Daily Kos

Media matters

by Trapper John

Thu Jul 29, 2004 at 08:17:07 PM PDT

What are the talking heads saying? How are they covering the speech? What are the headlines? Place your reports here.
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Permalink | 426 comments

  •  Damn great speech. (none / 0)

    by Superset on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:18:26 AM PDT

    •  C-SPAN phone callin numbers (none / 0)

      C-SPAN is taking airing phone calls. The numbers are: 1 800 879 2166 - pro Kerry 1 800 879 3155 - anti Kerry Will anybody here get on?

      by MonkeyBoy on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:41:33 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Been trying for about 20 minutes (none / 0)

        but all the circuits on the Pro-Kerry line are busy!

        by maurinsky on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:57:38 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  I noticed that the Bush supporters (none / 0)

          all seem to be working from a script or something- they aren't talking about the speeches or their reactions- just spewing the same crap that you hear on Rush. Did they miss the point of the polls?

          I did notice a great many people identifying themselves as long-time Republicans who are unhappy with Bush (esp the war) and plan to vote for Kerry! Woo-hoo!

          "It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -Albus Dumbledore ~~~~~~~~~ http://slugcrossings.blogspot.com/

          by Lainie on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 05:41:49 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  "Great work, CNN"? (none / 1)

      Josh Marshall is praising CNN on his blog, saying we'll understand soon enough.

      So... anyone know what he's talking about?

      - Marc

      http://whopundit.blogspot.com
      independent politics, independent music and two unemployed dudes.

      by whopundit on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:42:52 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  The best line by far..... (4.00 / 3)

      .....and I haven't heard a single pundit mention it:
      "I will be a commander in chief who will never mislead us into war. I will have a vice president who will not conduct secret meetings with polluters to rewrite our environmental laws. I will have a secretary of defense who will listen to the best advice of our military leaders. And I will appoint an attorney general who actually upholds the constitution of the United States."

      I'm an ABB ever since Dean imploded, but this is the speech I prayed Kerry had in him. Way to go.

      p.s. MSNBC just played the clip above as they went to commercial. But I still haven't heard any punditry on it.

      • • Get Your John McCain - NOPE T-Shirts & Stickers
      •

      by KingOneEye on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:51:49 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  It's over (none / 1)

      Work like we're behind by ten, but the administration has nothing and the pundits are unanimous:  Kerry did everything he had to and more.  There will be no Gore-ing of Kerry.

      Pat Buchanan just gushed and said it was an incredible speech.  Howard Fineman and Andrea Mitchell literally shouted down Joe Scarborough when he criticized the delivery.

      The meme from here on out is that this guy can be president.

      Barnicle said it best: Kerry knocked on the door, the American people opened it and --one on one -- Kerry sold them.

      Ours to lose.  We can only lose this, Bush can't win.

      God it's so painful that something that's so close, is still so far out of reach. Tom Petty/Al Gore

      by Velvet Revolution on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:24:07 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Best speech I've ever... (none / 0)

      seen from Kerry. Last night I posted that he'd better nail this one. He nailed it. :)

      BUSH: Like a rock...but dumber.
      Stewart/Olberman 2008!

      by mugsimo on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 04:10:20 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Beautiful Day (4.00 / 2)

    I was wrong about one thing: A while back, people were discussing possible campaign theme songs. Someone suggested U2's "Beautiful Day." I said I didn't think they'd ever pick a song by a non-American band.

    Well, it was a perfect song to play after Kerry's speech, because tomorrow - and every day after that - is a damn beautiful day indeed.

    Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News

    by DavidNYC on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:19:57 AM PDT

    •  Here is (none / 0)

      The Theme Song (im gonna keep running my mouth til someone notices hehe)

      Little River Band - Help is on its way

      Why are you in so much hurry?
      Is it really worth the worry?
      Look around, then slow down.
      What's it like inside the bubble?
      Does your head ever give you trouble?
      It's no sin, trade it in.

