11/24/09 - AC360
Taking over from taurenova tonight so she can sleep a bit! And since I'm home and have CNN International, I'm watching it on there. I'll be seeing what she sees! ... Except the ads, I guess.
Erica's still sitting in for Anderson. (Wow, that intro was different from the one I usually see.)
1) President Obama announced his Afghanistan war plan. He's upping the troop level, up to 34K extra, which is not the 40K McChrystal asked for. This decision comes after nine security meetings.
ETA Obama says he hopes this will finish the job, and the Americans will support the effort. Polls say people are divided.
Panel! Fareed Zakaria (...Fareed did you really leave the state dinner for this? Wow. He must've just strolled out in the middle of dinner. On the other hand, fancy tux complete with black bowtie.), Michael Ware, and Atia Abawi.
Fareed says it'll take more than words to convince people. Michael says extra troops won't help on their own (depends on how they're used, like having them work with local neighborhood forces), thinks the aim of the troops is to hurt and put pressure on the Taliban. Atia says the biggest issue is poverty, and getting people jobs will stabilize Afghanistan -- the people there don't trust the government, so the Taliban are exploiting that.
American polling on war itself: 52% oppose, 45% support. Split nearly down the middle on sending more troops. Fareed says people are worried about coherency of strategy.
2) One year after terror attacks in Mumbai. Complete with disturbing phone calls from the people involved.
And our panel is back. I don't think I'll liveblog this, in the same way taurenova doesn't record things like the Killings at the Canal series from last week.
3) Randi Kaye's Bulletin. Major Hasan may pursue an insanity defense, US Census worker with "fed" on his chest said to be a suicide, "Trouble in Toyland" report describing issues with popular toys, "Boomerang Kids" moving back home after graduating because of money or getting grad degrees.
4) Beat 360! It's Hilary Clinton and the Indian ambassador to the US.
5) Now we've got a state dinner feed. The National Symphony Orchestra is playing. ETA they lost the picture for a second there.
6) "Nip/Tuck & Tax" (Oh, graphics department) -- paying for healthcare reform with taxing elective plastic surgery. (I remember reading that a successful plastic surgery ward can pay for an entire hospital.) Cosmetic surgery patients, according to the current Senate bill, would pay a 5% tax -- things like teeth whitening, botox, breast implants, etc. Doctors would also have to pay a tax. 86% of plastic surgery patients are women in the middle class range of income.
They called Harry Reid's office and they would not comment on whether it was a tax against women, though they said it was a way to get money for the health care bill. NJ already taxes cosmetic surgeries at 6%, and it has been a "total failure." Patients cross state lines, but obviously if it's federal law you wouldn't be able to do that.
7) Total aside, the commercials on this channel are so much more awesome. They have random CNN informational highlights. When I'm home I'm going to have to use CNNI to watch 360. ("This doctor makes house calls around the world." Lol, Sanjay.)
8) Raw Politics and the GOP's purity test. RNC members are trying to drive out moderates with a checklist that candidates would have to abide by to get GOP funding. Opposition to everything you can think of, Obama, gay marriage, gun control, etc.
Paul Begala and Mary Matalin here to talk. A tribute to Reagan who would not have passed this checklist, and who grew the party, not shrunk it.
Mary says it's not excluding anybody, except Nancy Pelosi! She says most of these points receive mainstream support. Erica says that says it welcomes people with diverse views, but is a checklist really ushering in diversity? Mary mentions Rahm Emanuel recruiting Democrats to take over the House in 2006. She says you can run without matching the checklist but you can't get GOP funding.
Erica mentions that Democrats are divided right now too. Paul says the Dems have a lot of diversity of opinion. The Repubs are all about purity now, while the Dems are all about a "big tent" now. "If you believe in evolution or gravity or photosynthesis or whatever the Republicans are afraid of, come on over to the Democratic party."
Mary asks Paul which of the Blue Dogs would be against three of the Republican checklist items. The country is 2:1 conservative. (Hmm I wonder where her numbers are coming from, my classes have shown that the media in general is more to the right than the actual country is.)
9) No Child Left Behind (I have yet to meet a teacher who actually likes this except my AP World History teacher, who had a W poster on her wall -- W as in George) lots and lots of states have lowered their academic standards to meet these goals. Arne Duncan tomorrow -- and Anderson, although, er, pre-taped, so who knows if Andy himself will bring it up. Arne wants to reform the system.
10) State dinner coverage. (I know that Sanjay and his wife are there courtesy his Twitter, someone on my Twitter list spotted Kalpen Modi, and Fareed obviously.) The menu is vegetarian. Tom Foreman is visiting.
So basically Michelle and the First Lady of India look awesome. Shot of Sanjay in his tux, sorry you missed that taurenova. Katie Couric and BriWi from the media are there too. Jennifer Hudson is one of the entertainers.
Erica and Tom are ~*~suspicious! They couldn't get cameras in there for more than a couple of minutes during the symphony performance. "Transparency doesn't apply to the parties," Tom says. Erica says maybe one day they'll get to go to the party.
11) Two nights away from CNN Heroes, which Anderson will be hosting. They show a profile of a bus driver in Queens, New York, known as "the angel of Queens." He and his family cook giant meals every day and feed people in need after his job driving buses is over, at a particular corner in Queens.
Perspective: he has six full-size refrigerators. And he feeds over a hundred people a day.
12) Randi Kaye's Bulletin. Doug Hoffman (the NY-23 district where he forced the Republican candidate out) concedes for a second time, long after the math came in. The Jackson family celebrated an early Thanksgiving and Jermaine gave an interview, also talked about the kids. SC state panel debating possible impeachment for Sanford. A man stole a nun's purse in California.
