Hey Everybody, Look What I Just Found

January 20, 2009:Barak Obama is inaugurated as the first African-American president of the United States.

January 27, 2009:Penn State discovers that it has Black alumni.

Cynical? You decide.

Technorati  Tags: Penn State, Obama, propaganda

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Trustee Trivia

What do the three Trustees,Brosius , Junker and Rowell quoted in this morning's Collegian article on the SOE rumor have in common? Since 1997, all three have only contributed to to Republican candidates in federal elections. (Here, here and here.)

[Update: I fixed the links.]
Technorati Tags: Spanier, Obama, Secretary of Education, Penn State

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Some Trustees Are Lovin' Themselves Some Grahamie

The Collegian reports today on  what a few Trustees have to say about the recent rumor that Graham "was in the mix" of people under consideration by Obama for the Secretary of Education job. And these guys were lovin' themselves some Grahamie.

University trustee Charles Brosius said he hadn't been contacted for vetting purposes and added he would be surprised if Spanier left the university.

"He's doing a fabulous job where he is," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he was asked. I would be surprised if he accepted."

See Charlie thinks Grahamie  is doing a bang up job here and doesn't want that stoooopid SOE job anyway.

University trustee Edward Junker said Thursday that about two weeks ago, Spanier denied rumors he was being considered for the post.

"I just said, 'Hey, Graham, I heard a rumor that you're being considered for Secretary of Education,' and he said, 'No, there wasn't any truth to it,' " Junker said, adding Spanier also said that, to his knowledge, he was not being vetted.

Eddie tells us that Grahamie denied the rumors to him. But Grahamie wouldn't deny the rumors to the press.

Spanier, who has been tight-lipped about his possible spot on an Obama shortlist, did not return e-mails seeking comment by press time Sunday.

Why not?  Now Bud gets to the heart of it.

Trustee emeritus L.J. "Bud" Rowell said Thursday he didn't have any information on Spanier's possible cabinet appointment.

"Hopefully he'll stay at Penn State where we love him. He's certainly qualified -- more than qualified," he said. "I don't know why he'd want to take it. It'd be a hell of a cut in pay, and we need him."

That sound right to me. With Graham, it's always about the moola.

So the Trustees are in the tank for  Graham. That contrasts starkly with the comments that accompanied the Centre Daily Times article on the rumor which ran heavily to the negative.  Here's a sample comment.

I just don't get it. I've never seen a bigger lightweight get further in my life. While Spanier getting this job would be the best thing to happen to PSU, it makes no sense. I don't get how he got to be a University President in the first place. Ever met him in person? He's great speaking broadly to a big room, but he can't deal with anyone one on one -- no personality, no character, nothing to add. And THIS is the most qualified person to run the Department of Education??? Stunning.

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Technorati Tags: Penn State, Spanier, Secretary of Education, Obama

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Of Ballooning Debt and Trial Balloons

I've had a bit more time to mull over this week's rumor about Graham being considered for the Secretary of Education job (Here, here and here) and my best guess is that the rumor was a trial balloon set afloat by the person or persons that Graham was lobbying for the job. And my best guess about who that would be is Senator Casey.

Read Casey's denial carefully.

Casey, an early Obama supporter, said he expects to offer names for some political appointments in the new administration. He did not, however, recommend Spanier.“I did not,” Casey said. “He is a wonderful president. I know him well. I think he’s done a great job at Penn State. He’s brilliant. He’s a strong administrator.”

He denies that he recommended Graham, but he doesn't deny that he was the source for the rumor. Rendell, on the other hand, through his spokesman, claims not even to have heard the rumor which is essentially a denial of being the source of the rumor. Anyway, Casey was an early Obama supporter and Rendell supported Hillary in the primaries. Hence Casey would be the more likely person for Graham to lobby for the job.

