REPUBLICAN REDEFINED » Video

Newt Gingrich Calls it Quits

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:51:45 +0000

Better late than never?

I suppose one could make the argument that Newt was merely being Newt; or that he was getting out on his terms. I typically wouldn’t buy those arguments; but I don’t have anything better to offer, so what the heck? Millions in debt, ever-dropping in the polls, and waaaayyy behind in delegates; the former Speaker announced Wednesday that it was finally time to throw in the towel.

CBS NEWS: With millions of dollars in campaign debt and just two Republican primary victories under his belt, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich finally called it quits Wednesday, suspending his campaign for the presidency so he could go back to being an “active citizen.”

“Today I am suspending the campaign, but suspending the campaign does not mean suspending citizenship,” Gingrich said in lengthy remarks to a bank of television cameras. Gingrich told reporters last week he would make his departure official this week.

Gingrich deemed the campaign “a truly wild ride” during the appearance in Arlington, Virginia, saying, “I could never have predicted either the low points or the high points.”

POLITICO: Although he did not officially back Mitt Romney, he offered lukewarm words of praise for the man who beat him for the GOP presidential nod, saying that “this is not a choice between Mitt Romney and Ronald Reagan.” Given that it is a choice between Romney and President Barack Obama, Gingrich argued “the gap” between the two “is as wide as any point in American history.”

He called the campaign a “truly wild ride.”

I’ve posted below a brief clip of Newt’s remarks. You can thank me later. I’m not sure what the former Speaker thought he was accomplishing with an emptying of the ideas pool on his way out, but I can tell you it was the longest concession speech this blogger remembers watching. Painful on so many levels.

Politico already has up a “Best of Newt 2012″

Marco Rubio Foreign Policy Speech at Brookings “There is Still Only One Nation Capable of Leading” (VIDEO)

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:00:12 +0000

“In confronting the challenges of our time, there are more nations than ever capable of contributing, but there is still only one that is capable of leading.”

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) gave a much-anticipated foreign policy speech Wednesday at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. While many have been speculating that the speech was an “audition” for a coming role and Mitt Romney’s Vice President, I’m inclined to believe the young senator is merely attempting to expand his reach and influence.

As to the speech, I watched most of it live and would give it a solid B+. I’m sure that too will be a topic of much debate in coming days. The McCain crowd will probably say he didn’t go far enough and the Paul wing of the Party will probably call it treasonous. I thought it was solid and for a first major speech on foreign policy, I’d say he hit it out of the park.

What Rubio represents is a sense of optimism in all things American. His message is that this country is and always will be what it has been and should be… just so long as we don’t lose Faith in the things that have made us great. In the years that I’ve been following his career, I’ve disagreed with him on a number of issues; but I’ve never for even a moment doubted whether or not this guy gets the quintessential ”It.”

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Here’s a link to a short highlight version or watch the full thing below.

You can read the entire transcript of the speech here…

Linked at The Lonely Conservative. Thanks.

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A few of the high points…

Now, lest anyone accuse me of claiming that American power has ushered in the biblical promise of a “new heaven and a new earth,” let’s stop and remember that the world America made is better, but it is not perfect. But it has been a vastly more peaceful and prosperous age than any other age in recorded history.

So this is the world America made, but what is the role for America now? Is now finally the time for us to mind our own business? Is now the time for us to allow others to lead? Is now the time for us to play the role of equal partner?

I always start by reminding people that what happens all over the world is our business. Every aspect of lives is directly impacted by global events. The security of our cities is connected to the security of small hamlets in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. Our cost of living, the safety of our food , and the value of the things we invent, make and sell are just a few examples of everyday aspects of our lives that are direcly related to events abroad and make it impossible for us to focus only on our issues here are home.

The next question I am asked is why doesn’t someone else lead for a change? Why do we always have to be taking care of all the problems in the world? Isn’t it time for someone else to step up?

I always begin my answer to that question with a question of my own. If we start doing less, who will start doing more? For example, would a world order where China, at least as we know it right now, was the leading power be as benignly disposed to the political and economic aspirations of other nations as we are?

We hold out hope for a new China of tomorrow, but for now we must deal with the China of today.

Finally, I am asked, if we still have to lead, can’t we at least be equal partners with someone else? In fact, shouldn’t we rely on other nations to carry more of the burden? After all, we all know that they resent us telling them what to do, right?

