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Remembering Robert Byrd
Tweet Share on Facebook June 29, 2010 Comment (9)Did you know that Sen. Robert C. Byrd loved a certain farewell speech by Aaron Burr, Jefferson's Vice President? Burr was also the president of the Senate, a far more important post as far as Byrd was concerned. Not only did he speak the speech from time to time on the floor of the Senate, but for Byrd-watchers above in the press gallery, he reenacted it. Suddenly we the listeners were transported back to 1805 to hear the prophecy that if the Constitution were ever destined to perish, its expiring agonies would be witnessed on this floor. It is here--it is here. Byrd got down on his hands and knees to make this point.
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Obama Should Fire General McChrystal, Fast
Tweet Share on Facebook June 23, 2010 Comment (41)By Jamie Stiehm, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal doesn't deserve the dignity of a resignation. Today at the White House, President Obama needs to hand him his proverbial head and send him packing for his outrageous conduct.
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No Hardball When Press, Pols Get Together for Washington Softball
Tweet Share on Facebook June 20, 2010 Comment (3)By Jamie Stiehm, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
Seeing the congressional women's softball team warm up on the green Wednesday, I thought to myself, there's no way my team's going to beat this bunch of competitors. My team consisted of journos like me--and I wasn't playing, just watching, so you can count on me for the facts, ma'am. But in truth and full disclosure, this is not a sports story, but an only-in-Washington scene sketch. For example, where else but here would Nina Totenberg sing the national anthem, hitting all the high notes better than most in the land of the free?
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Carly Fiorina's Contempt for Fellow Women
Tweet Share on Facebook June 14, 2010 Comment (19)By Jamie Stiehm, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
When the Californian Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate made a snide remark about Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer's hair--"So yesterday," she sneered--the punditocracy was off and running. MSNBCs cool, jaded take on the gaffe was that the former CEO of Hewlett Packard should know better and watch her words with an open mic. It's understood that kind of talk is dished out all the time in private--just make sure it doesn't go public.
Personally, I happen to like Sen. Boxer's hair (and fighting spirit) but now I have a new tidbit on Carly Fiorina's character that I don't particularly like.
Fiorina's life as a corporate darling--until she got fired at HP--and as a campaign adviser to Republican Sen. John McCain in his losing quest for president proved she is very good at pleasing powerful men. Maybe she likes being the only woman in the boardroom in all-alpha-male company and doesn't wish to share her success in the pyramid with other women. That is the loner syndrome.
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Clinton Saved Blanche Lincoln--Why Didn't Gore Let Him Do the Same?
Tweet Share on Facebook June 10, 2010 Comment (5)By Jamie Stiehm, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
Why does an Arkansas Senate primary make me want to cry the beloved country? Because it reminded me that Al Gore would have won the 2000 election if not for his foolish pride. You know what I'm talking about. After yesterday's election and recent news of Gore's separation from his wife Tipper, let's send Gore to the millennial doghouse to stay a while.
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Gulf Oil Spill is Obama's High Noon
Tweet Share on Facebook June 5, 2010 Comment (8)By Jamie Stiehm, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
Spring began in a politically poetic way: passage of healthcare reform by the People's House, at long last. Good that the last scene was played out in the chamber that actually deserved the kudos. The Chinook wind was sweeter than usual after a long hard winter and the young president looked like a winner. This town loves a winner.
Then strange things started happening. Here are some Spring Journal notes on an outsize, oil soaked, outlandish season in the capital city containing all the contradictions of the American people, writ small inside the square laid out by George Washington.
