Gag Me With A Spoon. An old 'Valley Girl' saying, but so applicable as I watched Tom Brokaw hand over the reigns of Meet The Press this morning to Gregory. The two of them together worked to compliment one another in almost a "who can top this' routine. Gregory just thinks Brokaw is so wonderful, a mentor and he is going to lean on him so much for support as he takes over. Broakaw, meanwhile, going on and on about his 'exclusive' interview earlier with Obama and just how great he himself is. The cutting edge of the greatest generation (his, of course). These two clowns remind me of CNN's insufferable line about that how they are the greatest newscasting crew ever put together on television. What a load of crap. But we watch and listen because we have no choice. I could turn it off but then I would be stuck with only my New York Times and Chicago Tribune. And they get stale and old, especially in their weekend products. About all you can say, with respect to the characters we get shoved in front of us on the tube, is that they are famous. They really don't have much to say but that is neither here nor there. They are up there and I am here in my library (because that is where Harvey chooses to sun himself in the morning).
I was in this wonderful restaurant up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, sometime back. One of those storefront places that serves 'tubs' for drinks at four o'clock sharp every day (happy hour still exists up there). The place is called Maricques on University. We go there because it is about the only place in the world where you can order perch, and have it served with the bones still in (thereby making the fish moister and better tasting, or so we think after a couple of tubs of Whiskey Manhattens!). Anyway, the place has big flat screens up in all four corners of the dining area. There is no volume and there are different programs on every television. Mostly sports junk or Packer related things. We went in at four-thirty, because my parents are very old and must eat at the earliest minute that food is to be served, and there was only one other filled table in the room. All four of those people were as old as my parents (And I mean old). They were playing cards, drinking tubs of gold stuff and talking loudly (because they can't hear). My father did not like the flicker of the television which was situated just above the table we had chosen. We could not move to another table (there are twenty, or so) because that is not done once one roosts. To get rid of Dad's complaints, I reached over and pulled the plug controlling the power to the television just above. Instantly, the four happy codgers interrupted their game to complain. When we ignored them, they went to the bar to complain that I had pulled the plug on one of the establishment televisions. The bartender (with his 'Milwaukee Tumor' of some significant size, proceeding him, stepped over to let us know that the television was his, and that we were not entitled to unplug it. He plugged it back in, after looking intently at me, to let me know that the knives they use to carve the fish in the back room were all available to him, then turned generous and allowed us to leave the set off.
Why am I recounting this story? Because we have become accustomed to having the visual of the moving lights from our televisions as backdrops to our lives. The television has become a comfort. Not for anything that is said by the 'talking heads' or any meaningful action that might be up on the screen. No, it is part of the necessary wallpaper of our lives. It just makes us feel not alone, not out of the loop and not without meaning. Those old coots did, probably, have some of that Germanic stuff going inside them, as well (you know, the rules thing that is so important in this part of the country) but I don't think that is what caused them to rat us out to management.
And so it is with Meet the Press, and all of the other programs we have up there on the screen. Those two over-effusing creeps (Brokaw and Gregory) could say whatever they wanted to and nobody was going to complain. I am probably the only person this side of Lake Geneva that has the volume turned up. This article does qualify for the Obama site because I did slip him in there, once, somewhere.
Obama is quoted saying, "If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress." As I've observed him over the past couple years, I've been impressed by his walk, his progress. He's remained steady and calm no matter what challenges have presented themselves. Not only has Barack matured during his campaign to exude even greater poise and diplomacy, but he's proven himself to be unflappable under fire by his opponents. I think Colin Powell's well-balanced perception of Obama, given during his interview with Meet the Press, stated eloquently what people all over the world are observing about Barack's walk, his talk and his confidence in running mate for VP, Joe Biden:
"...he (Obama) displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge, and an approach to looking at problems like this, picking a Vice President that I think is ready to be President on Day One. And also in – not just in jumping in and changing every day – but showing intellectual vigor, I think that he has a definitive way of doing business that would serve us well."
Powell concludes that segment of his interview by saying:
"I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the ... onto the world stage and on the American stage...."
I choose to put my trust in the leadership of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. I trust they will both prove to be trustworthy servants and continue to walk their talk all the way to the White House and for the length of their term(s) in office.
May God give them discernment and wisdom to administer sound advice and judgement in all matters, keep them from harm and from doing harm as they serve the American people and negotiate with world leaders to work toward protecting our freedom, ensuring peace, improving humanitarian and environmental health, and spearheading economic, education and political reforms.
