First thoughts

Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 9:09 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Obama’s Blueprint? So are we to assume Obama's interview in today’s Washington Post -- in which he says he can bring the country together while Clinton cannot -- is a blueprint of his fall campaign? While not billed as that, it certainly reads that way. The Clinton camp took Obama's words as an attack, and it depends on one's perspective if saying that Clinton is less of a unifying force is actually direct shot or not. That said, when will Obama put that message in a TV ad? Is this what we should expect in September? Obama seems both comfortable and uncomfortable contrasting himself with Clinton, as the piece suggests.

VIDEO: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd offers his first read on what may be Obama's campaign blueprint.

*** Turning Off The Lights: Karl Rove leaves at the end of the month. Denny Hastert, as expected, isn’t seeking another term. Tom DeLay has already left the building. So has Bill Frist. And Bush and Cheney will join them in 17 months. The GOP team that led the Republican Party to victories in ’00, ’02 and ’04 -- but also to its defeat last year and the party’s current poor brand -- is essentially out the door. That’s probably a plus for the GOP: It creates an opportunity for new leaders to take charge and redefine the party. (Check out Romney’s new TV ad in Iowa, in which he talks about change.) It will also make it somewhat harder for the Democrats, especially Clinton, to continue railing against the Bush White House; at some point, after all, Bush won’t be there anymore. But, as GOP analyst Jennifer Rubin writes, there’s a problem still hanging over the Republicans trying to succeed Bush: Iraq.

*** Courting The Media Isn’t Enough To Win: So how is Huckabee taking advantage of his surprising second-place straw poll finish today? Raising money in Texas? New York City? Stumping across New Hampshire or South Carolina? No, he's holding a media roundtable in a restaurant in Washington, D.C. And as we noted earlier in the week, the Huckabee campaign sent out a release on Monday touting the former governor’s upcoming media appearances and his earlier media hits that day. Despite his straw poll finish and his fine performances at the debates, can Huckabee dispel the notion held by many that he doesn’t want to be president -- but is instead running for a cable TV time slot?

*** Yet ANOTHER Democratic Forum: Dodd, Edwards, Biden, Richardson, Clinton and Obama today speak at the Iowa Federation of Labor presidential forum. Each candidate will appear separately (in the order above) and receive 30 minutes to answer questions. These candidates spend the rest of their day campaigning in Iowa. Biden, in fact, makes a stop at the soap box session at the state fair.

*** On The Trail: Elsewhere, Giuliani is also in Iowa; McCain speaks at the Aspen Institute in Colorado; and Romney campaigns in Michigan, Georgia, and Florida.

Countdown to MA-05 Special Election: 19 days
Countdown to LA GOV election: 66 days
Countdown to Election Day 2007: 83 days
Countdown to LA GOV run-off (if necessary): 94 days
Countdown to Iowa: 151 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 173 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 447 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 524 days

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Comments

Thanks, Dems fighting Back...

Democrat: It's NOT JUST ABOUT WINNING ELECTIONS !!
It's about governing. It is about building consensus.
If Hillary gets the nomination, will I support her ?
I don't know.
I promised mself I wouldn't vote for Clinton/Gore in '92, but I ended up voting for them.
I promised myself I wouldn't vote for Gore/Lieberman in 2000, but I did. And actually if Gore/Liebermann has won, we might be fighting in Iraq AND Iran right now !!
If Hillary gets the nomination, she'll end up governing a deeply split nation. She'll be as ineffectual as Jimmy Carter !! We'll be treatyed to the same ol BS and scandals from Clinton I.
She'll pander to Big Business and Washington insiders
Hillary will usher in the Republican renaissance !!

Is that preferable to Mitt Romney or Rudy Guiliani ?
I don't know.
What do you think ?

MK:
Well put, Hillary is Bush in drag.
You're either with us or against us

And thiank you Mitchell Feldman, that was well put, too

Sierra, San Francisco (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 1:40 PM)

Carrie: 'I guess that kinda makes all of that rehashed junk you are spewing out right and left kind of irrelevant, doesn't it?'
No, it doesn't, Carrie.
Hillary is running as the 'Clinton restoration'

She'll bring back that same old pathetic circus of scandal and lies. People don't change, Bill and Hillary sure don't.

