Obama’s Unofficial “State of the Union” – And… End of Fumo Trial
Barack Obama is using his gifts of communication in ways that future Presidents will study and admire. In a matter of 15 days, he will have spoken to the nation twice in prime time. The first was his news conference. And Tuesday night he addresses a joint session of the Congress on the economy. Wait a minute! There’s more. In addition to his wide travels, the 44th President addresses the nation every Saturday morning. The man is truly the King of All media. He’s also got a first rate Press Secretary who handles the press with class and candor. If the Republicans plan to survive as a party (and so far that is a question mark), they would be wise to find a few great communicators of their own. The GOP took the greatest gamble of all by, to a member, boycotting the stimulus bill in the House. If Obama’s plan has marginal success, many of those House members will lose their seats next year. Support Obama or not, one thing should be made clear to Americans: total dominance by one party is not healthy. So far, the Great Communicator, even in his early days as President, is chewing the Republicans up and spitting them out.
FUMO
I first met Vince Fumo when he and I were about 28 years old. I was a young anchor. He was heading up a state agency that regulated prescription drugs. Who would have ever believed that Vince Fumo, one of the most powerful politicians in the history of Pennsylvania, would be the centerpiece of a case that has alleged corruption, featured lust and lavish spending, unearthed family fueds, and examined almost every nuance of power – suspected greed, political expertise, best friends turned enemies, and a microscopic investigation of the bright and dark sides of power? Fumo’s trial is like a novel, with chapters unfolding every other day, accusations and revelations that suprise, shock, and in some cases. impress the political world. The climax will be one of the most dramatic moments in recent public life in Philadelphia.
One of the most interest aspects of this sensational drama is the close friends who became enemies, the loyal employees who changed their minds, and the forgotten figures – those who stuck with Fumo all the way. The end will be as suspenseful as the beginning and the same questions remain: Will the government’s expensive and detailed case against Fumo pay off? How will he react? Will Vince Fumo reconcile with his family? Will the jury view his actions as the actions of a powerful man with a lust for even more power? Or, will that Federal jury view him as a a criminal – a man who abused his power to enrich himself?
The end is near. And one way or another, it has already rocked the political establishment. No one is talking, but a lot of people are wondering, even at this late date, if a plea will be made, or whether the ultimate political gambler, will take his chances.
Comments(34)
Thank you for changing the blog topic, Larry. What are we suppose to comment on here?
Obama is not “chewing the Republicans up and spitting them out”. The Dems have a majority in the House and Senate. They can do just about what every they want. GOP is concerned about being viewed as partisan during national time of crisis. Obama may get chewed and spit out by Pelosi and Reid.
BTW, Larry, when you leave the same topic up for over 5 days (regardless how interesting) you bring out the crazies once the regulars lose interest. Stay in touch. Don’t disappear.
Lerry, two point here: Reagan was “the Great Communicator”, Obam is good, Bill Clinton was excellent neither men are great in comparsion to Ronnie. Obama in all of his continued campaing talk has scared the living shit out of the country. He went way over the top with his adress and has hekped fuel the negative feedbacvk loop that was already being seen in public psychology. The excellent communicato, Bill Clinto told him to lighen up, and I have never agreed with Bill more. Obama sounds like a nervous scared boy (oh god forbid I said boy!) when he talks about the economy. He needs to smoke some reefer with the attorney general who took my advice and said Americans like you and Yvonne Allison are cowards when it comes to honestly talking about race.
With regard to Vice Fumo, you wrote a very loving Valentine to him last year in a news flash and i was in disbeleif you were that clueless to how corrupt he was,and I told you so. Will you admit upon his conviction that you were wrong about your buddy Vinny?
How many black men does it take to kill five
police officers? can you please ask your friend Yvonne to write about this? This epidemic was honestly discussed this morning on the WPVI program, and a courageous black woman said we’ve got to look into whether there is a conspiracy or radical element in the black community that has decided it is open season on cops. Monica Malpass runs a good show and talks about real stuff, you should emulate her style with your comcast show and more people would care.
Okay, thanks for letting me vent. In the next news Flash step out of your comfort zone and tell us what you really think about the real issues in the city, admit your mistakes, and thank your loyal bloggers for making you reflect (okay you’ll never do the last one)but do the first two.
hey Yvonne, look what the ignorant Lilly White boy just wrote! By the way, if I hear blacks saying Lilly White in a resturant in the age of post racial Obama, should I feel outraged or just sorry for the black person who still talks like that? This cracker wants to know!
