Sun 21 Sep 2008
Karl Rove rejects any comparison with Old Time Radio …
Posted by Dick Swart under 1 at 7:19 pm
and so do Charley, Mortimer, and Effie Klinker!
http://www.old-time.com/otrlogs2/charlie_mg.html
With the fondest memories of Edgar Bergen and the Chase and Sanborn Hour. Frank, Henry and I may be the only three readers who actually remember sitting in front of the Philco (an old BBDO account) on a Sunday evening.
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57 Responses to “Karl Rove rejects any comparison with Old Time Radio …”
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frank uible says:
Dick: “Charlie” would look more authentic were he wearing his monocle.
September 21st, 2008 at 10:49 pmDick Swart says:
Frank -
I think I hear Ray Noble and his Orchestra!
September 21st, 2008 at 11:37 pmPTC says:
From CNN Cambell Brown- Good point!
“Tonight I call on the McCain campaign to stop treating Sarah Palin like she is a delicate flower that will wilt at any moment,” said Brown. “This woman is from Alaska for crying out loud. She is strong. She is tough. She is competent. And you claim she is ready to be one heart beat away from the presidency. If that is the case, then end this chauvinistic treatment of her now. Allow her to show her stuff. Allow her to face down those pesky reporters… Let her have a real news conference with real questions. By treating Sarah Palin different from the other candidates in this race, you are not showing her the respect she deserves. Free Sarah Palin. Free her from the chauvinistic chain you are binding her with. Sexism in this campaign must come to an end. Sarah Palin has just as much a right to be a real candidate in this race as the men do. So let her act like one.”
Also- Both Newsweek and the Times have articles out on McCains ties to Freddie Mac. Turns out his campaign manager is still getting paid by those firms… A topic McCain denied as late as last week, when he gave some rare interviews.
“One of the giant mortgage companies at the heart of the credit crisis paid $15,000 a month from the end of 2005 through last month to a firm owned by Senator John McCain’s campaign manager, according to two people with direct knowledge of the arrangement.
The disclosure undercuts a statement by Mr. McCain on Sunday night that the campaign manager, Rick Davis, had had no involvement with the company for the last several years.”
Latest ABC/ WAPO poll:
Obama 52
McCain 43
Turns out old time radio is not working Dick!
September 24th, 2008 at 4:58 amJeffZ says:
McCain and his surrogate’s lies have become so consistent, so widespread, so egregious, so predictable that whenever his campaign releases any kind of statement, I just assume the opposite is true — the odds of getting correct information are much better that way. If McCain has just come clean at the outset, this story would have gone away amid the flurry of accusations and counter-accusations about questionable associations. But now the story is about McCain’s integrity, which is a much bigger issue. And now anytime McCain questions an Obama association (which always has been his only campaign strategy) dems can and should hit back with a very simple, honest, and powerful message: the last major financial crises — savings and loans — cost taxpayers billions — who was at the center of it? John McCain and his political patron Charles Keating. McCain claims to have learned from his mistakes — but who is running his campaign? Rick Davis, whose firm received millions of dollars from Fannie Mae, and then lied about it. In all the back and forth over this stuff, this is a very powerful message that the dems have to hammer home, hard, because it effectively counters McCain’s only line of attack on Obama.
September 24th, 2008 at 7:14 amJeffZ says:
Sing to the the tune of “Bette Davis eyes”:
His pockets lined with gold
His lips McCain advise
The media he’ll scold
We’ve got Rick Davis lies
He’ll say you’re in the tank
Twist truth to win the prize
Who do we have to thank
For those Rick Davis lies
(hey I’m no Seth Brown but I do what I can …)
September 24th, 2008 at 7:27 amJeffZ says:
Wow, that ABC poll is incredible:
http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/Story?id=5866046&page=1
All of those folks who were so smug about Palin must be starting to sweat now (at least someone like Romney could have shored up McCain’s economic policy weakness, but the GOP now has a ticket with two candidates who know next to nothing about the national economy during the biggest fiscal crisis in decades)… I am actually happy she is around, because all of the focus on her, and how the McCain campaign is too scared to let her off her leash (the narrative now: THEY are the ones who are sexist because, apparently, they don’t trust a woman to hold her own with the media) has taken focus off of Joe Biden’s latest serious of gaffes, misteps, and off message comments (I still think he helps overall because he plays great in places like Ohio, Mich and PA, but come on dude, get with the frigging program!).
