Emptying our holiday inbox

Posted: Thursday, July 05, 2007 4:43 PM by Chuck Todd

From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
In lieu of a morning update for the rest of this week, we figured we'd share a few thoughts on the few political stories making the rounds today.

-- Blame Canada: For the most part, the NYT has been tougher on Clinton's opponents than Clinton (at least in our humble opinion). However, the only paper to hint at the former president's rumored association with someone in Canada has been the Times. They did it directly last year when they did a story on how often the two Clintons spend weekends together. A controversial piece, to say the least. Well, the Times did it again, more subtlely when it included this in its write-up of the Clintons in Iowa. "While the couple drew cheers from hundreds at the parade — homemade 'Hillary 2008' signs adorned front porches and one woman thanked Mr. Clinton for 'saving Africa' — a couple of men booed Mr. Clinton along the way. 'Go back to Canada!' another man shouted at him — eight times. Mr. Clinton walked on." Wonder how many calls the Times has gotten from Clinton folks on this one?

-- Shave, Haircut, Thousands Of Bits: Thursday's Wash. Post story on the man behind the $400 John Edwards haircuts is fascinating on a number of levels. First of all, why did Edwards' stylist speak out? Has he had a falling out with the senator? Was it something the stylist didn't like regarding Edwards' appearance in the current issue of Men's Vogue. (BTW, why did the campaign allow that photo shoot now given that it's NOT showing the candidate as Mr. Populist, but we digress). As for the haircut story, the Edwards camp can be happy about two things: 1) the story came out during a holiday week for most of the late-night talk shows and the chattering class. 2) the story didn't even make the front section of the Washington Post. Which leads us to this sidebar thought: For those in the media know inside-the-beltway (and inside the Washington Post), ask yourself: Why was a John Solomon story bylined in the Style section and not the A-section? Solomon doesn't work for the Style section; his job is as an investigative journalist and I bet he believes every story he writes belongs on A-1 (or at least in the A-section). Somebody at the Post clearly believed this haircut follow-up belonged somewhere else. Must have been a humdinger of an editorial debate.

-- More On The Stylist: In case anyone is wondering, the Edwards stylist in question, Joseph Torrenueva, is also a part-time actor. Check out his IMDB page. (He's huge with Aaron Spelling apparently). And he's also good buddies with Martin Sheen, the Democrats' favorite fake president.

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Comments

Perhaps the Post is realizing that Solomon is an overpaid hack who has a tendency to republish Republican opposition research on Dems? But then again, they did publish this piece of crap article. Ben Bradlee should kick their asses for publishing crap like this.

Johndroe (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 4:59 PM)

Oh, and one more thing, if the Dems nominate Hillary, we'll have Bill Clinton's affairs splashed all over the national newspaper all over again. I think I went through this during the 1990s and this time, with children, I'd rather avoid having newspapers publishing graphic details about cigars being inserted in orifices.

And, of course, there will be the inevitable MSM attack on Hillary who is not, despite her self-image, a squeaky clean figure herself. Whitewater and a mysteriously appearing box of important documents in the White House comes to mind, as well as quickly making $100,000 on commodities trading. And, of course, the health care fiasco with her secretiveness, controlling paranoia, and "resoluteness" AKA bullheadedness, stubbornness, etc.

Change the channel folks. I'm tired of the Clintons and want something new.

Johndroe (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 5:02 PM)

I disagree. CNN just spent 15 minutes on various stories praising Clinton while ignoring or putting down the others.
Actually, MSNBC is the worst in this regard. Cheerleading for Hillary is a continuing practice there.
The media has spent all this time ignoring anything that might make questions arise or make Hillary look less than perfect. And the media has dismissed or made fun of the rest.
The Bristish newspapaers even see this and remark on it. It's so blatant that another country is commenting on the over gushing of Hillary by our media and dismissing the other candidates or barely acknowledging the other candidates. The also have commented on the fact that our media refuses to ask questions or where the beef is?
Our media is pathetic.

diane (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 5:22 PM)

The New York Times kind to Clinton's? Please! Clearly, you don't read Maureen Dowd or Patrick Healy.

We know you Irish-Catholics in the Washington media stick together, especially when it comes to your shared misogyny. However, readers of First Read aren't as delusional as you might think we are.

