AmeriCorps conference and hyphy DC United weekend kept me from an earlier post.
MTP Minute for 29 March:
- Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner: Well, I have to say that after his appearance I am slightly more confident in the plan he put forth to save the banking system. While he is clearly not the best communicator (in stark contrast to his boss), he is knowledgeable and apparently competent. I am thinking though, that people might not have the highest confidence in his abilities due to his rather technical way of speaking and his general Frenchman-like appearance. My suggestion to Secretary Geithner? Get a serious-looking haircut and drop the nasal-sounding voice. That way, when you are speaking like a braniac, the American people won't reflexively think you some sort of wimpy, effete European.
- Senator John McCain: I actually liked to hear what Sen. McCain had to say on MTP. He didn't sound bitter or crazed like he did back before the election, but rather like the moderate, thoughtful senator he was before he ran for president. I would like to see him assume more of a leadership role in the Republican party until they can pick some wacko conservative to replace him ahead of the 2010 election cycle, as maybe then he could get enough of them to stop being professional haters and instead resume their duties of responsible cooperation with the Democratic majority.
David Gregory Match Rating: 8.5 - I really liked his thorough walktrough of the Secretary's bank plan, being sure to point out its potential rewards and its risks. The on-screen graphics really did it for me.
Showing posts with label mtp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mtp. Show all posts
31 March 2009
23 March 2009
monday mtp minute
Saturdays of hard drinking never lend themselves to a prompt Sunday MTP report... that won't change anytime soon.
Monday MTP Minute:
- Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. I will never get tired of hearing Ahnold say "California"... what a great governor! Anyway, the Govs and the Mayor were on to showcase their support for increased investment in infrastructure across the nation. While the investment is clearly needed, is this the time to be making such huge outlays on so many projects? I say yes. I agree with the Governors and the Mayor on this one. The government needs to make this investment now while the public is in the mood to accept such spending. In all honestly, though, if government hadn't been so shortsighted when we had record SURPLUSES, this wouln't have been such an issue right now, when we have pretty much NO money. Yeah, so much for those fantastic Bush tax cuts.
- Roundtable of Tom Brokaw and Erin Burnett: Nothing terribly insightful here, so no characters wasted on it.
David Gregory Match Rating: 7.0 - Question for Schwarzenegger regarding Special Olympics was old before it was asked, could have really done without it.
Monday MTP Minute:
- Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. I will never get tired of hearing Ahnold say "California"... what a great governor! Anyway, the Govs and the Mayor were on to showcase their support for increased investment in infrastructure across the nation. While the investment is clearly needed, is this the time to be making such huge outlays on so many projects? I say yes. I agree with the Governors and the Mayor on this one. The government needs to make this investment now while the public is in the mood to accept such spending. In all honestly, though, if government hadn't been so shortsighted when we had record SURPLUSES, this wouln't have been such an issue right now, when we have pretty much NO money. Yeah, so much for those fantastic Bush tax cuts.
- Roundtable of Tom Brokaw and Erin Burnett: Nothing terribly insightful here, so no characters wasted on it.
David Gregory Match Rating: 7.0 - Question for Schwarzenegger regarding Special Olympics was old before it was asked, could have really done without it.
18 March 2009
umm... wednesday mtp minute
Yeah, yeah, its Wednesday, but somehow the business of Sunday is still at hand.
Without further ado, the mtp minute:
- Dr. Christina Romer: I think that the Obama Administration needed to pick a more deft politician to explain their economic position, if nothing else someone more pleasant to look at. At most times, it seemed like Romer knew what she was talking about regarding the economy - she is a DOCTOR of the DOLLARS after all. David Gregory managed to get the better of her at times, though, especially when he called out the president on remarking that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Just in case you don't remember, Senator McCain was lambasted for the same comment made back in September, albeit that comment was unfortunately (for McCain) made on the day that Lehman Brothers collapsed. Dr. Romer really didn't have the best political answer to this question when Mr. Gregory prodded her, and for that I wish the Obama team had someone more deft at the rhetorical arts up at the plate for them.
- Roundtable of David Frum, Katty Kay, Steve Liesman, and Tavis Smiley: Jesus Christ, what the hell was Tavis Smiley talking about? Every time he tried to lead the conversation, he ended up bringing about an off-topic tangent that really had more to do with a political agenda (why poor people aren't being helped in the economic stimulus plans, which is not true) and less to do with the discussion at hand (the fact that CNBC was asleep at the wheel regarding the financial crisis). Was he on drugs or something? Terrible.
David Gregory Match Rating: 8.5, for deftly eschewing the nonsensical comments of Smiley and zapping Romer on the spot.
