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Friday Talking Points [102] -- Harry Reid's Glacial Progress Grinds On

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.21.2009 | Politics

Read More: 60 Votes, Leadership, White House, Debate, Floor, Ron Paul, Reform, Alan Grayson, Gray Hair, Eric Holder, Sarah Palin, Conyers, Amendments, John Kerry, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Democratic Caucus, Health Care, Majority Leader, Reid, Reconciliation, John Conyers, Conference Committee, Grey Hair, Kerry, Olympia Snowe, Democrat, Robert Byrd, Congress, Democrats, Paul, Election, Holder, Byrd, Barack Obama, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mddotw, Harry Reid, State of the Union, Eating, Longest, Senate, Bill, Healthcare, Pumas, President Obama, Cloture, Filibuster, Obama, Democratic, Media, Democratic Party, Friday Talking Points, Grayson, Lieberman, Pelosi, 2010, Baucus, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Midterms, Skinny, Ksm, House, Attorney General, Matt Osborne, Puma, Thin, Midterm, Chris Weigant, Palin, Sotu, Max Baucus, Joe Lieberman, Party Unity My Ass, Osborne, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Harry Reid thinks he's got enough votes, but then this is the reason why the vote keeps getting pushed back -- because he's obviously still scrambling for the final few votes before he moves ahead.

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Friday Talking Points [99] -- Misdirection

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: White House, Pentagon, Troops, Medicare for All, Rumor Mongering, Guantanamo, Monopoly, Reform, Alan Grayson, Dscc, Pentagon Budget, Roger Ailes, Nixonian, Charles Schumer, President, Magic, Military, Bailout, Emanuel, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Ailes, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Reid, Public Option, Olympia Snowe, Democrat, Congress, Playing the Victim, Close Gitmo Now, Rumor, Stage Magic, Democrats, Barack Obama, Rage Against the Machine, Executive Compensation, Calls, Schumer, Mddotw, Rahm Emanuel, Wasted, Health, Weiner, Harry Reid, Nixon, Healthcare, Senate, Orchestra Pit Theory, President Obama, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Fox, Obama, Democratic, Media, Grayson, Friday Talking Points, Republican, Pelosi, Snowe, Enemy, Organizing for America, Misdirect, Guantanamo Bay, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Orchestra Pit, Victim, Robust Public Option, Anthony Weiner, Trigger, Trust Busting, House, Tom Morello, Victim Card, War, Ad, Opt Out, 1000 Hours, Defense Appropriations, Enemy of America, Misdirection, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Health Insurance, Health Insurers, 300000, Fox News, Medicare, Chuck Schumer, Executive Pay, Torture, Morello, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The real head-scratcher for serious media-watchers right now is what the "war" between the White House and Fox News was meant to distract us from this week. The "war" itself is laughable, for a number of reasons.

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Friday Talking Points: Is Opt-Out The Answer?

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.14.2009 | Politics

Read More: Tax Code, Blue Dog, Progressives, Ways and Means, Compromise, Reform, Charles Schumer, Howard Dean, Tripled Down, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, 60 Vote, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Nationwide, Public Option, States Rights, Democrat, Congress, Democrats, Barack Obama, Im in My Place, Nobel Prize, Schumer, Progressive, Mddotw, Put Her in Her Place, Health, Opt Out Plan, Blue Dogs, Americas Next Great Pundit, Healthcare, Senate, George Bush, President Obama, Teddy Roosevelt, Cloture, Senator, Dr Dean, Public Plan, State, Filibuster, Obama, Democratic, Charlie Rangel, Woodrow Wilson, Friday Talking Points, Bush, Dean, Republican, Pelosi, Double Down, Simpsons, Co-Op, Triple Down, Doubled Down, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Taxes, Trigger, Tax Laws, House, Nobel, Marge Simpson, Playboy, Nobel Peace Prize, Opt Out, Tenth Amendment, Rangel, Chris Weigant, Clockwork Orange, Afghanistan, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The plan isn't going into effect until 2013. Think you're tired of TV ads and screaming folks at town hall meetings now? Picture a more local version of that for the next four years -- not a pretty sight.

