Is it just me (4.00 / 1)

or is it a bit weird that he criticizes the debate for focusing on tit for tat, and then proceeds to point out how the debate last night was, in fact, a gotchya moment that he had with Clinton?  He could have just focused on ABC.  This would be a perfect chance to start to deflect all this 'right wing bias in the news' bullshit.

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by: Valatan @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 19:31:36 PM UTC

Ironic (0.00 / 0)

The guy complained it took 45 minutes out of 2 hours to talk about issues and then he spends 3 1/2 minutes out of 4 woofing it up and acting like a hip-hop basketball player complete with street antics before he even mentioned health care or jobs. Embarrassing.

Of course his hand picked audience receives him in the same way Bush's handpicked audience receives him with his silly jokes. Might as wee tune into Oprah and see that.

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by: Super Delegate @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 02:43:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

hip hop basketball player? (0.00 / 0)

what?

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by: Valatan @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 05:47:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

OK try rapper (0.00 / 0)

Jay-Z on for size.

You must live in a cave if you didn't know what I meant by hip-hop basketball player and Obama's street antics. The dusting off ot the shoulders. The follow up mugging and then dusting off of the shoes. Very presidential - straight out of the hood.

Others saw it.

http://matthewyglesias.theatla...

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by: Super Delegate @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 15:39:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Obama rightly points out... (4.00 / 1)

... that Hillary Clinton was as guilty as ABC. She had an opportunity to move the debate in a different direction. She chose to do the opposite, and roll in the mud. Obama's not making a "gotcha" point, but saying that this is indicative of what's wrong with our politics.

The whole point of Obama's campaign is: This garbage has to end if we're going to get anywhere as a nation.  

Also, John Kerry was criticized for not standing up to the Swift Boat attacks in 2004, and Obama will not make that mistake. If Hillary wants to get nasty, Obama will expose her for it.

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by: CaptCT @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 14:20:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm heartened by the reaction to the debate, however. (4.00 / 1)

For one, Obama's showing that he's getting pretty good with the comeback, and that, yeah, he CAN just pretty much brush off aggressive attacks.

Secondly, the outrage against the debate has been so fervent and so consistent, in the MSM as well as the blogs, that perhaps a line in the sand has been drawn? And the media will start to boomerang gently back into areas of real substance before the general?
  Um, I'm hoping, maybe?
 

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by: sb @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 19:49:36 PM UTC

Has The Shark Jumped The Shark??? (4.00 / 1)

The ultimate escape from issues--the press turns on itself, and stops even talking about phony campaign issues.

Who knew that's what progress would look like?

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 20:08:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I thought that the bias and ignorance of the M$M (0.00 / 0)

WAS an issue.

Maybe not a policy issue - but an issue none-the-less.

Ain't the "CW" that it was the M$M that did in the Edwards campaign?  

Now - you imply that the media bias and ignorance is the "ultimate escape from issues".

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 15:38:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No, you're Misreading My Cryptic Remarks (0.00 / 0)

Just sayin that the media turing on its own vapidity is prtobably not so much a sign of belatedly mature self-reflection, but rather just one more step further down the road of escape from reality.

Now they can have debates entirely amongst themselves, over who is more vapid than who.

"You're so vapid, you don't even know what 'vapid' means!"

"Yeah, well, you're so vapid, you can't even spell it!"

"Can too!"

Can not!"

"Can too!"

Can not!"

"Can too: 'I-T-T': it!"

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 17:58:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Now it makes more sense (0.00 / 0)

Thanks for taking the time to explain the cryptic.

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 19:24:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Reaction Against ABC Is Heartening (0.00 / 0)

It doesn't happen too often does it? Most of the time, outrageous crap this this passes with little or no comment. Not this time. Fantastic!

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by: C-Pluckhahn @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 23:26:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Everyone gets it but Hillary (4.00 / 1)

I was literally amazed at this fund-raising email today, which is like it comes from a parallel universe:

Dear Jenifer,

Last night, Senator Obama and I had the chance to express some substantive differences on issues that affect people's lives every day: the war in Iraq, the mortgage crisis, Social Security, and rising gas prices.