The Republicans would be thrilled to have Hillary get the nomination !! Do you ever wonder why ?

Sierra, San Francisco (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 1:43 PM)

What I'm disappointed in is Hillary's characterization of this as an attack.

Paul Miller, we need a re-posting of that email contribution solicitation calender.

Arianna Huffington wrote a nice piece on this last week:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/campaign-alchemy-candida_b_59540.html

" "When you're attacked, you expect your family and friends to stand with you. And one thing is crystal clear: you are Hillary's family; you are Hillary's friends... Now there is only one thing I'm going to ask you to do: CONTRIBUTE.... Every dollar helps Hillary fight back."

The message was clear: Hillary has been attacked (indeed, "attack" appears six times in Doyle's 440 word whimper) and the only way to salve her wounds is with a CONTRIBUTION "

Jeff Morgan, Austin, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 2:09 PM)

The most important issue in the coming election is whether the citizens of America can wrest their government free again from the grip of the self-appointed Bush/Clinton monarchy shareholders.

D of Illinois (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 2:43 PM)

Before I pass back into invisibility, I want to express my admiration for those who have responded to the call. Today, on this thread a miracle occurred: People otherwise self-righteous and perhaps a tad shallow in the low spots have risen to the occasion, written full sentences, coherent paragraphs, turned on their spell-checker and moved beyond screeching and name calling for just one shining moment!
Ah...the joy of making a difference in just this one little piece of the world here on First Read. I now go in peace, my work having been done. Peace to all and if not peace, grace. Ciao.

Pappy (I dreamed I was there in hillbilly heaven) (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:10 PM)

Come together, right now, over me -- Beatles

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:18 PM)

MK welcome to politics.What politician doesn't deal with lobbyists?Find me one-bet you can't.I work for a drug company and am a staunch democrat.

JeanneGA (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:23 PM)

Sierra, you've just reinforced my concerns about Hillary Clinton. As we've read this week, your feelings are shared by many in the Democratic Party. I think Senator Obama has a better chance of winning in November than she does. The more he speaks, the more I like him.

As far as winning elections, generally speaking, I like the Democrat's positions better than the Conservatives on most issues, so I would be more apt to vote for whomever the democratic nominee is. I hope Hillary does not hurt any chance the Democrats have of getting back into the White House.

I would not be inclined to vote for Mitt Romney. He's so obviously scripted and while I don't particularly mind if a politican changes his or her view on something, Romney does take the flip flopping to a whole new level. And I do take issue with his sons not serving in the military, since they are pro-war.

Giuliani, he's cashing in on 9/11. That was such a tragic day and for him to run as the "tough on terror" candidate is disgraceful. As Bill Maher said last night, Terrorists 2, Giuliani 0. NYC has been attacked twice. Twice.

But the bottom line for me is anyone who is still echoing Bush & Cheney's reasons of why we should stay in Iraq has no credibility in my mind. That takes care of most of the Republican candidates.

Thanks for your insights, Sierra. It's going to be a hard fought, interesting campaign.

Democrat (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:44 PM)

Jeff, I should have kept a copy of that one, lol. But you do bring up a good point. How long before the Clinton campaign sends out a fundraiser asking for money to battle Rove - the anti-Christ himself.

I'm guessing the battle against fashion reporters didn't bring in too much. But the Rove fundraiser... that could be gold.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:47 PM)

Pappy - I'm sorry, did I miss the part where you were appointed First Read Judge and Jury? I have yet to see you contribute much of anything to the discussion other than to whine (yes, whine) about how pathetic the comments are here. And, oh yes, about how I screech.

Anyway, if it's all the same to you, I will go about my business and say EXACTLY what I want to say, EXACTLY the way I want to say it. If you don't like it, there's a little red box in the upper right corner of your screen that has an X in it. I suggest you use it.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 4:21 PM)

Sierra - I don't recall having seen Hillary running on a "Clinton restoration" platform. I see her running on an anti-Bush platform, i.e. getting away from the problems caused (perhaps only allegedly caused in some cases) by Bush and his Administration. I suppose if you want to stretch the interpretation of that, you could say that necessarily means a return to something pre-Bush, and pre-Bush there was Bill...but I don't see her doing that, honestly. If I am wrong, please point me in the direction of speeches she has made or statements she has released in which she has done so.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 4:24 PM)

DID SOMEONE SAY GONZO-GATE ?

