Couric's Inteview with Palin -- I am decided

[Evel Squirrel]

Oh, come on now. Obama isn't pure evil. He surely isn't all that great but he's not evil.

Let's not confure being liberal with being evil.

The devil is evil. Hitler was evil. Obama is not evil.

Wow!

One small step towards civility in this campaign!

I wonder if that means I'm not...wait a minute...

[littlebeast13]

Oh, come on now. Obama isn't pure evil. He surely isn't all that great but he's not evil.

Let's not confure being liberal with being evil.

The devil is evil. Hitler was evil. Obama is not evil.

Wow!

One small step towards civility in this campaign!

I wonder if that means I'm not...wait a minute...

I don't think anybody's called Obama evel yet.....

lb13

[mrkelley23]

When I read thread like this, I can't help but start thinking about motivations (I guess it's the Stanislavsky in me).

lb does the MM thing because he hates it when someone hijacks his game threads, so he thinks it aggravates the politicos (and I guess it may aggravate some of them, but I find it hilarious!)

Mini does it because she's mini, and likes the chaos. Think we'll change her name to Eris.

Uly does it because it gives him a chance to add to the avatar collection.

So, seeing it all in retrospect, I can visualize lb rubbing his hands together with glee over his converted WebTV keyboard, saying, "That'll show 'em!"

Mini, wandering over to the computer every 3 or 4 minutes after fixing another kidsnack or wiping up another spill, calling up the MM collection and cutting loose.

And Uly firing up two or three computers at once, frantically searching Google images (lessee, should I search "post turtle" or post turtle or "turtle on a post?")

Nice to laugh in the midst of turmoil.

[SportsFan68]

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MD ... UxZDkwNTE=


September 26, 2008 12:00 AM

By Kathleen Parker

If at one time women were considered heretical for swimming upstream against feminist orthodoxy, they now face condemnation for swimming downstream — away from Sarah Palin.

To express reservations about her qualifications to be vice president — and possibly president — is to risk being labeled anti-woman.

Or, as I am guilty of charging her early critics, supporting only a certain kind of woman.

Some of the passionately feminist critics of Palin who attacked her personally deserved some of the backlash they received. But circumstances have changed since Palin was introduced as just a hockey mom with lipstick — what a difference a financial crisis makes — and a more complicated picture has emerged.

As we’ve seen and heard more from John McCain’s running mate, it is increasingly clear that Palin is a problem. Quick study or not, she doesn’t know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion.

Yes, she recently met and turned several heads of state as the United Nations General Assembly convened in New York. She was gracious, charming and disarming. Men swooned. Pakistan’s president wanted to hug her. (Perhaps Osama bin Laden is dying to meet her?)

And, yes, she has common sense, something we value. And she’s had executive experience as a mayor and a governor, though of relatively small constituencies (about 6,000 and 680,000, respectively).

Finally, Palin’s narrative is fun, inspiring and all-American in that frontier way we seem to admire. When Palin first emerged as John McCain’s running mate, I confess I was delighted. She was the antithesis and nemesis of the hirsute, Birkenstock-wearing sisterhood — a refreshing feminist of a different order who personified the modern successful working mother.

Palin didn’t make a mess cracking the glass ceiling. She simply glided through it.

It was fun while it lasted.

Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.

No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I’ve been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I’ve also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.

Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there’s not much content there. Here’s but one example of many from her interview with Hannity: “Well, there is a danger in allowing some obsessive partisanship to get into the issue that we’re talking about today. And that’s something that John McCain, too, his track record, proving that he can work both sides of the aisle, he can surpass the partisanship that must be surpassed to deal with an issue like this.”

When Couric pointed to polls showing that the financial crisis had boosted Obama’s numbers, Palin blustered wordily: “I’m not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who’s more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who’s actually done it?”

If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.

If Palin were a man, we’d all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she’s a woman — and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket — we are reluctant to say what is painfully true.

What to do?

McCain can’t repudiate his choice for running mate. He not only risks the wrath of the GOP’s unforgiving base, but he invites others to second-guess his executive decision-making ability. Barack Obama faces the same problem with Biden.

