By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET Fill yourself in on a possibly pivotal First Amendment case, FCC vs. Fox Television Stations, before it goes before the Supreme Court on Tuesday! [Supreme Court of the U.S.]
Six-year-old Ryan models for Target and Nordstrom catalogues… and has Downs Syndrome. The retailers are receiving positive reactions for their choice of model, and for not making a big deal out of the casting choice. [Time]
The newest Facebook app will allow you to post a posthumous farewell when you die. Macabre much? [Adweek]
In the age of social media and mass culture, how do we break out of the cycle and find our own interests? [NY Magazine]
Starting in 2013, documentaries will have to be reviewed by the NY Times or the LA Times to be considered for Academy Award nominations. [Poynter Institute]
By RP Nation, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 12:30 PM ET Last Friday, we posted dedicated from the RP Nation to the recently diseased, one-of-a-kind politician, Gatewood Galbraith. This one came in late, but it was so lovely that we wanted to share it.
I first met Gatewood Galbriath in early October 1994. He was speaking in Glasgow, Kentucky. I drove out with several of my friends, and we weren’t sure exactly who was speaking that night at the meeting we were attending. I don’t even remember who organized the meeting. But when I heard the speaker introduced as Gatewood, I thought, “Cool! The pot guy!”
I don’t remember exactly what Gatewood did speak about, but I remember hearing the great quote from him, concerning did his father’s generation hit the beaches of Normandy so he could urinate in a cup in order to get a job?
I approached Gatewood after his speech was over in order to shake his hand, which he quickly obliged me, with his toothy smile shining down on me. I knew I’d vote for him in next year’s race. Unfortunately, I couldn’t, because I missed the deadline to change my registration to Democrat.
Of course, Gatewood wasn’t finished in his quest for public office.
Five years later, I’m working for a community paper in Bullitt County. I received a tip to come to a meeting one rainy morning in Louisville. I replied I would come, but couldn’t report on it because it was out of our limits. Come anyway, I was told.
Again, Gatewood was the chief speaker. And once again, I approached him after the meeting and asked him if he would be stumping in my county anytime soon. He said he was hoping to attend the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot later that day. I told him if he did, I’d give him coverage that he was certainly unaccustomed to getting in the press, and he readily agreed.
After the meeting was over, we sat down for lunch. It so happened I was seated next to Gatewood. A mutual acquaintance told Gatewood to watch out, he was sitting next to a reporter, and he knew how those people loved to twist what he said. Gatewood looked up and said, “That’s OK, he was up-front with me. I can tell he’s one of the few honest ones left.”
Needless to say, that was one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever been paid.
As it happens, Gatewood wasn’t able to make the shoot, but I didn’t know that at the time. I had other things to do that day, and when I finally made it to the soggy shoot and couldn’t find Gatewood, I feared I missed him. I went to bed that night, deeply ashamed of myself, thinking I let him down.
Well, Gatewood and I never had our interview, but we would meet several other times. And each election I could, I dutifully cast a vote for the “Last Free Man.”
Farewell, Gatewood, you’re already missed.
By RP Staff, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 12:15 PM ET OK, folks, round two of the 2012 GOP presidential primary, which means round two of the fearless predictions of our recovering politicians.
Last week, our RPs boldly made their Iowa caucus prognostications, and with the exception of RP staffer Zack Adams (who predicted the correct finish of the top 6 candidates) and Artur Davis (the only contributing RP to predict the correct order of the top 3), well…let’s say they are lucky to get a second chance.
But this web site is all about second acts. So stay tuned to this channel. At 4:00 PM EST, the contributing RPs, Friends of RP and RP Staff make their predictions.
And we ask you to join them in the comments section as well. No fun prizes, but instant fame and glory to the reader who is the closest.
