During the holidays Clark called me and said, “Ed, you’re lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground.” And I said, “What?!?” And he said, “Oh, nevermind, it’s just something I’ve been working on with a client. It probably won’t go anywhere.
“The real reason I’m calling is this….” He went on to say that Jay Leno wanted to become a Podium Pundits contributor. Seemed odd at the time – after all, Jay isn’t known for his political views – but I figured we’d incorporate him into the scheme.
Then Clark explained that because of some bandwidth issues, we could only accommodate Jay if another contributor dropped off. As the low person on the totem pole, and a George W. Bush appointee, I would have to go….
No, wait, sorry. I’m having my “get paid $30 million for not working” fantasy again.
In truth, I do have to keep working, but I’m going to be doing it somewhere else and that means I won’t be contributing to Podium Pundits anymore.
And I’m leaving at a really interesting time. One year into the era of Obama (and the age of Podium Pundits), it remains to be seen how the president can leverage his considerable communications skills to advance his policy agenda, a task that will only grow more difficult with the crucial 41st Republican vote in the Senate.
As for the Republicans, will 2010 see the emergence of a new spokesperson for the party? Someone who currently holds an office, unlike the party’s most notable and bankable stars in 2009, former vice president Cheney and former governor Palin?
Will Republicans coalesce behind an appealing policy and rhetorical strategy they can employ to erode or overcome the Democratic majority in Congress?
In the face of widespread public disapproval and renewed Republican swagger, will Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid become even more shrill and polarizing, or will they lace their communications with the honeyed words of moderation?
And what about the banks? Can they survive their brush with death and the close scrutiny of politicians whose first instinct is always higher taxes and more regulation?
My guess is that Obama won’t get much done on the domestic scene; Republicans won’t find a leader smarter than Cheney or more exciting than Palin; Reid and Pelosi will spin their wheels trying to keep their grumpy caucuses together (while occasionally contributing an amusingly tone-deaf comment); and banks will keep making money and awkwardly telling the DC folks how smart and handsome and charming they are.
But what do I know? Until about 8:01 last night I didn’t think Scott Brown would actually win Ted Kennedy’s seat. Maybe yesterday’s upset is a sign that 2010 will be an extraordinary year in politics.
The past year has been a lot of fun, especially getting to read and converse with Vinca, Paul, Jeff, Mark, Josh, and Clark. I’m particularly grateful to Adam D’Luzansky of the White House Writers Group for launching this ship and keeping us from running aground on the shoals of WordPress.
And of course the success of this effort relies entirely on readers. Thank you for your time and your patience. I look forward to reading along with you in the months to come.