The “Great Communicator” needs to inform his flock how to debate issues ! Just returned from Tria where I was on the receiving end of a hysterical diatribe from a certified Obamatron.Kind of funny because she was so riled & I was so detached.Detached in a Larry Kane kind of way,which was even more frustrating for my friend.
Fumo.Where to begin ? I’m thinking term limits are the answer(relax LB,Ms. YAP is an English major & she approves are,not is ).Failing that,I intend to vote anti incumbent in every upcoming election.
Larry too bad you know nothing about having a social conscience. Your columns give no indication as to what is right or what is wrong. Apparently you’ve known Fumo for over thirty years and even to this day don’t realize that this guy is worse than worse. How naive can a a so called journalist be. I may be wrong but Larry didn’t you say that you are a journalist? Some journalist…..
Facts are stupid things. Ketchup is a vegetable.
I’m thrilled to see so many GOP governors claiming that they won’t accept money from the federal stimulus plan. I suppose they’ll raise funds to get projects done by raising taxes. Really. Where do they think they’ll get the money their citizens are clamoring for? Looks like more Dem governors in the next cycle.
Leo, it scares me to think that I actually agree with your last point. GOP governors should just take the cash from the porkulus package and spend it like drunken sailors like their Dem counterparts. If they did, no one would question them. By trying to seem holier than though and rejecting the handout, they just seem foolish. I don’t see how accepting and spending the money will backfire on them later. Rejecting it, however, would like lead to their demise next election. Bobby Jindal likely has the most to lose. I liked Gov of MI Jennifer Granholm’s response – paraphrasing – ‘if they don’t spend their share I’ll be happy to spend it for them’. Now there is fiscal responsibility!
Dateline: Washington, DC
MASCOT SELECTED FOR STIMULUS PACKAGE
The Government today announced that it is changing its national symbol to a condom because it more accurately reflects the government’s political stance. A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks, and gives you sense of security while you’re actually being screwed.
I like that Obama is trying to reduce the GOP/Bush legacy deficit by half by the end of his first term. Tom DeLay and his partisan GOP cronies should be ashamed of themselves for porking out the federal budget for so many years. Look at the waste that they engendered.
I heard on the news a few days ago that Obama made his first trip abroad. He went to CANADA!!!! Canada… is Canada abroad? Somebody help me on that one. Are all news people this enamoured with our new president? Larry states that Obama even speaks to the nation each week on radio. Bush spoke to the nation each week on radio. It was the “Presidential Weekly Address” And this Press Secretary with all of his candor and what not. It’s a freaking Press Secretary! Obama will probably have three or four more Press Secretaries before his term is up. Even if he doesn’t, in the big scheme of things a press secretary is pretty far down the list of priority personnel that works for the president.
In public I preach bipartisanism and unity to get what I want. In private I have 2 words “I won”
The funny thing is that Obama at least tries the bipartisan route. It was the GOP Congress under Bush that shut out Democrats entirely, going so far as to try to hide meetings from them. The false shrillness of the GOP’s wingnuts in the face of Obama’s attempts to engage them in a discussions of solutions instead of rote ideology is a humorous echo of their prior bad acts when they held the reins.
This stimulus thing is so confusing I wish someone had a blog that could help me decide if it is worth the effort, or to be more exact worth the money. We have a freshman senator running the country spending over a trillion dollars to do What? Save us? or maybe Bury us? That is the question. A thousand page bill that works out to a billion dollars a page must be hard to digest even for the most astute observer of the economic scene. I don’t know about you but I’m scared…… The poor aren’t worried they don’t have anything to lose. The rich aren’t worried they are already rich. It’s the people in between who should be sweating their ass off. That is when they aren’t working…
Leo you remind me of a guy on Attytood. Next thing I’ll hear from you is
republican toady…….
Stop complaining about how I spend other people’s money. When I was a freshman congressman I screwed male whores and pages. Now I’m happy fucking the American people; those stupid middle class heterosexuals who were seduced by Obama, and their white guilt that causued them to bend over for him, now shut up and take it from Barney you stupid bitches.
