Craig Crawford's Trail Mix http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/ en-us Copyright 2009 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:15:00 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Phony Page Count Politics What's wrong with 2,000 pages to overhaul one-sixth of the economy?

Of all the ridiculous attack lines against the Democratic healthcare bill up for a vote this weekend, it's hard to imagine anything sillier than fear mongering because of its number of pages.

How long is too long? Would the overhaul be less of a "government takeover," as critics call it, if the legislative text did not exceed 1,000 pages? 500? Just exactly what is the acceptable length for extending health insurance to nearly 40 million Americans?
 
The Bible is over 1,500 pages, but still worth reading.

Have we become a nation so afraid of the printed word that we reject anything that takes longer to read than waiting for the microwave to make popcorn?

Perhaps Congress should figure out a way to put legislation in video form so that we can see it on our playstations.

Craig and Helen Thomas on Book TV
Book Launch Party, Lebanese Embassy
"Listen Up, Mr. President"
C-SPAN2: Today at 4:00 PM ET
Repeats: Sunday (Nov. 8) at 10:30 AM ET
Monday (Nov. 9) at 7:30 AM ET

 

]]> http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/phony-page-count-politics.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/phony-page-count-politics.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:15:00 -0500 Book TV   _DSB7929.JPGScenes from our book launch party on C-SPAN2 today at 4 PM ET. (Re-airs Sunday 10:30 AM and Monday 7:30 AM on Book TV). 

The party, hosted last month by Lebanese Ambassador Antoine Chedid at his residence, celebrated the publication of "Listen Up, Mr. President," by Craig and Helen Thomas. Book TV's cameras roamed the event as Helen and Craig signed books, and for a tribute by NBC's Andrea Mitchell.

 

]]> http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/book-tv.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/book-tv.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0500 Forget Bipartisan Health Reform, Mr. President It is hardly surprising that Rep. Eric Cantor says "not one Republican" will vote for a healthcare overhaul, but in repeating that vow for television cameras at a Capitol Hill protest rally on Thursday, the No. 2 GOP House leader gave President Obama an excuse to forget bipartisanship.

Even if Obama finds a Republican or two in the Senate to back his health care agenda, we got a hint in the New York House race this week showing how GOP conservatives will respond. They will gnaw their party's limbs off to stand firm against just about anything Democrats want to do.

The rise of conservative activists and television personalities against GOP moderates makes it even less likely that Obama will be able to claim enough Republican converts to put a bipartisan stamp on his healthcare changes. As Lyndon Johnson discovered in creating Medicare, it's time for Obama to focus on a Democrats-only strategy.

Seven Things You Need to Know About the Health Overhaul (Congress.org)

GOP leaders rally against Democratic health bill (11/5)

 

Craig and Helen Thomas on Book TV
Book Launch Party, Lebanese Embassy
"Listen Up, Mr. President"
C-SPAN2: Saturday (Nov. 7) at 4:00 PM ET
Repeats: Sunday (Nov. 8) at 10:30 AM ET
Monday (Nov. 9) at 7:30 AM ET

 

]]> http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/forget-bipartisan-health-refor.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:30:00 -0500 Feel the Power

Craig and Don Imus talk about Tuesday's elections (11/5).

 

]]> http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/feel-the-power.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/feel-the-power.html Craig on Imus Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 Negativity Finally Loses

Craig looks at how attack ads seem to have backfired in Tuesday's elections.

Craig on "Imus in the Morning"
Thursday (11/5) 6:30 AM EST
Listen Live: WABC-AM (NYC)
(TV simulcast on FOXBusiness)

 

]]> http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/negativity-finally-loses.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/negativity-finally-loses.html Video Trail Mix Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:04:17 -0500 Bad Timing for Health Reform Tuesday's voting results could jeopardize the public insurance option. Politicians, by nature, are fearful creatures and, regardless of its merit or lack thereof, the argument that voters rejected big government will gain ground among wavering Democrats at a time when health reform faces key tests on Capitol Hill. Victorious Republicans in Tuesday's balloting pinned their hopes on raising concerns about expanding government. Even if those races really turned on local issues and personalities, there's enough of a chance that national trends were afoot to convince nervous Democrats to back away from the President's agenda.