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Friday Talking Points [96] -- The Impressiveness of Alan Grayson

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: 80, Chicago, Spiro Agnew, Eighty Percent, Reform, South America, Alan Grayson, DC City Council, Dc, Charles Schumer, Death Panel, Die Quickly, Grayson Transcript, William Safire, Floor Speech, Midotw, Sexual Harassment, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Don't Get Sick, Health Care, Kenneth Feinberg, Reid, Tarp, Abortion, Public Option, Grayson Speech, Democrat, Letterman, Congress, Pay Czar, Democrats, Barack Obama, Schumer, Mddotw, Child Rape, Health, Harry Reid, Vacation, Nixon, Bonuses, Polanski, Gay Marriage, Healthcare, Senate, David Catania, Ben Nelson, Cloture, President Obama, Sex Scandal, Washington, Filibuster, Moral Relativism, Obama, Democratic, Friday Talking Points, Grayson, Republican, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Paranoid Delusions, Rio, Roman Polanski, Salaries, Rape, House, Copenhagen, Nelson, Consensual, Olympics, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Sex, Columbus Day, Chuck Schumer, Executive Pay, Troubled Assets, David Letterman, Agnew, Safire, Feinberg, Catania, Politics News
Chris Weigant

First, let's get rid of the distractions this week. Chicago will not be getting the Olympics in 2016, even after President Obama went over to Copenha...

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Friday Talking Points [95] -- A Call To Action

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: Progressives, Al Franken, Chief of Staff, Reform, Alan Grayson, Paul Kirk, Aid of the Party, Emanuel, Midotw, Glenn Greenwald, Nancy Pelosi, Department of Justice, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Peter Paul and Mary, Reid, Public Option, Democrat, House Progressives, Congress, Mary Travers, Democrats, Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy, Acorn, Progressive, Constitution, Mddotw, Rahm Emanuel, Party, Health, Blue Dogs, Harry Reid, Republicans, Senate, Healthcare, President Obama, David Kris, Sherrod Brown, Obama, Democratic, Democratic Party, Friday Talking Points, Fourth Amendment, Republican, Paul Wellstone, Pelosi, Defense Contractor, Co-Op, Baucus, Typewriter, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Rahm, Representative Grayson, Trigger, Time for All Good Men, House, Franken, Rahmbo, Surreal, Fraud, Chris Weigant, Max Baucus, Kris, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The progressives and Blue Dogs are going to have a showdown. It is going to culminate not in statements to the press (or the lack thereof), not in some whispered whip count, but rather in a very public vote.

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Friday Talking Points [93] -- Lies, Lies And Propaganda

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.11.2009 | Politics

Read More: Lies, Go Broke, Reasonable, Reform, Mccain, Midotw, Disrespect, Joe Wilson, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Faith, Health Care, Theological, Sandy Line, Joint Session, Bankruptcy, You Lie, Public Option, Propaganda, Democrat, Congress, Big Government, Lie, Democrats, Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama, Heckle, Obama Speech, Mddotw, Health, Republicans, Line in the Sand, Walk It Down, Bankrupt, Healthcare, President Obama, Speech, Kennedy, First Lady, Obama, Democratic, Media, Friday Talking Points, Republican, Laura Bush, Uninsured, Insurance, Wilson, Liar, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Lies and Propaganda, Heckler, John McCain, House, Framing, Medicaid, Teddy Kennedy, Sherrod-Brown, Talking Heads, Illegal Immigrant, Chris Weigant, Heckled, Medicare, Immigrant, Wkharbhsgahm, Wksarbssgahm, Medicompetition, Kennedycare, Medicomp, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Political discussions in America are fast becoming solely theological in nature.. Each side has their beliefs. Each has their tenets which they fervently defend. Much of this is done on faith.

