I don't watch much tv. I don't have cable. b,121b,121When I was in AZ for a few weeks and during the vp debate I watched MSNBC, CNN, Fox on the regular.b,121b,1211) I was shocked at how partisan MSNBC was and to a lesser extent CNN. I had heard Rock say they were the flip of Fox and didn't believe him. Rock you were right!b,1212) Those stations are a waste land. There is a half hour of pundits for every minute of actual news reporting. b,1213) Despite endless punditry no one is allowed to talk for more than 90secs so there is no indepth analysis. b,1214) Soulstrut is far more intelligent and insightful and entertaining and informative than cable news.b,1215) one hour of NPR has much more balance analysis than 24 hours of cable news.
Don't write McCain off. Today the news is about the economy and Obama is winning. b,121b,121News cycles change quickly and tomorrow the news could favor McCain. [Honestly, don't ask me how.]b,121b,121My wife was in class during the debate so when she got home I watched it a second time. Sad but true. b,121b,121On second viewing I noticed that some of the questions were very good, but the candidates did not answer them. One example was a woman who asked if health care should be viewed as a commodity. Obama answered first and launched into "As I travel around the country many people ask me... and went into his standard health care rap. b,121b,121McCain's closing remarks about how he has known hardship is very compelling. But everyone know he is talking about something that happened 40 years ago. People want to know What have you done for me lately? What will you do for me tomorrow? b,121b,121I thought McCain was totally sonned when he brought up speak softly...b,121b,121I think McCain's repeating over and over that he wouldn't go after Qaeda in Pakistan made Obama look presidential and he ended up looking like a wienie. Sounded like something John Kerry would say. b,121b,121Obama looked like he took stool-sitting-lessons from Sam Cooke. I tried to do a Sam Cooke image search and discovered there is a porn star named Sam Cooke.
font class="post"1b,121b,121And it's not like MSNBC is partisan liberal. They are partisan Democrat. img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nagl2.gif" alt="" 21
b,121Cannot be said enough. It's a terrible look to be acting like it's in the bag before the final tally is done.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121Oh no doubt but I think that more rational minds can simply talk about the fundamentals and point out - without being cheerlead-y right now - McCain is kind of fucked. Like how Kerry was looking kind of fucked in the immediate weeks leading up to the 2004 election. br121b,121As Dan notes, there's a possibility - always - for McCain to turn it around but let's really think about this...McCain can't shift the momentum through small steps. It'd have to be something huge to really swing things around, something that would, "turn the page" (so to say) on the economic mess that's dominating. br121b,121A terrorist attack on U.S. soil would do it. If Iran nuked Israel, sure. But we're talking about some deux ex machina shit at this point. Going negative won't do it UNLESS there's some new story no one's broken yet: Obama got three white women pregnant and has skipped on child support, for example. But again, that's not part of a game plan; that's divine intervention practically.b,121b,121IF - and this is a big if - McCain could finally find a consistent message to stick on, that can get him leverage with independent voters, and find a way to keep that message at the forefront of the election coverage the next four weeks...combined with some slip ups on Obama's part...that could do it. b,121b,121But seriously? Way, way, way uphill. IF the economy hadn't, you know, gone all Great Depression? McCain would probably be in this but we're talking about the worst economic crisis in most people's lifetimes. Advantage: Democrats.
b,121Cannot be said enough. It's a terrible look to be acting like it's in the bag before the final tally is done.
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b,121Oh no doubt but I think that more rational minds can simply talk about the fundamentals and point out - without being cheerlead-y right now - McCain is kind of fucked. Like how Kerry was looking kind of fucked in the immediate weeks leading up to the 2004 election.
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b,121As Dan notes, there's a possibility - always - for McCain to turn it around but let's really think about this...McCain can't shift the momentum through small steps. It'd have to be something huge to really swing things around, something that would, "turn the page" (so to say) on the economic mess that's dominating.
