The Hollywood Liberal

Gingrich Plays Defense On His Nazi Comparison: ?I?m Not Saying Obama Is The Bad Guy?
Newt Gingrich sat down with the Des Moines Register editorial board this week to discuss his new book To Save America: Stopping Obama’s Secular Socialist Machine. Right at the start of the interview, a Register editor asked if Gingrich thinks “voters are stupid since they elected President Obama in 2008.” The former Speaker walked back […]

Newt Gingrich sat down with the Des Moines Register editorial board this week to discuss his new book To Save America: Stopping Obama’s Secular Socialist Machine. Right at the start of the interview, a Register editor asked if Gingrich thinks “voters are stupid since they elected President Obama in 2008.” The former Speaker walked back the entire premise of his book. “The whole question of the scale of change has nothing to do with Obama,” he said.

Later in the hour-long interview, Gingrich backtracked even further. “I’m not here saying Obama is the bad guy and if he wasn’t there things would be good.” Soon after, the Register editor called Gingrich out:

DMR EDITOR: I was really taken aback by something you just said, in that “I”m not here saying Obama is the bad guy.” In your book you say, “The President’s secular socialist machine represents as great a threat to America as Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union once did.” That sure sounds like you think he’s a bad guy with bad ideas.

Gingrich again tried to distance himself from the fiery rhetoric in his book, simply saying that the “secular socialist machine” is taking over “traditional America” without linking Obama to it.

At the end of the interview, the Register editor told Gingrich that the conversation with him had been quite reasonable, which she noted didn’t seem to square with the rhetoric in his book, calling it, in parts, “offensive” and “really over the top”:

DMR EDITOR: Do you see part of your role in writing this book and touring the country and speaking is helping Americans find a consensus on some of these crucial issues we have to address…or do you see it as to rabble-rouse because this conversation has been very reasonable and interesting, [but] this book is really over the top in places. …Some of the rhetoric is really offensive and it’s just it doesn’t quite fit with the conversation in this room so what is your role?

Again, Gingrich dodged the question. “I’m trying to say is that we’re at a genuine crossroads and it involves choices,” he said, later adding, “My real job is not to figure out how to find a common ground with the left.” Watch it:

Aside from the title of his book and the contents within, less than two weeks ago, Gingrich was indeed saying Obama is the bad guy. “’The secular socialist machine represents as great a threat to America as Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union once did.’ Mr. Speaker, respectfully, isn’t that wildly over the top?” Fox host Chris Wallace asked. Gingrich replied, “No. … Just listen to President Obama’s language. He gets to decide who earns how much. He gets to decide when it’s too much.”

Bill Clinton has not shrunk from the political spotlight
Bill Clinton was all over the news Friday. He was identified as the go-between in a (failed) White House effort last year to get Rep. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania to drop his (ultimately successful) Democratic primary challenge to Sen. Arlen Specter. And he was live, on stage, in Arkansas in a…


Bill Clinton - President - United States - History - Clinton William Jefferson

Talk-show guests: Sunday, May 30, 2010
Guests to be interviewed Sunday on major television talk shows:


Talk show - Arts - Talk radio - Radio - Formats

Illinois Senate candidate admits claim about military award was inaccurate
The Republican candidate for President Obama’s old Senate seat has admitted to inaccurately claiming he received the U.S. Navy’s Intelligence Officer of the Year award for his service during NATO’s conflict with Serbia in the late 1990s.


Illinois Senate - United States - Illinois - Government - Legislative Branch

The Thin-Skinned President
Peter Wehner, Politics Daily

Mood More Anti-Dem Than Anti-Incumbent
Michael Barone, American
The year 2010 is proving "a tough year for the overdog," as I wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal column. Coincidentally, National Journal's Charlie Cook wrote a column published the same day entitled "Incumbents Face Twin Furies." Cook noted that 12 House incumbents had won their primaries with 70 percent or less of the vote. Given the enormous advantages that House incumbents usually enjoy, which usually net them 80 percent or more in primaries against little-known challengers, that is a low percentage. It's also a sign of genuine weakness…

Oil Regulators and Obama Fall Short

Rahm to Bill To Joe

Jobs Bill Ends Hedge Fund Tax Break

Late Late Night FDL: Club Poodle
Early Show: John Sinclair featuring Wayne Kramer “Shake ‘Em On Down” Late Show: Kinetix “People Start Hoppin’” What’s on your mind tonight?  

Early Show: John Sinclair featuring Wayne Kramer “Shake ‘Em On Down”
Late Show: Kinetix “People Start Hoppin’”

What’s on your mind tonight?

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‘Left, Right & Center’: The Big Spill, Sestak and Spain
This week’s “Left, Right & Center” features a cameo appearance from David Frum, who fills in for the show’s Mr. Right, Tony Blankley, to take on the week’s big topics: the BP oil spill, Joe Sestak, Spain and the global economy. 

This week’s “Left, Right & Center” features a cameo appearance from David Frum, who fills in for the show’s Mr. Right, Tony Blankley, to take on the week’s big topics: the BP oil spill, Joe Sestak, Spain and the global economy.?

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‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal Could Be Headed for Veto
The good news, for those awaiting the repeal of the military’s oppressive “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, is that the House of Representatives on Friday voted in favor of lifting the policy. However, it’s far from a done deal, and two very big obstacles—Barack Obama and Robert Gates—may block it from becoming law.  —KA Los Angeles Times: The bill repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military could present the Obama administration with a problem: It also contains money for projects the Pentagon considers wasteful. The White House has threatened to veto any bill containing money for weapons programs that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is trying to eliminate as part of his campaign to tame the Pentagon budget. As a result, President Obama could end up vetoing Congress’ repeal of the ban on gays in the military, a legal change he promised to push through during his campaign for the White House. Read more

The good news, for those awaiting the repeal of the military’s oppressive “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, is that the House of Representatives on Friday voted in favor of lifting the policy. However, it’s far from a done deal, and two very big obstacles—Barack Obama and Robert Gates—may block it from becoming law.? —KA

Los Angeles Times:

The bill repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military could present the Obama administration with a problem: It also contains money for projects the Pentagon considers wasteful.

