Peoria Pundit

The Bush administration spied on the press and they lied to the press. Hell, there are prosecutors who even JAILED the press. But I don’t recall them getting physical with the press.

Via Michael Calderone’s blog on Politico:

Following Leon Panetta’s confirmation hearing Thursday, several reporters approached the CIA director-designate in the hallway outside room G-50 in the Dirksen Building.

There, CongressDaily reporter Chris Strohm — upon asking a question — was physically restrained by a man who accompanied Panetta at hearings both days.

Strohm, when reached by phone Friday, said he was unsure of the man’s role.

“I felt this hand grab my right arm and push me aside,” Strohm said.

By his account, Strohm told the man, “Please don’t touch me” more than once. Eventually, the man let him go.

A veteran reporter who has covered the CIA before says this is aberant behavior. The CIA, he says, is usually much more press friendly. Yeah, seriously. That’s what he said.

Outside of sending black vans out in the middle of the night to round up pesky reporters, I didn’t think it as possible for an administration to be any less friendly to the rights of the press and the right to report than the Bush administration. Manhandling reporters trying to do basic beat reporting is no way to start an administration.

OK … so let’s set forth the facts.

President Bush was in town at a fundraiser. He was charging well-to-do Republicans $5,000 to have their picture taken with him.

While in town, he had his picture taken with Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard.

Ooooo … what a scandal.

The Journal Star is deeply concerned.

“As is very common for presidential visits, the Secret Service offered the opportunity to local law enforcement to be able to meet the president,” Settingsgaard said in an e-mail to the Journal Star. “I shook his hand, said a kind word and they snapped a picture.”

What we’re not sure about, though, is whether the chief paid the $5,000 asking price for the picture, if he got to keep the photograph for free, or if he even walked off with a photograph. Plus, who was “they?” He declined to answer follow-up questions we had about the picture.

The Journal Star is deeply concerned. Trouble is, I don’t know if they are deeply concerned that Settingsgaard paid $5,000 or if he DIDN’T pay $5,000. If he did pay, then it’s a case of a public employee being overly political, I suppose. If he didn’t, then his posing for a picture may constitute some form of a gratuity from the Bush administration to Settingsgaard.

I believe that I am speaking for a great majority of Peorians when I say: “Oh, get a frigging life.” I’m sorry all to hell that Settingsgaard’s reply wasn’t as specific as you would like, but it seems clear that the chief got his picture taken with the president because politicians like to have their picture taken with police officers. At this point in Bush’s career, posing for a picture with Settingsgaard did more for GW’s reputation than the other way around.

Feh. I’m willing to bet the “concern” being expressed anonymously comes from those who are overly worried about the money the city spent providing security during Bush’s visit.

Republicans are chortling about this error:

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The McCain campaign immediately released a statement saying that this is an indication that Biden is going to be pulling the strings because Obama is too inexperienced.

So, let’s get this straight: Obama is a bad choice because he’s too experienced in foreign affairs. But he’s also the wrong choice because he selected running mate who has experience in foreign affairs. And if Obama relies on his vice president’s experience, he’s somehow going to be a puppet. But when Dick Cheney advised Bush, it’s OK.

Gotcha.

The stupid things these people argue about just turns off moderates. It makes about as much sense to make a big deal about how much real estate the candidates own.

And if I were a member of the GOP, I wouldn’t be throwing stones at Obama or Biden over verbal miscues:

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This is the Los Angeles Times take on Bush’s visit to Peoria:

For the first time in 14 years, George W. Bush’s name is not on the ballot. Not in Texas. Not anywhere in the United States.

And, given President Bush’ low approval ratings, Republican John McCain might be forgiven if he hopes the president will stay off the podium too.

So the Republican Party is using Bush where it can — in private fundraisers in private homes at events closed to the media.

Today was no exception. Bush flew to Peoria, Ill., to headline a fundraiser for Aaron Schock, who is hoping to fill the seat of Rep. Ray Lahood, who is retiring, and the Congressional Trust, a party committee.

Lunch: $500 a plate. Photo with POTUS: $5,000. No press in the room: priceless.

Quite a difference from the fawning coverage Bush and Schock are getting from the local media. BTW: Sen. Dick Durbin and Ill. Attorney General Lisa Madigan are going to be at the Colleen Callahan’s fish fry in Brimfield. No doubt they will be happy to talk to anyone who shows up, news media and bloggers included.

Ten years ago, I sat in a newsroom reading a wire story in which someone of the liberal persuasion called someone of the conservative persuasion a “fascist.” Twenty years ago, I professor I respect used the term ‘fascist” to refer to science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein as a “fascist.” I grew up a liberal Democrat. We worshiped JFK’s sainted memory and believed FDR saved us all from the capitalists. But, the older I got, the more I heard people who espoused the ideas I was supposed to share hurl this ugly epithet at anyone whose ideas dared to be to the right of their own. To these people, agreeing to expand the social welfare system at a slightly slower rate of speed is exactly the same as wanting to send the poor to the gas chambers. Heinlein was a fascist in some circles because he glorified the military. These same circles ignored his opposition to the draft. Calling such people “fascist” or “nazi” dishonors the memory of the millions of real victims of fascism.

A member of the government in Germany has compared George W. Bush to Hitler. This person believes Bush wants to invade Iraq for pretty much the same reason Hitler invaded Poland. Personally, I’m was not aware Poland a rogue terrorist nation on the verge of developing nuclear weaponry, but what do I know. I went to public schools.

On the day of the attack, I sat at work, numb, watching Bush address the nation. Bush said he would tolerate no acts of vengeance against people of Muslims or people of Arab descent. That is not what America is all about, he said, adding that the War on terrorism would be conducted against terrorists, not religions or nationalities. Yeah, that sounds real Hitler-like.

Speaking of Hitler-like behavior, high-ranking Germans have apparently taken to claiming that the Jews are behind the United State’s war mongering. Apparently, some of these folks need a few more field trips to see the death camps, because somehow it hasn’t quite sunk in with them that this kind of scapegoating behavior has consequences. The New York Times’ William Safire suggests Germany is too unreliable an ally to host troops. My father, an unreconstructed FDR Democrat and no fan of Bush 1 or 2, upon hearing that the President of the United States of America was being compared to Hitler, suggested Germany be given the opportunity to run its economy while paying for its own national defense.