Politirazzi

By LaShawnda

It’s safe to say Obama is the most popular politician since John F. Kennedy. And that’s being rather generous to Kennedy, since he certainly didn’t draw crowds like Obama (at least I haven’t come across a record). And that’s not a snub to Bill Clinton either, who during his time, was also the most popular politician since Kennedy. However, former president Clinton tarnished his image a bit during the last year of campaigning, so we aren’t inclined to think of him in positive terms of popularity.

What a nasty web we weave when we politick to deceive. My first gasp of outrage with Bill Clinton came when he implied Obama was on a fairy tale quest and later made a lopsided comparison of Obama’s campaign to those of Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Rev Jackson never held public office. He’s never been an elected official campaigning to the various demands of his constituency. So the only basis of Clinton’s comparison was these two black men had made a run for the White House. As this presidential cycle moved on, we became alarmingly aware of the fact that Jackson believed the Clinton hype about not just his relevance to Black America but to America. That is, his superior relevance over the upstart, Sen. Barack Obama. Where did that boy come from?

Jackson ran off at the mouth and forgot the one tried and true rule of interviews with journalists, especially in a cycle and technology age where every agency is trying to top every other agency with any tidbit of information. Jackson forgot that if a mic and camera are around, NOTHING is off the record. So we learn, what we suspected and perhaps what they feared, Rev. Jackson really is in the same boat with the Clintons and they are all fear the imminent danger of drowning as political has-beens. Through no fault of their own. They are all amazing political figures — for the time and place that they shined the most.

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By Kim

Obama's private stolen prayer seen here.

King David Hotel stationary confirms it’s really his (or at least a good fake).

Light in his loafers: McCain trots around the country in his $520 Ferragamos. OK, this story is as lame and irrelevant as the John Edwards $400 haircut whack job, but we can kind of agree it did its damage, therefore I have rationalized the relevancy of this post. HuffPo does a nice job covering McCain’s Italian style complete with photo gallery!

If anything, he has proved the versatility of these mocs as it gets him through golf with “H.W.,” fundraising with Lance, and hob-knobbing with the Dalai Lama! Get a pair for yourself here!

The RNC tries to reach “the youth” by spreading their message in a way that young voters can understand: Facebook. Barackbook.com parodies the No. 1 social networking site complete with fake feed and profiles of surly “friends.”

Ten thousand participants, one leaked video. A two minute snippet of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony rehearsal has been aired on Korean TV.

Check out the trailer for Oliver Stone's "W.," which has surfaced online.

Richard Dreyfuss as Cheney promises to be amazing. But every time I see Ellen Burstyn in a movie, I think of her as the haggard mother in "Requiem For a Dream." Subliminal casting perhaps? See the IMDB credits. here

By Dontre

It isn't hard, really, to understand how Senator Obama, no matter what he’s doing, makes for better television than Senator McCain. In the age where political campaigns are run much like Hollywood soap operas, and the appearance of a candidate matters just as much (if not more) as what they’re saying, the Illinois senator has the perfect combination of a silver screen actor: good looks, articulate, glimmering personality. There is no real confusion, then, that he commands the attention (and bias) of the media over Senator McCain, his older counterpart who, at best, has the allure of a black and white, 1950's Western. At least, as far as Hollywood is concerned.

But, the realm of politics is not Hollywood, and given the task of disseminating information to the masses, not only is it inappropriate for the news media to carry-on a love affair with Senator Obama, it is an outright insult to Senator McCain’s constituents (and those still deciding for whom to vote) to be inundated with around-the-clock coverage of Senator Obama’s every move. Media has the ability to shape public opinion and its position as Senator Obama’s lapdog not only ignores that there’s a viable candidate who is also in this race, but it unfairly attempts to guide the hands of voters by limiting their access to his opponent, and (even if subconsciously) sway them in his favor.

I am of the opinion that news should be fair and balanced—or at least try to be; editorials and talking heads notwithstanding. We know that full objectivity doesn’t exist, but viewers/readers can certainly tell when favoritism does. Those who make the argument that Mr. Obama’s campaign is, somehow, more newsworthy than Mr. McCain’s do so out of their own bias for his candidacy. Sen. Obama isn’t more newsworthy than Sen. McCain, but he is better at the art of stagecraft. What exists between the candidates isn’t a comparative of their newsworthiness, rather the ability to produce the ready-made news image.

