By Caitlin Taylor

Apr 1, 2009 8:20am

The Note, 4/1/09: Global Expansion — Obama presidency widens its reach, as Europe trip begins

By RICK KLEIN Whatever President Obama gets or doesn’t get out of Europe this week — and whatever we do or (more likely) don’t learn about his coattails in a single congressional district in upstate New York — this is the week that his presidency got bigger. At home, the president made the response to the financial crisis his own — expanding the government’s reach into private enterprise while pushing Congress to let his administration go even further. His budget has set the terms for debate domestically. He won’t get all or even most of what he wants, but we’ll be talking about it for a while. And abroad, he’s arriving not as a celebrity but as a US president, after all — with all the scrutiny and protests and headaches that carries. (That also means that the rooms he’s in will tip in his direction.) The contours and outlines of his vision for the job have taken shape — and the risks have made themselves evident. An early check-mark: “After a bilateral meeting between President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the governments of both countries will make a major announcement relating to US-Russian relations, including arms control, a statement of the future US-Russian agenda, and a US-Russian summit to take place perhaps as early as this summer,” ABC’s Jake Tapper reports. “The announcement will include a set of instructions to arms negotiators on how to conclude a new, ‘post-START’ agreement by the end of 2009, a senior official tells ABC News.” “Nobody’s going to be looking into anybody’s soul,” a US official tells Tapper. Does this look familiar? “For nearly 30 years, American presidents have arrived at economic summit meetings with nearly identical talking points: the solution to most ailments lies in more economic integration, unleashing free markets and using a light touch to tame capitalism,” David Sanger writes in The New York Times. “As President Obama landed here Tuesday night to attend the Group of 20 summit meeting, and met Wednesday over breakfast with the gathering’s host, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, almost every one of those principles appeared up for debate.” Key insight: “All of this suggests a rebuke of American economic leadership. Yet Mr. Obama is still likely to dominate the discussions here. And there is no clear alternative to his strategy for reviving the world economy.” The expectations: “The stakes for this summit are very high,” said Mike Froman, the deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs. “Most people agree that the Depression was made ‘Great’ by lack of cooperation.” Said the president, at his news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown: “The separation between the various parties involved has been vastly overstated.” (The trip has been designed to minimize those differences, of course. The administration is inking enough agreements already to get political reporters to focus on their vegetables.) Celebrity, yes — heartthrob, no: “The initial love affair may be cooling somewhat. Obama is still seen as the antithesis of Bush, but he is no longer a fresh-faced candidate. Rather, he is the representative of a country and an economic system that many Europeans blame for leading them into the financial crisis,” the Los Angeles Times’ Christi Parsons and Laurie Goering report. Did we say “celebrity”? “Aides to Obama were fine-tuning his schedule as late as Tuesday, trying to accommodate leaders who want to meet and be photographed with the American president,” they write. Joe Biden, prophet: “In the closing weeks of his presidential campaign, Barack Obama’s running mate, Joe Biden, warned that the world would soon test a young, relatively inexperienced president. ‘Soon’ has become ‘now,’ ” Jonathan Weisman and Jay Solomon write in The Wall Street Journal. “Mr. Obama arrived here Tuesday night eager to try his hand at statecraft after the opening months of his administration were dominated by domestic policy. World leaders appear just as eager to test a president with little international experience who’s arriving for his first major overseas trip.” Who’d have thunk it — already: “A political superstar among Europeans, he nonetheless was greeted by protesters throughout the city, some of whom blame American irresponsibility for sparking the financial crisis gripping the globe,” Michael D. Shear and Mary Jordan write in The Washington Post. “Obama’s mission in London — to foster world unity around a common set of economic measures — is made more difficult by discord throughout Europe about how to confront the crisis, anger about America’s role in starting it, and disagreement among many leaders on some of the president’s prescriptions for fixing it.” The meat: “European governments have resisted calls from the U.S. to pump more money into their economies. There also are signs that the consensus on the need for a global regulatory regime are fracturing,” per Bloomberg’s Hans Nichols and Edwin Chen. “French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde told the British Broadcasting Corp. that President Nicolas Sarkozy would walk away from the summit unless it adopts strict international finance regulations.” Sarkozy and Merkel dominate the early chatter: “The two leaders who most threaten to upset Mr Brown’s plans for the G20 are not due at No 10 until this evening when all the G20 heads of state and government meet for dinner,” per The Times of London. “Mr Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, have already scuppered UK attempts to have the summit endorse a massive and coordinated fiscal stimulus and are now pushing for the summit to make clear progress on tighter regulation of financial markets to replace the ‘light-touch’ Anglo-Saxon model blamed for the current crisis.” More stimulus? Not from Sarkozy: “We have managed to hold off the specter of protectionism, and many nations have injected massive support for their economies, undertaking ambitious stimulus programs. Countries that offer their citizens a high level of social protection, such as France, have also significantly increased their levels of crisis-related welfare spending. Overall, the world’s leading economies have made comparably gigantic efforts to combat the crisis,” he writes in a Washington Post op-ed. In London Wednesday, ABC’s Charlie Gibson sits down with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. Look for your first taste on “World News.” On ABCNews.com’s “Top Line” Wednesday, at noon ET, we chat with Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., about the budget and the G-20 meeting. Plus: Ana Marie Cox. Meanwhile, back home — a new corporate era comes into focus. And you thought George W. Bush was the corporate president? “Barack Obama has become the CEO president in fact, responsible for a swath of American industry and finance,” National Review’s Rich Lowry writes. “It used to be that what was good for GM was good for the country; now, the country is going to decide what’s good for GM. It used to be that presidents could only fire chiefs of staff and Cabinet members; now, Obama can fire any of the corporate officials who effectively work for him.” Change he can believe in: “In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Frederick ‘Fritz’ Henderson said he is prepared to do whatever it takes to reorganize the company, including taking GM through bankruptcy court. The longtime GM executive was anointed CEO after the White House pushed out his former boss, Rick Wagoner, who had resisted bankruptcy even after the auto maker determined it could probably survive a short-lived reorganization with government support.” Glad they agree: “President Barack Obama believes a quick, negotiated bankruptcy is the most likely way for General Motors Corp. to restructure and become a competitive automaker, people familiar with the matter said,” per Bloomberg News. In action: “The early federal stimulus money appears to be hitting its target, paying for new projects and creating jobs, according to a USA TODAY review of some of the first projects funded,” Dennis Cauchon writes. “Most early spending is flowing, as planned, into ‘shovel-ready’ projects — a new bridge over a Louisiana bayou, the widening of a mountain road in Colorado — that wouldn’t have occurred this year without stimulus money. Hiring on those projects has already begun or will occur within the next three months, say officials overseeing the contracts.” A budget you can believe in — if you have strong faith: “President Barack Obama’s Democratic allies in Congress are taking only baby steps with his budget, putting off crucial decisions on his ambitious plans to expand health care, curb global warming and raise taxes on the wealthy,” per the AP’s Andrew Taylor. “Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and both Bushes all got far stronger assists from Congress on their first budgets. Nonetheless, Obama, is counting on votes approving budget outlines this week to give him some semblance of momentum. . . . Both the House and Senate budget writers, for the most part, ignored all of Obama’s big ideas when crafting their fiscal plans.” On Wednesday, Organizing for America Director Mitch Stewart delivers 642,000 Obama budget pledges at DNC headquarters. (They don’t need convincing there — when do they get to the Hill?) Do you think he smiles when he thinks about what might have been? “The president’s budget makes clear that a huge expansion of government is not just about today’s economic downturn. Once the recession is behind us, this budget will continue pushing for more and more government in our everyday lives,” Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., writes in a Washington Post op-ed. “This budget plan is clearly not the right path for America today or for future generations.” The attorney general is in the news — this remind anyone else of the Alberto Gonzales days? “Justice Department lawyers concluded in an unpublished opinion earlier this year that the historic D.C. voting rights bill pending in Congress is unconstitutional, according to sources briefed on the issue. But Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., who supports the measure, ordered up a second opinion from other lawyers in his department and determined that the legislation would pass muster,” Carrie Johnson reports in The Washington Post. “Holder’s decision to get involved may expose President Obama’s Justice Department to some of the same concerns raised by Democrats during George W. Bush’s presidency.” NPR’s Nina Totenberg reports that Holder will order Justice to drop charges against former Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska — an extremely rare move, post-conviction. Totenberg: “Holder is said to have made his decision because of Stevens age, he’s 84; because Stevens is no longer in the Senate, having lost his re-election bid a week after his conviction; and perhaps most importantly, according to Justice Department officials, Holder wanted to send a message to prosecutors throughout the department, that actions he regards as misconduct will not be tolerated.”