Z (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 4:32 PM)

Jerry, get ready Dean is coming your way and I don't mean Howard. I hope perry helps you out more than us.

leon (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 4:40 PM)

Carrie,
...and I had such high hopes for you.
My ears are still ringing from that last blast.
As well as being a perfect pitch screech (kudos there), it was perhaps a smidgen defensive.
Nonetheless, in spite of the shrill projectile purgation, I detect a kind heart in there somewhere.
Talk to someone who understands.
Where is that X again? Mine isn't red.

Pappy (it wasn't God who made honkey-tonk angels) (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 4:55 PM)

It's now apparent that Karl 'the cynical and self-annointed master puppeteer' Rove, thinks that he can manipulate the Democrats into supporting Hillary as the agent of change, (ha ha imagine Hillary, the supporter of the war in Iraq, the lobbyists' dream, Fortune Magazine's favorite, as the agent of change) by attacking her. We all know that Hillary is the candidate that the Republicans would most like to run against (every Republican commentator has already given the nomination to her -just watched J.C. Watts make that pronouncement on CNN).
Sorry Karl, as much as we disdain your methods and your trashing of the government for political purposes, we're not going to allow you or your fellow Republicans affect the selection of our candidate as a reflection of, or reaction to your attacks on them (wow, that's a bit convoluted, isn't it?). Karl, it's no longer all about you (not that it really has been for quite a while - vis a vis Congressional elections 2006). Face it, you've been marginalized, as has been your boss. We Democratics will pick our candidate based on the merits that we recognize as those needed to elect the best leader for this country. We're not interested in choosing someone who the Republicans will hand pick for us, either directly or through subliminal means.
We will pick the candidate best able to undo the damage for which you and your boss (was that Bush or Cheney?, I forget) are responsible. We need someone with a new vision that will appeal across the party divide. We need someone to lead this country honestly and with the best interests of the nation in mind, not the interests of the plutocrats whom you and your former boss (whoever he was) represent. Obama is the man. I'm done for the day, guys, sorry for taking your time.
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 5:23 PM)

Pappy - I didn't say the X was red, I said there is a little red box with an X in it. My X happens to be white. Perhaps your X is a different color? Or perhaps you are color blind as well as rude?

I don't know who you are, and I don't know why you have decided to focus on me, but by all means, knock yourself out. I'm certainly not intimidated by the likes of you.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 5:23 PM)

Thanks for the tip Carrie. Red box. White X.
Sorry though, this is as far is goes. I can't follow you into the gutter.
Regardless, I do send heartfelt best wishes for a full recovery.
Calm down, everything is going to be fine.

Pappy (I was there when it happened and I guess I oughta know) (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 5:48 PM)

It's funny how so many of you folks abandon and deride Hillary Clinton and then say SHE's divisive. At one time she was your messiah (don't know how to feminize "messiah", maybe ms.siah?) and now she's a pariah.

You have no idea how many Republican hearts that warms. It's a lovely development and I will work hard to encourage the trend.

Carrie, I support you. Don't forget to chill the dish before it's served. Sierra, you're the bomb, or maybe the Obomba. Mitchell, you're the man! I support all of you and your candidates, whoever they are. I encourage you to vote for all of them at one time or another and at least two of them on November 4, 2008.

It's also simply inspiring to observe Democrats soberly, somberly, objectively and rationally contemplate the metastasizing Republican evil that threatens to engulf them in their cities, towns and neighborhoods, yea verily in the entire world!

Looks like I'll have fun, fun, fun 'til Dick and George take the election away.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 7:25 PM)

Pappy, seems to me you are responsible for causing the very reactions you say you want other posters to avoid. You tried to bait Carrie into a response with posts that you know were a little demeaning toward her. And it degenerated into an argument about the color of the X?

Hmmm, I'm having second thoughts about getting between you two before I press submit, and I rarely even have first thoughts. Oh well, I typed it...

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:23 PM)

Pappy, as contradictory as it may seem I have found that nothing infuriates people more than telling them to calm down. Try using "I hear what you are saying" or "that's an interesting point" or "please help me to understand"

One question Pappy -- after your work is done here where do you go next?

