March 16, 2012
12:04
P.M.
About the host
Dana Milbank
Dana Milbank reviews the political theater of the nation's capital in his editorial-page column. His most recent book is "Tears of a Clown: Glenn Beck and the Tea Bagging of America;"
his other books are "Homo Politicus" (Doubleday, 2008) and "Smashmouth"
(Basic Books, 2001).
Milbank joined The Post as a political reporter in 2000 and wrote the
"Washington Sketch" column for nearly six years. He lives in Washington
with his wife and daughter.
•
• Milbank Q&As
• Milbank Q&As
About the topic
Dana Milbank Live is your weekly opportunity for a give and take with Dana centering on the latest political news in Washington and his recent columns.
Follow @PostLive on Twitter
Follow @PostLive on Twitter
Q. Romney Loss?
Dana, could you describe a realistic scenario where Romney does not win
the nomination (other than by medical emergency or by some unexpected
news about Romney's past)? I can't see it, but the media still seems
awful hung up on the delegate race.
A. Dana Milbank :
I cannot think of a realistic scenario. It is a theoretical
possibility, so my colleagues in the media are not technically wrong to
keep the race going. But I think it's quite unfair to Romney that on
Wednesday morning he had won the most delegates the night before and he
was universally panned as the loser.
The main reason I can't think of a non-Romney scenario is less about Romney (let's face it: a dreadful candidate), than about Santorum (obviously a far worse candidate).
The main reason I can't think of a non-Romney scenario is less about Romney (let's face it: a dreadful candidate), than about Santorum (obviously a far worse candidate).
- – March 16, 2012 12:06 PM
Dana. You talked again with Chris Mathews about Mitt's 'dog on the roof
of the car' problem, but as a strategy, isn't it wise for the democratic
side to keep this story alive for to tie up the canine owner vote?
A. Dana Milbank :
It is a sense of ruff justice that Seamus is now getting his revenge on his master.
Thirty-seven percent of American households have dogs, and a larger percentage has had dogs. I don't think Obama has to do anything to keep this one alive. It has legs. Four of 'em.
Thirty-seven percent of American households have dogs, and a larger percentage has had dogs. I don't think Obama has to do anything to keep this one alive. It has legs. Four of 'em.
Q. Section 60
While I'm usually snarky on these chats, I wanted to thank you for your
piece on Section 60 at Arlington. I made sure to bring my two sons (13
and 11) and one of their friends to see Section 60 on a trip to DC to
see that what they see on TV in the news or play in combat video games
is not just an image or a game. There is a real and tragic cost to war.
I also pointed out that the men and women buried in Section 60 were
alot closer in age to them than they were to me. I believe your premise
wholehardedly that politicians and pundits calling for U.S. military
action should visit Section 60 first (or Normandy or read "All Quiet on
the Western Front"). Thank you for reminding us and them.
A. Dana Milbank :
Very much appreciate that comment. The column got far less notice
than I had hoped. I think it was the most important thing I had
written in some time. I'm glad to know you visited Section 60. I
think every American should walk those rows; they'll learn a lot more
than they will touring the Lincoln memorial or the White House or the
Smithsonian.
- – March 16, 2012 12:10 PM
Cillizza just said that he sees Obama-Romney as a toss up come November.
I see a Republican base that has dragged their nominee into a bunch of
untenable positions he isn't going to be able to come back from with
independents and lose by about 8 or 9 points. I realize GOP hatred of
Obama will get the base out, but their extreme positions are going to
scare the independents and Democrats into showing up as well. They
would have had a much better choice if Romney had run towards universal
health care, taking away Obama's biggest legislative grab and played to
take away the middle from Obama. A moderate Romney with an anti-Obama
base would have lead to a win, but this just looks like a loss waiting
to happen.
A. Dana Milbank :
Tell me where unemployment, the S&P 500 and gas prices are the
last week of October and I'll tell you who wins the election. The rest
is just noise.
Have you heard about the "mystery stench" over our area as Channel
5's Will Thomas put it this morning? is that from Republicans or
Democrats? Maybe Harry Reid was right and it's from the tourists in to
see the cherry blossoms.
A. Dana Milbank :
I blame the British delegation.
If Romney becomes the nominee, which is still likely possibility, how
does this race end for Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich? Does Santorum or
Gingrich's money eventually dry up, does it go to the convention, or
what?
A. Dana Milbank :
Newt Gingrich is led off in straitjacket. Santorum is carried to heaven in a flaming chariot.
Q. Seamus
It's the main story my non politicized siblings talk about. As a
political junkie it never really moved me but i can attest that it
breaks through to the non political folks.
A. Dana Milbank :
My dog is up in paws about it.
Took her to the NBC studio yesterday in hopes they'd have her on the air during the Seamus segment. Instead she watched from the control room, where, I'm told, she obeyed the producers' commands.
Took her to the NBC studio yesterday in hopes they'd have her on the air during the Seamus segment. Instead she watched from the control room, where, I'm told, she obeyed the producers' commands.
Why did your colleagues go along with the White House and say that
Wednesday was a "State Dinner" when the Queen wasn't there? What's
wrong with the accurate term "Official Dinner"? You still get the gowns
and the tuxes, the flags and the pagentry, and The Clooney.
A. Dana Milbank :
As we know from Sarah Palin, the queen is the head of government in
Britain, which must mean that the prime minister is the head of state.
