Just think if Josh Marshall had gotten his wish and Chuck Todd had gotten the nod to host “Meet the Press.” We’d be getting Todd’s non-stop drivel like what was offered this morning on “First Read”:
Is Robert Gibbs’ open disdain for Cheney acceptable to a president who promised to move beyond petty political squabbling?
With this type of analysis coming from NBC’s “political director,” you’ve got to wonder how he got the job in the first place.
But like I said last night, the traditionalists were going to hit Gibbs for attacking the office of the vice president, even if that’s not what he did. Instead, Gibbs went right for the man himself.
Unfortunately, Mr. Todd doesn’t get the distinction and also misses the analysis by a mile. It has nothing to do with “promises to move beyond petty political squabbling,” but does represent a White House that is not beyond taking it to Vice President Cheney personally when he’s so blunt as to say the new President is compromising American safety. At the nut of Cheney’s remark is a treasonous charge, because the commander in chief is obligated by sworn oath to protect this country and the citizenry above all other duties.
Whether it was effective for Gibbs to equate Cheney with Limbaugh and the “Republican cabal” is another point entirely. I would have preferred something to the effect, After we’re done cleaning up after the previous Administration, maybe I’ll have time to comment. Elevate the Obama adminstration’s role and challenges, but also their position, especially as compared to Dick Cheney who’s not only out of office but went out of favor a long time ago. Don’t get down into the Limbaugh mud with Mr. Cheney, even if it’s an easy, quick shot.
But Gibbs’ response does prove that the Rush vein of criticism isn’t going away any time soon.
Good post. I would have appreciated Gibbs taking more of a high road as you suggested above. His response seemed childish to me. There’s no need to lower the new administration to the level of those in the preceding one.
Hey whitepaw. In the tape you could see his mind churning and I guess what his brain grabbed is something from one of those conversations focusing on Rush. But at least it wasn’t lame. Gibbs landed a blow.
What the “media” should have addressed is the former VP reckless charges against the President of the United States. Funny, you can’t make comments at Todd’s post.
http://mediamatters.org/action_center/changecnbc/?src=cc-1
Here’s a link to sign a petition about CNBC fronting for Wall Street instead of Main Street
Gibbs is sounding very petty these days, but it’s not just the unprofessional remarks about Cheney, it’s bigger than that.
He was put into the position of slicing and dicing the sublime….sound or solid. *haha
The explanation made HIM look stupid. Therefore, most everything he says now will be taken in the proper perspective.
He’s there to spin. Transparency?
Nah*
Taylor, Glenn Grennwald agrees with you
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/
“In 2007, Jimmy Carter — a former President of the United States — harshly criticized the Bush administration and this is how the Bush White House responded:
But, in a break with this norm, Mr. Carter delivered a blistering critique of President Bush in two interviews released Saturday. And, on Sunday, the White House responded in kind, calling his comments “sad” and Mr. Carter himself “irrelevant”. . . .
The deputy White House spokesman, Tony Fratto, responded Sunday while speaking with reporters in a middle school gymnasium near Mr. Bush’s home here.
“I think it’s sad that President Carter’s reckless and personal criticism is out there,” Mr. Fratto said. “I think it’s unfortunate, and I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments.”
Did Rick Klein and Chip Reid — or any other prominent journalists — object to the outrageous disrespect shown by a Bush White House spokesman to a Former President of the United States?”
AnninCA
Cheney is the one who should be taken to task. And the complicit media as well.
If Cheney is irrelevant, then he isn’t relevant and doesn’t really deserve a smack-down.
He’s entitled to his opinion.
If his comments are relevant, then they deserve a legitimate answer.
But arrogant, glib remarks?
That’s for bloggers, not the administration.
djjl says:
17 March 2009 at 2:04 pm
What the “media” should have addressed is the former VP reckless charges against the President of the United States. Funny, you can’t make comments at Todd’s post.
_____
per Cheney: “We went into Iraq to create a Democracy” LIE.
and someone still needs to explain Frank Gaffney trying to pin the Oklahoma City bombing on Saddam (Hardball)…that was wignut X infinity.