Here's the scenario. Graham has decided that presidenting isn't fun anymore-what with the financial crisis, and Penn State's $1 billion debt load, a tight state budget, a football coach who won't retire and everything-and he wants to get out while the getting's good. No use, after all, of being in the house of cards when it collapses. SOE is just the ticket. So he pushes Casey to recommend him to Obama for the job. Casey floats the trial balloon to see how the public and others in the education community react. The reaction isn't good, so he doesn't make a recommendation and when asked he truthfully denies that he did so. But he adds some soothing words to assuage Graham's bruised ego.




Technorati Tags: Secretary of Education, Spanier, Senator Casey,

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Did Graham Make the Story Up?

Yesterday's buzz on Obama taking Graham off our hands continues today with the Centre Daily Times picking up the story. The CDT throws a bit of cold water on the speculation with it observation that the likely Secretary of Education will have a background in K-12.

The article also has Sen.Casey unequivocally denying that he recommend Graham to Obama.

Casey, an early Obama supporter, said he expects to offer names for some political appointments in the new administration. He did not, however, recommend Spanier.“I did not,” Casey said. “He is a wonderful president. I know him well. I think he’s done a great job at Penn State. He’s brilliant. He’s a strong administrator.”

So much for my speculation yesterday, although the Casey quote reads something like, "Hell No! I didn't do it....Ah,...not,...ah,ah...not that he wouldn't be a good choice."

Anyway, I'll keep you posted as things develop.

Technorati Tags: Spanier, Obama, Secretary of Education, Sen. Robert Casey

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I Thought Obama Had Good Vetters

The buzz this morning is that Graham is "in the mix" of individuals under consideration for the position of Secretary of Education in the Obama administration. This was first reported by Marc Ambinder on his Atlantic Monthly blog; the story  was picked up and expanded on by the Collegian this morning.

Frankly, I'm of two minds about the possibility. One part of me is screaming, "Yes, yes, yes, let's get this anti-intellectual corporate buffoon out of Old Main." The other part is saying, "Hold on a minute, do you want him to screw up the entire US educational system?"

Of course, this story is sourced to  anonymous Democrats which means that it must be taken with a grain of salt. My guess is that this rumor is the result of Graham doing the two thing he does well, manipulate the press to boost his reputation and use his connections to climb.

He may have even used Senator Casey's (D-PA) close ties to Obama to get short listed for the job, after all he has managed to climb to other prominent positions based on his  connections rather on of his limited abilities. He chaired of the Kellogg Commission on the future of Land-Grant Universities. William Richardson president of the Kellogg Foundation at the time is a former Penn State Provost. He co-chaired a RIAA joint committee on education and entertainment. Barry Robinson, the General Counsel for the RIAA, was a Penn State Trustee at the time. He chaired the AAU. The previous chair was the president of Northwestern, Graham's doctoral alma mater.

I guess we'll have to wait to see what happens.

Technorati Tags: Secretary of Education, Spanier, Obama

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Obama Wins

MSNBC

No super majority in the Senate.

Technorati Tags: Campaign 2008, Obama wins

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Looks Like Obama's GOTV Operation Is Working

Don't forget to vote today. Well, I that is unless you intend to vote for Grampa Simpson and Caribou Barbie.

BTW, this video is of the line voters this morning at one Penn State precinct. Have you ever seen anything like this in recent memory?

Technorati Tags: GOTV, Penn State, Obama

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Barak Obama Scares Me

Technorati Tags: Campaign 2008, Obama, humor

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An Absolute Must Read

Kevin Drum over at his new locale, Mother Jones, has an absolute must read post on the current state of the McCain campaign and its likely consequences come 2009. Putting country first indeed.

Technorati Tags: Campaign 2008, McCain, Obama, Mccain's dirty fight

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Palin is a Typical Incompetent, Corrupt, Lying Republican

First comes the incompetent part from today's WSJ.

WASILLA, Alaska -- The biggest project that Sarah Palin undertook as mayor of this small town was an indoor sports complex, where locals played hockey, soccer, and basketball, especially during the long, dark Alaskan winters.

