Steven P. BarrettNYTs & BOSTON GLOBE DON'T GET IT: It's Not Kumbaya -- It's Politics!
August 30th 2008 17:36
By Steven Barrett
Predictable. Ever predictable. Sigh, perhaps boring, too.
The double-pip'd organ representing the northeastern liberal press, i.e. the New York Times and its little sister, the Boston Globe, is already wheezing.
All the while marvelling at McCain's ability to continue playing his cherished role as the guy who can repeatedly get away with breaking the family's china and smudging its furniture, they nevertheless couldn't resist taking shots at the Palin choice due to her relative inexperience compared to their already picked and heavily bet upon horse: The Big O.
Get ready for "Seabiscut: A (Political) Sequel."
Here's what's funny to me: The very same people whom these papers wrung their hands over and over about decades ago are now their "reliable sources" for insider knowledge to provide some "background" no less. Let's start out with the Times' "News Analysis: Choice of Palin Is a Bold Move by McCain, With Risks" appearing in this morning's edition and written by Peter Baker: Really Long Link
Obama's already demonstrated at times that he's not ready just by opening his mouth and offering flowering phrases. He's talked tough about the Taliban. Wow, that's tough taking on an enemy everybody loves to hate. The black/white issues are easy enough, but he's yet to give us any indication of how he'll really deal with Iran, especially since his VP choice Joe Biden's got a lot of 'splaining to do" about his lobbying connections with Teheran.
It's not the black and white stuff that'll get you: it's the gray areas that require a lot more gray matter inside your head than outside. Besides, any woman with such (admittedly) "little" experience who could take on the corruption of the Kremlin-like political apparatus of Alaskan politics, including the big players in her own party -- and succeed at it -- should have little to worry about a bunch of medieval mullahs and their mousy mouthpiece.
If (God forbid anything should happen to McCain before his first term ends on Jan 20th, 2013) Sarah Palin will do just fine with the Mullahs and Putin. She's already had her run-ins with our Putins! As for the mullahs, she might even negotiate, but only after laying down our terms first. Would Biden, whose ties to Teheran have already compromised him, be able to shove first to demonstrate that the mullahs aren't going to humiliate us, be able to use as much leverage?
To paraphrase the sentiments from a very dismayed Luthern pastor/delegate for Hillary (from Colorado, no less) -- we're not talking about Kumbaya -- this is politics.
In other words, time to grow up.
Boston Globe, columnist A question of judgment
Joan Vennochi, a Boston Globe columnist (whose columns, especially on local/regional politics, I generally enjoy reading) weighed in on Sarah Palin's presumptive nomination:
Really Long Link
This is pretty rough. Is McCain being any more cynical than any other politician? Again, it's not Kumbaya, it's politics! Okay, it's alright to go soft on Obama for what he's already given us (thin gruel) to judge his capabilities for Commander-In-Chief due to the Zeitgeist and all the fuzzy-warm Oprahesque mentality fueling Obama's campaign -- but now Mitt Romney gets a pass -- Mitt Romney, of all people -- and Palin gets the poker?
Of the four worst governors I've ever experienced living under in Massachsetts, they were Bill Weld, Paul Cellucci, Jane (not-so) Swift, and Mitt Romney: all of whom deserving a hall of their own in the Baystate's own hall of shame for the most cynical politicians in the Commonwealth's long history. That takes some doing, especially since they all succeeded one another after Michael Dukakis retired in January, 1991.
It was under their watch that the Big Dig costs ballooned, especially thanks to New Gingrich's dumb move to force Massachusetts to shoulder most of the costs. Gingrich apparently forgot that states haven't printed their own money since the creation of the Constitution. Small details make for big messes. In doing so, Gingrich, who was too busy trying to make a name for himself by "bagging" Bill Clinton, he eventually made his own party look like the biggest porkers in U.S. history -- which on that project, they sure as hell were. As for bridges elsewhere, what happened in Minnesota recently could've happened out here in WMass. I know this because I drove over a bridge to Northampton day and day out and could look down and see the water below.
But to feel sorry for Gov. Teeth and happy hogwash, c'mon Joan. I hope it doesn't come to this, but it'd take a personal tragedy for Romney before I'll ever feel sorry for this carpet-bagging, double-talking, back-stabbing, flip-flopping capo-di-cappo of cynicsm. He sucked up to McCain in the worst way after ripping into the man last winter and lately he couldn't sing enough praises and paeans to him? No Kumbaya for Mitt. Just politics.
