The White House came up with its cover story to explain the “You can pick one of the following!” memo sent to Andrew Romanoff by Jim Messina. Here’s what they have cooked up:
“Andrew Romanoff applied for a position at USAID during the Presidential transition. He filed this application through the Transition on-line process. After the new administration took office, he followed up by phone with White House personnel,” Gibbs said. “Jim Messina called and emailed Romanoff last September to see if he was still interested in a position at USAID, or if, as had been reported, he was running for the US Senate. Months earlier, the President had endorsed Senator Michael Bennet for the Colorado seat, and Messina wanted to determine if it was possible to avoid a costly battle between two supporters.”
Gibbs continued, explaining that Romanoff rebuffed the overture: “Romanoff said that he was committed to the Senate race and no longer interested in working for the Administration, and that ended the discussion. As Mr. Romanoff has stated, there was no offer of a job.”
Something doesn’t quite make sense here. For starters, if this were simply a follow-up on a previous job application, why did Messina throw out two other possible jobs? And let’s get real here: Romanoff applied for a USAID job before Obama took office (between November 2008 and January 20, 2009). He didn’t get it. Nine to 11 months later, the ever-helpful job-placement assistant Messina (who is actually deputy chief of staff) reaches out to the fellow who is planning a run against Michael Bennet. In fact, Messina admits that he was trying to avoid a “costly” primary. This is the defense?
Also, Palin has to know how to deal with furriners to cope with the Canadians and Russkis on her borders. But, come to think about it, Biden has to deal with folks from New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia who are also pretty diverse culturaly and linguistically.
Of course, any American who has visited DC has claim to appreciation of an alien environment.
Of course, that comparison roundly misses the fact that Delaware is a physically small state on the East Coast which on its northern end abuts Philadelphia, while Alaska is a physically huge state at the northwestern extreme of the continent which on its eastern border abuts the Yukon . . . no, forget the numbers, I’d call them very different electoral circumstances.
Delaware or Alaska—it doesn’t matter. What matters is Buchanan.
What, you mean the fact that as the mayor of Wasilla, she was polite enough to be welcoming to a guy running for president who visited her town? She never did anything to support the guy but wear a button, for crying out loud.
One of Joe Biden’s memorable comments during the campaign was to point out that Delaware was a slave state, so he’s had to deal with neighboring free states. Alaska, by contrast, never had slavery, being the 56th state to enter the Union, or whatever other number Obama has assigned it.
Are we voting for Biden and Palin or Obama and McCain?
Looks to me like both Delaware and Alaska are pretty atypical states. The big difference is between being a senator (study issues, make statements, occasionally vote on large outlines of policy along with 99 colleagues) and being a governor (day to day decisions, results that depend solely on you). I do wish she’d been one longer. Well, major too. And the business experience is a big plus.
J. POD., if you’re trying to answer David Frum and Quin Hilyer, ————— forget about it.
They’ve gone over the cliff.
David Frum isn’t just “stuck on stupid,” he’s buying a condo thereon and intending to take up residence.
I don’t know what the devil he’s thinking, or trying to do over at NRO, ————— but it ISN’T helpful.
All he’s doing is providing political cover for Obama.
And not happy with that bit of mischeif, he’s now DEFENDING Obama as being”qualified” for The White House.
Unbelievable.
Well, if we’re comparing important features of these two states, here’s another one: regardless of whether you drive cross-country on I-10, I-40, or I-70, Delaware’s is the state license plate you are least likely to see. Even Rhode Island’s crops up more often. You can count on seeing an Alaska plate at least twice if you drive the whole east-west length.
The top three plates by east-west interstate occurrence are California, Texas, and Virginia.
#6:“Are we voting for Biden and Palin or Obama and McCain?”
A good point. Palin and Biden are new, so people
talk about them – but of course the real choice is
McCain vs. Obama:
Two contenders: one’s a leader,
The other, a teleprompter reader.
J.E. Dyer – your comment takes me back. My wife and I drove cross country from Long Beach to Philly in the summer of 1974 after I finished my four active years. We had been in Hawaii and so had a Hawaii plate. We were approached by three couples with kids at rest areas to comment on the plate and we were pointed at excitedly by four sets of kids in passing cars (that we noticed). Lots of people play the license plate game.
Let’s clarify: There is no comparison between Palin and Biden whatsoever.
Palin was a sportscaster who ran an ATV shop. Gov. Frank Murkowski took a shine to the pretty lady and got her involved in politics. Specifically, the Oil and Gas Commission.
After working as mayor for a small town she came to his aid during a time of his greatest struggles over tight state budgets. She paid him back by running for his job – and taking it. She then mocked him by selling the state jet on Ebay.
After only 18 months on the job she now finds herself being called by a man she’s only met briefly on two occasions. He is another man who took a shine to her. Unfortunately for us his name is McCain and the job is that of Vice President of the United States of America.
And they call McCain “wreckless”. Where do they get that idea?
Fantasy check,
your ineffective smear is a sign of your fear.
George Jockitch,
Buchanan only matters to liars and other libelous twats.
That’s ridiculous John. Give me a break. To compare her credentials to Biden is absolute partisan hackery. You’ve really stooped to a low level here. C’mon, this pick is purely a gimmick.
b – “To compare her credentials to Biden is absolute partisan hackery.”
You’re right. Biden has been a fair to poor participant in a not too bright debating and huckstering forum for thirty plus years. Palin has actual experience governing.
Palin was not McCain’s original choice, McCain chose Lieberman
but the the Republican Party vetoed his choice. McCain is not
in charge of his own Presidencey and likewisw, will not be the
guy in charge of Presidency. Palin is a pawn and lacks the
experience to take over the Presidency, thus she would have
to rely on the front men who represent the dictators who have
hijacked our country. What a sad state of affairs!
Palin was not McCain’s original choice, McCain chose Lieberman,
but the the Republican Party vetoed his choice. McCain is not
in charge of his own Campaign and likewise, will not be the
guy in charge of his Presidency, if elected. Palin is a pawn and lacks the
experience to take over as a World Leader, thus, she would have
to rely on the front men, who represent the dictators that have
hijacked our country. What a sad state of affairs!
“Lookout Biden you’ll be debating Palin” – VIDEO
Take a look at this clip and watch how the interviewer tries to make you feel sorry for all the caribou and wildlife that were “damaged” due to the Alaskan pipeline. Governor Palin doesn’t back down and hits back pretty hard. She even mentions Senator Biden by name in her rebuttal.
There are 2 things going on here, obvious media bias and clear rational thinking on the part of Sarah Palin. It’s fun to watch clarity and facts outwit fuzzy, lazy journalism.
http://www.electricdisk.com/wordpress/?p=469
It has been documented numerous times that Sarah Palin hired a professional administrator to do all of the administrative job in her two years as Governor of Alaska. All she knows about is how to get votes, how to lie, and how to infuriate thinking Americans in all 50 states! Vote Obama Biden and restore Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion and Freedom of the Press! Go Obama!
Palin and Biden recieved similar quantities of votes in their last big races. The difference is that Biden was running for president and Palin governor. Biden had a potential vote pool of tens of millions and still pulled only a few more votes than 36-year congressman Joe Biden. There is no logical comparison between the two as is on display daily with Sarah Palin’s popularity verses, Joe who?
It is difficult to compare these two when it comes to experience but I agree in the comparison you use there are similarities between the two VP candidates.
It will be fun watching the Joe Biden vs Sarah Palin Debate tonight.