First thoughts: Conserv. vs. conserv.

Posted: Friday, May 29, 2009 9:23 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Conservative vs. conservative: After Rush, Newt, and Tancredo called Sonia Sotomayor a racist, a bigot, and an “angry woman,” Charles Krauthammer today fires off this warning to his fellow conservatives: stop the personal attacks. “What should a principled conservative do? Use the upcoming hearings not to deny her the seat, but to illuminate her views. No magazine gossip from anonymous court clerks. No ‘temperament’ insinuations. Nothing ad hominem. The argument should be elevated, respectful and entirely about judicial philosophy.” In today’s Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan offers similar advice. Republicans, she says, should act like grown-ups. The Krauthammer/Noonan message to Republicans is this: fight Sotomayor respectfully and then confirm her. Of course, that advice is easier said than done. Just asking, but did Rush really hurt himself among Republicans and conservatives this week? John Cornyn -- nobody's liberal Republican in the Senate -- seemed to very coherently send a message to the unelected conservatives when he also chimed in and said the tone wasn't helpful. Could this week actually help the GOP if it means it gets the elected establishment to unite against the unelected leaders? Or will this week divide the party even further? It may be in Rush's court now.

*** A successful rollout so far: Given this conservative divide over Sotomayor, could this week have gone any better for the Obama White House? Yesterday, we couldn't find a single elected Republican serving in Washington issuing any press release on Sotomayor. (Sure, Pat Roberts went on the record against her, but he's not the household name that should fire up the troops.) Instead, all of their focus was on debating the Obama stimulus package. (That stimulus debate is one the White House wants, and yet we'd argue they were better off that it was overshadowed by Sotomayor. The reason: The economic numbers don't look good, and the White House doesn't easily have anything to point to -- yet -- when it comes to the stimulus package and whether it's definitely helped soften the economic blows many are still feeling. But we digress...) The Sotomayor pick has just devastated the Republicans, split them worse than anything so far the Obama White House has done.

*** Obama’s day: At 10:55 am ET from the White House, Obama delivers remarks on cyber security and announces the creation of a “cyber czar” to protect the nation’s computer networks. Then, at 2:30 pm, he attends a hurricane preparedness meeting at FEMA. But this relatively slow Friday appears to be the quiet before the storm that’s brewing for this summer. Indeed, consider all that will be happening in the coming weeks. Obama’s Cairo speech and Europe trip. The Sotomayor confirmation hearings. The battle over health care. The fight over the energy bill. And those are just the things we already know about…

*** Two questions on health care: Speaking of health care, Obama told his supporters over the phone yesterday that it’s now or never on the issue. “If we don't get it done this year, we're not going to get it done,” he said. That is a HUGE drop of the gauntlet. There are two big policy debates about health care right now: Will the reform offer a public insurance option? And how will you pay for it? On the first question, liberal MoveOn is airing radio ads targeting Sens. Kent Conrad, Maria Cantwell, Bill Nelson, Tom Carper, Olympia Snowe, and Ron Wyden that urges them to support a public option. And on the second question, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page issues this reminder at Democrats who may be thinking about taxing employer-based health care benefits to finance reform: “Last year liberals mauled John McCain for daring to touch the employer-based exclusion to finance more coverage for the individually uninsured. He was proposing 'a multitrillion-dollar tax hike -- the largest middle-class tax hike in history,' said Barack Obama, whose TV ads were brutal.” Meanwhile, don't miss the leak of Sen. Ted Kennedy's health-care reform outline (apparently based a lot on the Massachusetts model, mandate everyone to have it etc.). Senate watchers will want to know, are Kennedy and Senate Finance Cmte Chair Max Baucus working together yet or not?

*** Gitmo politics: Here’s another issue that the Obama White House will have to be working on this summer: what to do about those Gitmo detainees. The Washington Post reports that European leaders are saying that if the U.S. won’t take Gitmo prisoners, then they won’t either. “Rising opposition in the U.S. Congress to allowing Guantanamo prisoners on American soil has not gone over well in Europe. Officials from countries that previously indicated they were willing to accept inmates now say it may be politically impossible for them to do so if the United States does not reciprocate… Interior ministers from the 27-member European Union are pressing the Obama administration to agree to a joint declaration that would commit the United States to accept some prisoners, something Congress has been highly reluctant to do.” Isn't this the argument some Republicans have been making on GITMO -- that no amount of kind words in Europe will help change their minds?

