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You are here: Home / This Really Says It All

This Really Says It All

by John Cole|  July 11, 200810:12 am| 155 Comments

This post is in: Mainstream Media's McCain Mancrush

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Despite the dozens of slip-ups, gaffes, flip-flops, and other pretty glaring mistakes made by the McCain campaign, an overall disastrous performance, Time’s Mark Halperin declares the week a win for… McCain and Republicans (.pdf).

Not only that, but McCain won every metric Halperin used to judge, save one, the economy. On that, even with Gramm’s “whiner” comments and the tanking market and skyrocketing costs of fuel (now at $147 a barrel) and McCain’s calling Social Security a disgrace, Halperin did not see fit to score that a win for the Democrats. He called it a tie.

Screw it. I am going outside to get some sun. I am going to break my computer if I keep reading this crap. Liberal media, my ass.

*** Update ***

This is how I am feeling about the media right now:

I am the one in the raincoat.

*** Update #2 ***

More McBullshit:

It turns out that John McCain made an off-the-mark error when he launched at Barack Obama this week over Iran’s missile tests.

In a statement criticizing Obama’s positions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the organization claiming credit for the missile launches, McCain wrote, “This is the same organization that I voted to condemn as a terrorist organization when an amendment was on the floor of the United States Senate. Senator Obama refused to vote.”

The problem with the critique? McCain also missed that vote on the Kyl-Lieberman amendment on September 26, 2007. Records show that Obama was in New Hampshire and McCain was in New York instead of being in the Senate chamber for the vote in question.

The McCain campaign admits the error but points to their candidate’s tough stance against the country President Bush once grouped into the “axis of evil.”

But, you know, Halperin probably knows something we don’t.

*** Update #3 ***

The lying just never stops.

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Reader Interactions

155Comments

  1. 1.

    The Moar You Know

    July 11, 2008 at 10:18 am

    For those in a non-computer-breaking mood, head on over to http://www.gopplatform2008.com and offer suggestions on what you think should be issues they should incorporate into their platform.

    You could, let’s say, advocate the privatization of Social Security. Or extending our stay in Iraq.

    You can use Mailinator accounts there. Be sure to have fun!

  2. 2.

    cleek

    July 11, 2008 at 10:19 am

    sounds like somebody wants to be McCain’s little love donut.

  3. 3.

    Ryan S.

    July 11, 2008 at 10:21 am

    Liberal media, my ass.

    Ahh, I see you’ve finally figured out second biggest lie ever told in the last 30 years.

  4. 4.

    Ron Beasley

    July 11, 2008 at 10:24 am

    I was really surprised when NBC gave a really balanced report on the Gramm comments this morning. After showing the clip of McSame disavowing Gramm’s statements they played several clips of McSame praising gramm.

  5. 5.

    El Cid

    July 11, 2008 at 10:24 am

    I hate these people. I really, really do. McCain doesn’t even have to give them a dry rub (?) any more, they just enjoy it from memory now.

  6. 6.

    norbizness

    July 11, 2008 at 10:24 am

    Troubled by reality? Are facts making your bowels irritable? Well, ask your doctor about a daily regimen that includes exercise, self-administered electroconvulsive shock therapy, and a little purple pill called Halperin™ . Side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, and becoming dumber than a fucking stump.

  7. 7.

    rob!

    July 11, 2008 at 10:25 am

    do you think if Mark Halperin writes a blog telling John McCain how much he likes him, McCain will ask him to the prom? *excited giggles*

    if you look at Halperin’s notebook, it has “Mrs. Mark Halperin-McCain” written over and over and over…

  8. 8.

    El Cid

    July 11, 2008 at 10:26 am

    norbizness ftw

  9. 9.

    Crusty Dem

    July 11, 2008 at 10:32 am

    I tried to load up the Halperin page, but computer wouldn’t load it. I would normally attribute it to a wireless goof or Firefox 3 loading problem, but in this case, I’ll just assume the unbelievable load of dung was just more than it was willing to take.

  10. 10.

    Brachiator

    July 11, 2008 at 10:33 am

    Despite the dozens of slip-ups, gaffes, flip-flops, and other pretty glaring mistakes made by the McCain campaign, an overall disastrous performance, Time’s Mark Halperin declares the week a win for… McCain and Republicans.

    As usual, the real losers are the American people, who have to deal with perpetually puerile pundits, whose coverage of the presidential race just can’t even rise to the level of merely shallow.

  11. 11.

    The Moar You Know

    July 11, 2008 at 10:35 am

    rob! Says:

    do you think if Mark Halperin writes a blog telling John McCain how much he likes him, McCain will ask him to the prom? excited giggles

    if you look at Halperin’s notebook, it has “Mrs. Mark Halperin-McCain” written over and over and over…

    I bet it does, written in-between the barbeque stains.

    The press is getting deliveries of kneepads by the semi-trailer load. If a Dem had run this disatrous of a campaign, the media would have staged a real-live state funeral for them already. Instead, we get more slobber on McCain’s knob and a million reasons why Obama’s campaign is cratering.

    At least the press is no longer pretending not to have chosen up sides in this election, which I guess is a good thing.

  12. 12.

    cleek

    July 11, 2008 at 10:42 am

    b.t.w., at least one of the candidates is not a natural born US citizen. guess which one.

    go ahead, guess

  13. 13.

    Ripley

    July 11, 2008 at 10:43 am

    Mark Halperin is a national treasure. A NATIONAL FUCKING TREASURE!

    Wait, sorry… I was thinking of someone else.

  14. 14.

    El Cid

    July 11, 2008 at 10:45 am

    It’s a good thing we don’t depend on these guys for our sports reporting.

  15. 15.

    Scott H

    July 11, 2008 at 10:45 am

    Who ever said the media was “liberal” except the reactionary talking point scabs? I don’t even see where one can wade into the argument; there isn’t one. It’s cod slapped to the face self-evident that the media isn’t liberal and that it hasn’t been.

  16. 16.

    The Moar You Know

    July 11, 2008 at 10:47 am

    cleek Says:

    b.t.w., at least one of the candidates is not a natural born US citizen. guess which one.

    go ahead, guess
    July 11th, 2008 at 10:42 am

    Obama, cuz he’s black and has a funny name. Blacks aren’t citizens, right?

    /reichtard

  17. 17.

    Scotty

    July 11, 2008 at 10:53 am

    Halperin obviously plagiarized everything the talking heads have been saying this week. Especially on the ‘Public Image’ and ‘Iraq’ points.

  18. 18.

    rawshark

    July 11, 2008 at 10:54 am

    Colin Cowherd mentioned on air the other day that Obama will cost him almost $200000 in taxes, so he’s voting for McCain.

    According to the MSM McCain had a great week in spite of reality.

    Connection?

    Do people who spout off about the amount they will have to pay in taxes if Obama is elected have any idea how that sounds to those of us who have had no tax break and had to pay our full fair share all these years while we’ve been at war and the economy was collapsing?

  19. 19.

    Zifnab

    July 11, 2008 at 10:55 am

    THIS CAN ONLY BE GOOD!
    FOR HILLARY MCCAIN!

    Yeah, so Halperin is a hack. Also, dog bites man.

  20. 20.

    tiny flags for all

    July 11, 2008 at 10:56 am

    Mark Halperin is the perfect example of a journalist whose entire career has existed by the graces of Republican Washington, from his sources, to the best parties, to his thinking on every topic. I can’t wait to see his ass frozen out when those goons flee DC.

    Of course, he’ll still write some sort of gabblebabble, but the rest of DC can stop pretending he’s got magical insight.

  21. 21.

    Face

    July 11, 2008 at 10:56 am

    At least the press is no longer pretending not to have chosen up sides in this election, which I guess is a good thing.

    Yep. When the enemy is out in the open, they’re easier to fight. At least there’ll be no pretense of non-bias and balanced coverage. At least its love for McCain so obvious as to be openly mocked and ridiculed.

  22. 22.

    cyntax

    July 11, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Liberal media, my ass.

    Yeah, but I really got to hand it to the f*ckers that got that meme implanted in the national consciousness. That one is never going away. And the media bends over backwards to compensate for a bias that doesn’t exist.

    Brilliant–now where’s that bloody mary?

  23. 23.

    evie

    July 11, 2008 at 11:07 am

    What in the hell was that movie? And why was the guy so pissed?

