Arkansas Blog

You've got to be kidding. The press is fawning over Obama.

I just hope I live long enough to see the day that they find Amelia Earhart's airplane, Elvis turns up alove, and Hillary turns out to be the Democrats' nominee after all.

I noted that a German columnist headed his coverage of Obama's speech as "People of the World, Look at Me". I've also read that Democrats on the hill are grousing a bit because now that he thinks the nomination is locked up, Obama isn't too friendly, with an attitude of "I've got it covered, no help needed". Someone even said he had so completely taken over the party as the Obama Party that any Democrats who don't feel strongly about him should just go out and start themselves a new party because this one is now his. I know that's a bit over-the-top, but it does sort of feel that way.

I'm not surprised that the media is taking a look, but it can't be called a second look because they never gave him the first look, and now we have a very questionable, even though hugely skillful, candidate.

McCain would be a disaster, no doubt about that, but it's hard to work up any enthusiasm for this man who will likely get us out of Bush's disaster in Iraq only to get us into another disaster in Afghanistan, and I think he is an arrogant jerk. To me, Obama looks like a mistake, but it's too late.... Thank you very much, media and press!

For those still enamored of him, I do believe he will make a pretty good president - he's smart - but as someone said this AM, I don't think Obama moved to the right for the general election, I think he belongs there and played progressive for a couple of years knowing he was going to run for President. I don't think he is a liberal Democrat. I think some will be disappointed, if that is true, and he may turn out to be the real deal and make even me proud. I hope so, and at least it won't be a crazy old man who might lose it in the middle of the night and really do something awful.

>>Someone even said he had so completely taken over the party as the Obama Party that any Democrats who don't feel strongly about him should just go out and start themselves a new party because this one is now his. I know that's a bit over-the-top, but it does sort of feel that way.<<

Or he could shape the DLC with his "rock-star status" into what he wants the entire party to become.
Shades of 92-99. Richard Nixon "nationalized' the Republican Party in the 60s and it took them over 10 years before returning to a powerful grass roots organization. Clinton's triangulation in which the Democratic Party was part of the triangle did the same thing to Demos. Obama continues the
tradition. Perhaps today www makes it more feasible to nationalize and bypass local parties given the communication coherence the Web offers. But, when Dick Cheney visited NWA twice arrangements were first made thru local leader and he maxxed the money tree.

Man, is there a whinier, more self-entitled group in any profession than the national political media? Why does any political campaign owe them any cooperation at all? Why does the Obama campaign owe Adam Nagourney a phone call to discuss his usually terrible writing? The national political media has such an exalted view of itself that it truly believes that politicians are beholden to them, as if they are the arbiters of what is acceptable campaign behavior? Really, the media should report independently, expecting no special favors or special treatment and giving none in return. Instead, we have a political press that openly plays favorites and demands special access, all while being accountable to no one.

I think the following description from Matt Taibbi of covering the 2004 campaign drives home what an empty bunch of idiots the press corps is:

"As for the press corps, they really weren't that bad. I don't think I was ignored any more than most other small-time reporters, most of whom were pretty nice people who just had lousy jobs. But the cool kids, the people working for the big papers and TV stations who really loved hobnobbing with all the pols on the plane - they were a pretty disgusting group in some ways. I think the one image that will stick with me is Candy Crowley (CNN) jamming fistfuls of complimentary chocolate chip cookies into her mouth in a bus in Houston (the Kerry campaign had given us all free cookies wrapped in American-flag-patterned bandanas) and talking about Kucinich. She's got this huge waterfall of crumbs coming out of her mouth and she's talking about how ugly Kucinich is. That to me summed up the whole campaign press crew, right there..."

The cool kids. That's what the Nagourneys of the world are--"a pretty disgusting group" of fools.

The press wont even photograph the entire McCain family together... yet they call him a family man.