By Zac Byer, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET It’s my first time in New Hampshire, for the “First in the Nation” primary of 2012. I’m only days into a year-long hiatus from Penn Law to work for esteemed message guru and owner of Luntz Global, Dr. Frank Luntz. While snow and rain have been noticeably (and welcomingly) absent from New Hampshire, political and journalism might have not. Here are some highlights so far…
Smoothest Operator Award #1: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie – Gov. Christie, on stage in Exeter next to Mitt Romney, was rallying Mitt’s Militia when a few Occupiers started disrupting. Or so they tried. Christie bellows, “Oh really?” into the microphone and reminds the rabble-rousers he has created 60,000 new jobs in NJ. But he does so without upstaging the candidate, bringing the focus back to Romney by proclaiming him the only one capable of creating millions of jobs in America and kicking Obama out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
 Smoothest Operator Award #2: Rick Santorum – Now best known for his Iowa surprise, Santorum has always been a deft political operator. He always impressed me during the few times I met him. But his event on January 7 in Hollis, NH scored serious points. Santorum arrives at a barn to, well, too many people to fit in the barn. With hundreds already inside, and hundreds eagerly awaiting his arrival outside the barn, Santorum gives everybody what they wanted from him: Time. Santorum gets on a rock outside the barn, stumps for a few minutes with those of us who arrived on the later side, and even takes several questions. Totally unscripted, totally smooth.
Best “Wow” Moment: Sitting in the lobby of the Radisson Hotel in downtown Manchester late one night, watching Dan Rather, Bob Schieffer, Joe Scarborough, Brett Baier, and Chris Matthews pow-wow. Think about how many times we’ve let those giants of journalism into our living rooms to break down the most transformational world events of the last 50 years . . .
Read the rest of…
Zac Byer — Reporting from the NH Primary
By Kristen Hamilton, RP Staff, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET
Did you miss Project Runway All Stars like I did? Check out this recap! [The Cut]
Has nothing to do with fashion BUT watching a contestant on The Price is Right sing to Heidi Klum is pretty funny! Check out the video: [The Cut]
The feud between Rachel Zoe and her former assistant, Brad Goreski, continues! [Fashionista]
Vogue Italia + imitation of QVC = comedy! [The Cut]
By Grant Smith, RP Staff, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 9:15 AM ET
William Daley resigns as President Obama’s Chief of Staff. [The Washington Post]
By Greg Harris, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 8:30 AM ET
“Any man today can lay claim to being filmed”
–Walter Benjamin, The work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
 Time Magazine recently named “The Protester” its 2011 “Person of the Year.” In a year defined by an Arab Spring where the people of Africa and the Middle East risked life and limb to demand democracy, and Americans “Occupied Wall Street” to reclaim democracy, Time’s choice made perfect sense.
But I submit that a strong runner up for “Person of the Year” should be “Social Media”—that is, “Facebook,” “Twitter,” and handheld devices (PDA’s, etc). No, these social media tools aren’t actual people, but they provided the tools for the protesters to organize and reveal to the world their plight.
 When studying for my doctorate, I immersed myself in the Frankfurt School of philosophy . Many of its leading thinkers were weary of the rise of technology as a tool for totalitarians. Theodor Adorno even warned of a “culture industry” wherein consumerism masks itself as choice, instilling a false sense of personal freedom when there was no real freedom.
A dissenting view within the Frankfort School came from Walter Benjamin, who believed new technologies (in the context of his writing, the increased use of film and photography) could have a political effect that could be liberating if placed in the hands of the people. Benjamin, a Jew fleeing from the Nazis, committed suicide when it appeared he was going to be captured and sent to concentration camps. At a time when Hitler was in power and using film for purposes of mass propaganda, Benjamin’s technological optimism, in context, seems surprising.
Read the rest of…
Greg Harris: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised; It Will Be Tweeted
By John Y. Brown III, on Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 4:00 PM ET  John Y.’s Closing Argument
[John Y.’s Provocation; The RP’s Rebuttal #1; Ron Granieri’s Rebuttal #2; Rod Jetton’s Rebuttal #3; Krystal Ball’s Rebuttal #4; John Y.’s First Defense; Rod Jetton’s Response #1; Jeff Smith’s Rebuttal #5; John Y.’s Second Defense; Ron Granieri’s Response #1; John Y.’s Third Defense; Artur Davis’ Rebuttal #6; Jeff Smith’s Response #1; Rod Jetton’s Response #2; Jason Atkinson’s Rebuttal #7]
Final counter, counter, counter rebuttal.
