Palin comes out strong and leaves the Obama campaign and the left weak kneed and searching for proper footing.
With the explosion of support that McCain has seen in the last few weeks, there can only be one explanation… Sarah Palin. She, at once, unified the evangelical base, small town America, and offered centrist and Independent women another option.…
Article comments
26 - Baritone
gomc,
No, Lee had it exactly right. Palin should quietly return to her nightly Moose watch.
B
27 - El Bicho
"it would be prudent for Governor Palin, and for that matter all the candidates, to insist on live interviews"
There was plenty of opportunity after the debates and the McCain campaign refused to allow her to speak live.
28 - Ruvy
The American political campaign is just a big joke to me, in all truth. But leaving all that aside (because it isn't worth the bandwidth), Zedd managed to leave open the bold html signal in comment #24.
Are you learning from me, Zedd?
29 - Texas Hill Country
For those that wanted to see the edited interview, i encourage you to check out...
30 - El Bicho
"And finally came the questions about what kind of a mother Palin would be if she were Vice President"
yes, I heard conservative radio show host Dr. Laura ask this.
31 - Daniel Miller
Baritone, you say, In effect, then, the clock could become the "editor." Obviously true. But then clocks function objectively. To me at least, that trumps subjective editing by people whose biases are at least suspect.
You also ask, Excellent question. Why, indeed? My impression, with which you may well differ quite legitimately, is that (a) the media are now more intent upon making, rather than simply reporting, the news and (b) news reporting seems, to me and perhaps to others, to be less frequently objective than was once the case.
Dan(Miller)
32 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
At least part of the reason Governor Palin seems to be flailing is the selective editing of her "news" interviews.
I read the entire unedited transcript of the interview. I found no evidence of selective editing. I did find one instance in which they edited out her objection to a supposed quote of her, but in its place they played the actual (complete) quote.
Palin just looked bad. Period. I don't think anyone is denying this.
Read my recent article on the interview here. I challenge you to find one instance of unfair editing, or unfair interpretation on my part.
I would stake my life that if everyone who saw clips or the entirety of the Palin interview had read the transcript instead, it would have been interpreted just as negatively.
33 - Pablo
From the home page of the Governor of Missouri regarding the Police State tactics being used by Obama.
"“St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign."
Missouri Governors home page
34 - Lisa Solod Warren
Oh, good grief. After McCain puts out national ads implying Obama wants to teach 6 years olds explicit sex ed? After lying about Obama time and after time? After swiftboating him in ways that make what the Repubs did to Kerry look like sandbox play?
35 - Daniel Miller
Pablo,
I read it earlier. So what's your take on it?
Dan(Miller)
36 - Baritone
Dan,
"the media are now more intent upon making, rather than simply reporting, the news and (b) news reporting seems, to me and perhaps to others, to be less frequently objective than was once the case."
The first part of that comment, I would agree with to a point. The pressures of competition and producing "news" programming 24/7 lay heavy especially on the cable networks. I have, like you, felt that some of their efforts were attempting to "make" news rather than just report it, just to perhaps stay ahead of the competition and having something to talk about at 3AM.
The second part of your statement, though is rather nebulous. It obviously depends upon what specific network or program one is watching. Fox is wholly dedicated to the right. MSNBC leans left, but not altogether.
I still don't believe that the majority of news brought our way by the likes of CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS is biased. I also read the transcript of the Gibson interview of Palin. I found no significant instances of biased editing. Basically they cut redundancies, ramblings and subjects of less importance. Obviously, time was at issue.
No one would claim 100% objectivity. But the major networks still, by and large truly do try to achieve "fair and balanced" reporting.
B
37 - Pablo
Dan,
My take on is that Obama is not what he claims to be. He is a smooth talker, that appeals to liberals that quite frankly in many ways are even more naive then their conservative bretheren. A tool as it were of the Rockefeller/Brezenski/Kissinger cabal.
