Shields Asks Krauthammer 'Did Palin Unintentionally Make the Story About Herself and Not Tucson?'
Mark Shields on Friday actually asked Charles Krauthammer if Sarah Palin unintentionally made last Saturday's shootings about herself and not the tragic event.
Krauthammer not only set the substitute host of PBS's "Inside Washington" straight, but also called for an apology from all those that shamefully tied the former Alaska governor to this awful tragedy (video follows with transcript and commentary):
MARK SHIELDS, SUBSTITUTE HOST: Charles Krauthammer?
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Well, I think the President actually put an end to that malicious and scurrilous innuendo that was started in the mainstream press, particularly by the New York Times and Obama’s allies on the left, who claimed from the beginning without a shred of evidence that this attack was a consequence of supposedly a climate of hate created by the political right. The President refuted that, as he should have, which I think was healthy, but I think it is a scandal what happened in the four days between the attack and the President's speech of these unwarranted, unsupported, and now obviously discredited attacks from on the left, which essentially made people like Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and others accessories to a murder, a series of murders, of which they had nothing to do.
SHIELDS: And comforter in chief?
KRAUTHAMMER: He did that as well, but I think it was important to stop the malice and the in-civil discourse that had characterized all the days leading up until the service.
SHIELDS: Nina Totenberg?
NINA TOTENBERG: So we can’t even have a two-minute conversation here without a little bit of finger-pointing, but…
KRAUTHAMMER: You don't think it was merited?
Apparently not.
A few minutes later, Krauthammer expounded on this theme when asked about Palin's Facebook comments:
SHIELDS: Pundits, bloggers, and TV talkers had a lot to say about Sarah Palin this week. She released a video on Facebook to comment on the Tucson shootings. Did Sarah Palin unintentionally make the story about herself and not Tucson? Charles Krauthammer?
Astonishingly stupid question, wouldn't you say? It suggests that Shields doesn't feel the slightest bit of remorse or regret over how the media behaved last week:
KRAUTHAMMER: She didn’t make it about herself. Within hours of the shooting, of which there was no connection to her whatsoever, her name was linked in the AP, New York Times, by all over the airwaves, linking her and linking other conservatives with the shooting. This is a speech that should never have had to be made. There was never a shred of evidence about any connection, and in fact, by midweek, we learned from a friend of the shooter, of Loughner, he didn’t listen to political radio, he didn’t watch TV news, he wasn’t interested in the news, he wasn’t in politics, he wasn’t of left or right. This was the act of a probably paranoid schizophrenic. There’s no question he was acting under mental illness. There was not a shred of evidence of, and why did her name come up? Those who brought it up are the ones who have to answer to that. That was a calumny, and it was unwarranted. I am waiting for apologies from those who raised that name from the beginning.
Indeed.
The last week has been a huge embarrassment for the media, and if those that were quick to point fingers had a shred of decency, they'd be vigorously apologizing for their behavior.
Failing that, the bosses of those involved in this blood libel should be making statements themselves about their employees' conduct and promising the public it will never happen again.
Don't hold your breath.
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Comments
Gee, did Obama try to make it about himself?
Submitted by StarAZ on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 12:37pm.
The president couldn't wait for another road trip to supposedly mix into this and look "presidential." That term is taking on whole new meaning, I hope he knows that. He kept saying he was such good friends with the congresswoman..I wonder if he was. Usually members and senators are not buds.
Obama was a Senator before he
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 6:09pm.
Obama was a Senator before he started to reside in the WH. I will let Obama slide on his appearance as its what Presidents do and his speech was ok if annoyingly long.
Great observation, StarAZ
Submitted by Galvanic on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 7:12pm.
About two months ago on Matthews' show, it was mentioned that Obama needed an tragic event to look Presidential.
Within hours of the shootings, Obama's supporters indicated that this was an opportunity for Obama to look Presidential.
As soon as the memorial service was annouced, the MSM pointed to it as the opportunity for Obama to look Presidential.
With all that build-up, no matter what Obama said or did, the MSM and Dems would declare that Obama has rebounded as"the President we always knew he could be."
The victims certainly didn't disappear from view, but the focus was on Obama's performance.
And in 2012, references to Tucson will be more about a "turning point" in Obama's Presidential fortunes than about the victims themselves.
Required consideration
Submitted by kiwikit on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 6:54am.
I agree with Byron York that BO's four days of silence while the media was allowed to yammer on and on with their anti-conservative lies tells us volumes about the 'comforter in chief!' He's a leftist, conservative-hater through and through and doesn't deserve the credit given by the Great Krauthammer in this case. One needs only look at how quickly he tried to tone down the country's upset after Ft Hood massacre with how long he allowed the vicious spewing after the Tucson massacre. . . Silence speaks volumes.