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Friday Talking Points [92] -- The End Of Silly Season

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: Blue Dog, Floor, Children, Al Franken, Reform, Casey at the Bat, Town Hall, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Brown, Vetoes, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, West Wing, Budget Reconciliation, Health Care, Schoolchildren, Reid, Reconciliation, Lincoln, President Bartlet, Signs, Joint Session, Conference Committee, Committee, Public Option, Democrat, Congress, Address to Congress, Floor Vote, School, Democrats, Silly Season, Barack Obama, Progressive, Mddotw, Health, Harry Reid, Bill, Senate, Healthcare, Law, Senator Brown, President Obama, Speech, Sherrod Brown, Obama, Democratic, Friday Talking Points, Legislation, Pelosi, Senator, Insurance, Kids, Schoolkids, Ohio, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Speaker, Baseball, House, Franken, Blanche Lincoln, The West Wing, Chris Weigant, Health Insurance, Indoctrination, Veto, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Sadly, Obama's speech to school children has become mired in manufactured controversy from the right, with typical sky-is-falling rhetoric about the evil, evil man who occupies the Oval Office.

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Friday Talking Points [91] -- Win One For Teddy

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, Ted, May You Be in Heaven, Cloture, Win One for Teddy, Employee Free Choice Act, Public Universities, Irish Wake, Kennedy, Teddy Kennedy, Filibuster, Politicizing, Reform, Politicize, Democratic, Friday Talking Points, Paul Wellstone, Funeral, Video, Edward Kennedy, Mayor Quimby, Simpsons, Senator, Chow-Dah, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Public Education, Public University, Health Care, Reid, Diamond Joe Quimby, Irish, Card Check, Massachusetts, Democrat, Medicaid, Majority Leader, The Simpsons, Democrats, Efca, Springfield, The Simpsons Movie, USA Today, Contest, Edward M Kennedy, Mddotw, Eulogy, Chris Weigant, Health, Uncle Ted, Senator Kennedy, Harry Reid, Medicare, Irish Toast, Socialism, Higher Education, Wellstone, Teddy, Up or Down Vote, Quimby, Healthcare, Senate, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Calling for some sort of decorous avoidance of politics during politicians' funerals is downright ridiculous. It'd be like eulogizing Charles Lindbergh and not mentioning airplanes.

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Friday Talking Points [90] -- Obama To Switch Parties

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.21.2009 | Politics

Read More: Daisy Dukes, White House, Table, Medicare for All, Legalize, Barney Frank, Progressives, Fiction, Reform, Catnip, Rube Goldberg, Blackwater, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Assassination, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Budget Reconciliation, Reid, Nancy Reagan, Reconciliation, Vonnegut, Kurt Vonnegut, Terrorism, Mexico, Shorts, Terrorist, Massachusetts, Democrat, Kathleen Sebelius, Congress, Planet, Democrats, Lie, Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama, Decriminalize, Mddotw, Health, Blue Dogs, Harry Reid, Vacation, Falsehood, Healthcare, Senate, George Bush, President Obama, Central Intelligence Agency, Ronald Reagan, Senator, Tom Ridge, Cia, Kennedy, Cat's Cradle, Drugs, Decriminalization, Iraq, Obama, Democratic, Dining Room Table, Media, Truth to Crazy, Media Catnip, Friday Talking Points, Republican, Bush, Pelosi, Edward Kennedy, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Obama Switches Parties, Speaker, Sebelius, Ridge, Two Bills, Michelle Obama, House, Aides, What Planet, Terror Alert, Obama to Switch Parties, Teddy Kennedy, Mainstream Media, Progressive, Grand Canyon, Chris Weigant, Naked Guy on a Plane, Senator Kennedy, Afghanistan, George W Bush, Healthcare Reform, Nazi, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Ted Kennedy is putting both his legacy and his sense of entitlement to his office before the interests of his constituents.

