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Hah, Hah: Sen. Al Franken
Tweet Share on Facebook June 20, 2008 Comment (5)
Should funnyman Al Franken prevail in his race for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota, the win would be one for the history books. Betty Koed, an assistant Senate historian, let out a chortle when asked if a comedian had ever been elected a senator. She couldn't name one to our Katherine Skiba.
Entertainers, though, have come and gone from the world's greatest deliberative body, she says, naming actor and unsuccessful presidential candidate Fred Thompson, a Republican senator from Tennessee from 1994 to 2003—though it must be said that he was a prosecutor in real life before he played one on television's Law & Order.
Two generations ago, Californians gave the nod to the GOP's George Lloyd Murphy, an amiable Hollywood song-and-dance man who starred with the likes of Shirley Temple and Fred Astaire and was elected in 1964 to a single term in the Senate. "We can't expect America to win against its foes without someone in the Senate who can really tap his toes," said one observer.
Franken, who has never held public office, is in a tough fight against incumbent Norm Coleman. But the actor-comedian, author, and screenwriter, who is best known for his 15 seasons with Saturday Night Live, might point to his stint in radio (he was the headliner for the liberal network Air America) as proof he's primed for public service.
Other radio talkers who have served in the Senate: Republican Jesse Helms of North Carolina and Democrats Arthur Moody of Michigan and Wilbert Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel of Texas.
The flamboyant O'Daniel—a singing flour salesman, banjo picker, and popular radio host in the 1930s—was Texas's governor before entering the Senate. He is said to have inspired the governor in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
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No Surprises for Bush's Lame Duck Fiscal 2010 Budget
Tweet Share on Facebook June 20, 2008 CommentConceding to the political reality that the incoming president will want to tweak the fiscal 2010 budget set to be unveiled next January or February, President Bush's team has ordered that nothing out of the ordinary be included in the funding blueprints being drawn up now.
Instead, the budget that will be handed off to Bush's successor to complete will be a flat-line product to include only already planned increases—or decreases—in ongoing federal programs. Normally at this stage of the year, departments would be readying initial budgets filled with new programs for the West Wing to consider. Instead, the budget writers are on cruise control, especially since about 80 percent of the federal budget is taken up by ongoing programs, salaries, and previously approved plans.
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Could Watergate Have Been a Plot to Get Ted Kennedy Elected President?
Tweet Share on Facebook June 19, 2008 Comment (4)
Nothing says conspiracy like a party at Washington's International Spy Museum. And that's where former Nixon staffer Geoff Shepard decided to promote his new book Inside the Real Watergate Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Make Ted Kennedy President, earlier this week at an event heavily attended by other ex-Nixon staffers.
Shepard admits the conspiracy theory title is a tad eyebrow-raising. "The title is preposterous unless you read the book," he says. "But when you read the book, it just shatters conventional wisdom about Watergate."
What the book does, Shepard tells Whispers, is that it "re-jiggers Watergate." It delves into the Kennedy Democrats' motivations for prolonging the scandal that ousted President Richard Nixon and makes Watergate look a lot more like Monicagate. "It's just like what they did with Bill Clinton," he says, pointing to the fact that most people, when looking back on Clinton's impeachment trial in the 1990s, feel as if it was politically motivated. "Isn't it funny that most people think Watergate was on the merits?" he muses. "And what my book says is no, no, no, it was exactly the same, they just did a better job of covering up the partisan politics."
And how does this all lead to getting Ted Kennedy into the White House? Well, that takes a bit more imagination, since Kennedy didn't run in the post-Watergate election in 1976. "It's a game of connect the dots," Shepard says about his secret-plot theory. "You could look at it and you could say: 'I don't go all the way, I don't go where he does, but I got to tell you, some of these facts are troubling.' "
After leaving the Ford administration for corporate law in 1975, Shepard stayed connected to his Nixon roots by getting together with a group of 80 or so public policy staffers. "We get back together to talk about public policy," Shepard says. One thing they don't talk about: Watergate.
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Obama's Campaign Defends Decision to Opt Out of Public Financing
Tweet Share on Facebook June 19, 2008 Comment (16)Reporters got the news by E-mail just before they sat down this morning for breakfast with Sen. Barack Obama's communications director, Robert Gibbs, and his lawyer, Robert Bauer: The presumed Democratic nominee had announced in a video to supporters that he would opt out of the 32-year-old public campaign financing system.