      (Chorus)
      Hang on, help is on its way,
      I'll be there as fast as I can,
      "Hang on", a tiny voice did say,
      From somewhere deep inside the inner man.

      Are you always in confusion?
      Surrounded by illusion?
      Sort it out, you'll make out.
      Seem to make a good beginning,
      Someone else ends up winning,
      Don't seem fair, don't you care?

      I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever TJ

      by cdreid on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:44:06 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Or (none / 1)

        As a nod to Al Franken and the Grateful Dead

        Help On the Way
        ---------------

        Paradise waits
        on the crest of a wave
        her angels in flame

        She has no pain
        like a child she is pure
        She is not to blame

        poised for flight
        wing spread
        bright spring from
        night into
        the sun

        don't stop to run
        she can fly like a lie she
        can't be outdone

        tell me the cost
        I can pay
        let me go
        tell me love is not lost
        sell everything
        without love day to day
        insanity is king

        I will pay day by day anyway
        Lock bolt and key

        Crippled but free
        I was blind all the time
        I was learning to see

        Help on the way
        Well, I know only this
        I've got you today
        Don't fly away
        cause I love what I love
        and I want it that way

        I will stay one more day
        Like I say, honey it's you
        making it too
        without love in the dream
        it'll never come true

        by IllusiveTruth on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:13:16 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  they played it after the speech (none / 1)

      although I admit I liked Springstein's "No Retreat, No Surrender" as the original theme song.

      by Just a bill on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:16:27 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Hate that song (none / 0)

      It's like, the most angry depressed 'happy' song I've ever heard.  But don't worry, I promise that if anyone publicly asks me, I'll say it was the most awesome song ever :P

      Stephanie Dray
      of Jousting for Justice, a lefty blog with a Maryland tilt.

      by stephdray on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:54:54 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  MSGOP: (none / 1)

    Joe Scarborough says it was "rushed."

    He was promptly booed by the audience.  Hehe.

    by efp on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:20:22 AM PDT

    •  Reaching (none / 1)

      Joe Scarborough says it was "rushed."

      Wow, they are really, really reaching. This is gonna be a sweet convention bounce.

      Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News

      by DavidNYC on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:22:13 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  joe (none / 0)

        He also said that the content was exceptional.The rethugs must be wetting themselves.

        by kerry on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:30:12 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  convention bounce (4.00 / 2)

        not be sound pessimistic, but i am not expecting much of a bounce.  why?  because what the broadcast networks did was shameful.  they didn't show the damned thing.

        regardless, i hope i'm wrong.  i think kerry did a great job tonight - much better than i ever imagined.

        i flipped thru the broadcast networks.  nbc had brokaw and russert, and i swear pumpkinhead sounded absolutely enthusiastic.  it was quite strange, but fantastic to hear.  they gave kerry two big thumbs up.  abc was also very positive, pointing out that kerry challenged bush on his issues and giving kerry approval.  cbs was hedging their bets but bob schieffer did spend some time raving and raving about kerry's speech.

        all in all, thumbs up from the broadcast networks.  they did conclude, however, that now we have to wait and see if it resonated with the american viewers.

        personally, i think anyone watching it should feel great about kerry.  he was smashing IMO =)

        John Cornyn is an asshole with shoes. Support Rick Noriega!

        by anna on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:50:22 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  I don't think there will be a convention bounce (none / 0)

        Networks weren't carrying much.  Wait 'til the debates...

        by yatdave on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:25:15 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  you are right (none / 0)

          there won't be much bounce. the country is far too divided. regardless of what kerry did, and he (and let's be honest, the entire DNC) did a GREAT job, there are still 47% of Americans out there that will just refuse to vote dem. the only place this speech, and this convention, will matter, is in the mind of a few ohio, missouri, et. al voters when they step up to the plate in november. and that, ladies and gentlemen, regardless of what the GOP will spin, is all that matters. kerry will not go up the 15 points discussed by rove and gillespie. and that doesn't matter. up until tonight, i lamented that the dems had to go first convention-wise. now, i see that the gop can do nothing with this. attack it? attack what? optimism? go negative?

