Resort Wear

So I’m packing my bag the night before the annual family beach trip and thinking of trips of the past. Unlike the other POTUS whose heading off to Martha’s Vineyard and a $20million estate, this First Family is off to the Golf Capital of the World and a two bedroom beach condo.

SIDEBAR: A word of special thanks to ‘mom’, aka Mr. Annoying’s mom who most certainly is not, for the rental and our 7th year at the home-away-from-home…but I digress.

So back to the packing…now I wear a suit and tie everyday on the job…well at least a suit. When I go on vacation, I don’t want to touch an iron, let alone a shirt with a collar, unless it’s one of my ugly ass surf shirts. So when I travel on vacation, my idea of resort wear is a pair of shorts and one of my many gray t-shirts.

Which, as I packed, reminded me of a vacation with Doyle and Mrs. Brunson. About 3 days into the trip, and the wearing of my 4th gray shirt, similar to the previous 3, the Mrs. asked, “Uh, like, are you going to wear the same shirt all week?” Now that may not seem funny to you, but to all of us, after three days of camping and campfires - it was sidesplitting funny! I mean come on, really!?! I know I’m on a camping vacation and live in da ‘billy, but I’m not a dirtbag!

Anyhow, that’s my way of saying I’m going on vacation. I hope to post about the family’s adventures, which will certainly include some delicious steak, but there's no promises.

A word of warning: Every time I go on vacation, something big happens. Last year it was the federal raids of Cuyahoga County officials. So be prepared for something big....

Tomorrow – Road Trip.

POTUS

Gov't Management in Action

It took the Cash for Clunkers program less than three days to collapse under its own weight. Doesn't bode well for government-run healthcare, does it?

Farmers in Stripes

I love this story in today's Dispatch about prisoners on Ohio producing fresh fruits and vegetables for food pantries. What an ingenious idea:

• It put the prisoners to work for the common good.
• The produce is used to feed the poor, whose diets often lack proper nutrition.
• IT DOESN'T COST THE STATE A DIME!

We need more ideas like this and less dumping of federal and state funds into the bottomless pit of government spending.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The Tarrance Group usually gets it right, and for Republican, they're delivering good news this time.

Here's their latest:

The latest bi-partisan George Washington University national Battleground Poll, conducted by The Tarrance Group in conjunction with Lake Research (a Democratic polling firm) is released today. Highlights:

*) President Obama's Job Approval is down to just 53%, while 42% disapprove. The intensity on each side is nearly even, with 40% strongly approving, and 37% strongly disapproving. He is upside down among Independent voters, 42% approve to 50% disapprove. That said, his personal image remains higher, with 61% favorable and 36% unfavorable.

*) For the first time in several cycles, Republican voters are more energized about voting than Democratic voters. Fully 75% of Republicans say they are extremely likely to vote in the 2010 elections, compared to just 66% of Democrats.

*) The generic Congressional ballot is back to a 3-point Democratic advantage. By comparison, the generic showed an 8-point DEM lead in the last Battleground of the 2006 cycle.

*) Just 34% approve of the job Congress is doing, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a 32% favorable image, with fully 51% unfavorable. However, while the numbers for the Democrats in Congress are down (just 45% approve), Republicans in Congress remain down at only a 37% approval.

*) Republicans have regained their advantage on the issues of holding down taxes and controlling wasteful spending. However, on the issue who would better handle turning the economy around, Democrats in Congress still lead by 14-points.

*) Only 33% say that the economic stimulus passed by Congress is working, while 61% disagree. But 58% say they agree that it should be given a year to really make a difference. However, the change in intensity, narrowing of the generic ballot, Congressional approval, and the re-establishment of the Republican advantage on the key issues of taxes and spending indicate that while voters say Democrats should be given a chance, the voters are beginning to turn.

Republicans will continue to position themselves for gains in 2010 by holding fast to our fiscal conservative principles, not getting personal but sticking to battling on issues, and continuing to make the argument that lower taxes and less government are what creates jobs and makes the American economy work.