No winner yet in NY-20. Per the AP: “A race for a New York congressional seat that’s become linked to President Barack Obama’s economic recovery efforts won’t be decided for at least two more weeks. Democrat Scott Murphy leads Republican Jim Tedisco by 65 votes out of 154,000 cast. A lawsuit filed Tuesday night requires all ballots to be impounded — not unusual in close elections. The Albany Times-Union: “With nearly 6,000 absentee ballots that will essentially decide the race as of Monday, the election will not be decided at least until April 13.” The real upshot: “With 100 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night well after polls had closed, a too-close-to-call non-result left the political world with little to deduce — and could eliminate the chance that anyone will read much into it,” The Atlantic’s Chris Good writes. It’ll still probably be settled sooner than the Minnesota Senate race. But movement there: “Norm Coleman’s lawyers all but conceded defeat Tuesday and promised to appeal after a panel of three judges ordered no more than 400 new absentee ballots opened and counted, far fewer than the Republican had sought to overcome the lead held by DFLer Al Franken,” Pat Doyle and Kevin Duchschere write in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. ABC’s David Chalian: “The United States Senate moved an inch or two closer to getting its 100th senator. But just an inch or two. Former Sen. Coleman’s campaign made clear today that there will be an appeal to the full Minnesota Supreme Court before any definitive resolution comes to the five months old Minnesota senate contest.” Too much even for Leno, at this point: “Here we go again: tax problems for another cabinet nominee. In this case, HHS nominee Kathleen Sebelius has informed the Senate Finance Committee that an audit of her and her husband’s 2005, 2006, 2007 tax returns has revealed some ‘unintentional errors, which we immediately corrected.’ As a result, Sebelius and her husband have filed amended returns and paid $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in interest,” ABC’s Jonathan Karl reports. Moving ahead without her: “Efforts to overhaul the health care system have moved ahead rapidly, with the insurance industry making several major concessions and the chairmen of five Congressional committees reaching a consensus on the main ingredients of legislation,” Robert Pear reports in The New York Times. “The chairmen, all Democrats, agree that everyone must carry insurance and that employers should be required to help pay for it. They also agree that the government should offer a public health insurance plan as an alternative to private insurance. But members of Congress are just now turning to the most explosive issues, which could delay or derail the process.” House Republicans put forward their detailed budget alternative Wednesday. (Yes, the one with lots of numbers in it.) On the maverick watch — a source tells The Note that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will put forward that alternative budget he promised over the weekend — but not with the support of GOP Senate leadership. Don’t be LBJ on Afghanistan, says McCain. “The second thing I would have done, probably, is went ahead and announced the overall additional 10,000 troops, rather than be accused of a Lyndon-Johnson-style incrementalism,” McCain said Tuesday, per ABC’s Teddy Davis. The ACORN doesn’t fall far: “Opponents of the liberal activist group ACORN have found an unlikely champion in House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr., who is clashing with his own party to pursue hearings on accusations that the group has committed crimes ranging from voter fraud to a mob-style ‘protection’ racket,” S.A. Miller reports in the Washington Times. Carly for Senate? “In the strongest signal yet of her political ambitions, Carly Fiorina said Tuesday that she is ‘seriously considering’ challenging U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in next year’s California Senate race,” Frank Davies writes in the San Jose Mercury News. Catching George Stephanopoulos’ eye Wednesday . . . The Kicker: “We decided to go in another direction.” — NRCC spokesman Ken Spain, replacing Gov. Sarah Palin with Newt Gingrich as headliner at a fundraising dinner. “We do not seem to be a priority for the Treasury Department.” — Elizabeth Warren, head of TARP’s Congressional Oversight Panel, to the Senate Finance Committee. Don’t miss “Top Line,” ABCNews.com’s new daily political Webcast, hosted by Rick Klein and David Chalian. Wednesday’s guests: Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Ana Marie Cox, of Air America. Follow The Note on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:

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User Comments

Obama in Europe is a test for him in the eyes of the media and maybe some world leaders, but most Americans are still glued to their own economic well-being. That’s the real test for Obama.
http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | April 1, 2009, 8:50 am 8:50 am

What will it take to restore the confidence in our government and Wall Street that’s been compromised by the economic crisis? Lenders have control of their lending and consumers have control of their spending. The determining element is the uncertainty of what affect new government regulations and taxations will have on both private businesses and private investors. Radical change spawns apprehension. Apprehension retards a business as usual attitude. Right now it’s a matter of “too much in limbo” for lenders and consumers to relax their postures.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | April 1, 2009, 9:58 am 9:58 am

Only idiotic liberals could look at europe and think that America needs to emulate its economic policies. Europe is behind America in nearly every aspect in terms of its citizens quality of life, and yet reverend wright is still packing them in preaching how bad America is.

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am

Posted by: Amy | April 1, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am

Jill | Apr 1, 2009 10:15:08 AM
“Jill”, I believe you could garner a ‘wee bit’ of respect (credibility for intelligent thought) if you did away with the “low level bark & growl!” The cynical reference to a “reverend wright”, seems to me beneath you.
Posted by:

Posted by: bobj72 | April 1, 2009, 11:35 am 11:35 am

Amy
Actually, America’s qualtiy of life probably couldn’t get much higher. Despite liberals best efforts, capitalism has produced so much that even those living in our trailer parks have pot-bellies, cigarettes, cars and air conditioners.
If liberals would ever stop complaining about America for one minute, they might realize that America has provided the HIGHEST STANDARD OF LIVING FOR ITS CITIZENS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
Amy, since you appear to be the typical O-Reilly hating liberal, please cite some things he has done/said that makes you hate him. Or are you just another mindless obamabot that just knows you are supposed to hate him?

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm

Wow Jill, you are really happy today are you not? I don’t think the problem any more is about liberals complaining…. LOL There does seem to be a lot complaining going on from O’Reilly and Rush and yourself.
I am quite happy and have always been happy to live in USA. I could have married a New Zealander and moved there about 30 years ago. I am quite content to have remained here. The only complaining I did in the last 8 years was about Bush. Ha Ha. He was a major embarrassment to me in front of my overseas friends. Not his daddy, but Jr. Every time he opened his mouth.
So just stop your complaining and enjoy the ride. We have to work really hard to fix up what you conservatives SCREWED UP! We will be talking about the “trickle down effect” for years and years. “You know when we lost the middle-class of America”.