JoeCHI, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 5:27 PM)

I agree. Instead of publicizing Edwards' $400 haircut, why doesn't the media talk about his work at the NC poverty center or the foundation in his son's memory. Or why is there no discussion about Obama's work in Chicago's south-side. I guess they would have to then talk about Hillary's "charitable" work too.

Ashe, SF, CA (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 6:27 PM)

name the destitute candidate that lives in a shack and cuts they're own hair and is going to save middle class america, stop the current trend towards a 2 class society, who would that be? come on I am waiting for your answer so I can have they're name tattooed across my forehead, you dems need to wake up and think about the reasons you give to be against edwards, they are all ridiculous, he is the only dem who can when the general election, again ALL THE CANDIDATES ARE RICH, THEY ALL SPEND RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS ON THEY'RE LOOKS, THEY ALL LIVE IN LUXURIOUS MANSIONS, YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL, EACH AND EVERYONE, RICH. if that isn't clear enough for anyone let me know I'll type it slower next time

MK,MO (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 7:48 PM)

If he is "huge" with Aaron Spelling... his career is DOA as of late last June. Tell me you already knew that.

Mark Thieme (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 7:57 PM)

chuck todd and mark murray /since the subject was once again brought up about the copious amount of money edwards pays his hair stylist, we know the alleged amount edwards pays for a hair stylist, so how much do the other candidates pay for a similar service? and if you don't have the stamina to compare apples to apples I suggest you put a plug in the old cake hole on this issue

MK,MO (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 8:00 PM)

I think they need to do a little more unearthing of facts on this story. Isn't Spelling dead ??

Gee, I didn't know it was a sin in the USA to make a killing on commodities or anything else on an exchange. You almost sound jealous Johndroe. Republicans make a killing all the time on non compete government contracts. Let the good times in Iraq roll on.

As for Whitewater, an overzealous prosecutor spent millions of dollars and hundreds/thousands of fruitless hours doing his level best to crucify the Clintons and came up empty.

As for the health care "fiasco". Maybe she was somewhat undiplomatic but can anyone doubt that the intent was good. She just didn't realize the extent of the powerful and greedy forces arrayed against her.
Is there any doubt that the richest, most powerful, and ostensibly the best country in the world to live in should be able to take better care of its citizens with regard to health care than Canada, France, and even Mexico and Cuba to name a few. For shame. And don't throw the usual Republican talking point that we have the best health care delivery system in the world. That may be true. But it's not the quality of the health care that's at issue but the abysmal access to it for almost 50 million Americans w/o health coverage. And that doesn't even start to address the burden of the middle and lower middle class in having to allocate an inordinate amount of their meager resources to pay for what is often substandard insurance they can barely afford.

Nick Dorsey (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 8:13 PM)

June 23, 2006, to be specific... since then Aaron's influence has been somewhat on the wane. But why quibble?

Mark Thieme (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 9:06 PM)

What's this Canada thing? I saw the reference to people at the parade telling Bill Clinton to go back there. I thought it was a draft dodging reference. And I obviously missed the NYT reference - does Clinton have a new woman up there?

As for the disproportionate media coverage, I think its a mixed blessing for Hillary Clinton. Seems like its too early, and I see a good liklihood the audience and the media itself will get tired of her, and start looking for news about someone else.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 9:15 PM)

You crack me up Mark Thieme. I bet Chuck and Mark sometimes long for the days when readers didn't talk back to the reporters.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 10:10 PM)

Exactly what is this Canada thing with Bill Clinton?

Lynn, silver spring md (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 10:53 PM)

If I were Edwards, I would fire my stylist. Financial arrangements are no one else's business.

Barbara, TN (Sent Thursday, July 05, 2007 11:15 PM)

If somebody had that article about Bill and Hillary not spending weekends together, can you please just post the link. Thanks in advance.

Aidyn, NY,NY (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 2:15 AM)

I'm sure that NBC pays Todd and Murray a lot of money for just sitting in your office and repeating what other people say regarding John Edwards. Why not get off your a__ and travel with Edwards and come back and report about him. I'm sure your guilt when cashing your checks must be overwhelming........but then again perhaps you both don't realize what you do is not reporting.

David, Chattanooga, Tn (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 9:00 AM)

Tough crowd.

