Press Resurrects Calculating Hillary of Yore

It's become an aristocracy, or entertainment, depending who you read

(NEWSER) - Chelsea Clinton’s hiring at NBC prompted an inspired rant from Glenn Greenwald on Salon . Pointing out the fact that NBC has also hired Jenna Bush, Meghan McCain, and Luke Russert, Greenwald writes, “I really don’t understand what those angry, lazy losers in the Occupy movement are so upset about. America is a meritocracy,” and everyone who has anything certainly earned it. “When all else fails, we have a media filled with insurgent outsiders who will be relentless watchdogs over those in power." And that media? Also diverse—as evidenced by Clinton’s previous work at a hedge fund and her ties to Goldman Sachs. More»

(NEWSER) - "Mouthpiece Theater" is no more. The Washington Post today killed the video-spoof series hosted by political reporters Dana Milbank and Chris Cillizza after they drew flak for suggesting that Hillary Clinton drink "Mad Bitch" beer. The reporters offered separate apologies and promised to stick to their strengths—print. "I regret that we put up that image," Milbank said, "and while I highly doubt the secretary of state has seen 'Mouthpiece Theater,' I would be honored to have the opportunity to apologize to her over a beer." More»

Pundits offer wide-ranging report card

(NEWSER) - On President Obama’s 100th day in office, Mark Halperin of Time provides a White House report card:

• Barack Obama: A-. “Instantly comfortable and highly skilled at the hardest job in the world.”
• Joe Biden: A-: Operates "precisely in the manner he and Obama discussed before he accepted the position."
• Hillary Clinton: A-. “A significant, powerful, worldly, respected figure.”
• Tim Geithner: C-. “Still lacks constituency support where it counts.”
• Michelle Obama: A+. “Aced the traditional role of First Lady while simultaneously modernizing the office.”

(NEWSER) - Reporters are already writing up advance analyses of how each of the two presidential candidates achieved victory next Tuesday—to be ready for either outcome. Slate has a little fun imagining some of the other scenarios that might have played out:

• Hillary Clinton claimed a historic win after John McCain's oft-used phrase, "lipstick on a pig," insulted voters—and his VP pick, a black police lieutenant form small-town Maryland, backfired on him.

New message attacks pundits, not Obama

(NEWSER) - The Clinton campaign’s new chief target is the media that’s left it for dead, Politico reports. Hillary Clinton’s speeches, ads, and discussions with supporters and superdelegates now focus on what she considers the pundits’ premature verdict that Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee. Her camp hopes the strategy will spark a backlash vote in remaining primaries and turn the tide of superdelegates that seems to be heading Obama’s way. More»