The Prez and the Press

Welcome back.
Ah... the Inauguration was over two weeks ago and I can't believe it! The economy is still in the tank and we don't have world peace!!!! Omigod! Has President Obama let us down already?

The flame of the post-partisan spirit has already been doused in Washington and is barely hanging on in Ottawa- with the passage of the Budget.

It's been a brutal week for Mr. Obama - with the withdrawal of two major nominees over unpaid taxes [Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer] along with the close call on the third - Timothy Geithner - who quickly paid $34,000 during the run-up to his confimation testimony and managed to survive. It's not as if we need a Treasury Secretary who pays all his taxes, right? Daschle meanwhile paid $140,000 on his confirmation journey to no avail, while poor Nancy Killefer's $900 oversight put her under.

So two questions emerge from this mess:
1. How much unpaid taxes can you get away with if seeking a major post in the Administration? I'm trying to get this straight - $30,000 is okay. $140,000 is not okay. $900 is not okay either. And the logic is...uh...yeah.
2. Could this be a new technique for governments everywhere to get people to pay their taxes? Put their name in for a nomination. Wait till the grilling begins and then the money comes rolling in!!!!

The Prez and the Press
So, as Obama-mania settles down to something approaching normalcy well-not-exactly... it's intriguing to watch some of the networks' media's approach to the President. Was it just me or did you not think that the soft-pedal approach of the 'Big Foot' Anchors - Brian Williams, Katie Couric, and Charlie Gibson were just a little too obvious?

Each of them were no doubt thrilled to be invited into the Oval Office for their "one-on-ones" with the new President. It also gave the Prez a chance to do what he does best - "take responsibility" for the appointment debacle and re-focus the issue back on the urgency of passing the stimulatus package.
Note his tone, manner and message? Hey it was just a little 'glitch'! You get the feeling that no matter what happens, it's going to be 'no drama Obama'.
This was definitely not Charlie Gibson's 'Sarah Palin interview style':
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6798573

Broadcasters gone wild!

The day after the Inauguration, some journos seemed to be still celebrating....as in this clip from CNN's Anderson Cooper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXF3lIZr0wE&feature=related

Was Diane Sawyer just tired? Or was she just doing too much celebrating?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrLiBp4nxyg&feature=related

Not to make too much of this, but perhaps Anderson's and Diane's tipsy 'reporting' were just the obvious manifestations of giddy journalists thrilled with the outcome? I could be wrong, but journalists need to get back to what they're supposed to be doing - objectively and professionally. The Obama Administration - and all of us - will benefit from journalists doing their job. Wouldn't you agree?

Until next time.....stay fair and objective, and for heaven's sake, watch those 'glitches'! At least - go easy on the booze!
Barry