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Friday Talking Points [89] -- Fighting Crazy

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.14.2009 | Media

Read More: Leadership, President Obama, Vagueness, Kennedy, Journalist, Democratic, Obama, Reform, Facts, Media, Townhall, Friday Talking Points, Adult, Republican, Candidate Obama, Clinton, Town Hall, Veto Threat, Knife Fight, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Emotion, The Bear Who Let It Alone, Crazy, Politicians, Post Mortem, Msm, Cheerleader, Tantrum, Democrat, Congress, Bipartisan, Democrats, Teddy Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama, Screaming, James Thurber, Mainstream Media, 1994, Yelling, Mddotw, Hillary, Chris Weigant, Health, Lunacy, Town Hells, Veto, Bipartisanship, Line in the Sand, Healthcare, Pre-Post-Mortem, Thurber, Media News
Chris Weigant

The media is not completely responsible for the state of the debate over healthcare reform. The Democrats have done such a poor job of presenting their case that they really bear the lion's share of blame.

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Friday Talking Points [87] -- A Tale Of Two Houses

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: It Was the Worst of Times, Leadership, Blue Dog, A Tale of Two Cities, Reform, Dickens, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Rescission, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Press Conference, Pre-Existing Condition, It Was the Best of Times, Health Care, Reid, Dow, August, Bankruptcy, Democrat, Speaker of the House, Nbc, Congress, Democrats, Barack Obama, Brian Williams, Mddotw, Speaker Pelosi, Health, Health Care Reform, Blue Dogs, Harry Reid, Vacation, Republicans, Senate, Healthcare, Leader, Most Respected, President Obama, Obama, Democratic, Media, Friday Talking Points, Republican, Pelosi, Insurance, Baucus, Recess, 9000, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Obstructionism, Speaker, Medical Bankruptcy, Chuck Todd, House, Msm, Charles Dickens, Milquetoast, Tale of Two Cities, Sob Story, Mainstream Media, Dow Jones, Chris Weigant, Jon Stewart, Walter Cronkite, Max Baucus, Djia, Dog Days, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Simply for acting like a leader this week, Speaker Pelosi wins the Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week award hands-down.

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Friday Talking Points [80] -- Parsing Obama's Cairo Speech

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.06.2009 | World

Read More: Jews, Nuke, Sessions, Guantanamo, Judge Sotomayor, Extremist, America, Israelis, Muslim, Assalaamu Alaykum, Non-Proliferation Treaty, Midotw, Sotomayor, Racism, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Christians, Quran, Jesus, Terrorist, Palestinians, Barack Obama, Judge, Mddotw, Sonia Sotomayor, Israel, Taliban, Respect, Christian, Egypt, Al Qaeda, President Obama, Central Intelligence Agency, Speech, Fact, Cia, Jeff Sessions, Opinion, Obama, Iraq, Nuclear, Religious Tolerance, Friday Talking Points, Koran, Republican, Iran, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Islamic, Shah of Iran, Mohammed, Islam, Npt, Judiciary Committee, Nuclear Weapon, Palestinian, Palestine, Democracy, United States, Settlements, Moses, Jewish, Zakat, Womens Rights, Barack Hussein Obama, Chris Weigant, Cairo, Shah, Afghanistan, Stereotype. Terrorism, Obama Cairo Speech, Torture, Turkey, Ankara-Turkey, Jerusalem-Israel, Islamic Republic of Iran, Indonesia, Lebanon, South Africa, World News
Chris Weigant

This is an interesting and refreshing subtext in Obama's entire speech -- he says things are "facts" and not opinions. Considering the lunacy that passes for "political debate" on American television screens -- where there are always two points of view, and every "fact" is subject to spin from one side or another -- it is a breath of fresh air.

