Friday News Roundup - Domestic
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-10-19/friday-news-roundup-domestic
Both Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney claimed momentum coming out of a spirited second debate. With less than three weeks until Election Day, polls still show a tight race. Consumer confidence rose to a six-month high as a housing recovery begins to ripple through the economy. The White House said President Barack Obama will veto bills to avert the fiscal cliff unless Republicans raise tax rates on the rich. Wall Street urged the president and Congress to address the crisis soon. And Newsweek said it will go digital only after nearly eight decades in print. Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post, Susan Page of USA Today and Jerry Seib of The Wall Street Journal join Diane for analysis of the week's top national news stories.
Guests
Chris Cillizza
author of The Fix, a Washington Post politics blog, managing editor of PostPolitics.com and author of the book, "The Gospel According to The Fix."
Susan Page
Washington bureau chief for USA Today
Jerry Seib
Washington bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal
Friday News Roundup Video
Candy Crowley, who moderated the Oct. 16 presidential debate, was criticized for her on-the-spot fact-checking of a remark about the U.S. consulate attack in Libya. "The moderator is sort of like the captain of an airplane. In the end, it's up to that person to steer the conversation," Susan Page, Washington bureau chief for USA Today, said. The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza said Crowley was in a "no-win situation." "So much of this depends on the partisan lens through which you see things," Cillizza said.
Comments
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Hi Diane,
I would like your guests to discuss Gov. Romney's repeated assertions during the debate of "I know how to do that," and "I know how to fix that," with regards to creating jobs or improving the economy. He has never substantiated with examples but rather expects us to trust he knows how to do so based on 25 years of experience. The man has not worked in six years and for many of his years in business, the economy was doing well. Most importantly, Bain Capital's objective was to earn money, not create jobs or improve the economy. Why are journalists not asking him to bridge that connection from driving profits to growing an economy? They are not the same. Thanks!
Smoot yep
My sense of why the Obama administration wanted to mix the messages is the likelihood that some of those that attacked the U.S. consulate and killed Ambassador Stevens and the three other U.S. citizens (two of them being Navy Seals) has to do with the former Al Qeada members who Ambassador Stevens allegedly worked with during the overthrow of Gaddafi. That some of these same individuals may have been involved in the killing of the Ambasssador. The dangerous game played when people work with the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Hope the guest on the Rehm show talk about how VP Biden pointed out that Congressman Ryan and other Republicans voted against increasing funding for U.S. security around the world
Diane,
Why has no one called out Romney & President Obama on the pipelines? Both violate the sovereignty of multiple tribes. Former President Bush couldn't define the term sovereignty... Why is no one calling them out now on the pipelines which will not help our national energy security, but will help Canada distribute oil to the rest of the world while pushing through our farmlands and water sources?
Please comment on the hypocrisy of the Boy Scouts to bar homosexual boys, but yet turn around and abuse children in a homosexual manner.
On the question of how the "fiscal cliff" situation will be resolved in Congress once President Obama is reelected, I think the panelists have it wrong.
They're saying that they don't see that anything is different from the same scenario we faced a few years ago. But they're overlooking one important point.
When President Obama was elected, the Republican leadership made it clear that their #1 mission over the next four years would be to thwart all of the President's attempts to get any legislation passed because, they reasoned, if he couldn't accomplish anything, he wouldn't be reelected.
That has been their M.O. for four years -- blocking the President's initiatives because they don't want him to appear successful and, hence, reelectable.
Once President Obama is reelected, they will have absolutely nothing to gain -- and everything to lose -- by continuing this strategy. If it's possible, they'll be come even more unpopular with Americans.
So, there is a significant difference now which should enable President Obama and Congress to deal effectively with the "fiscal cliff" after the election.
Common sense, I think.
Not long ago, I requested some information about jobs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What I wanted to know was the approximate number of jobs in existence in 1950 and 2010.
Their reply was that they did not have that information. One of the reasons given was that they do not keep figures on farm employment.
I would think that, of all employment categories, farming would be considered important.
After all, if no one farmed, would we not all starve????
@ bwstrauss
Like your side hasn't made an issue of Obama's religion. Or is he a Muslim? Didn't Billy Graham say he would do whatever he could for Romney? It is comical how subjective so many people are on this forum.
I am so deeply concerned by the ethos of these debates that I find it difficult to consider any of the "points" made as dependable. I wish the moderators would begin by reminding both men that interrupting one another, calling one another names, talking over the moderator and purposely stereotyping one another are examples of bullying behavior. Our officials and our process provide our children with an absolutely terrible model for interacting with people with whom we disagree. Saying that "they acted like little boys" does not begin to adequately criticize this behavior. What are we thinking?
I find it interesting that there is a constant shoulda/coulda/woulda on the Bengazi attack, but when this administration stops a terrorist like the nut case trying to blow up the Federal Reserve or assassinate the President, it's crickets.
Kathleen,
Let the administration investigate Bengazi thoroughly. It is fine to pose questions while that investigation is underway.
