Friday, January 25, 2008
Cynicism
(Full disclosure: I support John Edwards)
One of the disturbing media memes of the past several weeks is that John Edwards needs to drop out. This was said after New Hampshire when just a fraction of delegates were committed. His chance of winning was dropping, therefore he should just pack up his bags and go home.
Of course, there was no reflecting on any role the media might have played in his poor showing. Up until the end, Edwards was continually in the lead or in second place in Iowa all summer and spring long, but unless a political junkie, you would be hard pressed to know it wasn't just an Obama/Hillary fight for the nomination.
Why should Edwards get out? Assume that this will be a 40 Obama, 40 Clinton, 20 Edwards race in delegates. Isn't this the very reason that Edwards should stay in, even with no shot of winning?
The jaded press assumes that all candidates are in it just for themselves. If they aren't going to win, they need to leave.
Assume for one moment, that a candidate genuinely believes in their message a little. Being in third place with two people at the top, possibly neither having enough delegates to win due to his being forced to make a deal.
They would make concessions. Obama might go further on health care. Hillary might fight harder for worker rights. All of this possible because Edwards ignores what the media instructs him is his duty.
Keep fighting John.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
On the ABC radio news tonight, after the coverage of the massacre at Virginia Tech, there was space for some more coverage of top events that will shape our world.
So, they discussed the fact that according to campaign finance reports, John Edwards got two $400 hair cuts in Los Angeles. Because other than school shootings, Edwards' "looking pretty" as they put it, is the most crucial information that Americans need to know.
Laura Bush spends $700 to get her hair done. It doesn't lead the news though. Funny that. It appears that the Clinton rulebook is back in full swing. Personally, I find it ridiculous that Edwards' spends so much money on a haircut, but he is rich. Rich people tend to get expensive haircuts, like Laura Bush does as well.
I expect a detailed analysis now on what Mitt Romney pays. Does anybody thinks he goes to SuperCuts for his coiffure? The stupid thing Edwards did was to bill it to the campaign so the media could mock him instead of actually covering his position proposals and what they mean to average voters.
Perhaps tomorrow night ABC news can cover the war in Iraq, and Hillary's pantsuits. Then they can discuss North Korea diplomacy and Obama's fancy shoes on Thursday. I will stop. It's likely they are getting ideas for stories.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
First let me express my deep sympathy and prayers for John and Elizabeth Edwards as well as their children and loved ones as they struggle through another bout with cancer. I actually read this news first down in the gutter at Free Republic. This is a place where mouth breathing knuckle draggers gather around one another to grunt. The second poster begged the neanderthals to behave themselves, but herding neanderthals is not an easy task. Here is some of the compassionate conservative on display at lunatic central.
--- this is beginning to sould like a publicity stunt....why wouldn't you wait till you have all the info?
C'mon, Dan, let us have a little shadenfreude. Just because a man's wife has breast cancer is no reason to suddenly get all compassionate and understanding is it?
He wasn't going to get the nomination anyway.
Edward's decision to drop out has more to do with his nearly zero chances of winning than anything to do with his wife's health.
Campaign? Is that what that was?
I will hold a good thought for his family but if that scumbag uses this down the line to bash conservatives it wouldn't surprise me.
Thank God that we aren't living under Edwards socialized medicine plan. She has a great chance for recovery.
He could be using this as a cynical ploy to get a sympathy vote later. He is a sleazy trial lawyer after all. I don't put anything past them.
Not that Edwards had a chance in hell of winning, anyway.
I am surprised he didn't blame this on Bush and his making stem cell research illegal!!!!
(I know he didn't make it illegal but that is what moonbats say!)
He could be using this as a cynical ploy to get a sympathy vote later. He is a sleazy trial lawyer after all. I don't put anything past them."
As unpleasant as it is to consider that possibilty, it is none the less, a possibilty for someone such as he.
I would hope that her cancer has not metastasized, but if it has, and he is using this as a political victim stunt, it would anger me beyond comprehension.
Two of the tags Freepers put on the story were "anti-catholic" and "liberal bigot". I bring this up because continually media state that an anonymous poster on Huffington Post or Daily Kos speak for the entire liberal movement, or they speak for Arianna or Markos whenever they say something offensive.
How many stories will we read in the papers about the offensive knuckle draggers at Free Republic? Anbody wanna take a wild guess?
Again, my thoughts are with the Edwards family today. Thankfully, I bet they don't read this crap.