As reporters gathered at Washington's St. Regis Hotel were quick to point out, that would make Obama the first presidential candidate since Republican Richard Nixon to raise unlimited private funds for his race. And it represents a 180-degree pivot from his earlier pledge to participate in the public system if his opponent does the same.
Gibbs and Bauer were girded for the peppering they were about to receive: Is Obama's stated support of public campaign financing authentic? Did fear of being Swift Boated lead to the decision? Does this give his opponent an opening to criticize him for hypocrisy? (That last question, says our Liz Halloran, who was at the breakfast, was immediately answered by McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker, who E-mailed a statement before the morning pastries were finished calling Obama a "typical politician who will do and say whatever is most expedient for Barack Obama.")
Gibbs and Bauer acknowledged that Obama didn't meet his pledge to get together with his opponent to discuss a public financing agreement -- Bauer says a recent conversation he had with McCain lawyer Trevor Potter made it "clear" there was "no basis for further discussion." And, after they repeatedly accused McCain of "gaming" the campaign finance system, they had to respond to questions about their own gamesmanship.
Expected GOP nominee John McCain, who has struggled to fill his coffers, has indicated that he will accept public financing. That would limit his spending in the general election to $84.1 million in public funds, and he's also expected to rely heavily on the deep-pocketed Republican National Committee for campaign help. (Some stark numbers for McCain: Obama has raised $265 million and has $46 million on hand; McCain has raised $96 million and has $26 million on hand.)
Their defense for opting out? The campaign finance system is broken and needs to be fixed. McCain has already misused it during the primary system. There will be massive spending by unregulated 527 organizations. And Obama doesn't want to get caught without resources to respond, like Democratic nominee John Kerry in 2004, when the Swift Boat attacks were launched.
But, bottom line, the Obama camp believes that its reliance on small donors for its historic fundraising success is itself reforming the financing of campaigns. More than 90 percent of Obama's donors, Gibbs says, gave $100 or less, and the campaign doesn't accept money from lobbyists. "Campaign finance reform," Gibbs says, "is taking place in our campaign."
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Luke Russert’s Final Tryout for Meet the Press Host
Tweet Share on Facebook June 19, 2008 Comment (19)
Even as the kudos continue to roll in for the poise and composure Luke Russert has shown all week as his family says goodbye to dad Tim Russert, Luke is back at work today planning his biggest project yet: a radio memorial to Tim, the Meet the Press host who died at work last week. Luke and co-host James Carville, the Democratic strategist, are taping their 60/40 sports talk show on XM Satellite Radio. The show, which will feature sports figures Tim knew, will air Friday at noon. Among the guests planning to talk about Tim Russert's love of sports will be Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and former Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy. Luke also plans to air some old NBC and Meet the Press clips of Tim talking sports, mostly about his beloved Bills.
It's just the latest example of how Luke is ready for the spotlight of a bigger show. And what could be bigger than following his dad as host or cohost of Meet the Press? Since we began our bandwagon for Luke, we've received dozens of notes of support, with most agreeing that NBC at a minimum should make him a feature on the show.
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Obama Sells Out; McCain Second, Clinton Third in Bobblehead Sales
Tweet Share on Facebook June 18, 2008 Comment (2)
If sales of our Capitol Bobbleheads is any indication, then Sen. Barack Obama could have the fall presidential election wrapped up. Our friends at webobble.com, who made the Capitol Bobbles team and sell them on their site, say that Obama has sold out. "This may predict the election," says WeBobbles' Jeff Wolsky. Sen. John McCain's bobblehead was the second percentage sales leader, with 98 percent of his sold off. Sen. Hillary Clinton was third, with 72 percent of her bobble images sold. But the numbers are different: WeBobbles made 1,200 each of Clinton and Obama and just 250 of McCain. The surprise in sales: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who beat out the other House and Senate leadership biggies. The biggest flop: Rudy Giuliani who sold just 18 percent of the 250 made. Check out the official sales figures below.