This morning on Meet the Press, General Colin Powell (ret.) endorsed Barack Obama. Powell has served his country with distinction as a member of the Army for 35 years (including service for Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton as National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. A Republican, Powell endorsed Barack saying:
I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities--and we have to take that into account--as well as his substance--he has both style and substance--he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president. I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the world--onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama.
Michigan: with sixteen days left until the most important election in our lifetimes, our time is now! Join with General Powell to create real change we can believe in. Stop by your local Campaign for Change office today to get active in your community, or visit our online action center. Together, we can create the government we deserve - but only with your help!
Oh, I am so so happy Colin Powell endorsed Obama! Take a look at this: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/powell-endorses-obama/?hp
Enjoy!
Naomi
Please practice what you preach, Governor.
This afternoon in your stump speech you beg for the mainstream media to ask Barack Obama the tough questions. Last I checked, Barack and Joe haven't run from a single question yet.
Yet when YOU are asked ANY questions from the mainstream media you protest that you're being asked GOTCHA questions.
Please stop talking out of both sides of your mouth.
How about booking yourself on MEET THE PRESS this Sunday? Or are you too afraid they'll GETCHA?
When you make appearances, especially as a guest on Meet The Press or any other news show, DO NOT do the following: (1) refer to John McCain as John - that's too chummy and viewers need to know it is the Republican candidate that you are speaking about; and, (2) When asked what your thoughts are about Joe Lieberman's speech at the RNC, do not chuckle and refer to him as a friend, and that your children are friends - that's too chummy and a lost opportunity to state that he betrayed the Democratic party and 51 MILLION voters in 2000.
You are in the big leagues now - senatorial congenialty rules DO NOT APPLY. Your supporters deserve better and demand better!
I just watched a fascinating exchange on MSNBC between David Gregory of Race To The White House and two of John McCain's representatives. The conversation centered around David Gregory asking McCain's reps if they were planning to put Sarah Palin on news shows like Meet The Press, so that she could establish her Bona Fides with both the press and the American people.
No, came the answer. We will put her on whatever shows we need to put her on TO WIN.
John McCain and the Republicans don't care about us. They care about POWER.
Don't forget that each one of us has tremendous POWER as well --- OUR VOTE.
Make sure you think your conscience and vote for the team who will truly look out for the future of the American people, and not the future of an elite few.
I am so disgusted, I've turned the television off.
The Republicans are extremely talented at marketing, and terrible at governing. We must remember this as the campaigns heat up.
In the past two elections, Karl Rove found a way to market George W. Bush into the White House by appealing to the Republican conservative right. Then they gave us Dick Cheney to cement the deal. As a result, we have spent the past eight years watching self-interest at its worst while all the basic tenets of peace and prosperity in our nation crack and crumble at a frightening pace. That, along with our declining standing in the world.
In the 2008 presidential race we once again see sleight of hand from the Republicans. They show one side of Sarah Palin to the conservative right base of the party to shore up that faction. Then they show another side of her to the rest of the world --- a closely guarded, well-scripted side, designed to make us believe she is a young, hip, family-oriented, successful career woman with a special needs child and the interests of America truly in her heart.
Sounds like a perfect contrast to nullify Barack Obama, doesn't it? But she isn't anything like Barack Obama. She may be bright person, but she's a 2-term local mayor of a tiny town in a remote state, and now governor of said remote state. Her interests are extreme: Pro-life despite rape and incest, pro-oil, pro-NRA, pro-conservatism. She is not interested in the problems that face the American people, like healthcare, education, jobs, and cost of living. She is interested first and foremost in the ideals that serve the Republican right.
Are you aware that they let her talk to People Magazine --- BUT NOT MEET THE PRESS, HARDBALL, COUNTDOWN, or 60 MINUTES?! If they have nothing to hide, why are they hiding her?
Let's remember who Barack Obama is and what he stands for. He's worked hard in community service. He's been the head of Harvard Law Review, a law professor, and both a state senator and a U.S. Senator. He is versed in the workings of Washington, DC, and he is well known in the Congress and Senate. He record is well known, his ideals are well known, and he's been working to establish himself with world leaders. He has been preparing for the role of President all his adult life. No on-the-job-training here.
Don't be fooled by the Republican sleight of hand. Ask more questions about Sarah Palin and what she truly believes. Then ask yourself if this is the person you want potentially running our country if something happens to John McCain, age 72.
John McCain is going to select Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) CT as his Vice-Presidential running mate. There are two reason for this selection. It display's McCain's bi-partisanship muscle. The second reason requires some set up. First, John McCain's been dropping Judeo-Christian like it's hot lately. He's planning to paint Sen. Obama as a Muslim v. the Christian and the Jew. Secondly, Mike Huckabee is dispatched to Israel to rally the troops. That is the master plan and it must be defeated now.
