Did you notice how many comments the Politico piece has already? Probably 95% slamming ABC/Disney/Gibson/Stephanopoulos at that. I mentioned in an earlier thread it's the same over at the link to Will Bunch's column at Fark where they quit trying to keep a tally of comments. Same at Digg where this story is the "top in all topics". It is being talked about on different foreign news sites too. The same overwhelming chorus of disgust is everywhere.
People are pissed and it's not just the left-progressive blogs and pundits. Keep the heat on ABC and the MSM as a whole.
Nigel Elliott
· 1 year ago
Even the foreign press is picking up the "bitterness", err, outrage... ;-)
The bigger question is: Why is this happening to our Dem party? And will we be able to finally come together?
Nigel Elliott
· 1 year ago
New AP Poll:
In this month's survey, McCain was essentially tied with the two Democratic rivals: It was McCain 37 percent to Hillary Rodham Clinton's 36 percent, and McCain 36 percent against Barack Obama's 34 percent.
Overall, 57 percent in this month's AP-Yahoo poll found Barack Obama likable, compared to 47 percent who said so about John McCain and 37 percent who thought so about Hillary Rodham Clinton. That's an increase since November of 8 percentage points for McCain and 6 points for Obama, while Clinton is 3 points lower. http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-politi...
grandma
· 1 year ago
Brad DeLong:
I propose that everybody associated with the debate at ABC leave journalism and find another job where they can be socially productive--replacing bunnies as animal testing subjects for cosmetics comes to mind as perhaps the best use...
buckguy
· 1 year ago
I saw Glenn Greenwald speak rather than watching the debate. The "Why is this happening to the Dems" question is well answered by Greenwald (check out his blog via Salon).
As for "character", this Druge/Limbaugh driven trivia has nothing to do with character. past behavior is the best behavior of future behavior (I'm a psychologist, this is easy to demonstrate). Bush's incompetence as a manager and much else was evident in his pre-2000 behavior. McCain's flip-plopping, temper, general right-winggery are all evident in his behavior and likely to dominate his presidency. The people around candidates are pretty good predictors of what an administration looks like. Bushies around McCain now probably equals Bushies and Bush policies if he's president. There's your "character
tlsintx
· 1 year ago
it seems so odd now that any dem candidate ever declined the Fox network debates, doesn't it?
hell, if this is what we get from ABC, might as well run over to Fox and let Rove and O'Reilly fire away...what's the diff?
ClassAct
· 1 year ago
I wanna rock!
shell
· 1 year ago
Things haven't changed in 15 years. The Traditional Media crows, "If BOTH sides complain, we MUST be doing it right!" What a stupid thing to say. So if someone says the earth is round, you MUST have someone on who says the earth is flat! Fair and balanced!
These dunderheads are living like it's 1993. (And many of us saw how stupid they were 15 years ago.)
fostert
· 1 year ago
"Stephanopoulos explained that since the candidates are not far apart policy-wise..."
That may be true for a lot of issues, but there are clear distinctions between the two candidates' health plans. So why didn't George ask a SINGLE question about health policy?
OT: Seems on of Karla Rove's secret closet-queens is now outed, BUTT good! And dear lord the guy is fugly--I didn't think is was humanly possible to make Karla Rove look not-so-ugly.
"Experience, character, and credibility are not issues. Healthcare reform, how to stimulate the economy, getting out of Iraq...issues. "
---
wait a minute... what about how much you pay for a haircut? (Edwards)... or that you might be too short? (Kucinich)
now THOSE are REAL issues that "enquiring minds" want to know about!
/snark
scooter in brooklyn
· 1 year ago
and never you mind about the SCREAM that wasnt.
ArisAris
· 1 year ago
Let's say I'm wiling to agree with petite Georgie that experience, character, and credibility are indeed issues, and furthermore that they are the most important issues, far more so than Iraq, torture, the destruction of the Constitution, the economy, health care, etc . I still can't see how questions about flag pins and such can tell us anything about his experience, character, or credibility. ____________________________________________
I still find it sickening that the former spokesman for the Clintons was used as a suposedly unbiased moderator in the first place. There are so many incredibly obvious conflicts of interest involved here it boggles the mind.
