Elizabeth Warren: High Cheekbones, Native American (Video)

If having high cheekbones indicates one is Native American, then I might be a Native American!

Here's video of Elizabeth Warren providing "proof" of her Native American heritage. It's all in the cheekbones.



Democrat Elizabeth Warren, challenging Scott Brown in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate race, actually had the audacity to declare herself to be a minority based on family lore that her great-great-great-grandmother was Cherokee.

From the Boston Herald:

Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, fending off questions about whether she used her Native American heritage to advance her career, said today she enrolled herself as a minority in law school directories for nearly a decade because she hoped to meet other people with tribal roots.

“I listed myself in the directory in the hopes that it might mean that I would be invited to a luncheon, a group something that might happen with people who are like I am. Nothing like that ever happened, that was clearly not the use for it and so I stopped checking it off,” said Warren.

The Harvard Law professor argued she didn’t use her minority status to get her teaching jobs, and slammed her Republican rival U.S. Sen.Scott Brown for suggesting otherwise.

...Warren is looking to shake off the story of her Native American background, which has hounded her since the Herald first reported that Harvard Law School has touted Warren as a minority hire. She also listed herself as a minority in a law school directory for nine years between 1986 and 1995.

“Being Native American has been part of my story I guess since the day I was born,” said Warren, who never mentioned her Native American heritage on the campaign trail even as she detailed much of her personal history to voters in speeches, statements and a video. “These are my family stories, I have lived in a family that has talked about Native American and talked about tribes since I was a little girl.”

Warren’s statements come as genealogists at the New England Historic Genealogical Society were unable to back up earlier accounts that her great great great grandmother is Cherokee.

Let's say Warren is correct in her claim that she is 1/32nd Cherokee. The Native American connection is so far back in her family that I think it's wrong for her to claim minority status.

Warren thought declaring herself to be Native American was her way to meet people like her? WHAT?

That's so ridiculous.

What's the cut-off in terms of considering one to be a minority? How many generations back is it acceptable to go in order to claim that status?

If Warren wants to claim to have Native American blood, fine. But stating she is Native American in law school directories and for Harvard to include Warren among its minority hires is absolutely ludicrous.

What was she thinking? Harvard obviously doesn't do a very good job of vetting if Warren is deemed a minority hire.

I don't buy Warren's "get invited to a luncheon" excuse. That's pretty funny.

The fact that Warren identified herself to be a minority based only on her relation to her great-great-great-grandmother should tells Massachusetts voters she's nuts.

Bottom line: Democrat Warren knowingly misrepresented herself, for YEARS.

Joe Lieberman Retires

Democrat/Independent Joe Lieberman is not seeking a fifth term in the U.S. Senate.

From the Washington Post:

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) will not seek a fifth term in 2012, according to two Democratic sources familiar with the decision.

Lieberman's office did not offer any comment on his plans, saying only that he would make an announcement tomorrow in Stamford, Conn. "The Senator's remarks tomorrow will stand on their own," said a Lieberman spokeswoman.

Lieberman will be the second senator who caucuses with Democrats to make public his plans to leave the chamber in the past 24 hours. On Tuesday morning, North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad said he would not seek a fifth term in 2012.

...Lieberman's long-awaited decision means an end to a political career that took him from the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nomination to a 2004 Democratic presidential candidacy to a speaking role at the 2008 Republican National Convention in support of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Lieberman's increased alienation from the Democratic Party -- primarily over his ardent support for the war in Iraq -- led to his defeat at the hands of cable television executive Ned Lamont in 2006. But Lieberman formed his own independent party and beat Lamont in a general election to win a fourth term.

His numbers among Democrats only declined since that time, however, making it next-to-impossible for Lieberman to run and win as a Democrat in 2012.

The Dems consider Lieberman's plans to retire to be good news because he won't be splitting the Dem vote.

Still, even though Lieberman won't be in the race, he does have supporters, people with more moderate leanings put off by liberals like Ned Lamont.

I think it's a mistake for the Left to assume that Lieberman Democrats and Independents will automatically vote for a Dem.

Remember Massachusetts and Scott Brown?

Scott Brown: GOP Weekly Address

In the Weekly Republican Address, newly-elected Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts explains that the Democrats running Washington have their priorities all wrong. Sen. Brown says Americans "told me that they want their President and Congress to focus on creating jobs and reviving Americas economy. Instead, for more than a year now, we have seen a bitter, destructive, and endless drive to completely transform Americas health care system."

"Somehow," Sen. Brown notes, "the greater the public opposition to the health care bill, the more determined they seem to force it on us anyway. Their attitude shows Washington at its very worst the presumption that they know best, and they're going to get their way whether the American people like it or not."