Flat-earther, Georgia (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 9:24 AM)

Barbara from Tn has it right- the hairdresser had no business dishing on his client. It would be nice to see coverage of Edwards' campaign positions on the actual issues instead of more of this inane fluff. FDR was rolling in dough, yet cared about the poor and JFK and RFK were multi-millionaires as well. The idea that a candidate should wear sackcloth and ashes if they are interested in anti-poverty initiatives is absurd. This is an attempt to trivialize Edwards and everything he stands for.

kim, crofton md (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 10:23 AM)

Clinton is going to Canada to steal A-Rod's GF

EDWARDS/CLINTON 08!!

Jon, New York (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 10:30 AM)

Not exactly Obamagirl but funny

"http://www.youtube.com/v/-Sudw4ghVe8"

lyn (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 10:38 AM)

Enough about Edwards hair already. A guy works hard to make big money and spends some of it on something he thinks is important. Seems like Republicans should be right in tune with that. At least Edwards cares about the Middle Class which can't be said of the GOP. As for the Clinton health care plan, everyone loves to make fun of it. Should we be laughing considering the task force's predictions regarding increasing numbers of uninsured, increasing costs, declining quality of care, and crisis in hospital emergency rooms were just about spot on?

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 11:48 AM)

John B, IA, Good comment. I will be willing to bet that everyone who does not have health care supported the Clinton's plan. As for those that say the plan would create bad quality and a long waiting list, is it not better than no coverage at all. And even today if you don't have health insurance, you may get taken care of, But at a very slow rate and poor quality. Even at that you will have to sell everything you own and are trying to pay for before the government steps in. Have a major problem and loose your home. Some way to have to live in a country like ours. Don't expect the repubs to do anything about this.
I have stated before that I am a single mother with children, (not by playing around, but by having my husband leave me for a better looking woman). I work two jobs and clean houses two days a week and I can make it. If I or my children get sick I am finished. I make too much to apply for wellfare.

Sidney, Pa (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 12:55 PM)

Eleven years ago I had emergency quadruple bypass surgery which saved and extended my life. I had very good insurance and paid only a few hundred dollars on a six figure medical bill.

A woman whose family I knew lived out in the country as a housewife and full-time mom, within weeks of my surgery, also was diagnosed by the same cardiologist as having four blocked arteries. Her husband was a "shade tree" mechanic with his own one man shop. Guess what? No health insurance and no money. She was sent home with medications and was not given surgery. She died at her dining room table paying bills, leaving her husband and 3 kids at home. So much for family values and the sanctity of life.

It happens everyday, anywhere in America. This is the shame and curse of the the true God of America: Unenlightened Selfish Interest, sometimes called Greed. Bow down.

People who scoff at one subsidized health plan or another for being somehow imperfect, or for having been a failure in (fill in the blank of a more advanced nation) are the lowest of the low. No plan is perfect and they know it. They have health insurance themselves or hubristically think they will never need it. They are the heathen peoples who keep millions in this nation in poverty and chains and don't look back. They are the people for whom justice will come in ways they never imagined. For these papier-mache "Christians" it is all about the the Almighty ME. A pox on all their houses.

Mark Thieme (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 1:49 PM)

I'm with Ashe, SF,CA. And why aren't we seeing anything (other than the articles I found in the Times-Picayune and on the MSNBC website) about Obama's appearance in New Orleans last night? The things he said there are a far more substantive story than Edwards' haircuts or any of the other trivial crap about the candidates that has come up.

What Obama said in New Orleans is important. He correctly pointed out that Katrina recovery has been practically at the bottom of President Bush's list of priorities and that we need a president who wakes up every morning to deliberate how he'll spur New Orleans' recovery. And that instead of spending $275 million in Iraq per day we need to use it to address rebuilding New Orleans and other domestic issues.

Obama said more good things I blogged about at more length previously, but to add to his remarks I'd like to say the following: We need a President who hasn't forgotten that Louisiana and Mississippi are a part of the United States and will make it a top priority to help them become whole. Not an idiot who seems to think Iraq and Afghanistan are states and that Louisiana and Mississippi are foreign countries.

Olivia (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 2:05 PM)

There is a woman in my town that suffers from Leukemia. She has no health insurance and has not been able to work for over a year. She got Kemo treatments, but needs a bone marrow transplant in order to survive. She has no money and can't get it payed for. They just gave her 3 months to live and sent her home. This is a sad thing in America.

Blue state baby (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 2:07 PM)

Mark Thieme, Thanks for your comment. I wish more people that had the good fortune as you do, saw things with the thankfulness, thoughtfullness, and kindness as you do.

