(Jake Turcotte / AP Photo)
Republican insiders caught by hot mic: Race is over
By Jimmy Orr | 09.03.08
Don’t expect Republican strategist Michael Murphy and Wall Street Journalist column Peggy Noonan to receive Christmas cards from the John McCain and Sarah Palin campaign this year.
On the most critical night of the year so far for the McCain-Palin ticket, the two Republican insiders were talking with MSNBC’s Chuck Todd about the Palin VP selection. The segment wraps up. End of story.
Not so fast.
The problem? They kept talking. The mics were still on, and they didn’t know it.
So what do they think when not spouting the made-for-TV talking points?
“It’s not going to work,” Murphy said.
Noonan said the race was over, and that Palin was not the most qualified woman for the job.
What would be most interesting is to hear what they said before they thought they were off the air.
Watch the video here.
Here’s the transcript of the exchange - thanks to Talking Points Memo
Chuck Todd: Mike Murphy, lots of free advice, we’ll see if Steve Schmidt and the boys were watching. We’ll find out on your blackberry. Tonight voters will get their chance to hear from Sarah Palin and she will get the chance to show voters she’s the right woman for the job Up next, one man who’s already convinced and he’ll us why Gov. Jon Huntsman.
(cut away)
Peggy Noonan: Yeah.
Mike Murphy: You know, because I come out of the blue swing state governor world: Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush. I mean, these guys — this is how you win a Texas race, just run it up. And it’s not gonna work. And –
PN: It’s over.
MM: Still McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech to do himself some good.
CT: I also think the Palin pick is insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson, too.
PN: Saw Kay this morning.
CT: Yeah, she’s never looked comfortable about this –
MM: They’re all bummed out.
CT: Yeah, I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?
PN: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this — excuse me– political bull**** about narratives –
CT: Yeah they went to a narrative.
MM: I totally agree.
PN: Every time the Republicans do that, because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at, they blow it.
MM: You know what’s really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.
CT: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky.
MM: Yeah.
***Updated 8:43pm. Peggy Noonan has since provided an explanation for her statement “it’s over” over at the Wall Street Journal.***
<< Forget Biden — Palin’s taking on Obama in new ad | MainComments
2. ericmiami | 09.03.08
Gov. Palin will turn this all around tonight by not speaking. Instead, she’s going to gut a moose, using only her teeth. Then she’s going to burn some books on stage, fire some of McCain’s staff who wouldn’t pledge loyalty to her and let her performance speak for itself.
3. Consumer Complaints | 09.03.08
I read somewhere that, If the Mayan calender is correct, McCain will win and the world will end in 2012.
6. Joe | 09.03.08
Not surprising. She has no track record really. She’s a newbie, plain and simple, the McCain choosing her is nothing but a political ploy. Nice try.
7. JF | 09.03.08
Gutter politics.
Stick to the issues
Tell us what you want to do
We’ll decide if your resume is up to it. Most of us are smart enough.
Frankly, I would rather have a Harvard Graduate with less experience and a history of trying to do the right thing.
Sorry Palin… Your resume and your history in office doesn’t cut it.
Sorry MCCain… You can only roll the dice so many times. Judgement… Zero
8. Tony | 09.03.08
The republican are playing a loosing game. I am a hardcore republican and i am not happy with the way things were handled by McCain. Palin is a bad choice and its still time to rectify the mistake by taking palin out. The horse is out of the barn but not gone too far. There are great guys like Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush what happened to them? Its a gamble which McCain took for which he lost.
9. AndyRoberts | 09.03.08
Because they are hard right wing idealogouges who never really liked McCain and thought that a winning pick would be Jeb Bush. Any pick they would have made for either president or vice president would have been some stubborn right wing hack. Thank god the people decide and not the party hacks. Did Michael Murphy and Peggy Noonan help strategize the 2006 Republican elections?
10. Michael | 09.03.08
lol, at last the truth!
Except the “greatness of McCain” part, of course.
Republican Party is really sad these days.
11. Ryan | 09.03.08
These are opinions of talking heads…How is what they are saying going to matter? By your count, 48% of voters already think this. Thanks for wasting my time.
