senator Clinton's supporters who want to attend."

Some in the media slammed Sen. Clinton on Tuesday for not ending the race that night, though it was obvious that Obama had the delegates to become the nominee.  Apparently, waiting a day or two was just too odious for some people to even think about.

Sen. Clinton is exiting the at-times-vicious race with style, grace and an interest in promoting Democratic party unity that some DNC leaders seemed dead-set on not earning.  (Memeorandum has commentary.)