Only Palin can save McCain, her party, and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.

Do it for your country.

[Buffacuse]

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MD ... UxZDkwNTE=


September 26, 2008 12:00 AM

By Kathleen Parker

If at one time women were considered heretical for swimming upstream against feminist orthodoxy, they now face condemnation for swimming downstream — away from Sarah Palin.

To express reservations about her qualifications to be vice president — and possibly president — is to risk being labeled anti-woman.

Or, as I am guilty of charging her early critics, supporting only a certain kind of woman.

Some of the passionately feminist critics of Palin who attacked her personally deserved some of the backlash they received. But circumstances have changed since Palin was introduced as just a hockey mom with lipstick — what a difference a financial crisis makes — and a more complicated picture has emerged.

As we’ve seen and heard more from John McCain’s running mate, it is increasingly clear that Palin is a problem. Quick study or not, she doesn’t know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion.

Yes, she recently met and turned several heads of state as the United Nations General Assembly convened in New York. She was gracious, charming and disarming. Men swooned. Pakistan’s president wanted to hug her. (Perhaps Osama bin Laden is dying to meet her?)

And, yes, she has common sense, something we value. And she’s had executive experience as a mayor and a governor, though of relatively small constituencies (about 6,000 and 680,000, respectively).

Finally, Palin’s narrative is fun, inspiring and all-American in that frontier way we seem to admire. When Palin first emerged as John McCain’s running mate, I confess I was delighted. She was the antithesis and nemesis of the hirsute, Birkenstock-wearing sisterhood — a refreshing feminist of a different order who personified the modern successful working mother.

Palin didn’t make a mess cracking the glass ceiling. She simply glided through it.

It was fun while it lasted.

Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.

No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I’ve been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I’ve also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.

Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there’s not much content there. Here’s but one example of many from her interview with Hannity: “Well, there is a danger in allowing some obsessive partisanship to get into the issue that we’re talking about today. And that’s something that John McCain, too, his track record, proving that he can work both sides of the aisle, he can surpass the partisanship that must be surpassed to deal with an issue like this.”

When Couric pointed to polls showing that the financial crisis had boosted Obama’s numbers, Palin blustered wordily: “I’m not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who’s more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who’s actually done it?”

If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.

If Palin were a man, we’d all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she’s a woman — and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket — we are reluctant to say what is painfully true.

What to do?

McCain can’t repudiate his choice for running mate. He not only risks the wrath of the GOP’s unforgiving base, but he invites others to second-guess his executive decision-making ability. Barack Obama faces the same problem with Biden.

Only Palin can save McCain, her party, and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.

Do it for your country.

Very funny--I was just about to post this.

[SportsFan68]

Very funny--I was just about to post this.

ACK!!

Buffacuse and I are thinking alike!

[minimetoo26]

When I read thread like this, I can't help but start thinking about motivations (I guess it's the Stanislavsky in me).

lb does the MM thing because he hates it when someone hijacks his game threads, so he thinks it aggravates the politicos (and I guess it may aggravate some of them, but I find it hilarious!)

Mini does it because she's mini, and likes the chaos. Think we'll change her name to Eris.
Uly does it because it gives him a chance to add to the avatar collection.

So, seeing it all in retrospect, I can visualize lb rubbing his hands together with glee over his converted WebTV keyboard, saying, "That'll show 'em!"

Mini, wandering over to the computer every 3 or 4 minutes after fixing another kidsnack or wiping up another spill, calling up the MM collection and cutting loose.

And Uly firing up two or three computers at once, frantically searching Google images (lessee, should I search "post turtle" or post turtle or "turtle on a post?")

Nice to laugh in the midst of turmoil.

I named my daughter Erin!

I come here to play and be silly and taunt beast.

And I'm the "Post Turtle", BTW. I beat uly to it!

[Sir_Galahad]

I will go on record as saying that McCain and Palin are not evil either.

McCain is too much of a mimbo.

And Palin is too unintentionally hilarious.

Then that must make Biden intentionally hilarious.

I especially loved his joke about how FDR went on TV shortly after the Stock Market crashed. It doesn't get much funnier than that.