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Friday Talking Points [79] -- Judicial Activism And Bias

Chris Weigant | Posted 06.29.2009 | Politics

Read More: Mark Nickolas, Supreme Court, White House, Autoworkers, Burris, Constitutional Crisis, Power Struggle, Founding Fathers, Detainee Deaths, Gingrich, President, War Crimes, Rnc, Courts, Princeton, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Sotomayor, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Pussy Galore, Un, Ralph Nader, Judicial Activism, Republican National Committee, Court, Twitter, Terry McAuliffe, Congress, Newt Gingrich, Barack Obama, Constitution, Mddotw, Rod Blagojevich, Sonia Sotomayor, Truth Commission, Youtube, Banks, Hillary Clinton, Uaw, Bonuses, Up or Down Vote, Michael Guest, Same Sex, Nader, President Obama, Moses Taylor Pyne Honor Prize, United Nations, Blaggy, Filibuster, Bankers, Obama, Scotus, Prejudice, Auschwitz, Blago, Republican, Government, Blagojevich, Lionel Sosa, Pelosi, Clinton, Activism, Federal Government, Bias, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Defense of Marriage Act, Legislating From the Bench, Benefits, Gm, Pyne Prize, Roland Burris, Philip Alston, Gay, State Department, Checks and Balances, Mcauliffe, Chris Kelly, Secretary of State, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Spousal Benefits, Nominee, Doma, Torture, Alston, Politics News
Chris Weigant

"Judicial activism" (or, alternatively, "legislating from the bench") is defined -- no matter what your political beliefs -- as "judges not ruling the...

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Friday Talking Points [60] -- Democratic Assertiveness Training

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Michael Jackson, Congress, Scalping, Burris, Inaugural Tickets, Cia, Feinstein, Leon Panetta, Chicago, Blaggy, Get Out the Vote, Dianne Feinstein, Obama, 50 State Strategy, Democratic, Larry Flynt, Difi, Democratic Principles, Blago, Dean, Blagojevich, Mandate for Change, Bobby Rush, Howard Dean, Emanuel, Talking Points, Inauguration, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Obstructionism, Pay to Play, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Inaugural Ticket, Reid, Race Card, Senate Seat, Inaugural, Internet Fundraising, Panetta, Grassroots, Scalpers, Democrat, Roland Burris, Obstructionist Republicans, 52 Race Card Pickup, Democratic National Committee, Bipartisan, Moonwalk, Richardson, Democrats, 2008 Election, Ticket, Bill Richardson, Barack Obama, Mandate, Racial Politics, 2006 Election, Mddotw, Chris Weigant, Rahm Emanuel, Obstructionist, Harry Reid, Dnc, Senate, Obama Senate Seat, Flynt, Politics News
Chris Weigant

What a week! With Congress back in session, with the excitement of newly-elected members being sworn in (or barred at the door, as the case may be), ...

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Friday Talking Points [59] -- New Year's Resolutions (For Democrats)

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Left, Lefty, Senator, Transition Team, Al Franken, New Years, Illinois Legislature, New Year's Resolutions, Blagojevich, Pelosi, Transition, Senate Seat, Clinton, House Democrats, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democrats, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Legislature, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Bloggy Left, Reid, Illinois, Blogosphere, Bill Clinton, House, Franken, Democrat, Democrats, 2008 Election, Blogger, Constitution, Mddotw, Hillary, Cabinet, Chris Weigant, Obama Transition, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Senate, Blue Dog Democrats, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Happy New Year 2009! Because I've always felt it is more amusing to make new year's resolutions that others should follow, today's Friday Talking Poin...