    But yeah, I loathe the media. When I saw Halperin’s piece earlier, all I could do was laugh. I laughed out loud, because it summed things up perfectly. Jackson’s comment, which meant absolutely nothing to no one, got 84x the coverage of “social security is a disgrace” and “nation of whiners” put together.

  24. 24.

    Duros Hussein 62

    July 11, 2008 at 11:08 am

    I tried to load up the Halperin page, but computer wouldn’t load it.

    Firefox self-preservation. It’s a feature, not a bug.

    Mark Halperin is a national treasure. A NATIONAL FUCKING TREASURE!

    Wait, sorry… I was thinking of someone else.

    Mark Hamill, right?

  25. 25.

    Teak111

    July 11, 2008 at 11:10 am

    For all my hope, I have a sinking feeling, just like 2004, just like 2000. We are not the majority and they are easily convinced. Mother in laws, father in law, father, good friends even all voting for McCain. I see a drooling old man verging on creepy and see somebody safe and white.

    Only my dear old mum sees the potential of Obama and change.

    Its depressing really. But we are the coastal elites, college educated white color workers. And we are a small minority in the country.

  26. 26.

    tom.a

    July 11, 2008 at 11:13 am

    Halperin obviously plagiarized everything the talking heads have been saying this week.

    Halperin isn’t plagiarizing anyting, you should hear him on that crappy MSNBC David Gregory show Race for the Whitehouse. He’s the source of a lot of this. When he’s not trying to be funny he’s usually propping up McCain (as Gregory does almost by reflex).

  27. 27.

    Zifnab

    July 11, 2008 at 11:17 am

    Its depressing really. But we are the coastal elites, college educated white color workers. And we are a small minority in the country.

    Eventually, the majority becomes unemployed. And then progressive candidates start looking better and better. The war has… what? A 30% approval rating? And that’s higher than Bush’s 28%. It’s really only a matter of time before the bottom falls out on this. My office is dominated by ex-Republicans. They’re voting Obama virtually to a man.

  28. 28.

    Scott H

    July 11, 2008 at 11:18 am

    Give you favorite anti-Roosevelt dinosaurs (and their scabs) a stroke. If you’re in driving distance of John Cole’s stomping grounds come to Arthurdale, West Virginia tomorrow (Saturday, July 12) for the 74th anniversary celebration.

  29. 29.

    Gregory

    July 11, 2008 at 11:23 am

    the media bends over backwards to compensate for a bias that doesn’t exist.

    I disagree. The right has certainly used that tendency in the past to avoid scrutiny and inject its memes into the media — I give you the phony but outrage-inducing term “partial birth abortion,” which the media adopted without questioning whether the such a thing even actually exists — but in today’s “Matt Drudge Rules Our World” era, the media is actively shilling for the GOP. Occasionally — as in some analysis of the coverage of the march to war in Iraq — they’ll even admit it, however ruefully.

    It may be a directive from their corporate owners, it may be a terminal lack of professional pride, it may be silly mancrushes or hunger for BBQ, it may be because they’re access groupies or it may be because they’re dumber than a bag of hammers, but McCain committed at least four campaign-ending blunders this week, and the media barely notices. No Democrat would get such a free pass for even one of them.

    I’ll echo John — “liberal media,” my ass.

  30. 30.

    Lushboi

    July 11, 2008 at 11:24 am

    American Psycho is one of the most twistedly funny films I’ve ever seen.

    Oh, and fuck McCain!

  31. 31.

    srv

    July 11, 2008 at 11:25 am

    The creators of The Wire now bring you Generation Kill.

    ppGaz will no doubt not watch it and tell us how unrealistic it is.

  32. 32.

    Rome Again

    July 11, 2008 at 11:28 am

    Liberal media, my ass.

    John, I can’t remember, did you ever use this kind of reasoning yourself against Dems back in the day? Something tells me you wouldn’t, but maybe I’m wrong. I’m just curious.

  33. 33.

    Scott H

    July 11, 2008 at 11:35 am

    Do you think there will ever be a media meme of John McCain’s “Rev. Wright moments?”

  34. 34.

    Octavian

    July 11, 2008 at 11:35 am

    I’d complain some more about the ridiculous behavior of our media, but I have to return some videotapes.

  35. 35.

    D.N. Nation

    July 11, 2008 at 11:41 am

    Dear op/ed stenographers, giggly Time columnists, Glenn Reynolds, etc.:

    http://electoral-vote.com/

    Look at that for a while. You can huff, and you can puff, but you couldn’t even knock a matchstick over.

  36. 36.

    JenJen

    July 11, 2008 at 11:49 am

    I really need to watch “American Psycho” again. :-)

  37. 37.

    John Cole

    July 11, 2008 at 11:51 am

    John, I can’t remember, did you ever use this kind of reasoning yourself against Dems back in the day? Something tells me you wouldn’t, but maybe I’m wrong. I’m just curious.

    I never bought into the notion of the liberal media. I still don’t.

    And in all honesty, I am not sure if this is bias against Democrats or merely a result ofmany of them being in the tank for McCain after years of his schmoozing and wining and dining them

  38. 38.

    cleek

    July 11, 2008 at 11:54 am

    Mark Halperin is a national treasure. A NATIONAL FUCKING TREASURE!

    Wait, sorry… I was thinking of someone else.

    maybe Mark Helprin ? he actually is a national treasure. a fan-fucking-tastic writer.

  39. 39.

    Craig Pennington

    July 11, 2008 at 11:55 am

    Colin Cowherd mentioned on air the other day that Obama will cost him almost $200000 in taxes, so he’s voting for McCain.

    …

    Do people who spout off about the amount they will have to pay in taxes if Obama is elected have any idea how that sounds to those of us who have had no tax break and had to pay our full fair share all these years while we’ve been at war and the economy was collapsing?

    Especially given that the putative increase in his taxes is more than the gross income of 98+% of American taxpayers. The arrogant fuck.

  40. 40.

    Nylund

    July 11, 2008 at 11:58 am

    John, as you know, the conservatives love to talk about the “liberal media” and the liberals love to talk about the lack of liberal voices. Since you’ve been privvy to blogging from both sides of the aisle, I’d be really interested in your opinion on the media.

    My personal theory is that the media is just incompetent, lazy, and stupid, so both sides see the media failing to accurately describe their side, and therefore assume it must be biased in favor of the other side, when really, they’re doing a pretty crappy job all around and calling that “balance”. If I had to describe the bias one way or another, I’d say the media is just lazy and re-prints talking points and that the GOP is a bit better at unifying and distributing their message, which give the GOP a media advantage, but if the dems could be that unscrupulous as well, the media would lazily report that too.

    But seriously, your “i’ve seen both sides” perspective would really interest me. It may take going through your archives to remind yourself of what you thought at the time.

  41. 41.

    Dreggas

    July 11, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    Craig Pennington Says:

    Especially given that the putative increase in his taxes is more than the gross income of 98+% of American taxpayers. The arrogant fuck.

    I couldn’t give a rats ass what that dick has to pay in Taxes if Obama is elected. He should have been saving all these years given the tax breaks he got from bush.

  42. 42.

    Punchy

    July 11, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    Colin Cowherd mentioned on air the other day that Obama will cost him almost $200000 in taxes, so he’s voting for McCain.

    CC is the Rush Limbaugh of sports radio. Unabashed Republican. Terrible talk show host to boot.

  43. 43.

    asl

    July 11, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    John, quit reading the comic strips! I read this morning that Zogby has McCain only three points ahead in Obama in ARIZONA, partly due to Barr. I find that hard to believe, but it still made me whimsical for a moment.

  44. 44.

    Dennis - SGMM

    July 11, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    Especially given that the putative increase in his taxes is more than the gross income of 98+% of American taxpayers. The arrogant fuck.

    Fuckin’ Commie whiners, next you’ll be saying that Cowherd doesn’t need a Gucci douche bag.

  45. 45.

    SamFromUtah

    July 11, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    My personal theory is that the media is just incompetent, lazy, and stupid…

    I wouldn’t disagree, but I think the fact that all the mainstream outlets are owned by defense contractors has something to do with their presentation of the news.

  46. 46.

    Chris Johnson

    July 11, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    If you have two people and one is consciously working a strategy where they beat up the other one and say any shit they want without any consideration of morals or merit, the correct response is not to take an average and conclude that the answer is to halfway beat up on the guy and say half the bullshit is true.