In this new century, more than ever before, America should work with out capable allies in finding solutions to global problems. Not because America has gotten weaker, but because our partners have grown stronger. It’s worth pointing out, that is not a new idea for us. Our greatest successes have always occurred in partnership with other like-minded nations. America has acted unilaterally in the past – and I believe it should continue to do so in the future — when necessity requires. But our preferred option since the U.S. became a global leader has been to work with others to achieve our goals.

So yes, global problems do require international coalitions. On that point this administration is correct. But effective international coalitions don’t form themselves. They need to be instigated and led, and more often than not, they can only be instigated and led by us. And that is what this administration doesn’t understand. Yes, there are more countries able and willing to join efforts to meet the global challenges of our time. But experience has proven that American leadership is almost always indispensible to their success.

Everywhere we look, we are presented with opportunities for American leadership to help shape a better world in this new century. We have to view these opportunities within the context of the fact that in every region of the world, other countries look apprehensively on the growing influence of newly emerging powers in their midst, and look to the U.S. to counterbalance them.

Iran’s dangerous nuclear ambitions are about more than just weapons. Iran wants to become the most dominant power in the Middle East. But given Iran’s history of human rights abuses, fomenting Shia versus Sunni conflict and sponsorship of terrorism as a tool of statecraft, the world must never allow that to happen. Fortunately, preventing a dominant Iran is a goal we share with virtually every other nation in the region. Certainly we welcome Russia’s and China’s cooperation in facing this challenge. But the prospect of a nuclear capable Iran is so unacceptable that we must be prepared to act with or without them. We have a host of willing partners in every region of the world who share our concerns and are relying on our leadership to compel Iran to abandon its ambitions.

Preferably, we can succeed through coercive means short of military force. We should be open to negotiations with Iran. But always remember that they should not be deemed a success when they only lead to further negotiations. Stronger pressure shouldn’t be postponed in the expectation our forbearance will encourage Iran to act in good faith. Nothing in our experience with Iran suggests it considers such gestures as anything other than a lack of resolve on our part.

Ultimately however, we must remember that their ambitions so far have come with a high tolerance for pain. Therefore, even as we work through the United Nations and with the international community on sanctions and negotiations, we should operate on a dual track. We should also be preparing our allies, and the world, for the reality that unfortunately, if all else fails, preventing a nuclear Iran may require a military solution.

Our goal for our own region should be pretty straightforward: a coalition of neighboring democratic nations that trade freely and live peacefully with one another.

I disagree with the way in which the current administration has chosen to engage. For while there are few global problems we can solve by ourselves, there are virtually no global problems that can be solved without us. In confronting the challenges of our time, there are more nations than ever capable of contributing, but there is still only one that is capable of leading.

And I disagree with voices in my own party who argue we should not engage at all. Who warn we should heed the words of John Quincy Adams not to go “abroad, in search of monsters to destroy”.

I disagree because all around us we see the human face of America’s influence in the world. It actually begins with not just our government, but our people. Millions of people have been the catalyst of democratic change in their own countries. But they never would have been able to connect with each other if an American had not invented Twitter.

Even in our military engagements, the lasting impact of our influence on the world is hard to ignore. Millions of people have emerged from poverty around the world in part because our Navy protects the freedom of the seas allowing the ever increasing flow of goods between nations.

We do these things because we are a compassionate people. And we also do it because it is in our national interest. Because perhaps more than any other nation on the earth, we understand that a world that is freer, more just, more peaceful and more prosperous poses less of a threat.

I know this is a time of great uncertainty. A time when many wonder if America is in decline. As Bob Kagan points out in his book, however, there have been other times when we felt less than confident about the future. We need to look no further than the decade of my birth for an example.

Senator Bob Corker: We Can’t Trust the Senate to Live Within Its Means (VIDEO)

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:22:02 +0000

“You absolutely cannot trust the United States Senate to live within its means.”

Say what you want about Senator Corker, but the guy is among an ever-dwindling group of ”grown-ups” still walking the halls of the United States Senate when it comes to getting the country’s financial house in order. He may not always represent the model conservative this Tennessee constituent longs for; but on fiscal matters, he rarely finds himself on the wrong side of things.