I think I was fooled by the media into thinking there was in fact a Palin bounce — now it seems like all she has done is fire up the GOP base somewhat, although not NEARLY to the extent the democratic base is already fired up, and that excitement seems to be fading already. And she is clearly going to cost some swing voters who are worried about competence to deal with economic issues. I wish the election were today, because Bush will probably create some foreign policy crisis to help McCain, and the worst racially tinged smears against Obama are just getting stated in places like Michigan (with McCain’s tacit approval, I’m sure) with efforts to connect him to every unlikeable black person in history, as well as ads geared as convincing people he is a Muslim. (Maybe Barack should respond in kind — “Barack is black. So are Tiger Woods, Bill Cosby, and Michael Jordan. So Barack must be pretty cool as well. Obama-Biden 08″).
September 24th, 2008 at 7:46 amWhitney Wilson '90 says:
Is there any evidence that McCain (or other Republicans) were “easier” on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than the Democrats? My recollection is that, in general, any push for additional regulation of these companies was subject to generally bipartisan disapproval in Congress. In fact, I think McCain actually introduced legislation relating to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that never made it out of a (Democratically-controlled) Senate committee.
This doesn’t really explain (or necessarily excuse) why McCain didn’t “fess-up” than Davis still owned a company on retainer from Freddie Mac (though its not clear to me what his ownership position was), but it does rebut the idea that McCain is on the take from Freddie Mac.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:27 amrory says:
The only person arguing anyone is “on the take” is McCain about Obama. However, McCain’s campaign said with 100% certainty that Davis did not and does not have ties to Fannie and Freddie. That’s clearly a falsehood. yet another one.
And McCain is demonizing people like Davis and the head of his own transition team in the public, “At the center of the problem were the lobbyists, politicians, and bureaucrats who succeeded in persuading Congress and the administration to ignore the festering problems at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac…” The level of duplicity is just staggering. Unless he’s arguing keep your friends close and your enemies closer…but i rather doubt that.
More interesting, and on a tangent, fivethirtyeight.com has a rather compelling argument that the intrade market is completely out of whack because of some rogue trader shorting obama at the same times pretty much every day. other prediction markets have obama more than 10 points ahead of where he is on intrade.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:36 amSoph Mom says:
Nice ditty, Jeff.
Considering the latest lie/gaffe with Davis and the Wall Street debacle, one has to wonder about the McCain strategy. What are they thinking?
I heard an interesting theory from one of the pundits yesterday…that the McCain/Palin campaign has so isolated themselves from the press, that they have gotten out of the habit of scrutinizing their ‘output’, of running it through a sieve before spouting it.
Interesting that a campaign has so sabotaged itself that commentators are making this the subject of discussion.
*****************************
Line of the day:
Maureen Dowd on Palin’s… um…day of ‘foreign policy training’:
“Sarah speed-dialed diplomacy on Tuesday.”
Sarah’s one and only allowed response, ‘mouthed’ to a reporter?
“It went great!”
September 24th, 2008 at 10:49 amnuts says:
…fivethirtyeight.com has a rather compelling argument that the intrade market is completely out of whack because of some rogue trader shorting obama at the same times pretty much every day. other prediction markets have obama more than 10 points ahead of where he is on intrade.
538
September 24th, 2008 at 10:53 amnuts says:
538
September 24th, 2008 at 10:53 amSoph Mom says:
Re the 538 article on the Intrade Market?
Quite an impressive bit of detective work…
and a very alarming story.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:27 amnuts says:
The Third Rail… religion and politics do not good bedfellows make. Are ‘righteousness’ and the religious agenda of the Assembly of God the governing principles you choose for a national policymaker? Sarah at 7:21. video
Is Sarah’s social policy, national security policy, etc derived directly from her faith and does she see it as righteous, as God’s work, and as good policy for all Americans?
September 24th, 2008 at 11:49 amRory says:
so as to be consistent, as much as I don’t like Palin’s policies, worldview, and her accent (I really hate that accent), I don’t see McCain or her supporters calling her “Sarah”. Can we please call her Palin?
September 24th, 2008 at 12:07 pmWhitney Wilson '90 says:
To me, Gov. Palin sounds like she’s from Chicago, or somewhere nearby. Does anyone know whether than is typical in Alaska or Idaho?
September 24th, 2008 at 12:15 pmSoph Mom says:
Rory:
Actually McCain refers to her as ‘Governor Sarah’. Watch his RNC speech again and you will catch it.
And my response to the pastor in ‘nuts’ link at #13, when he asks:
“Is anybody hearing me?”