Football 2-a-days

Its hard to believe that football has started. Today's the Prince's second day of practice and first year in pads. Its not a true 2-a-day, but 2 hours is just right to get'em started. Go team!

Thought of the Day

Caribou just raised their prices - again. The boycott begins. - POTUS

Santa Protests Gov. Ted Strickland

I attended Gov. Ted Strickland's State of the State address to the City Club of Cleveland on Friday. Upon my arrival, I came upon one of the weirdest protests I've ever seen. A group (name unknown ) was protesting the Governor and the recently passed state budget.

Say what you want about the Governor and the budget, but marching in a circle, chanting inaudible chants, and caring a casket (shrouded in a black cloth - WTF?) is the apparently the community organizers' equivalent of lobbying.

The weirdest part was this crazy old guy dressed like the Jolly Old Elf, passing out dum dum lollie pops. OK, so I get that they are calling the Governor a dumb dumb. But what does Santa Claus have to do with any of this!?! 'Weird' is the only word to describe it.

Watch the short video below and tell me what you think:

Thought of the Day

Saturday weddings are fun, too! Especially at Harlan's - with Tenderloin on the menu. - POTUS

Watching...

Doyle Brunson dance is funner! - POTUS

Thought of the evening

Friday night weddings are fun. - POTUS

At Least We're Not New Jersey

It took the Feds 10 years to investigate and then indict the far-reaching corruption in New Jersey.

Let's hope it doesn't take that long for the rest of the axes to drop in Cuyahoga County! And when they do fall, I doubt kidneys for sale and money laundering rabbis will get caught in the Fed's net in Cleveland.

Compared to NJ, our Cuyahoga County government officials look like angels.

Thought for the day

Its never a good start to the day when you spill coffee on your tie. - POTUS

Stupid

Letting a fading controversy trump your big prime time press conference on your #1 issue: now that's stupid.

EMILY says goodbye to Jennifer

Word is that EMILY's List has told Jennifer Brunner she's not a viable candidate for US Senate and is pulling out.

Reality Ate My Deadline

The cracks are starting to form. This week alone, the Administration announced it would miss the following self-imposed deadlines:

Report on Budget Cuts
Healthcare Reform Passage
Report on Gitmo Closing

Looming deadlines:
Sotomayor Supreme Court Confirmation
Cap & Trade Passage
Labor Reform (Card Check/Employee Free Choice Act) Passage
Policy on Gays in the Military
Stimulus II Passage
Immigration Reform Passage

I started writing this blog post and as I looked around online, I found that another old Hill flack had made just this point on cnn.com yesterday. So, I defer to John Feehery, who explains this idea much more eloquently than I could have.

John Feehery writes:

The Obama agenda is breathtaking in its scope and eye-popping in its cost.

He seeks to completely recast the health care, energy, financial services and automobile sectors of this country, as he seeks to make the tax code more progressive, retirement programs more sustainable, and the immigration system more welcoming to immigrants. And he also wants to stimulate the economy and get us out of what some people are calling the "Great Recession." But can it all get done, and in a form that makes his political base happy?

Read the rest of John’s piece to learn how money, time, political capital, focus and ego will make it increasingly difficult for this agenda to move. We can only hope the reality sets in and stops this train wreck.

I felt shivers down my spine when a Democratic political operative recently told me, “I just want to keep moving—not sleep or eat—not just get [Obama’s] agenda passed into law. The clock is ticking. The time is now.”

Thankfully, the clock is ticking. Tick, tick, tick...

Sen. Tom Patton Loves Steak (and so do I)

I had the honor of playing in the 7th Annual TPC (Tom Patton Classic) last Friday as the guest of Axle. We were joined by The Brain, and RF, who was a late addition to our foursome. We played Mallard Creek out in… who the f knows were!?! All I know is they have 36 holes, no sand, and lots and lots of water.