12. Silly Ex-pat | 09.03.08
Hahaha everyone knows that Palin is a gimmick but this is the iceing on the cake!
fundamentalists are so hypocritical “So what I did a bad thing all I have to do is repent and I’ll go to heaven.
Thank you for this story!
13. nirad | 09.03.08
It’s funny that Noonan wrote a column just this morning defending the Palin decision. When (they think) the mics are off, the truth comes out.
14. Chuck | 09.03.08
What gets me about these so called professional a–holes, is that they think they know everything about everything, when in fact they can only read what someone else writes.
McCain pulled one out of the hat and shocked them all with his choice of Palin as his running mate. Oh they all knew who it was going to be, or at least had it pined down to the top three (the best they could do) and when McCain said Palin, it hit them all right between the eyes. Now they are ****** and so begins the “I know it all” again.
What children. They should all get in bed with the “It’s all about me, pompous *** Bill O’Riley of FOX” and play with their toys.
15. lia | 09.03.08
wow, this is FABULOUS! truly an amazing catch. thanks for posting. i’ve got the msnbc footage tivo’d from today, i’m definitely going to go back and find this…
yeah, i don’t know how smart this move was… but her speech tonight should clear a lot up, one way or another…
16. Kithara | 09.03.08
Hey, I’m just a workin’ slob–no insider–and these pundits just repeated everything I’ve said about McCain’s pick.
17. Bradford | 09.03.08
I’m just hoping thier right.
John McCain may be a wonderful hero.. but he has neither the
vision or intelligence to lead America in the ways we need now.
The most patriotic thing he could do is recognize that graduating
3rd from the bottom of a class of more than 800 midshipmen wont
give us the kind of understanding America needs in this complex day
and age. If we get McCain as our next president i’d put my money
on the fact that war with Iran, and perhaps spreading to other
countries awaits us in the future.
18. theantibush | 09.03.08
For any group of persons there exists a median intelligence for the group. There are also those who define the extremes either way. However, the median is the midpoint, neither a minority nor majority. Thus, a majority could be made consisting overwhelmingly of the lower median, with only a distinct minority from the upper median. This is how the tail wags the dog in an orthodox democracy, and how the tyranny of the majority ensures sub-prime leadership across all elected positions, and why populist gimmicks such as ‘gas tax holidays’ and other tricks are the norm: its easier to convince the bottom half, and half plus one is a majority. Until votes are weighed according to citizenship status, time in country, criminal record, age, education, and community service, sub-prime rule will continue unabated.
20. sheryce | 09.03.08
I agree 100% there are many more candidates with more experience and wisdom than Palin. Nothing against Palin, however, I am 44 years old, a US Army Veteran, and I know there are more qualified candidates witout the current issues as Palin (6 month old baby, 17 year old pregnant daughter), who have worked there entire life for this opportunity,this decision seems so unfair to the men and the women that paved the way for others. I am anxiously awaiting the next episode and the final episode of this soap opera going on! The US needs to be renewed and transformed; it will not happen overnight, however, CHANGE is a must with us first starting at home.
Democrat or Republican this government must be restructured quickly; foreign relations must be restored.
These guys were caught on tape but you can assure yourself they are not the only people speaking this language. I had the exact conversation at a picnic over the weekend, she is the Governor of Alaska, but in my opinion, she is not the best choice for the Republican Vice Presidency.
22. Lee in Minneapolis | 09.03.08
It is not hard to understand. The worst part about being on the evil side, is that you can’t trust your own partners. You’d think Republicans would have learn so much from the Star Wars series.
It will be nice to see them squashed in this next election. Maybe someone decent like Ron Paul will become the new loyal opposition.
Until then, it is going to be very entertaining. Watching them eat their own.
23. deland33 | 09.03.08
just watch peggy noonan on any video, thinks she’s really it.
this is a good one. so much for her future right wing journalism..
24. Hussain Obama | 09.03.08
Booooring and hardly controvercial. Nowhere near as funny as when REVEREND Jesse Jackson called Obama a ****** and said he wanted to cut his balls off. The final joke is - Republicans going to win this year, they would have won even if they ran a turnip against the Obama ticket. Sorry, but the son of a muslim polygamist does not deserve to run this country, no matter what color his skin is and no matter how many liberals vote their whitey guilt. Keep trying!