[danielh41]

Wow!

One small step towards civility in this campaign!

I wonder if that means I'm not...wait a minute...

I don't think anybody's called Obama evel yet.....

lb13

There was only one Evel, even though his Snake River canyon jump didn't quite go as planned....

[SportsFan68]

There was only one Evel, even though his Snake River canyon jump didn't quite go as planned....

I think it went exactly as planned. He opened the chute as soon as he was airborne.

Maybe not, it's been quite a while -- watch the tape sometime and tell me what you think.

[Buffacuse]

Further to my point, it says a lot, maybe all you need to know, that they couldn't even trust Palin to give a couple of minutes of post-debate analysis. For all you Palin supporters out there--what is your excuse for that?

[Political Carp]

b does the MM thing because he hates it when someone hijacks his game threads, so he thinks it aggravates the politicos (and I guess it may aggravate some of them, but I find it hilarious!)

Mini does it because she's mini, and likes the chaos. Think we'll change her name to Eris.

Uly does it because it gives him a chance to add to the avatar collection.

So, seeing it all in retrospect, I can visualize lb rubbing his hands together with glee over his converted WebTV keyboard, saying, "That'll show 'em!"

Mini, wandering over to the computer every 3 or 4 minutes after fixing another kidsnack or wiping up another spill, calling up the MM collection and cutting loose.

And Uly firing up two or three computers at once, frantically searching Google images (lessee, should I search "post turtle" or post turtle or "turtle on a post?")

But, none of them, is meeeeeeeee!

[Ignorant Slut]

Further to my point, it says a lot, maybe all you need to know, that they couldn't even trust Palin to give a couple of minutes of post-debate analysis. For all you Palin supporters out there--what is your excuse for that?

What are you talking about? The vice-presidential debate is next week. I saw no VP candidates anywhere tonight on ABC, nor did I want to. If you saw Biden on some cable channel, perhaps that corporation's security force was not effective in keeping him out of the studio.

[KillerTomato]

Further to my point, it says a lot, maybe all you need to know, that they couldn't even trust Palin to give a couple of minutes of post-debate analysis. For all you Palin supporters out there--what is your excuse for that?

What are you talking about? The vice-presidential debate is next week. I saw no VP candidates anywhere tonight on ABC, nor did I want to. If you saw Biden on some cable channel, perhaps that corporation's security force was not effective in keeping him out of the studio.

No, not on a cable channel, on CBS. About a 1 minute spot with Katie Couric.

[BackInTex]

No, not on a cable channel, on CBS. About a 1 minute spot with Katie Couric.

Well, that explains it then.

Palin didn't have time to mess with such crap. And that IS what Katie it.

I'm sure she asked Palin, but given Katie's record, Palin probably just thought she wanted to ask what she thought George Clooney thought about it, or what she thought Clooney would wear to the Oscars next year. Or maybe what kind of dryer sheets she used.

[Timsterino]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4479049n

I am not a partisan. I will have to work for the winner regardless and I will do the best job I can. But, this decided me...there is no way we can put someone who makes Dan Quayle look like a Mensa member one heartbeat away from a 72 year old cancer survivor.

I didn't see much of the interview, but Sarah Palin looked and sounded fine in the small clip I watched. I did see her interview with Sean Hannity, and she was great there. And unlike Charlie Gibson, Sean actually let her talk...

She was great with Sean Hannity, what a surprise. He was practically holding up a McCain/Palin sign in her face.

I agree with Peacock about the different filters and I respect Starfish a lot. I just do not understand how we can see the interview in two totally different ways. I thought Palin bombed it big time. Telling Couric she will get back to her? Really?

Makes me wonder about next week's VP Debate.

[secondchance]

My judgment is there is no "e" in the middle of judgment!

D'oh!

1. Judgement/Judgment -- Actually, the dictionary considers the former to be an acceptable variant.

2. Can someone please tell me what on earth that is in Fluffy's drawer? ...I've never been able to get past seeing a dead ferret and a giant fallopian tube.

you're welcome.

thank you.

[peacock2121]

Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.

That is what I have been trying to articulate.