I only heard about it but didn't see it yesterday that Chuck Todd got a full one hour on MSNBC yesterday afternoon. Could it be that they're testing the waters for him to become the next "Meet the Press" host?
Sure enough he seems to show the same sports like fanatism and enthusiasm as Tim Russert had about the politics game (whitout the obvious partisan approach Olberman has).
Go Chucky, go!
This message is about Barack's position on the US military surge in Iraq. I think Barack was absolutely right.
1.) Iraq still has a major sectarian divide, for which there is no military solution.
3.) Without resolving the sectarian divide politically, but maintaining the US military surge, the US could inadvertently be perceived as occupiers in Iraq that would be siding with the most powerful sectarian group in the Iraqi government. This could also undermine the sense of urgency for such a group to make political overtures to other Iraqi groups in order to stabilize the country; as the most powerful group would have little incentive to do so because it may perceive itself as being supported by the US military that keeps the violence down. The most powerful sectarian group could even adopt the position of willingly not making political overtures to other groups, while “hiding behind the shield" of a US military surge. That would be clear manipulation of our military by a foreign government.
5.) It wasn't just the US military surge that led to a reduction in violence, and without other Iraqi involvement independent of the surge strategy, violence across Iraq and in the captial could still be higher.
6.) John McCain's campaign, and the conservative media, are trying to over simplify a complex issue, without giving full credit to all the factors (particularly groups of cooperating Iraqis) involved that led to the lower level of violence in Iraq.
Barack looked and sounded great on Meet The Press this morning. Brokaw (sp) is no Tim Russert and his questions were in general pretty lame. I was glad to hear Obama mention the fact that the quotes that Brokaw was using were either written by conservatives, McCain or in one case only one part of the poll.
Barack explained why being right or wrong on the surge was not the issue, he doesn't have to "apologize" for his position, since it is still valid. The "Surge," is only part of the equation. I'd like to hear McCain apologize for voting to get us in to this mess in the first place.
McCain needs to apologize for the 7 plus years of the Bush Administration, and his own record in the Senate. He voted against things like benefits for Veterans. I hope the campaign starts pushing the list of things Mccain has voted for and against out to the public. He's no "Maverick" or "Independent" he's a big time "Bushy."
The press needs to start asking McCain some hard questions. McCain, his talking point surrogates and campaign hacks have intimidated the press with false claims of bias toward Obama. In fact the opposite is true. It isn't necessarily the amount of coverage but the type of coverage. Many times we see coverage of Obama and hear a bunch of McCain/Republican talking points at the same time.
Obama is out making news, talking about issues, proposing ideas and looking to the future and all McCain can do is make snide remarks, complain and get is facts wrong.
It's pretty obvious that McCain and his campaign are desperate and have already thrown in the "kitchen sink." I guess next it'll be the toilet.
JRM
NBC's handling of their recent poll suggests how numbers can be manipulated or used for or against a candidate. Some numbers from the poll were headlined and highlighted, others were ignored. Some of these problems with reporting may be unintentional and a result of time constraints. But we need we need to be aware and willing to respond to media outlets that convey a distorted impression of Barack or the current state of the race. I have copied, below, the email I sent to Meet the Press and Chuck Todd, with whom I have had frequent correspondence, regarding this matter...
I am a grassroots Obama volunteer from Kingstree, South Carolina.
If you utilize the recent NBC/WSJ poll results on Meet the Press, I hope you and Chuck Todd (if he is on) will have time to present a balanced view of the data with respect to Obama and McCain.
In the NBC reporting of this poll that I have seen, some significant positives for Obama in the poll have not been mentioned.
For example, in this poll a majority of voters perceived Obama as more...
Easygoing and likeable, offering hope and optimism, being compassionate enough to understand the people, and improving America's standing in the world
As Chuck Todd has reported, if Obama were pitted against McCain today, Obama would receive 47% of the vote, McCain would receive 41% of the vote. But I have not heard it mentioned that if Bob Barr and Ralph Nader were thrown into the mix, Obama would garner 48% of the vote, while McCain would garner 35. So the third party candidates could make a huge difference, at least in terms of the popular vote.
44% of Obama voters are excited about him, while only 14% of McCain voters are excited. I have also not heard this mentioned in broadcasts. This finding could be significant in terms of election-day turnout.
Chuck Todd did say on Nightly News that voters surveyed consider Obama the more mainstream candidate, though I could not find that data in the poll, posted on RealClear.