Krauthammer among other are
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:58am.
Krauthammer among others is simply engaging in a political chess game, rather than just speaking out on the reality of the situation. This isn't for any other reason than playing along with the perportedly ' NEW ' , though phoney climate of civility in Washington called for by the president.
Anyone with half a brain knows exactly why the Ass Clown acted presidential in his presentation at the campaign rallye, oops......memorial service the other day.
Hint: It's not because he actually IS presidential, by any stretch of the imagination. What choice did he have?
Charles's demure manner was simply to gain psychologic advantage over his narcissistic opponent, as the Ass Clown deems him a worthy opponent, therefore hangs on his every word.
For when the narcissist BELIEVES he has fooled the masses ( some of which he has ), he gets caught up in the intoxicating aroma of his own stench ( happens every time ), then before he knows what's happening, it's check and mate.
You'll see.....it won't take more than 5 or 6 weeks at the latest for Humpty - Dumpty to start wabbling atop his lame street media manufactured imaginary wall again.
Barack_Must_Go.....
Nina makes me hot...
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 12:49pm.
Nina makes me hot...
My sympathies for your condition...
Submitted by KyWriter on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:00pm.
...she never fails to make me nauseous.
Hey---Rachel M. makes me hot
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:14pm.
Hey---Rachel M. makes me hot too--guess I got my own problems...
Those pencil stripes for eye
Submitted by Thoreau on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:35pm.
Those pencil stripes for eye brows get me every time.
Together we Thrive...brought
Submitted by d1carter on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 12:50pm.
Together we Thrive...brought to you by the BSM...(Blame Stream Media). If there are no negative repercussions why should they stop? Nothing changes.
~Together We Thrive brought to you by
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:04pm.
Obama's '08 campaign.
The “Together We Thrive” T-shirts that starred at Wednesday’s Arizona `Memorial’ originated from Organizing for America (here), a sad fact unearthed by The Drumbeat of Liberty and the Preservation of Freedom editor and Canada Free Press (CFP) columnist Robert Rohlfing.
Yet the “Together We Thrive” slogan dates back to a post to Obama’s own Organizing for America in a Feb. 11, 2008 post by self-described “globalist” John Berry IV.
More than passing strange that the Obama campaign message of civility was the same on Feb. 11, 2008 as it was in his Wednesday Memorial speech, and the same one, too carried by the mainstream media in coverage of the Memorial.
“For too long Americans have been set one against the other. It is a side affect of a free market society,” Berry IV posted.
Wrong Bru
Submitted by bkeyser on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:05pm.
It's Together We Stagnate.
Great job bkeyse...Isn't
Submitted by d1carter on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:26pm.
Great job bkeyse...Isn't strange that none of the elite media has looked into the Together We Thrive pep rally? I guess it is just not that important, you know like the price of oil right now. No one is reporting on it.
Almost total silence...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 3:07pm.
There has been almost total silence from the media about the pep rally atmosphere of this event...Even, suprisingly, from Fox, which I expected to pursue this topic, but unfortunately never did. I thought that the way the whole event was conducted was shameful and totally inappropriate, and the t-shirt issue was the worst. Apparently a Dem organization was involved in this, which I was suspicious of from the beginning...That whole event, right down to the t-shirts, had Dem fingerprints all over it. Whether Obama or his people people knew about this in advance or not, I don't know for sure, but based on the way this president and his handlers have conducted themselves in the past, I strongly doubt that they were not either involved in this directly, or at the very least, knew about the plans for the memorial/rally in advance. The whole thing was shameful.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
PrairieSky
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 3:13pm.
Fox pretty much agreed the cheering was over the top. Laura Ingraham related what one of her listeners had said.
The President could have looked up during the first eruption and simply said "Please".
I don't think there can be any doubt the President enjoyed the adulation.
Cool..Fox briefly mentioned the pep rally atmosphere and then...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 3:51pm.
pretty much dropped the whole subject...There was no mention from them really about the outrageous t-shirts...Laura Ingraham did pursue the issue a bit when she was on, but I was really quite surprised and disappointed by the whole way that Fox did (or didn't) cover this story. I never expected the rest of the media to pursue it of course...But the whole thing was so ridiculously over the top, I really felt that Fox dropped the ball on it. If Obama had been a Repub and this event had gone down like it did, the press would have been screaming about the inappropriateness of it, but since this involved Dems and Obama, all we hear are crickets.
