First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Doug, Peabody MA — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:28:41 GMT

The Obama transition was neither fast, took the same amount of time as always or smooth, it looks like Geithner doesn't have a chance to get through. That coupled with Richardson failing to even get a hearing, and Obama being MIA on handling his home states Senate problem, this is transition was anything but smooth.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

I Guess — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:33:00 GMT

George Bush invited Ted Kennedy to the White House right after he (Bush) was sworn in. Bush worked closely with Kennedy to come up a plan for the nations schools. You know, the same plan liberals so happily are critical of today. How soon we forget I guess.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Ron Indiana — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:33:59 GMT

Two comments make me think the First read writers have a ways to go in order to see the changing political climate.

Comment 1) Poll alert: Have these distractions marred Obama's honeymoon... He isn't even in office yet. Usually a honeymoon begins after a couple is married. Obama's honeymoon begins after January 20th. Think before you speak, think before you write.

Comment 2) Friends close and enemies closer. While I am a progressive, I do not consider conservatives my enemies. Remember... we are not red states, blue states, we are the United States. Obama is the POTUS for everybody, liberals and conservatives alike. He will listen to ideas regardless of ideology. Fellow Americans are not enemies...unless they break the law. Then they are criminals.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:35:24 GMT

Chuck:

What do you guys expect regarding the distractions. You guys are talking about politics and political players here. One would be shocked if there were no ghost in any of these people's closests and therefore distractions. Distractions are to be expected amoung this crowd, not the other way around.

I see Obama is holding his word to speak with and listen to the other side. Meeting with Will, Kristol and Brooks is a smart move by Obama. Even if they don't agree on things perhaps these guys will go a little lighter on Obama than if he were to ignore them. Say what you will, Obama does have a way with people. His training in community orgainzing clearly included the necessity to involve and persuade people with differing opinions.

No, I can't imagine Bush meeting with Krugman, Katrina and Kos. That would require that he dine with people who would not boost his ego by agreeing with everuything he had to say. Bush needs that you know. He needs assurance that he is the "man", that he is right. Anyone not providing that assurance or trying to chip away from Bush's unreal sense of self become enemies to be avoided.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Nashville_fan — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:47:18 GMT

"That later spawned the Burris headache. Then came Bill Richardson’s withdrawal as Commerce secretary. And now we have the Geithner distraction. Of course, given the nature of American politics (the opposition ready to pounce on any controversy) and political reporting (our penchant to cover these things breathlessly), distractions are going to be inevitable. The task for the incoming Obama administration is to be able to steer through them."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Couldn't have said it better myself (especially the "breathless coverage" part! :>). Well written First Read!

However, I don't think that Congress is "rolling over" for President Elect Obama. I think that they are taking baby steps towards putting the country's needs (which are many and mounting) ahead of their own needs. Let's hope it lasts.

P.S. I think it's great that President Elect Obama had dinner at George Will's house. Once again treating those he disagrees with civily and with respect bears more fruit of good will and common purpose. Maybe all that "change" talk was more than just a campaign slogan after all, eh? :)

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:49:26 GMT

"... Despite having one of the smoothest and fastest transitions in recent American history,..."
MSNBC's First Read, Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Why do you keep insisting this has been a "smooth" transition?

What about the question of Obama's eligibility to be President, and the conference call that the Supreme Court held before they decided not to hear the case? Was that "smooth?"

How about the Blagojevich / Roland Burris situation, was that "smooth?"

Was Senator Feinstein's questioning of Leon Panetta's appointment as CIA Director, "smooth?"

...and these are just a few of the things that happened during this "smooth" transition.

The question now becomes...is THIS the kind of propaganda that MSNBC is going to report all throughout Obama's Presidency?

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Bowman T, W-S, NC — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:56:58 GMT

"...one of the smoothest and fastest transitions in recent American history...", but, "yet another distraction"

-- In other words, you guys are scraping and scratching to contrive a story here, and you don't care who knows it?

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

J. Ellis, Virginia — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:00:27 GMT

Let's see, there has been faulty war intelligence, torture, wire tapping, mishandling of natural disasters, bail-out blues, no accountability for the bail out funds, or anything else for that matter, and the list goes on.

Now that we are on the verge of economic collapse, to reject Geithner because of what appears to be an honest mistake, would be catastrophic in the long run. Mr. Geithner corrected the problem. Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Megan H., Jensen, GA — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:06:45 GMT

Hillary "aced" her confirmation hearings? That woman has more conflicts of interest then any previous nominee I can think of. Just who is she working for? Obama? The Country? Her husband Bill? The Saudi's? Herself? There are going to be problems with her in at SoS.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Geithner should not be confirmed — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:11:11 GMT

While the definition of the word “Error” includes words like, ignorant deviation from a code of behavior, emphasizing the word “Ignorant” to describe Geithner, it also includes words like, “Unintentional,” or “Accident.”

