Novak Criticizes White House
April 18, 2007 - 2:35amRobert Novak, nationally syndicated columnist, television news commentator and the self-acknowledged “Prince of Darkness” of the Washington press, spoke at Schwartz Auditorium last night.
In his opening remarks, Novak, who served in the Korean War and worked for 50 years in Washington, D.C., revealed the origin of his sinister moniker. “I believe in limited government, low taxes and individual economic freedom. And in Washington that makes you The Prince of Darkness. It may well make you The Prince of Darkness at Cornell,” said Novak.
In his speech, Novak offered an analysis of the 2006 Congressional power shift, a diagnosis of the struggling Republican Party and an evaluation of the upcoming presidential election.
Novak attributed the 2006 Democratic sweep in the House and Senate to failures of the Republican Party and resulting disillusionment of its members. In his analysis, Novak cited the unpopularity of the Iraq war, President Bush’s expansion of government, increases in entitlement program costs and failure to reform the tax system.
Regarding Iraq, Novak pointed out that historically, even successful wars have provoked the ire of American voters. “After two Democratic presidents won World War II, the first election was 1946. There was a Republican landslide,” he said.
Novak claimed that although he supports a global economy and free trade, it is not the job of the United States to spread democracy: “We can’t have the whole world our way. Let’s worry about security in the United States,” he said.
Novak also blamed a lack of strong party leadership for the Republican decline. “There’s not a leader in the Republican Party to enunciate the issues. I once said that George W. Bush has got the smallest vocabulary of any president I knew. It doesn’t make me popular at the White House, but the truth is that he isn’t the most articulate man, and the presidency is a leadership role where you must articulate yourself,” said Novak.
Novak went on to discuss the chief difficulties of the two Democratic frontrunners.
“Senator [Hillary] Clinton [(D-N.Y.)] is smart. She thinks she would be a much better president than her husband. She thinks she’s smarter, better read, and she’s a lot more disciplined. I know both Clintons, and I’ll tell you something: Bill Clinton is one of the most likeable people I’ve ever met. Hillary is not likeable.”
According to Novak, what Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) lacks in experience, he makes up for in popularity. “He’s only been in the Senate a couple of years, nobody knows him. And people love him,” said Novak.
But, Novak said, Obama’s race may affect his political career: “Senator Obama is an African American. Does that mean he can or cannot be elected president? We don’t know. Don’t pay attention to the polls. You call up someone and say, ‘Would you vote for an African-American for president?’ guy says, ‘No I wouldn’t, I’m prejudiced.’ Nobody says that.”
Novak identified the lack of a dominant candidate as the primary challenge for Republicans. “This is the first election since 1952 where the President or Vice President of the United States is not running for either President or Vice President. All new people,” Novak said.
Novak’s speech evoked a number of student reactions.
“He had a sense of humor and let us know very directly how he found leaders of both parties. I found I really liked him because he is comfortable with what he believes in and is willing to give us an informed opinion flavored with his point of view. Like Helen Thomas, he likes being a journalist because he likes to cause trouble, however he is no Republican nut job,” said Ryan Gomez ’09
“I’m interested in both journalism and politics and so obviously, he’s a pretty huge figure. I thought it was real interesting. I don’t know a lot about him personally, and so it was good to hear what he thought about various issues — especially from such an insider in D.C. It was good to hear about both races,” said Tristen Cramer ’09.
Bush and the White House all
Yes, the country gone to hell. The Republicans Congress felt loyalty to Bush was more important than their loyalty to the country and its citizens. Bush "protecting" us from terrorism while the borders remain unsecured. Bush allowing border patrols to be locked up while known drug traffickers are given immunity, Drug traffickers allowed to bring in Drugs to get the whole country stoned out of their minds, Bush allowing illegal immigrants to enter the country so his friends can exploit them and "dummying" down the wages of Americans, load the judicial system with Republicans Bushies so if any Republican Bushies got caught the case would be dropped.
citizens, Bush allowing the trade deficit with China as China poison the USA citizens, We are the "richest" country in the world but yet Bush borrows money from China to wage his war of choice Iraq War. Impeach already what more does Bush has to do to get impeached? The next President will try these same stunts and have Bush fiasco as precedent "why he/she cant be impeached?
Consider other memebers of this administration who aren't getting the headlines, would you trust them? They know what is going and but choosing to remain silent. What about the firms who will hire these folks, would you trust the judgement of these firms??
On another note the DOJ, would you trust that department to do the right thing? Do they know what is right? Those attorneys who are left are they ethical, honest, and law abiding? I think not as some of them knew or know what is going on and choosing to remain silent. Isnt that complicity to the fact and after the fact?
Those attorneys, when they leave the public sector and go into private practice, are they trust worthy? What you want them as your attorney? What about the firm that hires them? The firm knows the attorney history or should know the history before hiring, would you trust the judgement of the firm??
Bush and his administration needs to be IMPEACHED NOW RATHER THAN LATER.
What is Novak talking about?
What is Novak talking about when he said there was a Republican landslide in 1946? Truman (Democrat) was the President from 1945-1953.
MIDTERM
Republicans gained 55 House seats and 12 Senate seats in the 1946 midterms. http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/busch/06/1946.html
What Novak is talking about
@Helen,
The internet is your friend:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_elections,_1946
The Donks lost 54 seats, the "Progressives" lost their only seat, and the GOP gained 55, leaving the Republicans with 56.5% of the seats.
THE PRINCE of DARKNESS
Many of Novak's statements are not based on fact. He is a divisive force to our nation and right now our nation needs unity. We don’t need his, "doom and gloom" voice on our college campuses. At this time, especially after Virginia Tech, we need encouragement, not the Prince of Darkness.
china poison
Hi,
I was disturbed by the Chinese disregard for animals when melamine was found in animal feed and shipped in wheat gluten to the US and other places around the world. It made me think these people could be more dangerous than any Ben Ladin. What's preventing them from doing other things? Well here we go. Using diethylene glycol (anti freeze) as a substitute for glycerin is their latest trick. Nice thought to purposely mislabel it and sell it as the real thing so humans can be poisoned
Do we actually think that these people will adhere to any ethical standards? Do you think they would not use some type of poisonous substance in dishes, fabric or whatever you can think of? Do you think they give a damn? If we keep on buying Chinese goods because they are cheap we will all end up with hands growing out of our livers in a few years.
As for me I will no longer buy anything that I even suspect has originated in or has passed through that greedy country. Perhaps we should think back to history and rethink the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 only this time we should exclude the goods.
I have attached the NYtimes article of today may 5th 2007. It is quite lengthy so I also have the URL noted below. ( I think the url is only good for a few days and then it becomes archival and costs money to read)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/world/06poison.html?hp
I'm passing this on to as many people as I can. I think it's important. I think you should pass it on as well.
ks Morton