*** Bush speaks: The former president did an impromptu Q&A last night after a speech in Michigan, and he spoke about the interrogation debate. Despite some speculation to the contrary, Bush ended up, sort of, siding with Cheney. Then again, he couches things to a point that it seems as if he's defending his policy AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME, and then leaves himself some wiggle room for how he changed the policy later. "I made the decision within the law to keep the American people safe," the 43rd president told a large crowd in Benton Harbor, according to WSBT TV. "The information we gained saved lives. And, as for Saddam Hussein--the world is better without that man in power." But Bush also made clear, "Nothing I'm saying is meant to criticize my successor. I wish him all the best." Meanwhile, Bush and Bill Clinton today appear together in Canada.

*** Elsewhere today: Education Secretary Arne Duncan speaks at the National Press Club; HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan speaks to the National Association of Homebuilders; First Lady Michelle Obama visits an elementary school in DC; and Howard Dean announces the publication of his new book on health-care reform, “Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform.”

Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 4 days
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 11 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 158 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 522 days

Click here to sign up for First Read emails.
Text FIRST to 622639, to sign up for First Read alerts to your mobile phone.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Domenico: Are you alone today? All posts show your by-line.

More Fun than a Circus:
Bring on the GOP Elephants and Clowns.

Today we have two clear examples of what happens to organizations when leaders fail. GM (Government Motors) failed because Rick Wagoner had no vision of the future and an inadequate R&D department to create cars for the future.

The other shiny example is the Republican Party. Without a real leader, Rush Limbaugh has filled the vacuum. What he is saying is an embarrassment…and perhaps crazy. His attacks on Sotomayor range from illogical to racist. Intelligent Republicans…Feisty Red Head, this is not an oxymoron as I have met…two.

Intelligent Republicans like Colin Powell have to be sooo disappointed. Not only are the conservatives trashing their reputation with Hispanics; but they are also turning away the moderates. The GOP tent is now so small there is only room for Rush and Pat Buchanan.

Speaking about clowns, Bush 43 spoke in Michigan and he resurrected the torture controversy. His defense was that legal opinion from DOJ supported torture. He did not deny authorizing it! He accepted the opinion of Gonzales. What a dumb clown!

Remember during the campaign the GOP sequestered Palin and tried to teach her how to answer hard questions? So it will be with Sotomayor. As soon as this weekend Sonia will disappear, meet with Dem handlers and practice answering the hard questions. Faux pas about appellate court judges making policy will be asked and answered a hundred times, with Sonia giving the same answer. That’s the way it is…in Washington.

Clara Kansas City Mo: I did read yesterday’s comments and I especially enjoyed your. You have a very disciplined mind…like that of a lawyer.

Ron Indiana (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:35 AM)

"Respectively" Do you mean "respectfully"? Keep running off at the mouth, Rush, you demonstrate daily how superficial you are. It is no secret by your rants that you do not have a higher education.

newdayDawning (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:36 AM)

Have A Heart -

The GOP from all appearances have thrown in the towel. Instead of getting back on track for the upcoming elections next year, they're just burying themselves deeper and deeper. Why on earth would anyone vote for a Republican in the southwest after their behavior this past week?

Where are the moderate voices in their party? Because from all that I've been able to see and hear, they're being drowned out by the loud mouth idiots, who hold no offices whatsoever. Trancedro, Buchanan, Limbaugh, Gingrich. They feel with all their hearts that their party should be our leaders. One question -

Leaders of what? A freakin’ carnival? What an embarrassment for our country.
____________________________
Why would the French government not invite Queen Elizabeth to the D-Day ceremonies next week? The Queen’s mother and father were very very popular during the war. As was Queen Elizabeth herself. What the heck is wrong with people these days? June 6th is the one day of the year that is supposed to bring together all those who were involved in WWII. Why would they snub her, of all people? Time is running out for those who lived through those very dark & dangerous years. The British were unbelievably brave during those horrible bombings. She should be there. Someone somewhere should speak up. This should not be just shrugged off. It’s disgraceful. This is the 65th Anniversary on the invasion of Normandy for goodness sakes.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:37 AM)

How should the Republicans treat Sotomayor? The same things the Democrats do to the Republican nominees. That would be to make personal attacks on the nominee, question the nominee to the point the spouse walks out of the hearings crying, have the NY Times run smears and lies about the nominee on it's front pages (probably aledge an affrair, just like the NYTimes did with McCain). Bring in phony "witnesses" like Anita Hill to make outragous claims agaisnt the nominee. That's they way the Republcians should treat a Democratic nominee.