From Senator Corker’s YouTube Channel: April 25, 2012 – In remarks on the Senate floor today, Senator Corker said the postal reform bill, s. 1789, is further proof that “you absolutely cannot trust the United States Senate to live within its means.” The postal reform bill violates budgetary limitations for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 and would add $11 billion to the federal deficit.

I’ve only loosely followed this debate the last few days, but I’ll try to limp through the basics. Senate Republicans attempted to block a Harry Reid-driven postal reform bill from coming to the floor with a point of order challenge to the proposed legislation because they said S. 1789, would add to the deficit in violation of last year’s Budget Control Act; and add $34 billion to the nation’s debt.

THE HILL: After brief debate, the Senate voted 62-37 in favor of waiving the point of order, just narrowly meeting the 60-vote threshold. Nine Republicans voted with Democrats to waive the point of order: Roy Blunt (Mo.), Scott Brown (Mass.), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Susan Collins (Maine), John Hoeven (N.D.), Jerry Moran (Kansas), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Pat Roberts (Kansas) and Olympia Snowe (Maine).

That’s a Murderer’s Row of Moderates if I’ve ever seen one…

The Senate voted on 16 amendments to the reform bill (8 passed/8 did not) and the Body was set to pick up the rest on Wednesday. Here’s a list of the proposed amendments.

Here’s the debate in a nutshell…

[Senator] Sessions argued the bill would require the Treasury to repay $11.4 billion in money that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) overpaid to its employee retirement system, and would let the USPS defer $23 billion in payments to its retiree health benefit plan. In each case, Sessions said those funds would have to be offset by new government debt, but should instead by offset by spending cuts.

Rep. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the sponsors of the bill, repeated her arguments from Monday that the Congressional Budget Office analysis saying the bill costs $34 billion is “misleading.” She said that the funds involved come from the USPS, and that returning them would not amount to any new burden on taxpayers.

“There are no taxpayer dollars authorized by this bill or appropriated by this bill,” Collins said.

“Any new burden” on taxpayers… Now I understand. Haven’t we heard that before?

Newt Gingrich to Officially Suspend Campaign Tuesday; Endorse Mitt Romney?

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:01:03 +0000

“I think obviously that I would be a better candidate, but the objective fact is the voters didn’t think that.”

Newt Gingrich will reportedly suspend his campaign for the Republican nomination next week – most likely in his home state of Georgia. After losing soundly to Mitt Romney in all five primaries Tuesday night, a concession seemed inevitable. But this is Newt Gingrich and I think we all know that only Newt will decide when enough is enough. There’s that… and the fact that his campaign is reportedly “millions” of dollars in debt. (I think the most reasonable figure I’ve seen puts the bill somewhere north of $4 million.)

Maybe the tortoise just ran out of track?

CNN: Newt Gingrich will officially end his bid for the Republican presidential nomination and formally express his support for Mitt Romney next week, two sources close to Gingrich tell CNN.

While details are still being worked out, Gingrich is likely to hold his final campaign event Tuesday in Washington, DC where he will make the announcement surrounded by his family and supporters.

It is not surprising that Gingrich is suspending his campaign for the White House as he has all but acknowledged it is winding down and Romney is the presumptive GOP nominee.

“When he says he is transitioning, what he means is that he is trying to determine as a citizen how he will pro-actively help Mitt Romney become president and the Republican Party win back the Senate and help (House Speaker) John Boehner keep his majority in the House,” said one of the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

So, it’s back to Newt the Party spokesman… Or Newt the Party critic? Or Newt the Author? Newt the Historian? Newt the Romney Surrogate?

Who knows at this point? Frankly, I’m not even sure if Newt knows.

Think about it. He’s spent months hammering Romney in ways that Santorum never even dreamed of and Romney was in large part responsible for derailing his campaign with truckloads of cash after South Carolina. Can the two really mend those fences?

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RS McCain has an update:

UPDATE: While everybody’s busy scripting their Downfall video parodies, here are more details from inside the bunker:

Newt Gingrich plans to formally leave the Republican presidential race next Tuesday, senior campaign aides told Fox News, after struggling for months to turn around his sagging bid for the White House. . . .
Gingrich’s exit is a stark turnaround from his public posture just a few months back, when in December he confidently declared following his rise in national polls that [he was] “going to be the nominee.”

