Appearing on Tampa’s NewsChannel 8, former Republican Party chairman Michael Steele referred to his party’s convention plank on abortion as “way outside” the country’s mainstream thought on that matter. This comes in the wake of a Republican backlash against Rep. Todd Akin after controversial comments on abortion last week. [POLITICO]
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At least until the thing turns shameless and expedient. Bill Clinton got the first dose of the treatment, when he protested that Obama’s credentials as an anti-war stalwart were “the biggest fairy tale I’ve ever seen.” That comment was then shape-shifted from a hard political jab at Obama’s rhetorical dodges on the Iraq War to an insinuation that the notion that Obama could win the presidency was wishful fantasy. No dispassionate observer who saw the video and heard Clinton in full cry would have arrived at the seamier interpretation, but with the nudging of Axelrod and Co., and with a little help from South Carolina’s congressman Jim Clyburn, the idea that Clinton meant much worse took hold.
Read the rest of… Current TV host, and former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer interviewed our own contributing RP, Jeff Smith, about the scandal swirling around MO GOP Senate nominee Todd Akin for his outrageous comments concerning rape and pregnancy. Smith served in the Missouri legislature with Akin, and has some fascinating insights. Watch below:
I’m excited to pass on word of an important new book written by my friend and mentor, former Republican Oklahoma Congressman Mickey Edwards. As he writes compellingly, American politics has become a system “of the parties, by the parties, and for the parties. Instead of a government of Americans working together to solve national problems, we have two rival governments — two private clubs — more interested in their agendas than America’s well-being.”
I encourage you to purchase it. And if you are in the DC area, Mickey will be the featured guest author at Politics & Prose on, Thursday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m, 5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, (202) 364-1919
 Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan for a running mate reminds me of John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin to appease the far right of the Republican party that has become increasingly influential since 2008.While Paul Ryan has far more substantive experience and ability to lead than Palin, I believe his views are just as extreme.
McCain and Romney were both considered moderates based on their records, and felt pressured to pick someone to the far right instead of someone who shares their ability to act in a bipartisan manner.
It makes me realize how warped the political arena must be that being a moderate is a bad thing.
Paul is bright, pleasant, hard-working—a real gentleman. But he is also an ideologue, inspired by Ayn Rand, fiercely opposed to federal spending and a passionate believer in the power of tax cuts to stimulate economic growth in all circumstances. The budget proposals he has presented the last three years reduce taxes for the wealthy, and services (and tax breaks) for the middle class. Ryan is a small government conservative; not a deficit hawk. Ryan is also a high risk choice for Romney; his campaign must be gambling that Ryan’s ideas will not be well enough understood to hurt Romney’s chances. Since ideas get trivialized and trampled by media coverage anyway, they may be right. It is a sad commentary on our dysfunctional politics that the Republican nominee felt he had to choose someone on the right wing of the party rather than reach out to the middle of the electorate.
A Kentucky family spends a few days in the Big Apple just before their college-bound son leaves for his freshman year. There is a parental sense of obligation to expose him at least once to the big city before leaving the nest. There is no real itinerary. Just a last minute plan to get to NY, see the city, and return safely home. And hopes that the entire family feels that they can “Make it there.” Because, as the song says, if you can do that, “You can make it anywhere.” And I gotta admit I really do Iike that song. Even if I haven’t cared a great deal for New York. But I’m keeping an open mind and trying to see the city with fresh eyes and try to make sense of it. With the occasional post for The Recovering Politician blog. I am in New York City and amazed at how little difference there is between here and back home in Kentucky.
It’s just like Walmart except underground an not as well organized in different sections. Oh yeah. And a subway. = = = More on NY. Well….they have the iPhone here too. Shoot! Hoping we’d have them on that one. Based in conversations so far most everyone is working only part-time or in a temporary job. And most everyone is really a full-time actor, actress or model. And a solid number of can drivers. Pretty limited economy, if you ask me. = = =  My college bound boy apparently closing a business deal before a power lunch in the city. With his sister. — Yesterday I was having trouble with a mobile device and went to the Verizon store to see if they would exchange it. There was a pleasant looking Egyptian gentleman behind me who listened as I explained my situation. The store clerk politely said I couldn’t exchange it. I thanked him and left. Two blocks later I hear a “Sir. Excuse me, sir!” It was the Egyptian man from the store. “I overheard you and was wondering if you’d like to sell to me.” “Well, I don’t know. Really?” I gave him a price that was more than I expected.” He countered just slightly lower and I said OK. He paid me cash and I introduced myself. He said, his name was Mohammad (or “Mo”) and that he was head waiter at The Palm restaurant down the street and we should try it out. He told me about his son in Egypt (who the device was for) and said he thought it was a fair deal. I agreed and we shook hands and parted ways. Later in the day I called The Palm and made a reservation for dinner. It’s an historic restaurant with a long and colorful history that is obvious from the walls which are covered with pictures, drawings and news clippings from the past. We were seated and I surprised my family by asking if Mo was working that night. The maitre d smiled broadly and said he would let Mo know I had arrived. A few minutes later we were warmly greeted like old friends and long time patrons. My family was impressed. I offered slyly, “What can I say? I know some people who know some people…..and, yes, Mo is a friend.” It was a nice dinner. A good deal. And we all thanked Mo as we left and a great family dinner came to an end. = = = 
I learned about “Truth is” from my daughter’s Facebook page. I’m gonna try it. Truth is New York used to intimidate me. Truth is I found a hotel and made reservations and picked out a restaurant tonight for the family. Truth is I walked the streets of the city today and no one seemed able to notice I was trying hard not to be noticed by standing out like a tourist. Which means I basically fit in. Truth is I’m feeling pretty grown up right now. Truth is at 49 I still consider that a small but worthy victory. ====
Just now I ordered coffee at a crowded cafe. It was really hot but I didn’t dare ask for a sleeve for my cup. I just put in the cream and sugar and slyly placed a napkin in my pocket until I was outside and a block away. Read the rest of… As you read this, hundreds of Kentucky’s political activists are driving down the Western Kentucky Parkway to attend a weekend-full of political festivities, centered around the celebrated Fancy Farm picnic that will take place tomorrow at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in the tiny hamlet of Fancy Farm, Kentucky. Fancy Farm weekend represents the very best of American politics — a nostalgic revsiting of true grassroots, retail politicking, filled with stump speaking, great Southern cuisine, and special, deserved attention paid to rural far-western Kentucky, the most physcially remote area of the state, that too often is ignored by the state capital. Unfortunately, the two-to-three hour political speaking forum at the Fancy Farm picnic represents today’s politics at its very worst — an ugly, often disgraceful exercise in mean-spirited, hyper-partisan name-calling, a microcosm of everything that’s wrong with today’s politics. Check out this column that I wrote after last year’s Fancy Farm for The Huffington Post:
Click here to read the full column, “Why Americans Hate Politics.”
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