Call Sutton, Florida (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:38 AM)

Republicans should take heed of Democrats' shining examples of how to act grown up. Like Sen. Ted Kennedy calling Bush appointees "neanderthals." Or better yet, like when Obama continuously blames Bush - - "but mom, HE started it!!! wahhhh!!!"

Romper Room (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:41 AM)

First Read: "Given this conservative divide over Sotomayor, could this week have gone any better for the Obama White House?"

No better at all. That's all you have to do is ignore North Korea's nuclear tests and missile firings, the ever growing unemployment rolls, the economy shrinking at a 6% rate, Israel and the Palistinians at each others throat, 600,000 more jobless, GM going bankrupt, California going bankrupt, and hyperinflation on the way. Other then those things, it's been a great week of Obama.

Sallie Hodges, Dallas (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:42 AM)

I am sick and tired of hearing people throw the phrase Judicial Activist around in regards to Sotomayor. People don't know what the phrase really means and seem to use it everytime a judge makes a ruling you disagree with, even where you don't know the facts of the case and the arguments presented. Simply stated, a judge is a judicial activist when he or she rules in complete disregard of the facts and the law simply to advance a personal agenda. It is not when a judge, in properly exercising his or her role as the interpreter of the constitution, rules one way and you just don't agree with it.

Sotomayor has her problems, I am actually not happy with picking a hispanic catholic who will most likely rule against same sex marriage.

pat huntington ny (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:43 AM)

Answer from another thread:
H. Thomas, Boston MA:
Especially when elections are stolen, special interest groups are receiving kick backs and you allow your wife assist you with soliciting assistance from Karl Rove to Have the Govenor that is running against you thrown into the fed pen. Did I mention to you that Cheney and Bush visited here quite frequently?
*******************
Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, May 28, 2009 1:24 PM)
Richard:

Evidently Sarah Palin failed miserably at sex education in the home wouldn’t you say? Allowing a boyfriend too live in your home isn’t a wise thing to do. He got the cow and the milk free didn’t he. As for Bristol’s pregnancy; I’d like to know how you were able to verify her slip. I never implied nor suggested that abortion should be used as a form of birth control--did I?

Having three daughters doesn’t make you an expert on the female anatomy; your wife gave birth I assume? Abortion today as in the 70’s was never taunted as a form of birth control. Who ever gave you that idea? Stop injecting your ideas into comments that are self explanatory.

Clarification:
Pro choice is the right for a female to “make the decision to choose”. It would be her decision that is not mandated by the federal Government. Personally I can’t say what I would do if faced with the possibility of an unwanted pregnancy. It appears that there are many teens today that have made choices and even entered into pacts to get pregnant and have babies, without the benefit of education or employment the parents are missing someplace, wouldn’t you agree.

I was raised with a solid foundation and moral base. But even so, I have no right to advocate a law that will place restrictions on the rights of those that may face this dilemma. It is a private choice and my reasoning will not be explained in detail because it is my personal spiritual choice not to do so.

My advice to those that advocate sticking their noses into others personal affairs; Seek to cease and desist with bigotry, ceases and desist with hate and fear from the demons of past personal fears. We should be advocating teaching our youth and being better parents by finding the “time” to parent instead of achieving our own selfish goals. “Forced “unbalanced and unjust laws will only result in harsher push backs and back alley hacks. Education, family planning and choices are the keys.

By the way Richard, I feel that…the right isn’t so concerned about pro-life as they are about the fear of a dying race. If you recall reading my prior post…black females/bi-racial, or Indian females weren’t allowed access to birth control until 1970 in this state. Why do you think that there are so many large black families? Let some of you all tell it they had children to get welfare, that was the old stereotyping of blacks, wasn’t it… wonder what happened? Come now…you can’t have it both ways now can you?