McCain voted for torture and against Veterans, yet the press constantly pimps him as the military credential guy... and all McCain wants to be militarily speaking is PNAC Bush the third. McCain has no honor, yet the press goes out of its way to present him differently.

McCain lands in airports often to no waiting supporters and holds miniscule town hall meetings.. yet the press never mentions how few people support him... or how many people he has arrested or kicked out of his 'talks with the people."

McCain had one press conference scheduled this week... and cancelled that... did the press criticize that? If Obama had done the same... there would be an international pundit uprising equivalent to a lynch press mob.

McCain has a zero rating on all womens issues... does the press report that?

How many planes did Mccain crash in his service? Does the press report that?

What kind of student was McCain...and did you know he graduated at the bottom of his elite class? Where's the press on that topic?

The press constantly repeats the word maverick in describing McCain when in fact not only was it never true... it's a bald faced lie at this point in time... not one thing McCain says or does fits the definition of the word, maverick.

McCains mental stability should be questioned much much more.. it's a matter of national security... yet the press does the terrorists work by helping encourage a false impression of McCain... he can't think or talk straight.. and he has a brutal temper... Does the press report that? Watching MCain and the press today sure explains how Reagan slipped through the press racks oh so many years ago.

last month the average political contribution to Obama was in the 60 dollar range? What was the average donation amount to McCain.. and how many average people contributed to his campaign? Does the press report that?

When is the last time the press reported McCain could lose his own home state this year? Or that he doesn't have one campaign office in the entire state of Alaska...another State he may very well lose this year?

Did the press ever cover the fact Mccain's entire staff is one giant collection of super rich corporate lobbyists? Folks who constantly have to resign due to improper connections.. only to be replaced by equally questionable characters?

Has the press covered McCains attendance record in the Senate over the past year? He should have resigned from the US senate.. it's such a dismal attendence record... it should be big news no matter what the excuse might be.. I mean Senator Johnson who had massive stroke... has a far better attendance record.

There is plenty to quibble about in re Obama... but the press and McCain should be kicked out the door and chased out of town with a notice to never return.

>>Man, is there a whinier, more self-entitled group in any profession than the national political media? Why does any political campaign owe them any cooperation at all? Why does the Obama campaign owe Adam Nagourney a phone call to discuss his usually terrible writing?<<

LOL! Nobody OWES anybody else in this issue at all - it's who NEEDS who. The media can do what they always do when they don't get cooperation, but with enough unfavorable, nit-picky press, Obama's numbers will hurt. Does anyone think that if the media had continued to cheer Bush and ignore his bumbling, that he would be as low in the polls today as he is? Many people get their whole political impression of a candidate based on 10 second sound bites.

Your remark is reminiscent of those surrounding Obama. IMO, they are not doing him a favor.

Write like lemmings, to the sea, to the sea!
(pay special attention to the punch line at the end - no lie!)