    It’s more complicated when both of the people will happily lie and say that the other one is the shit-saying one.

    It’s even MORE complicated when you get into battles of ideals like socialist entitlement society versus freemarket Randroid anarchocapitalism. You have to be able to get data in some direct way, and you have to draw conclusions from it even when everybody’s hype is hopelessly confusing. People with an agenda can really spin the fuck out of anything.

    For that reason I’m less interested in John’s take on how biased the media really is, and I’m more interested in what data points he can come up with that show a fucked-up attitude.

    For instance, if a Randite came around arguing that Chile was a great economic miracle, and cited a bunch of data, and I later learned the provider of that data went to jail for fraud for lying about the data, that would be a great counterargument. Anytime people have to fall back on, “Well it’s still true in a HIGHER sense” it’s great.

    I’m just sad that so many people have learned (from politics in general!) that there is a strategy in continuing to bullshit even after you’ve been busted for it. I feel this really undermines people’s ability to arrive at any coherent point of view at all.

  47. 47.

    rawshark

    July 11, 2008 at 12:21 pm

    John Cole Says:

    I never bought into the notion of the liberal media. I still don’t.

    And in all honesty, I am not sure if this is bias against Democrats or merely a result ofmany of them being in the tank for McCain after years of his schmoozing and wining and dining them

    It’s economics. Which candidate is better for their wallet? Don’t bother with the noise (the republican is in showing out again), the answer is simple and right in front of your face. Same with pro atheletes, it’s always about the money.

  48. 48.

    cleek

    July 11, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    heard an interview on NPR a couple of weeks ago where the host (Robert Siegel, i think it was) interviewed one of Mugabe’s spokesmen. Siegel really went after the guy. he had tough questions, called the guy on his bullshit answers, and actually sounded disgusted when the guy was obviously lying to him.

    when’s the last time an American reporter treated an American politician like that ?

  49. 49.

    Rome Again

    July 11, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    And in all honesty, I am not sure if this is bias against Democrats or merely a result ofmany of them being in the tank for McCain after years of his schmoozing and wining and dining them

    Are you suggesting this is a new type of media ploy and those of us who have fought against it for so long didn’t know what we were talking about? Or are you suggesting that Bush schmoozed and wined and dined them too?

  50. 50.

    cyntax

    July 11, 2008 at 12:29 pm

    Gregory Says:

    It may be a directive from their corporate owners, it may be a terminal lack of professional pride, it may be silly mancrushes or hunger for BBQ, it may be because they’re access groupies or it may be because they’re dumber than a bag of hammers, but McCain committed at least four campaign-ending blunders this week, and the media barely notices. No Democrat would get such a free pass for even one of them.

    I’ll echo John—“liberal media,” my ass.

    Yeah, I think we’re saying the same thing: there is no liberal media, just the popular perception that the media is liberal. And in my opinion the media is aware of that perception and consciously tries to distance themselves from it by giving the Republicans breaks they’d never give the Dems; thus my remark about over-compensating.

    And so the liberal media meme keeps paying dividends to the Republicans.

  51. 51.

    Rome Again

    July 11, 2008 at 12:30 pm

    My personal theory is that the media is just incompetent, lazy, and stupid, so both sides see the media failing to accurately describe their side, and therefore assume it must be biased in favor of the other side, when really, they’re doing a pretty crappy job all around and calling that “balance”. If I had to describe the bias one way or another, I’d say the media is just lazy and re-prints talking points and that the GOP is a bit better at unifying and distributing their message, which give the GOP a media advantage, but if the dems could be that unscrupulous as well, the media would lazily report that too.

    It seems I remember when Rupert Murdoch started buying up more media real estate that liberal journalists were having trouble finding the space for their words. I believe the term “shut out” is more apropos.

  52. 52.

    Joe Max

    July 11, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    I have a theory: the MSM loves them a horse race, and if one of the candidates is a pathetic loser, they are required to shore that candidate up so the supposed horse race goes on.

    Add the usual deference to Republicans expected of any large corporate entity (like all the MSM outlets and their owners) and the result is predictable.

    An obvious crushing defeat of McCain this early in the season gives them much less to opine and pontificate about for the next four months. So it isn’t just that they are in the pockets of their corporate Republican owners (they are), but they are selfishly propping up McCain to keep themselves in viewers and their bosses in advertising money.

  53. 53.

    RSA

    July 11, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    What in the hell was that movie? And why was the guy so pissed?

    If you ordered a Batsuit and all you got was a white translucent raincoat, you’d be pissed, too.

  54. 54.

    zmulls

    July 11, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    I think all the above is true. The media is lazy, etc. They prefer narrative to fact. And they favor image over substance. All true.

    The underlying root cause is one of economics and class. A generation ago, the prerequisites for being a journalist were intelligence, doggedness and writing ability. It was not a high-paying job, so the people attracted to it had great passion for what they were doing. I’d venture to guess that many reporters had a chip on their shoulder at the “fat cats” and saw themselves as crusaders, telling truths on those in power.

    It was a blue-collar job (or ink-stained-white-collar job). Reporters had “ties to the community” as it were. The old “Pen and Pencil” club in Philly was the sort of private dive where reporters would go and talk about their favorite crime and political corruption stories.

    The reporters who had put in years of gruntwork and shoeleather were given columns, to share their perspective borne of experience in the trenches.

    But unattractive people don’t get on television. The main prerequisites are an engaging personality, good looks, charm (of sorts, even a raffish one), and the ability to talk about anything. And the pay is outrageous. There’s no desire to poke holes at the rich and famous — they *are* the rich and famous. And lack of intelligence is no barrier.

    It’s like the football team and cheerleading squad taking over the chess club. But I digress.

    It’s no longer a job that nobody wants, filled with intelligent people with an axe to grind — it’s a very desirable, well-paying job that is for good-looking people who want to protect their perks.

    Everything that’s wrong with the media follows from that.

  55. 55.

    Dennis - SGMM

    July 11, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    But, you know, Halperin probably knows something we don’t.

    The taste of McCain’s dick?

  56. 56.

    Punchy

    July 11, 2008 at 12:35 pm

    http://electoral-vote.com/

    Great link. Brightened my day. But can someone please go tell Oregon to get their fucking heads out of their asses? Seriously, a state full of tree-huggers, trees, and Greg Oden is ‘barely-Dem’?

  57. 57.

    John S.

    July 11, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    when’s the last time an American reporter treated an American politician like that ?

    Last week. Same station.

    Michele Norris grilled the fuck out of Wesley Clark. She was quite adversarial. Here’s a taste:

    It seems that you’re changing your tune when it comes to the merits of military service for a presidential candidate.

    When you yourself were a candidate for president, you touted your own military service. And I seem to remember you saying that that was part of what made you a well-qualified candidate to sit in the Oval Office.

    Without any sense of irony, the next story on All Things Considered was about Obama and McCain both being media darlings. Robert Siegel opened with:

    It almost never happens that there are two media favorites in one political race — and yet this year, there are.

    Your liberal media, folks.

  58. 58.

    Rome Again

    July 11, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    Yeah, I think we’re saying the same thing: there is no liberal media, just the popular perception that the media is liberal. And in my opinion the media is aware of that perception and consciously tries to distance themselves from it by giving the Republicans breaks they’d never give the Dems; thus my remark about over-compensating.

    And so the liberal media meme keeps paying dividends to the Republicans.

    The Republicans have been about dirty tricks for years, thanks to Dick Nixon and St. Ronnie bringing them their new religion. This isn’t new. The fact that it’s so blatant these days is all that’s really new about it.

  59. 59.

    DannyNoonan

    July 11, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    Halperin:

    Barack Obama’s apparent move to the center on a range of issues has Republicans and many commentators questioning his credibility and integrity. If he loses in November this will be remembered as a turning point in the race—just as the launch of the Swift Boat ads against John Kerry marked the beginning of the end of his presidential bid in 2004.

    Hyperbolize much? Jesus. That might be the most insane statement I’ve read from a journalist since Hunter Thompson floated the rumor in 1972 that Democratic presidential frontrunner Ed Musky was addicted to a West African amphetamine. But even that was clearly hilarious – not jaw-dropping hysterics.

