When the obfuscation of a political operative looks this bad... (4.00 / 1)

... the only thing one can be absolutely, positively certain of is that the lack of obfuscation would look far, far worse.

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by: Malacandra @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 12:14:18 PM UTC

another possibility here (4.00 / 1)

with colemans reps response to the question about the suits they are keeping the press focused on this issue, maybe there is something more damaging the press should be looking for that could really hurt coleman in his reelection bid against franken, but that would mean the press might actually have to work to investigate that possibility so don't count on that.

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by: pc @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 12:36:53 PM UTC

What. An. Asshat. (0.00 / 0)

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by: regnaD kciN @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 12:45:27 PM UTC

Rasmussen has Franken up 43-37 (4.00 / 1)

with 17 going to Barkley.

http://www.rasmussenreports.co...

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by: uvalaw2005 @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 13:26:14 PM UTC

That was freakin hysterical (4.00 / 1)

There has been some real comedy gold this election year, and I count that video among the best.

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by: ThomasPaine @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 13:51:24 PM UTC

Apply directly to the forehead! (4.00 / 3)

I hate that commercial, too.  

"Don't hate the media, become the media" -Jello Biafra

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by: LandStander @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 14:26:03 PM UTC

Activ-Ation (0.00 / 0)

Apply Directly to the Voting Booth

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

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by: SpitBall @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 15:19:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Cullen, it's not too late (4.00 / 2)

Dump Coleman, apologize for what you've done, and start making a new life for yourself!  It's never too late to start making amends.

Join the California Nurses Association and National Nurses Organizing Committee in the fight for guaranteed healthcare on the single-payer model at www.GuaranteedHealthcare.org/blog

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by: California Nurses Shum @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 14:44:08 PM UTC

yeah poor guy (4.00 / 1)

You can tell he's just dying to blurt out some reasonable explanation like "suits are included in everything" or even "why not look it up in the record, lazy bums" or how about "I've answered that question three times already and if you ask it again I'll give the same answer!"

In general, spokefolks hate to stonewall, it's in their nature to communicate (unless they're Ari Fleischer). So this gives you the sense that there's some lawyer calling the shots and telling him "give them this answer and this answer only, and quit whining!"

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by: corax @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 15:12:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

thank you Sen. Coleman (0.00 / 0)

Is Al Franken required to disclose this video?

The truth about Saxby Chambliss

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by: nstrauss @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 15:40:23 PM UTC

at what point does that change to (0.00 / 0)

"I can't comment on an ongoing investigation"
"I can't comment on an ongoing investigation"
"I can't comment on an ongoing investigation"
"I can't comment on an ongoing investigation"

vodamusic.com

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by: CranesAreFlying @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 16:43:17 PM UTC

This is Frankens ad. (4.00 / 4)

Lead in with a quote by Coleman about transparency and then just cut to this, let it run and be uncomfortable.  

We won the Battle. Now the Real Fight for Change Begins. Join MoveOn.org and fight for progressive change.  

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by: bluethunder @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 16:49:03 PM UTC

Kudos to the reporters (4.00 / 1)

for persistence, but minuses for not following up on 2 obvious questions:

-- First you said the senator has reported every gift he ever received. Then you said he reported every gift required on the Senate ethics form. Which is it-- did he report every gift, or did he only report gifts that were below the form's minimum standard?

-- You keep repeating that the senator has reported every gift he ever received. Are you doing that on advice of counsel?  

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by: DaveW @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 17:33:43 PM UTC

follow-up Qs (4.00 / 1)

When someone sticks to very narrow wording of a denial, I ask myself how could the narrow denial be technically true, but incomplete.

Here are follow-ups I would ask:

Has Senator Coleman received any loans of items that he hasn't reported?

Can Senator Coleman explain what gifts he is required to report and what gifts he is not require to report?

Can Senator Coleman provide copies of the reports he has been required to file since beginning his campaign for U.S. Senator?

***

What other follow-up questions should be asked?

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by: Carl Nyberg @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 18:43:27 PM UTC

the answer to those and all other questions (4.00 / 1)

would have been..... Well I think you know what it would have been.  

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by: tremayne @ Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 19:51:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]