Two Presidents: One Private Lunch

Oh, Bill. How I miss you.

Hillary – PLEASE resign.

“I wonder if the subject of ACORN will come up? THREE videos now (Baltimore, DC, NYC) exposing that unethical organization for what it is.”
D’oh! | Sep 14, 2009 11:31:23 AM
I’m getting a little annoyed by Fox. Why are they blocking prosecution of these people? Why won’t they provide the uncut videos to prosecutors so that the ACORN employees can have charges brought against them? I don’t want to just see them fired, I want them brought up on charges. The only reason I can think that they haven’t been is that Fox gets more ratings if they quietly protect them from criminal prosecution than if Fox turned over full copies of the tapes to the authorities and had them put in prison.

Videos of Acorn employees conducting themselves in unethical ways? Nothing to see here folks, move along.

I’m getting a little annoyed by Fox.
Posted by: jhw539 | Sep 14, 2009 11:43:29 AM
Yea, we heard you all last week.
Maybe they are waiting for the L.A. Times to release THEIR tape.

what an interesting lunch: two liberal dems, one who took it center and became a VERY successful president, in spite of scandals and failures along the way and one who…well, we’ll see what he does. Hopefully he’ll veer center, but I’m not holding my breath.

@ jhw,
“With the way Fox has been protecting them by refusing to release a copy of the full tapes, I doubt a grand jury can do anything at this point. Why is Fox protecting them like this? Why doesn’t Fox release all the evidence and push for prosecution?”
Seriously, jhw. As stated, we’ve heard this from you before (and before, and before, and before). Enough.
Furthermore, what EVIDENCE do you have that Fox is withholding any information?
If you have EVIDENCE Fox is not cooperation, please enlighten us. Otherwise, it’s time to move on from this stale defense you have constructed of ACORN. We get it: Barry and his cronies can do no wrong in your eyes. Ideology before country. We get it.

First of all, it’s not Fox.
Second, I know you think you are being clever, but I also know you know that isn’t how it works.
Reporters don’t take their tapes and turn them into legal authorities hoping to get the authorities to pay attention. They aren’t part of the legal system. Reporters use their source material to inform the public about what is going on.
Even as we speak, Congress is working on a journalism shield law, so journalists are legally protected from having to divulge information from legal authorities. I’m not sure I agree with the law, but it demonstrates the importance of letting a free press operate without being used by authorities as an investigative unit- which would eventually suppress the journalists will to investigate and expose.
It’s up to the legal authorities to decide what to do then. In Baltimore, they are considering prosecuting the reporters.

“If you have EVIDENCE Fox is not cooperation, please enlighten us.”
tjp612 | Sep 14, 2009 12:00:51 PM
Fox has refused to release the unedited tapes. It is more than easy to shut me up – release a copy of the full tapes and start leaning on prosecutors.
Why won’t Fox release the full tapes?

“Why won’t Fox release the full tapes?”
jhw539 | Sep 14, 2009 12:04:38 PM
Why won’t the L.A. Times release IT’S tape?”
D’oh! | Sep 14, 2009 12:08:01 PM
I already replied – the LA Times is protecting Obama, right?
So D’oh is in agreement with me – Fox is protecting ACORN! The question is WHY?

“Reporters don’t take their tapes and turn them into legal authorities hoping to get the authorities to pay attention. They aren’t part of the legal system. Reporters use their source material to inform the public about what is going on.”
MayBee | Sep 14, 2009 12:03:45 PM
Right now ACORN is spinning that the tapes were heavily edited and even dubbed over in parts. Fox could immediately destroy ACORN’s excuses just by releasing copies of the full tapes. Why won’t they release the full tapes? Why are they letting ACORN squirm out of this?

Right now ACORN is spinning that the tapes were heavily edited and even dubbed over in parts. Fox could immediately destroy ACORN’s excuses just by releasing copies of the full tapes. Why won’t they release the full tapes? Why are they letting ACORN squirm out of this?
==========
Because reporters investigate to tell a story and let the authorities decide what to do once they’ve seen the story.
How these tapes being shown equals letting ACORN squirm out of this is beyond me.