The only catch was that the city began building roads and installing utilities for the project before it had unchallenged title to the land. The misstep led to years of litigation and at least $1.3 million in extra costs for a small municipality with a small budget. What was to be Ms. Palin's legacy has turned into a financial mess that continues to plague Wasilla.

Next comes the corrupt part from Newsweek (h/t Steve Benen at Political Animal).

Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called "October surprise" that would produce embarrassing information about the vice presidential candidate on the eve of the election.

In a move endorsed by the McCain campaign Friday, John Coghill, the GOP chairman of the state House Rules Committee, wrote a letter seeking a meeting of Alaska's bipartisan Legislative Council in order to remove the Democratic state senator in charge of the so-called "troopergate" investigation. [...]

[Hollis] French, the Democrat overseeing the probe, has hired a special counsel to determine, in effect, whether Palin "used her public office to settle a private score," he recently said. He has also suggested that the probe may turn up evidence that state laws were violated by Palin's aides because they pulled confidential personnel files on the trooper.

But Coghill, who told NEWSWEEK that he has the backing of Republican Speaker of the House John Harris in his effort to remove French, suggested Friday that the investigation into Palin's firing of Monegan should be shut down entirely.

Finally we've got the lying part from Bob Somerby at the Daily Howler.

PALIN’S PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUTH: Yesterday, we discussed Sarah Palin’s inaccurate claims about that Bridge to Nowhere. Watching her give her standard stump speech, many Americans will get the idea that Palin boldly told Congress to take their wasteful bridge and shove it. In fact, she did nothing of the kind

So if you liked the past eight years under Bush/Cheney vote for McCain/Palin, but if you are tired of corruption, incompetence and lying, then vote Obama/Biden.

Technorati Tags: Campaign 2008, McCain, Palin, Obama, Biden, incompetent, corrupt, lying

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Someone Told Palin to Project When She Makes a Speech, But She Misunderstood the Advice.

McCain and Palin hit the campaign trail yesterday. In Wisconsin, Palin slammed Obama over his failure to support the Surge^TM

Senator Obama said the surge, quote, succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. I think, said Senator Obama, “that the surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated."

I guess when you turn out to be profoundly wrong on a vital national security issue, maybe it’s comforting to pretend that everybody else was wrong, too. But I remember it a little differently. It seems to me there was one leader in Washington who did predict success, who refused to call retreat, and risked his own career for the sake of the surge and victory in Iraq, and ladies and gentlemen, that man is standing right next to me, Senator John McCain.

The Obama quote that Palin used came from his interview with Bill O'Reilly on September 4, 2008. The full context of the quote can be seen in the YouTube video below. It should be no surprise that Obama's was far more subtle than the trimmed quote would have you believe and the context make a big difference. But that isn't what I want to discuss.

It seems that Palin is engaging in a favorite GOP past time, projecting their own motives onto their opponent.

Here is a case in point. McCain was a big supporter of the Iraq War and helped to sell the war on the basis of the presence of WMD in Iraq which, as we now know without a doubt, weren't there. What does McCain have to say for himself?

But I know why I supported it [the war] because I believed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction as did every intelligence agency in the world and every assessment.

The State Department's Bureau of Intelligence Research, the Department of Energy, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapon's inspector all had doubts about Iraq's WMD.

Well Sarah, I guess McCain finds some comfort in pretending that everybody else was wrong, too.

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Reaming the Meme

John Stewart nails it.


Technorati Tags: Campaign 2008, Obama, McCain, The Daily Show

Dems and Demographics

This is a really neat graphical presentation of the vote in the Democratic primaries/caucuses broken down by state and various demographic groups.

Technorati Tags: NYTimes, Obama, Clinton, primary vote

Is Barak Obama a Muslim?

And the answer is .....

Technorati Tags: Obama, Muslim