March 7, 2007
It's true, it's Wednesday, and we just can't keep the Political Junkie from staggering into 3A for our latest hit. This week, it's Scooter vs. the Slammer, and fresh polls from key '08 states. (It's good we have an election year that rhymes with state. Easy material. "The fate of '08! Take the bait in '08!") If you have questions for Ken Rudin, about the Libby verdict, any other political news, or a slogan that rhymes with '08, keep 'em coming.
So what are the latest odds in Vegas about Scoot getting a presidential pardon?
So who sent Mr. Wilson to Niger?
I don't understand why everyone seems to be accepting Romney's change in position on several major social issues so calmly, with so little fuss. I thought "flip-flopping" was supposed to be a bad thing? Yet, when others change their opinion on the war in Iraq, based on information that became available and was confirmed AFTER their initial decision on the subject, they are visciously pilloried by those same people who accept Romney's switch without batting an eyelash. Why the double standard? And why is "flip-flopping" such a bad thing, anyway- I was always taught that it was a sign of intelligence, open-mindedness, and humility....
A caller asked why the US attorney firings were different from the Travel Office firings during the Clinton Administration. The difference is HUGE! The people in the travel office were responsible for arranging transportation for public officials. The US Attorneys are responsible for enforcing the laws of our country!
In answer to MaryAnne, the CIA sent Amb. Wilson. He turned out to be correct when he said his understanding was the VP's office asked the CIA to look into the Niger story. Valerie Wilson recommended her husband to her supervisors. He had been ambassador to Iraq during the first war, and also ambassador to some West African countries and he had the contacts to investigate this. Her supervisors made the decision to send him. Wilson never said Cheney sent him or knew about the mission. This was in February 2002. Wilson reported that the story looked false, and has proven accurate. The effort to smear him and expose his wife's identity started when Wilson went public with the story being false and the administration knowing that when they used it.
Many big name Republicans, including Romney and Cheney, were present at the CPAC convention when Ann Coulter yet again told a "joke" refering to a Democat with a homophobic smear. The Press needs to ask them if they approve of this sort of language. Did they laugh along with the rest of the crowd?
Responding to Jess- The Iraq war is a different kind of shift than a shift in social issues. Everyone shifted on the Iraq war once they found out that we weren't going to come out in a hurry. A shift on social issues like abortion is a fundamental change in your own belief. I'm not saying that Romney's flip-flop is not genuine, but I don't think the two issues are comparable. I also think people using Romney's flip-flop against him are being unrealistic. You can't run on a pro life, anti stem cell, etc. platform and then turn around and make the opposite political decisions as president. As George W. is proving now, a president can't do much when his approval ratings hit rock bottom.
Ann Coulter's remarks can only be interpreted as a "homophobic slam" if you consider being a gay man a bad thing.
Who was the "political junkie" on TOTN during the 1:00 hour that asked "why is Ann Coulter being allowed to make such incendiary remarks"?
Free speech for the left only. No opposing viewpoints allowed on TOTN!
And why does TOTN ignore Bill Maher's comments about what could have been the upside to a successful bomb attack on the Vice President. Maher said:
"I???m just saying if he did die, other people, more people would live. That???s a fact."
NPR also chose to ignore the follow up comments made by San Antonio radio talk show host Rob Thompson who said:
"Unfortunately some of that comment is true. If Dick Cheney wasn't in office today, I don't think there'd be as many people dead today. Apart from that, we have to realize that too many people think they have a right to say whatever they want."
That last remark matches what the TOTN commentator said -- and of course it only applies to Ann Coulter!
...and perhaps from the democrat(ic) side, "Bubba's mate in '08," eh?
Ann Coulter called John Edwards a "faggot", please pardon the language. That qualifies as a homophobic slur in my book.
One very small indicator that ought to totally scare the bejesus out of the RNC. The good ole Columbus Dispatch, as Republican a rag as you can find, loudly touts the overwhelming Democratic victories in FRANKLIN County. IF the Repubs can't do better there, they can't carry Ohio. If they can't carry Ohio they probably can't turn any other state that went blue in 04. They can't win. AND, if they can't win in Ohio, there is a good chance that other Republican but moderate states are out of the grasp of even Rudi, and absolutely out of the grasp of the rest of the wannabe mob. Rudi's consistent standing at the head of the Republican pack is probably due to the fact the moderates and progressives have their Nelson Rockefeller hopes up in a Barry Goldwater year. 1964 is the paradigm you need to observe.
I Love the thought of another 1964.
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