    It’s pretty obvious the press is trying to keep this close. Different standards are being used for the two candidates. There’s no other way of explaining it. This isn’t because the press has a woody for McCain; though Scarborough clearly might. It’s about the bottom-line and creating a news story to move product. And if the MSM doesn’t have drama in the narrative then they’re damn sure going to put it there.

  60. 60.

    Punchy

    July 11, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    So CNN is now, like, 3 weeks late?

    They just can’t pump out the anti-Obama stuff fast enough, or with less substance.

  61. 61.

    Zifnab

    July 11, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    But, you know, Halperin probably knows something we don’t.

    The taste of some mighty fine BBQ.

    You know, one day someone is going to release McCain’s dry rub recipe, and we’re going to find out what the entire national media sold out for. And I’m betting its not even going to taste good.

  62. 62.

    JR

    July 11, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    If your only outlet for your anger is killing Jared Leto, I understand. But HUEY F-ING LEWIS?!! No excuse. That’s just a sign you’re letting the bastards win!

  63. 63.

    Rome Again

    July 11, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    I’m just sad that so many people have learned (from politics in general!) that there is a strategy in continuing to bullshit even after you’ve been busted for it. I feel this really undermines people’s ability to arrive at any coherent point of view at all.

    I think that was one of the goals in The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion (not to bring up that controversy and start a pie fight, but, I think it was).

  64. 64.

    Scott H

    July 11, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    the MSM loves them a horse race

    I believe this to be correct, but I have got TVG for my horse race requirements. Satellite teevee makes CNN/MSNBC/FOX unnecessary, which is good as they are unwatchable. ABC/CBS/NBC morning shows became infomercials years ago.

    My visiting mom had CNN Headline on the other morning. I noticed they’ve adopted Fox’s anchor doing mary hart legs. Is Anderson Cooper doing his showg in stars-n-stripes wrestling tights now?

  65. 65.

    David Hunt

    July 11, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    But, you know, Halperin probably knows something we don’t.

    The taste of some mighty fine BBQ John McCain’s Cock.

    Fixed

  66. 66.

    ThymeZone

    July 11, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    A solid majority (56%) give the Obama campaign letter grades of A or B for the job he is doing to convince the American public to vote for him, while only 32% say the same of the McCain campaign. More than a third (35%) offer a grade of C to McCain’s campaign so far, and nearly as many (30%) say the campaign has earned a D or F.

    The grades voters give to the Obama campaign for the job it is doing convincing them to vote for him are the highest measured for any candidate over the past four election cycles. In June 2004, for example, just 39% gave Bush’s efforts an A or B; even fewer gave high grades to Kerry’s campaign (31%). In contrast, McCain’s middling grades are slightly lower than those awarded to Bush in both 2000 and 2004. McCain’s campaign does garner higher grades than the 1996 Dole campaign, which only 22% graded highly.

    In this regard, the 2008 campaign has the largest disparity in high grades for the Democratic and Republican candidates over the past four election cycles (24 points). The gap between the grades for Obama and McCain is even larger than for Bill Clinton and Bob Dole in July 1996; at that time, 37% gave Clinton an A or B, while just 22% gave top grades to Dole.

    Actually, I think this (from LATimes) says it all. The people are usually a much better job of what is going on in a campaign than the idiot pundits are. And we won’t even TALK about the blogosphere, which I now rank at some point below pundits, mental patients, and cadavers.

  67. 67.

    Tony J

    July 11, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    And in all honesty, I am not sure if this is bias against Democrats or merely a result of many of them being in the tank for McCain after years of his schmoozing and wining and dining them

    It looks like both to me.

    Meaning that, this week was a clear win for McCain because his campaign screwed up so badly.

    By any rational political calculus he should be facing a barrage of ridicule en route to a humiliating defeat at the polls, and yet, for some ‘unknown reason’, the MSM chose to pump out lots of stories ‘proving’ that the Obama campaign is in trouble.

    Of course, the elephant in the room is the fact that the MSM are so overtly in the tank for McCain that, no matter how badly he screws up, the fact that it’s never going to reported on in a way that damages his campaign actually works out as bad for the Democrats.

    But since no one who wants to keep their job in he MSM is going to acknowledge the existance of the elephant, never mind report on it’s effects, the only option they’re left with is filing stories on how this has been a good week for John McCain.

    It’s that serpent eating it’s own tail thing again.

  68. 68.

    Joshua Norton

    July 11, 2008 at 12:55 pm

    I’ve always thought that if Halperin is going to pontificate the way he does, he should get himself a pointy hat – oh yes and a clue would benefit him as well.

  69. 69.

    ThymeZone

    July 11, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    “usually doing a much better job”

    Someday, the world will ask, “What? You didn’t support Obama? And you didn’t have fucking editable posts?”

    The shame is unbearable.

  70. 70.

    Rome Again

    July 11, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    It’s pretty obvious the press is trying to keep this close. Different standards are being used for the two candidates. There’s no other way of explaining it. This isn’t because the press has a woody for McCain; though Scarborough clearly might. It’s about the bottom-line and creating a news story to move product. And if the MSM doesn’t have drama in the narrative then they’re damn sure going to put it there.

    So what you’re saying is that by not printing McCain’s gaffes or his sordid history, they sell more newspapers? Are you serious? Do you remember how long the American public sat glued to their televisions when a white blond girl went missing in the Caribbean? We Americans LOVE the gossip, as sad a fact as that may be. What is really going on here is that Republicans can’t stand to hear the truth about their own candidate and they become crybabies who withdraw financial support and go crying to their moneyed surrogates to boycott the media when such occurs.

  71. 71.

    John S.

    July 11, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    It’s that serpent eating it’s own tail thing again.

    Ah, the good ol’ ouroboros. A symbological favorite!

  72. 72.

    Davis X. Machina

    July 11, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    The war has… what? A 30% approval rating

    How much of the 70% opposing oppose because Bush isn’t killing enough brown people who worship the wrong god? Who want “the gloves to come off”?

    I’m guessing a third.

    That gives a near-majority for either the Iraq war we’ve got, or a bloodier, stupider, more expensive version of the one we’ve got.

    The enemy of your enemy is not the same thing as a friend.

  73. 73.

    rawshark

    July 11, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    It’s pretty obvious the press is trying to keep this close. Different standards are being used for the two candidates. There’s no other way of explaining it

    They don’t want a close race they want a win for McCain. He keeps their lifestyle in place. You guys are seeing way too much complexity in this.

  74. 74.

    ThymeZone

    July 11, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    As far as the media is concerned, I have come to a new conclusion, which is that the right has simply cowed the media completely.

    The standard media mindset is that the right’s concerns are winners for them, and the left’s are losers. For them, meaning for the media outlets themselves.

    CNN watched FOX depose them by going right. They will not tack in a direction that costs them ratings.

    Whatever you say about CNN-FOX-MSNBC, you can be sure of one thing: Their motives are the same as the motives of the print media, and that means eyeballs. If they think that pimping for the left’s causes will get them the eyeballs, they will do that. They are whores and they go where the customers are. Period. Don’t try to overcomplicate the thing.

    MSNBC is having some success with leaning left in prime time because they are filling a vacuum opened up by FOX and CNN. That’s all. NBC didn’t suddenly get liberal. They just got interested in an audience that had nowhere else to go.

  75. 75.

    Brachiator

    July 11, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    rawshark Says:

    John Cole Says:

    I never bought into the notion of the liberal media. I still don’t.

    It’s economics. Which candidate is better for their wallet? Don’t bother with the noise (the republican is in showing out again), the answer is simple and right in front of your face. Same with pro atheletes, it’s always about the money.

    Actually, it’s always about the power.

    In a statement criticizing Obama’s positions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the organization claiming credit for the missile launches, McCain wrote, “This is the same organization that I voted to condemn as a terrorist organization when an amendment was on the floor of the United States Senate. Senator Obama refused to vote.”

    The problem with the critique? McCain also missed that vote on the Kyl-Lieberman amendment on September 26, 2007. Records show that Obama was in New Hampshire and McCain was in New York instead of being in the Senate chamber for the vote in question.

    Sweet boneless Jesus of Gitmo! McCain’s statement is not a critique. It’s a lie.

    This goes beyond implying that Obama, unlike the Republicans is soft on Communism terrorism, or that he is an appeaser, but suggests that by withholding his vote, he is perhaps actually siding with the officially designated enemies of George W. Bush the United States.

