Ana Marie Cox

The Inside Story: Now with 100 Percent More Demon Sheep (UPDATED)

UPDATE: So, uhm, yeah, I figured out how to post the audio to MY OWN BLOG and will thus stop directing traffic to box.net and CAP, though they are both fantastic organizations that I could not do the podcast without.

The Inside Story:

The Inside Story, with guests Christina Bellantoni and Rick Klein

DEMONSHEEP:

Demon Sheep: A Real-Time Narration

What with the snow day and all, you have time on your hands, yes? Time on your hands and, OBVIOUSLY, an internet connection, a combination that lends itself quite well to the listening of podcasts. So I have made one -- actually two -- for you.

The first is the inaugural edition of the newly independent Inside Story. You may recognize it from such networks as Air America... or, er, you may not. You may listen to it here. Guests this week (and yes, that does imply a "next week!" Fingers crossed!) are Christina Bellantoni, senior reporter for Talking Points Memo, and Rick Klein, senior reporter for ABC News. We discuss the Daily Kos poll of Republicans (the answers in the "not sure" category are the truly, truly terrifying data points), the Senate Hearings on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and wonder if Republicans really know what it means to "steal" an election. (They have had enough practice...)

The second 'cast is a little different. Christina and Rick stay in the studio, but rather than discuss politics, we attempt to recreate, in audio form, the experience of watching THE DEMON SHEEP AD. I am not sure if we were successful, but it was very, very fun to make the effort. You can listen the experiment here . And if you haven't seen THE DEMON SHEEP AD, well, you must. You absolutely must. Here it is now.

UPDATE: Oh this is awesome: THERE WILL BE MORE DEMON SHEEP.

Obama Has Big Balls

There are a few amusing things about this press release, chief among them the fact that  "Youth Ball to Focus on Young Americans" was deemed to be more headline-worthy than Delaware getting its own, well, half a ball. It would be happy to hand over the whole thing to Pennsylvania, but it would charge interest. And a toll.

God, I hate Delaware.

The other amusing things all have to do with making jokes about "balls."

PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA TO HOST YOUTH BALL, REGIONAL BALLS ON INAUGURAL NIGHT

Youth Ball to Focus on Young Americans, Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President-elect Barack Obama will host a Youth Inaugural Ball, five Regional Inaugural balls, and a ball for his Home States - Illinois and Hawaii.  Vice President-elect Joe Biden will host a ball for his Home States as well: Delaware and Pennsylvania. These balls round out the list of official inaugural balls to be held on Tuesday, January 20, along with the previously announced Neighborhood Inaugural Ball and Commander in Chief's Ball.  The President-elect and the Vice President-elect will appear at each of the ten inaugural balls.

"This is America's inaugural celebration in every way," said Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett S. Beliveau.  "Young people are more engaged in this country's future than ever before and we want to harness that excitement by inviting them to participate in this historic occasion.  In that same vein, we are hosting events to bring people from all walks of life and from across the country - from the President-elect and Vice President-elect's home states, as well as every corner of the nation - to celebrate this country's unity moving forward."

The Youth ball is intended for young Americans aged 18-35 and will celebrate the inauguration of the new president and the role young Americans can play to serve their communities.   Tickets will be available at a reduced price of $75.

The Regional Inaugural Balls are an inaugural tradition that President-elect Obama will continue, inviting guests from the Midwest, the West, the East, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic regions to their own celebrations.  Tickets will be available to invited guests for $150.

To cap off the night, Obama and Biden will each host guests from their home states to a ball to celebrate their inaugurations with those who know them best - their friends, families and local supporters. Tickets to this event will also be available to invited guests for $150.

Additional details about the balls are below:

Youth Inaugural Ball - Young Americans aged 18-35; Washington Hilton

Obama Home States Inaugural Ball - Illinois and Hawaii invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Biden Home States Inaugural Ball -Delaware and Pennsylvania invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Eastern Inaugural Ball - CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, PR, and USVI invited guests; Union Station

Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball - MD, VA, DC, NY, NJ, and WV invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Midwest Inaugural Ball - KS, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI, and MO invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Southern Inaugural Ball - AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, and TX invited guests; National Guard Armory

Western Inaugural Ball - AK, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY, AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, OK, GUAM/AS invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Neighborhood Inaugural Ball - DC residents, additional guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball - Enlisted active duty and reserve military; National Building Museum

Obama Pool Report: Chicago School Kids Force Obama to Make News, Talk Poop

News: Will have troops home in a "year and a half." Highlight:

In 2009 are you going to the white house?
A-- after replying yes, mr obama volunteered that he's getting a dog for malia and sasha, and added: "I want to make sure my daughters take care of this dog, and if they do their business, and you've got some poop, you don't just leave it there."

