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Please Give Us More Press Conferences with Bill Burton: Fun w/Charlie Crist and Rahm
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I can't help it. I've always been partial to Bill Burton who I think did and continues to do an outstanding job in the communications operation of the Obama political franchise.
He only got on my annoyed side once when the Obama campaign summarily executed Rob Malley, one of the most important and thoughtful American deal-crafters in the Middle East, who was advising the Obama campaign on Israel/Palestine matters. As part of Malley's "real job" at the International Crisis Group, Malley had met Hamas leader Khaled Meshal.
Bill Burton then said not only that Malley was no longer advising the campaign, but "would never advise Obama."Ouch. That was running the bus over Malley and backing it up and running over him again.
But despite that glitch given the fact that I know Rob Malley is back giving informal advise here and there to the administration, Bill Burton reminded me today why we should all appreciate him.
I liked this exchange at the end of a press gaggle on Air Force One today just before noon while flying with President Obama to Florida:
Q Is President Obama planning on hugging Charlie Crist? (Laughter.)MR. BURTON: I haven't talked to him about the specific greeting, but we look forward to seeing all the Florida officials who will be there when we get on the ground.
Q Do we know what the delay was in leaving this morning?
MR. BURTON: It just is one of those deals where Rahm wanted to speak to the President and everything sort of slowed down a little bit.
Q Did Rahm get fired?
MR. BURTON: This is awkward, but, yes, I'm announcing right now that -- (laughter.) No.
Thank you, guys.
We need to see more of Mr. Burton at these press gatherings.
-- Steve Clemons
Update: The New York Times' Jeff Zeleny filed this update on the Obama-Crist hug question in his pool report:
President Obama landed at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., at 12:00 p.m.A few minutes later, he was greeted on the tarmac by a handful of Florida officials, including Gov. Charlie Crist. There was no ho hug this time, only a handshake, but it lingered about 27 seconds, according to your pool's count. The president tightly gripped the governor's hand and clutched his arm. Vice President Biden gathered close for a tight photo of the three - in case Marco Rubio's campaign is so inclined to use it.
-- Steve Clemons
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Reader Comments (4) - post a comment
"Question: Did Rahm get fired?"
"Mr. Burton: This is awkward, but yes, I'm announcing that right now..."
A more appropriate question than whether the President had fired Rahm Emanuel, would be whether Rahm Emanuel had fired the President.
The southern half of the county is under flood warning, including land intersecting the two largest interstates to each coast and both borders.
Coupled with the flood advisory is a winter weather front, in a mid southern area not accustomed to such items for the most part. Perhaps Barack could get some emergency appropriations and guard rotations ready for this item.
It would certainly be staying ahead of a potential crisis. By Tuesday of next week it's projected to be five feet over flood crest. You might need some Corps of Engineers work upstream so middle America doesn't flooded under....
one of the high priest of global warmingfreezingclimatechange
may face years of jail time.
Climategate Professor Phil Jones could face ten years on fraud
charges
JANUARY 28, 2010 · 11 COMMENTS
contributed by John O’Sullivan
Yesterday the London Times broke the latest news on the fate
of disgraced British climatologist Phil Jones, of the University of
East Anglia (UEA). Jones breached the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) by refusing to comply with requests for data
concerning claims by its scientists that man-made emissions
were causing global warming.
TWN and the corporate media are pretty quiet about the big conference in London.
McChrystal gave an interview to the Financial Times, has raised the prospect that his troop surge will lead to a negotiated peace with the Taliban.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1036aae6-074a-11df-a9b7-00144feabdc0.html
Bhadrakumar says that "just like in Bonn eight years ago, the London conference is an exclusive gathering of "victors", while the vanquished Taliban remain excluded. The only difference is that the victors who gather on Thursday have been badly mauled in the past eight years and are terribly fatigued and almost bled white. They are determined to search out the vanquished and to talk real peace."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LA28Df05.html
Why isn't Obama wholeheartedly endorsing these efforts? If McChrystal is somewhat on board, his back should be covered. What is it about the US government that can't give peace a chance?
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