Sometimes I think the White House press corps is just trolling us all:
President Barack Obama played a round of golf with Tiger Woods on Sunday, but nobody knew about it until a lone tweet from a golf reporter went live. And now, the White House Press Corps Association has lodged a complaint against the administration, bemoaning the transparency afforded to pool reporters.
[....]
White House Press Corps Association president Ed Henry lodged an official complaint with the White House, writing in a statement, "I can say a broad cross section of our members from print, radio, online and TV have today expressed extreme frustration to me about having absolutely no access to the President of the United States this entire weekend. There is a very simple but important principle we will continue to fight for today and in the days ahead: transparency."
The liberal Kevin Drum:
Yep. They "neared rebellion" not over OLC memos or drone strikes or FOIA tardiness or leak prosecutions, but over their inability to ask Obama questions—tough ones! penetrating ones!—before and after he hit the links. Sheesh.
Who can forget how submissive these clowns were in the run-up to Iraq:
I think we were very deferential, because in the East Room press conference, it's live. It's very intense. It's frightening to stand up there… You are standing up on prime time live television, asking the president of the United States a question when the country is about to go to war.
Once upon a time, White House reporters might have had enough clout that they could force a president's hand on certain matters of transparency. But they frittered it away by bowing to King George and whining about not getting to watch rounds of golf.
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If He Hollers, Don't Let Him Go
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Sequester's "devastating" defense cuts were Boehner's idea - Document shows Boehner came up with the sequester in 2011 in order to woo the Tea Party crazies who run the GOP.
I'm sure the wingers are already trying to unskew this one…
President Obama starts his second term with a clear upper hand over GOP leaders on issues from guns to immigration that are likely to dominate the year, a USA TODAY/Pew Research Center Poll finds. On the legislation rated most urgent — cutting the budget deficit — even a majority of Republican voters endorse Obama's approach of seeking tax hikes as well as spending cuts.
The survey underscores the quandary for the GOP as it debates the party's message in the wake of disappointing losses last November for the White House and in the Senate.
Now just 22% of Americans, nearly a record low, consider themselves Republicans.
Ouch. I'm actually kind of starting to feel bad for the GOP. They can't even find their usual 27% anymore. And yeah, I'm aware that if Americans think cutting the deficit right now is our most urgent priority over firearms, climate change, and immigration, we need to get that unskewed real damn fast. We've got far bigger issues than the GOP brand meltdown here.
There is bipartisan agreement on this: Dealing with the budget deficit is urgent.
That's a change. When Obama took office in 2009, during a cascading financial crisis, Americans put deficit reduction in the middle of a list of policy goals in a Pew poll. Now it has risen near the top. Seven of 10 Americans (including not only 81% of Republicans but also 65% of Democrats) say it is essential for the president and Congress to enact major deficit legislation this year.
Just 4% say nothing needs to be done within the next few years.
Umm, two-thirds of Democrats say we need a grand bargain this year to reduce the deficit? Eff austerity. We're taking ourselves out here, guys.
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Since gun owners are nothing but big whiny children, perhaps a little financial incentive will help them grow up a bit.
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When he was in Congress, former Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) racked up an impressive record of opposing every bit of LGBT-related legislation that came up. He voted for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. He twice voted against the Hate Crimes Act. He voted for DOMA. He voted against ENDA. He earned 0% ratings from both the HRC and ACLU, which made him proud.
Because, you know, Jesus.
But one thing Domenici didn't oppose was some sack time with the daughter of another Senator.
Former family values senator reveals he fathered a child with daughter of another senator
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So now national security isn't a priority? Boehner: Sequester Threatens National Security And Jobs, But I Won't Stop It
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Recent Polls Suggest Calling Someone a Republican is an Insult - 87% of Americans consider the word "Republican" to be synonymous with greed, racism, and violence.
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Why Americans Might Be Better Off If Their Burgers Were Made Of Horsemeat
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P.O.P.E.: Protecting Our Pedophile Priests Everywhere
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Who gets the blame for the sequester fiasco? Once Again, Republicans Face Reality's Liberal Bias
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Former First Lady Laura Bush is demanding to be removedfrom the national same-sex marriage advertising campaign launched yesterday by a coalition of LGBT groups.
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Teabaggers are losing their shit on the news that Florida Gov. Rick Scott has abruptly reversed his position on Obamacare.
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In other news, Kellogg is recalling some packages of Special K Red Berries because it may contain glass. So there's that.
Horse meat doesn't seem so bad in comparison.
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