Which, coincidentally, is also the lesson he plans to teach George Bush about Iraq. Whole thing after the jump.

Pity the Poor Pooler

Things are rough all over:

From: Thomma, Steve
To: Ben Finkenbinder
Sent: Mon Nov 24 10:53:46 2008
Subject: pool 2

Motorcade rolled from Hyde Park at 9:11 am CST, pulled into service entrance of the hotel at 9:19 am CST.

It's noteworthy that the press seats at the news conference have been divided into a White Sox section - to the South - and a Cubs section - to the North of the ballroom.
But in a crime against nature, your pooler - a genuine White Sox fan, a man who attended his first twi-night double header at the Old Comiskey in 1963, who sat behind third base for the 50th anniversary All Star Game there in '83, who knew Bill Veeck and the wonders of Disco Demolition night, who saw the great Ozzie play before he managed - has been assigned a seat in the Cubs section.

Steve Thomma
McClatchy Newspapers

To Protect and Serve

Or, you know, if they have a funny name...

From: Helene Cooper
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 3:40 PM
Subject: Pool report #2

President-elect Obama departed his Hyde Park house at 2:42 pm this afternoon, arriving at his transition office in downtown chicago at 3:O3 pm. Just before he left his house, a police officer stationed a block away stopped two local residents at a concrete barrier.

"Let em go, they live here!" another police officer shouted. Then, he added: "you only stop them if they live right next door, or if they look like suicide bombers or something."

Helene Cooper
The New York Times

(Actual pool report.)

So You Think You Can Dance

Worst double-date ever:

"On Monday, President-elect Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will meet in Chicago at transition headquarters. It's well known that they share an important belief that Americans want and deserve a more effective and efficient government, and will discuss ways to work together to make that a reality. They will be joined in the meeting by Senator Lindsey Graham and Congressman Rahm Emanuel."

Assignment Desk

Meeting with editors in NYC today. To judge by the coverage of the President-elect so far, here are some story ideas that seem like they would be successful:

• Obama's personal trainer: How does he keep so fit?
• The first puppy: What paper will he poop on?
• Michelle: Does her bra fit properly?
• Is Washington ready for Chicago-style pizza?
• Will Rahm use a microphone for press conferences -- or will he just yell?
• Robert Gibbs is going on a diet. How can America help?
• Who is Malia's favorite Jonas brother -- and why!
• How David Axelrod's mustache made history.

John Kerry on "This Week"

"The important thing is to focus on fighting John McCain." Or make him our running mate. One of the two. He's very handsome, you know...

Ed Rendell also just referred to the "Kerry campaign," then apologized, over Kerry's protestation: "That's okay, Ed! That's okay!"

The Lazy Way to Post About Obama's Speech

10:59:47 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: so, wait

10:59:50 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: obama's BLACK?

10:59:55 AM AnaMarie Cox: i know!?!?

11:00:18 AM AnaMarie Cox: "purchase racial reconciliation on the cheap" is a nice line, but it makes me think of Sam's Club

11:02:29 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: thank god the plagiarism stuff is over, though, or phil singer would be sending out an e-mail all outraged about obama quoting his own book

11:02:53 AM AnaMarie Cox: did he attribute jefferson? I don't think so.... he's ALMOST going to the place i sort of want him to: Wright says these things because so many people still feel so betrayed.

11:03:04 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: he won't

11:03:06 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: ever

11:03:13 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: because then he's just another black liberal

11:03:15 AM AnaMarie Cox: i feel like i should be able to have a martini every time a political candidate says "youtube"

11:03:44 AM AnaMarie Cox: but he can condemn and still point to the hurt/anger the makes the remarks possible, no?