There were numerous opportunities for the U of A president to put a lid on it during his remarks (in fact, he could have or should have said something before it even began), and as you said, Obama himself could have said, "please, that's enough"...But, he didn't...Big surprise...Like you said, I am certain he enjoyed every minute of the adoration coming from the obviously and overwhelmingly young Dem crowd. Shameful.
Also...If those t-shirts were printed up by university employees, that in and of itself is way out of bounds...This is a public university, and as such receives public, taxpayer funds. The fact that any employee of this school had anything to do with what was a clearly partisan event is very, very wrong.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Might I remind Krauthammer of King Henry and Thomas Beckett?
Submitted by TexasMom0517 on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 5:06pm.
Obama never, ever gets his hands dirty and if any unclean narrative should invade his aura, he like King Henry, remains above the fray, but the minions never act without the implied approval of the sovereign.
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
You betcha...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 5:27pm.
Whatever involvement Obama and his people may have had in that whole disgrace, we'll never know, and that's the way it was meant to be...Obama's skirts always manage to remain nice, and starched and clean.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
I'll take
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:27pm.
2, BK
WB O for A is...
Submitted by okiehawk44 on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:26pm.
Organizing for America is an arm of the Democrat National Committee and this "Together We Thrive" is believed to be their theme for the 2012 elections replacing the "Change & Hope" theme of 2008.
These T-shirts were delivered for this political rally by the Democrat Party -- I'm unsure whether Democrats have a real sympathy bone remaining in their political body. I am quite sure that the lip-chewing of Bill Clinton at all events that can evoke human emotions was contrived and the Paul Wellstone memorial confirmed the political nature of every single Democrat event.
Phony emotions seem to come easily to Democrats while real emotions come way too easily to Speaker (Weeper?) Boehner.
Tshirts
Submitted by Alvin691 on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 2:51pm.
Liberals, and UA officials are claiming the TShirts were designed by a student and printed by the University. They also claim that while they paid for them, the money was not sourced from student fees, federal or state monies. What they EXCLUDED were if the student was a member of the local Democrat party, or Organizing for America. Also, this is a public university. What was the source of the funding? University employees printed them. Aren't University employees state employees? Answers were ommitted.
I'm going to go out on a limb
Submitted by ant on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 3:06pm.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that "Together" and "We" is not an invitation to all Americans, but only the chosen Obama cult mindless zombie voting army.
I think it's amazing that the voter's were able to administer a pretty good beating (come report me, Krugman!) to the dhims in November without T-shirts or slogans. All it took was conscious understanding of the proper role of US Government and that power belongs to the people. Why is it that leftists cannot be rallied without a slogan or free cookies?
I still don't think that
Submitted by eaglewingz08 on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 12:58pm.
I still don't think that Obama rebuked the leftwing calumnies that snowballed since the massacre. All he stated was that 'incivility' didn't cause the shooting. But the left wasn't saying 'incivility' caused it but rightwing extremism akin to islamofascist terrorist (thanks Hillary). So the main false blood libel of the left is still unrefuted by the White House.
As idiotic as Shield's
Submitted by Reaver on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:07pm.
As idiotic as Shield’s comment about Palin was I think the real gem here is Totenburg.
NINA TOTENBERG: So we can’t even have a two-minute conversation here without a little bit of finger-pointing, but…
After four days of failed finger pointing from the left she is still perfectly comfortable accusing Krauthammer of finger pointing. I’m reminded of the kid who picks a fight on the playground and when he starts to loose the fight says “Time out, I don’t want to fight anymore.”
Proving stupidity
Submitted by needle on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 3:24pm.
Someone here at NB used to have a tag line that said: There is no point in being stupid if you cannot prove it (or something like that).
It seems in this case as if Mark Sheilds and Nina T. are engaged in some kind of if stupidity contest.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
It was Fast Ed
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 3:36pm.
And the quote was one of his beloved father's favorite sayings.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Reaver
Submitted by well99 on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 5:24pm.
"After four days of failed finger pointing from the left she is still perfectly comfortable accusing Krauthammer of finger pointing. I’m reminded of the kid who picks a fight on the playground and when he starts to loose the fight says “Time out, I don’t want to fight anymore.”
Exactly!That hits the nail on the head.
Liberals projecting again
Submitted by needle on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:13pm.
Mark Shields and his crowd have it exactly backwards: It is they who made “the Story” about Palin; and then in typical classy Liberal fashion they try their classic shoddy trick of blaming the victim.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
The left is in a panic
Submitted by JJ OKC on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:31pm.
the left is in a full scale panic and will try anything to discredit the right leading up to the 2012 election.. otherwise why would they have been so stupid this last week in the media.
“Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.” ~ William F. Buckley, Jr.
Week after week the deck is
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 2:08pm.