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Friday Talking Points [58] -- [Expletive Deleted] Blagojevich

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.12.2009 | Politics

Read More: John Nance Gardner, Expletive, Expletive Deleted, Abuse, Feinstein, Guantanamo, Donald Rumsfeld, Rumsfeld, Mccain, Bowdlerize, Bailout, Condoleezza Rice, National Security, Midotw, Profanity, Spit, Big Three, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Levin, Carl Levin, Detroit, Sam Donaldson, Barack Obama, George Washington, Mddotw, Rod Blagojevich, Rahm Emanuel, World War II, Nixon, Piss, Senate, Auto Industry, Teddy Roosevelt, Cheney, Obama, Vitter, Blago, Bush, Euphemism, Bleep, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Andrew Malcolm, Big 3, John McCain, Go Fuck Yourself, Manufacturing, 2008 Election, Detainee, Warm Bucket of Spit, Prisoner, Gonzales, Go Cheney Yourself, Chris Weigant, Abu Graib, Leahy, Four Letter Word, Warm Bucket of Piss, Ass Backward, Torture, Vonnegut, Anglo-Saxon, Blaggy, Blag, Fitzgerald, Ashcroft, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The history of profanity in American political discourse is an untold story out there just waiting for someone to research and write about -- although...

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Friday Talking Points [57] -- End Of Prohibition 75th Anniversary Edition

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.05.2009 | Politics

Read More: Weapons Inspectors, Marie Antoinette, Pardon, Autoworkers, Feinstein, Marijuana, Al Franken, Barney Frank, Medical Marijuana, Legacy, Difi, Prohibition, Jerrold Nadler, Bush Legacy, Northern Ireland, Midnight Regulations, Bailout, Norm Coleman, Midotw, Treasury, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Ireland, Health Care, Reid, Detroit, Cash Room, 2700 Year Old, Army Field Manual, Democrat, Congress, 21st Amendment, Right Wing, Visitors Center, Minnesota, Lie, Democrats, Santa, Barack Obama, Brian Williams, The Troubles, Liquor, Michael Medved, Constitution, Mddotw, Harry Reid, Recount, Hillary Clinton, Utah, Post-Partisan Depression, Capitol, Secretary of State, Senate, Grandstanding, Amendment, Gop, Senator, Obama, Democratic, Dianne Feinstein, Iraq, Anniversary, Drink, Bush, Republican, Paulson, Clinton, Charlie Gibson, Schedule I, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Schedule II, Wmd, House, Frank, Franken, Post-Partisan, 2008 Election, Tourists, Talk Radio, Chris Weigant, Smell, Prohibition Repeal, Stink, Torture, Medved, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Brian Williams, NBC's talking head extraordinaire, is probably a decent guy, a guy with whom you could sit down and have a beer. [More on the alcohol...

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Friday Talking Points [56] -- Turkeys Everywhere!

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.22.2008 | Politics

Read More: Turkey Slaughter, Leadership, Turkey, Leadership Battle, John Dingell, Media, Charlie Rangel, Waxman, Chairman, Bush, Lieberman, Television, Pelosi, Last-Minute, Video, Midnight Regulations, Clinton, Regulations, Networks, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Turkeys, Palin Turkey, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Leadership Fight, Reid, Detroit, Committee, Butcher, House, Framing, Charles Rangel, Homeland Security, Rules, 60 Days, Dingell, Democrat, Henry Waxman, Democrats, 2008 Election, Interview, Slaughterhouse, Rangel, Mddotw, Hillary, Chris Weigant, Palin, Sarah Palin, Leak, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman, News, Meat, Leaks, Secretary of State, Senate, Politics News
Chris Weigant

While today is not officially Turkey Day, I will warn you in advance that it's going to be a theme running through today's column, like gravy through ...

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Friday Talking Points [55] -- "Bretton Woods II"? Not Quite.