25. ribbedmcnugget | 09.03.08
Yeah I remember when Reverend Jesse Jackson called Obama a *** and said he wanted to cut his *** off. That was hella funny. Now thats a real story, his “own” people.
26. bill | 09.03.08
To pick Palin is an insult to the USA. There are a lot of Republicans that are Qualified and were not chosen (male and female). McCain has shown his real leadership here and it doesn’t look good. I told my wife two weeks ago I was going to vote for McCain, but now I really believe he is not worthy of my vote. For the record: I am a former Republican, now an Independent (since George W Bush). I am also a Christian and a Conservative.
27. James Smith | 09.03.08
Awww just hit refresh and a bunch of messages were deleted. Way to go Christian Science Monitor. Nothing like a little Nazi censorship.
28. D. Barton | 09.03.08
Fact: Sarah Palin supported the ‘bridge to nowhere’ and reviled this name as insulting to Alaskans in 2006. When construction did not go forward, she and Alaska spent the quarter billion dollar earmark on other projects. She then claimed to not support this bridge in her first public speech as Vice-presidential nominee, and used the putatively insulting name, upsetting some Alaskan Republicans.
Fact: Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. Sarah Palin supports abstinence-only sex education.
Fact: Sarah Palin supports the teaching of ‘intelligent design’ in public schools. The entire credible scientific community and several conservative judges believe ‘intelligent design’ is not science, but a religious viewpoint, and thus has no place in a state separated from the church.
Fact: Sarah Palin does not believe global warming is anthropogenic, while her running mate does. The entire credible scientific community believes that anthropogenic CO2 emissions are at least partly responsible for global warming.
Fact: Sarah Palin fired a major public officer in Alaska who was the boss of her ex-brother-in-law. Over 20 calls were made from her office to this public figure before his firing. Her ex-brother-in-law was thought to have threatened her family. She then filed an ethic complaint against herself, a highly unusual step, in the middle of a legislative investigation regarding this firing.
Fact: 114,697 people voted for Palin in her 2006 gubernatorial election. More people live in Denton, Texas.
Fact: Sarah Palin has been overseas once and never met a foreign major world leader on foreign soil. I have been overseas three more times than this and met an equal number of major world leaders.
Fact: John McCain used to date a stripper and drive a Camaro.
Does this actually excite you about voting for this ticket?
29. foutsc | 09.03.08
… And Obama is Definitely not the most qualified person in the race period. Anybody who thinks this means anything to the conservative base doesn’t know much.
The press is a giant echo chamber, speaking to and listening to only itself and the inflated egos of the punditocracy and politicians who abet it. Real people know it’s all a big 24-hour BS factory.
Sure is a lot of cynicism coming from the gang who says they believe in hope and change.
30. Cantwait! | 09.03.08
BARACK OBAMA WILL LEAD US TO SALVATION!
Sen. Obama wants to raise the top marginal income-tax rate to at least 39%, while increasing Social Security taxes on those with higher incomes by completely removing the payroll cap. That means many entrepreneurs would be paying 12.4% (6.2% on employer and 6.2% on employee) on Social Security payroll taxes alone, plus the 2.9% on Medicare taxes, for a total federal tax rate of 54%.Obama wants to jack up the capital-gains tax rate and reinstate the death tax.
Barack Obama is a “scientific socialist — inter alia — communism.” Yes, Obama’s father was a communist who wanted to put socialist theory into action — by “force.”
I can’t wait to get old with Barack Obama. You think taxes are bad now……
31. foutsc | 09.03.08
Fact: Obama has no executive leadership experience
Fact: Obama is friends with an unrepentant terrorist
Fact: A criminal helped the Obama’s buy their million dollar mansion
Fact: Obama sat in a church for 20 years where hatred is preached
Houston, we have a judgment problem…
32. Chris | 09.03.08
Explain why Levi Johnston shouldn’t be arrested as a pedophile, that’s what she needs to do. Does she support pedophilia when it envolves her children? How can she protect the country if she can’t protect her own kids from pedophiles?
This is his second child; the first was with a 13 year old girl. Even by Alaskan standards (which are very loose) that is a bit young.
Sick…. really sick… yea, we want her in the White House. Her and her husband are good evangelicals, and typical of the breed. But lets move on to other issues.
Will she support states that wish to secede from the United States, since her and her husband were both in a party pushing to have Alaska secede from the Union?