Sen. Brown says, "I havent been here very long, but, I can tell you this much already: Nothing has distracted the attention and energy of the nations capital more than this disastrous detour. And, the surest way to return to the people's business is to listen to the people themselves: We need to drop this whole scheme of federally controlled health care, start over, and work together on real reforms at the state level that will contain costs and won't leave America trillions of dollars deeper in debt."

Feingold: 'Inside Tommy's Room'

I get the feeling Russ Feingold really isn't in the mood to campaign for reelection or work to win the votes of Wisconsinites.

I'm picking up this sense that Feingold and state Democrats believe that Russ owns the U.S. Senate seat, that any challenger is trespassing on his property.

So he and his team have guns blazing before he has an opponent.

On Feingold's campaign blog, John Kraus takes aim at Tommy Thompson, "Inside Tommy's Room."

Kraus writes:

This weekend brought with it some important developments in the campaign that we wanted to make you aware of.

Republican “Uber-Lobbyist” Bill McCoshen went on Mike Gousha’s “UpFront” TV program this weekend and said Tommy Thompson has “the right people in the room,” and that “he's the only one that frankly could win on the Republican side.”

...As many of you know Russ had events in Madison and Milwaukee yesterday and we wanted to let you know what Russ had to say:

“So you might ask, well why are all these people in Washington asking Tommy Thompson to run? Because he's their friend. Because he does what they want. That's why they're asking him to run.

“I've spent years and years taking on the special interests. And Tommy Thompson spent years, taking them on as clients. That's the difference between the two of us. That's the difference for Wisconsin as we go forward for this election.”

...Russ has shown courage standing up to the lobbyist crowd in D.C. He has been tough on wasteful spending, never walking away from a deficit. And he has been an independent voice for the people of Wisconsin, not the special interests in Washington.

So while Tommy Thompson sits in a room with his lobbyist friends in Washington making plans to announce his campaign at the Republican convention in the coming months, we’ll be in Wisconsin hard at work organizing our Spring Fling – our door-to-door, grassroots statewide canvass in communities in every corner of our great state on March 20.

Good grief.

That's not going to work. Feingold isn't a Washington outsider. Feingold is firmly entrenched inside the beltway.

He has lost touch with his constituents. If he hasn't lost touch, then he certainly is just choosing to ignore them.

What has he done for Wisconsin? He's had 18 years in the Senate. What has he done to better the lives of people in Wisconsin?

Back in 2006, when Feingold was unsuccessfully running to be the Democrats' nominee for president, he seemed to spend as much if not more time in Iowa than Wisconsin.

Feingold put his personal ambitions first. He's not working for us. He's not listening to us. He's weirdly detached.

It's awfully hypocritical for Feingold to be whining about Thompson and his Washington lobbyist friends when Feingold had no qualms about voting for a health care bill loaded with bribes made by Obama and the Democrat leadership to secure votes for the legislation.

Feingold consented to that corruption. He supported it. He voted for it. That's reality. It happened. Concrete. On the record.

Describing that scene of Thompson sitting "in a room with his lobbyist friends in Washington" is just goofy.

Let's deal in reality, what we know. Let's look at Feingold's record in the Senate. Let's look at his policies. Let's examine Feingold's extremism. He's willing to ram through legislation that the overwhelming majority of Americans oppose.

Inside Russ' room is scary.

He's forgetting that he works for us.

To borrow from Scott Brown:

Well, with all due respect, it's not Feingold's seat, and it's not the Democrats' seat. It's the people's seat.

End the Feingold occupation.

Scott Brown and Joe Biden (Video)

Scott Brown was sworn in by Joe Biden.

Listen to the small talk after the swearing-in ceremony -- daughters and basketball.

Video, from Mediaite.

Scott Brown Certified

From Scott Brown, on Twitter:

I have been officially certified and I have just arrived in Washington to be sworn in #masen Thank you!

Sean Duffy

Sean Duffy's campaign to unseat David Obey is getting national attention.

TIME cites Duffy as one of "10 More Scott Browns."

Scott Brown's surprise victory in the Massachusetts Senate Race has given Republicans new confidence in challenging Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections. Here's a look at ten GOP congressional contenders who could follow in Brown's wake....

In a normal year, Wisconsin Democrat David Obey, the powerful head of the House appropriations committee, would not have to worry. But normal years do not bring challengers like Sean Duffy, a successful district attorney who also happens to be a former star of MTV's The Real World (Boston), a champion lumberjack competitor, and an ESPN commentator.

...With plenty of media attention, strong fundraising, and a very fresh face — he wasn't even born when Obey first took office in 1970 — Duffy will likely win the Republican primary, barring a surprise showing by the self-proclaimed tea party candidate Dan Mielke. Of course, that would mean facing the third-longest-serving member of the House in the general election, a man whose smallest margin of victory in eighteen elections was seven points.

The Democrats and the liberal pundits didn't think Republican Scott Brown could win in Massachusetts. They underestimated him.