Unfortunately most liberals have no idea how each and every one of their media outlets were co-opted years ago. Whether of Democracy Now, Moveon.org, The Dailykos, Utne Magazine, The Nation Magazine, the huff huff Huffington post, and even old Mother Jones magazine, all controlled with foundation money of the very same cabal. Obama is nothing more than a creation. For an excellent analysis of Mr. Obama, I suggest Webster Tarpley's very recent books on him.
Obama The Postmodern Coup - Making of a Manchurian Candidate
Barack H Obama The Unauthorized Biography
However being the coinpiracist that I am I maintain that these so called opposing political parties are nothing more than controlled opposition in the employ of their banking/corporate masters. In face it is quite obvious to me.
Don't even get me started on McCain! :)
38 - horrifiedbypalin
She is the proof that you can put a foot in the door by being appealing. This is not how you run a country. Her interview about Alaska and Russia was painful to watch. It was like watching a Playboy babe explaining the nuclear fusion in terms of McDonald menu items. I saw the sketch on SNL and then the real interview. I had a weird bad feeling when I realized that the sentences used in SNL (which I found absurd and funny) were actual sentences from the real interview.
39 - Pablo
Baritone
"I still don't believe that the majority of news brought our way by the likes of CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS is biased."
That's pretty funny. When they, the MSM, with particular reference to the media outlets you mentioned, aren't outright lying which is most of the time, or trying to coverup their lies, if they were any more biased they would be up the cfr's proverbial arse. Oh they already are!
We do not have news reporters anymore. What we have are propagandists under the cover of reporting. Here are a few of the most obvious biases that these organizations have.
The President can declare war. You will very rarely see any of the above media outlets question this lie.
The surge has worked. I do not recall seeing or reading anything of substance from the above media outlets recently questioning this, or investigating honestly the success of more mass murder. Another lie.
We went into Iraq first to catch a bad guy, then to promote Jeffersonian Democracy. Another lie.
I could go on and on, but the fact is that the MSM acts along side TV shows such as 24, with the chief protagonist being a torturer, as propagandists for the ruling elite.
40 - Rufus Brown
Palin is dumber than a lab rat. Any american with a brain should know that. Just look at her two interviews. I can't wait for Biden to crush her fine ass in a debate. And damn, that hoe is certainly fine.
41 - Dave Nalle
Pablo, do you just live in a fantasy world, or what?
The MSM spends most of its time trying to make money with whatever bull they can sell most effectively. Plenty of the time that's just a sensationalistic take on the truth.
Now, I've never seen anyone in the media claim the president has the power to declare war. That's just silly. They're not a bunch of ignorant fools and they know they would be exposed as morons if they claimed something so off-base.
As for the surge working, you can go on making up anything you like, but the truth of the success of the changes in strategy implemented by Petraeus over the last two years is self-evident. I do get annoyed at the media constantly calling the 'the surge' which is a misnomer, but they deal in boiling things down and oversimplifying them.
And damn, they follow the lead of the CFR? How evil. That means they must be pro democracy and pro capitalism. Thse BASTARDS!
So if you're against the CFR you'd be what, an anticapitalist authoritarian of some sort?
Dave
42 - Pablo
Your boring Dave.
43 - Silas Kain
Palin is as qualified to be vice president as Biden is to be pope.
Actually Joe Biden IS qualified to be Pope according to Roman Canon Law. Just want to insure that you have the facts.
44 - Dave Nalle
And by the legal definition of the vide presidency Palin is fully qualified for that job as well, being of the appropriate age and having been born in the US.
Dave
45 - Lee Richards
Silas and Dave:
Eligible doesn't mean the same thing as qualified, just as being clever(#43 & 44)doesn't equate to being sensible.
46 - El Bicho
"Joe Biden IS qualified to be Pope"
Since when can popes be married?