Why did ACORN fire the people if the tapes were edited?
Posted by: Concerned in OH | Sep 14, 2009 12:24:01 PM
Because they hire only the most ethical people around?

“How these tapes being shown equals letting ACORN squirm out of this is beyond me.”
MayBee | Sep 14, 2009 12:24:19 PM
But the full tapes ARE NOT being shown. That is the entire point.
“Why did ACORN fire the people if the tapes were edited?”
Concerned in OH | Sep 14, 2009 12:24:01 PM
Why wouldn’t ACORN cut out a couple of minimum wage employees at the first whiff of bad PR? And it is OBVIOUS that the tapes are cut. All Fox has to do is release copies of the full tapes and ACORN loses there only possible excuse.
Why is Fox letting ACORN squirm out of this?

Please don’t forget about your Mad Mondays column!

Will Jake ask Gibbs about ACORN?
How will Gibbs respond?
Will anyone understand what he says?
These questions and more – as the worm, I mean world, turns.

jhw,
for someone who is normally doing nothing saying FOX is not even relevant, your sure doing a lot of whining!
I don’t blame them at all. Let ACORN run through all its “excuse bag” before you release the tapes. Then they look even more foolish.
As far as being “doctored”, your certainly entitled to your opinion even if your wrong.

Lol. Forgive me. I COULD NOT RESIST.
Posted by: ceeLeelee | Sep 14, 2009 12:43:26 PM
Too funny!
And I’m sure a response is forthcoming.

Good grief. I click on a story about Clinton and Obama and get ACORN and Fox. How did Fox get the power to prevent biggovernment dot com from releasing the videos? I must have missed a story somewhere.

===It appears you have selective concerns with truth telling.===
Had Bush been the one invited to lunch with Obama, your point would be valid.

“Right now ACORN is spinning that the tapes were heavily edited and even dubbed over in parts.”
Of course they are. Surprised?
“Fox could immediately destroy ACORN’s excuses just by releasing copies of the full tapes. Why won’t they release the full tapes?”
To WHOM? The evidence as presented is pretty damning. Ever consider that the reason the tapes are edited is because Fox has selected/highlighted the most salient portions of the encounters?
“Why are they letting ACORN squirm out of this?”
Why is Past Tense Media not reporting on any of this? It is laughable that you somehow hold Fox culpable of any wrongdoing.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson has told a South Carolina audience that the federal bailout has failed to create jobs in America.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Sep 14, 2009 1:31:01 PM
Uh, President Obama. Reverend Jackson called. He wants his party back.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson has told a South Carolina audience that the federal bailout has failed to create jobs in America.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena
If tihs is so, we will have ot mark this date. Jessie “The Peddler” Jackson finally spoke the truth!

The Bush administration lied about Iraq and WMD costing us thousands of lifes and over a trillion dollars. It appears you have selective concerns with truth telling.
Posted by: jim | Sep 14, 2009 12:49:00 PM
Come on Jim do I really need to post all the quotes from democrats stating that Sadam had WMD. I though George Bush was an idiot but for 8yrs democrats kept getting tricked but stupid ole Bush. You libs are like children for the next 20 yrs when ever you are losing a debate you will say “oh but what about George Bush he lied poeple died” Grow up.

“oh but what about George Bush he lied poeple died”
Posted by: ‘Un-American’ | Sep 14, 2009 1:53:51 PM
Clinton spent his days chasing Monica around his desk instead of dealing with terrorism throughout his administration. And when faced with it he blinked and made excuses for their behavior. We could just as easily put the lost lives throughout his administration, 9/11, and Afghanistan on Clinton. Blame is a slipperly slope.