Excuse me? Geraldine Ferraro was thrust into the spotlight, given the nod and naturally, she said "yes" like anybody with a pulse and working brainwave would. And when she did, she probably didn't have a clue to what kind of firestorm would erupt due to her husband's business dealings and the slam-job that'd be done to her due to her Italian American ancestry. Remember the Mob whispers and allegations? Had Mondale vetted her out better she might not have gotten the nod, but her life would've also been spared so much misery.
The questions of judgment shouldn't have rested on Reagan, or Bush -- they were already the incumbents -- and Reagan's popularity was rising with the public's increased confidence in his ability to lead, age and occasional weariness notwithstanding. It was Walter Mondale's judgment that should've been questioned. He's the one who couldn't wait to put a woman on the ticket so fast that he rushed ahead and picked somebody who was just totally unprepared at that time to run. Had she any adequate foreknowledge of what Mondale was planning, doesn't it ever dawn on anybody that Ferraro would've gotten her family's finances out of the way?
Ms. Vennochi correctly described Mitt Romney "as a man of grand ambition." I would've added the word "cynical" before "man."
Predictable. Ever predictable. Sigh, perhaps boring, too.
The double-pip'd organ representing the northeastern liberal press, i.e. the New York Times and its little sister, the Boston Globe, is already wheezing.
All the while marvelling at McCain's ability to continue playing his cherished role as the guy who can repeatedly get away with breaking the family's china and smudging its furniture, they nevertheless couldn't resist taking shots at the Palin choice due to her relative inexperience compared to their already picked and heavily bet upon horse: The Big O.
Get ready for "Seabiscut: A (Political) Sequel."
Here's what's funny to me: The very same people whom these papers wrung their hands over and over about decades ago are now their "reliable sources" for insider knowledge to provide some "background" no less. Let's start out with the Times' "News Analysis: Choice of Palin Is a Bold Move by McCain, With Risks" appearing in this morning's edition and written by Peter Baker: Really Long Link
“Here’s what I’m worried about,” said Ed Rogers, a Republican lobbyist and former aide to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. “McCain had to protect his reputation as an opponent of status quo Washington. He had to pick someone with the shortest Washington résumé. He did that. He picked someone the right wing is going to be happy about. But it’s a gamble.”
“The question is,” Mr. Rogers continued, “what does it do to the argument that Obama’s not ready?”
“The question is,” Mr. Rogers continued, “what does it do to the argument that Obama’s not ready?”
Obama's already demonstrated at times that he's not ready just by opening his mouth and offering flowering phrases. He's talked tough about the Taliban. Wow, that's tough taking on an enemy everybody loves to hate. The black/white issues are easy enough, but he's yet to give us any indication of how he'll really deal with Iran, especially since his VP choice Joe Biden's got a lot of 'splaining to do" about his lobbying connections with Teheran.
It's not the black and white stuff that'll get you: it's the gray areas that require a lot more gray matter inside your head than outside. Besides, any woman with such (admittedly) "little" experience who could take on the corruption of the Kremlin-like political apparatus of Alaskan politics, including the big players in her own party -- and succeed at it -- should have little to worry about a bunch of medieval mullahs and their mousy mouthpiece.
If (God forbid anything should happen to McCain before his first term ends on Jan 20th, 2013) Sarah Palin will do just fine with the Mullahs and Putin. She's already had her run-ins with our Putins! As for the mullahs, she might even negotiate, but only after laying down our terms first. Would Biden, whose ties to Teheran have already compromised him, be able to shove first to demonstrate that the mullahs aren't going to humiliate us, be able to use as much leverage?
To paraphrase the sentiments from a very dismayed Luthern pastor/delegate for Hillary (from Colorado, no less) -- we're not talking about Kumbaya -- this is politics.
In other words, time to grow up.
Boston Globe, columnist A question of judgment
Joan Vennochi, a Boston Globe columnist (whose columns, especially on local/regional politics, I generally enjoy reading) weighed in on Sarah Palin's presumptive nomination:
Really Long Link
DENVER—What do you think Mitt Romney is thinking right now — that he can't believe that John McCain is even more cynical and manipulative than he is?
Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, is McCain's surprise pick for vice president. Choosing her is an obvious effort to attract disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters. But it is so gimmicky that it stands to insult the very women it is aimed at attracting.