However, politicising the attack to score points in order to weaken the president's strong record in foreign affairs is reminiscent of Romney's ill advised press conference on Bengazi and his gaffe in the last debate on the president's remarks in the Rose Garden the day after the attack.
Neither demonstrated presidential behavior.
Kathleen,
Let the administration investigate Bengazi thoroughly. It is fine to pose questions while that investigation is underway.
However, politicising the attack to score points in order to weaken the president's strong record in foreign affairs is reminiscent of Romney's ill advised press conference on Bengazi and his gaffe in the last debate on the president's remarks in the Rose Garden the day after the attack.
Neither demonstrated presidential behavior.
Kathleen,
Let the administration investigate Bengazi thoroughly. It is fine to pose questions while that investigation is underway.
However, politicising the attack to score points in order to weaken the president's strong record in foreign affairs is reminiscent of Romney's ill advised press conference on Bengazi and his gaffe in the last debate on the president's remarks in the Rose Garden the day after the attack.
Neither demonstrated presidential behavior.
Kathleen,
Let the administration investigate Bengazi thoroughly. It is fine to pose questions while that investigation is underway.
However, politicising the attack to score points in order to weaken the president's strong record in foreign affairs is reminiscent of Romney's ill advised press conference on Bengazi and his gaffe in the last debate on the president's remarks in the Rose Garden the day after the attack.
Neither demonstrated presidential behavior.
Carissa Roper wrote:
"If President Obama does win a second term would Republicans like Mitch McConnell who famously said, “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president,” be willing to put aside party politics to actually start working for all the American people?"
No, I don't think so. The left didn't when Bush was president, and the liberal media was like a mad dog about dumb subjects like Valerie Plame, "secret agent girl". If Bush had done what Obama and his crew just did, the liberal media would be calling for impeachment.
Why does anyone think they need the federal gov't to do anything, anyway? What have they done when they have cooperated, besides restrict more of your liberties and spent more money on the police state? Better they don't get along.
I don't think Obama is going to win, but if he does, I hope the Republicans continue to contain him.
I did learn something watching Obama and his press secretaries Gibbs and Carney, that I think the Republicans in the new administration should utilize - obfuscate as much as you think you need to, then when you can't anymore, just repeat over and over that the president CLEARLY stated whatever the actual truth turned out to be - no matter how clownish it appears.
This tactic is what Bush's press secretaries should have done: a) "so, what", and b) sc** you".
If it is good enough for the dems, it is good enough for the gop.
kathleen wrote:
"With Supreme Court seats more than likely opening up Roe Vs Wade on the cutting board."
kathleen, that is utter nonsense. How do you not recognize what is nothing more than a scare tactic - much less promulgate it?
I'm surprised that Chris Cilliza, who works for the Post in some capacity, did not correct the statement about Romney's hiring history with women while governor of MA.
YES, more women were hired when he began his term, because there was pressure to do so from women. But by the end of his tenure, the percentage of women in his administration DROPPED. This was reported in the Washington Post yesterday.
MIchele Davis wrote:
"the president's strong record in foreign affairs "
Michele, in case you hadn't noticed, the Middle East is on fire.
Robin Shoulders wrote:
"As a Canadian I once admired the U.S. and its political system, f Romney the devout Mormon liar becomes pres. I will have to agree with Rush and I too will be hoping for this pres. to fail as well."
Thanks for your comments. However, we do not care what you think.
You live in a country without free speech, where you can be fined or imprisoned for saying things the government doesn't like or approve.
Now, if I may offer some hopes for your country: I'd like to see the western half of Canada secede. Leave the leftists on the east. The west can throw off the choking liberals, and everyone can be happy...except the control freaks, of which your current government has many.
Ms Rehms,
You took a call today from a woman who stated (as if it were a fact) that Bain Capital employed no women. She was wrong. You did not correct her.
I would believe your claim of fair journalism if you and your guests would be more equitable in your comparisons.
You and many other hosts and guests on NPR and in the national media are using Bain Capital as a bludgeoun against Mitt Romney, as if he were still at the head of Bain Capital. If you want to do that, fine, but be clear about your facts. If one associates Romney as a manager at Bain in 2012, remember this, Bain Capital Equity, in 2012, employs 164 high level managers, 24 of those managers are women.
Romney @ Bain in 2012
24 women @ Bain in 2012.
But, if I remember correctly, Governor Romney is no longer a manager at Bain Capital. Which begs the question, why do you people continue to make statements as if he were? You perpetuate the myth by taking calls from people like that woman today.
Please understand that Benghazi is not the capital of Libya. The US Embassy is in Tripoli, not Benghazi. Ambassadors do not travel with US Embassy Marines from place to place in a sovereign nation. During the VP debate, Rep Ryan's comparison of US Embassy security in Paris to the Consulate security in Benghazi was/is ridiculous.
Jokr8790 wrote:
"He said it the day after the Benghazi attack. What, did Republicans say it was unrelated? How do they arrive at that?"