Obey underestimates Duffy at his own peril.

I believe Sean Duffy can defeat David "War Surtax" Obey.

I really hope Obama comes to Wisconsin to campaign for Obey. We know how much Obama's visit to Massachusetts helped Martha Coakley Scott Brown.

Scott Brown Action Figure

Scott Brown is being immortalized -- in plastic.

Herobuilders.com is selling Scott Brown action figures, three styles, for $34.95 each.

From the Boston Herald:

Herobuilders.com, a Connecticut company that makes custom dolls modeled after celebrities, politicians, reality stars and crooks, will roll out its latest action figure tomorrow - the new Republican senator from Massachusetts.

“He’s a superhero, this guy,” Herobuilders honcho Emil Vicale told the Track . “He’s a man of action who stepped into the ring, 30 points down, and in just one month does the impossible. This is some amazing guy. He’s not just a Democrat killer - he’s an administration killer!”

In fact, the Herobuilder is so taken with our Republican Flavor of the Week that he is manufacturing three different Scott Brown action heroes.

There’s the “2012 Executive Scott Brown,” dressed ever-so-presidentially in a suit. Then there’s the “Scott Brown Everyman,” dressed in a white T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. Which, if you ask us, makes the senator-elect look like a member of the Log Cabin Club! Where’s the manly barn jacket????

But best of all, is the anatomically correct Scott Brown Cosmo Doll, with rippling biceps, a Situationesque six pack and an oh-so-demure fig leaf!

...BTW, if it’s any indication of the mood of the country, Vicale reports that the Obama doll is a “terrible” sell.

“He doesn’t translate into a good action figure because he never does anything,” he joked. “All he does is babble nonsensically.”

Each Scott Brown doll is priced at $34.95. Go to herobuilders.com to place an order. And as a special postelection “thank you” to Mass. voters, Vicale is giving a 10 percent discount to buyers who use the code “Boston” between now and Feb. 8.

PHOTO



Anatomically correct?

Are batteries included?

SNL: Scott Brown

What timing for Saturday Night Live!

Jon Hamm just happened to be hosting this weekend, the perfect person to play Senator-elect Scott Brown.

Barbara Boxer (Nasim Pedrad), Nancy Pelosi (Kristen Wiig), Barney Frank (Fred Armisen), and even Robert Byrd (Bill Hader) are all very impressed with the new senator from Massachusetts.

Scott Brown and Jay Leno (Video, Transcript)

Senator-elect Scott Brown was Jay Leno's guest for his 10 @ 10 segment.

Transcript:

JAY LENO: My guest and I have two things in common: We are both from Massachusetts and both known for our good looks. It's amazing, Kevin. This is when we ask ten questions. We call it '10 @ 10.'

Tonight, our special guest won a stunning victory to be the first Republican senator from Massachusetts in 30 years. Say hello to Senator-elect Scott Brown.

Scott, how are you doing?

SCOTT BROWN: Great, Jay. It's good to be on.

LENO: I just talked to him back stage for about two seconds. You told me something amazing. Your dad was a frequent guest in our home. My dad hired your dad, and he was the new young insurance agent. Your dad would come to my house when I was a kid.

BROWN: That's right. And apparently your folks named your dog 'Bruce' after my dad.

LENO: That's right. I did have a collie named 'Bruce' after his dad. Well, say 'hi' to your father for me. Give him my best.

BROWN: I sure will. I will, Jay. Thank you.

LENO: Now are you ready for these 10 hard-hitting questions?

BROWN: I think so.

LENO: All right. Here we go. Number one: First thing you do in the morning?

BROWN: Well, after I obviously clean up, I work out. I probably swim throughout the week probably two miles, I bike about 95, and I run probably 15 to 20 miles a week. So you divide that by five or six, and that's how it works out.

LENO: God, that's another thing we have in common. This is unbelievable. I can't believe it.

Question number two: Have you ever stolen anything?

BROWN: Yes, I did. When I was 12, I hate to tell you, but I stole some records up at Lechmere, up in Middleton-Danvers area, and I put 'em in my farmer jeans. I got caught and went to the judge's chambers.

He said, 'Hey, I see you like music. What else do you do?' I said, 'Well, I like basketball.' He said, 'Are you good?' I said, 'Yeah, I’m really good.' He said, 'Do you have any brothers or sisters?' I said, 'Yeah I do.' He said, 'Do they look up to you?' 'Yes.' 'Do they love you?' 'Yes.' 'Well, how do you think they'd like to see you play basketball in jail?' And he had me write a 1,500-word essay. I wrote it, and I haven't done anything like that since. And it's a good reminder.

LENO: There you go. Very good. Very good.

Now, question number three: It's been widely publicized that while you were attending law school you posed for Cosmopolitan Magazine.

BROWN: Yeah.

