tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961006065192244756.post1906933861473372606..comments2023-10-05T07:11:05.917-04:00Comments on Art at the Auction: How Democrats Lose Elections (Pt 2)petplutohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01053307189721906583noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961006065192244756.post-11142580457631882942008-09-24T23:56:00.000-04:002008-09-24T23:56:00.000-04:00As they say, the thing the media loves to talk abo...As they say, the thing the media loves to talk about the most is other media--they make or break it for you, and since the McCain campaign isn't giving them what they want (Palin available for interviews and the like), they're retaliating. It's a bad strategy move, because it's seen as overly protecting Palin from the big bad media, that she's not "experienced" enough to handle answering some questions, and anyone in public office should be used to this. Always, ALWAYS, make friends with the media.MediaMavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12548519999729515206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961006065192244756.post-70300460577477478582008-09-24T11:34:00.000-04:002008-09-24T11:34:00.000-04:00"Meghan McArdle linked to this gem yesterday."Yike..."Meghan McArdle linked to this gem yesterday."<BR/><BR/>Yikes. For all that I like about Joe Biden (and there is a lot), I do tend to cringe instinctively when he opens his mouth. Which is sad, because sometimes he is brilliant.<BR/><BR/>"even if he doesn't make any major gaffes, the impression that he's not giving Palin sufficient "deference" could push more women toward McCain. I HOPE that won't happen."<BR/><BR/>Interestingly enough, I think the biggest thing stopping this from happening is the press; the press was complacent when Hillary Clinton was getting hit with overt sexism, and that was bad. But they seem to be getting more and more infuriated with the McCain campaign for shutting Palin away from view and doing stupid shit like trying to block reporters from Palin's visits with heads of state. In an ironic way, the McCain campaign's own handling of Sarah Palin and the press's disgust with it is the Democrats' best friend right now.petplutohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01053307189721906583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961006065192244756.post-58114880663909891342008-09-24T10:26:00.000-04:002008-09-24T10:26:00.000-04:00*starting to think : )*starting to think : )mikhailbakuninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13158822054353654203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961006065192244756.post-22522891098557560592008-09-24T10:25:00.000-04:002008-09-24T10:25:00.000-04:00Meghan McArdle linked to this gem yesterday. I'm ...Meghan McArdle linked to <A HREF="http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/why_isnt_our_politicianz_eduka.php" REL="nofollow"> this gem</A> yesterday. I'm starting to that that Biden is incapable of keeping his foot out of his mouth. <BR/><BR/>But, even if he doesn't make any major gaffes, the impression that he's not giving Palin sufficient "deference" could push more women toward McCain. I HOPE that won't happen. <BR/><BR/>A bunch of polling institutes have suggested that Palin's <I>mere presence</I> on the ticket has caused major shifts among white women (though Gallup <A HREF="http://www.gallup.com/poll/110638/Did-Palin-Help-McCain-Among-White-Women.aspx" REL="nofollow">contradicts this claim</A>).<BR/><BR/>Anyway, we'll see what happens . . .mikhailbakuninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13158822054353654203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961006065192244756.post-76721427835188382572008-09-24T09:51:00.000-04:002008-09-24T09:51:00.000-04:00I have to say, I think there is some difference in...I have to say, I think there is some difference in changing a style of debate that has been the norm and asking your opponent after a debate to "voluntarily" sign a pledge s/he would not have to.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I have to say your point would have been better made if you didn't talk about the soft money contribution pledge and instead focused on the impression voters (especially women voters) got that Lazio was beating her up worse in the debates than he would have if she were a man (for that, you're lucky that I fastidiously read what you link!). And I concede that is indeed a risk they run.<BR/><BR/>I was nervous about the Biden-Palin debates, because even though Biden is one of the best members of Congress on women's issues, he sometimes does develop a "foot-in-mouth" disease. Like when he called Obama "clean". But I don't think the gender card -a card they are rapidly wearing out over the strangest and most benign and decidedly not sexist comments- is an automatic win as long as Biden didn't go off the rails.petplutohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01053307189721906583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961006065192244756.post-83895920317572497842008-09-24T08:45:00.000-04:002008-09-24T08:45:00.000-04:00Yes, this is ridiculous. But the reason they've ag...Yes, this is ridiculous. But the reason they've agreed to all of this is because they're afraid Palin will play the gender card and insist that Biden was "bullying" her throughout the debate. <BR/><BR/>Don't believe that will work? Remember what your <A HREF="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E0DF143BF93AA2575AC0A9669C8B63" REL="nofollow">buddy Hillary Clinton did</A> when Rick Lazio tried to get her to sign a pledge against soft money contributions? Lazio's polling numbers among women dipped dramatically after that, and he lost the race.mikhailbakuninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13158822054353654203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961006065192244756.post-12409095837384549592008-09-23T15:12:00.000-04:002008-09-23T15:12:00.000-04:00I think they're going with the second option, actu...I think they're going with the second option, actually. I mean, a swim suit competition would definitely bring in added viewers, but I don't think the democrats would go for it!petplutohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01053307189721906583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961006065192244756.post-34001814049563898512008-09-23T15:05:00.000-04:002008-09-23T15:05:00.000-04:00so, are they adding a swimsuit competition to the ...so, are they adding a swimsuit competition to the usual debate format? Because I think that's the only way Palin could possibly stand a fighting chance. That, or they allow her to do what she's done in other interviews and give pre-prepared stock responses based on the usage of key words in the questions instead of actually constructing a coherent and appropriate answer.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14569180426066178711noreply@blogger.com