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Because after the rose garden comments, President Obama's minions, UN Ambassador Rice and Press Secretary Jay Carney, said it was not a terrorist attack but rather a spontaneous attack caused by an amateurish video that nobody saw. How does President Obama explain that? Maybe he will at the final debate.
Not to mention President Obama privately admitted to Kerry Ladka, the guy who asked the question at the debate, that hat he did delay calling the attacks on Benghazi a terrorist attack:
Smoot wrote: "Robin Shoulders wrote:
"As a Canadian I once admired the U.S. and its political system, f Romney the devout Mormon liar becomes pres. I will have to agree with Rush and I too will be hoping for this pres. to fail as well."
Thanks for your comments. However, we do not care what you think.
You live in a country without free speech, where you can be fined or imprisoned for saying things the government doesn't like or approve.
Now, if I may offer some hopes for your country: I'd like to see the western half of Canada secede. Leave the leftists on the east. The west can throw off the choking liberals, and everyone can be happy...except the control freaks, of which your current government has many."
To say you don't care is kinda mean. Perhaps our isolation and our mentality that we are "all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips-who-don't-like-feedback-so-screw-your-opinions" causes people to want to attack us and to criticize how this country is ran.
Feedback is a good thing. We can all grow from it.
I don't know why people in this country expects these two candidates to be honest and straight forward with the American people, when we as a country can not have an honest and straight forward conversation about important issues that needs to be addressed in this country. Whether we like it or not the discussion about Race, Religion and Ethnicity is the huge grey cloud that hangs on this country and continues to divide us. I recently saw t-shirts for people who were campaigning for "Romney" that said "Put the White back in the Whitehouse!" Why this hasn't become mainstream news makes you question our media. Some people thought that with electing President Obama that we would be in a post-racial America for the better(which was like putting a band-aid on an gunshot wound). Well with cases like Trayvon Martin in Florida, it shows that things have not gotten any better, in fact it has put an magnify glass on what this country struggles to deal with. Also this country needs to deal with, supporting Israel knowing what is happening to the Palestine people and immigration. Until we are ready to address these important issues in this country, we are not going to get anywhere. It is time for people to wake up and to start the painful conversation's that plagues this country!
How can the panel continue to provide cover for President Obama and Ambassador Rice, who blamed the murder of 4 Americans on a YouTube amateur video and a spontaneous mob, when there was real time video feed of the actually planned Benghazi terrorist attack?
"Video footage from the United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya, taken the night of the Sept. 11 anniversary attacks, shows an organized group of armed men attacking the compound, according to two U.S. intelligence officials who have seen the footage and are involved in the ongoing investigation. The footage, which was recovered from the site last week by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, offers some of the most tangible evidence yet that a military-style assault took place, according to these officials."
In case you haven't noticed - ecgbert-
The Middle East has been on fire since the Arab Spring and much before.
There have been high profile incidents and "firestorms" in the Middle East during my entire life time (I am 68 years old). Just to name a few:
The Infitada
The Iraw/Iranian War
The Iranian hostige crisis (Carter)
The killing of hundreds of marines in Lebanon (Reagan)
Desert Storm (Bush sr.)
The Iraq War and supposed "weapons of mass destruction debacle" (Bush jr.).
And your point is? Check history. If you think that Romney and the neo-con rehash he will bring to foreign policy will fix the "firestorm" in the Middle East revisit the "Bush Years". Past GOP policy on "American exceptionalism" and preemptive military conflict have "fixed" nothing and cost much in lives and money. Their policies have just made things worse.
FWIW - I liked the first debate a lot better, and I thought both candidates were more factual and honest in the first debate. I don't agree with Obama on most things, but I did come away with a better sense of where he is coming from, and what his priorities are. Unfortunately, Joe Biden's disgraceful performance in the VP debate is now the model of success for the mainstream media, and now we have debates that are like cage fights with the candidates throwing sound bites at one another. I don't learn a thing from that process, and I think our democracy is poorly served by a media that wants to act as umpire, referee and event judge.
Hello,
The first debate, Obama was too polite and let Romney be a bully, without the back and forth of attacking each other. Obama has been roundly criticized for that! Nobody is saying Romney lied throughout the debate.
The second debate, Obama fought back again this bully and NOW is being attacked for been "alpha male" and "at each other." Obama just can't win with pundits! He is the president, Romney showed absolutely no respect whatsoever for him and was just bullying again. What can Obama do!! Either ignore him or tell him NO! Please! All Obama could do was "fight" at the bully's level, because everyone wanted him to do this! And, Romney is a bully!
Really? Why in the world! I don't think so.
pm wrote:
"All Obama could do was "fight" at the bully's level, because everyone wanted him to do this! And, Romney is a bully!"
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You have Romney confused with VP Biden. Both Romney and Ryan were polite and professional. What Romney did in the first debate was to void the $150 million Obama spent on political ads that desperately wanted to make a cartoon of Romney. Why do you suppose the poll numbers shifted towards Romney after that debate? Obama attack ads dissolved once the public saw Romney acting presidential.