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm

Posted by: Global Fraud! | April 1, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm

Jill,
I never said America isn’t a great place to live; I said it would be even better if we didn’t have to listen to ignorant rightwing blowhards every time we turn on the TV and radio (which is why I don’t.) Why does the mainstream media insist on giving MORE free exposure to the O’Reillys, Coulters and Limbaughs? The last time I watched that idiot O’Reilly he was interviewing Obama during the campaign. What a loud mouth know-nothing, rat a tat tat show- off O’Reilly is, he isn’t a pundit, an expert or a journalist, just a narcissist with a megaphone. I’m so sick of these rightwinger ranters. THey contribute nothing to our country, no ideas, no truth, just smears, lies and spin.

Posted by: Amy | April 1, 2009, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm

Jill,
America’s quality of life would be much higher if we didn’t have to listen ignorant rightwingers constantly on the TV, Internet and radio. I’ve pretty much stopped watching TV because I don’t want to hear their opinions. O’Reilly on Good Morning America yesterday? Yeech.
————————————–
Amy ,
Nice to know your all for FREEDOM, especially freedom of speech.
As usual, liberals think they know best for everone else. The country you want Amy is called a dicatorship! So Sorry for you we live in a free country!
By the way, WHY do you think there as so many people like OReilly out there on the air and doing well ?
ANSWER: Because advertisers will PAY for time during thier shows!!!!
As much as you and other lefties want to think the right is dead, the facts tell you otherwise. If there are so many liberals out there dominating the landscape, why is it that MSNBC is floundering? Why is there no one from the left with a following such as the Limbaughs, & OReillys’? why do most of the liberal’s who try the talk radio or TV scene fail to garner an audience or a base of advertisers?
Right now, the only one I hear on the radio that is having any success here in New England is Tom Fineran, the former MA Speaker of the House. Right now though, you would think he was republican to hear him rip Obama lately.
This is WHY there has been all the talk about trying to bring back the so-called “fairness doctrine”. In general, liberals have never been able to compete with conservatives in this market.
You just want a world where only your narrow point of view is ever considered. Nice to know your the one who has ALL the answers. Maybe you should offer up a few since you want to silence everyone else!

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

Posted by: Global Fraud! | April 1, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

Global Fraud! What dark underground world have you been rotting in? The Middle Class has been shrinking and almost extinct for years now. Check out the statistics. We haven’t any where near the middle-class that we had after WWII. My father has been dead for 12 years. His favorite quote was, “The rich just keep getting richer and the rest of us poorer.” We have become a country of classes. Which will if it is allowed to continue will not make us any different than any other third world country.
I just talked to my son, who lives in the D.C. area. I told him about a classmate that graduated from college and is only a waitress now. He said that was to be expected from our state. That is the best we could do. An awlful lot of expensive educations are going to waste. Who is expected to pay all of those college debts? Restaurant workers? Why did I make sure my children went to college when they all work at restaurants or Lowes?

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm

Amy
So,you have nothing to offer about O’reilly other then the long standing liberal tradition of calling those names with whom you disagree with?
Actually, Oreilly has a journalism degree (i’m fairly sure he went to harvard). So how is he “not a journalist” as you claim?
It is certainly your right to boycott people like coulter, limbaugh, ect.. afterall they are not newscasters and you don’t have to listen to them.
But what about barry O’s cheerleaders at MSNBC, ABC and CNN? Those people ARE newscasters, and highly dishonest ones at that.

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm

Jill, there you go complaining again….
What right do YOU have calling newcasters that YOU don’t agree with DISHONEST?! Who the H### do you think YOU are? I want proof, B$#$#!

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm

Jill, if YOU don’t come up with proof to back your statement about them being dishonest, I believe they call that SLANDER!

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm

scentofroses,
I think thou doth protest too much….

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm

Why Mike? That is really funn MikeC! I have read your previous posts….Why? Because they have to be really careful what they say? There is such a thing as factfinders. Where are YOUR and JILL’s facts? Do you remember Watergate? No, probably not, your too wet behind the ears. Grow up.
I stand by what I said to Jill….That was slander! I see no proof to back what she has said.

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm

scentsofroses
Actually, if I didn’t have proof it would be libel since I am writing this.
Well, here is my “proof”. When you have keith olberman and chris matthews saying that they get “tingling feelings up their legs” when they hear barry O speak, that to me is a little bias? Don’t you think?
And when studies conducted both in Europe and the US have concluded that barry received 85% favorable coverage, as opposed to mccain who received 35% favorable coverage during the election, also proves to me that liberal journalists are servicing their own agendas instead of the public.

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm

Do you remember Watergate? No, probably not, your too wet behind the ears.
LOL…no i vividly remember it! For the Record, Im 50.
If “slander” were provable by a blog … Virtually everyone who posts on the DailyKos would be in jail !
I would say you need to grow up. You want proof….Remember Dan Rather????