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b,121A terrorist attack on U.S. soil would do it. If Iran nuked Israel, sure. But we're talking about some deux ex machina shit at this point. Going negative won't do it UNLESS there's some new story no one's broken yet: Obama got three white women pregnant and has skipped on child support, for example. But again, that's not part of a game plan; that's divine intervention practically.
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b,121IF - and this is a big if - McCain could finally find a consistent message to stick on, that can get him leverage with independent voters, and find a way to keep that message at the forefront of the election coverage the next four weeks...combined with some slip ups on Obama's part...that could do it.
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b,121But seriously? Way, way, way uphill. IF the economy hadn't, you know, gone all Great Depression? McCain would probably be in this but we're talking about the worst economic crisis in most people's lifetimes. Advantage: Democrats.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121Another week and the media will be bored with the economy. So, the script will change. b,121b,121I just read a run down of demographics and other polling stuff. Obama is winning in most categories. BUT, Who can handle foreign affairs better? McCain leads. And Who can handle national security, McCain leads by a lot. b,121b,121If the media decides to give McCain a boost they can find a national security story and blow it up. Somali pirates, genocide in Darfur, Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, Hotel bombing in Pakistan, oil pipeline sabotaged in Ukraine, a coup in Cambodia, Peru invades Columbia...b,121b,121If 2 media outlets get cameras there and get dramatic footage, and a good reporter makes the story compelling, then it could be the big story next week. b,121b,121I'm not convinced that any of those things will help McCain, or help him enough. But I am confident that the story will change from the economy soon.
b,121Another week and the media will be bored with the economy. So, the script will change.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121Shit ain't over, but the economy story ain't going anywhere. It is a real story, and people are feeling the effects in their real lives, ergo, it is impossible to ignore.
Big_Stacks"I don't worry about hittin' power, cause I don't give 'em nuttin' to hit." 4,670 Posts
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b,121Another week and the media will be bored with the economy. So, the script will change.
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b,121Shit ain't over, but the economy story ain't going anywhere. It is a real story, and people are feeling the effects in their real lives, ergo, it is impossible to ignore.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121Hey,b,121b,121Let's not forget about how economics doomed Daddy Bush's run for re-election in 1992. Money moves fools, even the die-hard GOPers. "Read my lips..." (famous last words). Here's an analogy, "If McCain's campaign is the Titanic, then the current economy is the iceberg."b,121b,121Peace,b,121b,121Big Stacks from Kakalak
b,121Another week and the media will be bored with the economy. So, the script will change.
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b,121Shit ain't over, but the economy story ain't going anywhere. It is a real story, and people are feeling the effects in their real lives, ergo, it is impossible to ignore.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121The Dow will have a couple good days in the row. Story over. b,121b,121I agree that voters will continue to care about the economy over all other issues. But the news media wont. b,121b,121Sadly for McCain, he has pissed the news media off. They are not looking to do him any favors. Another colossal blunder on his part. He used to be the media's favorite, but no more.
b,121Sadly for McCain, he has pissed the news media off. They are not looking to do him any favors. Another colossal blunder on his part. He used to be the media's favorite, but no more.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121Yeah, he really fucked up with that. The media was his base, for crying out loud. They freakin' loved the guy and even stuck with the "he's so mavericky!" crap long after the bloom had come off that rose. But he decided to alienate them. Bad move.
b,121Sadly for McCain, he has pissed the news media off. They are not looking to do him any favors. Another colossal blunder on his part. He used to be the media's favorite, but no more.
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b,121Yeah, he really fucked up with that. The media was his base, for crying out loud. They freakin' loved the guy and even stuck with the "he's so mavericky!" crap long after the bloom had come off that rose. But he decided to alienate them. Bad move.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121It really shows that he has no idea how to run a campaign, much less a country.
b,121Cannot be said enough. It's a terrible look to be acting like it's in the bag before the final tally is done.
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b,121Oh no doubt but I think that more rational minds can simply talk about the fundamentals and point out - without being cheerlead-y right now - McCain is kind of fucked. Like how Kerry was looking kind of fucked in the immediate weeks leading up to the 2004 election.