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:43 AM)

It's good to be back. Spent a few days in So Cal. My old stomping grounds for 25 years. Things have changed there. I grew up in the 60's in Cali. Watched riots, love fests, Watts towers go up. If anyone is familiar with the Watts towers, they understand. What a trying time it was. Now, look how far our Country has come. I am in awe.
I do get up dates on my phone from FR. I giggled to myself thinking how Eric, Anita, Clara, Fiesty, J Merle, Foutunate Son, justthingoutloud, MSierra, jawillie would come thru with their comments, opinions, etc. I so enjoy both sides comments. Helps me to understand how others view life. I am one who believes we can agree to disagree, and treat each other with respect. I try to practice that daily. Don't do it perfectly.
Everyone on here is great teachers for me. Sometimes it's difficlut for me to put into words what I want to post. You have all helped me greatly, keep up the good work. Everyone is a teacher. There are alot on this blog, so Thank You!!!!!!!!!! Even no joe!!!!!!!

cindy,las vegas, nv (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:43 AM)

You don't win moderates by trashing the president's well-qualified nominee as a "Latina woman racists" and a member of the "Hispanic KKK." You certainly don't gain support from women and Hispanics...

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:44 AM)

I hope that the Neo's of No will continue there trek to NOwhere.Since the party has chosen to let the sideliner's like Rush,Newt,Cheney,and the has beens to do the talking for the flappers.I'm sad to see that even there neo press staff has turned on the worms.This is not all that painful to watch, now that the big tent party is a blanket in between the top and bottom bunk, and in between you will find what is left of the party,Newt,Rush,Patty B,Sean, Dead eye,Moran Joe,popcorn,and sodas for everyone.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:44 AM)

Lets see, the American economy is in the tank, debt obligations owed by the federal government have gone up 12% in ONE YEAR. Social Security is sure to tank in the next few years when more people are drawing on it then paying into it, so what will Barry do next? Health care! Which adds another trillion of debt per year on working Americans.

Barack H. Obama - The Spending President

Hey Big Spender (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:45 AM)

Finally War Criminal Bush dares to open his arrogant ignorant mouth and lie about keeping us safe within the law. Rewriting the law to suit your nefarious ends is not keeping within the law Lawbreaker Bush! We see just how desperate these criminals are to keep from being prosecuted and having the full truth come out.

So gratifying to see some hot conservative on conservative infighting. Mark Murray did a nice job yesterday on MSNBC tv pointing out that it's the extreme lunatic fringe entertainers like Lush Limburger and fox and freaks who are attacking Sotomayor on a personal level while the politicians are treading carefully lest they antagonize women and Hispanics. Yup attack her at your political peril.

Another great Friday and week here at First Read, the best place on the web for political discourse. Thanks to the crew of Mark and Domenico for posting so many great articles and reader comments from the Obama supporters. I liked when Mark Murray came on last week to answer a reader question and intimated that the White House checks out First Read. Hey limpwristed conservative crybabies Big Brother is Watching so you'd better be nice or get spied upon. Oh wait that's what happened to us Liberals under the last administration of democracy haters.

Prosecute War Criminals Bush and Cheney!
Support First Read!
Go Lakers!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:45 AM)

First Read: But Bush also made clear, "Nothing I'm saying is meant to criticize my successor. I wish him all the best."

Bush must be laughing hysterically behind the scenes. Watching Obama try to govern must be like watching a special ed kid trying to ride a bicycle for the first time.

Ed Neese, Chicago (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:47 AM)

Today is May 29, 2009.

"Instead, all of their focus was on debating the Obama stimulus package. (That stimulus debate is one the White House wants, and yet we'd argue they were better off that it was overshadowed by Sotomayor. The reason: The economic numbers don't look good, and the White House doesn't easily have anything to point to -- yet -- when it comes to the stimulus package and whether it's definitely helped soften the economic blows many are still feeling. But we digress...) -First Read
====================================================

President Obama was sworn in on January 20, 2009.

That is 4 months and 9 days ago.

Why the commenters here and folks in the media continue to be surprised that the economy hasn't "turned around" yet is a real mystery to me.

I guess you cynical folks bought into President Obama's "hope" rhetoric a lot more than you let on, eh?