Will she legalize pot since she smokes it herself?
Will she start supporting unwed mothers, particularly teens so they can finish an education through college?
33. foutsc | 09.03.08
Fact: Obama has no executive leadership experience
Fact: Obama is friends with an unrepentant terrorist
Fact: A criminal helped the Obama’s buy their million dollar mansion
Fact: Obama sat in a church for 20 years where hatred is preached
Houston, we have a judgment problem…
34. John | 09.03.08
These are talking heads smoozing with MSNBC, giving their cynical jive, probably upset that their ideology didn’t win. Politics is dirty business and there are disappointments, so these 2 heads are disappointed . . . big deal!
The people on youtube are juveniles and get frantically excited about nothing, too bad the CSM is pandering to them. Intelligent people know to brush this aside as much ado about nothing. This is tabloid stuff, and you want to decide an election on this, shame on you, grow up.
35. deland33 | 09.03.08
noonan’s comments will be used all over the place in split screen shots, etc. what better day for this to happen? repubs shoot themselves in the foot, sit back barack and watch them go…do nothing but keep taking the high road. what a gift!
36. editorial | 09.03.08
Editors note:
There are a number of comments which were posted to this blog entry that are now missing.
Technicians are looking into this issue and will re-post them when they are found.
37. Wake up, it’s morning in America again! | 09.03.08
Who cares what the establishment side of the GOP thinks? These pundits represent the very same corrupt mindset that Palin has had great success busting in Alaska. They’re soiling their pants just as much as the freak wing of the Democratic party because they know that with McCain and Palin no corruption will go unchallenged and that’s a REAL solution. They also know that admitting to it only plays to McCain and Palin’s advantage.
Do you want real change and for the better? Don’t just help elect McCain and Palin but give both houses a good cleaning by electing as many Republicans, Democrats, and Independents as possible as long as they are contesting and opposing the “old guard” in both parties.
Take America back.
39. MACK | 09.03.08
All I have to say is….if these ignoramuses in the media would assume that all microphones are “HOT” we wouldn’t be havin’ all this fun…you’d think they would get smarter after the Reverend Jackson’s brilliance
40. Matt | 09.03.08
Many Republicans share the views of Noonan and Murphy, I’m sure. And their criticism of the Palin pick goes to the heart of the issue, John McCain’s judgment and independence.
41. James Garafini | 09.03.08
Repubes, McSame… now it’s their turn to eat their own food… they swiftboated themselves!!!
42. newton31 | 09.03.08
Noonan explained right away in WSJ:
“When the segment was over and MSNBC was in commercial, Todd, Murphy and I continued our conversation, talking about the Palin choice overall. We were speaking informally, with some passion — and into live mics. An audio tape of that conversation was sent, how or by whom I don’t know, onto the internet. And within three hours I was receiving it from friends far and wide, asking me why I thought the McCain campaign is “over”, as it says in the transcript of the conversation. Here I must plead some confusion. In our off-air conversation, I got on the subject of the leaders of the Republican party assuming, now, that whatever the base of the Republican party thinks is what America thinks. I made the case that this is no longer true, that party leaders seem to me stuck in the assumptions of 1988 and 1994, the assumptions that reigned when they were young and coming up. “The first lesson they learned is the one they remember,” I said to Todd — and I’m pretty certain that is a direct quote. But, I argued, that’s over, those assumptions are yesterday, the party can no longer assume that its base is utterly in line with the thinking of the American people. And when I said, “It’s over!” — and I said it more than once — that is what I was referring to. I am pretty certain that is exactly what Todd and Murphy understood I was referring to. In the truncated version of the conversation, on the Web, it appears I am saying the McCain campaign is over. I did not say it, and do not think it. In fact, at an on-the-record press symposium on the campaign on Monday, when all of those on the panel were pressed to predict who would win, I said that I didn’t know, but that we just might find “This IS a country for old men.” That is, McCain may well win. I do not think the campaign is over, I do not think this is settled, and did not suggest, back to the Todd-Murphy conversation, that “It’s over.”
Read her entire explanation at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122044753790594947.html?mod=todays_columnists
43. ThinkingMan | 09.03.08
John blew it, we knew it. He is unfit for command, picks ‘em on looks not qualifications. Certainly likes those beauty queens. It would make good copy: “President McCain caught with his V.P. in the Oval Office!” That would certainly overshadow Clinton’s exploits.
