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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Huntsman, conversation changer

Posted: Saturday, May 16, 2009 11:30 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: , ,

From NBC's Mark Murray
My colleague, NBC's John Yang, makes this very smart point about the Huntsman pick: After a rough last few news cycles for Team Obama -- the administration's reversal on those detainee photos, its announcement to keep the military tribunals, and, of course, Nancy Pelosi -- naming Huntsman to an important diplomatic post sure changes the conversation, no?

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LMAO at Nancy Pelosi and the extremeist at MSNBC
Remember FOX OWNS YOU LMAO Twice the viewers
Well, yes, it changes the conversation in the mainstream media, but doesn't that change every couple of days anyway?  Politics and life is not static.  President Obama has many appointments to make, and this is part of the unfolding of that process.  The timing may or may not be intentional.  If it is, chalk one up for the strategic thinker-in-chief!

While the rest of us are busy majoring in the minors, the President is working and life goes on.
"...Remember FOX OWNS YOU LMAO Twice the viewers" HI I'm Nancy Pelosi and you can believe my 22nd version of the truth (Sent Saturday, May 16, 2009 12:23 PM)

Yes, twice the viewers AND half the intellect.  stunning.  There is actually a study that proved those watching the Daily Show w/ Jon Stewart were the most informed, politically.  But go ahead, you were saying?
Credentials played a great role in this appointment...
WOW what a great choice!!!

Obama/Biden 2012
No, the RepubliKLANs will NOT let go of whatever they think they have on Nancy, which is NOTHING!

Perhaps, they may turn on Huntsman after a bit, but hopefully he will no be a Gregg!

Pelosi wants a Commission, I favor downright INVESTIGATION! Commissions do NOTHING but waste time!

Stick it to 'em Nancy!!!! Prosecute WAR CRIMINALS!
Yes, it changes the conversation. It also embroils the debate in the MSM (more there than in reality) about what the republican party should do--moderatize or conservatize? This because Huntsman is seen as a moderate ("seen" because if you look at a list of his political stances they don't deviate that much from the paleoconservative faithful).

I'm not sure it saves Nancy Pelosi from her situation, only ameliorates it for the weekend. Her difficulty is that she and the democrats in congress haven't created enough new ideas, new reasons for being better than the other guys (besides "Bush sucks"). That's why there's such a hubbub about truth commissions and investiagations and mudslinging and grandstanding. Pelosi's in a difficult position so long as congressional democrats fail to change the topic of THEIR conversation from the past to the future. More Rousseau, less Schmitt.

This gives Obama plausible deniability, let's him claim he was helping out his party as much as he could. Not that it'll help that much.
There's nothing particularly "smart" about the point made by Mr. Yang. It's cynical. Certainly nothing warranting a new blog posting.  And certainly nothing new for political commentary where hardly anything is reported anymore with out a smirk -- read Ed Henry on CNN.
By picking Huntsman, President Obama is continuing to show that he is willing to to work with republicans who have demonstated their willingness to work outside of the republican party "box".
Expect to see more republicans in Obama's administration. The timing of the announcement show again his pilitical savvy and intellegence.  

We are finally moving the the right direction!

P.S. keep up the good work Chuck, Todd, & John!
A game changer, Na! Obama has been a game changer ever since he announced he was going to run for president.  Taking out a potential rival for 2012? What do you think Secretary Clinton is ( or was)!

There's nothing wrong with being politically astute as long as it makes sense and is not evel remotely illegal or suspecious.
Limbaugh won't admit it but he is sick to his stomach right now.

Scarborough woke up this morning kicking and screaming can this guy please stop out smarting us.

Specter is smiling and saying see it's just not me; the Republican Party is a bunch of loonies

Olympia Snowe said don't be surprise I am not too far behind

Susan Collins told Olympia wait let me grab my purse I am coming with you.
Who's Huntsman? And who cares?

Pelosi find her place yet?
Maybe Huntsman can bring us all back some of those fortune cookies?
Seems to me that if Bush was an evil, stupid, immoral and unenlightened  person for holding back classified information that would hurt or nation and our great men in uniform such as CIA photos and holding unjust military tribunals.  Then would that not make Obama an evil, stupid, immoral and unenlightened man.  Everyone in America got bamboozled last November thanks to the mainstream media that took his word hook line and sinker.  Then sold sold sold it to the American people with no journalistic integrity.  All of this led by NBC, MSNBC and the New York Times.  
Hey!!  Love the Pelosi comments, like she wouldn't know the truth if she was hit over the head with it. The truth changes daily with the polls and the liberals destined to put our country in debt so far we won't EVER see our way out, HELLO!! Obama is VERY deceptive, in a smooth, satanic sort of way!  (-:
Imagine if, at a cocktail party, every time the conversation changed, some one shouted out "the conversation has changed.  we were talking about one thing, and now we are talking about another . . . wonder if we'll switch back soon, stay on this topic, or move to another?"

It just seems very very very silly to remark on it every time we talk about something new.

Saw a bit of O'Reilly Factor last night - and it was hilarious! I can see why "they" are called the GOPeeved!  It's their party and they'll cry if they want to.


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