Here’s what you may have missed from this week’s Sunday political talks shows:
THE VIEW FROM THE WHITE HOUSE: Goolsbee offers a less-than-rosy take on the jobless rate, and warily notes Boehner’s choice of words. Axelrod eyes Voinovich’s promise to break a Republican filibuster on tax breaks for small businesses, and maintains hope that the public will come around on health care reform. Napolitano casts the DHS in evolutionary terms.
JUST OUTSIDE: Orszag argues that his column on the tax cuts was misinterpreted and dismisses the idea that Obama is socialist. Hoyer remains optimistic that Democrats will hold the House.
ON THE RIGHT: Boehner grudgingly concedes that he’d vote for a partial extension of the Bush tax cuts, while Gingrich urges all Republicans to do the same.
Newt thinks the GOP’s midterm gains could exceed those made in 1994. Armey and Lott disagree on the proper insurgent-establishment dynamic.
NEAR GROUND ZERO: Rauf regrets causing controversy, but worries moving the proposed Islamic center would strengthen radicals.
FROM NOWHERE: Pointing to tobacco ties and health risks, Schieffer pushes Boehner to quit smoking.
Oh, Bob! Bob! Bob! If Bo(eh)ner wants to keep chain smoking, and satisfy the tobacco lobby, then fuggedaboutit! If he ends up becoming a lobbyist for the lung cancer researchers, hey, he’s the one smoking those coffin nails! Everyone by now knows the risks of smoking so if he continues, or anyone, Dem, Repub or otherwise, it’s their problem!
All I can say is “Let Boehner be Boehner”…