December 27, 2007

"David Gregory Does Battle With Talking-Point Dispensing Robot."

Writes David Linkin (linked by Stephen Kaus). He's talking about Hillary Clinton in a maddening exchange with David Gregory. What struck me is this. She starts by deflecting Gregory's characterization of the way her campaign has treated Barack Obama. She calls it "inaccurate," and when Gregory asks what was unfair about it, she says, "I'm going to let voters decide that, not the press." Get it? Not the press. Then, referring to her status as "a proven leader," she says, "That's what The Des Moines Register said...." In other words, the press. She then proceeds to answer every probing question with the Des Moines Register:
... Well, I would ask people to read the Des Moines Register editorial....

... You know, [Bill Clinton] not only said that, but the Des Moines Register editorial implied that....

I'm very happy that I have -- I have strong supporters and I have editorial support....
I know listening to George Bush for the last 8 years has been trying, but are you prepared to listen to this for the next 4 — maybe 8 — years?

20 comments:

rhhardin said...

The press is easily defeated.

They can't let themselves become unpopular with their soap opera audience demographic, so they're in a bind.

Truth is no object. Ratings are the objct.

The politician knows what moves the press thus cannot make.

Only Bush can be successfully attacked because he's evil.

The larger story always matters. Pieces are remembered, and reach from story to story.

rhhardin said...

David Gregory on the place of the news reporter questioning a politician here Apr 16, 2004

Defending himself against an Imus attack on Gregory's questioning(``Have you ever made any mistakes?'') of Bush.

It would be mean to ask Hillary that.

Peter V. Bella said...

Hillary is acting as if she has the election already wrapped up. She is also acting in character for her- she hates the press, she needs the press. She doesn't need to win in Iowa, she is spending like mad to win the hearts and minds in Iowa.

She has claimed the title of the inevitable one and she has to prove it; no matter what it takes or how many bridges she burns.

Four or eight years of blamng the VRWC for all of her failures is not something I want to imagine. It reminds me of some other failed President. What was his name again? Bill something or other?

Brent said...

~

are you prepared to listen to this for the next 4 — maybe 8 — years?

NO.

Please Dear God, NO


~

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Reminds me of the game we used to play as kids. Spin around in the yard as much as you can until you get dizzy and fall down, some times even get nauseated.

......except now it is Hillary frantically spinning and the rest of us getting sick to our stomachs.

titusad said...

OMG-Althouse said the most critical thing ever about George Bush on her blog today-listening to him can be trying. No, really? Wow, that is something. Always nothing critical from this blog in terms of Bush or his administration. Everything is A-OK. Be careful, no more comments about Bush. Your large majority wingnut following will revolt.

Imagine how the majority of the US feels listening to Bush over the past 7 years.

As soon as I hear him speak I have to turn him off because it is so painful. Painful, irritating, nauseating, trying to be funny when he is not, ugly, depressing, ignorant, obvlious. Yes, fellow wingnuts I have BDS. I hate George W. Bush.

Now please Althouse no more somewhat critical comments about Bush.

Back to Hilary bashing, Edwards bitching and Obama trashing.

Thats why us conservatives love you so much. You are a "democrat" who is "liberal" but disdain liberals and democrats and are mute regarding any republicans. Just the way we love our gals.

Very patriotic of you. I did vote for you for the conservative diva but I see it didn't help.

Smilin' Jack said...

...are you prepared to listen to this for the next 4 — maybe 8 — years?

Science will save us. Engineers at Bose are working on a specially tuned version of their noise-cancelling headphones that will selectively block Hillary's voice. They expect to sell millions if she wins the primary, maybe a hundred million if she wins the general.

George M. Spencer said...

Young psychiatrist goes to an old psychiatrist for therapy.

He gripes about how hard it is to listen to other peoples' problems all day long.

Elder therapist shrugs and replies, "Eh, who listens?"

Kirk Parker said...

MCG,

I'd concur that Clinton may well be the most despicable person to have held the office in the last 85 years. But a failure as president--GMAB! As long as the Republicans kept him in line, he did pretty well. Gays in the military? Nothing came of it. Hillary's truly awful health-care initiative? Nothing came of it. Welfare reform and a bunch of other moderate stuff? Yes.

Palladian said...

"Thats why us conservatives love you so much. You are a "democrat" who is "liberal" but disdain liberals and democrats and are mute regarding any republicans. Just the way we love our gals."

Didn't get any over the Holidays, tit?

paul a'barge said...

Frankly, I've not had a problem listening to GWB for the last 7 years, so I don't happen to agree with you on that one.

From Inwood said...

Comedians have been laughing at this stuff forever & Radio gave us Senator Klaghorn , who spoke like this, albeit with a cornpone Southern accent. (Come to think of it….)

I know some Hill supporters & closet Hill supporters who say that she’s “brilliant”. Some of them feel also that her having things both ways, giving evasive, pre-planned, all purpose bromides in response to probing questions is, well, brilliant also.

Can’t vouch for the first sentence in my previous paragraph, but the second one may, alas, be true.

Unknown said...

This is laughable. If you recall the Register, then please note:

- NYT had a story about how Bill C. was repeatedly calling the Register Female Editors (all three). Telling them about how historic it is for Hillary to be the President. How much experience she has [but this is not verified] etc.

- The Register editors (3 women) met with Hillary once, and then again with her and her staff. Bill met with them. Then kept calling them.

- The Register editors met with Obama only ONCE.

You do the math. You do the pressuring of Clinton Attack Machine. You ask if the Press is fair? Think again.

jeff said...

How will this change no matter who is elected president?

"Always nothing critical from this blog in terms of Bush or his administration. Everything is A-OK. Be careful, no more comments about Bush. Your large majority wingnut following will revolt."

Actually there are any number of topics that the wingnuts will disagree with about Bush. And have. Harriot Miers ring any bells? The tariff on steel? No child left behind? The spending? The expansion of government? It isn't our fault that the Bush haters don't take advantage and focus on those issues and instead would rather pinpoint on issues in which Bush is supported.

Unknown said...

"If you want to know what changes I'll make, look at the changes I've already made. Everybody talks about change. Everybody talks about change in this campaign. Some people think you get change by demanding it."

Hillary, going through "the change."

Chip Ahoy said...

Listening to Bush hasn't been a trial. Listening to everybody complaining about listening to Bush, however, has been excruciating. Still is. And Bose has no speakers to cancel out all that noise that breaks its way into every single corner of my life.

former law student said...

Exactly what changes has Hillary been responsible for? Change requires something beyond being simply the candidate with a vagina. She can't hold a candle to Barbara Jordan or even Shirley Chisholm. Hillary is an empty pantsuit. The woman most capable of being President is (shudder) Diane Feinstein.

Titushard said...

Palladian, just marry me already.


And yes, you are correct, I didn't get any over the holidays but am hoping to make up for it over the weekend.

Palladian, how many inches on that Morman hog do you have?

I don't think I ever did a ex morman. I may of but they never told me. It is a little white bread for me and platic and boring for me but I am willing to give it a chance.

Now get your ass over here Palladian and lets see how it goes.

Mutaman said...

I know if I read this blog long enough I might actually read a substantive criticism of Hillary Clinton. It's a thankless job but somebody's gotta do it.

former law student said...

I know if I read this blog long enough I might actually read a substantive criticism of Hillary Clinton. It's a thankless job but somebody's gotta do it.
You're asking for the impossible. Like Oakland, there is no there, there. She is a female Chauncey Gardiner. To provide substantive criticism, there must be some substance to criticize.