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:41 PM)

I also agree with Huckabee's strategy. Where else should such a talented, media-savvy unknown present his case? Huck should talk to the writers and let the writers report to millions...free of charge.

FairMark (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 12:01 AM)

This dust-up between "Pappy" and Carrie is the most intriguing conversation I have read here in months. This guy is crazy, but smart and funny too. He is rude and callous and he angers me with his arrogance.
Perhaps all that is a mask for something else. He started out gently nudging people here to stop kicking each other's shins and to actually say something worth reading. Worthy goal, it seems to me.
He identified several people who irritated him and nobody got upset but Carrie--the one who doesn't scream or screech.
Whatever she calls it, she made his point beautifully. I am afraid Carrie has been hoisted on her own petard. "Pappy" made his point and, as I have said here before, I hope he will go where he keeps threatening to go---away! Finally, though I almost always agree with her posts, I hope Carrie and others may have learned something here.

Mark Thieme (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 10:44 AM)

Mark - Sorry, it's not in my nature to allow someone to bait me and insult me, and to not respond to it. If that means, in your view, I scream and screech, so be it. I'm curious though - what is it that I have said that qualifies as screaming and screeching? Please, provide me with examples. Use evidence, rather than vague accusations. Point to a post that I have made (or actually, multiple posts, because this is apparently the norm with my writing) in which I am ranting and raving like a lunatic. You do that, and I will happily concede that I scream and screech.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 12:00 PM)

Did KenO(addedstuffafterhisname) turn into Pappy(addsmorestuff) while I was away camping for the past week and a half?

Mel(back in Illinois) (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 12:50 PM)

Well Paul glad you chimed in on the sappy pappy posts. Carrie can certainly take care of herself.
She is being baited by the collusion of nuanced, Mark Thieme and one or two other that are here in group therapy. They all know who they are. I read Nuanced say where are you Pappy? I heard Mark T converse with his buddy. Be careful Carrie they are here to make you go away because you are the best poster on this thread.
I reiterate, thanks Paul Miller for being there, I am not being sarcastic but grateful. You too are one of the better people on these threads. I typed too so hear goes. Rove may have a new job in MEDIA?????

H P Boston (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 1:22 PM)

Ya Mel me thinks something stinks too.
I caught the KENN to Pappy metamorphosis.
I am perplexed at the attacks on Carrie.
KENN was making sense even though I found him drunk or delirious most of the time but those tag lines gave Pappy away. He could be Mark-ing Time.

H P Boston (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 1:45 PM)

Everyone talks about George Bush leading us into world war three without realizing that we have already been there for many years.The conflict will only continue to widen regardless of which party takes the white house in 2009.

George C. Filchak Edgewood,NM (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 2:31 PM)

Speaking of strange, I talked with Mark Thieme off-line this morning. Thieme knew who I was and had his secretary call me at home. Spooky.
And, I don't think he'd mind me telling that he lives in a suburb of DC (he called me first) and has a secretary answer his phone. He was not, shall we say, especially flattering to me in our brief conversation.
Of course, "Mark Thieme" is the cover for someone quite surprising. Did I say too much Marko? He seems to know a lot about a lot of things. I'll leave it at that. With "friends" like him...
As I said to Carrie, I am in over my head here and I apologize to anyone who took me too seriously. Especially, my new pal "Mark."
It seems everyone will be happy to hear I'm history on First Read. Ciao.

Pappy (head buzzd) (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 5:23 PM)

Don't know who "Pappy" is or what his game may be, but I have never spoken to him and don't plan to do so. The post of 5:23 is pure fabrication.

Not happy so many here have used my name so loosely.

First Read is getting weirder by the day, but don't take it from me.

Mark Thieme (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 5:55 PM)

I.m Black enough!!!

Hillary Clinton, NY (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 6:03 PM)

Q: Why do you think the Republicans want Hillary to win the nomination? A: Because they can beat her in the general election. I am a Democrat, and given the choice between Hillary and who ever she is facing I will either vote for an independent or a Republican instead of her. Republican's know this and are setting the table for the Democrats, in a few short months it will be all over and then we can look forward to 9 months of the same old partisan mudslinging...

Observer (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 10:39 PM)

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