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By Meg

After sequestering myself for an extended vacation on a sleepy little island where the only headline news concerned a gang of attack turkeys (oh but I’m not kidding), I definitely owe the Politirazzi readership a bigger, grander blog entry than what I’m about to reveal. But I just have to show you all my favorite new T-shirt.

It’s true. We can’t hide it any longer. And why should we? Sure, there are factors that stand in our way (geography, his spouse, etc.), but when two people share a love of political analysis and demographic trend watching, I believe they can overcome the steepest of hurdles.

Australian street names representing the future and the past, via Jeff

By Jeff

Republicans are wringing their hands at how the press has been fawning over Barack Obama. He can do no wrong. John McCain even had a recent clever campaign ad about how effusive the press has been even quoting NBC’s Lee Cowan saying that “It’s almost hard to remain objective, because it’s infectious.” I’ve been taught that right and proper explanations to questions are most impactful when they are broken into three categories, but I’m going to give a bonus forth as to why Barack Obama has been getting so much more press over the last few months than are typical of Presidential candidates.

Barack Obama is doing and saying things that are uncommon for Presidential candidates. He’s given a huge speech about race relations in America that wasn’t really a campaign speech, but just an overreaching aspirational speech about America similar to Reagan’s famous “Shining City Upon A Hill” speech. When a candidate presents himself or herself in a manner which is drastically different than what has been done in the past, it’s obviously going to get coverage. Typical Presidential candidates don’t get 70,000 people (http://www.amny.com/news/politics/am-obama0519-gallery,0,2451493.photogallery) to show up at a speech in Oregon. A trip through Europe for a Presidential candidate is incredibly groundbreaking. Obama is deserving of the extra coverage he is getting since his candidacy is meaningfully different than those before him. Now, all of that extra press need not be the glowing sycophancy it has been, but his actions deserve being covered.

The press isn’t trying to be impartial; they are trying to get ratings. And the American populace, in large, loathes President Bush, and in turn anyone who is aligned with President Bush. The press is going to put on what people will watch, and anything that plays up Barack Obama and demonizes George Bush plays in Peoria. All these fawning puff pieces focusing on Obama’s superficial and non-specific speeches about “hope” and “change” end up portraying the Bush years in contrast as hopeless darkness from which Obama can rescue us.

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By Lynne

The NY Daily News began referring to Queens Blvd as the “Boulevard of Death” several years ago. It is still an apt description — approximately 100 pedestrians and cyclists are hit by cars or trucks on that main artery each year.

Just last month, a 76-year-old woman was killed along a stretch in Sunnyside.

Back in February, 22-year-old Queens resident Asif Rahman was struck and killed in Elmhurst while cycling home. A ghost bike marks the spot, a reminder of the tragedy.

At a press conference on Sunday, his mother Lizi Rahman spoke eloquently about the need for a dedicated bike lane on Queens Boulevard to make sure no family loses another loved one, and so that her son’s death would not be in vain.

For those who claim wearing a bike helmet is sufficient protection, and that bike lanes aren’t necessary, Asif’s mother graphically explained that Asif’s head and face were untouched; it was his chest area that was crushed when he was struck by a truck.

But his sister, Moumita, was there to hold the city accountable. The NY Daily News quoted her:

“I believe that the city has committed and continues to commit an act of negligence by promoting...bicycle riding without providing the necessary and adequate safeguards."

Queens Boulevard is not yet included in the Mayor’s plan to build 200 miles of bike lanes across the city in the next three years. Why not?

I mean, really – it’s the Boulevard of Death.

As far as the title of this post, it’s a blatant rip-off: Bikes Not Bombs is the name of organization in Boston that has promoted bicycle technology as a concrete alternative to war and environmental destruction for 23 years.

Twenty-three years.

That’s longer than Asif Rahman was allowed to live.

By Lynne

Barack Obama bores me.

Perhaps because I am planning on ‘making history’ by voting for a different Black candidate: Cynthia McKinney, the six-term congresswoman from Georgia who is running on the Green Party ticket. Or perhaps because it sometimes feels like Obama is starring in a political version of Grease the Musical, with the media singing his praises:

We Go Together

We go together like Obama lama lama ke ding a de dinga a dong
Elected for ever like shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom
Change change change-it-ty change shoo-bop
That's the way a president should be
Wha oooh yeah!