There are three things the make the TPC a great golf outing:

#1 the attendees, which are a great mix of Cleveland and Columbus guys, as well as many of my friends in labor;

#2 the giveaways; last year it was a short sleeve golf pullover and golf shirt. This year it was a long sleeve golf pullover and a long sleeve, mock turtle neck golf shirt.

And #3…its gotta be the steak dinner! Bucci’s Catering does it all, year in and year out, for Patton. A great sausage sandwich at the turn. Plenty of beer, pop, and water. “You want an extra piece of sauseega? You goa heada. We gotta more-a.”

But the steak! Oh the steak. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to outings were the steak sucks. Too small. Too much gristle. Too thin (I’ve got shoes with thicker soles, that would probably taste better, too.). And too many marks from the jockey, to paraphrase Al Czervik. Oh no, not this outing. This makes a crappy round of lost balls and errant shots all good.

This year’s meal included salad, pasta, potatoes, veggies and dessert. The steaks were strips cooked to perfection on the professional 3 x 8 propane grill. The finished product had a great char to it and was at least an inch thick (!) after cooking. The cuts had very little, if any, fat on the outside, but the flavor told you that they were the finest with just the right marbling. And amazingly enough (for strip), you could have cut it with a plastic knife, but you didn’t need to. Why you ask? Because Bucci’s provides steak knives! And not beat up old rusty knives. And I almost forgot – real salt and pepper shakers too. And not the white and gray plastic ones. These were glass with silver tops. Now that’s great attention to detail.

Now I don’t know if it’s because some folks had to leave early due to the delayed play, but there was plenty of meat left over. Upon inquire, I was told to have seconds and if it hadn’t been for FLOTUS taking out some doughs for Recession Pizza that night, I would have certainly had a seconds.

So thank you Axle for the invite. It was great. And what I shame, I have to say, that GOTSOO and Pauly Walnuts were not able to make it this year. It was their loss.

So make your plans now for the 8th Annual TPC. Play the TPC for the golf, friends and freebies, but GO FOR THE STEAKS!

POTUS

Waterloo and Blue Dog Poo

Calling the President’s health care bill “his Waterloo” Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. has exposed the Achilles heel of Democratic party’s effort to take control of Congress by recruiting conservative Democrats to win conservative districts. While they may have 60 seats in the Senate and a controlling interest in the House, one only has to look at the real numbers to see that the sky-rocketing costs of this bill has these majority makers (on both sides of The Hill) not thinking of patient care, but career care. They know that if this passes, it’s their careers as a US Senator, or Member of Congress, that will be on life support.

The President also knows that the long August recess is right around the corner. And he knows that after of month of community picnics, state fairs, parades, and the rubber chicken circuit, members are going to return to the beltway so battered and bruised that there is no way the fence sitters will vote for the bill.

So to prevent his Waterloo from happening, the President has begun his full court press - pandering to the Blue Dog Coalition in the House, meeting with them today. And tomorrow, he's going on TV to address the nation. Thursday he's coming to Cleveland (really?) to pitch his plan in the ultra safe confines of Democrat rich Cleveland and Shaker Heights.

He shouldn’t be here; he should in places like Arkansas (Blanche Lincoln), Indiana (Evan Bayh – bet BHO wished he hadn’t passed him over of VP now), Florida (Bill Nelson), Louisiana (Mary Landrieu), Nebraska (Ben Nelson), and North Dakota (Kent Conrad) where he can directly lobby constituents whose members are conservative Democrats. If he thinks running ads and showing up in the back yard of Sen. George Voinovich, a moderate Republican, will get him to come along, then he’s never seen what happens when someone tries to ‘handle’ Ohio’s Senior Senator. Heck, Voinovich has been in public office longer than the President has been allowed to vote.

The first rule of politics is that you secure your base. With a base built partially with conservative material, the President, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi are quickly finding their House is made of cards, and it’s quickly falling.

Steak is good...cooked

http://www.arcamax.com/hagarthehorrible

Time Warp: 1996

Every reasonable person in Cuyahoga County should admit the truth: It's time for reform and anyone who is advocating the slow course of action (i.e. more studies, commissions and review committees) is only protecting himself and his own interests.