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm

Jill
The pundits Rachel Maddow and Keith Olberman are liberal at MSNBC, that’s true. And thank God for them, because I would have gone insane during the Bush years if they had not been there to balance Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Chris Wallace, O’Reilly, the whole Fox News team, and The Note. As far as I am concerned there is too much blah blah blah from the far right wing on the so called mainstream media. I’d say MSNBC is my favorite site because its informative and right wing blather-free.
BTW, I think its a riot it takes liberal pundits like Eugene Robinson or Paul Krugman to form intelligent arguments against Obama’s policy. I’m a Democrat, and even I could come up with a better dissenting opinion against the administration then your typical rightwinger. Maybe cause I’ve had more practice being an administration critic after eight years of Bush. And thank God that’s over!

Posted by: Amy | April 1, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

“As far as I am concerned there is too much blah blah blah from the far right wing on the so called mainstream media.”
LOL,…now I know who you are….
A down on his luck comedian!

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm

The EU protestors are the product of a a society addicted to the gov’t, even when the gov’t lets them down time and time again. They want more and more from their nanny-like gov’t and are willing to work less and less for it.
Currently they only work 25-30 hours per week, often with 2 hour lunches, and riot at the very mention of longer work days.
Capitalism is about as much to blame for this gov’t-induced crisis as the jews were for the burning of the reichstag.
Liberals are trying to use this crisis to scapegoat capitalism, when in fact their own “spread the wealth around” mentality has created this mess.

Posted by: dave | April 1, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm

Amy
Did you used to say Bush lied! Kids died! everynite before you went to bed?
I bet you were you part of the same anti-American crowd that caused MILLIONS of south vietnamese to be murdered at the hands of the communist north after all of your “protesting” led to our early withdrawl from the war.
Thank God you people didn’t succeed in bringing about America’s defeat in Iraq, too. Although I know you sure tried!

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm

Typical Jill, you right wingers trying to put a spin on what you say…
Well, here is my “proof”. When you have keith olberman and chris matthews saying that they get “tingling feelings up their legs” when they hear barry O speak, that to me is a little bias? Don’t you think?
How is their opinion, other than not agreeing with YOU, dishonest? I said I want proof in what you called them being newscasters and being dishonest. I just want ONE example. Their opinions have nothing to do with their honesty. Believe me you don’t want to go there. There are a lot of right-wingers that have had some pretty far-out opinions. (Coulter e.g.)
How have they been dishonest. NO SPIN. Just facts!

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm

scentsofroses
What more do you want then the studies I mentioned.. 85% to 35% for favorable coverage of barry over McCain (taken by both American and European study groups).
That means they covered up/ignored barry’s bad press, while emphasizing and sometimes even fabricating his good press. In some parts of America, I am pretty sure they call that—–DISHONEST!

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm

Bobj72; Rev. Wright will get respect when he’s earned it. As a man of the cloth his message should be about the gospel of Jesus Christ, not politics. He uses political rhetoric from the pulpit to solidify his following. That solidifying message is one of hate. Nothing constructive comes from his radical criticisms. With ministers like him it’s a wonder there is still separation of church and state which is a good thing for the churches. If the churches don’t want the government dabbling in their business they need to distance politics. As I’ve stated before, the extent of political involvement on the part of any minister should be the “Pogo” political statement, which is “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Again, men will live according to what they’re willing to accept. It’s nobody’s fault but the man who is willing to settle for less in today’s world. There’s no sense dwelling on the past unless it’s used as leverage to get something for nothing.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | April 1, 2009, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm

Jill; As one conservative to another, my heart bleeds for you. The press, just like the American public wanted change and we’re getting it. Pretty soon we’ll have had enough of change and taxation and government control of our lives and the pendulum will swing back the other direction. Patience is the watchword. Debt will be the legacy of this administration more than anything else. The left won’t acknowledge that spoiled rotten America can’t maintain status quo in a global economy. In fact they want even more from their government, but not from themselves. The immediate gratification demanded by the youth of America won’t allow taking steps backward to get to a better future. It’s full speed ahead and a roll of the dice that determines our future, the same things that got us into this mess.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | April 1, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm

Oh, you are an expert in what that means. You are hysterical. Keep on spinning. You can sure tell you get your news from people who are “HONEST”! You drink O’Reilly Koolaid!! Ha Ha. Oh and talk about being honest, he calls himself “independent”! I guess that must be true, it is HIS opinion!

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm

mmonroeliveson
Don’t forget that reverend racist now lives in a 10,000 sq ft mansion that cost $2,000,000.00. I wonder if he minds all of these “greedy white folk” now that they are all his neighbors.
People like him explpoit the public’s fears and ignorances. They often profit off their exploitations, and barry O sat in the pew and watched that crook perform his tricks for 20 years, and he never said a word.

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm

Mike_C | Apr 1, 2009 1:10:33 PM
“Mike_C” You said; “As much as you and other lefties want to think the right is dead, the facts tell you otherwise. If there are so many liberals out there dominating the landscape, why is it that MSNBC is floundering? Why is there no one from the left with a following such as the Limbaughs, & OReillys’? why do most of the liberal’s who try the talk radio or TV scene fail to garner an audience or a base of advertisers?”
_________________
How about a dose of Reality? There is a Real Clear Distinction between the “Hard-right-edge” and the Other Politically Engaged Citizen’s in our society. The “Hard-right-edge” (represented by Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, O’Rielly, etc.) they KNOW it is NECESSARY appeal to the “Basest Instincts” of their two (2) ‘Targeted Audiences; made up of the 2% to 5% of the politically naive, ill-informed, mis-educated, “anti-diversity” segment of the population. Together with the 10% – 15% of politically educated, ultra-conservative and “gently biased bunch” that ’rounds out the population’ of their “Big Tent.”
Independents, Moderates and yes, even Liberals (meaning; Free People) have “Very Little Interest” in taking on a Formal and Specific Duty as a “Quasi-Journalist” or “Talking Head” with the objective of Recruiting or Proslytizing the politically naive, ill-informed and/or mis-educated segment of the population.
It seems to me the Independents, Moderates and Liberals assume the ‘Non-Politically Committed’, should have the Independence, intelligence, desire and ability to ‘do their own broad-based research’, ‘arm themselves’ to make their own intelligent decisions. And, Independents, Moderates and Liberals are comfortable in allowing them the Freedom to make such decisions.
__________________
In answer to your question; “why do most of the liberal’s who try the talk radio or TV scene fail to garner an audience or a base of advertisers?”
__________________
Independents, Moderates and Liberals have “little if any” interest in “Hearing Echo’s” of what they know to be Logical, Legitimate, Fair and True. And that lack of interest (or not) is what would “drive” advertisement to support such broadcasts.

Posted by: bobj72 | April 1, 2009, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm

Hey Scent,
I see your not questioning anything at all about Dan Rather. You do know he lied …right? He was DISHONEST!

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm

“That means they covered up/ignored barry’s bad press”
Oh, Phissh!
All we heard nonstop was Rev Wright, Tony Rezko, Michelle the non-patriot, birth certificate nonsense, distant African relatives misbehaving, and on and on.
You are just jealous because the usual rightwing character assasination campaign didn’t work this time. Not for lack of trying; did you see the ABC debate? Twenty minutes of “are you patriotic Sen. Obama?”
If the media ran positive stories about Obama its because the guy has numerous positive qualities. What are they supposed to do, not report the breaking news we finally had an articulate, intelligent, inspiring President on our horizon? McCain ran an awful campaign and he still nearly won, which goes to show how powerful the rightwing noise machine is out there.

Posted by: Amy | April 1, 2009, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm

“Independents, Moderates and Liberals have “little if any” interest in “Hearing Echo’s” of what they know to be Logical, Legitimate, Fair and True. And that lack of interest (or not) is what would “drive” advertisement to support such broadcasts.”
Yes!

Posted by: Amy | April 1, 2009, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm

bobj72
You are the king of “”"”””{“””).
I think liberals fail in talk radio because they really have nothing to say. Honestly, how many different ways can you say America is a bad country??Their entire platform is based on blame-America-first, and that really is about it.

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm

bobj….interesting…lots of rhetoric, but little of it based it reality.
Also, if any of it were close to being true, why would liberals be constantly trail ballooning the “fairness doctrine” ?
LOL…your “echos” thought again way off base…..The fact is that is Obama used that exact tactic to win the election. Good Try, I ‘ll grant you that and like all good liberals im sure your think your right. After all its about your intentions, not facts.

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm

Amy
To every country loving American, michelle’s “comments” about never being proud of her country were pretty offensive. However, I know that liberal patriotism is an oxy-moron so you wouldn’t understand.
As for reverend racist, aka the man who baptized barry’s children, married the obamas, and the man who inspired barry to title his book audacity of hope after one his speeches audacity of hope, was also a pretty offensive character. Again, I don’t expect you to understand. I know that barry claiming “he had no idea rev wright was saying those things” was enough for you.
And as for Rezko, aka the convicted slum lord who is now sitting in a federal penetenury, who also “helped” the obamas purchase a mansion well-below market value in a sweet-heart deal and who was also was barry’s biggest campaign fund raiser for his senate seat, is yet another blemish on the obamas.
barry once again had to say “that is uuuuhhh not the uuuhh person I knew”.
The same explanation was given about ayers and rashid khalidi.
If it were McCain giving those same mechanical answers, the press would have destroyed him.

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm

Sorry Mike C. I have no interest in Dan Rather. I can not have an opinion or venture a statement of what I know or care nothing about. I have never watched him.
That doesn’t seem to stop any of you.

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm

Jill, McCain had some past dealings he didn’t want to have to relive either. We really don’t want to bring up all of the past do we? I could go wayyyyyy back to the Bush pre years, not to mention the last eight. LOL We really have to stop there, I have a life that is calling me. Sorry you don’t! Oh, and you are a slanderer. Still no real proof.

