Progress

Today the White House acknowledged that Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for the Future" does in fact exist. The President even said that he's read the plan.

This is a far cry from the "I don't want the people who created this mess to do a lot of talking...they just need to get out of the way" comment from back in August.

O'Keefe Update

Looks like John Hood was right. From a statement made by O'Keefe:

I learned from a number of sources that many of Senator Landrieu’s constituents were having trouble getting through to her office to tell her that they didn’t want her taking millions of federal dollars in exchange for her vote on the healthcare bill. When asked about this, Senator Landrieu’s explanation was that, “Our lines have been jammed for weeks.” I decided to investigate why a representative of the people would be out of touch with her constituents for “weeks” because her phones were broken. In investigating this matter, we decided to visit Senator Landrieu’s district office – the people’s office – to ask the staff if their phones were working.

Also of note, O'Keefe refers to himself in the statement as an "investigative journalist".

John Hood pointed out in his original post on O'Keefe that these stunts to not constitute "investigative journalism":

Whatever you think of these kinds of publicity stunts, they do not constitute investigative journalism. The earlier ACORN videos weren’t pieces of investigative journalism, either. It does the growing ranks of investigative journalists at conservative organizations a great disservice to invite a comparison of such publicity stunts with the hard, meticulous, and often boring work of exposing government waste and corruption.

I agree, but my guess is that the whole "investigative journalist" thing is also part of the joke. It has to be. He wasn't seriously investigating whether or not Landrieu's phones were working. Calling himself an investigative journalist allows him to simultaneously mock the subject (Landrieu, ACORN, etc.) and mainstream news outlets that seem incapable of producing real investigative journalism that might embarrass the left.

Maybe Carville and Begala are right...

...about engaging in the blame-game politics, because the Republicans seem happy to completely accept the premise that "Republican policies" alone led to the financial crisis. I admire the effort to look forward, but if the President is going to continue to advance this revision of history, it might not hurt to push back and mention that the myriad of top-down government housing and mortgage programs may also have contributed to the mess.

They could even take it a step further and mention that the Administration wants to become involved in the health care industry in the same way that it became involved in the housing and mortgage markets. And then let people use their imagination.

Independents love Obama's clever humor

"Now let’s clear up a few things – I did not choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt (smirk). And by now it should be fairly obvious that I didn’t take on health care because it was good politics.(ha-ha-ha)"

MSNBC and CNN finally report Acorn scandal

MSNBC and CNN are all over this story about the arrest of conservative activist filmmaker James O'Keefe, most famous for his undercover sting of ACORN. The upside? In covering this story, the networks were finally forced to inform their viewers that there was in fact an ACORN scandal.

[Update]
Jonah Goldberg makes the same point:

I can't help but get the sense that a lot of folks are much more excited to report on this than they were about the original ACORN story. Heck, it might be news to reader's of the Times that O'Keefe even exists.

[Update 2]
Okay, now I get it. John Hood offers this theory:

What I think they were really doing was recording video of a fake repair visit in order to create a piece ridiculing Landrieu for voting for Obamacare despite the legions of phone calls from constituents against the bill. “Why didn’t she listen to the voters?” the gist of the stunt might be. “Were her phones not working?”

That makes sense given this video made by O'Keefe last year, where he visits Olympia Snowe's office ridiculing her for wasting taxpayer funds on Amtrak.

[Update 3]
I forwarded the previous video by O'Keefe to John Hood, and he responds here.

Missing the Story at the March for Life

It is a bit of a cliche in conservative circles to complain about the media's lousy coverage of the annual March for Life, the event in which thousands of pro-lifers gather to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. But just because the complaints have become something of a tradition, does not make them any less valid. True to form, the media's treatment of this year's March left somthing to be desired.

Jill Stanek, a former nurse who uncovered the fact that her hospital simply abandoned babies who survived abortions, leaving them to die, has pointed out some errors made by Newsweek reporter-blogger Krista Gesaman.

First, Gesaman headlined a blog post, "Who's Missing at the 'Roe v Wade' Anniversary Demonstrations? Young women." Gesamen quotes a police officer who tells her that the average age of the marchers is 60, leading Gesamen to wonder:

where are the young, vibrant women supporting their pro-life or pro-choice positions? Likely, they're at home. "Young women are still concerned about these issues, but they're not trained to go out and protest," says Kristy Maddux, assistant professor at the University of MD, who specializes in historical feminism....

Well maybe, but as Stanek notes, check out the time stamp of that post. 7:15 a.m. In other words, hours before the March had begun! In fact, photos of the March, as well as articles written after it had begun, suggest that there were plenty of young women there (as was the case in 2004, the year I attended the March). See Stanek's blog for helpful links in this regard.

In the same post, Gesaman claimed that the march route had been shortened for this year's event, so that all those elderly marchers could make it through to the end. In fact, the route has been the same for at least four years.