As for Palin’s daughter, looks like she’s raising the youngest already, what does it matter if she has one of her own. To bad she’s not going off to college instead of raising her brother and her own child. Pretty sad, if only she had a condom.
Palin and her husband fine folks to have as neighbors but not in the VP slot or in the Whitehouse.
44. deland33 | 09.03.08
noonan and murphy should be held accountable for their words, arent we
held accountable in our jobs? plain old liars in front of the camera, hypocrites.
45. Jack | 09.03.08
I love it how you people are saying that Palin has no experience but look at your beloved Obama. He hasn’t even finish a full run in the senate and he expects to run the free world your argument of experience is over
46. Nancy | 09.03.08
Whatever Noonan says won’t make a whit of difference. Palin has energized the Republican vote.
47. Mike | 09.03.08
I love the facts! Let’s try some more:
FACT: Senator Byrd had more things built is his name than any politician.
FACT: Many 17-year olds (but not me) fool around despite the best intentions of their parents. Clinton fooled around and lied about and he was older than 17 at the time.
FACT: One person does not speak for the ‘entire credible scientific community.’ Also, seeing plausibility of intelligent design is called ’someone disagreeing with you’ and does not imply they are not ‘credible’. Also, until people like you change the Constitution, this is called out specifically as a freedom.
FACT: Judges make obvious mistakes - Roe/Wade, Eminent Domain, etc.
FACT: ‘Conservative’ judges do not always turn out to be what they claim. For more information, look under ‘Souter, David.’
FACT: Someone disagreeing with you about global warming does not deny their credibility.
FACT: Governors contact public officials on a fairly regular basis. Governors dismiss/fire/force resign people from time to time.
FACT: As a percentage of voters, more people voted Palin for governor than voted for Clinton for governor.
FACT: Obama has more foreign policy experience than Palin - approximately 18 months more. They have authored the same number of foreign policy bills.
FACT: Clinton had sex in the White House and committed felonious perjury about it. If you had done the same, you would have had federal prison time.
FACT: Someone disagreeing with you is okay and life will go on!
49. ApostasyUSA | 09.03.08
McCain’s desperate selection just solidifies my original prediction… Obama by a landslide.
Not that I have anything against Palin, whoever she is, but, rather, McCain knows he is on the downslide, and had to gamble. I would have more respect for McCain if he selected Tom Ridge (I thought FOR SURE he would have picked him). Yes, McCain would have had a slight problem because Ridge ran as a pro-choice Republican candidate for Governor of PA (which he won). But Ridge would have at least given McCain a chance in PA, a key battleground state. Plus Ridge was the first Secretary of Homeland Security.
This is as good a pick as Harriet Meirs was…
50. ThinkingMan | 09.03.08
foutsc check you facts about Obama at http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/obama.asp, they have done the research for you. Get it right. (also http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/barack_obama?f=h_hot )
Falsehood: “Obama is friends with an unrepentant terrorist” The guy is a professor at the University of Chicago and did his thing when Obama was a kid and no where around. Obama has renounced the acts and stated that he belives they where wrong.
Falsehood: “A criminal helped the Obama’s buy their million dollar mansion” He bought his own house without any help from anyone. It was an up and up deal.
51. pechmerle | 09.03.08
Keep trashing Peggy Noonan, right-wingers. You do remember she was Reagan’s speech writer don’t you?
52. Gorede | 09.03.08
I’m a long time rep. I do agree with Noonan’s assessment of the palin choice. I’m deeply disappointed by McCain’s cynical selection. To me, the race seems over. I can’t put a glory face like most of my fellows reps are currently doing. It’s too much a shame, too heavy to bear…
Thanks God that I’ll be staying home in Nov.
To make matters even worse, McCain team is now going after the media and puts the sexist argument forward. I can’t understand why are they playing this HR Clinton’s recipe and still expect to get a different outcome?
It’s puzzling! Disappointing and very sad!
53. deland33 | 09.03.08
noonan now=spin. what else can she do? she blew it big time and looks badly
as a journalist.