. Germans give Obama rock star welcome in Berlin - Reuters, 7-25
. "Barack Obama got rock star treatment from hundreds of thousands of adoring Germans." - Reuters, 7-25
. "Forget presidential - the welcome given to Barack Obama in Berlin was more befitting for a rock star than a politician." -- BBC News, 7-25
. "His appeal here, part exotic politician, part rock star." - US News & World Report, 7-25
. "He's become the new American rock star, enjoying pop-star-like status - except this rock star has a message, and he's riding it to the White House." - Michigan Daily, 7-20
. "It doesn't take a genius to predict that Obama's rock-star quality would have international appeal" - NY Post, 7-25
. "Obama in many ways can't help the fact that he is treated as a rock star by many people inside and outside politics." - The Washington Post, 7-22
. "This year, with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama receiving rock-star coverage of his overseas trip and his every move back home." - Politicker.com
. "There is no question that Obama has become a 'rock star' of sorts" in Europe." - Gallup poll, 7-24
. "A triumphant Barack Obama yesterday staked his claim to be the new JFK - as 250,000 delirious Berliners greeted him like a rock star." - The London Daily Mirror, 7-25
. "Correspondents traveling with the senator say he looks and feels at ease with world leaders, and they seem genuinely curious to meet the man many are calling a political "rock star." - Wilmington (NC) Daily Journal, 7-25
. "In Germany, Mr. Obama enjoys something approaching rock-star status." - Melbourne (Australia) Herald Sun, 7-24
. "Right now, Obama is bigger than any rock star.-Susan Estrich, FOX News, 7-23
. "The Clinton supporters that I know are bothered by these rock-star events. These spectacles are more about the candidate than they are about the party and the issues that we care about." -- Susie Tompkins Buell, a major Clinton fundraiser (SNARK! Not too long ago these same "rock star" hosannas were being tossed with wild Old Testament abandon upon Bill and Hillary), 7-25
. "Set aside the soaring speeches and rock-star rallies, and Sen. Barack Obama's future in Florida depends on a fragile proposition." - Florida Courier, 7-24
. "That could make for a long, hot August for McCain, culminating with Obama's rock-star finish to the Democratic nominating convention in Denver. - Yahoo News, 7-24
And finally ..
. "McCain arrived at the event like a rock star. The luxury bus he rode in was flanked by black SUVs with tinted windows and police cruisers with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring." - keepmecurrent.com (Maine) on McCain's visit to the Maine Military Museum, 7-24

OH MY GOD! Obama is not perfect. OH MY GOD! Must...get...paper...bag. Must...get...paper...bag.

Oh, Sound Policy, I think you need to look again. He's probably more 'perfect' than any candidate I've ever seen - Bar none. If it weren't for his regret at allowing the interview recently with his girls, I dare say he wouldn't remember the last time he made a mistake.

"Barack Obama got rock star treatment from hundreds of thousands of adoring Germans." - Reuters, 7-25<<

Wonder when the term "rock star" emerged? JFK was received the same way.

But when was the last time you saw people on foreign soil waving red, white & blue.
Perhaps it signifies America may return.

Ya know, it's just a guess but I'm betting that because a person is a proctologist doesn't mean he's in love with assholes. Looking at asses all day is his job, it's how he puts food on his family....I doubt a proctologist would ever like to be said to be practicing his love on asses. It's simply his job.

I don't want the MSN to love or hate Barack Obama...just do their job. If no one is showing up for McCain rallies......I want to know about that too. I don't want the MSN purposely giving either Obama or McCain a boost or a slam....just report the damn news as it's found laying on the ground. The news business has morphed into a PR unit. They don't want someone to win the World Series in 4 quick wins, they want to stretch it out cause there is more money to be made. If the MSN tells the truth about McCain as of today the race for the White House is over and McCain and Obama wouldn't go on to spend 200 million on TV and print ads.

I personally don't care if Obama is friendly. I don't care if he says Israel is Israel's biggest supporter, when he meant to say America-AT&T. It's the big things I'm worried about, like McCain wanting to be at war for the next 100 years. It's not going to be his kid's asses blown up ya know. I just wish someone would tell McCain we can't finally win the Vietnam War by fighting in the Middle East, even if he kills all our kids doing it.

Europe loves Obama. That probably does him as much harm as good here in America-AT&T. But won't it be nice to have a President the rest of the world likes too? It'll be like Reagan and the hostages....the minute Obama's sworn in the temperature of the world will go down 10 degrees. Half the chest bombs in Iraq will be thrown away. I dream of that minute over and over and over. sigh

We really have to start being smarter. Today is a great day to begin the process. Work on yer Granny and try to convince her that everything will be just fine if a black couple lives in the White House. I can tell from here the old people are having trouble with Barack's skin color. If I was 20 years older I probably would too. But McCain is the death of us, the final chapter in the neo-con takeover of the world and we just cain't have it!!! Come on Obama!

Re: "But when was the last time you saw people on foreign soil waving red, white & blue?"