I love these sites :) When ABC puts up a nonsence topic (OOH! The President is having lunch with and ex-President) the main topic in the comments is something they HAVE REFUSED TO COVER! Are you reading Jake? We the people would like to hear about ACORN!

Posted by: D’oh! | Sep 14, 2009 2:01:49 PM
Dude read the whole post. I was not blaming Bush.
Posted by: ‘Un-American’ | Sep 14, 2009 2:08:42 PM
Sorry, man. I was responding to jim. Should have copied more of your post.

Posted by: sara | Sep 14, 2009 2:07:09 PM
Excellent fiction.

But the LIARS were Bush and his President Cheney…..the global economic meltdown, Medicare Prescription drug bill, costing Billions, the Iraq War, costing billions and Americans lives, and the Afgan War unfunded and costing Lives. Did Iraq Oil pay for these wars…if it did, it must be in their pockets….and by the way have you ever wondered what happened to the millions found with Saddam in suitcases? Where is the accounting for this money….there never has been and the “big mouths” are to ignorant to ask….they were “scared” of the Bush Administration, thought he would wiretap them. Right
Posted by: sara | Sep 14, 2009 2:07:09 PM
Total Cost of Wars Since 2001
$909,347,680,277
As of March 20,2009 and Obama has spent around $2,600,000,000,000 dollars so far in office.

“UPDATE: Obama and Clinton are having lunch at Il Mulino, an Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village known for its veal and shellfish.”
And hot women waitresses…

Nice going, Barry:
Sept. 14 (Bloomberg) — Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize- winning economist, said the U.S. has failed to fix the underlying problems of its banking system after the credit crunch and the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
“In the U.S. and many other countries, the too-big-to-fail banks have become even bigger,” Stiglitz said in an interview yesterday in Paris. “The problems are worse than they were in 2007 before the crisis.”

ROFLMAO!
Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 14, 2009 3:31:47 PM
Hey look everybody! Ryan’s here! Yee haw! Our very own Clark Kent!

“We the people would like to hear about ACORN!”
The FoxNews viewer will not tolerate any news not being covered by Fox!
They would much rather that you cover an organization dedicated to helping poor minorities making it as scary as possible to the frightened white viewer.
In completely unrelated news, actual journalists are beginning to look at the role of racism in the right’s hatred of Obama.

Posted by: Ryan C
Hey OJ. Did you find a corrupt Democrat yet?

“Hear he’s going to speak again, doesn’t anyone realize that this man is a “Hollywood Actor” who wants to play movies all the time.”
I much more enjoyed the inverse of our current situation: The “Hollywood Actor” who became president.

No but racism certainly drive the coverage of ACORN.
The only racism placed on the entire ACORN issue is by the same liberals who whine racism every time someone is critical of Obama.
Considering the amount of money ACORN has recieived so far and is looking to get form the gov’t, there ABSOLUTELY needs to be an investigation. Opps, i forget they are already under investigation ALL over the country!!!!
they have no real defense of what ACORN is doing.
Oh yes, then there is that little vice-versa test.

I was watching Fox News this weekend and saw a commercial for GE. At least they know where to get the most viewers for their advertising dollars!

Now THAT is an interesting perspective…

“I was watching Fox News this weekend and saw a commercial for GE.”
Has someone told Bill O’Reilly?
He may lose it on air tonite.

All day, nothing about the ACORN debacle from ABC…
Incredible.

Hmmm, you may be right. It is going to take them a good, long time to do those things.
In the meantime, a lot of us will just have to tune into FOX. I assume ABC won’t mind…

A Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted in the three days following President Barack Obama’s speech to Congress about his health care plan discovered that 54% say the more the hear about the plan the less they like it.

I can see that lunch now. Oh please Bill forgive me for allowing all my associates to call you and Hillary  racist! I know your one of us (tee-hee) and I need you to go out and sell my obamacare for me because they don’t like me anymore! Pleeeeeeeeeeeze Bill and I’ll let you sleep in Lincoln’s bedroom!!! Tee-hee what a sucker Bill is!