13) The Shot: "The gospel according to Timothy Geithner." Aha, I hadn't seen this before. A video of Timmy's various speeches synched with gospelish music.
Erica's still sitting in for Anderson. (Wow, that intro was different from the one I usually see.)
1) President Obama announced his Afghanistan war plan. He's upping the troop level, up to 34K extra, which is not the 40K McChrystal asked for. This decision comes after nine security meetings.
ETA Obama says he hopes this will finish the job, and the Americans will support the effort. Polls say people are divided.
Panel! Fareed Zakaria (...Fareed did you really leave the state dinner for this? Wow. He must've just strolled out in the middle of dinner. On the other hand, fancy tux complete with black bowtie.), Michael Ware, and Atia Abawi.
Fareed says it'll take more than words to convince people. Michael says extra troops won't help on their own (depends on how they're used, like having them work with local neighborhood forces), thinks the aim of the troops is to hurt and put pressure on the Taliban. Atia says the biggest issue is poverty, and getting people jobs will stabilize Afghanistan -- the people there don't trust the government, so the Taliban are exploiting that.
American polling on war itself: 52% oppose, 45% support. Split nearly down the middle on sending more troops. Fareed says people are worried about coherency of strategy.
2) One year after terror attacks in Mumbai. Complete with disturbing phone calls from the people involved.
And our panel is back. I don't think I'll liveblog this, in the same way taurenova doesn't record things like the Killings at the Canal series from last week.
3) Randi Kaye's Bulletin. Major Hasan may pursue an insanity defense, US Census worker with "fed" on his chest said to be a suicide, "Trouble in Toyland" report describing issues with popular toys, "Boomerang Kids" moving back home after graduating because of money or getting grad degrees.
4) Beat 360! It's Hilary Clinton and the Indian ambassador to the US.
5) Now we've got a state dinner feed. The National Symphony Orchestra is playing. ETA they lost the picture for a second there.
6) "Nip/Tuck & Tax" (Oh, graphics department) -- paying for healthcare reform with taxing elective plastic surgery. (I remember reading that a successful plastic surgery ward can pay for an entire hospital.) Cosmetic surgery patients, according to the current Senate bill, would pay a 5% tax -- things like teeth whitening, botox, breast implants, etc. Doctors would also have to pay a tax. 86% of plastic surgery patients are women in the middle class range of income.
They called Harry Reid's office and they would not comment on whether it was a tax against women, though they said it was a way to get money for the health care bill. NJ already taxes cosmetic surgeries at 6%, and it has been a "total failure." Patients cross state lines, but obviously if it's federal law you wouldn't be able to do that.
7) Total aside, the commercials on this channel are so much more awesome. They have random CNN informational highlights. When I'm home I'm going to have to use CNNI to watch 360. ("This doctor makes house calls around the world." Lol, Sanjay.)
8) Raw Politics and the GOP's purity test. RNC members are trying to drive out moderates with a checklist that candidates would have to abide by to get GOP funding. Opposition to everything you can think of, Obama, gay marriage, gun control, etc.
Paul Begala and Mary Matalin here to talk. A tribute to Reagan who would not have passed this checklist, and who grew the party, not shrunk it.
Mary says it's not excluding anybody, except Nancy Pelosi! She says most of these points receive mainstream support. Erica says that says it welcomes people with diverse views, but is a checklist really ushering in diversity? Mary mentions Rahm Emanuel recruiting Democrats to take over the House in 2006. She says you can run without matching the checklist but you can't get GOP funding.
Erica mentions that Democrats are divided right now too. Paul says the Dems have a lot of diversity of opinion. The Repubs are all about purity now, while the Dems are all about a "big tent" now. "If you believe in evolution or gravity or photosynthesis or whatever the Republicans are afraid of, come on over to the Democratic party."
Mary asks Paul which of the Blue Dogs would be against three of the Republican checklist items. The country is 2:1 conservative. (Hmm I wonder where her numbers are coming from, my classes have shown that the media in general is more to the right than the actual country is.)
9) No Child Left Behind (I have yet to meet a teacher who actually likes this except my AP World History teacher, who had a W poster on her wall -- W as in George) lots and lots of states have lowered their academic standards to meet these goals. Arne Duncan tomorrow -- and Anderson, although, er, pre-taped, so who knows if Andy himself will bring it up. Arne wants to reform the system.
10) State dinner coverage. (I know that Sanjay and his wife are there courtesy his Twitter, someone on my Twitter list spotted Kalpen Modi, and Fareed obviously.) The menu is vegetarian. Tom Foreman is visiting.
So basically Michelle and the First Lady of India look awesome. Shot of Sanjay in his tux, sorry you missed that taurenova. Katie Couric and BriWi from the media are there too. Jennifer Hudson is one of the entertainers.
Erica and Tom are ~*~suspicious! They couldn't get cameras in there for more than a couple of minutes during the symphony performance. "Transparency doesn't apply to the parties," Tom says. Erica says maybe one day they'll get to go to the party.
11) Two nights away from CNN Heroes, which Anderson will be hosting. They show a profile of a bus driver in Queens, New York, known as "the angel of Queens." He and his family cook giant meals every day and feed people in need after his job driving buses is over, at a particular corner in Queens.
Perspective: he has six full-size refrigerators. And he feeds over a hundred people a day.
12) Randi Kaye's Bulletin. Doug Hoffman (the NY-23 district where he forced the Republican candidate out) concedes for a second time, long after the math came in. The Jackson family celebrated an early Thanksgiving and Jermaine gave an interview, also talked about the kids. SC state panel debating possible impeachment for Sanford. A man stole a nun's purse in California.
13) The Shot: "The gospel according to Timothy Geithner." Aha, I hadn't seen this before. A video of Timmy's various speeches synched with gospelish music.