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1.) Who dare calleth the president political!? — There are many adjectives that could be used to describe President Obama, but could he be described as — gasp! — political? While reporting on how a left-wing foundation sought to “coordinate and fund a dozen environmental and anti-corporate activist groups’ efforts to scuttle pipelines carrying tar sands oil from Canada to the United States,” TheDC’s David Martosko includes comments from some suggesting that President Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline may indeed have been inspired by his re-election effort:
“Fang, like Rep. Nunnelee and Sen. Inhofe, quickly shifted the topic back to President Obama. ‘The president has been getting help from his allies on this,’ she said. ‘These are President Obama’s friends and it’s an election-year issue.’ ‘Obama approved the [Alberta] Clipper pipeline” in 2009,’ she recalled. ‘The only difference was that he wasn’t running for re-election.'”
If the president did cave to left-wing environmental groups for political reasons — as it certainly appears that he did — he failed to take into account that those who live in trees don’t tend to turn up at the polls (with the sole exception of Tarzan, who reportedly is a very engaged citizen.)
2.) Chris Matthews hearts Pat Buchanan — On his show “Hardball,” Chris Matthews had some kind words for former colleague Pat Buchanan, who MSNBC pushed out after activists complained about views he expressed in his latest book. Matthews did admit, however, that Buchanan’s views sometimes drove “him up a wall,” which is just one step below eliciting a tingle up his leg. TheDC’s Jeff Poor reports:
“‘Let me finish tonight with Pat Buchanan,’ Matthews said. ‘He’s leaving the network and won’t be working with us from now on. I miss him already.’ ‘We’ve had drag-down fights right here on this set, and I’ve said things that drive him up a wall, and he’s said things that have driven me up a wall. We’ve done it here in all, pretty good — in a pretty good spirit most of the time — and have managed to be friendly and friends throughout it all. And, obviously, I’m going to miss his cheerful, fun-loving irascible presence around here.’”
Also read Alex Pappas’ interview with Pat Buchanan.
3.) Spitzer Spits Sense — Failed television host and former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer actually made some sense arguing in favor of the Citizens United decision while appearing on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.” TheDC’s Jeff Poor reports:
“He told Maher that there is no distinction between some shows on the airwaves — all owned by corporations — and a company’s participation in politics through paid advertising. ‘Your show is owned by a corporation,’ Spitzer said to Maher. ‘You have a First Amendment right. And so I don’t know how you distinguish between the New York Times editorial page, The Rachel Maddow Show, George [Stephanopoulos]‘s show — all owned by corporations.'”
Someone’s not going to be invited to MoveOn.org’s annual gala this year.
4.) The real-life most interesting man in the world passes — It’s unclear if he drank Dos Equis, but John Fairfax’s obituary in the New York Times makes a strong case that he was indeed the most interesting man in the world before he departed for the undiscovered country earlier this month. (It also provides the basis for a future Wes Anderson character):
“At 9, he settled a dispute with a pistol. At 13, he lit out for the Amazon jungle. At 20, he attempted suicide-by-jaguar. Afterward he was apprenticed to a pirate.”
Well-played sir. RIP.
5.) Poll of the Day — National Gallup tracking poll of GOP presidential primary: Rick Santorum 36%, Mitt Romney 28%, Newt Gingrich 13%, Ron Paul 11%.
6.) BIRTHDAYS ! — Former Egyptian President Muhammad Naguib turns 111 (h/t King Farouk); Anderson Cooper’s mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, turns 88; actor Sidney Poitier turns 85; Donald Trump’s first wife, Ivana Trump, turns 63.
VIDEO: TheDC’s Jamie Weinstein (ME!) discusses Pat Buchanan, Media Matters on “Hannity”