Sidney, Pa (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 2:21 PM)

Blue state baby--My heart goes out to that woman and her family. That is very sad and I know this is a cliche but such things shouldn't happen in America.

Since horrendous situations such as this will keep happening until reforms come about which probably won't take place for a long time, it's time for seriously ill patients who find themselves in such a bind to think outside the box. They (or a family menber or friend, if they aren't physically able to do so themselves) should obtain a gun. Then, they should go to the hospital or other medical facility that has refused to treat them and demand that they receive treatment--or else.

Then, when they end up in prison, they can end up getting free medical treatment on the government's dime.

Olivia (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 2:41 PM)

Answer to the Canada question:

Just poked around, and found its a rumor of an affair between Bill Clinton and Belinda Stronach, a Canadian politician. From what I saw, it was all over Canadian papers in 2005. Doesn't seem to have gotten much play down here except apparently once in the NYT. Stronach acknowledge a friendly relationship with Clinton in one interview I saw, but says that's all it is.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 2:55 PM)

Olivia, was there not a survey that was out that said people without healthcare insurance were 50% more likely to die? I thought I heard that somewhere. And I liked your response and it is true.

Blue state baby (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 3:00 PM)

Mark Thieme / they're is no reason for this to continue, and you are exactly right the people who constantly bring up the term socialized medicine as the ugliest of possible evils in the u.s. are the ones that have adequate health insurance, and to hell with the people who don't, and to make it worse most of them don't pay a dime for they're coverage either, it's worth what ever it takes to get it done, and quite frankly it won't be nearly as painful to implement as the good repubs would like you to believe, if everyone kicks in they’re fair share there is more than enough money in this country to make it work without ant undue hardship

MK,MO (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 3:29 PM)

"Sicko"-movie

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 4:08 PM)

Blue state baby--I'm embarrassed to admit I don't recall seeing the survey....but that makes sense.

Olivia (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 4:12 PM)

Under the auspices of the Department of State, I spent some time in Cuba a few years ago. In spite of the great austerity imposed by the socialist economy, in spite of a totalitarian regime in which the people have little to say about their lives and future, in spite of the absurdist American blockade which keeps life-saving pharmaceuticals from the sick and dying... there was...health. No one died for lack of a surgical procedure, no matter how complex. Children were everywhere, dancing, playing baseball, perfect teeth, healthy, buff kids playing childhood (non-electronic) games in safe streets. There was no obvious marshal presence except for the few little golf-carts with flashing blue lights driven by unarmed police. There was health and there was education. A doctor made about what a school teacher does and doctors, attorneys, teachers, engineers, and artists were everywhere. They we making their own home-grown pharmaceuticals from what they called "Green medicine." This was no mere herbal revolution, but rather state-of-the-art science in the fields. People were literate, intelligent, healthy and poor. Almost nobody I met was Communist (less than 5% of the population), but I have never seen such pure and passionate patriotism. When I got back on the plane to New York in Cancun, I recognized the difference immediately. Folks with furrowed brows bent over their laptops, intense, rich, and self-obsessed. And I was one of them. I still am.

Mark Thieme (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 4:38 PM)

Chuck, lol, are you going to do a blog entry on Republican cash on hand, lol. This is funny on so many levels...

Seems Ron Paul now has more cash in the warchest than McCain by at least a couple hundred thousand.

Here comes the next round of message board onslaught.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 5:02 PM)

My wife an I saw Sicko this weekend. I am hoping it does well and many people see it. My wife is an RN and marveled at the thought of a care based medical system instead of a profit based system. Medical care needs to be in same catagory as Police protection, Fire protection, and Public schools. Better than pallets full of money disappearing into the chaos of Iraq. Here's hoping.

Gary, Schear, Bozeman, Montana (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 5:55 PM)

Mark Thieme--Thanks for the interesting, informative post about Cuba. But bear with me for firstly being the devil's advocate and asking the sort of question some conservative (which you know I'm not) might ask because I'm curious: If Cuba's health care system is so good, why did Fidel Castro have a Spanish doctor flown in from Spain, instead of hiring a Cuban doctor, when he needed life-saving surgery?

(I did read where you said the US embargo is keeping life-saving pharmaceuticals out of Cuba--could it be that the Spanish doctor was flown in because he was able to bring with him US drugs that he'd obtained in Spain?)