Yes, Pastor, indeed we are hearing you…and we are praying as well, albeit for an outcome far different than the one you desire.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:23 pmRory says:
I think that was a (sexist?) slip up of McCain’s…the prepared remarks reads “Governor Sarah Palin”.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pmnuts says:
In a sharply-worded statement released to the Huffington Post, David Donnelly, director of the watchdog group Campaign Money Watch, said:
I am of the opinion that Rick Davis hurts McCain and so I would prefer McCain does not fire him.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pmSoph Mom says:
Whitney:
I have heard Palin’s accent described as a mix of Canada and Fargo, North Dakota. To my ears, she does sound Canadian, except for the way she cuts off the ‘ings’ of her words. She says ‘gettin’ instead of ‘getting’. That would be the ‘Amuricun’ influence, I suppose.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:39 pmnuts says:
Rory @ 14. Absolutely yes, since it matters to you.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:39 pmnuts says:
A folksy patter for sure:
“That’s a good question and you did your homework Larry that’s impressive usually yeah such a red state up here, it’s a no brainer that the R is going to take the cake up here, but um, this is a little different situation now, with Obama’s message resonating even with Alaskans that being change a desire for no embracing of the status quo and politics as usual but something different something dynamic and charismatic. Uh, that does resonant well, that message of Obama’s.” Gov Palin
video :45 secs.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:42 pmnuts says:
Maddow on Gov Palin – Sept 22: More information is coming about vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, including who some of her advisors really are, and her husband’s role in her administration. Rachel Maddow talks to someone who knows Palin: State Senator Lyda Green, R-Alaska.
video 7 mins.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:47 pmJeffZ says:
Just in: McCain is calling for debate to be delayed to work on economic issues. I think this is a very smart play by him … if Obama says no, now he looks like he is not willing to work on economic issues, and if he says yes, it seems like McCain has taken the initiative. And it is something Obama could not have suggested or he would have been crucified, at least not regarding a foreign policy debate. And it changes the media narrative, which has been (for good reason) about 90 percent critical of McCain the last week or so … I gotta hand it to McCain, I don’t like him or his policies, but he is a smart politician who still knows how to craft his image and work the media. Wonder how Barack will respond.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:09 pmJeffZ says:
Thinking about this a little, I think what Obama has to do is say, first of all, I agree with his call for bipartishanship … in fact it was I who issues that call before he mocked it and myself. Agree to go to DC to conduct meetings, but suggest holding the debate (perhaps in DC) in any event, as a friday night debate is not going to detract from any discussions of this crisis, and the election is getting very close.
If this was something more than a political stunt, McCain would have discussed with Obama’s campaign first so this could be a joint decision without any partisan implications. This is just like the Palin pick, a desperate attempt to change the narrative that is more favorable to Obama by the day. But like the Palin pick (at least initially) it may well work — he’s got nothing to lose, really.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:18 pmJeffZ says:
Interesting. So now the Obama campaign is saying that Barack called McCain this a.m. to discuss the possiblity of issuing a joint statement. Note the contrast: one candidate attempted to, behind the scenes, work quietly together, the other decided to upstage him with an act of unilateral political showmanship. Ya gotta hand it to McCain, he knows how to play the game.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:26 pmJeffZ says:
Well, Obama called McCain’s bluff. It will be interesting to see how this plays in the media and with the public. The talking points are certainly predictable — opportunistic, meaningless political stunt by a campaign desperate to change the narrative vs. McCain “putting country first” over self interest. I think it is pretty obvious which view is accurate … especially in light of the narrative — Obama makes this suggestion, McCain makes counter suggestion, Obama says let’s discuss, three minutes later McCain lowers the boom.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:07 pmSoph Mom says:
I think Obama did the right thing. What complete and total manipulative (and desperate) nonsense on McCain’s part. And why should Obama allow himself and the American people, to be bullied? What better time to hear from the candidates, one of whom will be inheriting this issue? As it was suggested on one of the news sites…if McCain is so concerned, then why not change the first debate topic to the economy?
It is endlessly surprising how easily McCain takes on the behavior of which he has hypocritically accused others. How many months have we heard him whine about the Town Hall meetings, and the necessity of real debate?
And now this. SMH…
September 24th, 2008 at 5:31 pmJeffZ says:
Good point Soph Mom. My initial reaction to this was, smart strategic move, but now it seems like most people are recognizing it as a stunt. Check this flash poll:
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportUC.aspx?g=54d651a7-a62b-4420-bb32-9dd6b2df8c02
No one is better at McCain at eviscerating his own talking points — Palin ended the experience line, this crisis ended the anti-regulation / small government line, and now he can no longer use the “calls for debates and town halls” line, when he obviously feels they are of little use. Next thing you know, he’ll be attending Jeremiah Wright’s church.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:37 pmPTC says:
McCain has missed 412 out of 643 votes this session, the most absent senator in the US Senate. Since April 8th, he has missed 109 out of 110 votes, including a crucial vote for Veterans on the Webb GI Bill.