47 - Silas Kain
I'm not being cute, El. Under Canon Law the ONLY qualification to be Pope is to be a member of the Roman Catholic Church in good standing. One need not be priest, bishop or cardinal. The manner in which Popes are elected is what seems to limit the role to the clergy. In studying the history of the Papacy one will discover that several Popes were, in fact, married. The whole issue of celibacy is a man-made mandate imposed because of the laws of inheritance. The Curia was most preoccupied with the laws of inheritance which led to the archaic rules about celibacy. I would also point out that Episcopal clerics are eligible to be reunited with the Roman Church at any time. And that reconciliation does not preclude married Episcopal priests from becoming the same under Rome. There's a lot of misinformation about the role of priests within the Church and the Canon Law under which the Church is governed. Perhaps Catholics should begin their own political purge of the Curia. Yeah, like that will ever happen.
48 - Silas Kain
Lee, a sensible Cardinal would listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit in casting his ballot for Pope. Catholics blindly believe that Cardinals elect a Pope through the counsel and inspiration of the same. Church history proves, beyond a shadow of doubt, that the Holy Spirit's involvement in election of the Vicar of Christ is minimal to say the least.
49 - Baritone
Pablo,
While I don't align myself with Dave regarding much, I must agree that your charges are specious, and not substantiated by any facts I'm aware of.
Dave,
I frankly don't know who doesn't call it "the surge." Super John does. It's not something that originated or that is being maintained by the press. The terminology came from the military and the Bush camp.
I wonder how well results of "the surge" will continue to hold if the US stops making payments to Sunni insurgents NOT to kill Shiites? My guess is that if the money dries up, the killing will take off once again.
B
50 - Pablo
Baritone,
The fact that you cannot see how the MSM not only lies on a daily basis but is the biggest propaganda machine for the oligarchy, is too bad. I see it very clearly.
51 - Matthew T. Sussman
John Nash saw things clearly too.
52 - Baritone
The difference between seeing things clearly and delusion is difficult to discern. The delusion is your predisposition to assume the media is obfuscating the truth. Your supposed illustrations above do not hold water. What else ya got?
B
53 - Dave Nalle
I frankly don't know who doesn't call it "the surge." Super John does. It's not something that originated or that is being maintained by the press. The terminology came from the military and the Bush camp.
Doesn't mean I have to like it. You do have to admit that the term 'surge' places the emphasis on the absolutely wrong part of the change in strategy, right? Plus the use of that term plays to McCain's advantage since it suggests that the idea of a troop build up which he advocated from before the 'surge' was correct.
I wonder how well results of "the surge" will continue to hold if the US stops making payments to Sunni insurgents NOT to kill Shiites? My guess is that if the money dries up, the killing will take off once again.
Ah, but the money won't dry up. If there's one thing the Iraqi government has it's money. And they've shown that they are comfortable with their national tradition of not spending their vast wealth on infrastructure and spending it on defense instead, and those payoffs count as part of their defense as a government.
In fact, I'm pretty confident that we could pretty much pull out of Iraq now and they'd find a way to keep things together, so long as we kept Iran off their back. If I were the Iraqi government I'd encourage the US to leave and hire Blackwater to stay on in even greater strength to fill the gap.
Dave
54 - Silas Kain
I've got a question for the Democrats in the House as well as you Palin bashers. What were the Democrat members of Congress thinking when they elected Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House? After observing her behavior and performance these last 19 months it dawned on me today that these Congresspeople elevated her to the third highest position. So Democrats and rabid blind as a bat liberals - what makes Nancy Pelosi any more ready for the Presidency than Sarah Palin? Watching her try and spin this defeat today was appalling and much more of an embarrassment than the fact that this country actually placed George on the Ovalk Throne.
55 - Baritone
As Rachael Maddow asks, who leads the Republican party now? All the leadership supported the bailout. And what reason did the Reps give for voting against it? Nancy Pelosi's speech. Pelosi apparently hurt their feelings. How gauche of her.
Interesting also that virtually ALL of those who voted against the bill regardless of their party affiliation, have been or are currently entangled in close reelection races. No politics involved there, huh?
B
56 - handyguy
The votes were not a total shock, given reports that e-mails to Congress were running from 10:1 to 500:1 against the Paulson plan. I think that's not sufficient reason to vote either way.