ACORN wants another $6 million
Posted by: ceeLeelee | Sep 14, 2009 5:40:54 PM
Maybe Obama can take it out of us book sales, seeing as how authors are excluded from the “evil capitalist” list.

“Right wingers in his blind zeal to slam Obama endorses a very left wing view of the government’s relationships with bank.
“Namely that government’s should restrict the size of banks!”
As long as it is going to use taxpayer dollars to bail them out on the grounds that they are “too big to fail, government has an affirmative duty to limit their size. It takes a special breed of moron to label that view as “left-wing.”

“. I guess the country is full of right-wingers since Fox beats everyone every week”
FoxNews attracts about 2M viewers a night.
While tops in cable news, cable news’s viewership is like 5M total.
Its one of those good news bad news things.
Bad news that we have 2 million morons in this country.
Good news is that represents a very small percentage of Americans overall.

Americans trust them over the Republicans to handle the nation’s main problems by a substantial 48 percent to 28 percent
Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 14, 2009 5:45:04 PM
Sounds like the perfect storm to pass Obamacare. They’ve got the votes, so what’s the hold up?

It’s like the hypocrisy is staring you right in the face and you’ve got your ears covered and your eyes shut tight and your singing “la la la la la!”

ACORN wants another $6 million
Posted by: ceeLeelee | Sep 14, 2009 5:40:54 PM
Posted by: D’oh! | Sep 14, 2009 5:44:43 PM
The best thing about ACORN? Can’t blame Bush!

Then there’s the evil capitalist who bought a new house in Chicago and got the lot next to it for a song. Not on the list either, I’m afraid.

“Wow. Great comeback!”
Just curious as to the source.
I know you guys don’t think for yourself but I was unable to find it via google.

“The U.S. might not recover the 6.9 million jobs and the $13.9 trillion in wealth lost during the recession until about the middle of the decade, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The unemployment rate may never get back down to the 4.4 percent low of 2007, he said.”
The fruits of right wing economics.
Thanks Republicans.

“The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 37% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent.”

Don’t forget to call us racists. We hear “real journalists” are looking into the possibility this is all about race afterall. You know – real journalists like Maureen Dowd.
Posted by: D’oh! | Sep 14, 2009 5:42:13 PM
*****
Is CNN’s Jim Spellman a real journalist? Not sure if he qualifies here but he has been following the tea party movement and was asked if the guy screaming nonsense or the other calling for a civil war or another carrying an AK47 were representative– “…we saw handguns from time to time, but running through this subculture that’s developed around these tea parties is a bit of a dark undercurrent. The bulk of the people are for lower taxes and less government control, but there really is an element that’s got these kind of outlandish conspiracy theories about death camps and about this take over, people comparing President Obama to Hitler. It really is a sizable…It’s not just a couple of people around the edges. One of the big questions will be if this movement goes forward while maintaining this kind of element on the edges…”
Check out the clips. I admire Spellman for calling them out.He didn’t say anything about racism, but he did raise the issue of how out there some of this is.

Americans trust them over the Republicans to handle the nation’s main problems by a substantial 48 percent to 28 percent
Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 14, 2009 5:45:04 PM
============================
Here’s what Ryan C did not tell us:
- There are 85 data points within this poll, going back to September 1982
- Democrats came out on top (i.e., “more trusted) 60 of 85 polls
- Guess what: Republicans were in the White House 18 of the 27 years of poll!
This poll is nothing but a moral victory for Dems.