Now, all of a sudden, he wants to cancel a scheduled debate this Friday that does not conflict with a single vote… for what? So he can go play poltics?
It is a joke. They should debate these issues! In about 40 days, we will be picking a POTUS. McCain was just crying about the lack of debates last week. There is absolutely no reason not to have this debate.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:48 pmnuts says:
“I think we should continue to have the debate,” Obama said. “….We’ve both got big planes…They can get us from Washington to Mississippi pretty quickly.“
September 24th, 2008 at 6:04 pmWhitney Wilson '90 says:
I suspect McCain’s motivation was primarily political, but you can construct a pretty good, non-political argument for his actions (at least as far as personal campaigning by the candidates goes):
The country is facing a potentially devastating financial crisis that to many requires urgent government action to avert/mitigate. Urgent action can only be accomplished on a bipartisan basis. It is both appropriate and necessary for McCain and Obama – one of whom will be the next President who will have to administer this program and each of whom is a leader (or at least the standard-bearer) of his party – to be in Washington to work out an acceptable package. While there, their energies should be directed towards resolving this urgent, national problem, not campaigning.
September 24th, 2008 at 7:06 pmnuts says:
Interview Palin 9/24/8 Couric
September 24th, 2008 at 8:14 pmJG says:
I’m sure someone could create a non-political explanation, although McCain is one of the least likely people to be able to show his presence would be helpful.
However, McCain’s people have now suggested that the first presidential debate get pushed off until next week and the one-and-only vice presidential debate get pushed off until…an unknown date. Hmmmm. It is all beginning to make sense now.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:15 pmnuts says:
Did McCain Blow Off Letterman to Pre-Empt Gov Palin and Couric?
Interview McCain 9/24/8 Couric
September 24th, 2008 at 8:19 pmnuts says:
Couric asks if postponing the debates was a political move. He doesn’t answer directly. Hey look, we have 40 days left to campaign. We have to address this crisis before the weekend. Dire consequences in failure to act. McCain circles back with the town hall meetings again.
(What exactly will McCain and Obama add to the deliberation process? Their economic advisers are key to the process, not them.)
Couric: Debate economy instead of national security this Friday, instead. I think they’re connected but let’s worry about that if we decide to do the debates or not.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:26 pmnuts says:
Obama 9/24/8 Clearwater FL
September 24th, 2008 at 8:28 pmnuts says:
Biden 9/24/8 Cincinatti, OH
September 24th, 2008 at 8:31 pmSoph Mom says:
After seeing the Couric interview, I am convinced, as JG insinuates, that cancelling the debates is all a ploy to keep Palin from speaking in public. She is not getting better. If anything, the more we see of her, the more obvious it becomes that she is totally (almost sadly so) unequipped.
The repetiton of the ‘memorized lines’, the lack of substance…pressing McCain’s qualifications and yet unable to come up with even one specific reason why he is more able. Even normally perky Katy, took on a look, a tone, I have yet to see in her.
The ‘witch hunting pastor laying his hands on her’ video was on Olbermann. I imagine it will make it’s way on to primetime at some point…at which point it may very well be over for the GOP ticket.
I think we will see something drastic soon. They cannot keep this charade going much longer. Something will blow. As well, I have faith that there are many conservatives who will be more and more willing to step forward and declare, that the empress and emperor are stark naked.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:18 pmnuts says:
Consider that McCain canceled the Letterman Show today, taped at 5:30, to return to Washington. He called Letterman himself. Then he went to CBS Evening News Studios in the same building and taped an interview with Couric at the same time Letterman is taped. Apparently, Letterman lets loose, and the replacement guest, Olbermann is there to fan the flames.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:58 pmnuts says:
McCain spent the night in NYC.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:58 pmParent '12 says:
Crooksandliars.com has the letterman clip.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:11 pmnuts says:
thx P’12: Letterman on McCain 9/24
September 24th, 2008 at 10:23 pmSoph Mom says:
Wow.
Big, big, big mistake to cancel Letterman under such false pretenses.
