I agree that that's the understanding among those who have thought about it and who wish Obama well. Most people will only remember the skewering that Clark got and associate him with Obama. Now that it is old news, it's likely that the episode will be encapsulated as "Clark's defamation of an authentic hero" or "his attempt to swift boat McCain." Once it becomes part of the campaign lexicon the factual details will never be considered by the general public.

Posted at July 4, 2008 10:29 PM in response to Election Central July 4th Roundup

The noise about his war "flip flop" may distract from some of his real reversals. Today's Times editorial covers them, and I would add to the list his initial hanging of out Wesley Clark to dry.

Reflexively throwing supporters overboard because of a media snowstorm over comments that they make, regardless of the validity of the comments, doesn't show character or good judgment.

He has a strong case for his Iraq war stance and he can make the press look stupid, and himself more responsible and presidential if he answers as he did today. Let's hope that the focus stays on Iraq.

But he has to be really careful. Nixon ran on the promise that we would be out of Vietnam in eighteen months. If his credibility gets into Nixon territory he is through.

Posted at July 4, 2008 11:00 AM in response to Election Central July 4th Roundup

He's right, it's not about him. Anyone could have done the same thing.

Posted at May 20, 2008 11:19 PM in response to GOP Consultant On CNN: Sometimes It's "Accurate" To Call A Woman A "Bitch"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702425.html?nav=rss_print/asection

Posted at May 18, 2008 1:28 PM in response to Obama To Spend Tuesday Night In Key Swing State, Away From The Day's Primaries

Worth reading:

The WP article seems to indicate that the candidates are a bit more grown up than the rest of us.

It is interesting that Hillary people might have threatened contributors who could be thinking of jumping ship before she gets to negotiate her new position in the party and the race.

Posted at May 18, 2008 1:27 PM in response to Obama To Spend Tuesday Night In Key Swing State, Away From The Day's Primaries

Maoesque avatar, MMASONM. Reminds me a recent New Yorker cover July 4, '06 or '07.

Posted at May 16, 2008 4:46 PM in response to Obama: I'll Debate McCain On Foreign Policy "Anywhere, Anytime"

I wonder if the fear strategy will work if it's applied so early in the campaign. Will people become immune to it, or will the administration, the movement conservatives and the McCain team be able to scare us into a repeat of '04. An interesting and potentially groundbreaking experiment.

Posted at May 16, 2008 4:42 PM in response to Obama: I'll Debate McCain On Foreign Policy "Anywhere, Anytime"

She is an very well-programmed robot. For some reason I think of her as being inflatable.

Posted at May 16, 2008 4:36 PM in response to But Bush Was Talking About Obama, Wasn't He?

I wasn't directing my comment at anyone in particular. I feel that prejudice is an animal response to the unfamiliar. It has been incredibly destructive in human history and at the same time it is unlikely that we would be here to click away at our keyboards if it didn't exist.

To pretend that we as individuals are without prejudice is unrealistic. Naturally we all have different prejudices because we are all have a different set of perceptions and experiences. To behave in an unprejudiced way in our world is difficult and admirable and it needs to be taught.

On TPM and in the media in general, racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, age, class prejudice is bandied about as though it is in others and that our intellects have somehow freed us from it. We all see it most clearly in people that we disagree with. That's why I see this thread (not Akbars's analysis) as what others would call hypocritical. I just see it as people revealing their prejudices in public.

Posted at May 13, 2008 6:04 PM in response to A look at the historical roots of racism in WV, from a depressed mountaineer

It's refreshing to see so little prejudice on this thread. Let's see: WV people bad, but not their fault. Obama black young upper middle class good guy. Hillary not always PC so bad girl.

Of course if Barak wins big in NC there's no need to mention his skin color. If Hillary wins WV it's because of bigotry.

What world it is on TPM.

Posted at May 13, 2008 3:01 PM in response to A look at the historical roots of racism in WV, from a depressed mountaineer