The Political Whore

By Mitch Perry
PoHo contributor
Mitch Perry is the anchor of the WMNF Evening News on 88.5 FM community radio.

Despite the censure vote on Governor Charlie Crist last week that evenly divided Palm Beach County Republicans (it failed to pass as the group deadlocked at 65 votes apiece), the head of the Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee says his membership is united.

They’re ALL disappointed in Governor Crist. Read the rest of this entry »

So, just why did MSNBC commentator Christ Matthews whisper “oh god” into a hot mic just as La. Gov. Bobby Jindal pranced out of a side room to deliver his rebuttal speech on behalf of the Republicans last night? Did he know just how poorly Jindal was going to perform? How far Jindal would fall short of expectations? How nonsensical his analogy about Hurricane Katrina was? Is Matthews able to see into the future?? If so, Chris, who is going to win the NCAA football championship this season?

Answer: Matthews tells Politico that he gasped because he was “taken aback” by the absurdity of the entrance. “I was taken aback by that peculiar stagecraft, the walking from somewhere in the back of this narrow hall, this winding staircase looming there, the odd anti-bellum look of the scene. Was this some mimicking of a president walking along the state floor to the East Room?”

…these two men, Bobby Jindal and Charlie Crist, representing both the split ideology of the Republican Party and its new, swarthier face.The Indian-American vs. the Greek-American.

The big question that will remain for GOP voters in a little less than four years: White hair or dark?

By Mitch Perry
PoHo contributor

Mitch Perry is the anchor of the WMNF Evening News on 88.5 FM community radio. This is his first post as a PoHo contributor.

Under the category of “Whose GOP is it anyway?”, NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday served up what some political junkies hoped might be a potential death match rumble on the Beltway’s Sunday morning television’s crown jewel of punditry over the past 15 years.

But MTP has had very few Must See TV episodes since Tim Russert’s tragic death of a heart attack last summer, and this rhetorical rumble failed to materialize.

That’s because in the battle of dueling GOP Governors on the stimulus bill, NBC’s David Gregory chose to bring his two guests on in separate segments to reflect the dissent within the Grand Old Party.

(Video from the MTP appearances after the jump)

Read the rest of this entry »

The poli sci minds at UVA have a good roundup of the presidential hopefuls four years out, and even before Obama is sworn in. Here’s the intro to the red list:

Here’s the worst kept secret in politics: Presidential campaigning never ends. For periods of time it becomes quieter–a little subtler–but it never stops. Every morning 100 senators, 50 governors, quite a few grandees in the House of Representatives, and an assortment of corporate titans all hear their Rice Krispies shouting “2012!” “FORM A PRESIDENTIAL EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE!” and “RUN … YOU’RE THE ONE!”

Democrats will shush Snap, Crackle, and Pop, pleading with them to instead say, “2016!” Republicans on the other hand, will pour another bowl, and ask the three sirens of Battle Creek, Michigan, to repeat what they just said.

Of course, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are already doing battle for the hearts and minds of the social conservatives for 2012. (Kee-rist, you can’t even turn on the TV without seeing Mitt comment on the auto bailout or anything he is asked.) And Sarah Palin, La. Gov. Bobby Jindal, and Tim Pawlenty from the 2008 Veep race are mentioned, of course. Newcomers to the GOP list include Miss. Gov. Haley Barbour and SC Gov. Mark Sanford. Bubbling under is Cong. Eric Cantor, a darling of the right. Others: Former Md. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (also seeking the RNC chair), New Jersey’s Chris Christie, and Va.’s Bob McDonnell.

Not a very inspiring list, huh Republicans? Where’s the great white hope that will lead the GOP out of the woods and back into the hearts of centrist voters?