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b,121As Dan notes, there's a possibility - always - for McCain to turn it around but let's really think about this...McCain can't shift the momentum through small steps. It'd have to be something huge to really swing things around, something that would, "turn the page" (so to say) on the economic mess that's dominating.
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b,121A terrorist attack on U.S. soil would do it. If Iran nuked Israel, sure. But we're talking about some deux ex machina shit at this point. Going negative won't do it UNLESS there's some new story no one's broken yet: Obama got three white women pregnant and has skipped on child support, for example. But again, that's not part of a game plan; that's divine intervention practically.
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b,121IF - and this is a big if - McCain could finally find a consistent message to stick on, that can get him leverage with independent voters, and find a way to keep that message at the forefront of the election coverage the next four weeks...combined with some slip ups on Obama's part...that could do it.
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b,121But seriously? Way, way, way uphill. IF the economy hadn't, you know, gone all Great Depression? McCain would probably be in this but we're talking about the worst economic crisis in most people's lifetimes. Advantage: Democrats.
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b,121Another week and the media will be bored with the economy. So, the script will change.
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b,121I just read a run down of demographics and other polling stuff. Obama is winning in most categories. BUT, Who can handle foreign affairs better? McCain leads. And Who can handle national security, McCain leads by a lot.
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b,121If the media decides to give McCain a boost they can find a national security story and blow it up. Somali pirates, genocide in Darfur, Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, Hotel bombing in Pakistan, oil pipeline sabotaged in Ukraine, a coup in Cambodia, Peru invades Columbia...
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b,121If 2 media outlets get cameras there and get dramatic footage, and a good reporter makes the story compelling, then it could be the big story next week.
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b,121I'm not convinced that any of those things will help McCain, or help him enough. But I am confident that the story will change from the economy soon.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121this is an important perspective people. i'm canadian, and we're going through elections right now and until recently the conservatives (our version of republicans) were headed towards a majority over the liberals. and then the econcomic crisis happened. and guess what, things are really close now. i never thought i'd see it so close. money talks, and the crisis is communicated by the media. you gotta think, would this election at this point be in obama's favor if not for the economic crisis? cynical part of me says no chance, it would be way more even.
b,121The Dow will have a couple good days in the row. Story over.
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b,121You're horribly naive.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121You know, I was following the story of the Somali pirates in the paper everyday. Then suddenly the stories stopped. I have no idea what happened or is happening with the hijacked ship full weapons. My paper, and radio station, just go bored with the story and moved on. The media has a very short attention span. b,121b,121The economy will not be on the front page every day for 4 more weeks. b,121b,121Next week Sarah Palin may go deer hunting in Ohio and that will be the big story.
i'm Sayin! I don't think we are going to see three days straight of 500+ rallies and a turn around in the housing market, consumer confidence, and employment.b,121b,121Things are falling out fast on the frontline but i don't think the person on the street has seen the full effect yet (aka, many still have their job), and when this starts to really hit joe six pack we'll be right in time for the election.b,121b,121The real threat as i see it is the republican desperation, one told my mom the other day that because she is registered Republican she can't vote for obama. b,121b,121I'll be policing whatever south central district i'm needed at for republican voter suppression. Yuichi is welcome to join me.
Here is a story changer, thanks to 538, that McCain could pull off. b,121b,121McCain announces that because of the economic melt down everything must change. b,121b,121He releases a new; economic, foreign policy, health plan, job creation, tax cuts (for the middle class), prison for ceos, tax countries who benefit from our military...b,121b,121He's got nothing to lose. b,121b,121I'm not saying it would work, but it sure would get noticed.