What Geithner did WAS ignorant, but Unintentional or Accidental, I don’t think so.

If I or any other average American citizen didn’t pay taxes for four years, no one would ever believe that I forgot, didn’t know, or believe that it was “Unintentional” or “Accidental.”

It is NOT logical to believe for one second that a man of his education and background didn’t realize that he was supposed to be paying taxes on money he earned, or that he hadn’t paid the taxes. To prove the point, when he was notified by the IRS that he hadn’t paid any taxes during his first two years of his employment at the International Monetary Fund, while he did pay those back taxes including interest and penalties, he still didn’t pay the taxes for the other two years until this story came out and then and only then did he finally pay the remaining two years of back taxes owed.

Someone who works anywhere and doesn’t have taxes automatically taken out of their check and doesn’t know that they still have to pay taxes on the money earned, has absolutely NO BUSINESS being the Secretary of the United States Treasury who will oversee the IRS.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Anonymous Lying Blogger # 24,775,098 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:24:42 GMT

If Sarah Palin seriously believes she is a future candidate for anything, maybe she ought to try having dinner with a few of us anonymous, lying bloggers; and if she happened to bring her son's birth certificate along, it probably wouldn't hurt.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Diane from Illinois — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:25:31 GMT

Can you guys be ANY more dramatic about your so called "distractions" to the transition? Obama really isn't giving you guys any good gossip like Sarah Palin or McCain were capable of doing on a daily basis, is he? Geesh. We expected some of these things; not everything will run smoothly in his presidency either, will it? The guy hasn't even been sworn in yet and you can't wait for him to make some big mistake. I've got news for you.....he's smarter than ALL of you combined. So, sit back and relax....it's going to be an amazing 4 years for our country compared to the last 8 god awful years.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

A C, Tuscaloosa AL — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:41:42 GMT

Why are the legitimate problems that come up for Obama always referred to as 'distractions'?

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

cindy, Las Vegas, Nv — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:52:20 GMT

FR - help me out here, where did you post comments? I can't find your blog. Thanks!

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Nicholas: Minnnesota — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:00:19 GMT

"Maybe this will lead to tax code reform! Don't laugh, expect some tax simplification advocates to use this incident to do just that."
--Every time they try to simplify the tax code, they may as well call it the Accountant Full Employment Act! They fail time after time.

That said, it really, really needs to be simplified. K.I.S.S.-->Keep It Simple Stupid.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Paying Taxes Is Patriotic — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:03:29 GMT

The Tax man cometh:

STEPHANOPOULOS: At the end of the day, are you really talking about over the course of your presidency some kind of a grand bargain? That you have tax reform, health care reform, entitlement reform, including Social Security and Medicare where everybody in the country is going to have to sacrifice something, accept change for the greater good?
OBAMA: Yes.

It's amazing how the word "reform" gets substituted for the word "taxes".

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Alan, NJ — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:20:13 GMT

The problem I have with the stimulus is nobody seems to know how/if it will work. I've studied economics and understand Keynesian multipliers but my point is this. We've basically been running a deficit for 25 years (stating around the Reagan years). We have definitely been running a huge deficit for the last 4 to 8 years (thanks to the creative accounting of the Bush administration). We are now in deep sh.t. How does spending more get us out? My fear is that our creditor (read Chinese) will no longer foot the bill to maintain our standard of living. I think I need to hear our leaders tell us that the party is over and that the next five years (not one or two) will see a sharp decline in living standards. Belts will have to be tightened and it's going to be rough. I still feel that we are being fed a Disney line that good times are just around the corner (or as they put it the second half of 2009).

Geithner should not be confirmed. He is tainted by TARP and I'm sorry, but the Treasury Secretary nominee should understand the tax code, or employee an accountant (legal immigrant preferably) that does.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

JTatEHT — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:22:06 GMT

Quite frankly, I am somewhat amused by the MSNBC coverage of all these Obama Team "distractions". The President Elect will not become President until next Monday, and he has nominees for all Cabinet Positions except Commerce on the fast-track for confirmation, some to be confirmed before he takes office. Such "distractions" would be of greater concern if Obama were already President, but now they merely confirm the wisdom of his getting such a significant jump on the transition. Another confirmation of the transition process is that they caught the Geitner problems early on and are dealing with the in a way which seems to guarantee his confirmation. (What is really intereting is that Obama is not applying a ridiculous purity code to otherwise very qualified candidates).