LENO: Now if you would ever run for president... (Shot of the centerfold) God, that's another thing we have in common. If you were to ever run for president, would you consider doing it again to get female voters?

BROWN: Well, that's an interesting question, Jay. And the only reason I did it back in 1982 is because you weren't available, number one.

Leno: Yeah, that's right.

BROWN: And then, obviously, it's almost 30 years later. I'd probably have to do it for Mature Senior or AARP Magazine. So it's a little different now.

LENO: See, I didn't do it because they didn't want to spring for the extra flap for the magazine. All right.

Number four: A friend of mine from Massachusetts told me that car dealerships are having Scott Brown specials. What does that mean to the car dealership?

BROWN: Well, there's two of them actually, Jay. One is that you can buy a used GMC Canyon and you get a special deal. The other one, Jay, is this right here. (Holds up official Scott Brown toy truck) You've got the official Scott Brown truck and you're going to get the first one. These are available, too. So...

LENO: Really?

BROWN: So, there's two things going on. I'm gonna get you the first one.

LENO: How many miles do you got on your truck?

BROWN: 202,000.

LENO: Wow! Very good. Very good.

Number five: What movie have you watched the most, and can you recite a line from it?

BROWN: Well, I like a lot, all movies, but I've watched probably Rocky, 1 through 30, Rambo, 1 through 25. So, obviously you know, 'Adrian, Adrian. We did it. I did it.' So...

LENO: There you go. All right. So, you like the art house films.

BROWN: Yeah, yeah, they're really deep.

LENO: Number six: Your opponent Martha Coakley made a huge mistake not knowing that Curt Schilling played for the Red Sox. I think she said the Yankees. What was your biggest campaign blunder?

BROWN: Oh, gosh. Well, aside from forgetting to take the dogs out and coming home to a very messy house, a couple of times I just made some verbal gaffes, but nothing to worry about. But certainly nothing like the Red Sox gaffe. Curt Schilling is definitely a Red Sox fan.

LENO: OK. Number seven: Did you have a nickname growing up?

BROWN: Yeah, they called me 'Downtown Scotty Brown' when I played basketball because I enjoyed shooting first of all, all the time, but secondly, from behind the three-point line. But the difference is when I played, I hate to say it, they didn't even have the three-point line.

LENO: All right. Here you go: When was last time you talked to the President? And could you beat him one-on-one in basketball? You're about the same age and he's pretty fit, too.

BROWN: Well, he looks like he's in great shape. It would certainly be a tough game. But the only time I spoke to him was election night. And I did challenge him to pick his best, and I'll take my daughter, Ayla, who plays for Boston College. And we challenged him to a little two-on-two. I think we'd have the upper hand.

LENO: Really? Really? All right. You heard it. So that is a, that is a challenge going out tonight.

BROWN: Yes, absolutely.

LENO: All right. You heard it. All right.

BROWN: It'll be fun.

LENO: All right.

Number nine: Unlike your former opponent, Martha Coakley, you are a big Red Sox fan. In 15 seconds, can you name the starting five pitchers for the Red Sox in 2010? Starting five pitchers--

BROWN: Well, it's obviously up in the air a little bit. But you have Lester, Lackey, Buchholz, Beckett and Wakefield or... Let me see here, yeah, probably Wakefield or Daisuke.

LENO: All right. Very good, very good. OK.

Last question: A B or C-- When your daughters heard you say on election night that they are available, they were A) embarrassed, B) they laughed it off, C) got over 500 phone calls from John Edwards?

BROWN: I'd have to go with B. They laughed it off, and then they yelled at me. So...

LENO: There you go. Senator Brown, congratulations. Thank you for coming on.

BROWN: Thank you.

Video.

Jon Stewart: Obama's Teleprompter in Classroom

Jon Stewart managed to convince Keith Olbermann to take it down a notch when it comes to his demented smearing of Scott Brown.

Will Stewart's mocking of Obama setting up his podium and teleprompter in a 6th grade classroom prompt Obama's team to be more careful when it comes to selecting locations for photo ops next time?

The teleprompters and podium with the presidential seal set up in a classroom at Graham Road Elementary School looked terribly out of place, making Obama look terribly out of place and awkward.

Video.

JON STEWART: Anyhow, the President is trying to turn it around with a quick salt of the earth tour -- holding a town hall meeting, visiting a football helmet factory, and getting shitfaced in some small town bar.

But methinks it might be an uphill battle judging from this recent appearance in Mrs. Abramovich's 6th grade classroom.

(Clip)

OBAMA: I am pleased to be joined today by my outstanding Education Secretary, Arne Duncan.

(End clip)

STEWART: You set up the presidential podium and a teleprompter in a 6th grade classroom?

(Mocking Obama using his teleprompter, looking left and right) 'Here's what health care-- --means to you. --Let's say you develop coo-- --ties.'