Name Stock Total Total Sold Total Left Percentage Sold Barack Obama 1,200 1,200 0 100.00% John McCain 250 246 4 98.40% Hillary Clinton 1,200 864 336 72.00% Mike Huckabee 150 104 46 69.33% Mitt Romney 100 68 32 68.00% Fred Thompson 100 55 45 55.00% John Edwards 100 48 52 48.00% Bill Richardson 100 36 64 36.00% Nancy Pelosi 100 28 72 28.00% Chris Dodd 100 22 78 22.00% Rudy Giuliani 250 46 204 18.40% Mitch McConnell 100 15 85 15.00% Joe Biden 100 13 87 13.00% Harry Reid 100 10 90 10.00% John Boehner 100 8 92 8.00% TOTALS: 4050 2763 1287 -
Tim Russert’s Final E-Mail to CIA
Tweet Share on Facebook June 17, 2008 Comment (20)Shortly before collapsing and dying, NBC's Tim Russert was answering E-mail, including an RSVP for CIA Director Mike Hayden's Air Force retirement ceremony. The CIA had invited Russert to join others in the media to attend what's billed as a personal and reflective retirement ceremony this Friday at Bolling Air Force Base. Hayden is a general in the Air Force. He will remain at the CIA after his official July 1 retirement. Sometime last Friday, Russert E-mailed his RSVP, saying that he could not attend. He concluded his E-mail this way: "Please give the General my very best." Later in the day, Hayden issued this statement on Russert: "Like so many Americans, I knew Tim Russert as a dedicated, thoughtful journalist. His passing is a loss for our country and for all who hold dear the principle of a press that is free, vibrant, and responsible. Tim embodied those qualities, which he combined with a powerful sense of decency and kindness. Having had the privilege of appearing on Meet the Press this past March, I saw his gifts as a reporter and interviewer. Tim knew that the good, brisk exchange of ideas could make any issue—including sensitive and complex intelligence issues—accessible to the American public. He was a true patriot, devoted to the education of his fellow citizens. At this time of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with Tim's family and friends."
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Let Luke Russert Take His Dad's Chair on Meet the Press
Tweet Share on Facebook June 17, 2008 Comment (162)
We're starting the bandwagon today for Luke Russert to take over Meet the Press for his dad, Tim Russert. Ever since his eloquent and buoyant chat with the Today Show's Matt Lauer about his dad on Monday, the talk around town has been that he might outshine any of those on NBC's bench: Andrea Mitchell, Chris Matthews, David Gregory, Brian Williams, Chuck Todd, or Tom Brokaw.
Is he too young, being just out of college? Sure, we hear, but with his age group being the target audience for a show that comes as the youth vote appears to be getting serious about actually voting, it could provide the MTV-ing of the network that NBC needs. And unlike if NBC hires Katie Couric or Gwen Ifill, the expectations won't be so high. And given his performance on the Today Show, he could easily meet and beat them.
Just consider: As the rest of NBC was talking grimly and sadly about Tim Russert's passing last Friday at the age of 58, nothing Lauer tried to do could get son Luke to tear up. Just the opposite. He took every bad pass and ran for a touchdown. It probably helps that he cohosts his 60/20 sports show on XM Satellite Radio with James Carville, who raves about Luke. Talk about hands-on training for dueling with Vice President Cheney.
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Trips to Vietnam Are a McCain Family Affair
Tweet Share on Facebook June 16, 2008 Comment (12)
Credit: McCainblogette.com
In a symbolic move that highlights her international experiences and passion for childrens charities, Cindy McCain this week travels to Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia to renew her ties to programs like Operation Smile. Now that she's the wife of the presumptive GOP presidential candidate, her visit should help draw more press to her international charity work.
Officials tell Whispers that she will be in Vietnam on Thursday to tour the General Hospital of Khanh Hoa Province and watch the Operation Smile screenings of children, where surgery candidates are chosen. Operation Smile provides funding and support for surgery to correct facial deformities in children. On Friday, she will be in Thailand for a briefing on the United Nations World Food Program, which she also helps with. They will be telling her about their operations in Myanmar.
McCain officials said she also had a stop planned in Cambodia. Officials said that McCain had been concerned that she would not be able to make her regular visits to Asia to support the charities but was encouraged by the campaign to stick with her plans. Some press will be with her.
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Rove, McCain, and Obama Are Part of Wallace’s History In Pictures
Tweet Share on Facebook June 16, 2008 Comment (5)Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace has a wonderful collection of political autographs, each with their own bit of news. Our Whisper below describes how he got into collecting them and shows you three examples of his best samples.
Former Bush adviser Karl Rove, now a Fox commentator, was initially wary of going on news shows but finally agreed to appear on Wallace's show. With his signature, he noted that he had fun and drew pictures of himself and Wallace.
John McCain has appeared at least three times and in this entry he messes up the spelling of interrogation and scratches it out with a funny note blaming a "staff error."
For some 772 days, Wallace noted that Sen. Barack Obama had refused to go on his show. When Obama finally did, he promised in his note to the Fox host that he'd be back before another 772 days pass.