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By way of Ed Morrissey at Hot Air:

“Fox News is reporting that Gingrich will officially concede on May 1, and will “more than likely” endorse Romney at the same time.”

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Gingrich being Gingrich on the way out. Courtesy of National Journal:

“I think you have to at some point be honest with what’s happening in the real world, as opposed to what you’d like to have happened,” Gingrich said. “Governor Romney had a very good day yesterday. He got 67 [percent] in one state, and he got 63 in other, 62 in another. Now you have to give him some credit. I mean this guy’s worked six years, put together a big machine, and has put together a serious campaign.

“I think obviously that I would be a better candidate, but the objective fact is the voters didn’t think that,” Gingrich said. “And I also think it’s very, very important that we be unified.”

Gingrich said he will continue to campaign in North Carolina through the week “as a citizen,” and that “we’re working out the details of our transition and we’ll have information for the press in the next couple of days.”

Two Gingrich campaign officials confirmed to CBS News/National Journal that Gingrich will suspend his campaign and will likely endorse Romney on May 1 in Washington.

President Obama on Jimmy Fallon; Slow Jams the Student Loan Republican Bashing News; Full Interview Added (VIDEO)

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:15:39 +0000

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

Tuesday Afternoon Quick Hits

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:44:35 +0000

I’m off for a run and an afternoon away from the computer; but before I headed out, I figured I’d share a few links from the best and the brightest of the Daily Reads. Hope everyone’s enjoying their Tuesday. Be sure to set your DVR for Mitt Romney “A Better America Begins Tonight” victory speech in Blue State Country and the Jimmy Fallon – Questlove – President Obama – lovefest later on tonight.

Be sure to let me know how that goes.

RS McCain’s selling Mother’s Days Jewelry for Amazon… and college tuition for his kids. Maybe he should hit up Michelle Obama. He’s also got a post on Obama’s One Success. (Here’s a hint. It has something to do with Mexicans going the other way for a change.)

The Sun is shining in Adrienne’s world, so she’s got cats. Yes, cats. I don’t get it either; but I like her, so she gets a link. She also has an incredibly heartfelt personal story that offers some perspective on the Zimmerman/Trayvon story… Zimmerman: “I didn’t know if he was armed”…

Chris at WyBlog’s got some good news for the 50% of college graduates that can’t find a job…

Lonely Conservative breaks the news that The War on Terror is Over? Free beer for everyone. There’s also a guest post by Mike Jones: The Life and Times of Sour Milk

Left Coast Rebel says “News of the Tea Party’s Death is Greatly Exaggerated.” Thank God. Where was I going to wear my “Don’t Tread on Me” T-Shirt? Dean @LCR has “Obama Then and Now – Part 236”

Motor City Times has the “How To” video everyone’s been waiting for… Video: How to Weaponize Office Supplies

Ed Driscoll and Ace have a horribly under-reported story: Third Racially-Motivated Attack in which ‘Justice for Trayvon’ Explicitly Cited

20 Blacks Beat White Interloper With Makeshift Bludgeons; Victim In Critical Condition; One Attacker Said, “Now That’s Justice For Trayvon”

The Gill Report has the video…

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Dick Cheney on VP Pick: “Most Important Criteria is Capacity to be President” (VIDEO)

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:55:45 +0000

Former Vice President Dick Cheney – still recovering from his recent heart transplant – is the latest prognosticator to weigh in on Mitt Romney’s eventual Veep short list. While I’m relatively quick to dismiss most commentators and their opinions on this matter, I hold VP Cheney’s opinion in extremely high regard. For what it’s worth, I view Cheney as the greatest Vice President selection of my lifetime; and that includes the first Bush. Cheney was chosen to help George W. Bush effectively govern. He had no aspirations of someday becoming President. He just wanted to do his job and go home. Sure, he checked a few of the obligatory boxes, but he was competence personified… that is before the MSM turned him into something else.

CNN: ”I’ve been involved in a couple of vice presidential searches, some more successful than others,” Cheney said at an event for students at the Washington Center. His remarks were carried by C-SPAN.

In 2000, Cheney led the vice presidential search for then-candidate George W. Bush that culminated in his own selection as running mate.