I'm not a political adviser, campaign strategist, etc., but...that's not a great photo op in a middle school classroom, just like if you delivered an Oval Office speech from your nap mat. The teleprompter clashes with Billy R.'s construction paper house, even if it is an exact replica of the construction paper house he lives in since daddy's real house went away.

(Groans from audience)

Oh, yeah. I made up the economic conditions.

Now since you obviously don't have a Rove-type there advising you, let me give you a couple of image minefields to avoid: If you go to the Super Bowl, regular box seats will do. And if you want to listen to some music, buy an iPod like the rest of us.

It's good to see jokes being made at Obama's expense. They're so easy and obvious. They write themselves.

Howard Dean: Obama Not Liberal Enough

Howard Dean believes he knows why Scott Brown won in Massachusetts.

He told the BBC what went wrong for Obama.

HOWARD DEAN: I think the major thing is that the American people are very angry. They're angry at Washington. They're angry at the Wall Street establishment. And they elected and voted for Barack Obama because they wanted change. And what they got was a very convoluted health care bill with lots of compromising and special interest fights and partisan fights. And they didn't think they got a health care bill. That was part of it.

Wall Street people are getting big bonuses. It doesn't look like the government is taking them on. So, what you have is somewhat of a populist revolt here.

Howard Dean -- still crazy after all these years.

There is a revolt, but the Democrats don't understand it. At least they're claiming they don't understand it.

Can they be that clueless or is the spin just a desperate attempt to appear in control?

DEAN: This is not, contrary to what a lot of American pundits are talking about, this is not a revolt of the Right. This is Barack Obama's core base not thinking that we've done what he was asked to do.

There certainly are some radical Leftists upset with Obama for not pushing through an extremist agenda.

But what happened in Massachusetts and what happened in Virginia and New Jersey isn't about Obama not lurching far enough to the Left.

I really think the Dems are digging themselves into a deeper hole by suggesting the way to win back the support of the majority of Americans is by playing to the fringe Left.

Does Dean know that conservatives dramatically outnumber liberals in the American populace?

Independents are swinging to the Right, and away from the policies of the very liberal Obama.

Video.

Jon Stewart and Keith Olbermann

Keith Olbermann's attacks on Scott Brown have been disgraceful. He has been relentlessly spewing false accusations and engaging in extremely ugly name-calling.

But he was defiant, refusing to apologize for his totally unfounded, poisonous words. Instead of backing down, Olbermann continued to smear Brown, night after night.

Then, something happened that changed everything. Jon Stewart called out fellow lib Olbermann for being nonsensical in his remarks about Brown.

Here's Stewart's "special comment" about Olbermann:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
www.thedailyshow.com

Here's Olbermann's response to Stewart:



So Olbermann has seen the light. I suppose he knows if he's lost Stewart, he's lost the meager audience he does manage to attract. It's like Lyndon Johnson's Walter Cronkite Vietnam War moment.

Olbermann admits:

KEITH OLBERMANN: Fetid swamp you say, sir? This from a guy who reached his professional apex when he was the host of Short Attention Span Theater, 1991? Well, you want some baseless name-calling? You are... No, you know what? You're right. I have been a little over-the-top lately. Point taken. Sorry.

Olbermann is sorry.

For what?

Being an utter buffoon and so nuts that even politically like-minded Jon Stewart couldn't remain quiet about Olbermann's hateful comments?

He says he's been "a little over-the-top lately"?

Everything's wrong with that admission. Olbermann has been more than a little over-the-top and it's been a lot longer than lately.

Olbermann never apologizes to Scott Brown, nor does he specify exactly what he regrets and why.

This isn't an apology for his despicable remarks. Olbermann is making an appeal to Stewart to forgive him.

I think Olbermann couldn't stand being the object of ridicule by a fellow lib entertainer like Stewart. Entertainer Olbermann craves validation from Stewart and his followers. He doesn't care about Brown. He didn't suddenly develop a conscience and want to apologize for his lies.

Olbermann's "sorry" was a purely selfish act, intended to save his own sorry ass and regain favor among the Leftists. Stewart alerted Olbermann to the fact that he had pushed it too far.

If not for Stewart's mockery, Olbermann would never have acknowledged that he was "over-the-top."

What's really pathetic is that it took Stewart to get Olbermann to back off rather than someone at MSNBC or the NBC news division.

The network should be policing the crazed Olbermann, not Stewart.

Sykes for Senate

On his WTMJ radio program today, Charlie Sykes addressed the suggestion that he should jump into the U.S. senate race and challenge Wisconsin's radical Leftist senator, Russ Feingold.

About a week ago, Mark Belling started calling on Sykes to run.

This morning, Sykes played a clip from Belling's WISN talk show. I believe the clip was the first time Belling made the case for Sykes to take on the vulnerable Feingold. This was before Scott Brown beat Martha Coakley to become Massachusetts' next senator.

