Schwarzenegger: Politics Takes ‘Balls’
Although the media coverage of Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent book tour seems focus primarily on his infidelities, let's not forget the 'Governator' is also a major figure in the Republican Party. On Meet the Press, he talked with David Gregory about more than just his illegitimate son or his failed marriage with Maria Shriver. Schwarzenegger weighed in on the upcoming election (“the race is wide open”), bipartisan cooperation (“see yourself as a public servant, not a party servant”), and, here, that it takes “balls” to get things done in Washington.
Priebus: ‘Maybe Clint Eastwood Was Right’
President Obama was “unprepared [and] uninspiring” at the first presidential debate, RNC chairman Reince Priebus told State of the Union Sunday. From his candidate, meanwhile, “you saw inspiration heart, [and] preparedness.” But the real kicker came when the cheesehead—and we’re only calling him that because he’s from Wisconsin—slipped in this gem: “You know,” he said with a tad too much gravitas, “maybe Clint Eastwood was right.”
Ayotte Calls Jobs Report ‘Disappointing’
On Fox News Sunday, Repulican Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire says there's “nothing to celebrate” about the new jobs report. She says that an increase in part-time work is responsible for the better numbers, and “you can't support a family on part-time work.” With the presidential campaign in full swing, the Republicans will concede nothing to the Obama camp.
Gibbs: Romney’s ‘Taking the Battle to Sesame Street’
Move over Main Street, there’s a new (politically useful) road in town. On This Week, Robert Gibbs said that Mitt Romney has “taken the battle straight to Sesame Street and has let Wall Street run hog wild.” Wonderful—we can now look forward to a new slew of platitudes about a different imaginary thoroughfare. And on policy specifics, Gibbs added: “Look, the only thing he outlined that he would cut in the budget is Big Bird.” Hopefully the next debate will be entirely made up of Sesame Street references. No? Don’t be such a grouch!
Axelrod: Romney Was ‘Dishonest’ in Debate
Mitt Romney was “dishonest” during the debate Wednesday, David Axelrod told Face the Nation Sunday. Trying to slow the damage done by President Obama’s anemic showing, Axelrod said that the Republican candidate for president “delivered a very good performance,” not an argument for his principles. “It was completely unrooted in fact,” he said. “He spent 90 minutes trying to undo two years of campaigning on that stage, but he did it very well.” Axelrod’s talking points, meanwhile, come as part of a concerted Democratic effort to spin Mitt Romney’s debate victory as insincere. A new Obama ad titled ‘Cameras,’ which was posted online Sunday, begins with the lines: “When the cameras rolled, a performance began. But the problem is, that’s all it was.”
Julie Mason: Debate ‘A Huge Fail’ For Obama
Howard Kurtz revisited his Daily Beast column on Reliable Sources Sunday, explaining that “on paper, Barack Obama didn’t have a bad night in Denver” at the first presidential debate. But Julie Mason, the host of Sirius XM’s “The Press Pool,” weighed in to say that in a 24/7 news cycle where pundits offer up their opinions on every platform from Twitter to cable to, er, satellite radio, the words aren’t ultimately what matter.
O’Reilly Hates On ‘Political Assassins’
Some humor must have rubbed off on Bill O’Reilly after his debate with Jon Stewart, because the conservative cable star maligned the prevalence of “political assassins” on This Week. “They’re all over the place, and they just attack people personally for money.” So sad, isn’t it, Bill?