CBS NEWS/ AP/ ROLLING STONE

President Barack Obama is once again the feature story in the latest edition of Rolling Stone Magazine.  I’m certain you’ll all be tripping over one another to run out and buy a copy.  Truth be told, I might.  It may be worth something if it’s his last interview with the once-iconic magazine before leaving office in January.  Either way, I’m still thumbing through it and will share highlights when and if I find them.

Just in case you forgot.  Here are a few of the “probing” and “pointed” questions the magazine asked the president the last time he graced the cover…

Rolling Stone Magazine (October 2010)

• When you came into office, you felt you would be able to work with the other side.
• When did you realize that the Republicans had abandoned any real effort to work with you and create bipartisan policy?
• How do you feel about the fact that day after day, there’s this really destructive attack on whatever you propose?
• Does that bother you?
• Has it shocked you?
• What do you think the Republican Party stands for today?
• What do you think of the Tea Party and the people behind it?
• Do you think that it’s being manipulated?
• What do you think of Fox News? Do you think it’s a good institution for America and for democracy?

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Highlights from Ready for the Fight

Gotta love this…

The hourlong discussion was the longest and most substantive interview the president has granted in over a year. When executive editor Eric Bates and I joined him in the Oval Office, he began by signaling his staff to push back his schedule. “Just call Secretary Clinton’s office and tell her we’re going to be about 10 minutes late,” he said.

Dude has more time for Rolling Stone than anyone else???

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At least we know the folks at Rolling Stone are consistent… (See Above)

• Let’s talk about the campaign. Given all we’ve heard about and learned during the GOP primaries, what’s your take on the state of the Republican Party, and what do you think they stand for? 

• Doesn’t all of that kind of talk and behavior during the primaries define the party and what they stand for? 

• How does that shape the tone and tenor of the debate that’s going to take place during the campaign? 

• In working with the Republicans in this term, it seems clear that the traditional rules of give-and-take politics have changed – that the Republicans have been playing a “lose-lose” game with you. What’s your relationship with the GOP leadership at this point? A little frosty? 

• Is there any way to break through that obstructionism by Republicans? 

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In fairness to Rolling Stone and JANN S. WENNER - who wrote the article/conducted the interview – the questions turn away from direct Republican bashing after that.  I think it’s also worth mentioning that she and Rolling Stone are in the business of selling magazines.  I say that because if there wasn’t a fair amount of political red meat thrown in there, folks like me would have never read the article in the first place and certainly would not be sharing them with their readers.  I get it.  Doesn’t mean I have to like it; but I get it.

I also “get” why the president decided to do this interview.  And I’m certain it’s no coincidence that it is hitting the shelves the same week he’s on a three-state pander to the youth vote tour.  The day after he slow-jammed on Jimmy Fallon, he’s the cover story of Rolling Stone…  I think someone’s maneuvering hard for the 18-25 vote.  Well played, sir.

Only problem: getting them out of bed to actually vote.

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Subsequent topics of note:

• The “War on Drugs”
• Marriage Equality
• Racial Politics and Race Relations
• Occupy Wall Street
• Syria, Israel, Iran
• What shows do you watch?
• What’s it like being told every day how bad you’re doing?
• Do you read Paul Krugman?
• Playboy?

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Here’s one Q&A you’ll most certainly be hearing more about…

Earlier today, as I signed off and headed out for a run, I said that I would not be watching the President on Jimmy Fallon.  I guess I lied.  I watched it.  Every Tuesday can’t be Fat Tuesday around here.  I was bored.

Yes, I watched it; and since I’m a country-loving patriotic American, I actually got a little excited when I realized the president was about to come on stage – even though I disagree with just about everything he’s says, does, thinks about, or says that he thinks about doing.  It’s the President of the United States for crying out loud.  And it’s late night television.  For a dude that sleeps about 3.5 hours a night, that’s like catnip.

In full disclosure, I’m also a bit of a fan of Jimmy Fallon.  I wasn’t exactly pleased to hear that he would be taking part in the president’s “Pander to the Youth Vote” three-state tour to promote continuing low interest rates on Stafford loans re-election bid; but I like the guy, and typically find his show funny more often than not – despite the Michele Bachmann bashing his house band The Roots and lead drummer Questlove did during the early primary season.

As I’m sure you’ll see on half a million sites in the days to come, the President opened his appearance with a “Slow Jamming the News” segment that was neither funny nor entertaining.  I’ll spare you the political details I’m certain you’ll find elsewhere; but let’s just say I’m pretty sure both Sasha and Malia were screaming “Lame” at the television while they were watching from 1600.