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.15.2008 | Politics

Read More: Loan, Russ Feingold, Mormon, Proposition 8, Economy, World Bank, New Years, Redistribution of Wealth, Imf, Iraq, Obama, Plan B, President-Elect, Sarah Palin, Putin, Bush, Lieberman, Automakers, Paulson, Rnc, Economic Summit, Senator, Sarkozy, Bailout, Sofa, Bretton Woods II, Midotw, New Hampshire, Tax Cuts, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Taxpayer Money, Treasury, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Status of Forces, Mount Washington Hotel, Reid, Detroit, Taxes, Palin Clothes, Oath, Bretton Woods, Socialism, Speakeasy, Feingold, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Constitution, Mddotw, Chris Weigant, Rahm Emanuel, Palin, Georgia, Harry Reid, President-Elect Obama, Secretary, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I have to begin here today by stomping all over a cutesy term the media has come up with for the upcoming economic "summit" George W. Bush is holding ...

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Friday Talking Points [54] -- Republican Fossilization

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.08.2008 | Politics

Read More: Obama Revolution, Leadership, Leader, Novak, Ballot, John Boehner, Al Franken, Obama, President-Elect, Jess McIntosh, Campaign, Fossilize, Counting the Votes, Republican, Lieberman, Permanent Minority, 2008, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Reid, Rove, Center-Right, Karl Rove, House, Obama Republicans, Franken, Democrat, 2008 Elections, Permanent Majority, 08, Fossilization, 2008 Election, Minnesota, Democrats, Fossil, Center-Left, Barack Obama, Election, Fdr, Mandate, 08 Election, Votes, Elections, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, Party, 2008 Presidential Race, Close Race, Harry Reid, Recount, Joe Lieberman, Op-Ed, Republicans, Boehner, Senate, Fosil, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Welcome back to Friday Talking Points. Of course, the big question on everyone's mind right now is: What is going on up in Minnesota? Al Franken is t...

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Friday Talking Points [53] -- Why McCain Is Losing, And Why Democrats Shouldn't Say So

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Paris Hilton, Debate, Tactics, Youth Vote, Winning the News Cycle, Mccain Losing, Pat Leahy, Experience, Rovian, Straight Talk Express, Hardball, Mccain, 72, Campaign, Sarah Palin, Losing, Base, Mukasey, 2008, Brag, Midotw, Craig Ferguson, Old, Katie Couric, News Cycle, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Couric, First Debate, Democrat, Letterman, Suspending His Campaign, Joe Biden, 08, Press, Democrats, Chris Matthews, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Lightweight, Elections, Michele Bachmann, Access, Mddotw, 30 Rock, McCain Campaign, Video the Vote, Hillary Clinton, McCain Errors, Campaign Theme, Polls, Election Night, Glasses, Video Your Vote, Obama, Keith Olbermann, Media, Clinton, Bias, New Hampshire, Snl, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Bachmann, John McCain, Karl Rove, Strategy, McCain Mistakes, Centrist, Age, Center, Bragging, 2008 Elections, Ad, 2008 Election, Theme, 08 Campaign, No Talk Express, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Close Race, Leahy, Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey, Steve Schmidt, Bradley Effect, David Letterman, Politics News
Chris Weigant

John McCain is losing the race for the White House. Now, this doesn't mean he has already lost it -- we've still got to go vote, after all. I'll cov...

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Friday Talking Points [52] -- What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: Roast, White House, Tim Russert, John Lewis, Checkers, Mccain, Session, Campaign, Sarah Palin, Alfred E Neuman, How Democrats Can Take Back Congress, Greek Column, 2008, Richard Nixon, Tears, Bite, Midotw, Brown, Nancy Pelosi, Foley, Al Smith, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Jake Speck, Miss Beazley, Humor, Conservative, Lipstick on a Pig, Joe Biden, 08, O'Reilly, Pit Bull, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Kick Around, John LeBoutillier, Manger, Elections, Mddotw, George Wallace, Hillary Clinton, Nixon, Page, Bit, What a Long Strange Trip It's Been, Tim Mahoney, Sex Scandal, Sherrod Brown, Mistress, Grateful Dead, Obama, Fox, Bush, Pelosi, Giuliani, Clinton, Senator, Mark Foley, Tricky Dick, Ohio, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Hush Money, Comedy, That One, Boot's Blasts, Bill Clinton, John McCain, House, 2008 Elections, Lame Duck, Scandal, 2008 Election, Bush Bashing, Pull Teeth, Eternal Sunshine, Meet the Press, 08 Campaign, Cry, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Hannity, Bloomberg, Fox News, Leboutillier, Jor-El, Krypton, Nobama, Mahoney, Children of God, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I started blogging over two years ago. That is to say, right about the time the 2008 presidential campaign began. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration...

