Month: December 2004
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See you next year
The flu decided not to cooperate with me, so no posting before I leave for an undisclosed tropical location tomorrow. Back in January. Until then, check out the archives.
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Russert’s incoherent badgering
Interviewing Harry Reid on “Meet the Press,” Tim Russert played into the common misperception that private accounts magically solve the problems of Social Security. Here are his questions in order: MR. RUSSERT: Private accounts for Social Security–the president has made that a priority of his domestic agenda. Will you work with him in privatizing part
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Reid says Bush has a mandate
Harry Reid is already making Tom Daschle look like LBJ. When asked by Tim Russert about passing the intelligence reform bill, he directly endorsed Bush’s (incorrect) mandate claims: MR. RUSSERT: What must the president do [to pass the bill]? SEN. REID: The president, who controls both houses of Congress, should use his power. And he
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The craft of White House backdrops
Via Wonkette — more genius from the image gurus in the Bush administration: See Ch. 1 & 2 of All the President’s Spin for more on this.
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Sticking a tape in the VCR
This Washington Post story on presidential press conference questions isn’t too exciting, but it does highlight how little Bush talks to the press. There’s also a great quote describing the President’s relentless message discipline: White House reporters can go months — or even years — without getting the chance to ask Bush a question. (This
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The state of the mandate debate
More from the mandate beat: The Wall Street Journal’s John Harwood is far too quick to pay deference to Bush’s claims of a mandate, but at least he points out that the election had little to do with backing a specific vision of Social Security reform: President Bush’s team wasted no time after last month’s