He continued, “The thing that I think is important to remember is the decision you make as a presidential candidate on who your running mate’s going to be is the first presidential level decision the public’s going to see you make. It’s the first time you’re making a decision you’re going to have to live with. It gives the public a chance to see you operate and see what you think is important, what kind of individual you choose to serve as your running mate, what are the criteria.”

“I think the single most important criteria has to be the capacity to be president,” Cheney said. “That’s why you pick them. I think lots of times in the past that has not been the foremost criteria.”

“As you watch the talking heads out there now, they’re saying you’ve got to pick a woman, a Hispanic, someone from a big state. They’re all interesting things to speculate about but it’s pretty rare that the election ever turns on those kinds of issues.”

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H/T Washington Examiner via Right Scoop:

House Star Lisa Edelstein Poses Nude for PETA

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:09:20 +0000

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.

HUFFINGTON POST: Pursuing a vegetarian lifestyle is no small task. But those in search of motivation need look no further than PETA’s Go Vegetarian campaign featuring “House” star Lisa Edelstein.

In a photo shot by celebrity photographer Jack Guy, Edelstein poses nude in a bed of kale next to a caption that reads, “Eat green to go green”.

A vegetarian for the past three decades, the 44-year-old actress attributes her health and figure to a meat-free diet.

But she also decided to pose for PETA in order to raise awareness of the negative environmental impacts of meat production.

“The meat industry is really toxic to the environment. The cattle industry–besides the fact there are a lot of cruel things happening–the manure is extremely toxic,”Edelstein said in a press release announcing the new advertisement. “We just need to pull back as a culture as much as we can.”

Boehner Says 1 in 3 Chance GOP Loses House; DNC Chair Wasserman-Schultz Agrees (VIDEO)

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:48:35 +0000

In an interview with Fox News on Monday, aired on Tuesday, Speaker of the House John Boehner cautioned that there was a 1 in 3 chance that the GOP could lose the House in November. As you might expect, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was quick to agree…

From THE HILL/ Via HOT AIR PUNDIT:

“We have 50 of our members in tough races, 89 freshmen running for their first reelections and we have 32 districts that are in states where there is no presidential campaign going to be run, no big Senate race and we call these orphan districts

“You take 18 of them, California, Illinois and New York, where you know we’re not likely to do well at the top of the ticket and those districts are frankly pretty vulnerable.” Boehner put the odds at 2-to-1 that the GOP will hold onto control.

“I would say that there is a 2-in-3 chance that we win control of the House again but there’s a 1-in-3 chance that we could lose and I’m being myself, frank. We’ve got a big challenge and we’ve got work to do.”

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Wasserman-Schultz Agrees…

You’ve gotta love a few things about her response. First, her proclamation that Nancy Pelosi would never make this kind of prediction is priceless. Of course she wouldn’t. That woman is so out-of-touch with reality that I’m certain she still thinks she’s the Speaker. Second, how great is it to hear this windbag call the House takeover Republicans hit Pelosi’s camp with “historic.” I’d love to find a clip because I’m certain she was among the first to downplay the thumping as anything but historic.

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More of the interview with Speaker Boehner…

Political Pundits and Commentators Prepare for Jeopardy (VIDEO)

T CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:01:59 +0000

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)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer and Global Cultural Ambassador Skyhook Foundation	Lewis Black Stand-up comedian 52nd St. Project and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation	Anderson Cooper CNN “Anderson Cooper 360°” and syndicated talk show “Anderson” The Trevor Project
David Faber NBC “The Faber Report” and “Squak on the Street” New Visions for Public Schools	Thomas L. Friedman The New York Times Conservation International	Robert Gibbs Former White House Press Secretary Pine Hills Literacy Project
Katty Kay “BBC World News America” International Women’s Media Foundation	Chris Matthews MSNBC “Hardball” and NBC “The Chris Matthews Show” La Salle College High School	Kelly O’Donnell NBC News Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation
Lizzie O’Leary CNN 826DC	Dr. Mehmet Oz “The Dr. Oz Show” HealthCorps	Clarence Page Chicago Tribune American Institute for Stuttering
Dana Perino Fox News Channel “The Five” Pets2Vets	Chuck Todd NBC News Samaritan Inns	Chris Wallace “Fox News Sunday” Hope For The Warriors

How are they preparing?

H/T Politico…