[MarleysGh0st]

And I'm the "Post Turtle", BTW. I beat uly to it!

And a classic MM that is, mini!

Hail Eris! All hail Mini-Discordia!

[VAdame]

2. Can someone please tell me what on earth that is in Fluffy's drawer? ...I've never been able to get past seeing a dead ferret and a giant fallopian tube.

It doesn't look like a drawer to me at all -- looks more like she's lying next to the baseboard of a wall. I see a tortie Mama cat nursing 3 yellow kittens, possibly a black kitten burrowed in underneath, & maybe a little calico runt trying to scooch in under Mama's hind leg. The tubular stuff in the foreground? Edge of a couch or chair? Edge of a basket? Don't see any ferrets!

[SportsFan68]

No, not on a cable channel, on CBS. About a 1 minute spot with Katie Couric.

Well, that explains it then.

Palin didn't have time to mess with such crap. And that IS what Katie it.

I'm sure she asked Palin, but given Katie's record, Palin probably just thought she wanted to ask what she thought George Clooney thought about it, or what she thought Clooney would wear to the Oscars next year. Or maybe what kind of dryer sheets she used.

That's totally unfair, BiT. Here is Couric's record as it relates to Palin:

COURIC: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--

COURIC: Mock?

PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.

COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.

PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is-- from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to-- to our state.

And here:

(CBS) When CBS News anchor Katie Couric sat down for an exclusive interview with vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, she focused on the economy - but also addressed reports that the lobbying firm of Sen. John McCain's campaign manager received payments from the controversial mortgage giant Freddie Mac until last month. Couric asked for the Alaska governor's reaction to that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sarah Palin: My understanding is that Rick Davis recused himself from the dealings of the firm. I don't know how long ago, a year or two ago that he's not benefiting from that. And you know, I was - I would hope that's not the case.

Katie Couric: But he still has a stake in the company so isn't that a conflict of interest?

Palin: Again, my understanding is that he recused himself from the dealings with Freddie and Fannie, any lobbying efforts on his part there. And I would hope that's the case because, as John McCain has been saying, and as I've on a much more local level been also rallying against is the undue influence of lobbyists in public policy decisions being made.

Next, Couric asked about the $700 billion government bailout of bad debt - and whether she supports it.

Palin: I'm all about the position that America is in and that we have to look at a $700 billion bailout. And as Sen. McCain has said unless this nearly trillion dollar bailout is what it may end up to be, unless there are amendments in Paulson's proposal, really I don't believe that Americans are going to support this and we will not support this. The interesting thing in the last couple of days that I have seen is that Americans are waiting to see what John McCain will do on this proposal. They're not waiting to see what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he going to do this and see what way the political wind's blowing? They're waiting to see if John McCain will be able to see these amendments implemented in Paulson's proposal.

Couric: Why do you say that? Why are they waiting for John McCain and not Barack Obama?

Palin: He's got the track record of the leadership qualities and the pragmatism that's needed at a crisis time like this.

Couric: But polls have shown that Sen. Obama has actually gotten a boost as a result of this latest crisis, with more people feeling that he can handle the situation better than John McCain.

Palin: I'm not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who's more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who's actually done it?

Couric: If this doesn't pass, do you think there's a risk of another Great Depression?

Palin: Unfortunately, that is the road that America may find itself on. Not necessarily this, as it's been proposed, has to pass or we're going to find ourselves in another Great Depression. But, there has got to be action - bipartisan effort - Congress not pointing fingers at one another but finding the solution to this, taking action, and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street that are needed.

Couric: Would you support a moratorium on foreclosures to help average Americans keep their homes?

Palin: That's something that John McCain and I have both been discussing - whether that ... is part of the solution or not. You know, it's going to be a multi-faceted solution that has to be found here.

Couric: So you haven't decided whether you'll support it or not?

Palin: I have not.

Couric: What are the pros and cons of it do you think?

Palin: Oh, well, some decisions that have been made poorly should not be rewarded, of course.

Couric: By consumers, you're saying?

Palin: Consumers - and those who were predator lenders also. That's, you know, that has to be considered also. But again, it's got to be a comprehensive, long-term solution found ... for this problem that America is facing today. As I say, we are getting into crisis mode here.