So far, the Republican Party of Wisconsin has failed to find a viable candidate to run against Feingold. It would be a flat-out dereliction of duty for the Party to permit Feingold to waltz his way to another term without having to face a credible opponent.

Sykes said he decided to discuss the topic of tossing his hat into the ring since people were inquiring, via e-mail, about the matter.

He agrees with Belling that the Republicans would be missing a tremendous opportunity if they didn't make a serious effort to get rid of Feingold in 2010.

Sykes offered a list of names he considers to be viable candidates: Paul Ryan, Mark Neumann, Mark Green, Scott Klug, Tim Michels, and Tommy Thompson.

Regarding his proposed candidacy, Sykes said, "At this point in time, I don't anticipate getting into the race."

He said he's having too much fun as a radio talk show host to give up his current gig.

During the discussion, Sykes repeated "at this point."

He sounded a lot like Hillary Clinton did when she was asked about running for president. I can still hear Tim Russert posing the question.

"At this point" and "I don't anticipate" certainly isn't a firm "not gonna do it."

So is Sykes seriously leaving the door open a little bit, or is he being a shrewd showman?

ObamaCare Chappaquiddick

Obama and George Stephanopoulos: Scott Brown (Video)

George Stephanopoulos interviews Obama and gets his take on Scott Brown's tremendous victory.

Video, from Breitbart.

Transcript

OBAMA: Here's my assessment of, of, not just the vote in Massachusetts, but the mood around the country: The same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office. People are angry and they're frustrated, not just because of what's happened in the last year or two years, but what's happened over the last eight years.

Oh, Obama, Obama, Obama.

The guy has got to stop going back to Bush. Obama doesn't get it. Every time he goes back to that tired old strategy he digs a deeper hole for himself.

Notice when Obama made that statement he did not stutter or say his characteristic "uh, uh, uh."

That means his "assessment" was rehearsed.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: What is the strategy on health care going forward?

OBAMA: Here's one thing I know, uh, and I just want to make sure that this is off the table: Uh, the Senate shouldn't, certainly shouldn't try to jam anything through until Scott Brown is seated. People in Massachusetts spoke. Uh, he's got to be part of that process.

At least the Dems understand that there would be a full-blown revolution if they tired to keep Brown out of the health care bill process.

What they need to understand is that the Massachusetts election turned into a national race. More than the people of Massachusetts spoke yesterday.

They also need to allow C-SPAN cameras in to document the health care talks.

Where's the transparency you promised, Barack?

Anthony Weiner: 'Pigs Fly'

Rep. Anthony Weiner, a New York Democrat, gives his analysis of what Scott Brown's victory means for the Democrats.

He thinks the Dem leaders really don't get it.

Video.


Weiner gets it.

Scott Brown and 'Available' Daughters

Scott Brown was clearly in a celebratory, jovial mood when he delivered his acceptance speech after winning the special election to fill the Senate seat that was held by the late Ted Kennedy.

He stuck to his prepared remarks for the most part. However, when he thanked his two daughters, Arianna and Ayla, Brown strayed a bit.

This is likely to get some attention since it's not often that an election night victory speech morphs into The Dating Game.

Video.



Transcript

SCOTT BROWN: And as always, I rely on Gail's love and support and that of our two lovely daughters. So I want to thank Gail and Arianna for their help as well.

And just in case, anybody who's watching throughout the country, yes, they're both available.

No, no, no. No, only kidding, only kidding. Only kidding, only kidding. Arianna's definitely not available, but Ayla is. This is Arianna. This is Ayla. I can see I'm gonna get in trouble when I get home.

Embarrassing?

Not really.

It was a lighthearted moment.

Scott Brown's Acceptance Speech (Video, Transcript)

Video of Scott Brown's acceptance speech:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Although he did stray from his script, here's the transcript of Scott Brown's acceptance speech, prepared remarks, January 19, 2010:

SCOTT BROWN: Thank you very much. I’ll bet they can hear all this cheering down in Washington, D.C.

And I hope they’re paying close attention, because tonight the independent voice of Massachusetts has spoken.

From the Berkshires to Boston, from Springfield to Cape Cod, the voters of this Commonwealth defied the odds and the experts. And tonight, the independent majority has delivered a great victory.

I thank the people of Massachusetts for electing me as your next United States senator.

Every day I hold this office, I will give all that is in me to serve you well and make you proud.

Most of all, I will remember that while the honor is mine, this Senate seat belongs to no one person and no political party - and as I have said before, and you said loud and clear today, it is the people’s seat.

Interim Senator Paul Kirk has completed his work as a senator by appointment of the governor, and for the work he has done, I thank him. The people, by their votes, have now filled the office themselves, and I am ready to go to Washington without delay.

I also want to thank Martha Coakley for her call of congratulations. A hard contest is now behind us, and now we must come together as a Commonwealth.

