January 16, 2009 – 7:47 pm
In the wake of Thursday’s US Airways near-disaster on the Hudson River, and the heroic actions of the pilot and crew in keeping all the passengers alive, some have suggested that the event – or at least its main players – might find a place in Tuesday’s inaugural address. Perhaps, but I think it would […]
January 16, 2009 – 6:03 pm
Mike Allen’s Politico Playbook alerts us to this AP article about the end of David Letterman’s “Great Moments in Presidential Speeches.” In case you’ve missed it, the bit contrasts clips of grand historical presidential rhetoric (“The only thing we have to fear…”; “Ask not…”) with clips from current presidential speeches in which George Bush is […]
January 16, 2009 – 2:24 pm
President-elect Obama visited the Washington Post yesterday – always a good idea to make friends with the hometown reporters and editors (as if his press coverage could get any friendlier). During the meeting, the Post reports, Obama spoke about the need for Social Security and Medicare reform. Not surprising, even though the issue was once […]
January 15, 2009 – 9:41 pm
George W. Bush’s address from the East Room of the White House Thursday evening was among his best. To a degree almost unseen before, he was relaxed, calm, and comfortable at the podium. He looked like a man about to be relieved of a great burden – not the burden of making decisions (he seems to […]
January 15, 2009 – 4:05 pm
President Bush is preparing to deliver his farewell address tonight and, boy, what a difference eight years makes. As the energy in the capital builds in preparation for Barack Obama’s inaugural address on Tuesday, the current president is becoming an afterthought. He’ll begin right at 8 and should be finished in time for all of […]
January 13, 2009 – 3:40 pm
As presidential scholars hit the airwaves in the coming week to provide historical perspective on the inauguration, I’ve compiled a few lesser-known tidbits about past inaugural addresses. Please to enjoy. 1789 – George Washington launches campaign to provide young republic a capital offering “fewer rats, more mosquitoes.” 1797 – Audience frightened as John Adams delivers […]
January 12, 2009 – 4:36 pm
Practice makes perfect, even for presidential inaugurations. Sunday in Washington, a collection of military officials and civilian planners practiced the swearing-in ceremony and parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, complete with stand-ins for the president-elect, veep-elect, and their families. So complete was the run-through, reports the Washington Post, that the Obama understudy even delivered a six-word-long Inaugural […]
January 9, 2009 – 7:17 pm
Continuing with Josh’s theme of … uh … indecorous utterances, Chinese dairy producers have finally provided a firm answer to the question, “What should you absolutely never, ever communicate to someone via text message?” And the winner is: Sorry we killed your children. According to the BBC, “Chinese dairy companies involved in the tainted […]
January 8, 2009 – 10:40 pm
I was fortunate to be able to attend a White House reception this evening, hosted by President and Mrs. Bush to thank the people who worked in their Administration over the last eight years. The very idea is silly, of course: The president doesn’t owe us any thanks at all; it’s very much the opposite. […]
January 8, 2009 – 11:22 am
I hate to dwell too much on visuals and symbolism, but the pictures coming out of Wednesday’s lunch with President-elect Obama and Presidents Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Carter were pretty cool. To understand how cool, just picture John McCain standing there instead of Barack Obama. Wednesday afternoon bridge club? Meeting of Buick owners? Yes and […]
January 7, 2009 – 11:49 am
At Barack Obama’s press conference today, NBC’s Chuck Todd asked the president-elect to please, please, please say something about the current situation in Gaza. Obama didn’t take the bait, patiently explaining to Todd that when he says, “There’s only one president at a time,” he means it. Kudos to Obama. The press and plenty of […]
January 2, 2009 – 6:02 pm
Eli Saslow’s Washington Post profile of Barack Obama’s chief speechwriter, 27 year-old Jon Favreau, lays the groundwork for Favreau’s DC media persona. Young? Check. Guitar hero, text messaging, Red Bull, rumpled and unshaven, mildly inappropriate partying. Successful? Check. Quick on his feet, trusted by the president-elect, associated with the best speeches of the last year. […]