Couric: You've said, quote, "John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business." Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

Palin: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie - that, that's paramount. That's more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

Couric: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

Palin: He's also known as the maverick though, taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about - the need to reform government.

Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you've said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?

Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.

Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

[starfish1113]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4479049n

I am not a partisan. I will have to work for the winner regardless and I will do the best job I can. But, this decided me...there is no way we can put someone who makes Dan Quayle look like a Mensa member one heartbeat away from a 72 year old cancer survivor.

I didn't see much of the interview, but Sarah Palin looked and sounded fine in the small clip I watched. I did see her interview with Sean Hannity, and she was great there. And unlike Charlie Gibson, Sean actually let her talk...

She was great with Sean Hannity, what a surprise. He was practically holding up a McCain/Palin sign in her face.

I agree with Peacock about the different filters and I respect Starfish a lot. I just do not understand how we can see the interview in two totally different ways. I thought Palin bombed it big time. Telling Couric she will get back to her? Really?

Makes me wonder about next week's VP Debate.

Maybe people didn't read my post thoroughly. I heard five minutes of the interview on XM POTUS. For all I know, the rest of it was about how super keen the Jonas Brothers are and how that Iranian President dude is so totally super nasty and junk. The five minutes I heard were informative, substantive, and interesting. I guess the rest wasn't.

[cindy.wellman]

Further to my point, it says a lot, maybe all you need to know, that they couldn't even trust Palin to give a couple of minutes of post-debate analysis. For all you Palin supporters out there--what is your excuse for that?

What are you talking about? The vice-presidential debate is next week. I saw no VP candidates anywhere tonight on ABC, nor did I want to. If you saw Biden on some cable channel, perhaps that corporation's security force was not effective in keeping him out of the studio.

No, not on a cable channel, on CBS. About a 1 minute spot with Katie Couric.

Biden was on CNN briefly as well.

Naive admission: I had no idea that CNN leaned so heavily toward the Democrats until after the night of the debate when we listened to their political analysts. Their comments regarding having Biden appear, were followed by how we shouldn't hold our breath waiting for Palin to make an appearance.

That comment was tame compared to some of the others that were made. It only reinforces my belief that I don't like listening to either the Republicans or the Democrats being nasty to one another. It pushes me away. I guess that says more about my beliefs than it does about theirs though.

[silverscreenselect]

Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you've said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?

Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.

Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

Couric asked Palin for examples of McCain pushing for more government regulation of the lending industry. I can see how she might not have been able to come up with something off the top of her head, although McCain has been critical of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on record in the past. Palin didn't answer the question the way a more "experienced" politician would have, namely barge right through and give a non-responsive non-answer in glowing generalities. Her answer wasn't polished but it wasn't the disaster it's made out to be.

It's also interesting that she had to field questions about McCain's ties to Rick Davis, when neither Obama nor Biden ever is questioned about their relationship with Joe Johnson, Penny Pritzker, or Franklin Raines, when former CEO's of these failed financial entities in prominent campaign positions would seem to be much more interesting targets of journalistic inquiry than a PR consultant.

[Bob Juch]

Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you've said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?

Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.

Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

Couric asked Palin for examples of McCain pushing for more government regulation of the lending industry. I can see how she might not have been able to come up with something off the top of her head, although McCain has been critical of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on record in the past. Palin didn't answer the question the way a more "experienced" politician would have, namely barge right through and give a non-responsive non-answer in glowing generalities. Her answer wasn't polished but it wasn't the disaster it's made out to be.

It's also interesting that she had to field questions about McCain's ties to Rick Davis, when neither Obama nor Biden ever is questioned about their relationship with Joe Johnson, Penny Pritzker, or Franklin Raines, when former CEO's of these failed financial entities in prominent campaign positions would seem to be much more interesting targets of journalistic inquiry than a PR consultant.

Joe Johnson? Do you mean James Johnson? He's old news.

Franklin Raines has not had a "prominent campaign position" and Penny was CEO of a bank that failed in 2001 and has nothing to do with today's problems.