Immediately after 9-11, but it all got put away a short time later following actions of Monkey Boy.

I think most of y'all know my opinion of Monkeyboy/Republicans by now...but this Obama lovefest the MSM is currently engaged in is sickening. And, ultimately it will hurt him. Sad thing is, it's not Obama's fault that they're following him around like lovesick schoolboys/schoolgirls...that they're announcing as 'breaking news' his every step. Well, maybe not ALL his fault.

Obama needs to practice the art of humility, set aside his press fan club and come home to woo those Americans who've yet to fall in love with him. And, mostly...there not big fans of those worldly types (right or wrong).

They are not big fans...and neither am I a fan of poor grammar.

Zelda, I kinda think he loves the attention and eats it up. Following is a part of the New Yorker article. There was a lot in there about his reputation for cockiness and self assurance. None of that is bad, in fact, it's necessary probably to win in politics. But some of the people who literally adore him think he is 'different', better, more honest. I don't think he is - I think he is just better at politics.

This from the article...."Obama has always had a healthy understanding of the reaction he elicits in others, and he learned to use it to his advantage a very long time ago. Marty Nesbitt remembers Obama's utter calm the day he gave his celebrated speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, in Boston, which made him an international celebrity and a potential 2008 Presidential candidate. "We were walking down the street late in the afternoon," Nesbitt told me. "And this crowd was building behind us, like it was Tiger Woods at the Masters." "Barack, man, you're like a rock star," Nesbitt said. "Yeah, if you think it's bad today, wait until tomorrow," Obama replied. "What do you mean?" "My speech," Obama said, "is pretty good."

I don't like him as a person, I guess because he fooled me. I bought the idea he was different and felt soooo guilty for deciding not to support him because I thought he would lose. But, man, did I ever misread and underestimate this man. He's slick as a whistle and never doubted a moment he would win - would say or do anyting to accomplish that.

I don't mean to sound like I'm bashing him - I'm not glad he's our candidate, but I'm confident with him because I think he showed in Illinois that he can outsmart any election theft when he managed to get all the other candidates off the ballot and ran unopposed. I'll never probably admire or like him, but I do admire his skill (much like I admired Clinton's skill despite his womanizing). But, I am convinced he is not what he has sold himself to be and I think he needs to climb down off his pedestal and get real. He's still got lots of Democrats who don't like him and won't vote for him and his cocky arrogance is not doing anything to fix that. His attitude and that of his campaign is "if they don't support us they can get the hell out of the way". THAT won't do. He needs to find some humility and ask for support and seek real support - not give off the air of "I can do it all by myself cause I don't need anyone."

I've said this before - it's NOT about him - he matters not at all - not him nor his career - but the people matter, the voters, and the Democratic party. He owes us a lot and I'm past ready to see him step up and get real.

"I don't like him as a person"--Ci.Ci

Not to put too fine a point on this, but that's just fucking stupid. How can you dislike someone "as a person" (whatever the hell that really means) if you don't even know him? Besides, you are essentially judging a candidate on the basis of personality rather than policy proposals or ability. Reasoning of the same kind brought us George W. Bush, elected largely upon the strength of his suitability as a "guy you'd want to have a beer with." Senator Obama is not running to be your buddy--he's running to be president. Senator Obama's by far the better candidate in this race--smarter and more conversant with the issues. That's what matters.

I also find it amusing that people are shocked--SHOCKED--that Barack Obama is a politician. If you thought Barack Obama wasn't going to try to win, you probably fooled yourself by projecting something on him. He's never claimed not to be a politician. He is a politician, and a good one. If he's arrogant, that shouldn't be surprising, either--show me a presidential candidate who doesn't have a healthy self-regard. In the end, though, you can elect a president who is going to change the way things have been done the past eight years, or you can elect a president who is going to give you more of the same. Why tear down the good candidate?