          as stated in the simpsons: "that's game,[jimi] hendrix." - benjamin franklin

          shameless plug warning: http://nickchrest.blogspot.com/

          by nchres1 on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 02:03:05 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  The New Media Attack (none / 0)

      CNN, MSNBC, and NBC News are saying the same thing. Chris Matthews called the time clock on the convention floor a "shotclock."

      by Stone on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:29:20 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  shotclock? (none / 0)

        Chris Matthews called the time clock on the convention floor a "shotclock."

        meaning they were doing shots like every five minutes or something?

        that would explain their "coverage".

        l'audace! l'audace! toujours l'audace!

        by zeke L on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:02:59 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  He went on (none / 0)

      and on and on about it...

      by Clawed on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:32:05 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Interesting (none / 0)

        what passes for "informed commentary" these days, isn't it?

        Well these guys have to do something to earn those bloated salaries: can't say anything about the content so you have to show your "expertise" by commenting on the TV/production side of things.

        My guess, they dock their pay if they are silent.

        Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds. --Elie Wiesel

        by a gilas girl on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:03:17 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Scarborough... (none / 0)

      I've never seen him (don't have cable) but have heard all the condemnation here and elsewhere.  I'm staying at a place now with cable and have been able to watch him.  He's actually fairly entertaining, with a "calls 'em how he see's 'em" persona (but probably a real a-hole in the rest of his life).

      He was right about JK rushing through the applause lines - I commented to my wife about it during the speech.  I'm fairly sure there was a good reason for it, and I'm waiting to hear it.  

      That said, it was a great and powerful speech.  Count me among those who has converted from Strong for Dean to Lukewarm for Kerry to after tonight, will work my ass off to get John Kerry into the White House.  

      by RWC on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:54:56 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I talked to the girlfriend about this. (none / 0)

        My theory is that he was building tension for the killer applause lines later on.  My girlfriend just thinks he was nervous.

        Bayh-partisan: it's the new joementum

        by gogol999 on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:04:56 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  applause (none / 0)

        kerry had a rigid clock to go by in order to end his speech fully within prime time. if he let them, the crowd would have applauded for half his speech. he had to keep plowing through to get his speech in within the clock.

        "There's no housing bubble..." - Fed Chief Ben Bernanke, 10/27/2005

        by chuco35 on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:24:09 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  I think... (none / 1)

        What made that speech was not just the content, but the delivery... he built it up and closed the case at the end.  But a lot of that had to do with hitting the rhythm.

        Some politicians sit and wait the 10 minutes for the applause to die down, but that destroys the tempo.

        (0.00,-3.13) "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it."

        by Steve4Clark on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 02:02:01 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Second tht emotion... (none / 1)

          Yes: I hate those damn applause lines.  I know that's the reward for the crowd and for the party faithful and all, but it makes for a really lousy speech.  

          Applause lines are okay I guess (she begrudingly allows...)when the speech is just pro forma with not much content, but this was an occassion where Kerry had to not just give a good technical speech (as in the delivery) but also had to say some substantive things.  Applause lines really diminish a substantive speech.  That's why the State of the Union has become such a parody of itself.  

          Personally I liked that he wanted people to hear the speech.  

          Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds. --Elie Wiesel

          by a gilas girl on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:18:02 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  zScarborough is a Murderer (none / 0)

        Scarbourough had one of his female interns found dead in his office while in Congress- she supposedly collapsed and 'hit her head' while in there alone- but no one bought it.  He was never charged but he also didn't run for re-election.

        S-C-U-M-B-A-G

        Bush will be impeached.

        by jgkojak on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 11:09:31 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Scarborough (none / 1)

          The other night when Scarborough and the other MSNBC whores (young Reagan excepted)were doing their show with the crowd behind them, some women came forward and was yelling "What about Lori? What about Lori" before a cop finally pulled her away, but Scarborough was totally thrown off his game. It was a great piece of live TV.

          by Chi Bob on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:28:10 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Rushed? (none / 0)

      Scarborough was thinking of his little "problem" with p.e.