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Friday Talking Points [51] -- Some Positivity

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.10.2008 | Politics

Read More: Debate, Abuse, Demagogue, Green, Fisa, Mccain, Campaign, CAFE Standards, Sarah Palin, Gambling, Pissed Off, 2008, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Student Loan, Rockefeller, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Energy, Jay Rockefeller, Democrat, Congress, Joe Biden, 08, Stimulus, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Education, Demagoguery, Anger, Mddotw, College, Wiretapping, Warrantless, Troopergate, GI Bill, Mudslinging, Mother's Day, Mud, Obama, Democratic, Shocked, Waxman, Republican, Pelosi, Casablanca, Minimum Wage, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Report, Keating Five, John McCain, Keating, Mental Health, Angry, Medicaid, 2008 Elections, Henry Waxman, Alternative, 2008 Election, Crowd, 08 Campaign, Wall Street, Mother, Fat Cat, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Charles Keating, Wiretap, Telecommunications, Medicare, Head Start, Rocky IV, Fitzmas, Politics News
Chris Weigant

While we're all waiting for someone to leak the Palin Troopergate Report (which is reminiscent of waiting for "Fitzmas" during the whole Scooter Libby...

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Friday Talking Points [50] -- Can I Call You Joe?

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.04.2008 | Politics

Read More: Vice President, Debate, Troops, Gwen Ifill, Impeachment, Ifill, Cheney, Middle Class, Maverick, Iraq, Obama, Mccain, Biden Palin Debate, Campaign, Withdrawal, Sarah Palin, Bush, Deregulator, Vice Presidential Debate, Bush Doctrine, 2008, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Global Warming, Taxes, Bill Clinton, John McCain, McCain Doesn't Get It, War, Timeline, 2008 Elections, Congress, Joe Biden, 08, Bridge to Nowhere, Democrats, 2008 Election, Investigation, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Choked Up, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, Tax, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Deregulation, Vice Presidential, Debates, Independent Prosecutor, Spain, Special Prosecutor, 110th Congress, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I refuse to get too wrapped up in the question of who "won" the debate. In general, unless one candidate obviously self-destructs, this question is answered subjectively and personally. That's not to say I didn't think Biden did better. I did.

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Friday Talking Points [49] -- Before And After The First Debate

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics

Read More: Debate, Barney Frank, Mccain, Red to Blue, Campaign, Dscc, Sarah Palin, Offshore Drilling, Bailout, 2008, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Craig Ferguson, Katie Couric, Drilling, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Pork, Reid, Great Depression, Presidential Debate, Budget, Congress, Letterman, Joe Biden, 08, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Howie Klein, 08 Election, Elections, Mddotw, Leadership Challenge, Appropriations Bill, Harry Reid, Credit Card, Dodd, Debates, Adjournment, Senate, Bill of Rights, Obama, Chris Dodd, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Cbs, Omnibus, Presidential Debates, Bush, Pelosi, Continuing Resolution, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Financial Crisis, 700 Billion, Adjourn, John McCain, House, 2008 Elections, 2008 Election, Ferguson, 08 Campaign, Offshore Drilling Ban, Palin, Late Night, 2008 Presidential Race, David Letterman, Frank, Politics News
Chris Weigant

[UPDATED -- See part 2 in the Talking Points section.] This week's column will be presented in a sort of semi-liveblogging fashion. What you're getti...

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