    The McCain campaign admits the error but points to their candidate’s tough stance against the country President Bush once grouped into the “axis of evil.”

    Wasn’t North Korea, who we are now doing the diplomatic dance with, once a member of that wacky “axis of evil?”

    And note how the Republicans love to define themselves by their stance. McCain has a tough stances. Larry Craig has a wide stance.

  76. 76.

    Joshua Norton

    July 11, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    What is worth repeating is that when Mark Halperin speaks, do not take it as the word of an objective journalist.

  77. 77.

    Tony J

    July 11, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    It’s like the football team and cheerleading squad taking over the chess club. But I digress.

    Bingo!

    If you look at the coverage of American politics from the standpoint of a Sports reporter, it all makes sense.

    The Republican team are always going to win the game, while the Democratic team are always going to lose. It doesn’t matter that much of this is down to the institutional bias of the refs, it’s just the way it goes, so it does you no good as a highly paid pundit to rock the boat by pointing this aut and, y’know, saying it’s wrong. All you have to do to keep your well-paid position is cheerlead for the invitable winners while spouting bogus reasoning about why the inevitable losers have only themselves to blame.

  78. 78.

    pharniel

    July 11, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    “The enemy of your enemy is your enemy’s enemy, no more no less”

  79. 79.

    Tony J

    July 11, 2008 at 1:26 pm

    “aut”, of course, should be “out”.

    Ah, the good ol’ ouroboros. A symbological favorite!

    I am aware of all ouroborusian traditions.

    And now I’m off to a wedding reception. Where I will not talk American politics, unless I get really drunk.

    Ta Ta.

  80. 80.

    cleek

    July 11, 2008 at 1:26 pm

    when’s the last time an American reporter treated an American politician like that ?

    Last week. Same station.

    i stand corrected dejected

  81. 81.

    cyntax

    July 11, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    The standard media mindset is that the right’s concerns are winners for them, and the left’s are losers. For them, meaning for the media outlets themselves.

    CNN watched FOX depose them by going right. They will not tack in a direction that costs them ratings.

    Well, the eyeballs may be going away from Fox (one can only hope…)

    The point is that Fox News years ago made an obvious decision to appeal almost exclusively to Republican viewers. The good news then for Fox News was that it succeeded. The bad news now for Fox News is that it succeeded.

    Meaning, when the GOP catches a cold, everybody at Fox News gets sick. As blogger Logan Murphy put it at Crooks and Liars, “Watching FOXNews getting their comeuppance has been fun to watch. They made their bed, now they’re having to lie in it and it’s not too comfortable.”

    The most obvious signs of Fox News’ downturn have been the cable ratings for the big primary and caucus votes this year, as well as the high-profile debates. With this election season generating unprecedented voter and viewer interest, Fox News’ rating bumps to date have remained underwhelming, to say the least.

    full article

  82. 82.

    Jody

    July 11, 2008 at 1:38 pm

    That feeling of frustration and helplessness you are experiencing is typical liberal outrage at the insanity of it all, John.

    There is no cure, as these jokers simply will not stop.

  83. 83.

    Chris Johnson

    July 11, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    I could have stanced all niiiight…

  84. 84.

    nightjar

    July 11, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    I’m wondering if the Gramm “mental recession” gaffe (actually truthi wingnut dogma) hasn’t put the last nail in the coffin of Mccain’s candidacy. Especially given his previous admission of ignorance on the economy, and generally support of Bush policies. I’ve got a feeling the “It’s all in your head” meme from Gramm’s words will stick like glue and fester in voters minds until election day. Meanwhile the Gallup daily had a 3 point jump for Obama overnight.

  85. 85.

    cyntax

    July 11, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    And now I’m off to a wedding reception. Where I will not talk American politics, unless I get really drunk.

    And I’m going to go jump in the river. Where I will stay dry, unless the water is wet.

    OTOH maybe I’m just projecting my poor impulse control.

  86. 86.

    John S.

    July 11, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    i stand corrected dejected

    NPR has become truly fucking awful.

    Having Juan Williams and Mara Liasson as two of their heavies who also conveniently moonlight as talking heads on FOX is bad enough. Having ludicrously slanted pieces on like the ones I mentioned upthread is equally awful. But when even the Diane Rehm Show becomes infiltrated with truly fucking slanted panelists for the weekly news roundup, I just throw my hands up in disgust.

    Today’s ‘balanced’ panel:

    Juan Williams, NPR news analyst, FOX News Political analyst
    John Harwood, chief Washington correspondent for CNBC
    Lynn Sweet, Washington bureau chief, “Chicago Sun-Times”

    Last week’s ‘balanced’ panel:

    Paul Glastris, editor in chief, “The Washington Monthly”
    Stephen Hayes, “The Weekly Standard”
    Laura Meckler, reporter, Wall Street Journal

    Do you sense a pattern?

  87. 87.

    Catpain Haddock

    July 11, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    when’s the last time an American reporter treated an American politician like that ?

    Howard Dean.

  88. 88.

    cyntax

    July 11, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    NPR has become truly fucking awful.

    Word. But for me it’s Cokie Roberts that makes me want to throw my clock/radio acorss the room. She’s the epitome of beltway insider.

  89. 89.

    ThymeZone

    July 11, 2008 at 2:00 pm

    Let us now to turn to the Great Orange Satan for the real skinny on who is fo shizzle in da nizzle.

    Markos usually gets the facts right.

  90. 90.

    ThymeZone

    July 11, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    there isn’t a single battleground state in which McCain’s numbers are on the upswing. Not a one. Go down the list of states at Pollster.com and see for yourself. McCain’s inability to hold support is quite dramatic. Heck, states like Montana, Alaska, Indiana, and North Dakota are seemingly in play.

    So that $10 million — which McCain’s camp brags is three times what Obama has spent — has gotten them absolutely nothing. Zero. Nil. Nada. In fact, these poll numbers lend support to Bowers’ theory — Obama has done an effective job, thanks to his 50-state+ primary battle, of getting the word out about who he is and what he stands for. McCain, not so much. And as hard as his campaign tries to show that John McCain over and over again in their saturation media buys, fact is, the American public is tuning him out.

    Markos.

    Music. Ears. Mine.

    Discuss.

  91. 91.

    ThymeZone

    July 11, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    She’s the epitome of beltway insider.

    And, you know, her growing up inside the beltway

    Daughter of the late Majority Leader of the House Hale Boggs and Congresswoman Lindy Boggs.

    as the child of politicians would have made us think that she’d be like all Vox Populi and everything. Right? I mean, who could have expected this? Mirite?

    All props to NPR for finding us a voice of the commoners.

  92. 92.

    Ken

    July 11, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    McCain did win the week. And I lay all the blame on the morons in the liberal blogospere.

    They spend the week attacking Obama on the FISA vote, like it was his fault. It would have passed no matter what he voted.

    And he is campaingning in fifty states, not in the blogoshpere. Obama is not going to spy on your paranoid ass. Nothing in his career suggests he would. He has also said time after time he will go aftet the Bush crimes.

    So our idiotic blogoshere is ready to throw their support to McCain just so they can look cool. Look at us, we are the real progressives. Doubt very few even know what it means.

    So let us look at the jags in the blogs. They are willing to hand over, health care, the economy, and the war in Iran, just over one vote that would have passed anyway.

    I agree, not a good vote. But why should he do that while running. All it would take is a few terror alerts, or a bombing and the media would say, we would have stopped him if they could wiretap the bad guys.

    The idiot leftys gave us Bush because they thought Gore was the same as Bush. They are pathetic. I hope they feel real proud of themselves when their kids are drafted to go to Iran. Then they lose their jobs and health care and they have an illness in the family.

    Feel real proud jackoffs.

  93. 93.

    Legalize

    July 11, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    What in the hell was that movie?

    American Psycho

    And why was the guy so pissed?

    Read the book. :)

  94. 94.

    Rome Again

    July 11, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    Markos.

    Music. Ears. Mine.

    Discuss.

    I think the Republican brand name has lost it’s charm. I think even those who don’t pay attention to the news we do see it at the pump and the grocery store and realize that Republicans did NOT mean it when they said they were restoring honor to the office of the presidency. Everyone knows we’re going downhill fast. It doesn’t pay to even entertain the idea of listening to these deregulation fruitcakes anymore.