The White House has threatened to veto any bill containing money for weapons programs that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is trying to eliminate as part of his campaign to tame the Pentagon budget.

As a result, President Obama could end up vetoing Congress’ repeal of the ban on gays in the military, a legal change he promised to push through during his campaign for the White House.

Read more

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Chris Weigant: Friday Talking Points [125] — Ask! Tell!
Our headline today quite obviously references the legislative progress this week on banning the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (of not allowing gay people…

Obama White House Defends Itself Against James Carville’s Oil Spill Criticism
The White House defended itself against James Carville’s scathing criticism of the federal response to the BP oil spill Friday. During an Air Force One…

Most Guantanamo Bay Detainees Were Low-Level Fighters, Report Confirms
The 48 Guantánamo Bay detainees whom the Obama administration has decided to keep holding without trial include several for whom there is no evidence of…

U.S. Army Developing Pakistan Attack Plan As Possible Response To Terror Attack
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is developing plans for a unilateral attack on the Pakistani Taliban in the event of a successful terrorist strike in…

Rachel Simmons: Why Talking Too Much About Kagan’s Sexuality Fuels Gender Policing
Over the weekend, Washington Post fashion reporter Robin Givhan chided Elena Kagan for sitting with her legs open, and Salon Broadsheet blogger Tracy Clark Flory…

Earth to Fox: Obama visited the Gulf on May 2

On Fox & Friends, guest host Dave Briggs falsely claimed that President Obama “has not been down to the Gulf…[h]e has not had that moment to get down there in the Gulf and tell those people he cares, that he’s doing something.” In fact, Obama visited the Gulf Coast on May 2.

Briggs: “[T]he problem is” Obama “has not been down to the Gulf”

A May 28 Fox & Friends segment criticized Obama for attending the White House Correspondents dinner, playing golf, hosting sporting teams at the White House, and attending a fundraiser, among other things, since the oil leak began. Briggs added, “I think the problem is, he has not been down to the Gulf”:

BRIGGS: This is not to suggest that he should have skipped on his obligations. He also honored the UConn Women’s basketball team. But, I think the problem is, he has not been down to the Gulf. He’s been on the golf course so much. He has not had that moment to get down there in the Gulf and tell those people he cares, that he’s doing something. And that’s why James Carville’s been so unhappy. He’s not down there with the boots on, and showing people the beaches, and showing people the birds… taking leadership.

In fact, Obama visited the Gulf Coast on May 2

Obama visited Venice, Louisiana on May 2. On May 2, Obama visited the Gulf Coast to assess the response to the oil spill. In addition to making remarks about the attempted car bombing in Times Square, Obama detailed the federal government’s response to the oil spill. From Obama’s remarks:

They gave me a sense of how this spill is moving.  It is now about nine miles off the coast of southeastern Louisiana.  And by the way, we had the Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, as well as parish presidents who were taking part in this meeting, because we want to emphasize the importance of coordinating between local, state, and federal officials throughout this process.

Now, I think the American people are now aware, certainly the folks down in the Gulf are aware, that we’re dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster.  The oil that is still leaking from the well could seriously damage the economy and the environment of our Gulf states and it could extend for a long time.  It could jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of Americans who call this place home. 

And that’s why the federal government has launched and coordinated an all-hands-on-deck, relentless response to this crisis from day one.  After the explosion on the drilling rig, it began with an aggressive search-and-rescue effort to evacuate 115 people, including three badly injured.  And my thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the 11 workers who have not yet — who have not been found. 

When the drill unit sank on Thursday, we immediately and intensely investigated by remotely operated vehicles the entire 5,000 feet of pipe that’s on the floor of the ocean.  In that process, three leaks were identified, the most recent coming just last Wednesday evening.  As Admiral Allen and Secretary Napolitano have made clear, we’ve made preparations from day one to stage equipment for a worse-case scenario.  We immediately set up command center operations here in the Gulf and coordinated with all state and local governments.  And the third breach was discovered on Wednesday.      

Obama set to visit Gulf Coast for second time on May 28. Obama is reportedly scheduled to visit the Louisiana Gulf Coast for a second time on May 28.

Rand Paul’s Upstart Ophthalmology Group Leaves Little Mark
Rand Paul’s reputation for marching to his own drummer may extend to his medical career. The GOP Senate candidate is the founder and president of a certifying board for eye doctors, which he appears to have set up as a rival to the existing certification board. But the legitimacy with which group is viewed remains unclear at best.


Rand Paul - Republican - United States Senate - Medicine - United States

Haley: ‘I Will Deal With This Situation Once This Election Is Over’
Appearing on South Carolina’s WTMA radio this morning, gubernatorial hopeful Nikki Haley said “it will come out in due time” which of her enemies is behind Will Folks’ claim of an affair. She also said without elaborating: “I will deal with this situation once this election is over.”



South Carolina - Nikki Haley - United States - WTMA - Politics

Phone Records: Folks And Haley Spoke Often In Wee Hours
South Carolina blogger Will Folks has released records of phone calls between himself and gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley that show many calls between the two in early morning hours in 2007, the year he says they had an affair — but also the year he was doing political consulting work for Haley.


South Carolina - Nikki Haley - United States - Politics - Will Folks