Comrade Leo, I have to laugh from time to time. You remind me so much of Jack Russell in your undying support for the liberal cause. Like so many other liberals, you are so steeped in your liberal thinking that you believe that anyone that thinks to the contrary is an idiot. All Republicans are right wing nutjobs. Laughable. Further to your comment about the “GOP caused deficit”, 1) the GOP has not had a majority in the House or Senate for well over 4 years. 2) Iraq (good, bad or indifferent) is primarily responsible for a growing deficit, not pork spending. Don’t let facts get in your way of taking shots at Tom Delay and the GOP though…
This so called stimulus package is less about stimulating the economy than it is about funding thousands of national, state and local programs and projects that never would merit funding on their own. 5% of the package is in infrastructure which will create jobs and stimulate spending the rest is not going to stimulate anything but the deficit.
99% of all Americans want Obama to succeed and pull this country out of the economic crisis both parties created. Bad appointments and the lack of timely comprehensive economic reform by Obama is making a growing portion of the country wonder if Obama is up to the task. Time will tell. I suspect the lapdance is about to end though. Your time in the sun may not make the first 100 days. Revel in it as long as you can. So much promise, so many promises, so little time.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/02/24/bipartisanship/
The poll numbers speak for themselves. The press is doing a horrible job by trying to perpetuate drama by lending some credibility to Republicans that they don’t deserve.
OOOJ, I don’t think all Republicans are nut jobs. I do think that Republicans that think Palin is the SECOND COMING of Reagan are nutjobs. I do think that Republicans who now claim to be against pork barrel spending although they capitalized on porking out the federal budget beyond belief during the time the GOP held control of all three branches of government are nutjobs who seize on political expediency and who give the American public no credit. Your premise is false.
Iraq is not the cause of the porking out of the federal budget. It did swell the budget so that GOP leaders could funnel no-bid contracts to their friends and political allies in the oil services and defense industries, but that’s not all the pork that the GOP voted through during its reign under Bush.
I think people are going to stick with Obama and will continue to see the GOP as obstructionist. Time will tell.
Larry Kane…… Unhealthful to kids and other living things. I was in Harrisburg today and took the time to visit the state capital. First time I ever walked through the House and Senate chambers.
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure it is quite impressive. Not exactly my style but the ornate details and the intricate carvings really catch ones eye. I felt a sense of awe and was humbled by the decorous atmosphere of the building. When I got to the Senate chambers all I could think of however was that dirty rotten, despicable excuse for a human being, Vince Fumo sitting at one of the desks. It was a feeling reminiscent of a pimp sitting in his Cadillac Eldorado.
Wow, OOOJ and Leo having an intelligent exchange and Ed waxing about the beauty of our state capital and trashing Vince Fumo. I should leave well enough alone and shut up.
I’ll go get the popcorn ready for Obama. We’re going to hear a lot of happy talk from him tonight, how we are a can-do nation. He will be trying to channel the true great communicator from his grave. I hope he’s successful, to date he’ been more of a Jimmy Carter in a sweater telling us to turn down the thermostat and accept that we are losers overwhelmed by current events. Bill Clinton jacked him up today, and said Barrack, the cool comfortable relaxed negro is what people want, think about Will Smith or Wesley Snipes in an action film, thats who white people think you are- now go fix it my brother from a different mother!
Larry i took you up on your offer to check out Twitter, and guess what, there you were trying to sell one of your books. it was an oral version of the John Lennon experience. Do you really think I am so lazy that i need someone to read a book to me? Besides I have better things to do than listen to you pontificate about the Dakota and John’s post Beatles spiral into insignificance.
George unlike you I am not hedging my bet on Obama. According to you, you voted for the man, which I could not bring myself to do. The Jimmy Carter in a sweater senario is perfect. This guy has major hurdles to overcome and is not on steroids or wearing Nike sneakers. He is in so far over his head that he might just do something soooooo different that it will transform the United States as we know it…….or not.
BTW George I scared, scared as hell, I just saw Nancy Pelosi
Ed, I voted for him and am hopeful, but am the first to admit I jumped on his badwagon at the end. I did it out of lack of confidence in McCain Palin. I felt like a turn coat voting for him and have caught a lot of heat from friend co-workers, and neighbors. I will stand by Obama as the best choice until he does something really crazy the way Bush did going into Iraq. I want him to be successful and also beleive he has the added benefit of taking the country forward with regard to race.