Hopelessly Devoted To You

I know I'm just a fool who's willing to sit around and vote for you
But Barack can't you see, there's nothin' else for me to do…
I'm hopelessly devoted to you

You're The One I Want

I got chills, they're multiplyin',
and I'm losin' control cause the power you're supplyin', it's electrifyin'
you better win big, cause I need a man, and my heart is set on you

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By Kimberly

* McCain: 894th Out Of 899 in School. A C-student at Yale doesn’t seem so bad comparatively!

* Bush: “Wall Street got Drunk." This is probably the most insightful thing Bush has ever said considering how many people got screwed ...

* Gawker comments on what the presumptive presidential nominees would look like in four years. I agree with the guy who posted a pic of Senator Palpatine.

* Tucker’s boy crush on Obama revealed! McCain’s latest attack (?) ad on Obama scheduled precisely when Obama is overseas with his media entourage.

This overly produced spot fails in my eyes because it seems like a Hershey’s kisses ad, and makes me want to watch some C-SPAN in hopes of a re-broadcasted Obama speech.

(AP)

By Lynne

On Monday, John McCain described "the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border" while doing an interview with ABC, somehow forgetting that Iraq and Pakistan don’t share a border.

Pakistan shares a border with Afghanistan.

This wasn’t his first screw-up. According to Politico:

“Just in the past three weeks, McCain has also mistaken 'Somalia' for 'Sudan,' and even football’s Green Bay Packers for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

My parents are both older than McCain and their minds are as sharp as ever, meanwhile there are (unfortunately) many people under age 65 with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. So all the ageist speculation and commentary is just a new ‘ism’ to add to the rampant sexism and racism that have marred this election cycle.

The truth: McCain is just bad at geography and — apparently — football.

Will it matter come Election Day? Maybe he should ask Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (rumor has it McCain will announce his VP pick this week and Jindal seems to be on the short list).

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By LaShawnda

A few weeks ago I paused in my channel surfing to catch the tail-end of an interview with T. Boone Pickens. His name was scrawled across the screen and I must admit, it was the name that caught my attention. I have two uncles with similar names, one is called Boone and the other goes by T-Bone. So seeing the name T. Boone on a 24-hour news network was, at first, a bit startling.

After a short while of listening, I was a bit impressed by this man’s audacity, his self-assurance and his confidence. But most impressive was sales prowess. He was being interviewed about his new energy plan proposal for the United States, but he wasn’t sharing any details — not until a later date. The interviewer asked him which presidential candidate he was interested in meeting with to discuss his Pickens Plan. Mr. Pickens, said, “I won’t meet with either unless I meet with them both at the same time.”

Call me a sucker, but that statement made an impression. The oilman is campaigning like a politician. He even has TV ads outlining the problem and suggesting his solutions, not to mention he’s been doing the media circuit like he’s seeking office, perhaps Secretary of Energy ...

By Lynne

In a rite of passage more typical of college students on summer break, presidential hopeful Barack Obama embarked on a multi-day, multi-country journey of Europe and the Middle East.

To what end?

He’s not setting policy, nor is he involved in any specific negotiations. Instead, he’s trying to boost his foreign policy credentials. And he has the audacity to claim he’s doing it as a Senator from Illinois, not as a presidential candidate.

According to CNN, “So far, his trip has produced several high-profile photo ops ...”

How nice. So rather than spending time in, say, Illinois, he’s burning up fossil fuels (at least an actual Eurail Pass would have relied on trains) to prove his pop-star popularity overseas.

Meanwhile, back in his home state, the Green Party chose former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney as their presidential nominee last week. Unlike Obama’s tightly scripted overseas trip, the Green Party’s national convention in Chicago received minimal mainstream media coverage.

However, most people get their news online — 48 percent according to a Zogby poll in February 2008. And with hip-hop activist Rosa Clemente as McKinney’s running mate, the Web is beginning to buzz about the all-female ticket.

By Lynne

Last week, the Green Party made history by nominating the first all-women-of-color presidential ticket. Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (who served six terms in Congress) chose Rosa Clemente as her running mate.

Rosa Clemente, 36, is a Puerto Rican of African descent. Cynthia McKinney is African-American.

Rosa was born in the South Bronx and is a graduate of the University at Albany-SUNY and Cornell University. A community organizer, hip-hop activist and independent journalist, Rosa was a lead organizer for the first National Hip-Hop Political Convention in 2004. She stated:

“I don't see the Green Party as an alternative. I see it as an imperative.”