54. Danno | 09.03.08
The intolorance and uncivil nastiness of the lame media, Obama’s people on the news shows, and the Washington establishment will cause McLame to win in a landslide. America loves the beat up underdog, and that is what the liberals are creating today. America does not accept sexism, nor small minded proventialism in the 21st. Century. BTW, Noonan is now claiming that she was taken out of context. America despises liars as well.
Obama must be mad as all get out, and he deserves to be. He isn’t the one creating his downfall, and this is not the sort of change he promised, yet he will be blamed for all of the above actions.
The only remaining question is whether McCain will have coattails. If the media keeps up with their baseless attacks against the Governor of Alaska he just might.
55. deland33 | 09.03.08
yep, noonan=reaganite. smug, so sure of herself, pompous.
and untruthful in her own writings we now see. wall street journal..what
do you say?
56. Jill Again | 09.03.08
Palin is the ** to the party for not allowing Lieberman or Ridge, two people McCain knows intimately, and can trust. It’s all about the lack of a woman’s right to choose. **nny, that same party won’t allow McCain to choose, so he does what anyone denied the right to choose does - and goes outside the system. Temper? Impulsive? Unfit, for certain.
57. jefflz | 09.03.08
McCain has made a mockery out of the electoral process by choosing Palin. She is not qualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. and McCain is counting on the Rove spin doctors to create an acceptable image. The fact is we hardly know her and what we know is disturbing. She is a creationist, anti-environment, denier of global warming, pro-gun, hard core evangelical who fired a city librarian for resisting censorship. She is a double-talker who fought for huge earmarks for her tiny town. She appointed a man convicted of sexual harassment to be in charge of Public Security. She is a hypocrite who attacked Hillary as a whiner and now wants to ride Clinton’s coat tails. McCain is not putting his “Country First”-her candidacy has derailed the electoral process since accepting or rejecting her has become the election itself and McCain has forfeited.
58. deland33 | 09.03.08
noonan now backpeddles big time about this to keep her repub right reader base.
read her rebuttal, you think that isnt some spin to save her arss and reputation?
60. Gary | 09.03.08
This doesn’t even address the most serious problem with Palin–her husband’s 7 year membership in a party seeking a vote on Alaska’s withdrawal from the United States to form a new nation. True, she never registered as a member of the Alaska Independence Party, but then the AIP encourages its sympathizers to register as members of the two majority parties and work through them for the aims of the AIP. Witnesses put her at one AIP convention, and as gov., she addressed their convention and told them to keep up the good work for a “self-sufficient Alaska.” (Code for independence.) The founder of the AIP was blunt: “I hate America.” Association with these anti-American nuts–and marriage to one of them–is enough to disqualify the McCain/Palin ticket. THIS is the big story, not the pregnant daughter.
61. Snappy | 09.03.08
Noonan’s rebuttal sounds like she’s swallowing her own vomit. She’s getting too dizzy from all the spinning.
62. Tom almer | 09.03.08
Noonan has said the truth. This will be played again and again and again.
We really are tired of the GOP lies.
By the way, the I never the Wall Street Journal anymore.
Their right-wing garbage is sickening. Too bad.
63. Jake | 09.03.08
Just got back from googling admiral’s son + songbird. What an eye opening experience. Fact: McCain is a traitor who should never be elected President. He gave away military secrets. He made anti American propaganda broadcasts (over 30) that were in violation of the Code for Military Justice. McCain admits to being a war criminal. McCain received preferential treatment including medical care that no other prisoner ever received. His admiral Daddy stepped him to save him from court martial but many others who were actually tortured beyond their endurance were treated like low lifes. Everybody should take a look at this data. Then you factor in the Keating 5 saving and loan scandal, the many attempts at unethical conduct from using his influence on federal and state agencies on behalf on lobbyists, his penchant for supporting the shipping of jobs overseas, and his absolutely heartless opposition to anything related to veterans and the families of the POWs from the Vietnam era. This guy has no business getting anywhere near the White House. He is no war hero. He may even be real version of the Manchurian candidate. I sure hope someone in the MSM picks up on this before the election and let’s everyone know about the real John McCain.
64. dd | 09.03.08
YOU VOTE MC CAIN & YOU GET THE SAME ! & YOUR ILLUSTRIOUS LEADER GEORGE BUSH THANKS YOU TOO !