>>Not to put too fine a point on this, but that's just fucking stupid. How can you dislike someone "as a person" (whatever the hell that really means) if you don't even know him? Besides, you are essentially judging a candidate on the basis of personality rather than policy proposals or ability. Reasoning of the same kind brought us George W. Bush, elected largely upon the strength of his suitability as a "guy you'd want to have a beer with." Senator Obama is not running to be your buddy--he's running to be president. Senator Obama's by far the better candidate in this race--smarter and more conversant with the issues. That's what matters.<<

Well, bless your little heart Gaddis. Maybe you should re-read my post before you go ape. I said as a politician he makes me confident and I'm supporting him. But, I don't like the man, and "NEWSFLASH" - I don't have to like him. Doesn't matter that we ain't buddies - I don't want a buddy - BUT he is the first Democratic presidential nominee in my lifetime that I didn't like personally.

I probably would have liked him better had he presented himself as a 'politician' from the start, and not as our saviour. I got him figured out now though, so there is no problem - unless you have a problem with what I think of him, and if you do, that's your fucking problem.

>>Why tear down the good candidate?<<

In public I say nothing but good things about Obama, but here among political junkies I don't feel compelled to play games and I doubt I'm influencing anyone.

Also - Obama isn't "the" good candidate. He's the candidate.

obama yo mama couldn't get any photo op opportunities so he scuttled his plans to visit the wounded troops in hospitals in Germany. I guess the troops only have a value if they can promote his campaign. Too bad for obama yo mama.

strangelove: This is a perfect setup for you, isn't it?

If Obama doesn't visit the wounded troops, you can criticize him for ignoring, or at least devaluing them: "I guess the troops only have a value if they can promote his campaign."

But if he DOES visit the wounded troops, you can criticize him for doing it just to help his politcal campaign.

Either way, you get to criticize him. How sweet it is!

"LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama on Saturday defended his decision to cancel a visit with U.S. troops at a military hospital in Germany because of concerns it would be viewed as a political event.

"Obama had intended to stop at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on Friday morning, the day after delivering a speech on transatlantic relations in Berlin as part of his trip to the Middle East and Europe.

"But the campaign issued a statement saying the Illinois senator decided to drop the visit from his schedule after an adviser was told it would be perceived as political.

"At a news conference in London as he wrapped up his trip, Obama said the Pentagon notified the campaign that the visit would have been viewed as political because he was bringing along a campaign adviser, retired Maj. Gen. Scott Gration. Gration advises the campaign on an unpaid basis.

'That triggered then a concern that maybe our visit was going to be perceived as political,' Obama said. 'And the last thing that I want to do is have injured soldiers and the staff at these institutions having to sort through whether this is political or not and get caught in the cross-fire between campaigns.'

'The Pentagon took issue with a statement by the campaign citing conversations with military officials as a reason for canceling the trip. The Pentagon said it never told Obama he could not visit Landstuhl, only that he could not do so with campaign staff and reporters there.

'The Obama campaign countered there was never any intention to allow reporters and that Gration was to be the only adviser to participate in the visit with the senator.

'The U.S. Defense Department has long-standing policies that prohibit military personnel and military facilities from any association with partisan political campaigns and elections."

So the "U.S. Defense Department has long-standing policies that prohibit . . . ." But it's all Obama's fault and we should denigrate him because he acceded to the Defense Department's policy.

Is this some more of your "logic," strangelove?

Isn't is easy to ascribe motive--whatever motive you wish--from circumstance?

"I don't like him, so his motive must have been impure."

Yes, if your opponent does something you don't like or, as in this case, doesn't do something you do like, then his behavior MUST have stemmed from an ulterior motive!

Remember how easy it was for the current administration to assign motive? "If you don't support my policies (e.g., this war), you're not a patriot," or "you're unpatriotic."

If someone doesn't agree with you, impugn his motive. If you can't refute the evidence or rebut the logic, then attack the man: (if I could only get italics in here) "argumentum ad hominem."