Glen Beck must be getting to you, huh?
***
I also like James Poniewozik’s take on Glenn Beck’s 9/12 project in his Time article:
“What he purportedly wants is to bring back our feeling of “unity.” I remember that feeling… I remember thousands of American flags being flown out of apartment and brownstone windows, not as political statements or in the you-better-prove-your-patriotism spirit of flag pins and Freedom Fries, but simply because we felt we Americans were all in this together.
So since March, what has Glenn Beck been doing to re-establish that sense of nonpartisan national brotherhood? Calling President Obama a racist, declaring that the government was bringing fascism upon us, asking his fans to dig up dirt on political figures he doesn’t like, and predicting civil-war-like uprisings. Because that’s how you bring people together.
None of us have a unique claim on the meaning of 9/11, or 9/12. The fact that I was in New York on 9/11 does not make my views about anything that’s happened since more valid than anyone else’s. (If you were in Montana on 9/11, your views are just as legitimate as mine.) Millions of us were here, and we drew millions of different lessons from that day.
New York being a Blue city, of course, millions of those people disagree with Glenn Beck. But that does not mean that those New Yorkers—or Washington D.C. residents—have “forgotten” 9/12, or 9/11. Believe me, we damn well wish we could forget.
You want to bring back the feeling of national unity and civility, Glenn Beck? You could start by not using this tragedy as your personal political platform.”
I also like Alex Pareene’s of Gawker:
“…the Commander in Chief is no longer subjecting the nation to death porn.
No, this year it’s limited to a nutty little cult leader on basic cable who is encouraging his radicalized band of fanatical followers to invade the cities where the tragedy actually happened in order to shock the populace back into fear.”

The bulk of the people are for lower taxes and less government control, but there really is an element that’s got these kind of outlandish conspiracy theories about death camps and about this take over, people comparing President Obama to Hitler. It really is a sizable…It’s not just a couple of people around the edges. One of the big questions will be if this movement goes forward while maintaining this kind of element on the edges…”
Check out the clips. I admire Spellman for calling them out.He didn’t say anything about racism, but he did raise the issue of how out there some of this is.
Posted by: Alyson | Sep 14, 2009 6:14:32 PM
Right just like the left has code pink and others to act like fools at all the anti wars marches or at the conventions or when the president was inaugarated. Neither side is represented by thier crazies.

“It really is a sizable…It’s not just a couple of people around the edges. One of the big questions will be if this movement goes forward while maintaining this kind of element on the edges…”
So, Alyson, you are now using talking points from CNN? You’ll have to do better than that.

Obama and the Democrats are supposedly losing public favor but Republicans remain much more hated and distrusted.
Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 14, 2009 6:23:55 PM
**
Exactly. They get excited over two point gains.

“Obama and the Democrats are supposedly losing public favor but Republicans remain much more hated and distrusted.”
That’s OK. I don’t think Republicans will mind being considered in your precious polls as “less trusted” by the public when the public has placed their trust in Republicans to reside in the White House two years for every one year Democrats were trusted over period of poll (1982-2009)!

“4.4% low in 2007, unemployment has been rising ever since… Hold on a second – Isn’t 2007 when the Dems took control of Congress?”
It hit that in March. I guess according to your logic the Democrats lowered unemployment.
The right wing stupid, it burns……

You can definitely blame Barney Frank and his dem buddies for the recession.
***
“Only one out of five surveyed said Obama bore responsibility for the recession; 54 percent blamed former President George W. Bush and 19 percent blamed former President Bill Clinton.
Financial institutions, however, bore the brunt of the criticism — 79 percent of those surveyed said banks and lenders that made risky loans deserve quite a bit of the blame. Sixty-eight percent held the federal government responsible for not adequately regulating banks.”
Uh, who appointed the people at the Federal Reserve (which sows the seeds of recession), HUD, Fannie, Freddie, SEC and so on again? Oh, right. Bush. And who did Paulson say was most helpful in creating legislation to avoid a devastating depression? Oh, right. Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi.

“Unemployment rate was lowest in 2007 on Bush’s watch”
Lowest as compared to what?
Bush’s terms in office + the last 8 months cleaning up his mess?

“Admittedly, some of Beck’s work has caused divisiveness”
Calling the President a racist that hates white people and demanding that God be returned to his rightful place?
Even quite a few right wingers think Beck is a lunatic.
I suppose you think Mike Savage is a poor misunderstood soul.

