tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post3080922793367367698..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Dept. of Phony Reagan/Real Reagan ExamplesJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-4450608628483583782013-02-27T21:17:35.031-06:002013-02-27T21:17:35.031-06:00I always felt that the "contra" part of ...I always felt that the "contra" part of Iran-Contra saved Reagan's ass as it made it a political thing. That is, right vs. left. If people would have focused on the negotiating with Iran part there would have been no escape as everyone was against "negotiating with terrorists". Since both sides were against that it would have completely destroyed his presidency.Bajsanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-37607615371443624422013-02-27T16:55:18.140-06:002013-02-27T16:55:18.140-06:00I disagree, cgw. Woodward's supposed to be a ...I disagree, cgw. Woodward's supposed to be a smart, logical guy who finds out what the powerful are actually doing, and reports it. That has nothing to do with "blame." "Blame" is my new codeword for "not willing to do any work."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-18007185988439482932013-02-27T12:43:27.259-06:002013-02-27T12:43:27.259-06:00I don't think anger at Obama explains Woodward...I don't think anger at Obama explains Woodward. I think it's two things. First, what Jon Chait calls "the fever swamp of the center" - the reflexive need for pundits who want to maintain their bipartisan street cred to invent ever more fantastical ways to make sure they place a pox on both houses. Second, the "cult of the presidency" - wherein some pundits believe that presidents should be able to work their political will and have the power to cause opponents to give up their deepest held beliefs (strangely, it's long-time pundits who have no sense of history on this). It's rather ironic that Woodward takes the position that President Obama is to blame for not disobeying the law (the Budget Control Act). It's as if Woodward has forgotten what he reported on 40 years ago. I want to send him JB's series of Nixon posts as a reminder.cgwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10626069163536096203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-18116726869985315472013-02-27T11:48:54.133-06:002013-02-27T11:48:54.133-06:00Can this please go up on Plum Line or somewhere at...Can this please go up on Plum Line or somewhere at WaPo? Woodward seems to have a case of the McCains (a petulant anger at BHO) and needs to be taken down a peg.Jamie Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08579007138576584958noreply@blogger.com