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

MSierra, SF — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:26:17 GMT

From Slate:

Top 25 Bushisms:

'...1. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."—Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

2. "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."—Greater Nashua, N.H., Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 27, 2000

3. "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"—Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000

4. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."—Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004

5. "Neither in French nor in English nor in Mexican."—declining to answer reporters' questions at the Summit of the Americas, Quebec City, Canada, April 21, 2001

6. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.''—Townsend, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2001

7. "I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."—Washington, D.C., April 18, 2006

8. "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."—Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005

9. "I've heard he's been called Bush's poodle. He's bigger than that."—discussing former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as quoted by the Sun newspaper, June 27, 2007

10. "And so, General, I want to thank you for your service. And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who are trying to defeat us in Iraq."—meeting with Army Gen. Ray Odierno, Washington, D.C., March 3, 2008

11. "We ought to make the pie higher."—South Carolina Republican debate, Feb. 15, 2000

12. "There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."—Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

13. "And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it."—speaking on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007

14. "We'll let our friends be the peacekeepers and the great country called America will be the pacemakers."—Houston, Sept. 6, 2000

15. "It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."—Arlington Heights, Ill., Oct. 24, 2000

16. "One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures."—U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 3, 2000

17. "People say, 'How can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil?' You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in's house and say I love you."—Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2002

18. "Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness."—CNN online chat, Aug. 30, 2000

19. "I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep on the soil of a friend."—on the prospect of visiting Denmark, Washington, D.C., June 29, 2005

20. "I think it's really important for this great state of baseball to reach out to people of all walks of life to make sure that the sport is inclusive. The best way to do it is to convince little kids how to—the beauty of playing baseball."—Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2006

21. "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."—LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000

Share this article on DiggBuzz up!Share this article on Buzz22. "You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war president. No president wants to be a war president, but I am one."—Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 26, 2006

23. "There's a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, 'I don't want you to let me down again.' "—Boston, Oct. 3, 2000

24. "They misunderestimated me."—Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000

25. "I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008...'

Stupid is as stupid does

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Lacy, Minneapolis, MN — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:33:25 GMT

Now that is a meeting I would love to have sat in on! Will, Kristol, Brooks, Obama?? Wow.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

New Indi — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:38:31 GMT

"Once again, as Andrew Sullivan points out, Obama appears to be living by this maxim: It’s better to keep your enemies close."......

Or maybe he understands that there is great value to loyal opposition. I do not agree with much that George or Bill have to say but I don't think they're bad people or any less patriotic than those with whom I do agree. How can we hope to bring the country together to solve problems if we can't even have a civil conversation?

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Ed Crane, Middlebury, IN — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:39:39 GMT

Demo's believe the rich don't pay taxes anyway so what's the problem, right? Isn't this the type of thing Republicans have been being crucified for, but yet it is almost always the Demo's who get caught screwing their employees and avoiding taxes? Where's the patriotism? We care about people so they say.

1466 days until Obama/Biden are gone!

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Fred App — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:52:17 GMT

I think all the people who talk about Obama "keeping his enemies close" still really don't understand him. It's not a matter of him keeping enemies close. It's a matter of him not viewing people as "enemies." He sees them as people with opposing viewpoints, and he's willing to listen to those viewpoints, seek common ground, and try to make a persuasive case for his views.

Obama has called for a new era in politics, and he's done everything to try to prove he means it, but for some reason, journalists still believe that everything has to be viewed through the prism of the '90s.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Sandy Moore, Indy — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:56:04 GMT

You have to admire Team Obama's vetting and screening process for their nominees. First shot at showing if he can walk the walk and he has shown signs of serious difficulty.

He will no longer be able to run or turn a blind eye away from the Gaza conflict and needless deaths of hundreds in 6 days.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Dave, Tn — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:57:14 GMT

UBL just released another tape. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the tape demonstrates bin Laden's isolation and "continued attempts to remain relevant at a time when Al Qaeda's ideology, mission, and agenda are being questioned and challenged throughout the world." He said it appeared to be a fundraising effort for al Qaeda's propaganda campaign.

Well guess he hasn't heard about Obama's ability to raise funds. USA USA USA!!! Talk about propaganda phft ..... They'll never be able to match the New York media now that they've found their flag pins again.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

JenMI — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:59:20 GMT

"(our penchant to cover these things breathlessly)"....says it all.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Marcus D., Chicago — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:07:58 GMT

"But the margin of error for Obama is starting to get smaller. He can’t expect to have Congress continue to roll over this often. Also, make no mistake: It's embarrassing that the guy being put in charge of the IRS can't follow the tax code".

This statement makes the incoming Obama administration appear to be far less intelligent and superior to the current administration as we were led to believe they would be by so many know it alls.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:11:02 GMT

Where are you guys today? Sleeping. Or are your fingers too frozen to post comments?

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Richard, Washington State — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:21:46 GMT

Hmmm. And Rush Limbaugh had a substitute yesterday for some reason.

No, that would be just too much for the left-wing blogs.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

sunoverla, west hollywood, ca — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:21:51 GMT

That wall street insider Geithner must go!