      It's o-k-ay Joe. No, really.

      PS What happened to your aide Joe?

      "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S Thompson

      by spot on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:02:48 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Predicted during speech... (none / 0)

      These pundits are so reliable, I love them - Kerry Speech

      Read The Book

      by readthebook on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:17:48 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Confession: (none / 0)

      Maybe I just have bad taste, but I actually agreed with Joe and was crazy worried throughout the speech that he wasn't stopping to collect his applause lines and he was off his rhythm.

      But after seeing I guess that the Kerry team knew how to impress the other media mavens because he seems to be getting BOFFO commentary. And that's all that matters! Wooo!

      by tameszu on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:34:42 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  And who's fault is that? (none / 1)

      Why did Kerry have so little time to give his speech?

      Think about it, pundit boys!

      "When I was an alien, cultures weren't opinions" ~ Kurt Cobain, Territorial Pissings

      by Subterranean on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 02:21:45 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Scarborough didn't say it wasn't a home run (none / 0)

      just the inside the park variety.  If that's all he's got, he must be so dreading November.

      by BCF on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 02:58:30 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Brooks (none / 1)

    called it muscular centrism. Mark Shields said it will set the stage high and raise the stakes for New York.

    Now Sheilds is saying that he came out as a "convincing, commanding, maybe even compelling commander in chief."

    Okay, Kerry clearly nailed this one.

    "What we have here is a form of looting."-Nobel Laureate George Akerlof, about Bushonomics.

    by bjako on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:21:50 AM PDT

    •  More David Brooks (none / 1)

      1. Pot calls kettle "black": Brooks described the Kerry campaign video as "propoganda", though he'd never, ever use that term to describe what he writes in his op-eds.
      2. Defense of Bush's negative campaign: Brooks says that, since everyone has an opinion about Bush, it's only natural that Bush will try to define Kerry in a negative light. Brooks, of course, didn't say that candidates go negative when 1) they are behind and 2) have nothing to offer.

      "You can't talk to the ignorant about lies, since they have no criteria." --Ezra Pound

      by machopicasso on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:30:50 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  david Brooks is a Neocon... (none / 0)

        the very idea that Jim Lehrer would staff him says a lot about Jim Lehrer, imho... can we really expect anything positive from any of the networks? Don't hold your breathe...

        An unexamined life is not worth living - Socrates

        by crone on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:26:20 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  I wrote to Lehrer (none / 0)

          and cc'd Davey Baby at the Times. Called him a Midas in reverse, whose merest touch diminishes that with which it comes into contact.

          Seeing the NYT tagline under him on the screen as credential was nauseating.

          "One should always have one's boots on and be ready to leave." - Michel de Montaigne

          by adamgreenfield on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:45:37 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  I don't watch Lehrer anymore, between Brooks (none / 0)

            and Lehrer's true colors showing... McNeil was the journalist part of that duo... Lehrer is the corporate flunkie, imho...

            An unexamined life is not worth living - Socrates

            by crone on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 02:00:04 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

    •  Brooksie (none / 0)

      David Brooks is a real shithead.  He's not half bad on TV when he's forced to play with others, but as soon as he gets back to his column, he's one of the worst right-wing pricks around.  Here's my take on some of his convention comments:
      1. He pushed the strategy of trying to co-opt Obama's speech, and Kerry's speech as being "Republican."  What horseshit.  It's an interesting strategy though - if you can't beat them, say their ideas are those of the Republican party.  But hell, I can't remember the last time Republicans talked about minority and women's rights, international cooperation and strong social programs at home.
      2. When Mark Shields said that the Neo-Cons wanted to do war on the cheap, Brooks (a famed neo-con) said that neocons wanted to do it with more troops.  Hoseshit David.  We've all read the PNAC, we've all listened to Perle and Wolfowitz and Cheney and Rumsfeld.
      3. On several occassions, Brooks expressed his befuddlement with why the Democrats were defending their patriotism.  He claimed that he'd never, ever seen anyone question the patriotism of liberals/democrats, and that they were being silly defending themselves against charges that were never made.  Hello you ignorant fuck-wad, where have you been the last 3 years?  And in his weekly column, he can barely hold back his attacks on the patriotism of Democrats.  Even his trite books are written about how Democrats aren't real Americans, like our redneck bretheren from the south and midwest.
      David Brooks has absolutely no class.  Far from being every liberal's favorite conservative, he is my least favorite.  I despise him more than O'Reilly and Hannity, if that's possible.