When one reflects on who George has been since leaving the Clinton administration it sickens me even more that he was the moderator of this "debate" the icing of that shit cake being Gibson as co-moderator.
What a despicable farce.
Coming Undone
· 1 year ago
Bush cannot admit any failure in anything that he does so others suffer like our troops in Iraq Hillary cannot admit any failure in anything that she does so others suffer like our troops in Iraq, the Democratic party, and voters in general and she is just getting started, this insanity has to stop. People helped Bush steal the 2000 election out of misplaced loyalties to Bush Sr. Now people are helping Hillary to steal this nomination out of misplaced loyalties to Bill Clinton.
Patriot
· 1 year ago
I would love to be a fly on the wall in the ABC conference room this week to get an idea of what they really think about last nights travesty. It leaves me nothing short of pissed off and incredulous that George is trying to defend himself, Charlie and the network. Of course, I knew he probably would if cornered but, I am curious to know if he really believes what he just said. Surely, he has to feel some degree of discomfort from all the negative responses. If not, the american public should shun these guys like the plague.
naschkatzehussein
· 1 year ago
I would love to be a fly on that wall too, but my gut feeling (pace Chertoff) is that ABC executives called the shots, not the moderators. If what Nigel Elliott is saying above you is true, and I have no doubts, this putative debate as well as what the Clintons hoped would be a "Bittergate", was shit that was supposed to have hit the fan but blew back in their own faces again.
ericgoldman
· 1 year ago
Experience, character and credibility are not issues?
Do you know what you get when you elect a President without due consideration given to experience, character and credibility?
George W. Bush
Nigel Elliott
· 1 year ago
MSNBC just reported Obama is winning their text poll of last night's "enhanced debate" by a huge margin.
ABC's huge ratings are why there is huge outrage over their sham debate. People actually tuned in hoping the candidates will discuss the issues, instead they watched a bloody hit job live on network TV, PRIMETIME!
KerrynowCampau
· 1 year ago
I'm glad I didn't add to the ratings.
Rab
· 1 year ago
I watched the debate for a hour and a half and I want that hour and a half of my life back, ABC owes me.
SandieInPA
· 1 year ago
Deny, deny, deny - where have we heard that before?
paulko
· 1 year ago
The next big debate is here in NC on April 27th hosted by Bob Schieffer and Katie Couric. It will last 90 minutes and be broadcasted on CBS. What kind of questions do you think they will ask? Will it be a true debate or again fluff based on Fox-talking points? I have written the person in charge of the state's Dem party and asked these questions.
ElKabong
· 1 year ago
I love "Lost". It's the only thing I watch on ABC. I was going to boycott it, but that would be cutting off my nose to spite my face. Then a better idea hit me: Note the advertisers and do all that I can NOT to buy their stuff! I get "Lost" and payback... Win/win!
paulko
· 1 year ago
Latest on NC debate: Head of Dem party said Obama has not yet committed and in the wake of what happened last night, may not do so.I would not do it with Couric and Schieffer, even though I think Schieffer might be ok.
ZennButtKicker (tlhwraith)
· 1 year ago
Worst. Moderator. Ever!
jr
· 1 year ago
Michael Savage level banter is "mainstream" to the beltway bumpkins now. "are you an Afro-Leninist?"-George to Barack Obama
OneManComotion
· 1 year ago
It gives me great comfort to hear, today, that alot of people feel that Obama is correct when it comes to giving up old politics. He won we just don't know it yet.
lilysmom
· 1 year ago
It also proves that they just embarrassed themselves and their network in front of a larger than expected audience. Stupid gits....
paulbe
· 1 year ago
So what Stephanopouls is saying is the media wants to show the "character" of the candidates, and avoid the issues/policies etc. This fits in with the media pre-occupation with the cult of personality, so eloquently demonstrated around and after 911. Basically, the bastards are at it yet again.
slowshutter
· 1 year ago
Hey, guess what? As far as ABC's concerned, it WAS a huge success. Ratings are the only thing that matters to corporate broadcasters. Not journalism, not healthy democracy, not informed debate, not speaking truth to power. They are concerned with ratings because they are concerned only about advertising rates. Trying to shame ABC, or any of 'em, will be fruitless because you, the viewer, are not the consumer, you are the PRODUCT. It is your eyeballs that are sold to advertisers. And maximal eyeball delivery is only achieved by presenting the most salacious, mendacious, hype-driven bullshit. So good luck.