65. eyaz | 09.03.08
Even if we go ahead and take Noonan’s explanation of what she says was a “truncated” recording of the conversation as a valid explanation (which seems somewhat plausible, actually, and I’m no great Noonan fan)… she still appears to be proclaiming - only this time, she’s having to do it in a more direct way - that the thinking of the Republican base and the thinking of America are at odds with one another. Is she not?
Or, perhaps, she’s proclaiming only that old G.O.P. presumptions are over with. Or they ought to be, as far as strategy goes. Or is it just their rhetoric –you know, the “narratives” she disparages– which contain too many presumptions? After all, this is Noonan: if anybody should know about using all manner of presumptions in political rhetoric, it would be her.
Does she feel the need to identify this to people (although she obviously preferred to do it with less fanfare, and less people) mainly because it won’t win them anything, or because they are lying to themselves? Or is it because they are lying to most of us? It’s difficult to know, precisely, what her true concern is, here, even with this explanation.
Assuming that the conversation was actually about the Republican leadership and not about key strategists who might be at odds with the Republican leadership (which would be an entirely different story, of course - possibly the actual story, and obviously an even more disturbing one -but we’ll settle for Noonan’s latest, for now):
If the Republican leaders are presuming too much in this connection/non-connection/what-have-you between what the people want on one hand, and what they want as leaders on the other… then what do they deserve, essentially, to win in an election like this one, aside from our impatience with them, and our distrust?
As I was closing this note about Peggy Noonan, Vice Presidential nominee Palin’s speech began… right or wrong, the G.O.P. has handed the American public an image of itself that brings to mind immediately Reese Witherspoon’s brilliantly played Tracy Flick character from the movie “Election”… something that has no doubt occurred to a great many people, by now. It probably doesn’t much matter if younger strategists hoping to be the next Peggy Noonan have handed this to us on a silver platter, or a paper one.
66. xvleo | 09.04.08
You Americans are doomed. you finally get a good politician…you didn’t want Ron Paul either… and you express you gratitude by trashing her…you’re on an express train to ****, singing all the way.
67. D. Barton | 09.04.08
Dear Mike - Did I mention that I was a life-long independent? I’m not trashing your causes. I’m pointing out the facts. If you think any credible biologist or climatologist in the world will endorse either the intelligent design or global warming views held by Sarah Palin, you’re just as off-base as she is. You didn’t disagree with me, you disagreed with the world most brilliant minds and the facts. You’re the kind of person that is dragging your party down in flames.
68. Alan | 09.04.08
Hopefully republicans will learn that having a crowd mindlessly chant U-S-A has grown thin.
Their tired applause lines accomplish nothing, avoid the issues and the chant has devolved to an image of CRO-MAG-NON. It’s embarrassing to the country.
After the last eight years the country deserves better than a bunch of sarcastic one-liners.
69. freelyhovering | 09.04.08
I think Palin is a very scary person and not to be taken lightly. We all need to give more money to Obama and keep the info flowing on the web challenging Palin/McCain trash. The thought that she could be Prez is quite frightening.
I repeat. Don’t count on our victory. She excited the viciousness in the crowd tonight and it could spread.
70. John | 09.04.08
ALL of you quit crying. Go vote in November and then we will see who wins. It is that simple. AND if you don’t vote, don’t ***** about the results. End of story. Have a great day.
71. PacificGatePost | 09.04.08
MAINSTREAM MEDIA HAS SLID INTO THE SWAMP
The Dems and Reps are left to sell their leaders to America.
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/09/dems-and-republicans-now-sell-what-they.html
Image is now everything. The real challenges have vacated consciousness.
72. Sara | 09.04.08
Real Reason why McCain chose Palin : Sexist and condescending
PROOF:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apdFC-vh6Ng
Also his poor record of voting against equal pay for women and opposing Equal Roles for Women in the Military should be the business of American women voters.
73. ROFL | 09.04.08
Wow you assume that these political reporters speak nothing but the truth. These were their opinions nothing more or less. Just goes to show how brain washed by the media you are. No matter which one of these ridiculous sides you cheer for you all have never thought for yourself. ( or used a spell checker)
74. gitRdun | 09.04.08
“Booooring and hardly controvercial. Nowhere near as funny as when REVEREND Jesse Jackson called Obama a ****** and said he wanted to cut his balls off. The final joke is - Republicans going to win this year, they would have won even if they ran a turnip against the Obama ticket. Sorry, but the son of a muslim polygamist does not deserve to run this country, no matter what color his skin is and no matter how many liberals vote their whitey guilt. Keep trying!”