      by Voodoo Chile on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 07:18:28 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Brooks (none / 0)

        Yes, he called Kerry's speech "Republican."  In his terms, that's a compliment.  Even he admitted Kerry hit a homerun.  Brooks just wishes the speech were Republican.  One thing you can count on, even though I don't like Brooks, is whatever he says, that's how the media is going to characterize it.

        McCain: Less jobs, more war.

        by Unstable Isotope on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 07:40:35 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Another thing (none / 0)

          Another thing about Brooks is that he'll pay you a compliment (sort of - in his own asshole right-wing way) one week, and the next week he is back dishing out RNC talking points about how John Kerry looks French, Democrats aren't real Americans, etc. etc. etc.

          I remember one week he wrote a stunning Mea Culpa about Iraq.  He admitted that his side was wrong and our side was right.  The next week he was back to questioning our patriotism.  I remember another time he wrote about restoring polite debate in this country.  The next week it was Kerry/Democrat bashing again.

          Mark my words, David Brooks' next editorial in the NYT will be pure vitriol spewed at Kerry.  It's David Brooks' modus operandi.

          by Voodoo Chile on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 07:53:27 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  I called it (none / 0)

            I hate being right sometimes.  That insidious weasel just published his first post-convention op-ed speech.  As predicted, he called it "an incoherent disaster"

            David Brooks has once again shown himself to be the most insidious of conservatives.

            by Voodoo Chile on Sat Jul 31, 2004 at 02:21:03 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

        •  First words out of his mouth (none / 1)

          "That was a Republican speech."  We couldn't believe it!  Even my daughter yelled at the TV.

          IIRC, someone (maybe Brooks?) said the same thing about Obama's speech.  Is this some weird form of cognitive dissonance: "That was a terrific speech, but it was given by a Democrat, but I know they are bad, so the speech must not be good, but I think it WAS good, so maybe it wasn't a Democratic speech ... aauugh!" (head explodes)

          OR is it a new Republican strategy to co-opt  Democrats' ideas and talking points and claim them as their own?  Remember that Bush changed his Iraq strategy to match Kerry's, and now the pundits are talking about "how much alike" Kerry's and Bush'd positions are, as if it was that way all along.

          Could it be that we will see the well-received "united" and "hope" themes at the Republican convention?

          by JulieS on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 10:59:08 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  I'm kind of amazed (none / 0)

        at the audacity of some right-wing pundits. They wanted more troops? Are you freaking kidding me? (The fact that Brooks is one of the better ones says a lot about this country.)

        "What we have here is a form of looting."-Nobel Laureate George Akerlof, about Bushonomics.

        by bjako on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 07:43:38 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  ABC in Arabic (3.66 / 3)

    All I know is that ABC broadcasted the Arabic translation of his speech twice for about 3 seconds in an attempt to smear him as the terrorist's choice. I'm fucking pissed.

    Political News

    by dopies on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:22:23 AM PDT

    •  Thank You! (none / 1)

      for verifying this. i had a friggin' conniption fit in front of my screen. Where's the FCC when you need them? Fuck janet's tit, this is subversion of the worst order!