It's definitely evidence that the crisis and the bill were not explained very clearly to the public. Today's stock market did a more graphic, if imprecise, job of explaining the situation.
The markets said: Do something, or you're fucked.
57 - Silas Kain
And now America waits until Thursday for answers because of a RELIGIOUS holiday? This is just another example of how members of certain religions (Jews and Christians) get it all while Muslims, Hindus, Zoroastrians and whomever else are not accorded these accommodations. So much for separation of church and state. And so much for Christians rendering to Caesar. Once again I say, TAX the bastards!
58 - Clavos
It's definitely evidence that the crisis and the bill were not explained very clearly to the public
Wouldn't have made any difference. H.L. Mencken was right.
59 - handyguy
Pelosi is a favorite punching bag on here, but I remain an admirer. John Boehner either was incompetent in counting votes or he deliberately set her up. The latter seems unlikely.
I actually thought Boehner seemed a bit embarrassed. First he was for the plan [a week ago Sunday]; then he opposed it last Thursday and Friday; then he was back on board yesterday and voted for the bill today.
[As did hyper-partisan pit bull Eric Kantor, who was waving a copy of the Pelosi speech all over TV this afternoon. He's in no position to complain about someone else's partisanhip! Jeez.]
It will only take a total of 12 changed votes to change the outcome. Possibly 6 Dem and 6 GOP votes, to calm the partisan waters?
60 - bliffle
Handy sez:
"Today's stock market did a more graphic, if imprecise, job of explaining the situation.
The markets said: Do something, or you're fucked."
I think you overestimate the importance of 'the markets'.
Most people own little if any stock, even tho most people have a minor interest in the market, usually incidental to something like a 401k. I haven't owned a stock in 15 years. Ever since I concluded that market prices are continuously manipulated by insiders.
61 - Tyler
Texas,
It is typical democrat ideology to skew facts and even make up facts when faced with strong competition. It's a belief that competition is bad because they will actually have to prove themselves against facts and logic. Thanks for your insightful article.
62 - Silas Kain
It is typical democrat ideology to skew facts and even make up facts when faced with strong competition.
It is typical of either major party. We need to shake things up, folks! Even if it means electing Constitutionalists, Libertarians, Greeners and Independents. Time for third parties to unite for the betterment of America and the detriment of the two party system. On November 4th, put it in writing, demand a paper ballot!
63 - Reuel
The Democrats propaganda machine now includes lie that "the Palin phenominon is over". They HOPE so?
Carter, Clinton, Dem controlled congress policy of forcing banks to lend money to those who can't pay back, is the real cause the current economic crisis.
Obama's policy of Taxing companies short of cash and more spending on welfare will make things fatal. Gov. Palin's govenment is safe and sound financially. She is the type needed to change Washington and Wall street.
The Obama campaign's from their first press release LIED about Gov. Palin. And the tragedy is that "welfare receipients" like Obama and are helping to promote his "change to disaster of America"
64 - El Bicho
"The Democrats propaganda machine now includes lie that 'the Palin phenominon is over'."
How did the DPM get people like George Will, Kathleen Parker, Peggy Noonan, and David Frum to join in that sentiment? They sound more powerful than your delusions.
65 - Cindy D
Fear on the Golf Course:
McCain/Palin slipping with the "average conservative southern guys who dress in those ugly polyester golf slacks demographic."
"She's not prepared at all," Thomas, 70, said... He said listening to Palin argue that Alaska's proximity to Russia was a foreign policy credential "frightened me to death."
"I went out on the golf course Thursday and that was what everyone was talking about," Thomas said. "They're very frightened about McCain and his age ... and to have Palin a heartbeat away."
"An Associated Press-GfK Poll taken Sept. 27-30 in every state found just 25 percent now say she has the experience to be president, down from 40 percent. Among likely Republican voters nationally, those who found Palin qualified dropped from 75 percent to just 47 percent."
66 - YOYOYO
OBAMA FTW!WOOT!