 I’ve enjoyed mixing it up and teasing it out—for fun and with friends.
We’re all tired and need a wrap on this. Look, all I’m saying is that I won’t be surprised if Mitt Romney shows up at the next NH debate with a headset mic a la Anthony Robbins.
He can pull it off, look great, impress listeners. Heck, I’ll even buy his CD set. He’ll score points for fashion and suave, but lose votes—again.
Or, as Krystal Ball so succinctly put it, instead of convincing voters “he’s perfect” to be their next president, Mitt will seem “too good to be true.” A subtle but important distinction for recovering politicians.
So, no, Mitt probably doesn’t need to punch out Rick Santorum Tony Soprano style (even if he wants to). But he darn sure better muss his hair and stay away from headset mics as America focuses in to finally decides if Mitt is real enough — and not too good enough — to be president.
Remember, we voters can sometimes steal a page from Goldilocks, as we all look for the presidential candidate that is neither too big nor too small, neither too hot nor too cold. But just right. And just right for the times we face.
By Jason Atkinson, on Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 3:30 PM ET  Jason Atkinson: Rebuttal #7
[John Y.’s Provocation; The RP’s Rebuttal #1; Ron Granieri’s Rebuttal #2; Rod Jetton’s Rebuttal #3; Krystal Ball’s Rebuttal #4; John Y.’s First Defense; Rod Jetton’s Response #1; Jeff Smith’s Rebuttal #5; John Y.’s Second Defense; Ron Granieri’s Response #1; John Y.’s Third Defense; Artur Davis’ Rebuttal #6; Jeff Smith’s Response #1; Rod Jetton’s Response #2]
Some people just deserve good things in life. Ya, we know Mitt’s daddy owns the car dealership and got a Corvette for his 16th birthday, but after all, he looks like the quarterback. He is not like the rest of the kids in shop class, English, debate or pep-band. He is just a little better. He doesn’t have to one-up, he was born up.
In 1920, Warren Harding looked like Presidential timber too and campaigned on the thriller banner of “normalcy.” Some people just “got it go’n on.” Not like the rest of us who have had to pull our selves up the hard way, make hard calls, and pay the personal price for our political decisions. Mitt has always had someone else pay, or someone else’s money to pay. Mitt Harding has the look and was smart enough to choose the right parents. People want to have their picture taken with him, but don’t really want to talk to him, akin to taking picture at a car show.
So back to Harding: He looked like President, so let’s run him for President. The key to that borrowed historical back room quote is “who” is part of “let’s?” History showed us who with Teapot Dome.
Read the rest of…
The RPs Debate Presidential Leadership: Jason Atkinson Rebuts
By Rod Jetton, on Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET  Rod Jetton’s Second Response
[John Y.’s Provocation; The RP’s Rebuttal #1; Ron Granieri’s Rebuttal #2; Rod Jetton’s Rebuttal #3; Krystal Ball’s Rebuttal #4; John Y.’s First Defense; Rod Jetton’s Response #1; Jeff Smith’s Rebuttal #5; John Y.’s Second Defense; Ron Granieri’s Response #1; John Y.’s Third Defense; Artur Davis’ Rebuttal #6]; Jeff Smith’s Response #1]
Jeff is so right about the difference between presidential races and state races. It is much easier for one candidate to have the resources to buy those down-ticket races.
While we have been asking about how a candidate is perceived by disinterested voters, I do think we should remember that the opposing campaign also has a chance to impact those perceptions. A good media buy with cutting ads can hurt a candidate. What the Bill Clinton camp did to Bob Dole in 1996 is a good example.
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