tpmgary's Blog | Talking Points Memo | January 25, 2009

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Week of January 25, 2009 - January 31, 2009

trickle-up diversity vs trickle down diversity. Or, Democrats vs Republicans

January 31, 2009, 4:26PM

The election of Obama and the election of Michael Steele to RNC chair, while certainly not absolute parallels, may symbolize two distinct paths to contrast how differently diversity evolves.

Broad strokes, for Democrats, the operative dynamic for diversity, among other things, seems to be bottom-up. For Republicans, top down.

(These dynamics can be found at the core of each party's ideology--we can see how it expresses itself in myriad ways, approaches to economics, health care, science,etc.)

It would appear that diversity is more of an indigenous trait to the culture of Democrats. And more of an acquired one to the culture of Republicans.

However differently diversity may evolve, be it naturally or enforced, it does seem to represent the fundamental underpinning of survival.

I wonder if "trickle-up diversity" works better than "trickle-down diversity".

One party can become as colorful as the other, but is either party truly diverse if their thinking never changes?

Cable news networks have 24 hours to kill--no wonder I'm feeling brain dead.

January 27, 2009, 2:18PM

Politics, as it is covered by the 24 hour news channels, is mindless. If you're following the coverage of Obama's proposed stimulus package, you've seen Republicans talk about the need for tax cuts and the importance of reigning in spending. You've seen Democrats talk about repealing tax cuts and the importance of increasing spending. You will see this live. You will see this taped. You will see this via satellite feed. Then you will see partisan pundits volley the same issue with the same passion and lack of substance.

Blowing hot air on the air is a politician's favorite past time. It is PR. It is posturing. Spinning. Grandstanding. It is marketing. It is pontificating. It is vacuous. It is devoid of original thought. It is chewing gum for the mind.

It is many things for sure.

But it is not news.

Republicans--the time difference between their bodies and their ideas.

January 26, 2009, 1:40PM

When oh when are the Republicans?

I can hear their faint echo but I just can't place the era.

I was driving my electric car and I swear I heard them on satellite radio.

"Drill baby drill!" "Clean cough-cough-cough-cough-excuse me coal!"

That's them, right?

Something very bizarre is going on with Republicans. Their bodies are in the 21st century. But their voices. They have a scratchy old 1920s first- transatlantic-broadcast quality. The two don't occupy the same place at the same time. It's like the consequence of a teleportation mishap.

There's a time difference between their bodies and their minds. I believe 100 years separate the two.

Maybe reaching across the aisle isn't enough. Maybe we need to reach across the space-time continuum.

We all need to be in the present, moving forward together through the 21st century.

Truth be told, we'll never resolve this impasse politically. But re-calibrating a rift in the fabric of space-time. At least that's a theoretical possibility. So where's the rift? We know it's on the Republican side of the aisle. My guess is that it originates beneath Mitch McConnell's seat in the Senate Chamber. Maybe the rift IS Mitch McConnell. He flickers like a hologram sometimes.

There. Did you hear that?

"Cut taxes and lower spending."

Must locate Republican audio beacon.

I knew something was awry. I watched David Gregory interview John Boehner on Meet the Press. Boehner's body was there, or rather, here, in 2009. But his voice, his consciousness is, well, not of this time.

"Government is too big".

Kitt Bond's body is playing the same soundtrack that Boehner's is.

Who else but Republicans argue as a collective body, devoid of individuality or original thought?

I'm telling you, these guys are dislodged. Lost in the past. But they're in the same year, decade, whatever. That I know. The sound quality is identical. I know the sound of a victrola when I hear it.

"Close-Gitmo-and-you'll-have-terrorists-on-the-loose-playing-bingo-in Kansas-you-want-to-play-bingo-with-terrorists-in-Kansas-because-that's-what-will happen."

Note the distinct lack of subtlety. The run-on jump in logic.

Oh, it's them alright.

If we could only pinpoint when in time they are. The source of the audio transmission. Maybe use cosmic background radiation.

We should call SETI to see if they're picking this signal up.

Or are they only listening for signs of intelligent life?

Top bloggers should broadcast a "real" Meet the Press on Sunday mornings

January 25, 2009, 11:35AM

It seems follow up questions have become obsolete.

On Meet the Press this morning, now hosted by David Gregory, John Boehner recited the following pre-written and widely distributed Republican talking point:

-"there aren't enough tax cuts in Obama's plan and that's what average American families need."

David Gregory didn't follow up with

"Aren't you really talking about giving tax cuts to America's richest 1%? Because the plan already cuts taxes for average American families. It sounds like you're pushing for something similar to former President Bush's economic policy."

This example, and tons of others, should inspire Josh or a panel of top bloggers to broadcast an hour long show just like Meet the Press, but with tough questions. Get the same caliber of guests as most of the Sunday morning talk shows.

Get one of the news networks to carry the program, or do it on the internet and do such a great show that it becomes the first place viewers, bloggers, all over the world go to see how journalism is supposed to be conducted.