It would be lip service. The economy would still be failing.b,121b,121It's crazy that as McCain goes at sub-prime loans and the housing fallout (fingering it as the dems problem and reason we are where we are) he's going at what I bet is a large percentage of the soccer mom costco cookie cutter neo-mansion having supporters at his rallies. And they stand there and clap knowing damn well they over-extended in the housing boom.b,121b,121he was at a rally today claiming the dems set up a system that convinced people to buy bigger houses than they could afford with mortgages they couldn't sustain. Yup - that's obamas fault for sure. img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/poor.gif" alt="" 21
b,121i'm Sayin! I don't think we are going to see three days straight of 500+ rallies and a turn around in the housing market, consumer confidence, and employment.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121Seriously, I wish it were looking better and it JUST boiled down to which party takes the election. This is a highly stressful time for anyone who is already down and can't see the light at the end, and the stress of many of us who are ok right now(employed and housed), whose situation could take a bad turn at any time now. While other things will no doubt be fighting for headlines, I think many of us will gladly WISH that the economy is not still dominating the news 6 months from now, let alone 6 weeks from now. Rough waters.
I don't write McCain off. But I don't give him much of a chance to turn this election around. b,121b,121After the $700.00 rescue bill passed the House & Senate the press was gearing up to cover the Slime All The Time campaign that McCain/Palin were pushing out and what happened? The Dow crashed.b,121b,121Last night when they ran the debate a second time, they cut away from the pundit coverage for a breaking story on the crash of the Asian markets.b,121b,121The economy is not going to miraculously fix itself. The Fed and Treasury is casting about for a way to stabilize things and so far haven't found what will work.b,121b,121McCain had to retreat from Michigan. That is the Napoleon retreat from Moscow moment for his campaign. Without MI or PA, John has to run the board of all current battle ground states to win. Obama has to only win one. The economy is the winter that is killing his army.b,121b,121Even if McCain can pull the polls close (I am almost 100% sure he cannot pull ahead) the ground game is going to kill him in the battleground states. He just doesn't have the infrastructure to compete with the juggernaut that Obama invested in right after winning the primary. McCain hasn't got the money or the time to build his own up. b,121b,121I am afraid that barring an act of god, McCain's campaign is done. b,121b,121img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/game.gif" alt="" 21
b,121here was a guy who was smeared ruthlessly by Bush/Rove in the Republican 2000 primaries ("Cindy McCain is on drugs", "McCain has an illegitimate black child" blah blah, etc). It really damaged him and he claimed he would never to engage in dirty politics. Now with his decision to go with this "pallin' around with terrorists" crap, it's becoming more clear to me everyday that he's the guy who will do anything do be POTUS, including flat-out lying and now destroying his reputation. It's sad and disgraceful to me.
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b,121Not only that, he hired
i1the exact same people who came up with the 2000 primaries smears[/i] to work for his campaign. It doesn't get much sadder than that.
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b,121Really?! Jesus that is pathetic.
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b,121Of course, if he wins I won't feel sorry for him at all. Funny how that works.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121I don't care who reads this after I type it: I will always have empathy for John Sidney McCain. As you all know, I voted for the man in the 2000 GOP primary. Like David Foster Wallace before me, I've seen the man undergo a change from a principled individual to the very exact image of what he decried eight years ago. It would be too simple a task to toss the man off as the sea tosses driftwood upon a shore, or to push him back into the gutter-home the McCain, the drunkard, the fanatic, circuitously yet deliberately opted for and thus deserves.b,121b,121But I am a human being, and I see the ebbing spark of humanity within John McCain. The man's life has become a very real Greek drama in the process of concluding its final tripartition, and I'm not sure if there will be a god-in-the-machine to deliver a postlude. Honestly, if anyone cannot at least pause for a man struck down by his own hubris, then they truly are next in line.b,121b,121Whistling past the graveyard, folks.