And you said that it was us Obama-rama-ding-dongs that were the dreamers . . . seems like we aren't alone . . . lol!

Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:48 AM)

The conservatives have the nerve to call Sotomayor an angry woman, but what about the hero Rush Limbaugh, he is not only angry, He is insane.

gepa (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:49 AM)

FR: After Rush, Newt, and Tancredo called Sonia Sotomayor a racist, a bigot, and an “angry woman,” Charles Krauthammer today fires off this warning to his fellow conservatives: stop the personal attacks.
---------------------------------------------

If Al Sharpton tossed around the incendiary word "racist" as carelessly as Newt and Rush do, the Washington Post would be publishing outraged editorials about how irresponsible he was being. But so-called "conservatives" (really the lunatic fringe of the far right) get a pass in the media. It's ironic that it took other hard-right conservatives like Krauthammer to protest this insanity. The "liberal" media is too spineless to stand up to these demagogues.

Houston (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:49 AM)

Lets consider so far who calling Sotomayor a rascists: Druggy Limbaugh who used his Hispanic maid as his drug pusher, lying/adulteror/hypocrit, and a xenophobic former race baiter/nut congressman from Colorado.

Juan,Ft Lauderdale, Fl (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:49 AM)

On healthcare, it seems that Obama is trying to drum up a crisis-do it now or it won't be done-much like the stimulus bill that had to be passed TODAY or the economy would disintingrate. He is floating the idea of a VAT tax, in addition to the income tax, to pay for it. Should that go over like the lead balloon I suspect it will, can we put the $662billioin he had 'earmarked' in his budget as a down payment for health care back on the books? It woul have the effect of cutting the deficit in HALF, folks. Not a bad deal.

On Gitmo, I'm curious-leaving aside the questions of security and risk of attack, (both raised in the argument, I'm not coming down on either side)-what is the big difference between holding these people in a prison on a tropical islan, and holding them in American prisons? Aren't they still being held against their will? Aren't they still imprisoned?

On this issue, it seems that Obama has created a lot of smoke, which has completely distorted the vision of the people arguing over it. If you thnk that these people are innocent victims of the Bush administrationm, why do you want them imprisoned AT ALL? If you think that they are dangerous terrorists, why do you want them held in any but the worst conditions? On this one, the master seems to have controlled the argument to the incidentals, rather than the crux of the matter.

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:50 AM)

Life for the detainees will be way worse in a US supermax prison than in Gitmo. So I say go ahead and bring them here. They deserve the worse kind of exsistence we can provide for them.

B, La. (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:50 AM)

Gitmo terrorists. Looks like that issue is dying down. One more promise Obama made that he can't keep. Turns out that "hasty decision" Bush and Cheney made to put those thugs down in Cuba was the right choice. But it sounded oh so good to the left wing loons of the country when Obama babbled on and on about closing Gitmo during the campaign. Too bad Obama's campaign never let anyone ask Obama where he would put the terrorists if he shut down Gitmo. That question was never allowed to be asked.

Greg Sanderson, Houston Tx (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:51 AM)

Bush did a "impromptu Q$A"? How could it be impromptu if the questions were to be submitted before he spoke? See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/28/bush-still-screening-audi_n_208781.html

His arguement that he did everything to keep US safe by torturing ASSUMEs that torture works and is the only method to obtain this information. This can be argued, but I don't think that assumption stands up very well. Also, coming from a guy who pushed hard for a unwarrented, preepmtive war, I don't feel much safer.

Paul Dobroski (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:52 AM)

"It's not easy being cheesy!" Oh yeah, it's about time someone in the conservative party stood up and spoke against that pig with the golden mic and friends. Sotomayor will be confirmed...you betcha! LOL

Joyce (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:52 AM)

It is really sad watching a grown man like Newt Gingrich thrash about wildly from week to week trying to make the media talk about his randomly selected female-boogeywoman-of-the-week. First it was Nancy Pelosi, and now Judge Sotomayor. (And of course it was Hillary Clinton before that.)

Seriously, the entire "she said something I don't like so she should resign" routine isn't even good as comedy anymore.

It's just sad.

Basically the Republican plan boils down to "she's got cooties".

Not very inspiring.

Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:52 AM)

Obama: "If we don't get it [health care] done this year, we're not going to get it done,”

Good. Then lets not get it done. We taxpayers have enough bills to pay without Obama throwing in yet another big ticket item on the backs of the American people. Obama spent his big wad on the Stimulus Bill, which tunrs out isn't stimulating anything. Too bad Barack, we're not paying for another one of your idiot ideas.

US Over-Taxed Taxpayer (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:54 AM)

Hey, it sounds like Krauthammer and Noonan read my First Read post from yesterday. I should have copyrighted it, sigh.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:54 AM)

Conservative vs. conservative: After Rush, Newt, and Tancredo called Sonia Sotomayor a racist, a bigot, and an “angry woman,” Charles Krauthammer today fires off this warning to his fellow conservatives: stop the personal attacks. “What should a principled conservative do? Use the upcoming hearings not to deny her the seat, but to illuminate her views.

Well now, what do you make of this. Seems as though they are fearful of losing Hispanic votes afterall. The horse has been stolen out of the barn already, but nice try.

*** Bush speaks:
Arf, arf. The typical CYA approche I would say. Of course he sides with Cheney. Thanks for the information George. Keep telling yourself that it was okay to murder someone that had nothing to do with 9/11, it was personal, keep telling yourself that issueing false terror alerts to the public was keeping us safe, keep telling yourself that the murger of our servicemen and women in a war that was unnecessary was keeping our country safe.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:54 AM)

FR -- the isssue is not did Rush hurt himself among Republicans and conservatives this week. The issue is how much damage did Rush do to Republicans, conservatives, independents et.al. who might possibly consider voting Republican one of these days. I said it yesterday and will say it again today: the inflammatory comments of Rush and others on the right fringe are not helpful to the political prospects of the Republican party. Conservatives can engage respectfully -- lord knows there's a ton of socialist muck that characterizes the Obama approach to governing that conservatives can take issue with on substantive grounds. Cheers to Krauthammer, Noonan and others for speaking out on this. All Rush does is give fodder to liberal loonies and energize them to spew even more of their leftist nonsense.

Joe T, Alexandria, VA (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:54 AM)

How can we ask other governments to take some of the Gitmo detainees if we're not brave enough to do our own dirty work? Time for the limpwristed conservative crybabies to man up and accept doing our own dirty work. It's not like we haven't harbored terrorists in our super max prisons where none have yet to escape and none have radicalized their fellow prison polulation.

Max Baucus needs to get with the program on health care and stop resisting single payer health care. It is the only way to keep the private insurance companies honest. My 90 year old Dad just found out that his diabetes testing materials went up 500% recently and there's no way that large an increase is justifiable except as a greedy profit ripoff. That is why our private health care system is broken, there are no price controls and nothing to check the rampant inflation this industry has screwed us with over the past few decades.

I so enjoy Keith Olbermann and his new Bouncing Blabbermouth of Blubber Bobblehead Doll of Lush Limburger. The only thing missing is a picture of Marquis de Sade Cheney firing a shot that hits the bobblehead doll in the face with the sound of metal hitting metal and the doll goes down only to bounce back up and have old deadeye shoot him again and again. I love his new WTF!?! Moment comments!

In Olbermann We Trust!
In First Read We Trust!
Go Lakers!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:56 AM)

I truly don't understand why Gitmo has to be closed. They're just relocating detainees. They're not freeing them or anything so why can't they stay put and save money?

BFR (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:56 AM)

Who advised the Democrats not make personal attacks on Republicans nominees? Seems to me the Democrats and their liberal media friends did ever dirty trick in the book to bring down every Republicans nominee to the SC. If memory serves us right, the New York Times was the biggest culprit in smearing any of the Republican nominees, and much worse then anything being directed at Sotomayer.

Hack Wilson, MN (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:57 AM)

The paid staffers came out yesterday,even gave themself's a name,they call themself's the Republican Backroom gang,they are behind the attacks on Fiesty,Nashville,Clare,Eric,they always follow there hate rants with cute names,showing how ashamed they are of there real names,or maybe that is there real names.Sinced a Boy named Sue came out ,anything is possible.Nice to know that the smear and fear gang is on the job,wacking away ,swinging for the fence and hitting cans of corn.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:57 AM)

I generally like Obama, but I have czar fatigue. I poked fun at Bush when he wanted a GWOT czar. So fair is fair. What is Obama thinking?