From HuffPO:

One of the highlights of the night came when the president was fielding questions from Twitter.  Of course, the first question was about legalizing marijuana – which he kinda sorta punted on with the a token apathetic liberal response.  He was then asked why anyone should vote for him; rather than presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

The President proudly boasted that he could give an answer in 140 characters or less.   That turned into about three minutes of talking.  Fallon estimated and called it 3000 characters.

The President quipped that it was a Tweet that “referred you to a Facebook Wall.”

Redemption…

I thought the most telling moment of the evening came as Fallon said goodbye to the president and thanked him for taking the time to make an appearance.  Jimmy said, ”We dont’ take sides politically on this show, but it was great to have the president of the United States with us.”

The crowd cheered.

And then a promo for “Tomorrow’s Guests” appeared on the screen.

“Cast of 30 Rock, Reverend Al Sharpton…”

Need I say more?

That’s Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, and Al Friggin Sharpton.  Can you really claim impartiality when you have the trifecta of Hollywood liberalism on your show the night after you devote an entire program to President Obama and Slow-Jamming the news
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From Lady Liberty:
#WarOnStudents Continues; Adds Our Ears To Casualty List

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is the voice of the common man.  He represents the little guy against the big ugly machine that is Big Business.  He is the face of the modern American labor union.  And he’s lining his pockets every step along the way…

Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t begrudge Trumpka for his earning a living.  I just laugh at the hypocrisy of people like him ranting and raving about CEO salaries and corporate profits.  I’m sure he “earns” every penny of his salary and bonuses.  He represents the union well.  I’m just not sure that union represents its members any longer.

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Linked at Lonely Conservative – thanks!

Eat Green to Go Green!

You’ve gotta admired those Lefty Leaf lovers…  I can’t think of any cause in the Right-Wing universe that would compel attractive women to get naked to show their support.  Not to self… come up with one, ASAP.

Lisa Edelstein, of House fame, says she hasn’t eaten meat in three decades.  That’s a really long time to be hungry.

President Obama is in North Carolina today on the first leg of a three-state tour to promote his student loan rate-reduction proposal – a move most believe is a shallow attempt at reaching out to young voters which most believe will be crucial to his claiming a second term.  To further the effort, the President will make an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon that will be taped on the campus of the University of North Carolina.  Critics are already screaming conduct unbecoming…

USA TODAY says President Obama’s just following a trail “blazed” by President Clinton; and that’s probably a fair point.  What the Bill Clinton/Arsenio Hall saxophone performance taught us was that “people” like to “know” the guy they’re going to vote for.  They long for a “humanizing” opportunity where they can see the candidate in a setting beyond his/her control.  Of course, we all know (and as Jay Leno recently told us) these late night appearances are anything but un-scripted; but I suppose it works for some, so what the heck?

I, for one, can’t wait to hear what house band The Roots plays as the president takes the stage.  Will Questlove opt for Hail to the Chief; or go the Bachmann welcome route and play something like Lyin Ass Bitch?

For what it’s worth, I tend to take the position that the “youth vote” is a bit of a fiction; wrapped in a dream; deep fried and smothered covered on a plate of naive optimism.  A series of speeches about interest rates on student loans will no more “get out the vote” among young people than the legal drinking age keeps them from drinking on Friday night at fraternity parties.

College students don’t care about student loan interest rates.

They care when they graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in ______ and the only job they can find is waiting tables or folding clothes.

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It appears tickets for both show(s) (the speech and the Fallon appearance) were in high demand…

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H/T US WEEKLY; Photo Credit Kevin Winter/NBCUniversal/Getty Images; Jason Kempin/Getty Images

For much of this president’s first term, I’ve operated under the assumption that while growing government was a cornerstone of his underlying ideological aspirations, his true agenda would reveal itself if and when he was elected to a second term.  He’s already made it abundantly clear that re-election would afford him “flexibility” in foreign affairs.  Why would issues on the domestic front be any different?  Same Sex Marriage, Abortion, Amnesty for illegal aliens, you name it.  It’s coming.

The problem for President Obama is getting re-elected and still running away from every domestic issue that “Hope and Change” insinuated or implied would come with his historic election in 2008.  He may have every intention of making Same Sex Marriage / Gay Rights part of his second term agenda; he just can’t even begin to hint at it if he wants to carry states like North Carolina that helped him claim victory over John McCain.

The Washington Post says North Carolina is “More Evidence of His Delicate Approach to Gay Rights.”

So, what’s the call?  Tackle Gay Rights head on; or pitch lower interest rates to college students?  Does it really matter?  The fact that the president continues to punt on issues important to the Gay community inevitably costs him points with that demographic – and younger generations of Americans who care even less about government defining marriage than they do about interest rates on student loans.  But is either group really going to run to the Republican Party as a result – or even vote for that matter?

