I just did a spot on Leno, ya know the whole left coast thing, Kimmel, Jillian what's her name, blah, blah, blah


This book with Bush on the cover is a little gift for Keith Olbermann.


Hispanics are the new Black.


And the heavens opened up...


On Friday, January 16, The Los Angeles Journalists Association welcomed Chuck Todd, the newly appointed White House correspondent for NBC, who made his mark during the primary and general Presidential election by handicapping the candidates with detached and sterile analysis, to discuss his new book, "How Barack Obama Won." 

The viewers of MSNBC will remember Todd for his matter of fact delivery of the numbers, the numbers from the never ending polls that became breast milk to the hungry public weighing and measuring every inch and breadth of the ever eventful race.

At the reception, Todd was much like he is on the news, relaxed and unfazed by his new found celebrity.  He arrived at the event right after taping a segment for the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.  When asked how he felt by some websites and web trolls who have dubbed him a sex symbol, he coyly waved off the suggestion and rubbed his red goatee.

How did Barack Obama win?  Todd offered no surprise answers, that is, not if you followed the ad nauseum political coverage and round table of pundits who spittled and spattled the same analysis and jargon.

Jill Stewart, Politcal Editor for the L.A. Weekly, hosted the hour long question and answer session.

Todd in his own words:

"Barack Obama ran a brilliant campaign but also benefited from Hillary Clinton and John McCain's screw ups.  The election was as it should have been for any Democrat.  Point is. it was a Democratic year, still you had to run a smart campaign."

"Hillary Clinton and John McCain never built an organization.  Hillary Clinton made a web video and John Mc cain went on the Tonight show.  They never told us why they wanted to be President.  It was as if they were owed it.  Barack Obama wrote down why he wanted to be President and made the case why he was the change from Bush."

"Barack Obama did a 48 state campaign, John McCain did a 4 state campaign.  There was denial in McCain's camp.  They kept saying if we lose Indiana we lose the election.  Then they said if we lose Montana we lose the election, and they just went on like that, if we lose North Dakota, if we lose North Carolina and so on...."

"if John McCain made an item pledge, like run for one term, he may have had a chance."

"The country did not re-align but a mild mannered Africa-American was just the way to go for the mid-West."

I asked Jill and Chuck if they thought there would be a milestone made in journalism, and more diversity will be reflected in the political news coverage and Todd was quite reflective.

"I think Obama's Presidency will force more news organizations reach out to Blacks but I think four years from now we'll be talking about Hispanics, they are a real force now."

Jill Stewart's outlook about diversity in the news room was not as bright. :

"I don't think you'll see many Blacks in print news rooms until the universities produce enough Blacks and Latinos with good writing and analytical skills.  The good ones are always snapped up by the big corporations.  We can't afford them."

On that note, I will hope for a realignment in the world of journalism, so that a mild mannered African American can one day break that glass ceiling.  If there can be a Black President of the United States, surely one of our universities can produce a writer skilled enough to helm an alternative paper, chock full of personal ads.