Has any of these czars ever overseen a successful effort?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:58 AM)

Wow, the conservatives are even turning on each other. That is so cool. Either way it works for Democrats. If the cons. eat each other soon there will be none left, which is good. If they don't eat each other and end up in such disarray that they start moving their party to the center that is good too. (actually better). What a glorious week it has been.

Unlike Cheney Bush is measuring what he says about his Administration so as not to fuel any questions asked later at, let us say, a war crimes trial.

It will be interesting to see what emerges from the health care debate. That should give us plenty of fodder for discussion in the near future.

Have a great weekend and we'll see you back here as we fight the trolls and flamers and support the liberal cause.

eagle1776 (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:58 AM)

Now or never. It's a crisis. Emergency! Hurry, hurry, the sky is falling! I want it NOW.

I'm so sick of Obama trying to rush everything without thinking things through and seeing the consequences.

Broker today than yesterday (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 9:59 AM)

A tax on employee benefits, and a Value Added Tax (VAT). Those are the two taxes Obama will have to implement if he wants to pay for health care. Both are regressive, both will raise taxes on every worker in the country.

Or, Obama could just print more money to pay for it. Then there would be hyper-inflation where you pay $15 or more for a loaf of bread.

Change is coming America. I bet you didn't know it costs so much did you?

Have You Paid Your Obama Today? (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:00 AM)

Bush also made clear, "Nothing I'm saying is meant to criticize my successor. I wish him all the best."

See dick chenney you sould take a page from your former boss, but what i'm seeing now, i think your were the boss and the former president was your puppit.

Jeff D Evanston IL. (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:00 AM)

Haven't heard much from Obama about job creation. Where are all those jobs he promised? More and more people laid off every week.

Willing to Work (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:00 AM)

Bush has the nerve to say hemade the decision of torture to keep us safe; But if so why did the continually ignor warnings of arabs learning to fly commercial jets; didn't it ever occur to him that they might hi-jack one & fly it into a tall building? (duh)

gepa (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:01 AM)

*** Gitmo politics: Here’s another issue that the Obama White House will have to be working on this summer: what to do about those Gitmo detainees. The Washington Post reports that European leaders are saying that if the U.S. won’t take Gitmo prisoners, then they won’t either. “Rising opposition in the U.S. Congress to allowing Guantanamo prisoners on American soil has not gone over well in Europe.

I don't blame them and the Democrats that don't get up off of their chicken asses may as well look forward to being replaced in the next election.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:02 AM)

Sotomayer is a racist....period.
If a white man said the things she did, he would be villified as a bigot.
She has earned the same treatment.
By the way, a big heads up to the anonymous poster who validates what I say everytime I post by answering me without signing their name to it, another heads up to Mathew....who wouldn't know the truth if it jumoped up and bit him in the arse, and one to Nasville_Fan who is a racist, a bigot, and a LIAR.
Have a nice weekend.....I'm "goin' fishin'"
You can answer if you like, but by the time you do
I'll be somewhere in the air over the Bermuda triangle contemplating life with a Bloody Mary in one hand, and my other arm around ma' baby.

(Like I said before folks; THIS patriotic Democrat can't wait 'til 2012. Obama = ONE & DONE!)

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:04 AM)

So there are a few grownups left in the GOP after all.
John Cronyn is far from being my fav senator, but his comments along with a few others on the GOPer side of the chattering class suggest a sea change.

An appointment as important as one to the SCOTUS should be debated on the merits of the appointee, not the talking points of the extremists on either side. It is clear that we need a more civil tone in DC in order to move forward in the recovery of our economy and our democracy.

On Gitmo, Gen Petreaus stated the obvious fact that closing Gitmo is important for our security and standing in the world. I hope that the weak kneed Reps. and Sens. will get the message and remove their heads from where the sun don't shine! The NIMBY argument is stupid and weak. We are better than our worst fears!

"Nothing I'm saying is meant to criticize my successor. I wish him all the best." Dubya

Bush's speech also showed some sensitivity to the reality that the right wing nuts are not serving their party or our country well with the tone of the invective. Cheney, Limbaugh and a few others should take note and consider the consequences of their actions and statements.

Our wave of change continues get involved and help pass the health care this year!

