Friday the political world lost a giant when Tim Russert tragically passed at 58.
Everything that can be said about Russert, the top political journalist of the last 15 years, has or will be said by his family and friends.
In addition a couple of meetings when I worked in DC a few years back, I'll remember Russert fondly for the education he provided every week on Meet the Press, when I was still forming my political identity, and his status as favorite adopted son of my alma mater, Boston College.
NBC News will never be the same. But now, the search for a successor (though not a replacement) begins.
Personally, I would like to see David Gregory fill that void on Meet the Press. I've wondered about the next step for Gregory, who covered the Bush Administration for NBC, what with Brian Williams firmly entrenched in the anchor-chair. His intelligence, experience and sense of humor would make him an asset on Sunday morning. However, there is a legitimate question of whether Gregory has the necessary gravitas and uncompromising attention to detail that led to Russert's unparalleled success.
If not Gregory then perhaps someone with experience similar to Russert's before taking the reigns: a behind the scenes producer and former political hand. Then again, that might not be accepteable in this uber partisan era. Because of all the current squabbling, we might miss out on an immense talent like Russert's. So there probably won't ever be another like him. But you didn't need me to tell you that.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Big Shoes
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Unsafe in any Race?
This is the third consecutive White House run for the man who won 2.7% of the vote as a Green Party candidate in 2000, and is largely blamed for siphoning votes from Al Gore, leading to the George Bush presidency we all enjoy today. Four years ago, Nader was unable to get the Green Party nomination, and ran as an independent. He didn't get his name on the ballot in every state and received just 0.4% of the vote.
We at SAM would like to do our part for Mr. Nader's campaign, and so we've devised a few slogans that we think really cut to the heart of his candidacy:No, we can't... but let's try anyway.
Because that McCain just ain't old enough!
Now, less than ever.
Because there can't be an "Unflinching vanity project" without "U"!
What's a US presidential election without two crotchety old white guys?!?
You Republicans owe me one
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Paul on the Civil War
On Sunday's episode of Meet the Press, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul criticized Ronald Reagan, would not rule out third party run, and regretted the Civil War (known in some circles as "the Time of Unpleasantry").
"Six-hundred-thousand Americans died in the senseless Civil War... No, [Lincoln] should not have gone to war. He did this just to enhance and get rid of the original tenet of the Republic."
"Slavery was phased out in every other country in the world," Paul continued, responding to the question if America would still have slavery had there not been the Civil War. "The way I'm proposing that it should have been done is do it like the British Empire did -- you buy the slaves and release them. How much would that cost compared to killing 600,000 Americans?... I mean, that doesn't sound too radical to me. That sounds like a pretty reasonable approach."