Without further ado, the mtp minute:
- Dr. Christina Romer: I think that the Obama Administration needed to pick a more deft politician to explain their economic position, if nothing else someone more pleasant to look at. At most times, it seemed like Romer knew what she was talking about regarding the economy - she is a DOCTOR of the DOLLARS after all. David Gregory managed to get the better of her at times, though, especially when he called out the president on remarking that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Just in case you don't remember, Senator McCain was lambasted for the same comment made back in September, albeit that comment was unfortunately (for McCain) made on the day that Lehman Brothers collapsed. Dr. Romer really didn't have the best political answer to this question when Mr. Gregory prodded her, and for that I wish the Obama team had someone more deft at the rhetorical arts up at the plate for them.
- Roundtable of David Frum, Katty Kay, Steve Liesman, and Tavis Smiley: Jesus Christ, what the hell was Tavis Smiley talking about? Every time he tried to lead the conversation, he ended up bringing about an off-topic tangent that really had more to do with a political agenda (why poor people aren't being helped in the economic stimulus plans, which is not true) and less to do with the discussion at hand (the fact that CNBC was asleep at the wheel regarding the financial crisis). Was he on drugs or something? Terrible.
David Gregory Match Rating: 8.5, for deftly eschewing the nonsensical comments of Smiley and zapping Romer on the spot.
08 March 2009
sunday mtp minute
Sometimes, when Daylight Saving Time zaps an hour out of your day, you get to MTP a little late.
But, that's another entry. Onward to the wrapup:
- Sens. Chuck Schumer and Lindsey Graham butted heads over the issue of the century, the crumbling state of the economy. A lot of the conversation centered around the usual arguments that are circulating around the Beltway regarding the economy: stimulus, tanking markets, omnibus, and earmarks. The discussion of the last point was actually the most compelling one, where both senators essentially supported the practice of earmarking. Mr. Gregory did a great job of pressing the issue on both of the senators, although I think he understood that they were not the worst offenders by far. Senator Schumer did make me feel a little better about how earmarks are now more transparent than ever before: they can be tracked online and each one is tagged to whomever added it in to the bill.
- Roundtable: considering all of the personalities present, I think it was very mild - especially compared to the yakking of last week. I found former speaker Gingrich's take on the administration to be Limbaugh-esque... "Bush-Obama spending bill" and "trial lawyers and judges rewriting mortgages" were especially rich (Rush?). I don't feel like ranting now, but he was just being an Rump Party ass (par for the course). Mort Zuckerman's "popularity, but not credibility" was an especially piercing line.
David Gregory Match Rating: 8.5 - a great showing with the roundtable and the senators, I really think he is growing into his role on the show.
But, that's another entry. Onward to the wrapup:
- Sens. Chuck Schumer and Lindsey Graham butted heads over the issue of the century, the crumbling state of the economy. A lot of the conversation centered around the usual arguments that are circulating around the Beltway regarding the economy: stimulus, tanking markets, omnibus, and earmarks. The discussion of the last point was actually the most compelling one, where both senators essentially supported the practice of earmarking. Mr. Gregory did a great job of pressing the issue on both of the senators, although I think he understood that they were not the worst offenders by far. Senator Schumer did make me feel a little better about how earmarks are now more transparent than ever before: they can be tracked online and each one is tagged to whomever added it in to the bill.
- Roundtable: considering all of the personalities present, I think it was very mild - especially compared to the yakking of last week. I found former speaker Gingrich's take on the administration to be Limbaugh-esque... "Bush-Obama spending bill" and "trial lawyers and judges rewriting mortgages" were especially rich (Rush?). I don't feel like ranting now, but he was just being an Rump Party ass (par for the course). Mort Zuckerman's "popularity, but not credibility" was an especially piercing line.
David Gregory Match Rating: 8.5 - a great showing with the roundtable and the senators, I really think he is growing into his role on the show.
02 March 2009
sunday (monday) mtp minute
Sometimes when you are moving a friend into their new apartment, you don't get a chance to watch mtp when it first airs and instead have to watch the online addition.
This was one of those times.
On this Sunday's edition of the show, Mr. Gregory hosted Secretary of Defense Gates and a political roundtable consisted of "Morning" Joe Scarborough, Harold Ford, Jr., Dee Dee Myers, and Mike "beardo" Murphy.
- Sec. Gates: I was impressed with the Secretary's ability to carefully articulate the president's vision for moving forward in Iraq and advancing the war in Afghanistan. The moves from the administration seem to indicate a real understanding of what scaling up the effort in Afghanistan means: Secretary Gates made no attempt to hide the fact that the fight there is going to be a long and arduous one. Its really good to hear realistic analysis and forthrightness coming from those making some of the most serious and consequential decisions at the highest levels. I am concerned, however, about developments occurring in Iraq that would make a responsible scale-down there less than feasible. If something were to occur there, it would set off a domino effect that would have ramifications on both foreign and domestic policy. As the domestic agenda, made clear through the president's release of his budget, relies heavily on economic savings derived from a scale down in the effort there, any change to the plan could necessitate some cuts in other avenues.