      Liberal Streetfighter: Left-wing served al dente.

      by wilfred on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:30:20 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  ABC proved themselves a disgrace (4.00 / 10)

      Twice ABC cut away to show Arabic TV showing the speech. Where was the cutaway to show Jewish television, Italian, BBC, etc.? I had to change to when I saw that despite the fact I get my best reception from the ABC affiliate of all 3 networks. What a joke. I am seriously pissed at them for that bullshit. Will they show Bush on al Jazeera? Not that it counts since the talking heads don't spread the lie that Osama wants Kerry. They have to understand the implication to Americans when they see that- plus it ws a distraction from a very important speech. While I'm ranting why the F*CK didn't the networks start at 9 to show Kerry's daughters and the bio film. I seriously question their decision to limit coverage to 1 meager hour a night. It is a boon to the incumbent when the challenger is limited in the time he has to indroduce himself to the American people. These pukes say 9/11 changed everything and then still continue to treat politics like some silly game in which everything Democrats say is questioned and dissected to "reveal" a radical left wing agenda to force women to have abortions and to legalize bestiality while Republicans are people of faith who belief in national defense. Just tonight ABC ran a big expose on how the Democrats are tainted by the corporate sponsors at the convention while glossing over the fact that Republicans raise more money from fewer people than we do and always oppose any kind of serious campaign reform.

      Why can't more of the talking heads admit that Kerry absolutely hit the ball out of the park! That speech made me forget Bill Clinton. I didn't think he seemed rushed at all. He seemed like a serious, deliberate man who had a serious and urgent message to the American people. They can try to spin this into something small, but this was HUGE!

      by Joe Willy on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:48:28 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  funny (none / 1)

      how I missed the European versions.  That was totally bizarre.

      by seamus on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:53:33 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Call me crazy (3.50 / 2)

      but maybe they were showing the coverage because Iraq is a critical issue in this election and ABC wanted to let people know that: Yes, the people in the Middle East and Iraq are paying attention.

      If they don't put the same images up during Bush's speech (and they will), I'd be suspicious. But this is about being "Presidential." The world is watching. The world does care.

      (and really, who here would be happy if ABC only showed Al-Jazeera coverage during Bush's speech?)

      "This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected." - Barack Obama (3.18.08)

      by lapis on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 02:24:27 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  CNN (none / 0)

    CNN let the balloons take control of their broadcast.  

    Give to the Daily KOS 8!

    by Aaron Gillies on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:22:35 AM PDT

  •  CNN SUCKS (4.00 / 2)

    And Matt Drudge is looking for the audio feed from CNN from the DNC booth, aparntly there was some cussin at the ballons not dropping.

    I did matt a favor. I sent him something roughly similar. I emailed him a pic of "TUBGIRL"  If you don't know what that is, you don't want to know. But if you do know, then you know what I know, and you know that is what Drudge is...

    by Steven R on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:22:43 AM PDT

  •  Timmy (4.00 / 2)

    is harping on the vote for and against the $87million.  

    Tom Brokaw finally interrupted, "how many times do you think we're going to hear about that vote"

    Timmy:  "Every day.  Every day."  Then some nonsense about how Hillary told him not to vote against it.  

    What a freaking liar.  LIAR.

    by Manhattan Dan on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:23:01 AM PDT

    •  I saw this (none / 1)

      Russert is a fucking media whore for the RNC, in the first degree. He provided no context for that vote whatsoever.

      by SteveLCo on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:38:10 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  This meme gets killed at the debate (3.50 / 2)

        Bush will bring it up and Kerry will shove it right back down his throat.

        It's all good.  Best convention I've seen in terms of achieving goals and not hurting yourself.

        The GOP is in big, big trouble.  The incumbent can't tell folks that they are better off than they were four years ago.  Now comes the slime, and incumbents can't win on slime alone.

        They will get desperate and they will get dirtier, turning off the few remaining undecideds even more.

        Ours to lose.  Kerry won't lose it.

        God it's so painful that something that's so close, is still so far out of reach. Tom Petty/Al Gore

        by Velvet Revolution on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:29:47 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  B.S. (none / 0)

    They're saying it was rushed and claiming that they would have broadcast the speech as long as he was delivering it.  