It's sickening that the county commissioners proposing their version of reform are merely advocating another study. And, it's criminal that their completing ballot measure can pop up and get voted on out of nowhere, while the real reformers had to gather 46,000 signatures.

I almost jumped off the elliptical and through the TV screen when Michael Nelson told Channel 3's Dick Russ that we need to "slow down" and have another government reform study. Is this 1996? It seems we're stuck there. The minds of our leaders are stuck in 1996, while our property taxes are in 2096.

The kicker: I received some mail from Frank Russo today telling me that my property value had gone up. Really? Maybe if I tuck some cash into a rolled up newspaper I can get Russo to speak to the bank-hired property value assessor who ruled my property had gone down in value.

The (Spin)Doctor is In

The Team at SteakMatters is happy to announce the long awaited arrival of Spin Doctor to the pages of our humble blog. We couldn’t be happier to have her back in the clubhouse following her departure from our daily lives. With her background and experience, she brings a unique perspective (and not just because she’s a girl), which some of you have already read via her guest posts. So unlike Lucy, who charges you 5 cents, subscribe to the RSS feed from SteakMatters and you can get her ‘spin’, as well as those of the rest of the team (if they can remember their log-ins), for free.

POTUS

Thought of the Day

Dumb people exhaust me.
- POTUS

To Return with Honor

My heart goes out to the friends and family of Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl. Although we've known since early July that a U.S. soldier was missing and reportedly in Taliban hands, the Pentagon only this weekend confirmed the identity of the missing U.S. soldier in Afghanistan. And for good reason.

A few years ago, I spent some time with with the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, and in the process, learned quite about what happens when one of our own goes missing in a hostile situation. Let's put it this way: the full force, brainpower, technology, skill, institutional knowledge, and firepower of the United States has the back of our missing military personnel. Despite most of the staff of JPRA being Air Force, it's a good group of people--the best. (That's some good natured inter-military humor.) Very little of what JPRA does is public; in fact, they don't go to any lengths to publicize their existence. But they have a public website, so I'm not revealing any state secrets here.

As for Pvt. Bergdahl, it's in his best interest that the news media refrain from digging up every piece of information about the guy. One never knows what these sickos in caves could use against their prisoner. We already know they're ignoring Geneva Convention statues by releasing images and video of Pvt. Bergdahl. All the well meaning neighbors, former classmates, and parishioners should cancel their plans for driveway press conferences and exclusive interviews. For the best possible outcome, let the U.S. military do its job.

The JPRA motto is: That others may live. To return with honor.

Let the Spin (Doctor) Begin

I was around when SteakMatters was founded--some might call them the Lean Years--debating opinions and offering topics to POTUS and GOTSOO. I've worked with blog characters like the Boss, Rainbow Warrior and Lefty through a few jobs and a couple of different cities.

Clearly, I'm not new to SteakMatters. And not only am I one of Steakmatter's three loyal readers, you've also heard from me from time to time on taxes, CNN, pirates and Sarah Palin.

Now POTUS wants me to regularly share my contributions directly with the discriminating SteakMatters readership. I always knew POTUS was a genius, locked inside the body of a men's cologne model.

I'm known for cutting to the chase, even as I've flacked for a variety of people and organizations over the years. From me, you can expect more politics than steak, and more steak than sports and no spin at all!

My Father's Day gift (to myself)

Yes, as I've posted before, Friday night at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave is Recession Pizza Night. Well, I got tired cutting the pizzas with an 8in utility knife. So I swung by Dean Supply and bought myself this pizza knife for Father's Day. Princes refers to in as a machete.

Who needs Twitter?

I’m trying to understand the whole ‘social media’ thing. I don’t Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter. I am, however, a passive LinkedIn member and I’ve kinda figured out RSS feeds. That’s about as far as I go.

