MSM Fails key test

Start by looking at this post, over at Confederate Yankee.

The key quote I saw?

We now know far more about Sarah Palin in just four days than we've learned about Barack Obama in 17 months.

This is the theme from a previous post of mine, Confederate Yankee does it better.

Sen Obama's Acceptance Speech

Updated and bumped: I guess I was not the only one disappointed by the speech. Look here.

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Disappointing

I listened to the entire speech. I kept hoping for lines like;

...we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall

Didn't happen. In fact, I can only remember one quote. "Thank you".... many many times.

Sen Obama presents himself as the post-racial candidate who has adopted his black roots at the expense of his white ones. No? Read his book-Audacity of Hope or Dreams of my Father (or have him read it for you)

Here were his opportunities

1. He has to demonstrate his post racial credentials
2. He has to reach beyond his base - they nominated him, this speech is not to thank them, but to start his campaign.
3. He has an opportunity to electrify the country (38 million will be watching)

Here are my post-facto recommendations.

Start with Dr. King
Recognize the struggle
Acknowledge that we have moved into the era of Post-Racial Politics
Deliver a great tag line
Promote policies that appeal to the country as a whole - avoid Democratic boilerplate
Accept the nomination - bask in the applause
Wind down and thank the people who helped you get this far - in context of mobilizing them for the general election
Introduce your team

Didn't happen. I am disappointed.

Experience

Here is the report; a snapshot of an upcoming interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper.

Senator Obama is comparing the experience garnered running an election campaign with that of running a small city (Wasilla, Alaska), Governor Palin's job from 1996 - 2002. (Timeline here)

Bias Test - will Anderson let this comparison stand? or will he call Senator Obama out for this ridiculous comparison?

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Update: Anderson did not challenge the comparison. The transcript is here.

OBAMA: Well, you know, my understanding is, is that Governor Palin's
town of Wasilla has, I think, 50 employees. We have got 2,500 in this
campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million a year. You know,
we have a budget of about three times that just for the month.


So, I think that our ability to manage large systems and to execute, I
think, has been made clear over the last couple of years. And,
certainly, in terms of the legislation that I passed just dealing with
this issue post-Katrina of how we handle emergency management, the fact
that many of my recommendations were adopted and are being put in place
as we speak, I think, indicates the degree to which we can provide the
kinds of support and good service that the American people expect.

COOPER: Senator Obama, thank you for your time.

OBAMA: Great to talk to you, Anderson.

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Here is an idea, while we are making nonsensical comparisons - Compare Senator Obama's legislative history with Senator McCain's accomplishments at the US Naval Academy.

During the same period of time (1996-2002) Senator Obama was a State Senator from Illinois. I doubt he had more than 50 employees, nor did he manage a budget of $12M.

Senator, if this is the best you can do, you are relying on the good graces of Anderson Cooper not to make you look like a buffoon.

I will look at the transcript following Anderson Cooper 360.

Where is Sen Obama?

Update as of 1 Sep 08 15:14 CDT: Sen Obama Responds. Reported by Ben Smith. Thank You Senator.

Update: Here is the controversy. Thanks Amanda.


The good Senator once said that he will run a campaign free of personal attacks. He also said that his family is 'off limits'.

Minions who support him are attacking Gov. Palin and her family.

Where is Sen. Obama's leadership in this issue?

I won't link to the Daily Kos. So read about the attacks here. (Thanks Michelle)

Calling Senator Obama, Cleanup on September 1st.

In the Tank for Obama

Here is a point that Jonah Goldberg makes.

The phrase "former mayor of a town of 9,000" was repeated all day long
by Obama surrogates and talking heads. The problem is thatwhile yes,
she's the former mayor of a small town, she's also currently the
governor of Alaska. There's no way the phrase "a former community
organizer" or "former state senator" would be allowed to stand as
Obama's highest qualification. But that phrase was used or recycled
uncritically about Palin all day long.

An any 'respectable' journalist that allows that statement to stand is offering de-facto proof that they are in the tank for Obama.

Palin for VP - response to Volokh

I think that Eugene misses the point entirely. On his fourth dimension of experience, Eugene has this to say,

Let me suggest a fourth dimension of “experience” that ought also be
weighed: sheer exposure and vetting at a national and international
level. By this I mean experience over time in answering hard questions
about a wide range of issues, meeting with other national and
international leaders, and responding on the record to crises and other
developments as they arise. This kind of experience gives the country a
chance to see how you think, to see how you handle high-octane pressure
on the relevant national and international stages, to observe how you
adapt when things don’t go as you thought they would, and so on. It
also forces you to learn about, and to develop views about, important
and complex national and international questions. Voters deserve to
know these things about you. On this fourth dimension of experience,
I’d rank McCain and Biden about even. I’d put Obama distinctly third.
Palin doesn’t even register.

Sen Obama is actually dead last. In this field, McCain and Palin are at the top, followed (distantly) by Biden. Allow me to Fisk this for you.

sheer exposure and vetting at a national and international
level

At the international level? - When do Germans get to pick the American President? What creedence ought anyone give to the Al Jezeera choice for President of the US?

By this I mean experience over time in answering hard questions about a
wide range of issues,

The last time Sen Obama was asked a hard question about a wide range of issues was at the Saddleback forum. That was also the first time.

meeting with other national and international
leaders, and responding on the record to crises and other developments
as they arise.

Gov Palin has reponded to crises - look at her leadership in the development of the Alaska pipeline - the Transcanada pipeline project. No, not a humanitarian crisis, but certainly a project put on the fast track because it needed to be ready in time. Sen Obama can't even demonstrate leadership in the Senate over a looming crises in for America - Social Security. Sen Obama recently even got the Georgia crises wrong - calling on 'both sides to show restraint.'

This kind of experience gives the country a
chance to see how you think, to see how you handle high-octane pressure
on the relevant national and international stages, to observe how you
adapt when things don’t go as you thought they would, and so on.

Gov Palin has 20 months as Govenor of the State of Alaska. Any google search will enumerate how she has responded to any of Alaska's challenges over the last 1.66 years. When has Sen Obama demonstrated exposure to high-octane pressure?

It also forces you to learn about, and to develop views about, important and complex national and international questions.

Like infanticide?
Sen Obama opposed a bill that would have required doctors to provide care for infants born as a result of an abortion attempt - his opposition is that this requirement would have the effect of placing an undo burden on abortion providers
Or invasion?
Are we to be happy that Sen Obama has developed the view that Russia's invasion of Georgia is the moral equilivent and has the same complexity as the US invasion of Iraq.

My rebuttal. We don't know anything about Sen. Obama. He has not been vetted by the 4th estate. In fact, had they properly performed their vetting process, Sen Clinton would be the nominee of the Democratic Party today.
Points:

1. Had they looked into his 20 year relationship with Trinity united and their Black liberation Theology - Sen Clinton would be the nominee.
2. Had they properly investigated Sen Obama's relationship with Mr. Ayers - Sen Clinton would be the nominee.
3. Had the "MSM" fully investigated Sen Obama's relationship with Tony Rezko - Sen Clinton would be the nominee.
4. Had they given us anything more than undying worship of Sen Obama - Sen Clinton would be the nominee.

Gov Palin is certainly qualified to be President. I am actually hopeful fo the first time in this campaign.

Obama the Magnificent

Senator Obama has demonstrated his magnificence from on high. He now calls for the delegations from Florida and Michigan to be seated. Amen.