And I second what you said about the US blockade being "absurdist." When you think of how we trade so massively with China it's hard to avoid buying Chinese products, and are getting along well with other Communist nations such as Vietnam, the Cuban embargo has to be one of the most stupid aspects of American foreign policy. It's an outdated relic of the Cold War--and it's only in place because a vocal Cuban-American minority mainly in Florida demands it.

But one thing ironic about it is that, even though as you note it's keeping life-saving meds out of Cuba, which thus endangers the lives of seriously-ill Cubans, it and the associated ban on American citizens' travel to Cuba are hurting Americans even more--like farmers who want to sell their produce in Cuba and Cuban-Americans not part of the nut group mentioned above who want to visit family members in Cuba. And Americans like Rush Limbaugh who want to enjoy Cuban cigars, for whom they're an illegal substance. (I'm kidding--who really cares about Rush?)

And there are the biggest irones of all: by banning American travel to Cuba the US is emulating other countries with repressive regimes, whose governments obviously fear having their citizens traveling freely abroad lest they decide to defect. In other words, countries like Cuba.

Olivia (Sent Saturday, July 07, 2007 11:50 AM)

Chuck Todd Antionette. Haircut stories are fascinating? Where does he live, Versailles?

Edwards is getting this treatment from shollw reporters because he's likely to win and win big. They have no scandal angle on him revolving around sex or crimes. So they tease about haircuts. The press did it to Gore in 2000. They turned a serious man into a figure of fun.

The reporters like Chuck Todd with a stake in continuing the unserious shallow gossipy reportage know that Edwards is polling astonishingly well in Iowa and will easily win in places like Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Knetucky because ordinary Democratic voters there think well of Edwards. Jokers like Todd are in trouble. They would prefer a scandal plagued Clinton or weak kneed compromisng centrist lik Obama.

Daniel, Tucson, Arizona. (Sent Saturday, July 07, 2007 5:38 PM)

Olivia: Thank you for the thoughtful response. All I have to add is to say I saw what I saw. I claim no special insights other than whatever was gleaned from a relatively brief experience.

The people were poor and not free in the sense of having much determination over their lives. They were openly unhappy with Fidel at the time for the same reason we are unhappy with our current administration. People spoke openly about Fidel's incompetence and ego-obsession.

Hardly anybody on the streets claimed to be communists. They spoke of the party much like we cynically deride "politicians." There were many statues of Jose Marti, their George Washington figure. I never saw a Fidel statue, but dozens of Marti statues. For many, Marti's revolution was the one that counts. Thus nationalism was alive and well. The embargo has apparently only enhanced that sentiment.

I asked a non-communist member of the legislature how long Fidel would last if the embargo would be lifted. he just smiled and said, "You have asked the right question." It does seems Castro's long run owes a great deal to the United States.

And yes, many yearned for the toys that Americans play with: cars, technology, GameBoy and cable TV. As it was, there was a severe shortage of paper products, hot water and electricity. Fidel's grand vision, with the aid of every president since Eisenhower, is a failure. And, as a supporter of the regime confided to me, "Fidel is no saint."

Nonetheless, in this flawed experiment I did hear echoes of our own Preamble to the Constitution: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

They may have failed in their own unique way to live up to their own great ideals, but then so have we.

Mark Thieme (Sent Sunday, July 08, 2007 3:11 PM)

"Olivia, was there not a survey that was out that said people without healthcare insurance were 50% more likely to die? I thought I heard that somewhere. And I liked your response and it is true."
Blue state baby (Sent Friday, July 06, 2007 3:00 PM)
~~
Blue state baby, with or without healthcare insurance, 100% of us will die. Some sooner than others.

Barbara, TN (Sent Sunday, July 08, 2007 11:21 PM)

Mark Theime--Thanks for the response. There was one thing I didn't say previously that I should have added--by the US government's keeping ordinary Americans from visiting Cuba, it's also keeping Americans from bringing ideas into Cuba--and I got the implication that's 200% right (not a typo) that our ridiculous policy has only helped Castro stay in power.

And I liked your thought-provoking line at the end that the Cubans have failed to live up to their own ideals--but then so have we. I wonder if there is such a country as one that has successfully lived up to her own ideals.

Olivia (Sent Monday, July 09, 2007 1:17 PM)

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