    Of course, they wouldn't start covering it until 10 p.m.  

    "People who expect to be ignorant and free expect what never was and never will be." - Thomas Jefferson

    by ashke on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:23:18 AM PDT

  •  talking heads (none / 1)

    It's just amazing to watch these morons.  They talk about what Kerry "has to do" in his speech, he does it, and more, and then they nitpick it to death.  Anybody who's heard Kerry a lot over the years - I'm from Boston - knows this was a home run for him.  Great job John!

    Blind patriotism is a weapon of mass destruction.

    by cycleguy on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:23:30 AM PDT

    •  Look (4.00 / 2)

      The coverage is never going to be perfect. There's always going to be some parroting of GOP talking points. But even this whore media is really struggling to bash this speech. I've heard the words "homerun" and "best speech Kerry ever gave" at least 10 times on tv so far. The man hit it out of the park, plain and simple.

      by mattb25 on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:26:39 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Yup (none / 0)

        Scarborough is the only one saying that and, well, we know where he is coming from.  He was shouted down, not just by the people but Andrea Mitchell and Howard Fineman.

        That's right, Howard Fineman said it was great.

        God it's so painful that something that's so close, is still so far out of reach. Tom Petty/Al Gore

        by Velvet Revolution on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:32:32 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  But Scarborough (none / 0)

          Was not criticizing the substance of the speech - just the delivery.  In fact, he said Clinton would have let the great applause lines linger.  He thought the content of the speech was excellent. And he thought very highly of both Edwards' and Obama's speeches too, though he felt Edwards' delivery was not as strong as other times.  Frankly I don't think Scarborough was wrong on any of these points. Of course there's a GOOD REASON Kerry was rushed at times - he was trying to keep it in prime time.  And as Fineman pointed out, had Kerry waited for the applause to die down, he might have waited 15 minutes.  But Joe wasn't wrong to point out that Kerry rushed through some of his best lines.  And frankly if that's the biggest criticism coming from the former GOP Congressman from Pensacola then this speech went down very well.

          by Elrod on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 02:04:18 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  Yes (none / 0)

            I understand that he was simply criticizing the delivery (which is more than 50 percent of a speech.  Eddie Izzard has the best disseration on this subject.

            My point is that Andrea Mitchell and Howard Fineman!!! clowned him and told him he was wrong.  Fineman even pulled out the "let me give you a reality check, Joe" line.

            It was beautiful.

            God it's so painful that something that's so close, is still so far out of reach. Tom Petty/Al Gore

            by Velvet Revolution on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 03:47:58 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  Scarborough has been fair (none / 0)

            The whole convention, Scarborough has been fair to Kerry and the Dems. He works for the other side people, do you expect him to bow down and worship? If all opposing viewpoints were as fair and measured as Scarborough was this week (and it makes me SICK to even admit that, since I've always hated the prick), the Cable News media would be much better off. Do you think Sean Hannity would have been one thousandth as fair? I'm giving Scarborough passing marks for his coverage this week. Once he gets back to his own show, I'm sure he'll return to his former suckitude.

            The 60s weren't that fricking great. Get over yourselves already, Boomers.

            by The Youthful Bede on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 01:47:21 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

  •  MSNBC Talking Heads (none / 1)

    Somerby style:
    Immediately after the speech:

    John Kerry "powered through his applause breaks", they say.  Why would he do this, they ponder?  They wonder at the clock in front of John Kerry.  They express amazement he didn't let the applause last minutes.

    /dailyhowler

    Do they discuss the issues? NO! Applause breaks, applause breaks, the Republicans are going to discuss his "grocery list" of policies.

    Gawd.

    There is a heaven, but ill never get there... i keep respawning...

    by Sandals on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:23:46 AM PDT

  •  fresh Daily Show: (4.00 / 5)

    Stewart taking apart the pundits for trashing Sharpton's speech, delivery, and going overtime without bothering to pay attention to what Sharpton was actually saying.  (Details, details!)

