Posts by TeddySanFran

TeddySanFran is a blogger for FireDogLake

MSNBC Replaces Tucker Carlson with Karl Rove's Dancing Partner David Gregory
Posted by TeddySanFran , Firedoglake on March 11, 2008 at 3:10 PM.

Really, MSNBC? Really?

David Gregory is the journalist you've chosen to take over Tucker Carlson's slot at the network, just as Karl Rove's role in the Don Siegelman prosecution comes clear for America? Just as the House of Representatives moves to sue Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten for civil contempt in the USAttorney firings? Just as Karl Rove joins the Double Talk Express as an adviser?

Yup.

MSNBC said this afternoon that it was canceling "Tucker," the low-rated, early evening program led by Tucker Carlson, and replacing it with a new, politically oriented program featuring David Gregory, chief White House correspondent of NBC News.

I suppose we have to be happy with three steps forward (firing Tucker) and two steps back (replacing him with David Gregory). Oh, wait --

MSNBC also said that Andrea Mitchell, a veteran political correspondent for both the cable channel and NBC News, would lead another new campaign-oriented program, this one to be shown beginning at 1 p.m. weekdays.

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The Major Stains on McCain's Campaign
Posted by TeddySanFran , Firedoglake on March 3, 2008 at 6:48 AM.

As the Double Talk Express careens along, wheels still flying off the bus on the eleventh day, some of the ick is sticking to McCain's fatally flawed campaign for the Presidency. But this remains a critical time for Democrats: we must accelerate our efforts to brand McCain with the six Ells that stain his campaign. These are: Lobbyists, Lawbreaking, the Lord's Messenger Hagee, Less Jobs, and his Love of War. Oh, also -- his Love of Bush.

Lobbyists: Forget Vicki Iseman. America apparently has. There's a bigger story here -- a story Americans fed up with a bought-and-paid-for DeeCee culture understand. McCain is owned by lobbyists. They run his campaign, they run his his Senate office, they make business calls using the phone on the campaign bus. Media Matters:

Lobbyist fundraisers. Two of the co-chairmen of McCain's national finance committee were registered to lobby Congress as of year-end 2007 (the latest disclosure data available), and a third previously lobbied Congress. Another co-chairmen is one of Florida's "most powerful lobbyists" (St. Petersburg Times, 10/1/06). McCain's "top fundraising official" (Washington Post, 2/22/08), one of the two co-chairmen registered to lobby as of year-end 2007, is the founder of a prominent Washington lobbying firm that has made "millions inserting earmarks into spending bills" (Politico, 2/8/08).

McCain's reliance on lobbyist fundraisers, which according to Public Citizen includes 59 former and current lobbyist bundlers, follows a multi-year effort by McCain of "reaching out to K Street to strengthen his national fundraising network" (The Hill, 3/8/06).

• Lobbyist advisers and staffers. At least 24 McCain staffers or advisers were either registered to lobby Congress (as of year-end 2007) or were previously lobbyists, according to a Media Mattersreview. Former and current federally registered lobbyists include McCain's campaign manager, deputy campaign manager, chief political adviser, senior policy adviser, more than half a dozen economic policy advisers, and numerous national and state co-chairmen.

A June 2007 Huffington Post report by Tom Edsall on lobbyist staff and advisers to McCain found that while "lobbyists are playing key roles in both Democratic and Republican bids ... all the campaigns pale in comparison to McCain's, whose rhetoric stands in sharp contrast to his conduct."

So when it comes to lobbyists, America needs a constant reminder of the rebranded Straight Talk Express.

(click for larger version)

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Will Edwards Endorse?
Posted by TeddySanFran , Firedoglake on February 11, 2008 at 4:32 AM.

Apparently our two remaining Democratic candidates for President value an endorsement from John Edwards, and maybe sooner rather than later. Both are making visits to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Senator Clinton made the first trip:

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton flew to North Carolina on Thursday to meet with former Sen. John Edwards, a Clinton official said Sunday, part of a lobbying campaign expected by both Democratic candidates. Details of the meeting were spare. But a Clinton official said the private session took place despite Edwards' decision not to endorse either her or Sen. Barack Obama before the Super Tuesday races.

FDLers commented last night while watching Senators Clinton and Obama at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in Richmond that they heard echoes of John Edwards in both excellent speeches. And Clinton spoke favorably of John Edwards in Maine yesterday:

Yesterday in Maine, during the question and answer session, a former Edwards supporter said she's supporting Clinton now because she's "a fighter" hopes Clinton will support some of Edwards' policies. Clinton said she'd ask Edwards to be part of "anything I do."

"Let me thank you for your support and let me also compliment Sen. Edwards, who is a fighter and really made poverty an issue that our country has to deal with again," Clinton said. "We haven't had a serious conversation about it in quite some time.... There is a lot that John and I have in common, and I hope he'll fight. And I intend to ask John Edwards to be part of anything I do ... when I'm in the White House."

I wonder if "part of anything I do" came up during the discussions on Thursday in Chapel Hill? More indications that Edwards may be close to an endorsement:

The Thursday meeting, which took place at Edwards' home in Chapel Hill, was followed by a Saturday night session during which the former North Carolina senator and several longtime advisers discussed many issues, including which candidate he should endorse.

At a Chapel Hill party yesterday for Edwards supporters, he gave no indication who he might endorse, or whether that endorsement is imminent. Some advisers are encouraging him not to endorse.

Powerful House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, the senior Democrat from Wisconsin and one of John Edwards' premier Capitol Hill supporters, declared on Thursday:

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Maria Shriver Makes Surprise Obama Endorsement
Posted by TeddySanFran , Firedoglake on February 3, 2008 at 9:55 PM.

I haven't made up my mind between the remaining Democrats on the field, but this speech from Maria Shriver's surprise appearance at UCLA today endorsing Barack Obama was too good to pass up tonight (h/t commenter noonan).

There's something very inspiring and empowering when California's First Lady gets up on stage and talks about the moment everyone in the auditorium is having, not knowing whether they would be there 24 hours ago or 2 hours ago. She tells everyone about getting up herself this morning not knowing she would be there today. She asks everyone there to examine this moment and have a conversation -- not with anybody else (rather pointedly) but "with your own heart."

And she asks everyone in the audience to try on her latest inspiration, words of "First Lady of the the World" Eleanor Roosevelt that Maria has above her computer at home:

Do one thing every day that scares you.

I'm not sure Maria Shriver was scared to do this one thing today, but I admire mightily her having done it. And I gotta give Alma Rangel mad props as well. Way to break into the noisy Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Tuesday newscycle, ladies.

Are there other public families whose endorsements aren't aligned? Share 'em in the comments if you've got 'em.

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