  95. 95.

    Aaron

    July 11, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    ATTN: MOAR YOU KNOW- your comment to Cleek calling him a “reichtard”- yeah that link was to a nytimes article questioning whether mccain was a ‘natural born citizen’, no obama. you owe cleek an appology.

  96. 96.

    ThymeZone

    July 11, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    McCain did win the week

    Not seeing it in the polls. I just browsed the state tracking charts at pollster.com and I gotta tell you, I knew McCain stunk, but I had no IDEA how badly he was doing out there.

    Look at the Ohio chart. Even Arizona can be in play.

    I think you are watching one of the great political implosions in history. I think I may have to press my bet with DougJ before this is over.

    Wow. Just wow.

  97. 97.

    Soylent Green

    July 11, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    Punchy Says:
    http://electoral-vote.com/
    Great link. Brightened my day. But can someone please go tell Oregon to get their fucking heads out of their asses? Seriously, a state full of tree-huggers, trees, and Greg Oden is ‘barely-Dem’?

    Yo, Punchy. The Willamette Valley in western Oregon, where the cities are, is moderately to strongly Democratic. The rest of Oregon (half of which is high desert) is made up of farmers, ranchers, loggers, millworkers, etc. who vote Repub. We’re leaning more and more blue as the urban population grows but the state overall has always been highly polarized between its Old West roots and newer progressivism.

    So kindly fuck yourself for finding it so easy to sum up the people of some state you know only by a fill color you saw on a map.

  98. 98.

    John S.

    July 11, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    All props to NPR for finding us a voice of the commoners.

    Diane Rehm was that voice. And she is losing it. Literally.

  99. 99.

    Napleon

    July 11, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    But when even the Diane Rehm Show becomes infiltrated with truly fucking slanted panelists for the weekly news roundup, I just throw my hands up in disgust.

    I use to love her show and it has become all but unlistenable to me. Her weekly news round up aside, half the time when there is a subject to discus there is some kind of wingnut involved, whether Max Boot or some authoritarian shill attorney.

  100. 100.

    Duros Hussein 62

    July 11, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    NPR has become truly fucking awful.

    Plus they always have some asshat from the CATO institute or David Fucking Shrum from AEI on to spout rubbish.

  101. 101.

    JC

    July 11, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    What the hell can be done about this stupidity in the media?

    McCain’s campaign should be OVER. He should be having the WORST week of his campaign, with real sustained questions about his competence, ability, and age, based on his flubs.

    But nothing??

    He wins the week, according to Mark Halperin???

    Halperin knows – KNOWS – that McCain didn’t win the week. He knows it, he knows the flubs, he knows the mistakes. He’s in the tank.

    How can we let Time know, that we know that Halperin is in no form, no way, and under no pretense, objective?

  102. 102.

    bartkid

    July 11, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    “We’re sorry, this video is no longer available”: The new Rick Rolled.
    Yes, IAAoAIT.

    Any hints as to what this clip was?

  103. 103.

    The Thinking Man's Mel Torme

    July 11, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    Has Bobo emitted any especially foul punditary gas this week?

  104. 104.

    nightjar

    July 11, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    Ken Says:

    McCain did win the week. And I lay all the blame on the morons in the liberal blogospere

    Obama getting hammered by the left wing blogs was/is painful to watch but was it hurtful to the Obama candidacy? The pols don’t show it, even though the purists claim it has. But Obama isn’t running for president of the progressive caucus. He’s running for president of the United States with a whole bunch of white working class labor democrats and moderate republicans who are watching closely if he’s going to be a special interest president.

    So I’m guessing in the long run the week was a winner for him even though the FISA passage was a loser for the country. And Obama, despite his vote, is not responsible for that (oblg. troll protection please). Add the Jackson remark and it’s a double win.

    And for McCain to have won the week he would have to be compared to the week of Pat Paulson . And I think Paulson got the better of it.

    Flame on.

  105. 105.

    ThymeZone

    July 11, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    And I think Paulson got the better of it.

    Paulson was a better candidate.

    He spoke directly to the common sense of the people.

    On Foreign Aid: We should ask every country in the world to send us whatever they can.

    On Taxes: No taxes. Let’s just tip the government 15% if they do a good job.

    McCain cannot top that.

  106. 106.

    Kevin

    July 11, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    “We’re sorry, this video is no longer available”: The new Rick Rolled.
    Yes, IAAoAIT.

    Any hints as to what this clip was?

    Which clip? The one John posted up at the top? It’s from American Psycho.

  107. 107.

    nightjar

    July 11, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    The Thinking Man’s Mel Torme Says:

    Has Bobo emitted any especially foul punditary gas this week?

    No, but we seem to be ensconced in Velvet Fog.

  108. 108.

    HyperIon

    July 11, 2008 at 3:00 pm

    many commenters wrote:

    media is

    MEDIA ARE

    wrt public radio and TV, i saw a fucking commercial on KCTS last night. it was an acura ad that was obviously made for commercial TV. and it was running on a public TV station in seattle. so all of the rhetoric about how PBS would start showing spots that “more actively acknowledged their sponsors but that’s not the same as an ad”, well, it was bullshit.

  109. 109.

    Kevin

    July 11, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    so all of the rhetoric about how PBS would start showing spots that “more actively acknowledged their sponsors but that’s not the same as an ad”, well, it was bullshit.

    Haha, don’t PBS pretend that they’re “underwriters”, not “sponsors”?

  110. 110.

    les

    July 11, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    I’ve got a feeling the “It’s all in your head” meme from Gramm’s words will stick like glue and fester in voters minds until election day.

    I wonder; Obama says people might be bitter at being fucked over, at a private gathering, and gets crucified. McCain’s chief economic voice says Americans are whiners to the WSJ, and the media yawns. It’s a long road ahead.

  111. 111.

    cleek

    July 11, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    i saw a fucking commercial on KCTS last night.

    oh sure. i see them all the time on our local PBS stations. it’s always the same ads, too – the sponsors don’t bother making new ones. i’ve been seeing the exact same ad for Liberty Mutual on the ‘Antiques Roadshow’ for years.

  112. 112.

    Napleon

    July 11, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    Add the Jackson remark and it’s a double win

    Add his kid’s interview in and its a triple win. Now I happen to think that it was not some super preplanned event and it just kind of worked out the way it did, but if Obama or Axelrod was extremely sneaky and wanted to use the kids to huminize the family, while not opening Obama to the charge he was putting the kids in a bad situation or using them to advance his political career, he could not have done a better job of it. I saw more of that interview this week, by far, then any other “political” news, even the Jackson thing (which also helped him).

  113. 113.

    DougJ

    July 11, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    In brighter news, did you hear the new Obama radio ad? It’s very good.

  114. 114.

    Catpain Haddock

    July 11, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    Yo, Punchy. The Willamette Valley in western Oregon, where the cities are…

    And some damn good wine.

  115. 115.

    Brachiator

    July 11, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    nightjar Says:

    I’m wondering if the Gramm “mental recession” gaffe (actually truthi wingnut dogma) hasn’t put the last nail in the coffin of Mccain’s candidacy.

    Doesn’t look like it. Conservative commentators, who in the past eagerly jumped on the Obama Elitism Express, have been “wery, wery, qwiet,” as Elmer Fudd might say, about Graham’s diss of ordinary, hard working Americans.

    The ever-to-be-derided mainstream media have been giving major play to McCain’s terse Straight Talk(tm) declaration that no one speaks for him, not even a designated economics spokesperson.

    My cynical guess is that everybody is waiting to see who McCain picks for VP. If he picks someone like Empty Suit Romney, who looks good and touts his “I got money so I must know about the economy” credentials, the right wing will breathe a big sigh of relief.

    Especially given his previous admission of ignorance on the economy, and generally support of Bush policies. I’ve got a feeling the “It’s all in your head” meme from Gramm’s words will stick like glue and fester in voters minds until election day. Meanwhile the Gallup daily had a 3 point jump for Obama overnight.

    It’s very interesting that McCain keeps pushing his years of experience, but no reporter has asked him why, by his own admission, he never learned anything about the economy during all those years in Congress.

    I think that this will hurt McCain, but his supporters will work hard to negate the effect of Graham’s gaffe.