    "Do not offend the Chair Leg of Truth! It is wise and terrible."

    by section29 on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:24:20 AM PDT

    •  Stewart (4.00 / 3)

      is getting angrier and angrier (but still being funny).  You can just feel his contempt for the talking heads growing each day.

      Don't get me started . . .

      by Upper West on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:56:25 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  We watched Sharpton... (none / 1)

      give his great speech on CSPAN. It wasn't until we watched The Daily Show - our only other source of tv news - that we realized that the other networks cut in and talked over him.

      Saw five minutes of O'Reilly tonight as well...before Kerry's speech. He started off saying Kerry's speech was too long and with viewership for convention coverage being so low, he'd never keep people's attention for that long. In other words, "Hey America, we don't think you need to watch the convention speeches, so we'll pre-empt them for our blowhard opinions. Besides, you're too stupid to pay attention for more than a talking point or a sound bite."

      It'd be funnier if so many people didn't actually believe it.

      BUSH: Like a rock...but dumber.
      Stewart/Olberman 2008!

      by mugsimo on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 04:05:54 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Only msGOP did (none / 0)

        Cnn let it run fully.

        But what he was also saying was that the talking heads whined for something unscripted, something not packaged, and then when they got it, they only whined about it being unscripted, and whined about how it would disturb the overall packaging.

        He was also incensed that they decided to attack his personality, and overlook the substance of his remarks, which were actually meatly and not superficial.

        McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

        by Al Rodgers on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 05:15:29 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  CNN (none / 0)

    Woodruff and the idiot sitting next to her were going on and on about how Kerry didn't mention his time in the Senate at all.

    If anyone happens by Judy on the way out of the convention, would you mind slapping her upside the head?

    by jwills on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:24:29 AM PDT

  •  I HATE CNN!!! (4.00 / 3)

    I made the mistake of watching a second of CNN. Smirky, pathetic Wolf Blitzer and Jeff Greenfield kept saying that it was so huge that he didn't mention his career in the Senate, and that's because he got nothing done, blah blah. Then Greenfield HELD UP a shot of his RNC TALKING POINTS and read right from the sheet!
    Ted Devine kicked his fat ass all over the stadium. He said that Kerry/Edwards were about the future and that they would take on any skeleton dug out from any closet.

    All these balloons kept whamming Blitzer and Judy and Jeff in their empty, bloated heads. I kept picturing the Edwards kids tossing them down and whaling the assholes, LOL.

    by JamesB3 on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:24:45 AM PDT

  •  Mark Halperin (none / 0)

    said: "Kerry's best speech ever, by a mile"

    Netroots Nation: Changing the face of progressive politics.

    by pontificator on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:25:34 AM PDT

  •  Get this (3.33 / 3)

    ABC cut to a screen with Kerry on it that said "AL Jazeera" on the bottom, a total sabotage of Kerry, making it look like the Arab world was watching Kerry because he's 'their boy'.

    i believe the FCC should fine ABC but with Michael Powell at the helm, it ain't gonna happen.

    Liberal Streetfighter: Left-wing served al dente.

    by wilfred on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:25:45 AM PDT

  •  aoeu (none / 1)

    who the fuck fucking cursed on fucking cnn?  what the fuck did heinz-kerry say that even came close to Tricky Dick v2.0?

    turtles consider
    every single vote deeply
    yet always vote dem

    by TealVeal on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:26:01 AM PDT

  •  PBS: rave reviews (4.00 / 5)

    Everyone on PBS gave it rave reviews. David Brooks said it could have been a Republican speech, but anyway he said it was great. Mark Shields said it wasn't a Republican speech or a Democratic speech but an American speech, and Brooks said that's what he meant.

    Gwen Ifill said the crowd loved it, the historians said it exceeded expectations, nobody said anything negative. (At least I don't think so. I was listening with half an ear once I went to my computer.)

    "I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party"--Paul Wellstone

    by Maureen on Fri Jul 30, 2004 at 12:26:38 AM PDT