- Roundtable: Fairly standard, barely worth commenting on except for the fact that Mike Murphy was sporting a closely kempt beard.
David Gregory match rating: 7.5
Another solid interview with a big name, yet he let the panel descend into one too many shouting matches.
This was one of those times.
On this Sunday's edition of the show, Mr. Gregory hosted Secretary of Defense Gates and a political roundtable consisted of "Morning" Joe Scarborough, Harold Ford, Jr., Dee Dee Myers, and Mike "beardo" Murphy.
- Sec. Gates: I was impressed with the Secretary's ability to carefully articulate the president's vision for moving forward in Iraq and advancing the war in Afghanistan. The moves from the administration seem to indicate a real understanding of what scaling up the effort in Afghanistan means: Secretary Gates made no attempt to hide the fact that the fight there is going to be a long and arduous one. Its really good to hear realistic analysis and forthrightness coming from those making some of the most serious and consequential decisions at the highest levels. I am concerned, however, about developments occurring in Iraq that would make a responsible scale-down there less than feasible. If something were to occur there, it would set off a domino effect that would have ramifications on both foreign and domestic policy. As the domestic agenda, made clear through the president's release of his budget, relies heavily on economic savings derived from a scale down in the effort there, any change to the plan could necessitate some cuts in other avenues.
- Roundtable: Fairly standard, barely worth commenting on except for the fact that Mike Murphy was sporting a closely kempt beard.
David Gregory match rating: 7.5
Another solid interview with a big name, yet he let the panel descend into one too many shouting matches.
22 February 2009
sunday mtp minute
Internet has arrived at my domicile! I have joined the 21st century!
And on that note, I am trying to set up a more stable routine of posting since I will have access to the interwebs at all times of day. In that vein, I introduce:
The Sunday MTP Minute: a quick summary of my thoughts stemming from the day's episode.
Without further ado, the 23 February edition:
- Gov. Bobby "targeted, temporary" Jindal made the Party of No's case for, well, their no-ness and his decision to turn down some of the billions of dollars headed his state's way from the stimulus bill. He must have uttered the phrase "targeted, temporary" at least 10 times, making it seem like the stimulus is a willy-nilly, long-lasting spending bill. While there are some questionable provisions in the bill, it is certainly targeted in many respects and the money is not going to flow forever, so it is definitely temporary. I am sure Gov. Jindal isn't too worried about explaining to the thousands of unemployed in his state why he is rejecting $100 million in unemployment assistance - they most likely don't lie in his voter base anyway.
- Gov. Charlie Crist made the case FOR the stimulus bill, coming from a state where the monies are desperately needed. I appreciated his bipartisan tone, but I certainly saw his political future in the Republican Party flashing before his eyes as he expressed strong support for the stimulus. Best of luck to you sir, as you fend off the rabid anti-stimulus dogs of your party.
David Gregory match rating: 8.0
Mr. Gregory asked some tough questions, essentially forming the debate between Govs. Jindal and Crist without actually having the two duke it out. A solid outing.
And on that note, I am trying to set up a more stable routine of posting since I will have access to the interwebs at all times of day. In that vein, I introduce:
The Sunday MTP Minute: a quick summary of my thoughts stemming from the day's episode.
Without further ado, the 23 February edition:
- Gov. Bobby "targeted, temporary" Jindal made the Party of No's case for, well, their no-ness and his decision to turn down some of the billions of dollars headed his state's way from the stimulus bill. He must have uttered the phrase "targeted, temporary" at least 10 times, making it seem like the stimulus is a willy-nilly, long-lasting spending bill. While there are some questionable provisions in the bill, it is certainly targeted in many respects and the money is not going to flow forever, so it is definitely temporary. I am sure Gov. Jindal isn't too worried about explaining to the thousands of unemployed in his state why he is rejecting $100 million in unemployment assistance - they most likely don't lie in his voter base anyway.
- Gov. Charlie Crist made the case FOR the stimulus bill, coming from a state where the monies are desperately needed. I appreciated his bipartisan tone, but I certainly saw his political future in the Republican Party flashing before his eyes as he expressed strong support for the stimulus. Best of luck to you sir, as you fend off the rabid anti-stimulus dogs of your party.
David Gregory match rating: 8.0
Mr. Gregory asked some tough questions, essentially forming the debate between Govs. Jindal and Crist without actually having the two duke it out. A solid outing.
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