I had not heard of Valerie Garret until she appeared as the first guest on Meet the Press this morning. She hired Michelle when she was engaged to Barack, became a close advisor and friend to both, and on MTP, was as sharp and loyal an intellect as any who have graced that program. Later, during an outstanding This Week with George Stephanopoulos, came a one sentence report from George that a local Chicago radio station says Garret is Obama’s choice to replace him in the Senate. She is the perfect match to that vacancy for reasons that will become obvious to YOU when you learn more about her. I hope Illinois Governer Rod Blagojevich agrees with Obama’s recommendation and appoints her. God speed Valerie Mitchell.
A surprising disappointment on This Week was the appearance of Rin Emmanuel, Obama’s new White House Chief of Staff. Though some Republicans have voiced shrill opposition (Is there any other kind from the far right ledge of that party? I don’t think so.) another Republican appearing with Democratic House Whip (whose name I have also forgotten) pointed out correctly that managing the White House presidential office and governing the country take different talents, and added his support of Emmanuel. I agree. Emmanuel was exceedingly fair during the primaries, showed extraordinary situational awareness and will make a first class chief of staff.
That said, I almost changed my mind when Emmanuel, asked TWICE by George if he anticipated the promised tax increase to individuals making more than $250,000 after January 20, REFUSED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. He equivocated all over the studio. He could have filled Denver’s football stadium to the brim with his stodgy non-answers TWICE before George wisely pursued another question. I began to wonder if Emmanuel has been moose hunting with the other famous “non answrer” from Alaska. Instead, he threw numbers not connecting to the point of the question the way McCain and his ilk threw meaningless “concerns” to his evangelista corps — corpse, if you prefer — during the final week of the campaign. Emmanual did not answer the question. He could have by simply saying Obama stands by his position. No one’s going to blame Obama if things shift in the future — just kidding; we all will. But Emmanuel’s response was sleazy and shoddy. The electorate deserves better from him.
Bravo the This Week panel line-up of George Will (an icon, a William F. Buckley in a baseball cap), Cynthia Tucker, David Gergen and Fareed Zakaria. A fantastic assemblage who collectively brightened the program and contributed greatly to the longer-than-usual discussion.
Fareed Zakaria is particularly welcome back to the show. I don’t know a journalist of any color, professional or ethnic background — with the possible exception of Bill Moyers who sometimes splits hairs more than necessary to prove his points — than Zakaria. I hope to see more of this gifted American on This Week and everywhere else.
It was a nourishing two hours for this viewer. Bravo everyone!
Live long . . . . . . and proper.