I know when I stand up at a debate like last night, I'm speaking not just for myself, but for everyone who has supported me in this race. I know I wouldn't be here without you, and I can't tell you how proud I am to stand with you.

This race should be decided on the merits of our ideas -- not the size of our campaign coffers. This race is still tight because people are responding to our shared values and vision. It's so close that a contribution you make today could be the difference between winning and losing -- even as little as $5 can have a critical impact.

Riiiiiiiight.

Politics is a strong and slow boring of hard boards.

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by: Jenifer Fernandez Ancona @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 19:58:40 PM UTC

I've been missing your contributions. (0.00 / 0)

Was really enjoying your stuff here, but haven't seen you around much. Guess you're too busy with pushing Obama in the real world?

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by: Joel @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 21:10:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You can call and ask for Charlie and George's voicemail (4.00 / 1)

I did and told exactly how despicable and trashy what they passed of as journalism last night.  Then I did the same with the president of ABC news.  his name is DAVID WESTIN.  call the following number.  Be polite and tell them that you will no longer patronize their sponsors until they apologize and fire Charlie and George

212-456-7777

If they try and transfer you to some bullshit comments line, tell them no way.  Call back. It took me 6-7 time to get through to them but I did.  Enough is Enough

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by: georgeg1011 @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 20:04:21 PM UTC

I called that number and spoke to very nice lady (0.00 / 0)

I said my piece (not quite letting her cut-in to stop me), then she offered to transfer me to the comment line. I apologized, telling her that I thought I WAS talking to the comment line.  I hung up on the comment line.


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 20:12:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

They Should Have Been Sued Into Bankruptcy For "The Path To 9/11" (4.00 / 2)

It's not like these guys can't be taken down.

The Dem establishment just has no interest in doing it.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 20:05:00 PM UTC

More rope-a-dope (0.00 / 0)

I'm telling you all, this stuff is playing into Obama's strengths and since he now has basically been vetted, from here on out the issues will get thinner and thinner, thereby further helping Obama rather than hurting him.

IF IF IF Obama winds up winning PA, the turning point will have been about minute 48 of the debate when George asked him that shitall-stupid question about Ayers.

Now, having said all that, the question and follow-up that got Hillary to admit that Obama could beat McCain were great. The answer to which, I suspect, is going to be a big, big motivator for super delegates from here on out.

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by: Matt H @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 20:20:49 PM UTC

Why does Disney Hate America? (0.00 / 0)

Why does Disney support Hate Radio?

The best way to put the hurt on GOP big media is to make them pay for their anti-Democratic and anti-American bias -- the quickest way to do that is attack brand Disney and Disney's sponsors, for giving Rush Limbaugh his ABC Radio hate spewing franchise.

Hit 'em where it hurts -- attack their brand.

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by: -ck- @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 20:23:59 PM UTC

Hitting Back at Disney/ABC (0.00 / 0)

This debate has presented Obama with a fantastic opportunity to make the vacuousness of our politics and political news media a major campaign issue, and he us successfully exploiting that opportunity. Even Clinton supporters I have talked to today weren't happy with the debate. This is something ALL Democrats can agree on.  

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by: astrodem @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 21:02:48 PM UTC

Clinton supporters? (0.00 / 0)

You mean there still are some?

I must be getting old.  I don't get it.  How could there still be any Clinton supporters after last night's debate??

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by: elfpix @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 21:28:55 PM UTC

You Gotta Get (Get) That (That) Dirt Off Your Shoulder (4.00 / 2)

Nice dogwhistle to the youth vote at 2:20.

One of the most refreshing aspects of Obama's campaign is his commitment to engaging the youth vote to help form a new Democratic coalition.

The contrast with  Bill Clinton's comments dismissing young voters as "foolish" is especially striking

http://tpmelectioncentral.talk...

As a youth voter, I don't get dogwhistled to very much, but it's pretty awesome when it happens.

Great response.

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by: BCdem @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 22:23:47 PM UTC

that was priceless! n/t (0.00 / 0)

End this war. Stop John McCain. Cindy McCain is filthy rich.

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by: wiretapp @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 10:49:05 AM UTC

[ Parent ]