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:04 AM)

Lush Limburger can say anything and his braindead followers won't care because they never think about what he says, they just line up behind him like a bunch of lemmings being lead over the cliff. Still it's fun to watch the limpwristed conservative crybabies fight amongst themselves as the moderates of their party try to keep the extremists from running their party of sore losers into the ground. Ooops too late, the damage is already done.

Now that the evil elephant party no longer has it's daily White House whining points they sure have poor message discipline. They just can't get their act together because they no longer have one script, they can't think without their teleprompters telling them what to say.

So funny that piggy noonan says that her fellow repugnant ones ought to grow up and act like adults in the wall street urinal. As long as the majority of the sore losers are in thrall to Lush Limburger and fox and freaks that will never happen as those things will never grow up and act like adults. Fox and Freaks is the Witless Protection Program where all of the idiots of tv are gathered in one easily avoided place.

In Obama We Trust!
Go Lakers!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:06 AM)

"Isn't this the argument some Republicans have been making on GITMO -- that no amount of kind words in Europe will help change their minds? - First Read"
==================================================
Huh?

First of all, last time I checked, "Europe" is also "NATO", as in our ALLIES, not some gullible group to be sweet talked into doing for America what we aren't willing to do for ourselves.

Second of all, regardless of the spineless political posturing and mindless fear mongering from Congress, Guantanmo detainees WILL be coming to America, and we all know it. So everyone out there who is terrified of the Muslim "other" better buy an extra gun to cling to and face the fact that America made this bed and now we are going to have to lie in it.

Lastly, why is the media always at the forefront of stirring up controversy, but never able to get around to printing the FACTS to refute some of these demonstrably false Republican talking points?

The current situation with the cherry picked comments from Judge Sotomayor is the latest example, but it happens all the time.

When will the media get around to INFORMING us with the ENTIRE CONTEXT of these complex issues instead of just REPEATING predigested talking points that create the WORST POSSIBLE interpretation of the facts at hand?

Nashville_fan (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:06 AM)

It's good to finally hear some Repubs (and not necessarily the ones I'd expect) telling Rushbo, the Newtster, and Tom Tancredo to stop with the stupid stuff, already. I'm SO glad Tancredo retired from the US Congress, but now we Coloradans have to listen to him continue yammer his anti-immigration garbage. Yesterday he called La Raza the hispanic KKK, which is so far over the line of rationality and decency that any chances he might have had to become the next CO governor was effectively lost (at least I hope so).

Indie Woman in Denver (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:09 AM)

Republicans? Acting like adults? The closest they get to that is adultery! LMAO!!

Anyone up for a food fight? (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:14 AM)

First Read - "The Krauthammer/Noonan message to Republicans is this"

Too bad the Democrats don't have counterparts like Krauthammer or Noonan. Instead the Democrats have the New York Times, Boston Globe, and Washington Post that fabricate stories, spew lies, and have opinion pieces that call Republicans every name in the book all the while that they spike stories that will make the Democrats look bad.

Kelsi Simms, Detriot MI (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:14 AM)

Thank you Mr. Krauthammer and Ms. Noonan.
There has to be a better was to move the debate forward than what Rush puts out there. I've known hundreds of conservatives over the years and none ever sounded like Rush. I respect conservatives and welcome their ideas. They keep me grounded.

Sub Sailor (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:15 AM)

Dear Barack,

Now that you are the de facto president of General Motors, put me down for a 2010 Chevy Pelosi, it comes in two colors Kremlin Red or Black Panther. Delivery in 2013, prices not including taxes, title, taxes, delivery, taxes, dealer prep, taxes, UAW union dues, taxes, license, taxes, battery and carbon tax. See your Chevy dealer or IRS for details.

Thanks,

Pete Roleum

See The USA In Your Chevrolet Before It Is Gone (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:16 AM)

Different rules for different political parties I guess. The Republicans have to be gentle with the Democrats. The Democrats can say what ever they want about the Republicans. If a white man was selected as a nominee to the Supreme Court, and said the racist things Sototmayer has said, he wouldn't last a day until he had to withdraw. But if a woman does says the same racist comments, the Left in the coutnry celebrate her.

TG Briggs, Albany NY (Sent Friday, May 29, 2009 10:18 AM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1947079