As Letterman says…’something smells here’…
I predict they may just drop Palin. I don’t know how you do that at this point, but something of that magnitude is up their sleeves. Either that, or we are witnessing a real implosion of the campaign.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:43 pmJeffZ says:
They simply cannot drop Palin. The right wing will revolt. They have staked too much on her.
Nuts, why did you have to post that Palin video? Did you want to give me nightmares? I mean, I never thought I’d say this, but she makes GWB look like Daniel Patrick Moynihan. she is flat out not very smart. It is obvious to anyone objective. She can only repeat a handful of talking points, she is unable to engage at anything but a very, very shallow level of discussion.
Honestly, folks, would anyone here hire her for ANY job (let alone any important job) if this was a job interview? I have never interviewed a candidate for a job who was less able to articulate a coherent, thoughtful, non-canned response to even a very simple question. Folksy only goes so far, at some point you need to demonstrate some substantive fluency. Wow that was bad, much worse than any setting I’ve previously seen her in.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:01 pmRonit says:
Letterman clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E
September 24th, 2008 at 11:03 pmSoph Mom says:
Ronit:
‘Nuts” has Letterman at #42…
September 24th, 2008 at 11:06 pmSoph Mom says:
Jeff,
I’m with you. Between W’s wide-eyed blank-staring speech, Couric’s interview with Palin, McCain’s bizarre behavior…I am going to be even less able to sleep tonite.
Not to be morbid…but as a country, we are so dangerously vulnerable right now.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:10 pmnuts says:
I think Gov Palin is a little smarter than she appears in that interview. They are so worried about her opening her mouth that they demand she sticks to the talking points. She used to winging it and she’s much better when she can do that.
Emptywheel thinks McCain got booked on Couric to pre-empt Palin. Makes sense doesn’t it?
I don’t think the McCain campaign counted on having Letterman come out swinging mad and calling McCain on his untruthiness.
Letterman DESTROYED McCain tonight and he has more credibility than a pundit or strategist for either party. He is essentially impartial except for his own opinion.
Let’s watch the polls in Indiana, a state Obama needs some help. Let’s watch the polls in all the battleground states.
Today is the beginning of the end, not that its over.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:16 pmnuts says:
Here’s my prediction: They’ll drop her (she drop herself) for McConnell.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:19 pmSoph Mom says:
‘Nuts’:
The good news (bad as it is!) is that Couric, and Letterman are prime time…reaching even middle America. Up until now, the most damning evidence has been on the internet and the lesser, more liberal networks…essentially ‘preaching to the choir’.
So…I think you’re right. Today is big..and very bad for McCain.
Now…if only the ‘witch pastor’ could make his debut on the Today show…
September 24th, 2008 at 11:24 pmSoph Mom says:
Per #49….Yup…I think so too. See my comment #43.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:26 pmnuts says:
If they drop her, who do you think they add?
September 24th, 2008 at 11:29 pmnuts says:
First lady Laura Bush said today that while Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin does not have any significant foreign policy background, the GOP vice presidential candidate is “a very quick study” and can rely on Sen. John McCain. link
September 24th, 2008 at 11:40 pmSoph Mom says:
Good question…and one I bet they are spending more time pondering than the bailout.
First of all, they would frame it like it’s Palin’s idea…citing something like her newfound realization that ‘family comes first’…
Then, depending on the polls, and the press, they would make a move based on how much they have to lose or gain…the evangelicals on one hand…or their core ‘fiscal’ conservatives on the other hand…
I suppose we may be over-reacting, and things could settle down. But like Letterman, I sense something dramatic is coming.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:49 pmDavid Broadband says:
Why cannot we have an Eph Pundit Anti Obama blog for Fair and Balanced Reporting?
Dumpint McCain yet Heralding Mohammed is not in accord with western principles.
September 25th, 2008 at 2:05 amDavid Broadband says:
How is it that the keys express different symbols?
Why cannot we have an Eph Pundit Anti Obama blog for Fair and Balanced Reporting?
Dumping McCain yet Heralding Mohammed is not in accord with western principles.
September 25th, 2008 at 2:08 amnuts says:
David Kane, Please keep posts 55 and 56 so Ephblog readers can see evidence of how one anti-Obama pro-McCain commenter acquits himself in the comments.
Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullāh was the messenger and prophet of god for Islam religion. Obama is a christian. If you think he’s Muslim you watch too much FoxNews and read Matt Drudge.
If you want to talk about exotic religious beliefs, let’s talk about McCain’s vetted veep Gov Palin where at the Assembly of God in Wasilla, AK, a preacher laid hands on her and cast out witches. Remember witches? Not too many people do because we consider them fictional.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:48 am