McCain is treating women voters as if all they care about is gender. Views and experience don't matter.
Elected in 2006, Palin is governor of a state with a population that is one-tenth the size of Massachusetts. Her prior political service was as mayor of a town of 5,700 people.
What about Alaska is at all similar to the rest of the country? The Iditarod is fun, but it's not the answer to the country's infrastructure problems.
Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, is McCain's surprise pick for vice president. Choosing her is an obvious effort to attract disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters. But it is so gimmicky that it stands to insult the very women it is aimed at attracting.
McCain is treating women voters as if all they care about is gender. Views and experience don't matter.
Elected in 2006, Palin is governor of a state with a population that is one-tenth the size of Massachusetts. Her prior political service was as mayor of a town of 5,700 people.
What about Alaska is at all similar to the rest of the country? The Iditarod is fun, but it's not the answer to the country's infrastructure problems.
This is pretty rough. Is McCain being any more cynical than any other politician? Again, it's not Kumbaya, it's politics! Okay, it's alright to go soft on Obama for what he's already given us (thin gruel) to judge his capabilities for Commander-In-Chief due to the Zeitgeist and all the fuzzy-warm Oprahesque mentality fueling Obama's campaign -- but now Mitt Romney gets a pass -- Mitt Romney, of all people -- and Palin gets the poker?
Of the four worst governors I've ever experienced living under in Massachsetts, they were Bill Weld, Paul Cellucci, Jane (not-so) Swift, and Mitt Romney: all of whom deserving a hall of their own in the Baystate's own hall of shame for the most cynical politicians in the Commonwealth's long history. That takes some doing, especially since they all succeeded one another after Michael Dukakis retired in January, 1991.
It was under their watch that the Big Dig costs ballooned, especially thanks to New Gingrich's dumb move to force Massachusetts to shoulder most of the costs. Gingrich apparently forgot that states haven't printed their own money since the creation of the Constitution. Small details make for big messes. In doing so, Gingrich, who was too busy trying to make a name for himself by "bagging" Bill Clinton, he eventually made his own party look like the biggest porkers in U.S. history -- which on that project, they sure as hell were. As for bridges elsewhere, what happened in Minnesota recently could've happened out here in WMass. I know this because I drove over a bridge to Northampton day and day out and could look down and see the water below.
But to feel sorry for Gov. Teeth and happy hogwash, c'mon Joan. I hope it doesn't come to this, but it'd take a personal tragedy for Romney before I'll ever feel sorry for this carpet-bagging, double-talking, back-stabbing, flip-flopping capo-di-cappo of cynicsm. He sucked up to McCain in the worst way after ripping into the man last winter and lately he couldn't sing enough praises and paeans to him? No Kumbaya for Mitt. Just politics.
The important question going into the Bush-Ferraro debate was not who would "win," but whether Bush could be president if something happened to Reagan. Bush passed that test, and the electorate settled back down, and that was that.
So, the judgment question is front and center again.
Romney, a man of grand ambition, must also be thinking: his next campaign for president begins Nov. 5.
So, the judgment question is front and center again.
Romney, a man of grand ambition, must also be thinking: his next campaign for president begins Nov. 5.
Excuse me? Geraldine Ferraro was thrust into the spotlight, given the nod and naturally, she said "yes" like anybody with a pulse and working brainwave would. And when she did, she probably didn't have a clue to what kind of firestorm would erupt due to her husband's business dealings and the slam-job that'd be done to her due to her Italian American ancestry. Remember the Mob whispers and allegations? Had Mondale vetted her out better she might not have gotten the nod, but her life would've also been spared so much misery.
The questions of judgment shouldn't have rested on Reagan, or Bush -- they were already the incumbents -- and Reagan's popularity was rising with the public's increased confidence in his ability to lead, age and occasional weariness notwithstanding. It was Walter Mondale's judgment that should've been questioned. He's the one who couldn't wait to put a woman on the ticket so fast that he rushed ahead and picked somebody who was just totally unprepared at that time to run. Had she any adequate foreknowledge of what Mondale was planning, doesn't it ever dawn on anybody that Ferraro would've gotten her family's finances out of the way?
Ms. Vennochi correctly described Mitt Romney "as a man of grand ambition." I would've added the word "cynical" before "man."
| 83 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Steven Barrett's OpEd Blog
Sorry, S.