11:04:00 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: well, yeah

11:04:07 AM AnaMarie Cox: of c, that would require the american people to hold two ideas in their heads at once

11:04:08 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: but he's trying to do a few complicated things here

11:04:38 AM AnaMarie Cox: totally quoting himself still. i bet he first wrote this speech in kindegarten

11:04:49 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: ha

11:05:17 AM AnaMarie Cox: i sort of want a record of all the chyrons

11:05:30 AM AnaMarie Cox: "obama: the american people are hungry for my message of unity"

11:05:44 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: i am the change you've been waiting for

11:05:58 AM AnaMarie Cox: "obama: i am black"

11:06:13 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: "obama: black people like to dance"

11:06:21 AM AnaMarie Cox: "obama: would you like some watermelon?"

11:06:33 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: "obama: yessir, massa hillary"

11:06:36 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: ok

11:06:41 AM AnaMarie Cox: we'll stop

11:06:48 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: i think i've just crossed some lines that i should have recognized were best to stay on the other side of

11:07:01 AM AnaMarie Cox: you're one step ahead of rev wright!

11:07:04 AM AnaMarie Cox: as it were

11:07:25 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: this part of the speech is going to backfire

11:07:28 AM AnaMarie Cox: "i can no more disown him than i can disown the black community"... very interesting.

11:07:39 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: i don't actually understand what he's hoping to accomplish here

11:07:40 AM AnaMarie Cox: that's almost "going there"

11:07:41 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: by defending him

11:08:52 AM AnaMarie Cox: oh that's harsh: "we'd be doing the same thing that reverend wright did"?

11:09:01 AM AnaMarie Cox: if we condemned his remarks?

11:09:22 AM AnaMarie Cox: "obama: rev wright has been like family to me. a crazy uncle, to be specific."

11:09:51 AM AnaMarie Cox: he does have a point about facing the reality of the situation as opposed to just condemning... if that makes sense.

11:43 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: yeah

11:45 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: but still

11:56 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: who is his audience for this speech?

11:58 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: the people like you and me

11:12:02 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: who kind of see where he's going

11:12:04 AM AnaMarie Cox: building code enforcement helps create a cycle of violence?

11:12:04 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: ALREADY VOTED FOR HIM

11:12:16 AM AnaMarie Cox: yep

11:12:27 AM AnaMarie Cox: and i didn't even know about this building code issue

11:12:30 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: heh

11:12:35 AM AnaMarie Cox: i'll be interested to talk to salter about this

11:12:37 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: actually

11:12:40 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: the building code stuff

11:12:46 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: makes sense

11:13:02 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: especially for someone who can't take the 42 bus to work because mt. pleasant street is still closed from that fire

11:13:06 AM AnaMarie Cox: yes, it's just a strange note to hit in such a high-flying speech

11:13:58 AM AnaMarie Cox: "obama: some people are still racist"

11:14:19 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: "obama: specifically, hillary voters"

11:14:23 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: er no

11:14:29 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: that's more "[me]: specifically, hillary voters"

11:14:48 AM AnaMarie Cox: "obama: specifically, hillary staffers."

11:14:55 AM AnaMarie Cox: "obama: and bill. did i mention bill?"

11:15:03 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: actually this next bit is interesting

11:15:21 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: this is where obama does something most black politicians wouldn't do

11:15:37 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: he validates the white backlash people as a way of getting them to buy into his message

11:15:40 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: or tries to

11:15:59 AM AnaMarie Cox: yeah... trying to think of an analog

11:16:26 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: some of my wife's extended family [in this town], might as well be the people he's describing here

11:16:36 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: so i find this part particularly fascinating

11:16:36 AM AnaMarie Cox: now he'd turning it into something more traditional

11:16:40 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: the problem is

11:16:42 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: it still won't work

11:17:00 AM AnaMarie Cox: "pundits have built entire careers on exploiting this anger."

11:17:00 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: geraldine ferraro, who is very emblematic of white ethnic working class people, will not be persuaded here

11:17:13 AM AnaMarie Cox: "i'm looking at you, pat buchanan."

11:17:19 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: and bill o'reilly

11:17:38 AM AnaMarie Cox: also in some ways he's condescending to them

11:17:52 AM AnaMarie Cox: those angry whites, they're so easily manipulated... sigh...