I just don’t understand how people get work done when their trying to monitor, update and respond to all of the above ‘medias’. Heck, I have trouble keeping up with my work emails, reading my RSS feeds, checking my personal emails, and (yes I’m a dinosaur) reading the daily print media, all while trying to bring home the bacon (wrapped filet mignon) and keep a roof over 1600 Pennsylvania and the heads of FLOTUS, the Prince and the Princess.

I have said that I would post more if I didn’t have to log onto my computer. Well, today, I’m excited to announce that I have discovered MobileBlogger, which will let me post text messages, and email messages w/pictures! It’s like a new butcher shop has open in the land of SteakMatters. I can’t wait for my first real mobile post, whether it’s a tasty steak (or Subway) for dinner, or some of the funny stuff I see in my day-to-day.

The fact of the matter is, we don’t need no stinkin’ Twitter in the land of SteakMatters! We got MobileBlogger.

Test Blogging from my Mobile Device

My steak @ The Monocle.

Testing mobile blogger.

That’s how we (get) roll(ed)

What do you do when you get rolled by a Member? In the land of SteakMatters, we go to the butcher, buy a couple/three steaks, fire-up the grill, tap the keg, and say “F it!”

Yeah, that's how we roll.

The Jimmy Dimora Show – Must See TV

Announcer: If it’s Thursday, it’s the Jimmy Dimora Show. Watch Jimmy’s 30+ min press conference, brought to you with no commercial interruptions by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Next on the Jimmy Dimora Show: In another rambling press conference the Commissioner pleads his case (without pleading his case…) to the public, calling out accusers, and even throwing Bill Mason, county prosecutor and fellow democrat, under the bus. No status on his appeal to Congress on his call for an investigation, but it has been submitted to the Judiciary Committee – he just doesn’t know the date, nor was he specific on which committee, the House or the Senate, or both, to which it was submitted. I’m guessing he has no idea what the Senate committee’s been up to this week, but I know, it it’s a heck of a lot more important.

At least he didn’t look like he was going to explode like he did last week, although the white foam coming out of his mouth and hanging on his lips was a bit…ahh…disgusting. (Somebody make sure he has a bottle of water for next week’s episode.)

On a related note, why isn’t the media tracking down the Auditor, Frank Russo? How is it that Russo is avoiding coverage? Maybe he’s been busy closing on his property deals.

Jimmy Dimora news conference

Ouch!

Mansfield News Journal
July 8, 2009
Editorial: Where was Sen. Sherrod Brown during GM rally?

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown should have been in Ontario for Saturday's community rally to save the local GM plant.

As a matter of fact, he should be spending more time in the area making himself a visible and important part of the effort overturn General Motors Corp.'s plans.

Brown should be the point person in the effort to prevent job loss that will jar an already weak local economy. This is his hometown, and his absence has been disappointing.

For years, local leaders have expressed frustration at Mansfield's inability to have an elected official from here in Washington. We are always at one end of a congressional district, making it nearly impossible to elect a representative from this town.

Brown moved near Lorain years ago to run for Congress. He apparently felt he could not defeat former Rep. Michael Oxley in our heavily Republican congressional district, so he moved to a Democratic district. When Brown became a U.S. senator, Mansfielders thought they finally had a voice in Washington. It hasn't worked out that way when it comes to fighting the GM decision to close the Mansfield/Ontario Metal Center.

Brown did some initial work by contacting with key folks connected to GM and the Obama administration. But his interest quickly waned, and he hasn't been to Mansfield since the announcement was made.

Maybe he feels this is a lost cause. Granted, it is a long shot, but that hasn't stopped local officials from continuing to press the fight. Gov. Ted Strickland was here for the Saturday rally and spoke on behalf of keeping the local plant.

Or, maybe Brown doesn't want to run afoul of an Obama directive that says Washington is not in the business of running GM. Trying to reverse a GM plant closing decision could get Brown in trouble with the White House.

Another possibility is that Brown did not want to position himself between the Ontario plant and a similar stamping operation in the neighborhood of his old congressional district in Parma. Some local officials believe the Parma plant would be in jeopardy if the Ontario operation was saved.

But this is Brown's home and this is one of the most difficult issues this community has faced in decades. He said he had a prior commitment on Saturday. We wonder what could have been more important than this critical local economic issue. There just doesn't seem to be a good reason for his absence.

Boxer bruised

Following her, 'call me Senator' comment...


The good Senator from California was a bit bruised in another bout...

Caramel Macchiato...mmmm

This one's for Lefty....

http://comics.com/pearls_before_swine/2009-07-12/

Jimmy Dimora tawd he saw a poodie cat

Several people have asked me, “What was Jimmy thinking?” in regards to Commissioner Jimmy Dimora’s two recent rants on the federal corruption probe of the county.

This is what I think his strategy is: First and foremost, he’s attempting to influence the jury pool. He knows that the Feds have him dead to rights – wire taps, video surveillance, cooperating witnesses, etc. So, while he still has the opportunity, why not go on TV and talk directly to camera and thereby the people. The problem with this tack? He ended up looking worse than Governor Mark Sandford as he talked about government conspiracies from the Dept. of Justice on down to the local Republican party. Really? (SIDEBAR: The event happened afterhours – how much did the county pay in overtime for the 50 min. presser?)

Second: He argues that he’s no different than any other politician. He’s making the case that the political system is corrupt, and therefore by working within the system he, by definition, is corrupt. (And oh by the way, so is every other political and political operative.)

The fact of the matter is that the chickens are coming home to roost. During the 2006 elections, much was made of the ‘culture of corruption’ and the ‘pay to play’ of (mostly) republicans. Pundits were making, and are still making, the case that if you make a (LEGAL!) contribution and vote or something happens that is favorable to you, your company, your friends, your family, etc., etc., etc. then its Pay to Play. Well now it seems that this campaign tactic is coming back to bite big Jimmy in the ass.

Third: Jimmy also went in front of the cameras to let people know that no one is safe. He called out (mostly) Republicans, but a few Democrats too. He was sending a message to anyone and everyone that if you even think you have something on him and you pipe up, either publically or especially to the FBI, he’s going to sing on you like good ol’ Tweety Bird.

Why do you think no one has spoken out about Jimmy, especially elected officials, other than Rob Frost? It’s because Jimmy had the goods on A LOT OF PEOPLE on both sides of the aisles and he’s not afraid to take any and all down with him. Every single one of them is hoping that their ‘connection’ back to Jimmy is too weak and too small to be worth the FBI’s time; and certainly not worth Jimmy’s time. I have this vision of the game Wack-a-Mole, but in this case it would be Wack-a-Rat, and its Jimmy holding one sledge and the FBI holding the other. Good luck with that.

On a side note, I had an interesting conversation with a democrat operative earlier this week, who believes Jimmy isn’t the fish the Feds are after. He’s only a puppet and that there is a puppet master. I have trouble believing that idea as public corruption is a top priority for the DOJ. But if I had to place a long shot bet, I’d say their looking for a forest in the city that can be turned into a development deal. But as this is an urban county, that timber will never be found.

POTUS

POTUS throws better than Mark Mallory

Barack Obama's First Pitch at the 2009 All Star Game


Mark Mallory's First Pitch Opening Day

T&E on a budget

The current economic crisis has forced me to change my dinner habits just a bit. This economy sucks.

Bumber sticker politics

Came out of an event recently in Downtown Cleveland and saw these bumper stickers on the back of a BMW X5 - An X5! Couldn't believe it. Made me laugh.

Random Road Ramblings

Let me cut a piece for you this morning and describe to you my trip through the airport and the many pet peeves I experienced on my way into dca....

Let the cutting begin:

Slow check in line: These are automated kiosks folks and you’re in the elite access line, so I know you've flown before. Have your ID out and look for the open machine THATS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! MORON!

Security line: Where do I start here!?! At least the older gentleman in front of me went to the open screener instead of waiting for the one in front of him. He then told me to jump ahead of him because he was going to be a while getting his stuff out for the X-ray. Kudos to that guy!