And Gesaman was far from alone. For instance, Gateway Pundit notes that the Associated Press reported that the March was only "three blocks long." Umm, really?

These could be innocent errors. But isn't it interesting how, year after year, the press's mistakes concerning the March are all in the same (anti-March) direction?

(via The Anchoress)

"Fear the Boom and Bust"

About three semesters worth of macro-econ in this fantastic video.



Of course, in most University econ departments, it's probably 90% Keynes, 9% Milton Friedman, and 1% Hayek if you're lucky.

And check out the names of the two bartenders pouring shots.

[Update]
From an old professor of mine: "the limo driver (who appears for like a second) is former poli sci prof at UNC (now at Duke) who ran as a libertarian for NC governor."

This headline is not a joke

Democrats need to learn the blame game.

Thanks Mr. Carville, for encouraging the leadership in Washington to continue to act like third graders.

Guess What Else Obama Blames for the GOP Victory in Massachusetts?

Turns out it's not only Bush's fault (as Todd discusses below), but it's also because Obama didn't "speak directly to the people." Here's another telling moment from the President's exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos:

If there's one thing that I regret this year is that we were so busy just getting stuff done and dealing with the immediate crises that were in front of us that I think we lost some of that sense of speaking directly to the American people about what their core values are and why we have to make sure those institutions are matching up with those values.

That first part is the classic politician's self-congratulatory non-mea culpa, designed to put the politician in a flattering light. We were so busy just getting stuff done and dealing with the immediate crises. Translation: If I am guilty of anything, it is working too hard for the American people.

And the second part is just ludicrous. Obama didn't speak directly to the American people? Riiiight. CBS News provides some statistics from his first year in office:

Speeches, Comments & Remarks: 411

including 52 addresses specifically on his health care proposals

News Conferences: 42

5 were formal press conferences, 4 of which were on TV in prime time

Interviews: 158

90 on Television, 11 on Radio.

(CBS News comments: "This is a striking number of interviews and far more than any of his recent predecessors in their first year. ")

Town Hall Meetings: 23

(okay one was in France and the other in China -- but 21 were presumably amongst actual Americans)

Political Fundraisers: 28

Campaign Rallies 7

(each of the 4 candidates he campaigned for lost, including Martha Coakley, Scott Brown's opponent)

Not only did the President speak directly to the American people with astonishing frequency, he spoke directly to the voters on behalf of the candidate whose defeat led him to blame his political woes on a lack of speaking directly to the people.

All of this is just a way to avoid (1) admitting that a significant majority oppose the substance of the Democratic proposals, and (2) actually defending the merits of those proposals honestly. In the interview with Stephanopolous he actually claims that the current health-care legislation will help rein in government spending on health care -- a claim that has been debunked by the CBO roughly a billion trillion times. This is what audacity looks like.

(via Drudge, who juxtaposed the ABC interview and the CBS tally)

Obama blames Bush for Scott Brown victory

Yes, it's true.

Here's my assessment of not just the vote in Massachusetts but the mood around the country: The same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office. People are angry and they are frustrated. Not just because of what's happened in the last year or two years but what's happened over the last eight years.

He has clearly ventured into SNL parody territory here.

[Update]

More thoughts on this. Not only is constantly blaming others not a good leadership trait, it's just not a good personality trait period. Which is why I am puzzled as to why the President's personal approval rating remains so high. Whatever the reason is, that may ultimately be one of the ways he can begin to turn things around for himself.

[Update 2]

Paraphrasing Brit Hume on Fox:

So in other words, Massachusetts has elected its first Republican Senator since the 19070's because it's still mad about the Bush administration? Wow.

Republicans, devoid of ideas?

Yes, most probably are, but not the Congressman from Janesville, Wisconsin.

Later this month I will offer an update to my own comprehensive alternative to the heavily government-centered ambitions of Washington’s current leaders. In 2008, I introduced a plan I call A Roadmap to America’s Future that draws on Americans’ strength and initiative to restore our nation’s long-held legacy of leaving the next generation better off. I am now working on a new version of that plan, updated to reflect the dramatic decline in our nation’s economic and fiscal situation.

Roadmap 2.0 will be a complete legislative proposal consisting of specific policies backed up by sound, credible estimates of its fiscal and economic consequences. Roadmap will call for a frank assessment of how the Federal Government can continue to meet the missions of our largest entitlements in the 21st century while restraining spending, and hence the size of government itself. It rejuvenates a vibrant market economy, and restores the American character -- rooted in individual initiative, entrepreneurship, and opportunity. - Congressman Paul Ryan

Beck

"Yes, some may say that the voters in Cambridge acted stupidly, but for the first time in my life, I am proud of Massachusetts." -Glenn Beck.

