I came here hoping that Daily Kos was a bastion of intelligent left-wing political discourse. Instead I have come to realize that it is more of a rah-rah progressive cheering section for whatever and whomever is the political flavor of the month. Nowhere is this clearer than in today's diaries: This is for you, Katie Couric and This is for you, Katie Couric, pt. 2.
I wouldn't call this a frustrated or angry realization. I actually found those diaries so absurdly earnest and un-self-aware as to be actually funny. But there's something disturbing about people who clearly view political science with the same sophistication as an Ohio State fan views the Final Four.
Any grown adult who thinks the Edwards campaign did not stage-manage the news of Elizabeth's condition in order to milk it for the maximum public relations value is not thinking clearly. Especially because it worked: after weeks of saturation coverage of Hilary and Obama, Edwards had been firmly stuck in the peloton. His campaign and needed both the attention and the sympathy, and he got both in spades.
This is the definition of opportunism. That's not to say Edwards is evil, or that he would not make a good president as a result. On the contrary, it proves that he is an excellent politician who can manage perceptions alongside the best in the business.
So when the diarist said, "By shielding the Limbaughs of the world from responsibility for their ridiculous statements [concerning Edwards as an opportunist], [Katie Couric] made it appear as though they are shared by many others," I was thinking, am I really the only person here who (a) was aware that Edwards was intentionally scoring political points using his wife, and (b) knows that by saying Limbaugh's name, it gives Edwards a free pass to attack Limbaugh and not address the point?
There's no need to get into a hissy fit because your bestest, favoritest candidate, like, evar was asked hard questions on TV. The better observation is, how did he do in the face of hostile questioning? The take-away message from the Couric interview is that Edwards can respond competently when tested on the points. It could have been a campaign-implosion moment, but it wasn't. Now we can all move on.
Frankly I don't give a rat's ass about Katie Couric's journalistic skills, as I don't get my news from TV. But I do know that us-versus-them polemics obscure clear analysis. Someone can disagree with you and still raise a good point.
Or, on the other hand, keep it up. It's been a tough month and I could use the laugh.