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| Former Rep. Travis Childers (D-MS) |
Politico: Politico did an absolutely fascinating article about the deterioration of the presidential cabinet over the past two decades, and in particular in the past five years, in terms of power. Considering our discussion this morning regarding the President and the DC establishment, it's must read (even though it's admittedly pretty long).
Huffington Post: Proving that class is a four-letter-word in the Republican Party, Ken Cuccinelli never called to concede the Virginia governor's race to Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe. These sorts of stories bug me so severely, because it shows that the worst that people believe in politicians is true, and completely makes me wonder why someone like Cuccinelli ever got into politics in the first place. Seriously-concessions are one of the only times in politics where you can be gracious without being a jerk or having it affect your electoral outcome, but clearly Cuccinelli isn't aware of that fact.
San Francisco Chronicle: Former Rep. Travis Childers (D-MS) is considering a run for the Democratic nomination for the Senate in Mississippi. Mississippi, obviously one of the reddest states in the country, doesn't really pose much hope for the Democrats, but this is interesting for two reasons. One, and most importantly, Sen. Thad Cochran (R) is the only senator left who hasn't announced whether he will run for another term yet (my gut says he's leaving, but Cochran has been in the Senate so long I can't quite believe that he'd finally retire) and two, an open seat could bring out the Tea Party crazies (there would be an onslaught of Republicans trying to get promoted, as all of the statewide officials wouldn't have to give up their seats to run). Aside from Attorneys General Mike Moore and Jim Hood, the Democratic bench in the state is thin and since neither of those two men seem like they'll ever run for higher office, Childers is a decent insurance policy in case the GOP goes with a Christine O'Donnell.
New York Times: In the nastiest Senate primary not just of the cycle, but perhaps in a few cycles, Liz Cheney's sister Mary, who is openly gay, has come out admonishing her sister for her sharp anti-gay marriage turn in the Wyoming Senate race. Everything about Liz Cheney's decision to primary Mike Enzi seems utterly wrong to me. She could have so easily been a candidate in Virginia if not next year, than against Tim Kaine in 2018 or for the open governor's race in 2017, and stayed pro-gay marriage. Now she's in a race she's almost certain to lose and in the process has alienated her own family. It's an ugly turn, and one that is going to ruin her political career before it even starts.
In Entertainment...
Hitfix: Hitfix gives a list of the different directors that have gone three-in-a-row with Best Picture nominees, considering that Alexander Payne, The Coen Brothers, and David O. Russell are all in the hunt for back-to-back-to-back Best Picture nominations. As I mentioned earlier this week, I think at least two, if not three, will become part of this trivia.
Vulture: Roxane Gay wrote a fascinating essay about how, even in a year where films starring African-Americans have dominated the Oscar landscape, the Academy still seems to be in a rut regarding what "types" of films are able to gain traction with AMPAS voters. It will be interesting to see the reception to Black Nativity, which is the only prominent remaining film starring predominantly African-American actors of the year that could have some love from the Oscar (albeit likely in the Best Song category only) even though it isn't mentioned in the article, and if it falls under Gay's "Non-Suffering" argument.
Hollywood Reporter: Let's be honest, we're all waiting for the Actress Roundtable, but in the meantime, catch up with Steve McQueen, Alfonso Cuaron, Ben Stiller (I don't know why either), Lee Daniels, Paul Greengrass, and David O. Russell.
In Adventuring...
CNN: NASA recently released photos of Earth and Saturn. As I've mentioned about 10,000 times, I think that further funding for NASA and space research would be a worthwhile investment, if for no other reason that to advance scientific studies of the cosmos. This is a beautiful reminder.
Just One More...
It's hard to pinpoint which video should get this slot from last night's Governors Awards (okay, it's easy, but let's pretend I'm not horribly biased by one of my favorite actresses ever winning the award). Don't you love that Claudia Cardinale (standing ovation!) accepted for Piero Tosi and that George Lucas presented the Hersholt to Angelina Jolie (how random-have they ever even met?). For me, though, it was Robert Osborne giving Angela Lansbury her long overdue Oscar, in which she name checks everyone from Bette Davis to Kate Hepburn to Clark Gable (seriously-you have to watch this):
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