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Photo H/T NOMBlog

Host of MSNBC’s Hardball Chris Matthews, Former Bush administration Press Secretary Dana Perino, host of Fox News Sunday Chris Wallace, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Former Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, and NY Times columnist Tom Friedman are among the contestants that will be competing for the title of Political Talking Head Jeopardy Champion.  Actually, I’m not sure that’s the angle the network is playing; but I think you probably get the picture.

Actually, I’m not really sure how they put the cast together.  The addition of Kareem Abdul-Jabar has me scratching my head a bit.  When I think of the NBA great, I tend to think basketball, but his role as Global Cultural Ambassador, I suppose, warrants his inclusion.  Lewis Black and Dr. Oz, on the other hand, not so much.

While I would have loved seeing Charles Krauthammer in the field, I do very much look forward to seeing if Tom Friedman can prove what we all know he thinks – that is he, of course, the smartest man on the Flat, Hot, and Crowded planet….

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The tournament will air May 14-18

Jeopardy: Power Players (list of contestants)

How are they preparing?

H/T Politico…

I’m not exactly a Michelle Obama fan per se; but that really has little to do with her and a lot to do with her husband and her current residence.  Political wives and families are off limits in my book – just so long as they stay out of the political debate.  This First Lady is certainly no exception; even though aspects of her big government nanny state agenda tends to blur the lines from time-to-time.

That said, there comes a point where one can simply grow tired of seeing a political candidate’s other half.  If we’re not directly voting for her and we can’t criticize her; should we really have to see her every time we turn on the television?  This woman makes more appearances than Justin Bieber and the Karashian clan combined.

This First Lady and her handlers just don’t seem to “get” that.  Maybe they think it’s working?

In fairness to the First Lady, many of these appearances have been part of promoting her Let’s Move campaign against childhood obesity.  I support that, I suppose.  And any time Michelle Obama wants to talk about “moving” I’m 100% behind her.  I’m told Chicago is nice in the Spring.

The Right’s favorite Democrat/Independent made an appearance on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace to discuss the GSA and Secret Service scandals this morning.  While an interview with Senator Lieberman rarely causes a my hear to race, it’s still a million times better than having to listen to Debbie Wasserman-Schultz in the Am to appease those that still believe Fair and Balanced is a cause worth the sacrifice.

I often say that if Joe Lieberman was a Republican, he’d immediately assume the mantle of my least favorite Republican.   I like him.  It’s just that the only reason I like him is that he’s the most tolerable from that side of the aisle.  I guess what I’m saying here is being my favorite Democrat in the Senate is about like being Valedictorian of summer school.  It is what it is.

That said, Senator Lieberman actually hit on precisely what I see as the real issue of consequence as it relates to Secret Service agents drinking and paying for the services of call girls.

“History is full of cases where enemies have compromised people in security or in intelligence positions with sex.  And beyond that, in a much more practical way, I don’t think we want our Secret Service agents drinking bottles of vodka and carousing with women before they’re going on duty to protect the President.”

“If the Secret Service gets the reputation that when they’re off duty – not when they’re on – they’re going to be acting like a bunch of college students on ‘Spring Weekend’, then people who are hostile to the US; to people who may actually want to attack the President of the United States will begin to take advantage of that vulnerability.”

We’ll ignore that he called it “Spring Weekend”; rather than Spring Break.  It’s been a few years since he did a keg-stand or funneled a beer.  But he’s right.  Sex makes people stupid and do stupid things.  And smart people know that and use it against them.

I think that pretty much explains the relationship between men and women… and speaks to why these lapses in judgment are dangerous and troublesome.   The prostitution makes for good headlines.  A culture or an environment that allows it puts American security at risk and lives in jeopardy.

President Obama’s Senior Campaign Adviser, David Axelrod, on Meet the Press with David Gregory speaking to scandals in both the GSA and Secret Service… “There’s going to be misbehavior in any large organization – even Comcast and NBC probably faces that from time-to-time.”  Fair enough.  He’s probably right.  The only problem is that if Comcast and NBC decide to finance their employees throwing wild hooker parties or trips to Vegas, we have a choice whether or not to continue watching their network and buying their cable service.  Unless I’m mistaken, we don’t get to directly make that call when it comes to the GSA or Secret Service; and the money to fund it’s not coming from company profits.  It’s coming from the pocket of the American taxpayer.

I haven’t weighed in on the political ramifications of either scandal and don’t plan to here.  I’m not sure that the two stories really even begin in the same conversation.  That said, many will come down on both sides of this.  Some will blame the president and others will say they were incidents well beyond the reach of his control.  From where I sit, I tend to believe they both illustrate the unnecessary size and scope of “government” at the federal level; and I am more than pleased that we’re at least beginning to have a conversation about what happens to our tax dollars once bureaucratic misfits get their grimy little hands on them.

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