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm

Well, Jill, those of us who have actually been to church have listened to more than a few ministers we didn’t totally agree with, but, we inwardly winced and stayed for coffee hour too. I’d hate to think anyone would ascribe all my minister’s opinions to me.
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, though, you may not be familiar with the Protestant theology. Our ministers have no authority over congregants, after all, they often do things like run away with church secretaries. I kid you not, ministers aren’t perfect, but that shouldn’t prevent one from attending the church with the best choir. (I bet Rev Wright’s choir was great!)

Posted by: Amy | April 1, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm

SScent,
So you only pay attention when it’s convenient for your arguement….congatulations…your the “Liberal of the Day”!
Just so you understand after your tyraid about proof of dishonesty in the media and your childish attempt to get a dig in on me with that Watergate snipe, Rather LIED in regards to Pres. Bush’s National Guard service.
Remember this ….
“What right do YOU have calling newcasters that YOU don’t agree with DISHONEST?! Who the H### do you think YOU are? I want proof, B$#$#!”
Ok, now since you were obviously one of the uninformed (common among liberals actually), there is reason to believe that the mainstream media would go out of their way to favor one candiate over another. Rather went out of his way to do this. There are hundreds of sites on the net that can help you understand how people like Rather were not just biased in their reporting, but went out of their way to favor certain people and discredit others.

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm

Monroe, don’t you think the rev. wright “campaign ammo” is a bit ‘outdated?’ I DID NOT suggest that I respect the man. And I am NOT concerned with or interested in his message, as I have my own faith and I understand it. As I’m sure our Pesident Barack Obama has his own faith and he understands it! But again, this is a meaningless, re-manufactured issue that’s not worthy of discussion! Why???

Posted by: bobj72 | April 1, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm

Amy,
The point about Rev. Wright had nothing to do with choirs or running off with secretaries. It was about preaching hate!
Hell, Even Oprah understood she needed to leave that church, rather than be associated with Wright and foolish comments. Obama only decided to throw Wright under the bus when he had no other choice. Up until then, this guy was without question a very influential person in Obama’s life.
The overidding question about the Wright/Obama connection is why would someone with his obvious desires on high political office continue to attend services with someone so hateful.
Do you honestly buy the story that Obama didnt know this? He may not have heard it directly, but surely he knew about it! Surely he would have talked to Wright about the ramifications of his words in todays world.
After all, we are talking about a very crafty politician, so come on now, use your brain here just a little bit.

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm

bobj72
Reverend racist preached that America not only created the AIDS virus to kill black people, but also that America deserved 9/11 because it was the worst terrorist nation in the world.
Now, imagine you are a 18 yr old black youth listening to those statements, and 3 pews ahead of you was the senator of IL. The senator’s presence would be more then enough for me to validate jeremiah wright’s claims.
Those comments are dangerous and would have caused me to be extremely hostile to the US.
How do you people not realize that?

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm

Hey Klein, why don’t you just pack up and move over to FOX? In fact you have a built-in following right here, the right wing nuts like Jill and Mike_C it’s entertaining though to read these morons. I’m sure the world started at 10,000 BC for them, LOL

Posted by: Richard in Texas | April 1, 2009, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm

In general bobj i agree, the wright issue is old news, but when other bring it up and try to dismiss it as ” Well, i disagree with my preacher too”, it need to be pointed out. This is not just a minor disagreement.
It goes to choices and decision making. As I said, Oprah realized this was not a situation she wanted to be part of, so she left. Obama stayed.
Only AFTER the storm of controversy and the general outrage of the public, did he decide it was time to cut ties.

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm

Thanks Mike C., I’ll take that as a compliment. Oh and if it is on the internet it’s true. I saw a lot of W on the internet drunk. Was that true? I think Rather is pompous. I don’t care if he is Republican, Democrat or Independent. I do know the ones that I watch have facts to back up what they say. They can and will give examples. REAL ONES. I like just like Amy, don’t always agree with my minister, I am catholic and I have had a lot of wacko priests in my life. No do I trust someone just because they are on t.v. or people who are pundits.
I don’t like it if someone has a different opinion from you and automatically call you a liar or dishonest. I respect people of all backgrounds until they give me a really good reason not to. Then it is really hard to earn my respect back. I can and will give a person many chances to redeem themselves, after all NO one is perfect.

Posted by: scentsofroses | April 1, 2009, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm

scentsofliberalbias
I thought you going back to your life. Why are you still blogging?

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm

Amy
My pastor said something that I COMPLETELY disagreed with. He followed that comment with something else that got my blood boiling. I remained in the pew for the remainder of the service and I NEVER went back.
Bottom line, barry stayed because he agreed with him or he was too spineless to severe his ties there. Either way, he is a lying snake.