Online Chat with Craig
Today (11/4) 1 PM ET

 

]]> http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/bad-timing-for-health-reform.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 Poll Watch Virginia -- GOP Wins Governor Race

  • Associated Press: Light Turnout for Closely Watched Governor Race
  • Washington Post: Poll Watcher's Guide to the Va. Election
  • Poll Tracker: Primary-Eve Virginia Polls Project Big McDonnell Win
  • CBS NEWS: A Look at the Electorate
  • Washington Post: Final Push in Va. Race For Governor
  • CNN Political Ticker: Palin Robocalls Urge Virginians to 'Vote Your Values'


    • New Jersey -- GOP Wins Governor Race

    New York -- Dem Wins House Seat

  • New York Times: Biden Stumps in Upstate Race
  • Watertown Daily Times: Scozzafava Campaigns With Democrat | Biden Backs Owens; Says Limbaugh Picked Hoffman
  • New York Daily News: Scozzafava's Robo Call

    •  

    ]]>     http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/poll-watch.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/poll-watch.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:00:00 -0500     Obama Prepares for the Worst The White House is braced for bad news today. Elections in New Jersey, New York and Virginia are likely to show troubling signs for the President -- even if Democrats win.

    Independent voters are trending against Barack Obama, fearful that he is leading the nation into a spending binge that we cannot afford.

    The truth is that he has been far more careful about expanding government -- in economic recovery and health reform -- than many in his party would prefer, but Obama's conservative foes have successfully portrayed him as an advocate of outsized government.

    The President has two choices: Keep trying to dodge that label in vain, or openly embrace the expansions of federal power that his political base demands. If he's going to get nailed for being a big-government president anyway, no matter how he tries to finesse it, why not just go ahead and be one for real?

     

    ]]>     http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/obama-prepares-for-the-worst.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/obama-prepares-for-the-worst.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500     Vote Counting Time on Tuesday CQ-Roll Call's Senior Elections Analyst Bob Benenson writes, "This year, we count just three elections that have national implications, all being held this coming Tuesday: a hotly contested House special election in upstate New York's 23rd District and elections for governor in Virginia and New Jersey."

    New Jersey

    Virginia

     

    ]]>     http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500     Sunday Comics

     

     

     

    ]]>     http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/sunday-comics.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/sunday-comics.html Weekend Fun Stuff Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500     Meet Craig and Helen Thomas Sunday

    Helen and Craig talk about their new book on Sunday 2:30 PM ET at The Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC

     

    ]]>     http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/meet-craig-and-helen-thomas-su.html Weekend Fun Stuff Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:00:00 -0500     I Hear Them All

    Old Crow Medicine Show

    New Orleans needs your help (commongroundrelief.org)

    Craig and Helen Thomas Sign Books
    Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2:30 PM ET
    Newseum, Washington DC

     

    ]]>     http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/i-hear-them-all-2.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/i-hear-them-all-2.html Weekend Fun Stuff Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:41:37 -0500     Wars Without End? So far, only the Revolutionary and Vietnam wars outpace Iraq and Afghanistan. Predictions are that our current wars will eventually be our longest in history.

    "In accordance with the principles of double-think it does not matter if the war is not real.  For when it is, victory is not possible. The war is not meant to be won, but it is meant to be continuous."  -- George Orwell

    America's Longest Wars (Congress.org)

    Craig and Helen Thomas Sign Books
    Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2:30 PM ET
    Newseum, Washington DC

     

    ]]>     http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/wars-without-end.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/wars-without-end.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0500     Pelosi's 'Mean Machine' Wins One

    Congress prevails over Capitol police in charity football game. "The Longest Yard" began in 2005 as a way to raise money for the Capitol Police Memorial Fund. In this year's game, the Mean Machine, made up of Members of Congress and former professional football players, beat the Capitol police Guards team 32-26. It was the first victory for the Members squad in the four times the game has been played. Produced by Andrew Satter, CQ-Roll Call Group.

     

    ]]>     http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/pelosis-mean-machine-wins-one.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/pelosis-mean-machine-wins-one.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500     Corzine Money Gains Weighty Results Spending more than $20 million of his own money, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is coming back, giving hope to Democrats for at least a mixed result in two key races next week, including the Virginia governor race where the Republican is poised for a rout.

    Corzine is finally getting traction after trailing for weeks, aided by an avalanche of negative ads against GOP foe Chris Christie. Check out this Corzine ad, which not so subtly shows unflattering video of the hefty Christie tumbling out of an SUV, pointedly saying he "threw his weight around" to avoid penalties for traffic violations.

    Implying your opponent is a fat law breaker? Now that's what we call winning ugly.

     

    ]]>     http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/corzine-money-gains-weighty-re.html http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/corzine-money-gains-weighty-re.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500