His arrogance in thinking he could get away with not paying his taxes is a prime example of the wall street malfeasance that has caused our economic collapse.

By letting him stay, TPTB admit there is one set of rules for the DC/NYC robber barons of the 21st Century and another for main street America.

This is no "honest mistake" as Senator Baucus states.

What? The guy doesn't know that April 15th comes around every year?

Pathetic!

To restore Americans faith in the political/legal/financial systems of our country, get rid of him!

Where's the change?

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

freaktown — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:33:52 GMT

how is blagojavich the fault of the transition team???

seems to me, you padded your list of "distractions" because you didn't quite have enough to run with this story otherwise...

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Nj — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:36:57 GMT

He paid his taxes with INTEREST. So whats the problem????

The more the MSM and GOP whine and try to block confirmations, the more the people get ANGRY with the MSM and the GOP
Wake up people... We need ACTION not wasted time and fake news stories

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Jon, Reno, NV — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:47:03 GMT

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Nashville_fan — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:03:45 GMT

"I think all the people who talk about Obama "keeping his enemies close" still really don't understand him. It's not a matter of him keeping enemies close. It's a matter of him not viewing people as "enemies." He sees them as people with opposing viewpoints, and he's willing to listen to those viewpoints, seek common ground, and try to make a persuasive case for his views.

Obama has called for a new era in politics, and he's done everything to try to prove he means it, but for some reason, journalists still believe that everything has to be viewed through the prism of the '90s." -Fred App
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
*stands and applauds*

Well said . . . I have been trying to figure out a way to say this for 2 years - great post!

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

That's A Problem — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:06:29 GMT

Nj - He paid his taxes with INTEREST. So whats the problem????

He paid his taxes because he got caught.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Janice, stockton ca — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:44:05 GMT

This guy needs to go. You can't be the head of the IRS and not know you have to pay taxes. I am a democrat and I don't think i would get away with these lies if I owed taxes.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Richard, Washington State — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:53:06 GMT

Maybe if Bush had used more "uhs" and "y'knows" . . . he would have sounded more polished to his critics.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Richard, Washington State — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:01:15 GMT

Fred App & Nashville_fan:

I agree with much of what you've said here, at least in the theoretical sense, and it would indeed be refreshing.

However, I've become too jaded to believe that it will turn out to be much more than a new version of "changing the tone in Washington", despite the sincerity the president-elect and his predecessor brought to their respective efforts.

Unfortunately, there are 535 other figures directly involved in the process along with countless other influences that usually serve to thwart honest and sincere intentions to do things differently in Washington, D.C.

We shall see. I hope that our country truly takes note of the fact that we all have a stake in the president's success. That would be refreshing indeed.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Jackson, Seattle — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:08:45 GMT

Enough. MSNBC has become the left arm of the Obama Administration. I can no longer be a part of this joke. The fact that you view tax violations by Geithner as "a distraction" is infuriating. Just imagine of this had been a Republican nominee for the post for an incoming McCain administration....MSNBC would be calling for his head. So much for unbiased journalism.
Jon, Reno, NV (Sent Wednesday, January 14, 2009 12:47 PM)

_____________

Yeah, perhaps you should stick to that "fair and unbiased" reporting FOX News is known for.

So, it is wrong for MSNBC to be the left arm of Obama, but it was somehow ok for 8 years that FOX News has been the right arm of Bush?

Example #2,417 of the "It's wrong when Dems do it, but not when Republicans do it" ideology.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Michael MacDonald — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:42:04 GMT

Roll over this often? I don't see any rollovers in this piece, unless you assume as most of the media does that the B&B mess was entirely Obama's doing. Moreover, elsewhere Todd and others have been eagerly reporting that not even the Democrats in congress are going along with Obama's economic proposals (resistance based more on objections to the concessions made to Republicans than principle). Congress is behaving spectacularly badly and the press tries to explain it by depicting this trivia as a series of major blunders.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:49:59 GMT

Richard, Washington State - However, I've become too jaded to believe that it will turn out to be much more than a new version of "changing the tone in Washington", despite the sincerity the president-elect and his predecessor brought to their respective efforts.

Good try Richard. Sliding the predecessor (Bush) in there with Obama regarding sincere efforts to change the tone in Washington. Yeah right, Bush made sincere efforts to change the tone of Washington. That's a laugh. Unless of course you meant to infer that Bush made sincere efforts to change the tone to a more secretive, closed door and intolerant Washington.

First thoughts: Yet another distraction

Rob, from Iowa — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:24:47 GMT

I like Biden. I respect the man. Disagree with him on almost every policy issue. Yet he seems like the kind of man I could have a good impassioned debate with over a good bottle of whiskey. And be friends at the end of the debate, to hit the next bar to play pool. Neither of us would take it personal.