11:18:26 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: thats actually the official obama line

11:18:29 AM AnaMarie Cox: would he say that wright built his career by manipulating/exploiting anger? he didn't frame it quite the same way.

11:18:29 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: if samantha power is any indication

11:19:37 AM AnaMarie Cox: reading to children will fix racism. i'd make fun of that except i guess it's kinda true.

11:19:55 AM AnaMarie Cox: this is not a particularly enthusiastic crowd.

11:20:16 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: nope

11:20:51 AM AnaMarie Cox: he says "latino" in that way that white people do when they're trying to show they speak a little spanish

11:20:54 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: yeah

11:21:05 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: or in the way politicians do when they're trying to pretend latinos vote for them

11:21:43 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: "obama: black people have problems"

11:22:04 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: more precisely, "obama: hey whitey, we have real problems"

11:22:27 AM AnaMarie Cox: "obama: let's focus on me, not that wright guy."

11:22:39 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: if he doesn't win, no one will ever try to really get past these divisions again though

11:22:42 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: don't you think?

11:22:51 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: the lesson of an obama loss will be "cynicism works"

11:23:22 AM AnaMarie Cox: it is hard to imagine another politician as talented as obama coming along again in this generation

11:23:36 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: actually he's making that point right now

11:23:46 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: ... not your point

11:23:50 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: though salter woudl say he is

11:24:12 AM AnaMarie Cox: he's making it about "us"

11:24:26 AM AnaMarie Cox: that, uhm, he is the change we've been waiting for...

11:24:42 AM AnaMarie Cox: voting for obama repudiates america's history of racism

11:24:45 AM AnaMarie Cox: that's all you have to do!

11:24:49 AM AnaMarie Cox: vote for obama!

11:24:58 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: now you've got the full salter rant going

11:25:20 AM AnaMarie Cox: it's actually sort of brilliant, and not entirely his fault.

11:25:24 AM AnaMarie Cox: (obama not salter)

11:25:26 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: right

11:26:02 AM AnaMarie Cox: in the sense that, yeah, whitey made race an issue; so anyone who doesn't vote for obama has to answer for how that means they're not racist

11:26:13 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: except

11:26:25 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: implicitly accusing white working class people of racism is not the way to get them to vote for you

11:26:33 AM AnaMarie Cox: well they're comfortable with that

11:26:35 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: right

11:26:42 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: this angle only works on... white obama voters

11:26:57 AM AnaMarie Cox: ugh, yeah

11:27:08 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: though the whole thing is, like his campaign usually is, not about identity politics

11:27:13 AM AnaMarie Cox: or, at best, waivering dem primary voters

11:27:20 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: to me, that's the fundamental difference between obama and clinton

11:27:25 AM AnaMarie Cox: that's a great point

11:27:27 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: her campaign is about identity politics

11:27:34 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: whether it's, vote for me becasue i'm a woman

11:27:35 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: or

11:27:38 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: obama's the black guy

11:27:41 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: and his isn't

11:28:11 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: at least not when he talks to white people

11:29:07 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: "Now Ashley might have made a different choice. Perhaps somebody told her along the way that the source of her mother’s problems were blacks who were on welfare and too lazy to work, or Hispanics who were coming into the country illegally. But she didn’t. She sought out allies in her fight against injustice."

11:29:08 AM AnaMarie Cox: but obama's trap/trick is that by making his campaign about ideas/hope, there's an implicit corallary that if you don't support him, you're not serious about ideas/hope.... and you may be racist.

11:29:14 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: right

11:29:21 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: this graf is the worst one in the speech

11:29:26 AM AnaMarie Cox: yeah.

11:29:35 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: "obama: die, straw men!"

11:30:16 AM AnaMarie Cox: ashley was one rush limbaugh show away of becoming a border fence activist.

11:30:24 AM fellow liberal reporter friend: haha

11:31:08 AM AnaMarie Cox: "obama: whew, glad that's over."

HRC, Still Struggling in the Viral Video Department

In a conference call yesterday, an Obama staffer said something along the lines of, "If she wants to make this about winning big states, we welcome that debate." I imagine the Obama staff feels the same way about viral videos. In fact, I know they do.