    And sad to say, I know a few conservatives who honestly believe that the Republicans should win because you don’t have to know anything about the economy other than that you should cut taxes and keep the government small.

    All props to NPR for finding us a voice of the commoners.

    NPR has become the refuge of self-satisfied hypocrites who believe that having happy thoughts about the common people is the same thing as working for the common good.

  116. 116.

    Punchy

    July 11, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    So kindly fuck yourself for finding it so easy to sum up the people of some state you know only by a fill color you saw on a map.

    I’m convinced some people just have absolutely NO ABILITY AT ALL to pick up on snark. You’d think the Oden bit woulda made it clear the post was in jest, but alas…

    Actually, it wasn’t a filled color. An outline instead. If you’da been filled, I’da said nuthin.

  117. 117.

    Delia

    July 11, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    http://electoral-vote.com/

    Great link. Brightened my day. But can someone please go tell Oregon to get their fucking heads out of their asses? Seriously, a state full of tree-huggers, trees, and Greg Oden is ‘barely-Dem’?

    Actually, I don’t think that “barely dem” characterization is accurate for Oregon. Gordon Smith is running continual ads in which he implies strongly that he has Obama’s support. His name and logo all over the ad. Never mentions Gordy’s a Republican. That wouldn’t be happening if Obama weren’t doing well here.

  118. 118.

    PaulW

    July 11, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    You know all those Truth Commissions that get set up in some countries? We need one here now.

  119. 119.

    Delia

    July 11, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    NPR has become the refuge of self-satisfied hypocrites who believe that having happy thoughts about the common people is the same thing as working for the common good.

    Well, truth be told, our friends and protectors in the Ministry of Truth have been putting enormous pressure on NPR and PBS over the past seven and a half years and the effects are showing. I see it more as a hostile takeover.

  120. 120.

    The Moar You Know

    July 11, 2008 at 3:55 pm

    NPR has become the refuge of self-satisfied hypocrites who believe that having happy thoughts about the common people is the same thing as working for the common good.

    ABOUT FUCKING TIME SOMEBODY SAID IT. Thank you! They’re the damn “New Yorker” of the broadcasting world – bunch of rich, self-satisfied fuckers who think “poverty” is not being able to afford a third home and a Lexus.

  121. 121.

    AkaDad

    July 11, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    What do corporations want? Lower taxes, deregulation, and little to no oversight.

    With that agenda in mind, which political party would more likely implement those policies?

    The way I see it, the Republican party and the Corporate Media™ are ideological soul mates.

  122. 122.

    The Moar You Know

    July 11, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    Aaron Says:

    ATTN: MOAR YOU KNOW- your comment to Cleek calling him a “reichtard”- yeah that link was to a nytimes article questioning whether mccain was a ‘natural born citizen’, no obama. you owe cleek an appology.
    July 11th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    Someone is not aware of all internet traditions, I see.

  123. 123.

    Punchy

    July 11, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    From Obama’s new radio message:

    MAN: And look what Time says. Quote, “It makes sense that McCain is returning to the old playbook. But that doesn’t mean he can just make up his own facts.” End Quote.

    WOMAN: Yowza! So what’s the truth?

    /giggle

    Whadda-we, in 1989? Where’s the “Hey dog, this beeyotch is just scratching phiz’ake shizzle on the fly, yo!”?

  124. 124.

    4tehlulz

    July 11, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    WOMAN: Yowza! So what’s the truth?

    If there’s a tv version, the O RLY? owl needs to appear here.

  125. 125.

    Martin

    July 11, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    So kindly fuck yourself for finding it so easy to sum up the people of some state you know only by a fill color you saw on a map.

    Geez, for elitists who don’t have to pump their own gas, you guys are touchy.

  126. 126.

    Dork

    July 11, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    If there’s a tv version, the O RLY? owl needs to appear here.

    That is funny shit.

  127. 127.

    Dork

    July 11, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    If there’s a tv version, the O RLY? owl needs to appear here.

    That is funny shit.

  128. 128.

    Zifnab

    July 11, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    NPR has become the refuge of self-satisfied hypocrites who believe that having happy thoughts about the common people is the same thing as working for the common good.

    And it still manages to be the best news source on the radio. Arguably the best news source on TV, if you don’t count its sister PBS. Seriously, if you’re complaining about public broadcasting, you haven’t gone to any other channel or network out there. It’s all down hill.

  129. 129.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    July 11, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    Dear op/ed stenographers, giggly Time columnists, Glenn Reynolds, etc.:

    http://electoral-vote.com/

    Man oh man, I’d love to live in any one of those dark-red states!!!!

    Although I will say this: if that map holds up, only 7 of the top 10 “cheapskate” states (those that receive more in federal money than they pay in taxes) will be non-blue. Congratulations!

  130. 130.

    Ted

    July 11, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    Plus they always have some asshat from the CATO institute or David Fucking Shrum from AEI on to spout rubbish.

    Funny thing about Diane Reahm’s show every Friday for the “round-table”: I always know before I even hear his voice if Tony (Jabba the) Blankley’s on the panel. I can hear his fat ass heavy breathing like Jimmy in South Park.

  131. 131.

    Wilfred

    July 11, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    Number of civilians killed by Iranian missile test: Zero

    Number of civilians killed by US missile strike Afghanistan, July 6, 2008:

    A US air strike killed 47 civilians, including 39 women and children, as they were travelling to a wedding in Afghanistan, an official inquiry found today. The bride was among the dead.

    Another nine people were wounded in Sunday’s attack, the head of the Afghan government investigation, Burhanullah Shinwari, said.

    Fighter aircraft attacked a group of militants near the village of Kacu in the eastern Nuristan province, but one missile went off course and hit the wedding party, said the provincial police chief spokesman, Ghafor Khan.

    The US military initially denied any civilians had been killed.

    Lieutenant Rumi Nielson-Green, a spokeswoman for the US-led coalition, told AFP today the military regretted the loss of any civilian life and was investigating the inciden
    The US is facing similar charges over strikes two days earlier in another border area of Afghanistan.

  132. 132.

    The Other Steve

    July 11, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    I want to highlight something, and this is pretty vital, and I think shows exactly how McCain operates.

    Ok, you all remember last month when John McCain came out and said that we should do offshore oil drilling? He was kind of writing off the Florida vote with that one.

    He’s changed his stance…

    From his townhall in Detroit…

    McCain responded that offshore oil drilling isn’t a long-term solution, but a short-term fix to the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

    “If any state wants to explore for oil and gas off their coast, I don’t think the federal government should keep them from doing so,” McCain said.

    In other words, it’s wrong for the Federal govt to ban it, but it’s perfectly ok for a state to ban it.

    Anyone know maritime law? Can a state ban activity a mile off it’s coastline? The federal govt can out to international waters boundary, but what about a state?

    I’m going to start calling him Tricky Jack.

  133. 133.

    John S.

    July 11, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    And it still manages to be the best news source on the radio.

    Sadly, yes. Which is why I still listen to it almost every day and then come here to vent about it. But over the years, it has taken a hard turn towards the same bias we see in the corporate media – which as Delia pointed out – is hardly surprising.

  134. 134.

    Martin

    July 11, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    Anyone know maritime law? Can a state ban activity a mile off it’s coastline? The federal govt can out to international waters boundary, but what about a state?

    The leases are federal leases. States have fuck-all ability to stop it. And there’s ~7,000 drilling leases currently not being drilled. If the industry wanted to drill, they have plenty of place to drill.

    Their best profit plan is to encourage sabre-rattling against Iran. They made a shitload today and didn’t have to pay any salary to get it. They’d be idiots to interrupt this gravy train.

  135. 135.

    John S.

    July 11, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    Anyone know maritime law? Can a state ban activity a mile off it’s coastline?

    The nautical boundaries of all states extend out for 3 miles, except for Texas and West Florida, which end at 9 miles in the Gulf of Mexico. The state has jurisdiction over all activity within those waters.

    The U.S. Federal Exclusive Economic Zone generally starts at the seaward boundary of state jurisdiction (3 nautical miles except for Texas and West Florida) and extend 200 miles offshore from the baseline (state-defined and measured low water mark).

    Further reading here.

  136. 136.

    Delia

    July 11, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    The leases are federal leases. States have fuck-all ability to stop it.