Woohyer, git r dun! I ain’t gunnsta be votin’ (nots that I votes anyways) for that summama musslm. He’s a terrst’ that aint oughta be in the ol’ ofal office. I’d rather have that there hot stuff cindy makane in office. Gal loves beer, and Makane was smart enough to ditch his ol sow for her. Thas’ the repulican way! YEE HAW, GO WHITEY!
75. Deaner | 09.04.08
Let me get this straight…Now the utterances of parasitic talking heads qualifies as news?
I love how the media has come absolutely unglued over the emirgence an outsider.
76. Archarito | 09.06.08
Just read all these posts.
How so many idiots could post so much garbage is beyond conprehension.
There were a couple bright stars amongst the posters and you know who you are if anyone follows up on this blog.
77. James David | 09.06.08
I truly feel sorry for the religious right, the constant manipulation of these people by the politicians is sickening and sad. The Republicans need only mention religion, god, gay marriage and a favorable pro-life stance (to the conservative religious right) and they are easily manipulated by the Republicans to fall in line with these supposed ideals.
While Obama may exaggerate some of his statements McCain and Palin just flat out lie. The following links are proof of the point I’m trying to make.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_convention_spin_part_ii.html
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_mccain.html
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/maverick_misleads.html
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_convention_spin.html
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/a_new_stitch_in_a_bad_pattern.html
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/context_included_obama_on_iran.html
I hope these facts help all the exploited Conservative Republicans and any people of any party that are buying into McCains neverending web of deceit. Any Republicans who believe that these are the rants of a non-catholic heathen who never attended church should be made aware of my hisrory, I did 11 years in catholic schools and was an altar boy. I hope that this post is helpful to all Republicans and Dems.
Pieces
James
78. Scarlet | 09.08.08
Fact: Palin is not qualified to be VP of the U.S.A and EVERYONE knows it. Republicans, Democrats, whatever, we ALL know the truth here, it’s just that a lot of die-hard Republicans find it too painful to admit their party has gotten it wrong.
Fact: Obama has what it takes to lead this nation and EVERYONE knows it. It’s just that some people are nervous about picking a young African American who comes with a LOT of change.
Fact: Obama, as President, will make a lot of demands from the American people. Not least he expects you to take responsibility and ownership in your lives and the decisions you make. For example he wants every child to attend college but he will insist that those young people volunteer in their community and essentially work for their education. Sounds good to me, but the wealthy don’t like that idea one bit. Equality in education!
Fact: McCain LOVES big oil. He will not reel in the oil kings and their profits. Obama will stop the obscene profits and work to put money back into the working class pocket. McCain won’t do that. The biggest Tax breaks he will give will be to the wealthy, not you and me.
Fact: Obama has the worlds vote. That’s really very important when youre talking about world relations and foreign policy. He is a man who WILL use diplomacacy. McCain/Palin will have no qualms about staying in this war and starting any others. That may appeal to the “nuke em now” crowd but it’s a dangerous mindset in todays unstable climate. There’a a lot of work to be done to mend relations with other Countries, not least our reputation and credibility as world leader, and that does NOT include preemptive stikes on any more Countries.
Fact: We have had enough. We all have had enough of a Republican leadership. Even the Republican voters have, if they are honest with themselves. It’s OK to admit you got it wrong. My father-in-law isn’t too proud to say Obama after voting republican his whole life.
Fact: It’s not about party loyalty in this election, the stakes are huge. This is your chance to change the direction of this Country and your childrens future. Be a part of something bigger than yourself, vote for change, vote for the best man to lead us into the future. Vote Obama.
Peace, Love and God Speed.
79. Dennis | 09.08.08
I enjoyed reading this in retrospect, after McCain/Palin has gained 10-14 points in the polls. I guess we know now why these people aren’t working for McCain. They’re just not good savvy enough.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. deland33 | 09.03.08
Outstanding! This Palin story just keeps giving and giving. Obama just has to sit back and let it ride for him.