Finally, voters, by a 60-30 margin, said they favor a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, in effect agreeing with Obama's position.
There are positives for McCain in the poll, too, of course. For example, a majority saw McCain as having stronger leadership qualities, being consistent and standing up for his beliefs, being more honest and straightforward (by a narrow margin), and being a good commander in chief. And, as has been widely reported by NBC, a majority of voters surveyed consider Obama to be the riskier choice.
I just ask, if this poll is cited, that a balanced view of the findings be given. Also, it should be noted that polling is only a snapshot. For example, the full impact of Obama’s trip overseas has not been yet been seen.
Chuck Todd does an excellent job of crunching the numbers, but I hope that he is given time and takes the opportunity to present a balanced picture, though I understand that time is a strong limiting factor in the presentation of network news.
Thank you,
Patrick Frank
I'm reading a new book called: "Just how stupid are we?". It's an interesting reflection on the responsibility of the People in the Bush presidency debacle, and a refreshing look into a famous issue. I recommend the reading. But I digress.
In 2001, Dick Cheney said on Meet The Press that it was pretty well confirmed that Mohammed Atta had met with a Senior Iraqi offical in Czechoslovakia "last April". Now, I am no more interested in speculating than most of us, but if that information has actually been communicated to Cheney by the CIA, can we please find the person who wrote it and fire him/her right away? Czechoslovakia, as a country, was dissolved in 1993!
Now if you were Dick Cheney and you didn't pay much attention to the Eastern European political revolution of the 90's, which is already bad in itself, and you read a report that said "Czech Republic". I am sure it would trigger your interest just enough not to make the mistake on Meet The Press. The fact that the story went that way and that I can't seem to even find a story online that highlights this error is quite surprising to me.
Anyway, it was time for me to sleep and I had to say it before going to bed.
I was very saddened by the news of Tim Russert’s sudden passing away on Friday, June 13. Russert was an exceptional journalist who put his heart and soul into getting the truth from people in leadership roles in politics and carefully analyzing political events as they developed.
Most American viewers of ‘Meet the Press’, moderated by Russert over the past 17 years, see this program on their TVs on Sunday mornings. As an American abroad in Spain and with Spain being 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, I wait with anticipation until Sunday evening each week to see the netcast of this always insightful program. It has been my best cure for the end-of-the weekend blues that can come in gearing up for the work week ahead. ‘Meet the Press’ will go on, but it won’t be the same without Russert at the helm.
In addition to ‘Meet the Press’, I also looked to Tim Russert first for his analysis of ongoing developments in politics and, especially, of this historic election of 2008. Living abroad, I got great comfort from being connected by Russert to events and people back home who have been part of this election all through the primary season. As Barack Obama said in his observations on Friday upon hearing of Russert’s sudden death, “Tim is irreplaceable.” I hope that the role he played as a “standard-bearer” of high-quality, balanced and ethical journalism will be heeded by those who survive him in reporting political news. I notice that many of my fellow Obama supporters are also fans of Russert, given the more than 1000 responses here on this website to Barack Obama's statement on our common loss of Russert's presence.
We could always count on Russert to get to the bottom of the issues and provide well-researched analysis. Furthermore, his own family background, coming from a blue-collar background of modest means is a great example of American Dream come true. The way Russert lived serves as an inspiration to do our best and put the same kind of enthusiastic energy into our own pursuits as he did into his. Above all, in everything he did and the down-to-earth way he presented himself, Russert's viewers always saw what a fine and decent human being on and off camera he was.
As Obama shifts gear from the primaries to the general election campaign, I am grateful for having had Russert’s reporting on the events in this election which I could see his genuine enthusiasm for in ‘Meet the Press’ and the debates he moderated, and the day-to-day political analysis he gave. Tim Russert will be sorely missed and never forgotten. My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.
Sunday morning will never be the same. For many of us Meet The Press was like going to church on Sunday. There will never be another like Tim. He will be greatly missed, but I will especially feel the loss on election night in November. This election was so important to him. You could see how he lit up when he was on TV talking about it, that twinkle in his eye that said this is what I live for..
Although no one knew who Tim voted for, one thing I found so telling about the charachter of the man is that he was greatly impressed with Senator Obama, not becuase of policy isuues or the Senator's position on the war or economy, but becuase he felt Barack is such a genuine and honest man. That is what Tim was, and he was able to recogonize that same sense of honesty, integrity, and humility in Senator Obama that was so evident in himself.
God bless you Tim. There will be a void tomorrow morning and every Sunday morning to come.