Damn, Luck had to go at get all Aeschylus on us!b,121b,121I think Dan's being overly cynical though I can't blame him. b,121b,121The economy doesn't have to be front page news every day from here to Nov. It just has to be front page news every few days or so img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" 21b,121b,121I don't know if I can imagine McCain successfully pulling off an entire new set of policies with less than a month to try to explain that shit to people. For one thing, if he tries to pander to the middle, he risks losing his base - a base, I might add, that is already unhappy with how he's handled stuff, especially with the Palin nod. b,121b,121I mean, what is he going to do? Argue for raising taxes? Suicide. Spending cuts? Oops, already did that. And there's the specter of the deficit in the background too. At best, he could argue for the same kind of tax cuts Obama has suggested but that's not a game changer. b,121b,121I just can't see it.
To add: the biggest gamble McCain has made was Palin. I can't see how anything could be as spectacular as that. He could try for a "one term" pledge; there's been speculation this has been a card up his sleeve the whole time but personally, that sounds kind of gimmicky and it still doesn't do anything to reassure people about his seeming disconnection from the economic crisis.b,121b,121Speaking of which: if things continue even vaguely down this current path, in three weeks, Wall St. might look better but it's more likely shit will be really bad for the "average American" since they won't be able to borrow shit. The credit crisis is likely at the BEGINNING stages of how bad it's going to be. We've been insulated from the full brunt but I don't see how the worst isn't still ahead of us. Throw in the impact on unemployment rates and you're going to have a lot of disenfranchised and pissed off people come early November.
b,121I don't care who reads this after I type it: I will always have empathy for John Sidney McCain. As you all know, I voted for the man in the 2000 GOP primary. Like David Foster Wallace before me, I've seen the man undergo a change from a principled individual to the very exact image of what he decried eight years ago. It would be too simple a task to toss the man off as the sea tosses driftwood upon a shore, or to push him back into the gutter-home the McCain, the drunkard, the fanatic, circuitously yet deliberately opted for and thus deserves.
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b,121But I am a human being, and I see the ebbing spark of humanity within John McCain. The man's life has become a very real Greek drama in the process of concluding its final tripartition, and I'm not sure if there will be a god-in-the-machine to deliver a postlude. Honestly, if anyone cannot at least pause for a man struck down by his own hubris, then they truly are next in line.
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b,121Whistling past the graveyard, folks.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121Luck,b,121b,121I have to say this is by far the most poetic thing I have read here, ever. While I never had the rosy picture that you carry for the man, John McCain, I can feel the heartbreak in your words. b,121b,121Whether you see John McCain's fall as the tragic hero of a Greek tragedy (external, fate) or the unmasked villain of a Jacobean melodrama (internal, inevitable), it has been awful to watch. It has been one of the reasons I have pulled back on my rhetoric here. The man has done so much more damage to himself than anything I could say or do to belittle him.b,121b,121Thank you for your pause.
Lets get it right about McCain and the media. McCains esteem amongst the media arose from him being a reliable critic and opponent of republicans over the last 8 years. That esteem dissipated the moment he became republican presidential nominee.
b,121To add: the biggest gamble McCain has made was Palin. I can't see how anything could be as spectacular as that. He could try for a "one term" pledge; there's been speculation this has been a card up his sleeve the whole time but personally, that sounds kind of gimmicky and it still doesn't do anything to reassure people about his seeming disconnection from the economic crisis.
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b,121Speaking of which: if things continue even vaguely down this current path, in three weeks, Wall St. might look better but it's more likely shit will be really bad for the "average American" since they won't be able to borrow shit. The credit crisis is likely at the BEGINNING stages of how bad it's going to be. We've been insulated from the full brunt but I don't see how the worst isn't still ahead of us. Throw in the impact on unemployment rates and you're going to have a lot of disenfranchised and pissed off people come early November.
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font class="post"1b,121b,121Not to mention the businesses closing after this Christmas doesn't deliver for them.b,121b,121Palin's nomination really looms large toward the downfall of McCain's campaign. If the Mormon Economist was his VP pick, folks would be looking twice at the GOP right now. Can you imagine?
b,121Lets get it right about McCain and the media. McCains esteem amongst the media arose from him being a reliable critic and opponent of republicans over the last 8 years. That esteem dissipated the moment he became
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