Too big to fail?
Not Wall Street
Not Obama
Us
Millions may put their trust in government and Obama..
But I trust Americans to do the right thing
now that they are awake.
Yes I still have a huge glow from the protest on 9/12.
Not the one in DC but the rally in a small town in NC. Those 100 people made me hopeful and proud.

The Deniers are starting to sound desperate.
Lol.
Posted by: ceeLeelee | Sep 14, 2009 6:39:10 PM
They are. But yes, deniers, the GOP did run the economy into the ground; yes, there were only 70-100k people in DC on Saturday; yes, you did lose the election; yes, we do need health care reform and Americans want it, and yes, the GOP is still very unpopular.

Posted by: ceeLeelee | Sep 14, 2009 6:47:08 PM
Well done, ceeLeelee, well done. :^)

Is Obama getting tips on how to avoid getting impeached?
Bill survived and he didn’t even have control of the media like Obama.

I am beginning to believe your ignorance is real, Ryan.
I really do think playing the race card is beneath you.
The bad news for you is that the race card is totally played out and you lose credibility when you try to play it.
Get a clue.

“Meanwhile Beck’s ratings skyrocket. Advertisers who stuck around gotta be happy with that!”
The “send us your junk gold” people are thrilled.
Perfect mesh of an easily manipulated audience and a scam that preys on it.

“What time period?”
The pertinent one. I’ll give you a hint: When was the last time period during which a Republican administration vetoed anything?

“Real fruitcake conspiracy stuff from the folks that claimed Bush was going to cancel the 2008 elections”
Thanks for insight – That is way, way out there. No wonder I was confused.

His lying will be his legacy.

I could be wrong since I never watch it, but I wasn’t aware that FOX is renown for it’s cutting edge journalism. It’s just one loudmouth after another translating interpretations of current events into right-wing perspectives for it’s fans so they can manage disseminating it. It’s more like a televised right-wing pep rally/infomercial.
Posted by: Skip | Sep 14, 2009 6:02:20 PM
Wow! That’s a lot of analysis for someone who never watched it.

Good news is that represents a very small percentage of Americans overall.
Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 14, 2009 5:48:20 PM
As does 5 million.

“Wow! That’s a lot of analysis for someone who never watched it.”
I said I never watch it. I didn’t say I have never watched it. That’s why I put in the little disclaimer that I might be wrong about it. Has FOX significantly changed since I last saw it? There is no indication it has.

Folks on the right want to ignore that one of the reasons the Democrats swept the mid-term elections was the economy, not just dissatisfaction with Iraq.
=======
You’re right.
If I recall it was concerns about the war, concerns about the economy, corruption (remember Pelosi’s vow to make it the most ethical congress ever?), and fiscal irresponsibility.
And the Dems stepped in and did a fantastic job with all of those things.

“And the Dems stepped in and did a fantastic job with all of those things.”
They funded the war even though Bush vetoed attempts to set a timetable. They passed legislation to try and stabilize the economy with bills like the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 and the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 before the crash, so you can’t say they didn’t try. But why is the burden of proof on us? -repeating what Ryan C posted earlier: Name the legislation that the Democrats passed [over a prescient Bush veto of course] that caused the financial meltdown. Food and Energy [farm bill]? Water Resources? Trying to blame the financial crisis on the Democrats between 2007 -09 is weak.

Trying to blame the financial crisis on the Democrats between 2007 -09 is weak
=======
Where did I say anything about the Dems causing the financial meltdown?
I listed the specific areas they ran on in 2006 with promises to improve. They weren’t incredibly successful, and are continuing on that same path.

“Where did I say anything about the Dems causing the financial meltdown?”
You didn’t? Well somebody certainly did–it’s a standard element of right-wing revisionist history–so I hope you can pardon me for an indiscriminate retort.

People, it is time for reconciliation. For the health care reform bill, that is.