Posted by: Jill | April 1, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm

Jill | Apr 1, 2009 3:14:37 PM
“Jill” Aren’t you aware these are OUTDATED, LARGELY “Debunked Radical-Right-Wingnut, Political Talking Points FROM the Election CAMPAIGN!!! You said, e.g.; “never being proud of her country” “liberal patriotism is an oxy-moron…” …”baptized children, married the obamas, and the man who inspired title his book audacity of hope”… “Rezko…”, …”ayers and rashid khalidi”
As to your assertion; “the press would have destroyed him.” (McCain) Be Careful…… McCain….. the MEDIA really gave him a PASS on his associations with the Mafia (financed his political entry and the Beer Distributorship, etc…) and other sordid types; specifically Diamond from Phoenix and Ex-Senator Phil Gramm…and… And you claim; “the press would have destroyed him.” RIGHT!!!

Posted by: bobj72 | April 1, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm

Jill | Apr 1, 2009 3:42:33 PM
Jill, why don’t we talk about “Those comments that are dangerous and would have caused extreme hostility in the US.”
COMMENTS; “That negroes (African Americans) were less than human” and those same “Black People had tails” and “we didn’t have the intelligence to care for ourselves!” Now who do you think concocted those statments???
Dangerous and would have caused extreme hostility in the US?
How do YOU not realize that?

Posted by: bobj72 | April 1, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm

Mike C
I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill over snippets of Rev Wright’s sermons, but hey, whatever floats your boat.
I’ve heard plenty of rightwing religious nonesense over the last decade, by nuts who support Republicans and I don’t smear those candidates with their nuttiness.
I am a white woman who lives in Maine and I wasn’t offended or frightened by anything Rev Wright said. You make it sound like he was advocating beating up white people or something. For your information, the federal government did withhold treatment for syphilis from Black men in an infamous incident from the past. So it doesn’t sound that “hateful” to me for the Reverand to be suspicious of the spread of AIDS in his community. And I don’t see anything hateful in a minister asking us to consider the morality of our bombing Hiroshima or killing civilians in My Lai, in fact, I find it downright Christian. Log in the eye, and all that.

Posted by: Amy | April 1, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm

This Comment String is a great example of Why there is a Growing Movement for third and forth Parties.
Dems and Repubs have become the same in action, both parties have screwed up this country.
It’s time for the Libertarians/Constitutionalist to be elected and return us to what this Country was founded upon, Freedom and Liberty..Not Democrat or Republican…

Posted by: Patch W Adams | April 1, 2009, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm

jill: so you’ve admitted that your so-called faith is shallow and limited to pastors that you like, apparantly. And you calling the POTUS nasty names also is indicative of your character.

Posted by: Howard Beale | April 1, 2009, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm

Amy,
You may indeed be a bit isolated from the rela world up there. The double standard is quite real when it comes to the kind of talk Wright was using.
Remember how Imus was treated,…Michael Richardson, .etc.
Even looking at how the “N” words use was bantered about on the View by Whoopi G and the other blac woman. Telling Hasselbeck that its ok if a Black person uses it, but they never wanted to hear it come fro a white person’s mouth.
Now we have the Obama administration redefines the terms of the War on Terror.
It is political correctness gone overboard. If Wright’s words are ok and not an issue, then why are we as a society so over the top when it comes to what offends someone.
Either we start bannning words for everyone, or we stop we being “offended” at the drop of a word or two.
Personally I dont care what Wright thinks or says, but in today’s envionment we have people like you being bothered by what a talk radio host says, yet you dont care what the long term preacher of the current President says in his sermons.
That should give you some pause about whose words are more “important”.

Posted by: Mike_C | April 1, 2009, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm

Mike_C | Apr 1, 2009 6:03:11 PM
Well “Mike_C”, here are some “important words for you”; It has been “Well Established and Published”, by the Academy of International Archaeologist, sometime in the 1960′s that the “Cradle of Life” was, IN FACT determined to Be; In The Heart Of Africa!!! I do hope, that based on “That Fact”, you are capable of determining YOUR PERSONAL HERITAGE or “Roots” – My Dear Brothers & Sisters!!!
NOW, “That should give YOU some pause about whose words are more “important”.

Posted by: bobj72 | April 1, 2009, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm

Bobj72; Concerning the origin of man. Modern day man is specifically homo sapiens. Evolutionists tend to group ancient humanoids, not homo sapiens with modern day man. Since you fancy yourself to be a discerning intelligent man can you explain why there are still apes if apes evolved into men? Could it possibly be that those ancient ape men are merely another of many extincted species and the missing link is therefore not “missing” but rather non-existent?

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | April 1, 2009, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm

NO Monroe, I am a happy, consistent and devout Christian. You should KNOW that means; “In the beginning God…….
To believe otherwise, will not be pleasant….. when The Living God returns.

Posted by: bobj72 | April 1, 2009, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm

Monroe, as I think about it….My faith (and my Salvation) is much like a “Big Time” Credit Default Swap – With Reserves WELL EXCEEDING the necessary required limits! You see, there’s No Way I Can Lose. “Everybody OUGHT TO want the type of Investment I Have, In My God!”

Posted by: bobj72 | April 1, 2009, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm

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