Jeff Smith

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Recovering Politician

THEN: State Senator (MO), 2006-2009, Candidate for U.S. Congress, 2004 NOW: Writer Full Biography: link
 

Jeff Smith: Some Provocative Pieces on Romney’s Visit To Israel

Check out this one from Tom Friedman [New York Times] and this one [Economist] and let us know what you think.

Jeff Smith: The Politics of Mitt

The Politics of Mitt

Want to hear what Mitt should – but will never – say about Bain and how it shaped him? Check out this amazing op-ed: [CNN]

Timothy Noah lucidly explains the roots of Mitt’s London gaffe: [The New Republic]

Undeterred by diplo-disaster, Romneyworld vows “not to let Obama camp get us off message…w/ surprise attack”. Um, OK. [Buzz Feed]

 

 

Jeff Smith: More Unintentional Irony

More unintentional irony from North Carolina Congressional candidate George Holding, the biggest hypocrite in US politics: Dawn of the Mommy and Daddy PACs. [Politico]

Jeff Smith: Strongest Argument Against DOMA

Poignant stuff. Lovely slideshow: 83 yr-old woman’s court case may be strongest argument against DOMA: [Huffington Post]

Jeff Smith: The Sterilization of Politics

Here’s the backstory behind the sterilization of politics, the pseudo-neutering of political journalism. [New York Times]

Jeff Smith: Obama’s Sharpest-Tongued Advocate

Nice piece by Alex Burns of Politico on the emergence of Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley as President Obama’s “sharpest-tongued, most enthusiastic…advocate” [Politico]

Jeff Smith: Hip Hop and the War on Drugs

Check out how Toure expertly breaks down the relationship between the War on Drugs and the nihilism and anger of hip-hop. [Washington Post]

Jeff Smith: Where’s Jesse Jackson, Jr.?

When your leading fundraiser – and the guy who allegedly offered to raise Blago $1.5M in exchange for your appointment to a vacant U.S. Senate seat – faces a 19-count indictment, and has already shown in other cases (Blago’s two trials) a willingness to flip and testify for the Feds, I can understand how the stress might trigger serious physical problems.

Having had my own top fundraiser and best friend wear a wire on me for months as the Feds closed in, I am, regrettably, all too familiar with this plight.

I have no idea what’s going on with JJJ mentally or physically. But for me, when the feds started sniffing around, and you realize that they have unlimited resources at their disposal and tremendous leverage over your closest confidante, those were the most stressful days of my life.

The fact that even his family is saying little – and not strongly pushing back against various insinuations – suggests that there is more to this than meets the eye.

I first saw JJJ speak nearly a decade ago to an audience of rich white people at St. Louis Country Day School. Advocating policies that would raise their taxes significantly, he had them in the palm of his hand. It was shortly after I saw then-Senate candidate Barack Obama speak for the first time, and frankly, there was no comparison. JJJ was, hands down, the most impressive pol I’d ever heard.

Read the rest of…
Jeff Smith: Where’s Jesse Jackson, Jr.?

Jeff Smith: Georgetown’s Worst Marriage

Late to this, but trust me, you don’t wanna miss this haunting piece about DC elite society, and a really f’ed up dude. [New York Times]

Jeff Smith: Billionaires as Tea Partiers

Maybe my PhD thesis was wrong. There is no schism anymore among Repubs. Even the billionaires are Tea Partiers now. [New York Times]

The Award-Winning Documentary about Jeff’s Early Career (2006):

The Recent New Republic Article About Jeff (2011):

Jeff’s Links: