Latest Column

Thanks Joe. There have been times when I've been mad at you, but during the campaign you've been honest and fearless.
.
The next few years are going to be exciting and interesting.

Joe, thank you for the article and for your posting during the campaign. I hope you continue to remain engaged at Swampland.

America maybe center-right but most American's voted center and have no problem with our next leader being center-left appearently.

For example many a conservative personally have a negative opinion of homosexuality but may believe in the fundamental tenets of our constitution, like equality and justice for all under the law. Well maybe not right-right-conservative but a center-right voter would concider and weigh these things before voting, I think. I think most Americans would.

I was thinking about this were a center-right country thing - even if we were - why would we have a problem with a center-liberal government if competent and concederate of conservative positions.

I wonder whats the problem with calling N.Carolina already?

I think Joe the congressman was a little extra-moody this morning.

Keep up the good work Mr.Klein.

Thanks, Mr. Klein. Can't help feeling, though, that your friend in Kabul, the Pakistani press, the Taliban and our new president might all be in for a little disappointment. There's more that separates us than just the current president.

wvng: Did Brokaw really say that McCain won the "total land area" vote? What is he, a gentleman farmer?
-
The throngs filling Times Square last night will really appreciate that sentiment. "My apartment is the size of a walk-in closet, so I guess my views don't matter." Feh.
-
Oh, and JK: Thanks for your work this election cycle.

Joe, one consequence of McCain's campaign. My daughter sent this note today:
.
"Now today, a lot of Republican-supporters are sounding very angry and frightened on facebook. Damn McCain's say-anything-do-anything-to-win approach to this election. It was never going to be easy on them, but his lies ARE the reason they are so afraid for the country now. Funnily enough, [a friend of mine who just had cancer surgery and chemo]is one of those people; she also was one of the people I thought of when casting my vote. Now she'll be able to get insurance. It's bizarre to think that so many people are terrified because McCain and Palin WEREN'T elected. A number are threatening to move to Canada/Europe/Australia......ironically, mostly places with a national health care system and a other such things classified as 'socialism' when they come from Obama. Huh."

Brokaw on Morning Joe cited as evidence for the center-right thesis the idea that a majority of land area in the United States, if you measure it on the county level, voted for McCain.
.
What.
.
I think someone needs to draft a petition for Brokaw to shut his fat mouth.

If Obama is teh "most liberal Senator" in the history of the World, how does his resounding electoral triumph lead one to believe America is "center-right?"

Or were they just lying about him being so very very liberal/socialist/Marxist?

Cliff, Brokaw won an award for that observation. atrios gave him the coveted "Blithering Idiot Of The Day."

His family should be so proud.

Does Brokaw just leave Meet The Press at the end of the year or is he leaving all of NBC?
Maybe he could pen a book on The Greatest Generation. Again.

Today's Fresh Air with Terry Gross is particularly good. She starts with Bill Moyers who really calls out the Repubs for their nasty campaign. I learned that Sean Hannity says he is going to use his radio program to carry on the underground campaign against President Obama. Sigh.
.
Next guest is Mickey Edwards, former Repub congressman, who told her when she pressed that he voted for Obama. He has some things to say about where the Repub party went wrong. Are you listening Newt??
.
Audio up around 7, I think on NPR page. Do listen if you have a chance.

People how have salvaged their reputations over the last few months:
Joe Klein
Colin Powell

Those who have surprisingly tarnished theirs:
John McCain
Michael Scherer

If you're bored, check out the doings at Larry Johnson's PUMA blog...pretty funny stuff.

The president of my alma mater just sent out this email:

Dear Bard Alumna/us,

Bard President Leon Botstein sent the following message today to all faculty and staff at Bard, and asked that the Alumni/ae Office share it with you as well:

To the Bard College Community:

I want to thank all the members of the Bard community, particularly on the Annandale campus but also those on all our campuses and in all our programs, who made possible such an extensive participation by students, faculty, and staff in this year's presidential election. I particularly want to thank the student leadership, the Dean of Students office, and Jonathan Becker for their work.

I would be less than candid if I did not also express my enormous pride in the outcome. I think it is not an exaggeration to say that for all Americans, including myself, an immigrant to this country as a child, this is an eloquent and moving vindication of America's promise and potential. From the point of view of those of us committed to education and excellence, and to reconciling the democratic necessity of access to education with the task of ensuring that the education we provide to all is of the highest quality, this day is truly remarkable.

Achieving a high degree of excellence through hard work and ambition is a path available to all. When discipline and ambition are integrated with idealism—whether in the sciences or the arts—and a sense of civic duty, we have the essential components for a free society and for progress. The danger inherent in contemporary mass democracy has always been the potential for manipulation through mediocrity, conformism, intolerance, and an inflexible populism that contains resentment of learning and educational excellence.

The American people have rejected this path. I believe it is a non-partisan statement to assert that this election is not only a tribute to American ideals but also to the importance and centrality of education, and the role that institutions of education which aspire to the highest ideals and standards can play. The victors in the 2008 election are the potential power of knowledge and inquiry, of intellectual curiosity and courage, and finally, the virtues of civility, tolerance, and humility that mark the highest achievements in scholarship, teaching, research, performance, the making of art, and public service.

Once again, I want to thank all of you for participating in the political process and for helping Bard College play its role as a place where culture, critical inquiry, and service to education thrive on behalf of the common good.

Leon Botstein

wvng - excellent.

Brokaw...what a clown. His time is over. The media personalities who can't break the addiction to internalized right wing memes are going to find themselves less and less significant.

Joe - Your integrity during this campaign has really been an important service to your country; few columnists have so fiercely defended reality.
.
Thanks for acknowledging that we all shared this journey with you. It's nice to know you read comments, and I think on the whole it's fine with me that you don't engage us.
.
I've agreed with you so consistently over the last few months I look forward to finding some areas of disagreement again, when we all have the luxury of wrestling with the ideas that will energize the transition to a new presidency.

...but you still owe us a new post on the phone sex reality show we call FISA.

...but you still owe us a new post on the phone s#x reality show we call FISA.

"check out the doings at Larry Johnson's PUMA blog."
Thanks for nothing cin.
Such a pathetic creature. That PUMA stuff reminds me of a commenter or two.

Joe, I've appreciated all your columns at Swampland this election cycle.

I've especially appreciated your appreciation of Hillary. You're one of the few in the MSM who reported fairly about her strengths and weaknesses. I think one of the reasons that I so dislike Palin is because Palin gets such a free pass in comparison to Hillary.

Sorry Paul, it is fun to taunt them though, I know it's not a classy thing to do, but what's an elitist to do? Hey, they're literally packing their bags for re-education camps over there!

Sorry Paul, it is fun to taunt them though, I know it's not a cl@ssy thing to do, but what's an elitist to do? Hey, they're literally packing their bags for re-education camps over there!

Joe, I've become a fan of your writing and an admirer of your work during this election season. Thank you, and I look forward to your continued coverage and commentary in this new era.

Thanks Joe--well done. As I told my mom, who voted for a dem for the first time in over 30 years, you're on the right side of history. Iraq, FISA, many of us won't forget those errors, but there's a larger forest to consider. You offered a rare MSM voice against the scourge that the Mac campaign became. I must say that your undying centrism looks far less threatening given today's landscape. With W. in office and GOP majorities, it's a cancer, as Greenwald says. Now, it looks gentle. But please no columns in the future holding Joe Lieberman up as what's good about moderates!

Hillary for SCOTUS
Kerry, no, sorry, please not our next SOS--Clark!!!
Gore for anything he wants