Mort Zuckerman: He's Done Everything Wrong

This column by Obama supporter Mort Zuckerman goes a long way in explaining the stunning results in Massachusetts. Here are some highlights:

In the campaign, he said he would change politics as usual. He did change them. It’s now worse than it was. I’ve now seen the kind of buying off of politicians that I’ve never seen before. It’s politically corrupt and it’s starting at the top. It’s revolting.

Five states got deals on health care—one of them was Harry Reid’s. It is disgusting, just disgusting. I’ve never seen anything like it. The unions just got them to drop the tax on Cadillac plans in the health-care bill. It was pure union politics. They just went along with it. It’s a bizarre form of political corruption. It’s bribery. I suppose they could say, that’s the system. He was supposed to change it or try to change it.

And to close out an animated discussion on what the President should do next over an CNN, Alex Castellanos simply says, "Maybe he should just try and do something that people like".

White House response to possible Brown Senate victory

From the Politico, in the event of a Brown victory, the White House is planning a "combative response".

“The response will not be to do incremental things and try to salvage a few seats in the fall,” a presidential adviser said. “The best political route also happens to be the boldest rhetorical route, which is to go out and fight and let the chips fall where they may. We can say, ‘At least we fought for these things, and the Republicans said no.’”

My guess is that if Scott Brown wins, the Republicans are going to be the least of the White House's problem.

ABC's This Week

Congratulations to ABC's This Week and moderator Jake Tapper for conducting one of the more interesting and well-balanced round table discussions I've seen in a while. The round table featured left wing, progressive ideologue Katrina vanden Heuval, the partisan Democrat Donna Brazile, and conservatives George Will and Tucker Carlson.

Now for the two dumbest things said on the show.

Katrina vanden Heuval said that "Medicare for all", i.e. socialized health care, was in our nation's "DNA". Really? You would think that if that was the case, that the people who created the nation may have mentioned it somewhere. Maybe they could have included the whole "health care is a right" thing, in, you know, the Bill of Rights.

And then Donna Brazile, in criticizing Republican Senatorial candidate Scott Brown, said: "Scott Brown doesn't even buy health care for his own employees". And I bet he doesn't provide groceries either, or a home or an apartment to live in, or a Netflix subscription. My bet is that his staff is provided with what is called a paycheck. The remarkable thing about a paycheck is that it can then be used to buy all kinds of things, including health care, food, shelter, clothing, iPhones, etc.

And good for Tucker Carlson for calling on vanden Heuval to stop constantly using the term "teabagger".

[Update]

This was the quote from Martha Coakley on the details of the Scott Brown campaign staff compensation packages: “We already knew that Scott Brown didn’t want to make health insurance more affordable for Massachusetts families and businesses. Now we learn that he won’t even make health insurance available for his own staff.."

That's right, he won't make it available. Somehow, he is going to prevent his staff from using their paycheck to buy health insurance.

The Scott Brown campaign's response: "This is a silly issue. The small group working on the Scott Brown campaign either has existing insurance or were compensated sufficiently to purchase it on their own."

Good for them.

"What the heck is wrong with that woman?"

This is from the comment section over at Politico, and provides a nice summary of the situation in the Massachusetts Senate race.

What the heck is wrong with that woman? FIRST, she says that there are no terrorists in Afghanistan this week when the CIA got 8 guys killed last week in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber...SECOND, she says that actually shaking hands with voters at Fenway is a bad idea....THIRD, she cant spell her OWN STATE on her ads....FOURTH, she condemns all Catholics as unfit for ER jobs...and now, THE COUP DE GRACE, SHE HATES ON CURT SCHILLING, THE MAN WHO IGNITED BOSTON AND ENDED THE CURSE?

Help for Haiti

The Anchoress has posted a list of relief organizations who are coming to the aid of Haiti.

The Palm Beach Post has a similar list here.

The Red Cross is saying that fully one-third of Haiti's 9 million people may need emergency aid after what is said to have been the strongest earthquake to hit the country in the last 200 years.

Palin is a religious fanatic

This morning on MSNBC's Morning Joe, they showed complete disdain toward Sarah Palin (as they usually do) over her quote describing her nomination as "God's plan". It's as if they have never heard the expression "well, it's in God's hands now", or "it's just part of God's plan", or were completely unfamiliar with the idea that people put in incredibly difficult and unfamiliar situations might try to poise themselves with some help from above.

My guess is that they probably have heard those expressions before, even in the cocoon of the Washington/New york corridor, but describing her quote in that context wouldn't fit into the "Sarah Palin is a religious fanatic" narrative.

Kathryn Jean Lopez has more on this over at The Corner.

Where will the jobs come from?

Sen. Lindsey Graham announced today that he was open to negotiating with Democrats on the cap and trade bill, and in defense of his position asked the question: “If we fail on climate change and energy, where will our new jobs come from to pay our Social Security and Medicare bills?”

Sen. Graham is apparently just another politician who believes that jobs are created by lawmakers in Washington.

Actually, at the rate we are going, maybe he is right.