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By Kim

* He means not what he says! I have to come to the defense of my favorite talk show host John McLaughlin who was under fire earlier this week for referring to Obama as an Oreo. Insensitive, maybe, but if he knew how emotionally charged that word can be, I’m sure he wouldn’t use it. I think he was merely trying to break through to his 75+ audience. This coming from a girl called a Twinkie all her life.

* Reporter creepily details Obama’s daily work-out routine with Reggie Love; nerdy D.C.-librarian types stand by and watch. Wussy compared to Condoleezza Rice.

(Los Angeles Times)

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By Jeff

Oh, how I wish I was asked to predict the upcoming gaffes two weeks ago. I would have absolutely called someone from the McCain camp making the semantic argument that we aren’t technically in a recession and that Americans are a bunch of crybabies. But alas, five more predictions:

1. I think it’s a foregone conclusion that someone is going to refer to Obama as “boy.” In fact, I’m shocked it hasn’t happened yet. Predicting “who” is difficult, other than to say it’ll be some old white guy Republican surrogate of McCain. When it happens, they will apologize for their “poor choice of words”, assure the country that they meant nothing by it other than that “I was trying to convey the point that Senator Obama is very young and in experienced, like a child. I deeply regret my poor choice of words.”

2. “Senator Osama”. ‘Nuff said. It’s been done before. It will be done again. But this time by McCain and in one of the debates.

3. We haven’t heard the last about McCain’s war record. It’ll be a very dangerous line to walk, but the far left was actually happy for General Clark for first making the comment, and then angry that he apologized. I’m not going to link them, but there’s a world of conspiracies about McCain’s war record out there if you want to Google it. I predict whoever makes the comments (which will backfire), will not officially be part of Obama’s campaign, and that it will likely take place around the Republican Convention when the Republicans are heavily playing up McCain’s hero status. All the fawning will send some left winger over the edge, and they’ll make a baseless accusation akin to “McCain’s negligence killed 160 people in the USS Forrestal incident.”

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David Horsey

Kim asked for it, and you wanted it, too. The Republican version of a satirical cover, courtesy of political cartoonist David Horsey.

-Photos: Young John McCain

-Photos: John McCain at work and play

— Emily

Last month we started documenting the rash of art, crafts and fashions so far inspired by Barack Obama: Here's a sampling from that post:

[PHOTOS OF THE REST]

We spotted this latest mural example on Grand Street in Williamsburg just off Havemeyer Street. And it also happens to be near a really good new Italian restaurant - Fiore. So if you go check it out, stay for dinner. It's all in this vicinity:

View Larger Map

-- Lauren Johnston

By David

I hate to seem insensitive, but somehow I fail to see what all the uproar is over this week's New Yorker cover. I mean, if you can't laugh at the vicious stereotypes put forth by backwards paranoiacs, what can you laugh at?

This strike me as example No. 54,546,853 that the 24/7 nature of the news cycle is desperate for anything to feed the beast. Also, in an election season that has become the Year of Umbrage, I fail to see what either candidate thinks they hope to gain from being offended all the time.

By Kim

Periodically, I will try to post a quick round up of the quirky, odd, outlandish and tangential political buzz floating around the “Internets.” Think of it as TMZ for C-SPAN.

Here’s for starters:

* Is McCain in fact eligible to be president? A law professor refutes McCain’s status as a “natural born citizen.” This may bode well for future President Schwarzenegger ...

* If this is supposed to be satire, I look forward to the next cover of McCain as the Cryptkeeper and Cindy as a big “you know what" ...

By LaShawnda

Sen. John McCain was visibly stumped by a reporters question regarding a comment made by his campaign co-chair, Carly Fiorina. Earlier this week, Ms. Fiorina stated:

“There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won’t cover birth-control medication. These women would like a choice.”

A reporter mentioned to Sen. McCain on his Straight Talk Express that he voted against legislation requiring insurance coverage of birth control and Fiorina’s comment suggested it wasn’t fair that Viagra is covered and birth control is not as one of the arguments against birth control being covered is the personal nature of its use.

The reporter then asked, “Is that still your position?”

“I don’t recall the vote right now, but I’ll look at my voting record and get back to you.”

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Upper Playground Store

By Jeff

Not only is Barack Obama Your New Bicycle, but his is apparently also the new every-other-political-figure-in-the-history-of-the-planet, ever.