    I personally think that if the feds go ahead with this off-shore drilling plan, the whole West Coast, from San Diego to Bellingham, WA, will be ready to secede from the Union.

  137. 137.

    Cain

    July 11, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    The taste of McCain’s dick?

    Careful Dennis.. there might be a subtle taste of Cindy’s lipstick on it. You’ll never get “pure” McCain. Probably better than other Republicans, where you’d just taste shit and maybe a hint of pre-pubescent interns.

    cain

  138. 138.

    John S.

    July 11, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    The leases are federal leases. States have fuck-all ability to stop it.

    If they are federal leases then they would be outside the boundary of state control, in which case the state definitely has no jurisdiction.

    The state would have control on any leases within its 3 mile nautical boundary (or 9 mile boundary for W. Florida and Texas).

    I do not know if any of those 7,000 leases are state leases.

  139. 139.

    John S.

    July 11, 2008 at 5:28 pm

    I personally think that if the feds go ahead with this off-shore drilling plan, the whole West Coast, from San Diego to Bellingham, WA, will be ready to secede from the Union.

    Again, the states have absolutely no control over the waters beyond their recognized boundaries. They know that and I doubt they will secede over it.

    Considering that state waters extend only 3-9 miles offshore while federal waters extend for 200 miles beyond that, who do you think oil companies are likely to strike a deal with?

    Do you think most citizens will really care about activities 10-210 miles off their coastline?

  140. 140.

    John S.

    July 11, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    Here’s a map of existing and available oceanic leases that you guys may find interesting.

  141. 141.

    Conservatively Liberal

    July 11, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    Geez, for elitists who don’t have to pump their own gas, you guys are touchy.

    I live on the south coast of Oregon, and I pump my own gas at every single station I use.

    Motorcyclists are NOT elitists! ;)

  142. 142.

    Brachiator

    July 11, 2008 at 5:49 pm

    Zifnab Says:

    NPR has become the refuge of self-satisfied hypocrites who believe that having happy thoughts about the common people is the same thing as working for the common good.

    And it still manages to be the best news source on the radio.

    Sadly, no. NPR coverage of the presidential primaries and the current campaign is virtually indistinguishable from coverage by the mainstream media.

    The editorial stance of most NPR stories, built around a standard template, is so predictable that I can even predict the sound effects that will be used to enhance the narration.

    Stories about some specialized areas, such as the Supreme Court, are marginally better than typical mainstream media; but apart from interview shows like Fresh Air or Larry Mantle’s Air Talk (public radio but non-NPR), there is less and less here of any value.

    NPR is, I will admit, better than PBS, with respect to news and commentary, but this ain’t saying much.

    NPR reminds me of the city of San Francisco, a once vital, important, and justifiably snobbish place now existing on the fumes of its past glories, and frankly embarrassing in its lack of awareness of its actual decline into mediocrity and irrelevance.

  143. 143.

    Martin

    July 11, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    Careful Dennis.. there might be a subtle taste of Cindy’s lipstick on it.

    More than subtle. I hear she plasters on the makeup like a trollop.

  144. 144.

    Howie

    July 11, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    Wow John you still have open comments. Cool. No one else but you and us I guess.

    I just have one little fact to add that seems left out of all the other ranting about John McCain on the equal pay for women thing and this seems to be the only place with open comments so here goes.

    John McCain hires more women and pays them better than Obama does.

    Strange eh?

    http://hotair.com/archives/2008/06/30/does-obama-pay-women-less-than-men

    Even stranger the article that Ed references has been taken down. Really strange.

  145. 145.

    Cain

    July 11, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    Anybody catch the news about Bush pumping his fist in the air at a private G8 meeting with world leaders and saying “Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter”?

    Coverage in the UK press, but not from ours. I suppose if you want to maintain the dignity of the office of the president you probably don’t want it well known.

    Read bout it here

  146. 146.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    July 11, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    John McCain hires more women and pays them better than Obama does.

    Wow. What a great guy. Maybe if he gets elected president and bombs Iran, he will use the men-only bombs to show his concern for women.

    Of course, it’s kind of easy to pay your staff well when you’ve got a $100 million sugar momma.

  147. 147.

    gil mann

    July 11, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    That doesn’t surprise me about McCain having a lot of women on his staff. Bush is fine when it comes to minorities–far’s I can tell, it’s his only plus. Plenty of Repub pols don’t evince a shred of bigotry; they just hitch their wagons to it to get votes. Yay them.

    Plus, you’ve gotta have a buncha chicks around when you’re horrible on women’s issues. Lucky for McCain there are plenty of women who don’t think “The Handmaid’s Tale” is dystopian.

  148. 148.

    Joshua Norton

    July 11, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    John McCain hires more women and pays them better than Obama does.

    Yeah, and they’re usually blonds that he wants to bang, too. Not exactly a profile in courage – more of just a dirty old man.

  149. 149.

    Glocksman

    July 11, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    As a lifelong resident of Evansville (small city in southwest Indiana), I guaranfucktingtee you that if this state is in play, Obama’s got a freaking landslide on his hands.

    Of course that assumes there aren’t any ‘dead girl/live boy’ incidents waiting in the wings to happen, but if the deeply conservative people here in Indiana are willing to throw McCain under the bus :), he’s toast.

  150. 150.

    John Cole

    July 11, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    Wow John you still have open comments. Cool. No one else but you and us I guess.

    I honestly don’t know why anyone would have a blog without comments.

  151. 151.

    Keifus

    July 11, 2008 at 8:47 pm

    Hey, is that the dude from Wings? Never knew he was such a Huey Lewis fan (but I can understand).

    In 199-something I got out of college, and listened to a lot of Bob Edwards going on about Bill Clinton in Kosovo, David Brancaccio endlessly, gleefully “doing the numbers.” I’d voted before 2000, but I felt by then it was my duty to make a really informed vote, based more than my satisfaction with the status quo, more than my vaguely conservative sensibilities (personal responsibility is great if the game is fair…), more than my inherent cynicism that the workings of the powerful were orthogonal to whatever it took to go about my life (and understanding that better spurred some leftward thoughts…). I’m embarrassed I didn’t follow along sooner. Dutifully I watched the debates in that year, and the media reaction. I talked and read about it on Usenet. It didn’t take long to realize that a fairly intelligent guy was pitted against someone who was either a simpleton or a basic asshole. Gore caved on his environmentalism, but could respond to the issue. He copped to universal health care only when prompted. His budget was less innumerate than Bush’s. Bush made the right noises about nation-building, but his uniter-not-a-divider schtick was transparently immature, student-president shit.

    The 2000 debates weren’t much of a contest. Gore, by virtue of being less than totally retarded, carried every verbal argument. His annoyance at stupid answers (and questions) I empathize with every day when I talk to my managers, and I can’t fault him for it. The media ranged from calling the debates a tie, to bizarrely calling the inartiuclate opponent a clear winner, based, evidently, at reading his lines adequately, maybe beating the soft bigotry of low expectations, with extra irony. By no explanation that included merit, and with highly dubious legality, Bush won the election. I learned a lot about the news in that year. I learned a lot about the electoral process, and I reinforced my impression of the electorate, probably better understood by P.T. Barnum than Wolf Blitzer.

  152. 152.

    gaucho

    July 12, 2008 at 12:13 am

    On a non-political point, that clip shows the dark brilliance of “American Psycho.” You just gotta say “Wow…” to the level of insanity Bale portrays. In an alternate universe, Christian Bale just might have been The Joker in The Dark Knight.

  153. 153.

    gaucho

    July 12, 2008 at 12:21 am

    I realized I have to immediately amend my post and flail around as I try and answer who would replace Bale as Batman… I’ll have to get back to you on that one…

  154. 154.

    TenguPhule

    July 13, 2008 at 2:29 am

    Even stranger the article that Ed references has been taken down. Really strange.

    Lies, Damn Fool Lies and Republican Blogs.

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Ways to End the World › Do the press matter? says:
    July 11, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    […] John Cole is outraged at the media’s dogged insistence that, in spite of John McCain’s horrendous week of gaffes, transparent lies, pathetic mistakes, and inability to do math, he is nonetheless the “winner of the week.” And it is pretty frustrating! The fact that Jesse Jackson said something mean about Barack Obama is objectively and politically much less important than John McCain’s stated belief that Social Security is an “absolute disgrace,” but of course we know which one got more coverage. […]

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