Fresh on the heels of his New York Times endorsement the apparently anointed Republican Presidential Candidate was given an easy time by Tim Russert on Meet The Press. Tim asked him predictable questions and gave him uninterrupted time to respond and clear the air about some seeming contradictions in his record and present stance on some issues. McCain gave his usual stump spiel about Islamo Terrorism and his pleasure at the success of the surge in Iraq. He also spoke highly of Joe Lieberman and their work in getting the 9/11 Commission and the recommendations of the Commission instituted. He defended his record on the Economy and said that he wants the Bush Tax cuts permanent but to be balanced with spending cuts. He invoked the Republican Holy Grail of Ronald Reagan when describing his so called conservative economic agenda. So say what you will about John McCain, at least you know what you're getting. Or do you?
The rest of the hour was taken up with the blackenization of Barack Obama. The "tactic" was laid right at the feet of former President Bill Clinton. Of course Bill Clinton was soundly criticized for the cheap tactic while at the same time tacitly admired for it's effectiveness. The whole conversation only furthered and validated the whole thing while trying to find nothing but fault with it by bewailing it's divisiveness. BY the way for those who haven't figured it out, the Blackenization of Barack Obama is intended to raise concerns in the White middle class and poor who may now fear that with Obama as President their economic concerns will be back burnered as Obama presents programs and policy designed to promote Blacks. Policies like more affirmative action, hate crime law enforcement, inner city ghetto development, more projects or just more social welfare programs directed towards Blacks. Largely unfounded but perception is everything in politics.
The real question to me is when or how Hillary Clinton will take over her campaign again? Only the clueless can't see that suddenly Bill Clinton is the one running for President again. What Bill has done is divide the Democratic party. It would seem that he couldn't seem to get plurality of all Democrats so he decided to deny that plurality to Barack Obama with this obvious but effective trick. The future now seems to be that Clinton will try to win the Populace Northern heavy white Middle class states like New York while surrendering the South with it's more poorer Black voters like Georgia and Alabama. Clinton also hopes that California and the West will go for Him. The thing is, I don't see how Clinton can defeat the republicans without the Black vote. Clinton's a sore loser and a lousy Democrat. Barack Obama with the plurality he was building would have had a real chance to win in November. Though to be fair, the Republican candidate would have done or for that matter, will try to do the same tactic using the Blackenization of Barack Obama hoping for similar cynical results.
Other endorsements noted on the program today: the New York Times endorsed Hillary Clinton along with John McCain, Caroline Kennedy has come out for Barack Obama saying the enthusiasm for Obama reminds her of JFK. The Republican Governor and Senator from Florida, Charlie Crist and Mel Martinez, have endorsed John McCain.
Pundits were discussing what's happened to Rudi Giuliani. They just found fault with his overall lack of persistent and consistent strategy. But I think Rudi can blame part of his fall in polling results to the various Internet Campaigns from the Fire Fighters in New York who blame him for the faulty radios that got so many killed on 9/11. Another Internet viral condemnation of Giuliani concerns his calling off the recovery effort too soon at Ground zero. The fact that remains continue to be found around ground Zero would seem to validate this condemnation
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I am a simple man of eclectic interests and tastes with no particular academic credentials. I still perceive, think, read and write somewhat. Writing music is a hobby of mine
Tim Russert took McCain to task for his seeming flip-flops on issues such as making the Bush tax cuts permanent and amnesty for illegal aliens. He's for the former and now largely against the latter, for now anyway. Russert also hit McCain for his war strategy in Iraq and his assertion that the war was a good idea from the start. All in all, I thought it was a very fair interview.
I liked the part where Russert mentioned that Rush Limbaugh said McCain's nomination and/or presidency would destroy the GOP. I guess that means from Rush's point of view that he (1) doesn't favor the rich enough, (2) is too kind to illegal immigrants and (3) isn't hard-line enough against civil liberities. I think Rush and his gang would vote for Hitler as long as he cut their income taxes to 10% or less.
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Sam Adams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 81 comments)
on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 4:58:53 AM
Those weren't taking McCain to task, they were all just routine well known in McCains positions. This interview was nothing but a chance for McCain to look presidential and clear the air for himself right before the Florida Primary. When Russert takes someone to the mat you'll know. And this wasn't one of those times.
This interview was nothing but a long Campaing ad for John McCain.
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"Hoss" David P. (51 articles, 5 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 339 comments)
on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 7:04:14 AM
Every reporter covers some old ground when asking questions. I've seen reporters lob sofballs. They ask silly questions that have nothing to do with a candidate's stance on real issues. That's not Russert's style. Sure, he could have probed deeper, but he has to balance a reporter's dogged determination to get at the truth and a smidge of civility.
I stand by my assertion that it was a fair, balanced interview as opposed to a beauty contest for McCain to strut his stuff before the Florida primary. I thought Russert's charge that McCain flip-flopped on the Bush income tax cuts to have been fairly hard-hitting. So too regarding his stance on the war in Iraq. Frankly, I don't know what you were expecting. Did you want him to excoriate McCain, and if so on what issues?
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Sam Adams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 81 comments)
on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 4:51:39 AM
I suppose that McCain being a little too old and frankly sort of dull, Tim Russert can be excused for not taking McCain to task and making him look like the senile old fool. John McCain is not famous for being an extemperaneous speaker. God Bless John McCain, he has been through a lot in his life and I'm not so sure that he wouldn't make a great President.
But I think Tim Russert did take: Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton and certainly Ron Paul to task lately. Was that what I was looking for? Sort of, but yet I understand.
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"Hoss" David P. (51 articles, 5 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 339 comments)
on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 5:04:33 AM