This special election came about because we lost someone very dear to Massachusetts, and to America. Senator Ted Kennedy was a tireless and big-hearted public servant, and for most of my lifetime was a force like no other in this state. His name will always command the affection and respect by the people of Massachusetts, and the same goes for his wife Vicki. There’s no replacing a man like that, but tonight I honor his memory, and I pledge my very best to be a worthy successor.

I said at the very beginning, when I sat down at the dinner table with my family, that win or lose we would run a race which would make us all proud. I kept my word and we ran a clean, issues oriented, upbeat campaign - and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

When I first started running, I asked for a lot of help, because I knew it was going to be me against the machine. I was wrong, it was all of us against the machine. And after tonight we have shown everyone that - now - you are the machine.

I'm glad my mom and dad, brothers, sisters, and so many family members are here tonight.

Once again, before I go any further, I want to introduce somebody very special... That is my wife, Gail.

And as you know, my wife Gail couldn't join me on the campaign trail because of her work as a Boston TV journalist. But I will let you in on a little secret. She didn't stay neutral today, and she voted for the winner. I rely as always, on Gail's love and support and that of our beautiful daughters.

Arianna will be returning a day or two late to her pre-med studies at Syracuse, because she’s been giving her all to this campaign. As always, Arianna and her sister Ayla have been a joy to Gail and me, and we're so grateful to them both. Even before her campaign performances, millions of Americans had already heard Ayla’s amazing voice on “American Idol.” As Boston College basketball fans know, she’s also pretty good on the court.

If the President thinks they’ve got basketball talent at the White House, I ask him to pick his best teammate and find some time to play two-on-two with Ayla and me.

I’m grateful to all those from across Massachusetts who came through for me even when I was a long shot. I especially thank a friend who was there with encouragement from the very beginning, and helped show us the way to victory - former Governor Mitt Romney.

I’ll never forget the help of another man who took the time to meet with me months ago - who told me I could win, and gave me confidence for the fight. It was all so characteristic of a truly great and heroic American, and tonight I thank my new colleague, Senator John McCain.

On a night like this, when so many people mark your name on a statewide ballot, you think back to the first people who gave you a chance and believed. For the trust they placed in me, and for all they have taught me, I thank my neighbors and friends in my Senate district and especially my hometown of Wrentham. The cause and victory that all America has seen tonight started right there with all of you.

Let me tell you when I first got the feeling something big was happening in this campaign. It was when I was driving along and spotted a handmade, Scott Brown yard sign that I hadn’t actually put there myself.

This little campaign of ours was destined for greater things than any of us knew, and the message went far beyond the name on the sign.

It all started with me, my truck, and a few dedicated volunteers. It ended with Air Force One making an emergency run to Logan. I didn't mind when President Obama came here and criticized me - that happens in campaigns. But when he criticized my truck, that's where I draw the line.

We had the machine scared and scrambling, and for them it is just the beginning of an election year filled with surprises. They will be challenged again and again across this country. When there’s trouble in Massachusetts, there’s trouble everywhere - and now they know it.

In every corner of our state, I met with people, looked them in the eye, shook their hand, and asked them for their vote. I didn’t worry about their party affiliation, and they didn’t worry about mine. It was simply shared conviction that brought us all together.

One thing is clear, voters do not want the trillion-dollar health care bill that is being forced on the American people.

This bill is not being debated openly and fairly. It will raise taxes, hurt Medicare, destroy jobs, and run our nation deeper into debt. It is not in the interest of our state or country - we can do better.

When in Washington, I will work in the Senate with Democrats and Republicans to reform health care in an open and honest way. No more closed-door meetings or back room deals by an out of touch party leadership. No more hiding costs, concealing taxes, collaborating with special interests, and leaving more trillions in debt for our children to pay.

In health care, we need to start fresh, work together, and do the job right. Once again, we can do better.

I will work in the Senate to put government back on the side of people who create jobs, and the millions of people who need jobs - and as President John F. Kennedy taught us, that starts with an across the board tax cut for individuals and businesses that will create jobs and stimulate the economy. It's that simple!

I will work in the Senate to defend our nation’s interests and to keep our military second to none. As a lieutenant colonel and 30-year member of the Army National Guard, I will keep faith with all who serve, and get our veterans all the benefits they deserve.

And let me say this, with respect to those who wish to harm us, I believe that our Constitution and laws exist to protect this nation - they do not grant rights and privileges to enemies in wartime. In dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them.

Raising taxes, taking over our health care, and giving new rights to terrorists is the wrong agenda for our country. What I've heard again and again on the campaign trail, is that our political leaders have grown aloof from the people, impatient with dissent, and comfortable in the back room making deals. And we can do better.

They thought you were on board with all of their ambitions. They thought they owned your vote. They thought they couldn’t lose. But tonight, you and you and you have set them straight.