______
and you’re right djjl…. CNBC, Cramer, Santelli etc. need to called out.
AnninCA says:
17 March 2009 at 2:19 pm
If Cheney is irrelevant, then he isn’t relevant and doesn’t really deserve a smack-down.
He’s entitled to his opinion.
_______
Lying and rewriting history on national television is not an opinion, it’s a strategy to salvage a shameful 8 years of Bush/Cheney and most likely juice for book deals across the board.
nninCA says:
17 March 2009 at 2:19 pm
But arrogant, glib remarks?
That’s for bloggers, not the administration.
_______’
here’s what’s arrogant: ignoring congressional subpoenas, lying about everything from torture to Scooter Libby, and looking surprisingly like the Penguin from Batman.
Did anyone see the footage of Gibb’s sneaking up behind Chuckie T while he was doing a live stand-up? priceless.
______
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29724376#29724376
Frankly, I enjoy Gibbs’ shoot from the hip style. It really is refreshing to see a Democrat who is not a shrinking violet for a change. As to whether its ‘appropriate” for this to be coming out of the White House, I’d say given the fact that Cheney is not even 2 full months removed from office, and is already being hyper-critical of the New Administration, and considering that he was given a forum on a major news network to voice those criticisms, it seems highly appropriate for the press secretary to hit back, and hit back hard.
Dick Cheney is fully discredited by 80% of the public, right along with El Rushbo, Tommy-gun Delay, Boehner, Newtie, Mitchie, and lil’ Eric. No one is listening to them except for the most radical fringes of their criminal enterprise (GOP) and the incessantly trivial and rapidly marginalizing MSM.
Chuck Todd is a symbol of a beltway media that is completely out of touch with the new realities that political re-alignment brings. I suspect most people who saw or read Gibbs’ comments probably found them appropriate. This is a non-story
Hey GaBuck. I enjoy Gibbs, too, and as for his comment on Cheney, it is a non-story, except for the fact that it reveals journalists like Chuck Todd. In that respect reviewing it is highly useful.
I can’t find anything factually inaccurate in Gibb’s statement.
Chuck Todd’s alliances are so obvious. He should be carpool buddies with Chip “Democrats Raise Their Ugly Heads” Reid from CBS. What amazed be about the John King/Dick Cheney interview is that King didn’t push back on anything that Cheney was saying. Mr. Dana Bash should join the Todd / Reid carpool.
Totally agree Taylor, reviewing it is half the fun!
heh-heh… No kidding, GaBuck.
No argument there, justlen.
Didn’t you get the memo, maxadog, you never push back against Darth Vader.
GaBuck says:
17 March 2009 at 2:49 pm
Chuck Todd is a symbol of a beltway media that is completely out of touch with the new realities that political re-alignment brings. I suspect most people who saw or read Gibbs’ comments probably found them appropriate.
____
He’s trying so hard to be a real reporter. As a stats guy he was in his element. Now he’s cutting his teeth on a national level whereas most reporters start in small market news and work their way up. I think he’ll get better but right now he’s overcompensating.
Geo is always so sweet! I find Todd painfully self conscious and desperate to please the village.I agree he is good explaining stats but his new gig might be over his head.
As for Gibbs,I love his sharp elbows and agree with GaBuck it is about damn time we had a Dem who could throw a punch!
Afternoon all. I agree with GaBuck too. AnninCA and her usual drivel. Nothing the administration does or says will ever make her happy. She’s a repub in dem clothing.
I, too, agree with GaBuck and Lake Lady. Todd acts as if he’s afraid he’s going to get booted off by Tweety.
“Gibbs is sounding very petty these days, but it’s not just the unprofessional remarks about Cheney, it’s bigger than that.”
Unprofessional?
Chaney should be in prison not out in public making remarks about the current administration….unless he is apologizing for the mess he and his left the current administration.
I’m glad Gibbs pushes back on the BS.
Lord, what would Americans do if they had to see their pols subject themselves to question/answer time in Parliment?
djjl says:
17 March 2009 at 5:25 pm
Todd acts as if he’s afraid he’s going to get booted off by Tweety
______
that made me laugh