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Linda-english

Published Letters: 154
Editor's Choice: 1

Thursday, August 21, 2008 09:19 PM

Don't worry about the PUMA's, worry about the PRESS

Here is a quote from Bob Somerby of the www.dailyhowler.com He clearly identifies the real danger to Obama, the same danger that sank Gore and Hillary--the MSM, liberals included.

"But the particular error which caught our eye was Klein’s claim that Gore’s post-convention bounce only held “momentarily.” In fact, Gore’s bounce held for more than a month, leading insider Washington to conclude that the race with Bush was over. The Democratic convention ended on August 17, 2000—and the bounce held until September 18, when the first of two important events started bringing the race back to even.

Each event involved the press. On September 18, the Boston Globe’s Walter Robinson sprang the “Gore lied about the doggy pills” story. On September 20, Walter Shapiro (USA Today) sprang the “Gore lied about the union lullaby” story. Each of these claims was absurd, inane; Gore’s remark about the union song was an obvious joke, for example. But these two events were widely pimped, and they rekindled the powerful “Gore Liar" narrative—a narrative the press corps spent two years inventing. All over Washington, insiders had said the election was over. But now, this pair of ginned-up tales brought Gore back to earth.

Why did Gore’s coverage change that week? Why did the press corps start re-trashing Gore? Later that week, Brian Williams asked—and Howard Fineman answered. Truly, an astounding statement:

FINEMAN (9/21/00): I don’t think the media was going to allow, just by its nature, the next seven weeks, the last seven or eight weeks of the campaign, to be all about Al Gore’s relentless, triumphant march to the presidency. We want a race, I suppose. If we have a bias of any kind, it’s that we like to see a contest and we like to see it down to the end if we can.

Fineman can’t speak for the press corps, of course, although he’s a major insider. But that’s an assertion of stunning misconduct. And by the way: That’s the innocent explanation for what happened. Most likely, here’s a more accurate statement: The media didn’t want Gore to win.

These facts have been forgotten, of course. In this way, Klein’s erroneous performance is very typical. Big mainstream journalists never discuss the way their cohort intervenes in elections. In that case, Gore’s bounce actually lasted more than a month—and it ended when the press intervened. Fineman said they acted that way to make the race get close.

Final question: Have you ever heard a Democrat or career liberal complain about what the press corps did? Have you ever heard a Dem or lib tell voters about what Fineman said? (A very few have.) History gets washed away—and after that, history happens again. Bogus claims are spreading about Obama? Good lord! What a f*cking surprise!

Earlier he notes how the press did the same thing to Hillary about the driver's license question that supposedly undid her and worries that Obama will suffer the same fate.

Friday, August 22, 2008 09:57 PM

fightthetheocracy

The reason the GOP hates Bill is because he attacked the racists in Arkansas without mercy, telling the man, Jim Johnson, who pressured Orville Faubus into his hard-line stance to keep blacks out of Little Rock High: "You make me sick; I'm ashamed you're from Arkansas." That man, after finally giving up on electoral politics (he tried to become governor), in some measure because of Bill Clinton, retired to his home which he named White Haven. Clinton also made sure the legal system in Arkansas was rid of the vestiges of racism. When Clinton ran for president, national GOP figures came down to meet with Johnson and other racist Clinton haters in Arkansas. One such national figure was Floyd Brown who did the Willie Horton ad for Bush I that helped take out Dukakis. All these men got together and tried to politically assassinate Clinton.

The GOP hates Hillary because she was on the House committee that investigated the impeachment charges against Nixon and because she is an uppity woman.

Also Clinton taxed the rich to get rid of the Reagan budget deficit, and, of course, he won 2 elections and everyone knows the White House belongs to the GOP.

The rank and file just mindless follow the leader and hate the Clinton's because their leaders told them to--that's why they have no reasons, or falsehoods, to offer in interviews.

PS The suffering caused the Clinton's by the Arkansas racists who hated them for their staunch support of civil rights is why Bill is so mad at Obama for saying that he, Bill, played the race card, was a racist.

Friday, August 22, 2008 10:29 PM

Klytus & AKA

Klytus

No silence. I sent money; my husband sent money; my sister-in-law sent money. So, can you spare a few dimes?

AKA

I really enjoy your posts. You are alway reasonable, thoughtful, and respectful. Thanks for making reading Salon's letters so enjoyable and useful.

Saturday, August 23, 2008 11:26 PM
Original article: Nobody's yes man

Before you pounce

get your facts right. The plagiarism you so gleefully claim was in a speech, during a campaign, not in law school. He quoted a British politician without giving him credit.

Saturday, August 23, 2008 11:39 PM
Original article: Nobody's yes man

jebldmm

You don't have to be a judge to be put on the Supreme Court. You don't even have to be a lawyer. In fact, you don't even have to have a college degree or a high school degree. However, I think all have and since the person has to be confirmed it is unlikely that a non-lawyer would be accepted. Some have been college professors; I'm not sure if any have been in private practice. Recently most have been professors or judges.

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