Across this country, we are united by basic convictions that need only to be clearly stated to win a majority. If anyone still doubts that, in the election season just beginning, let them look to Massachusetts.

Fellow citizens, what happened in this election can happen all over America. We are witnesses, you and I, to the truth that ideals, hard work, and strength of heart can overcome any political machine. We ran a campaign never to be forgotten, and led a cause that deserved and received all that we could give it.

And now, because of your independence, and your trust, I will hold for a time the seat once filled by patriots from John Quincy Adams to John F. Kennedy and his brother Ted. As I proudly take up the duty you have given me, I promise to do my best for Massachusetts and America every time the roll is called.

I go to Washington as the representative of no faction or interest, answering only to my conscience and to the people. I’ve got a lot to learn in the Senate, but I know who I am and I know who I serve.

I’m Scott Brown, I'm from Wrentham, I drive a truck, and I am nobody’s senator but yours.

Thank you very much.

"I am nobody's senator but yours."

That sounds familiar. Herb Kohl has used that line forever.

Of course, in Kohl's case, it's a reference to his money. In Brown's case, it's a sincere pledge to be the voice of the people he represents.

The most newsworthy statement that Brown made in the speech was about being seated.

He said:

I spoke to interim Sen. Paul Kirk and he has completed his work as the senator. I spoke to Sen. Kirk and he was very gracious. He said that he would help in the transition. He welcomes me as soon as I can get there. And I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart. I want to thank him. I want to thank him very much. The people, as you know, by their votes, have now filled the office themselves and I'm ready to go to Washington without delay....

Brown is clear that he intends to get to work immediately in Washington. He's putting the Dems on notice. He won't tolerate being obstructed by their attempts to keep him from being seated. The Massachusetts voters also won't tolerate it.

Obama's First Year in Office

One year ago today at noon eastern time, Obama was inaugurated president of the United States.

We didn't know what kind of executive Obama would be. He had never been one. Sure, we had heard all his rhetoric and promises, but what sort of president would he be in reality?

Now, we know.

How you evaluate the 25 percent of Obama's presidency that he's completed depends on whether you're liberal or conservative, whether you favor his agenda or not.

From my perspective, in his first year, Obama has earned himself these labels:

Failure

Liar

Coward

Appeaser

Power grabber

Bad listener

Slow learner

Liberal extremist

Radical Leftist

Divisive

Weak

Ignorant

Cold

Cruel

Arrogant

Selfish

Thoughtless

Anti-life

Naive

Secretive

Unpopular

He hasn't been all bad, but I certainly don't give him a solid B+.

Am I better off today than I was a year ago?

No. Nooooooo, not all.

For Obama, the last 365 days have been the year of living failingly. Not cool.

What's interesting about his first year in office is liberals and conservatives alike find common ground in their disapproval of Obama. (Maybe he has brought us together a little bit.)

For conservatives, he's been the disaster we dreaded. Actually, he's worse than I thought he'd be. I really didn't think he would overreach to the extent that he has. What incredibly bad judgment! What poor planning!

For liberals and some of his supporters, he's been an utter disappointment. He broke his word to them again and again.

The Obama of Inauguration Day 2009 was a mythic figure. In reality, he wasn't up to the job. His many broken promises and flat-out lies made that clear. All that hope and change stuff was a facade. It sounded good but Obama's words were empty.

He could have accomplished anything he wanted. He had the Dems in the House and Senate to render Republicans powerless. NO Republicans had the ability to stand in Obama's way. They couldn't obstruct him. The only thing that prevented Obama and his radical Leftist flunkies from enacting their agenda was fear.

They went weak-kneed and wobbly because they feared they would lose power, that the people would turn on them. Their fears were justified. It's unfortunate that Obama succeeded in duping the American people into electing him. Thank God, they woke up. They're wide awake now. (Congratulations, Scott Brown!)

Obama as the post-racial, post-partisan president was a fairy tale. He's had one year to be transcendent, to rise above politics as usual.

He didn't deliver, plain and simple.

Maybe Obama has learned something this past year. Maybe he'll lose some of that arrogance. Maybe some humility will set in and he'll stop thinking of himself as a larger-than-life, historic figure in his own time.

The fact is Obama is very human, as revealed by his many, many screw-ups during his first year in office.

I suppose there's hope that he'll change, but I don't think he's ready to really listen to the people he was elected to serve. Even as he was handed that crushing defeat in Massachusetts (MASSACHUSETTS!), I don't think he'll get the message.

Bottom line: Americans don't approve of what Obama has done as president. He's lurched to the far Left. We don't like where he wants to take the country. We don't share his vision for America.

Obama can turn things around. He has three more years in office to get his act together. For the sake of the country, I hope he does.

It's kind of funny that the person in most need of change has turned out to be Obama himself.