The bar is way too high for him, he tried to knock it down, smartly, but went over the top and scared people. He has the added baggage of being “black with deer in headlights”, and he’s going to find white people might “go wobbly” on him quicker than they would a white 47 year old. We are in uncharted economic territory at the same time we are in unchartered presidential territy with an inexperienced black man running the countrty. If this were a movie or TV show like 21, we might change the channel because it was so unbelieveable.
Obama “Given and education from the day they are born until the the day they are given a career”
The big problem here Barrack is people are not “given” careers, they earn them. this is the nuanced difference between you and Ronnie, and it unfortunately exposes your “blackness”, I’m dissapointed that you would not have edited such a pharase. Words matter Larry!
Comrade Leo, the lapdance continues through the honeymoon period. The press is still firmly on-board despite bad nominations including Geithner in arguably the most important position. The vast majority of the American public remain hopeful that the Obama Administration will come to grips with the economy and help us spend our way out of it. The majority of Republicans want Obama to be successful with this economy. Yes, there are ideological nutjobs on the conservative side like Gingrich, Delay and Cheney that are only interested in perpetuating their extreme policies. Like the ACLU, Pelosi and Reid on the far left. We need to move away from the extremes and the polarizing effects of the far right and left. We need true bi-partisanism during this period of national crisis. I applaud Obama for at least talking aboutt being bi-partisan but his actions are different than his words. Pelosi and Reid craft the porkulus package and then Obama goes to talk to Republicans the day before the vote to shame them into voting for it. When they bring up concerns and make recommendations, his repeated comment is “I won”. GOP has been excluded and runover in this process. Obama may have been given a mandate but not a free pass to runover responsible conservatives. In his (and your) glee to be done with Bush, don’t dismiss the responsible conservatives in this country. It will be your undoing in 2012.
Furthermore, everytime Obama speaks about the economy, he sounds more like Orson Wells reading “War of the Worlds” on the radio 70 years ago sending the nation into panic. Yes it’s bad. Everyone knows that. He needs to project a more positive image and tenor like Ronald Reagan. Reagan had to pick up the pieces after a disasterous Carter Administration, arguable the worst President in US history. He was positive and resolved. The country sensed and embraced that optimism. The US is a nation of frontrunners. They don’t want to hear about losing, fear and pessimism. They want a vision and a direction. They are willing to follow a leader. To date, Obama has failed to meet the Reagan standard of direction and postive leadership. Time will tell as you say.
Another annoying characteristic about Obama is his MLK-esque long drawn out words and phrases for effect. Be yourself Obama, don’t try to be someone you are not.
My favorite part of the evening was when Bobby Jindal said: “I can see New Orleans from my house!” That, or the time when he changed his shoes and put on the cardigan.
He also amazed me in his attempt to endear himself to the base of the GOP by telling them about how his parents arrived in this country without jobs and my mother four months pregnant with him, her “anchor baby” (in Limbaugh parlance).
Obama’s speech was a smash. It was a nice change of pace to hear a president address Congress cogently in intelligible English for a change.
BTW, Bobby Jindal is my bro.
I am Sorry Mr. O bla bla blama…. Your speech last night sounded like pure Sate of the Union gibberish instead of a crucial explanation as to the “state of the union”. Just what is to be done to get the US moving again? You gave us wind power (in more ways than one) instead of drilling for oil in Alaska or California. How about a few more nuclear plants? And Joe Biden providing oversight to the banking industry did not make me sleep any better last night.
Obama can blow smoke up my butt any time he wants.
Obama was so sexy last night I had to refrain from hopping up and down every time he said something. When I did hop up and down I almost got an orgasm. Maybe next time I wear a thong…….
Hey did you all see me last night?!!!
Sitten up there behind Mr Obama I actually looked like the “President” of The Hair Club For Men. With my back against the wall no one could see that gigantic bald spot of mine. Could be time for a stimulus package for the back of my head. I could stimulate the whole hair restoration business just by myself.
Though there are so few of them, the GOP fanboys are jealous.
Jindal was like a nightlight at noon in Arizona. He and Palin will not save the GOP. The GOP is intellectually and politically bankrupt.