As the story in the Post this week pointed out, the dog kept running
away from home to "see his doggie pals" according to the
Romneys--running away so much that they finally gave him to Mitt's
sister in California. If dogs truly bond to their owners (male or
female) they see the owner as the "alpha"--the pack leader. Obviously,
Mitt failed to achieve this bond. Extrapolate that to the American
electorate and much becomes clear.
A. Dana Milbank :
I hate to follow the pack on this one.
He's called on Puerto Rico to pass English as its Official Language.
What do you think he will say to screw up his chances in Illinois? In
Louisiana?
A. Dana Milbank :
I suspect he will tell the Cajuns that they, too, need to speak English.
I understand that Romney's dog taking a ride in a wind-proof carrier
strapped to the roof of his car is a non-issue for many people and maybe
it's irrelevant. I keep thinking, though, that if Obama had done such a
thing it would really change the way I thought about him. If Obama had
done that I would think, "Well, gee that doesn't sound right, because
Obama is such a reasonable guy, and that's just a nutty thing to do."
Somehow Romney doing such a thing is easier to understand, because I
just kind of shrug and think, "Eh, Romney wears mom jeans and says
'goodness gracious' -- he's weird."
A. Dana Milbank :
Goodness gracious. Y'all have sunk your teeth into this. The Seamus comments are coming fast and fur-ious.
The Santorum folks are claiming they've unearthed clips of Romney
advocating a health insurance mandate for the country. If true how can
that be squared with Romney's repeated claim in debates that only if
Obama had called him he would have told not to do a national mandate? If
Santorum can drive that message home, won't it disqualify Romney?
A. Dana Milbank :
Sorry, that dog won't hunt.
Everybody knows Romney changes his position all the time. This completely inoculates him against any further evidence of him changing position.
Everybody knows Romney changes his position all the time. This completely inoculates him against any further evidence of him changing position.
Q. Poor Blago
He's having to go to Prison in Colorado! Where will he get his Brats & Deep-Dish Pizza?
A. Dana Milbank :
And will he have to cut that hair?
Is the fact that Mitt Romney pulled out of the Oregon Debate a sign that the "Dog on the Roof" issue is gaining traction?
A. Dana Milbank :
Whatever have I unleashed?
Loved "Tears of a Clown" about Glenn Beck, and I'm wondering what you'd
title a book about Limbaugh... "A Blast of Hot Air"? How about "Cigars
and Insanity"? The whole world wonders....
A. Dana Milbank :
I think the junior senator from Minnesota took care of that. I am
still waiting to see whether my biography of Beck catapults me into the
Senate. Presumably I will have to move out of Washington first.
I've noticed since the week of "Nascar Owners" and "A Couple of
Cadillacs" that Romney has said essentially nothing (except Obama =
bad). Is this what we have to look forward to for eight months?
A. Dana Milbank :
Um, cheesy grits, y'all?
Pete Singer had an article in Project Syndicate suggesting that people
pay for airline tickets according to the combination of body weight and
luggage weight. What do you think about that Dana?
A. Dana Milbank :
I think I'm going to the gym and then buying a linen suit.
President Obama called the republican party members of the Flat Earth
Society and Newt Gingrich shot back that the president is part of the
Flat Earth Sierra Club Society. Can you see a back and forth coming on?
(Flat Earth Drill Baby Drill Party, Flat Earth Tree Hugging Party, Flat
Earth Keystone Cops Party, etc.)?
A. Dana Milbank :
I'm coming around to this.
Q. Game change
First off, Woody was stellar. Did Palin really go to such great lengths to give a concession speech?
A.Dana Milbank :
He's no Steve Schmidt, but he was okay. They gilded the lily with
Palin generally, but even on election night (I was there in Phoenix at
the Biltmore that night) there was chatter about her trying to speak and
being shut down.
Hi Dana, So close to St. Patrick 's Day do you think Romney will
lose any Irish supporters he might have had because of his dog on roof
problem? Seamus, an Irish setter, not allowed in the car reminds us all
of those bad old days when places had signs "No Dogs, No Irish".
A. Dana Milbank :
(Low growling sound.)
To the folks who think that Mitt Romney's indifference to his own dog's
suffering won't matter at all, just ask Howard Dean about nonsense
issues.
Howard Dean's national political career sank over a scream!
A. Dana Milbank :
There is a potential way out for Romney, and that is to claim that
the Irish setter was in country illegally and he was deporting the
animal across the Canadian border.
I have found Mr. Romney's response to his dog's story not satisfying.
Also...how far did he go? Not just down the street...to Canada! For
Seamus, it was a "Long and Runny Road" Who gets a pet and then does
that?
Santorum just declared war on porn, I kid you not: Link
A. Dana Milbank :
I clicked on that link with great trepidation. (It's okay, people,
just ABC News.) I was unaware that we are experiencing a porn
epidemic, although there has been a stomach flu and a head-cold
circulating.
Goldman Sachs executives privately refer to their clients they are
ripping off as "muppets". This begs the question of what Republican
leaders and billionaire Super PAC funders refer to poor and middle class
Republican voters who they fool into voting against their economic
interests. Any suggestions?
A. Dana Milbank :
Real Americans.
Dana Milbank :
Okay, dawgs.I'm getting worried about them charging for airline tickets according to weight, so I'm going to head over to the gym early. Will be on vaca the next two Fridays but look forward to resuming chats after that.
Thanks for tuning in.
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