Concourse etiquette: When you are walking in an airport concourse, do not walk lackadaisically. And if you don't know where you’re going, don't stop in the middle of the concourse to figure out it out! And certainly don’t stop in the middle of the concourse to figure whether to buy that Cinnabon or not. Do either of these and I WILL RUN YOU DOWN!

These rules also apply especially when in a large group. Which brings me to my next bit of etiquette - when traveling with a large group, it is not acceptable to walk with more than 2 abreast. Any more than 2 and you run the risk of me running you down, or breaking your verbal 'chain' in an adult version of red rover! (And I can't be held responsible if grandma takes a spill because she was sideswiped by my briefcase. Get granny a skycap ya cheap bastard!) Its 2x2 Noah. The only exception - parent traveling with 2 kids. Period.

Oh and one more on the concourse- when taking a 'moving sidewalk' or an escalator, its single file and keep your bags in front of you or behind. I know that you just had to buy that 'I went to Vegas and all I had left was money to by this t-shirt with' shirt but you need to get out of the way. There is no exception to this rule.

Ok now to the airplane:
If you’re flight is less than an hour, your seat must remain in the full and up-right position. On flights in excess of one hour, if you are going to drop your seat, do it slowly. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve nearly lost a screen to some asshole laying back while the plane is still climbing.

I know there are many more, but I’ll save them for future posts.

- POTUS

He in glass houses….

In light of the recent crash of TOTUS, I thought I’d reprise this report from MSNBC’s Jamie Gangel.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

TOTUS posted this explanation of what really happened here.

Watch the crash happen.

The Spin(Doctor) on Sarah Palin

A guest post from SpinDoctor:

Waking up in a Savannah hotel room that hot August morning, CNN was already speculating that a plane had flown overnight from Anchorage to Dayton, Ohio, the site of a much-anticipated John McCain rally. The likely occupant: Governor Sarah Palin.

In a brilliant move, Senator McCain revived his presidential campaign, which had been on life support since the South Carolina primary in 2000.

In the months leading up to this announcement, I was asked many times who Senator McCain should pick as his running mate. Even without knowing the Democratic contender, my answer was: “He needs a fresh face…someone different from the Republicans spotlighted the face of the party. He needs a woman, like Sarah Palin. Or the son of immigrants, like Bobby Jihdal. Or an accomplished leader brought out of retirement, like J.C. Watts. And, he needs someone with solid conservative credentials, which all three of the people on my short list possess as well.”

At one point, I was looking around online for more information about each of my three picks so that I could include some links with my response, but the availability of profile pieces on Governor Palin was minimal. Wonkette had run something referring to her hotness, but not much else surfaced in my search. Ten months later, she returns 21 million hits on Google.

Now, this political lighting bolt has struck again. While she baffles many, I tend to understand her decisions at every turn. Admittedly, I’m influenced by my own life experiences, but the complexity of her motivations appear crystal clear to me. She’s been in the middle of a political firestorm for almost year, and while she can weather it, her family and her state have suffered.

I was looking around online for a more articulate explanation. It appears the Drudge Report link to Roger Stone’s website has blown up his server, so this link (http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/sarah_palin_roger_stone/2009/07/06/232562.html) and excerpt from newsmax.com.

[Roger] Stone likens Palin’s decision to step down from the Alaska
governorship to that of Richard Nixon, who in 1962 “got fed up with being called
Tricky Dick, got fed up with being the man that nobody would buy a used car
from, and fed up by the constant assault on his values and his middle-class
background by the liberal media,” he says.

“So, in 1962 he did what Sarah Palin just did –– he quit politics. Six
years later he was inaugurated as President of the United States.”

Read the rest—it’s insightful. And then check back in 2012 to see if we’re right.

The SpinDoctor remains as a guest poster to SteakMatters and will singlehandedly save this blog if POTUS could ever open his computer one evening and finally extend the invitation to be a member of The Team. - POTUS