Surprisingly missing from this list are:

Karl Marx:
Bill Kristol — New York Times (April 14, 2008)

The Messiah
Real Clear Politics (Feb. 22, 2008)

Adolf Hitler
Tom Sullivan — FOX (Feb. 13, 2008)

William Jennings Bryan (seriously?)
John McCain (June 6, 2008)

Abe Lincoln
Tom Rutten — Los Angeles Times (March 19, 2008)

By Jeff

File this under: “Government is filled with hypocritical thieves.”

Charlie Rangel is rich. He’s been a Congressman, representing New York’s 15th district for over 25 years. Even though he’s rich, he’s always been a champion for the poor and downtrodden. Grrrr, how he hates when big evil businessmen take advantage of the system and loopholes to enrich themselves in instances where the poor couldn’t possibly also see the same benefits.

So then why does he, the same Charlie Rangel who has been making over $100,000 a year since 1991, makes over $165,000 now, and is worth close to $1 million, occupy a rent controlled apartment, thus taking capacity that could otherwise be occupied by one of his poorer constituents? Better yet, why does he need FOUR OF THEM.

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(AP)

By Emily

I'm giddy to report that the chemistry and friendship between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seemed quite genuine this morning at Manhattan fundraising breakfast for Obama.

Looking upbeat and well-rested, Clinton addressed her heartbroken supporters and urged them to throw their weight behind Obama. Obama, in turn, humbly acknowledged that he "desperately" need Clinton's help to win the election.

I was feeling the love. Pick up tomorrow's amNewYork for more.

By Emily

Barack, Michelle and their two young daughters will all be featured on "Access Hollywood" in segments airing this week about their family life.

Already inundated with attention and overwhelmed with criticism at allowing Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, into the spotlight, Obama said today he regretted the decision.

"We wouldn't do it again, and we won't be doing it again," Obama told NBC's "Today."

The interviews seem harmless, in my opinion, especially Sasha mimics her father's speeches with a "blah, blah, blah."

(AP)

In a show of Democratic harmony, Barack Obama and former rival Hillary Clinton will be in New York City tomorrow for fundraising events. They have Caroline Kennedy, vice president vetting extraordinaire, in tow.

Clinton will join Obama at a New York Women for Obama Finance Breakfast at Hilton Towers.

— Emily

By David

Speaking of vice presidents, there can be honest debate about how much the choice of a veep actually makes in the mind of voters.

The truism that no one votes for the vice presidential candidate is, well, true; but on the other hand the selection does reveal something about a future president’s ability to evaluate people.

In Obama’s case, this moment will take on even greater importance as there has been some question about his wisdom in choosing associates (see Wright, Rev. and Johnson, Jim).

Choosing a good vice president can do two things for a top of the ticket holder: It can reinforce your message, and it can provide new energy around a campaign, if only for a few days. The choice then should be somebody who is enough like the nominee in ideology and temperament that the dominant message of the campaign is made manifest (think Clinton’s selection of Gore); and someone enough off the radar screen that the candidate gets a few days of “Why didn’t we think of that — what a brilliant idea!!” coverage from the media.

And one last thing: probably best not to choose somebody you just vanquished in the primary. One need only look at the Kerry/Edwards debacle to realize that defeated running mates — their protestations to the contrary — still really believe it should be them.

For Obama, this means none of the usual names can be considered. So, no Sam Nunn, no Kathleen Sebelius, no Bill Richardson, Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton.

All vanquished, or the excitement around them drained out a long time ago.

Obama’s background is still exotic to Main Street, and questions about his experience will linger. The best thing he can do is choose an old, boring Washington hand, but one still vaguely post-partisan and “change”-oriented.

My list of the top contenders, then, in no particular order:

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By David

Well, I'm just grateful that no one on this blog was ever so foolish as to suggest that Jim Webb should have been V.P.

Because they would seem really foolish right now.

But seriously, despite all the speculation about Webb's Shermanesque stand yesterday, my guess is that what happened was that the Webb folks started to get the sense that they weren't going to get the nod, and wanted to put the kibbosh on it before the Webb-for-Vice President movement got any more traction or inspired any more foolish blog posts.

And in the sobering light of July, Webb does make less sense. Yes, he would have been able to connect with downscale whites, but he has less Senate service than Obama, so doesn't help with the experience question, and his long-ago description of the Naval Academy as "a horny woman's dream" wouldn't have endeared Obama to the scorned Hillaristas.