All Comments
People are pissed and it's not just the left-progressive blogs and pundits. Keep the heat on ABC and the MSM as a whole.
Outrage as ex-Clinton staffer runs debate
http://www.theage.com.au/news/us-election/chair...
The dumbest debate in America?
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/niall_stana...
Good Links Dude.
ABC-Assholes Boosting Clinton
hannity's poodle is what you are now, George.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/opinion/17kri...
The bigger question is: Why is this happening to our Dem party?
And will we be able to finally come together?
In this month's survey, McCain was essentially tied with the two Democratic rivals: It was McCain 37 percent to Hillary Rodham Clinton's 36 percent, and McCain 36 percent against Barack Obama's 34 percent.
Overall, 57 percent in this month's AP-Yahoo poll found Barack Obama likable, compared to 47 percent who said so about John McCain and 37 percent who thought so about Hillary Rodham Clinton. That's an increase since November of 8 percentage points for McCain and 6 points for Obama, while Clinton is 3 points lower.
http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-politi...
I propose that everybody associated with the debate at ABC leave journalism and find another job where they can be socially productive--replacing bunnies as animal testing subjects for cosmetics comes to mind as perhaps the best use...
As for "character", this Druge/Limbaugh driven trivia has nothing to do with character. past behavior is the best behavior of future behavior (I'm a psychologist, this is easy to demonstrate). Bush's incompetence as a manager and much else was evident in his pre-2000 behavior. McCain's flip-plopping, temper, general right-winggery are all evident in his behavior and likely to dominate his presidency. The people around candidates are pretty good predictors of what an administration looks like. Bushies around McCain now probably equals Bushies and Bush policies if he's president. There's your "character
hell, if this is what we get from ABC, might as well run over to Fox and let Rove and O'Reilly fire away...what's the diff?
These dunderheads are living like it's 1993. (And many of us saw how stupid they were 15 years ago.)
That may be true for a lot of issues, but there are clear distinctions between the two candidates' health plans. So why didn't George ask a SINGLE question about health policy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0B_UZNtEk4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYK3it70uCE
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/...
http://alternet.org/election08/82671/
---
wait a minute... what about how much you pay for a haircut? (Edwards)... or that you might be too short? (Kucinich)
now THOSE are REAL issues that "enquiring minds" want to know about!
/snark
____________________________________________
Brooks Celebrates The Freak Show
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily...
There are so many incredibly obvious conflicts of interest involved here it boggles the mind.
When one reflects on who George has been since leaving the Clinton administration it sickens me even more that he was the moderator of this "debate" the icing of that shit cake being Gibson as co-moderator.
What a despicable farce.
Hillary cannot admit any failure in anything that she does so others suffer like our troops in Iraq, the Democratic party, and voters in general and she is just getting started, this insanity has to stop.
People helped Bush steal the 2000 election out of misplaced loyalties to Bush Sr. Now people are helping Hillary to steal this nomination out of misplaced loyalties to Bill Clinton.
Do you know what you get when you elect a President without due consideration given to experience, character and credibility?
George W. Bush
PA Governor Rendell: ‘I Was Very Disappointed in ABC
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/80183.html
Someone has posted Barack's comments in Raleigh today on the debate last night at this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlR9DNfqGD4#
Thought you might like to know.
Keep up the good work. (Now back to Eschaton)
ABC's huge ratings are why there is huge outrage over their sham debate. People actually tuned in hoping the candidates will discuss the issues, instead they watched a bloody hit job live on network TV, PRIMETIME!
What kind of questions do you think they will ask? Will it be a true debate or again fluff based on Fox-talking points? I have written the person in charge of the state's Dem party and asked these questions.
Head of Dem party said Obama has not yet committed and in the wake of what happened last night, may not do so.I would not do it with Couric and Schieffer, even though I think Schieffer might be ok.
Stupid gits....