Week after week the deck is so unfairly stacked against one side on this " INSIDE WASHINGTON " program.
You've got 3 or 4 ultra liberal bomb throwers on one side, against the lone conservative Krauthammer on the other, which just isn't right.
In the new spirit of civility and fairness the Ass Clown called for in his campaign speech the other evening, Charles must be the bigger man by allowing the other side to bring in another 2 or three of their ilk, to give the appearance anyway of a fair-er fight, even though with the other side having 7 to 10 against his 1, he will still clean their collective clock.
Barack_Must_Go.....
Krauthammer shines on IW
Submitted by Galvanic on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 7:39pm.
He doesn't mind the line-up. It's his conservative intellect against 3 liberal parrots aremd with Power Point bullets.
Totenberg is a rock.
And the answer to Shields' question is obvious: No, Dumbass, it's Palin-haters intentionally making it all about Palin instead of Tuscon.
The sound of silence
Submitted by nkviking75 on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 2:08pm.
Except for a brief note of condolence on Facebook, Sarah Palin was silent from Saturday until Thursday. It's hard to make a story about yourself when you don't say anything. That may be why she waited so long to make a statement, because she was trying to keep out of this moment.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
I'm glad to hear krauthammer
Submitted by okie-pastor on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 2:12pm.
I'm glad to hear krauthammer defend Palin for once. But the unfortunate thing is the MSM isn't interested in being fair they are dedicated to making sure the uninformed hear words like "controversial, polarizing, and far-right" in connection with Sarah Palin. And when you get ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC on board, it is difficult to overcome their propaganda. What's encouraging however, is Despite their best efforts it still did not persuade the majority of Americans who saw right through their chicanery. And more and More americans are incredulous about their reporting! Keep it up newsbusters!'Fake but Accurate' Mindset
Submitted by rwnewsnut on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 3:31pm.
"The last week has been a huge embarrassment for the media, and if those that were quick to point fingers had a shred of decency, they'd be vigorously apologizing for their behavior."
They are of the 'Fake but Accurate' mindset. They may accept that this massacre was not due to right-wing rhetoric, but they hold onto it could have been. They know someday, it will be and then they will shout, "We told you so. We were right!" All the while ignoring the left's hate and inflamatory rhetoric.
It's encouraging that New Media can get past the MSM.
It's not 1995 anymore.
Why is Obama being crediting for ending the ruckus?
Submitted by gopcongress on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 3:47pm.
I am becoming more and more alarmed at seeing conservatives give Obama virtual accolades for ostensibly slowing down or stopping the rhetoric being directed toward Palin and conservatives. The plain fact is he should have done that with an HOUR after the FIRST press attack on Palin, which meant the first hour after the actual shooting itself.
But waiting four days while the left wing rhetoric accellerated until it became apparent that all the news outlets other than Fox could talk about was how BAD the conservatives were and how Palin was 100% responsible for the massacre, and until the T-shirts were printed with one of HIS political PR diatribes, "Together We Thrive" abosolutely hypocricized his part of the speech that asked for an end to the rhetoric.
This was no accident. It was planned. But Buchanan, David Limbaugh, and several other conservatives were lauding Obama's speech. Only Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin were the most prominent talk show hosts or columnists who truly laid out what Obama said.
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
We conservatives have learned
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:13pm.
We conservatives have learned to pick our fights more judiciously these days.
What appears to be painfully over the top conciliation on the part of conservative politicians and pundits alike, was not only the appropriate response, it won the battle without firing a single shot, in the hearts and minds of the real American people.
Barack_Must_Go.....
Obama could had smoothed this out
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:20pm.
Years ago, he himself is as responsible for the environment up on the Hill as anyone. Obama and his cronies will go down in history as being very devastating pricks! Two-faced dont know it's name.
It was probably the plan
Submitted by ant on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:27pm.
I think Obama was more than happy to let the mud fly for four days so he could appear on the scene and look like the hero who resides above the fray. And if the mud slinging happened to hit a target in that time, all the better.
Bingo!
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:49pm.
Who's shocked?
Obama hasn't ended squat...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:05pm.
The hate, bitterness, vitriol and lies from the left continue to roll merrily along....Virtually none of the MSM have decided to cease and desist, despite Obama's oh so inspiring and completely useless words the other night. Nothing has changed, or is likely to, imho.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Prairie...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:13pm.
Has there been a single GOP politician who has panned Obama's speech? I'm not referring to the event itself--just to his address. [I don't know of any, but I may have missed it.]
Jer
Jer...You're missing my point...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:33pm.
I don't recall hearing of many issues with Obama's speech, either...I myself didn't have a lot of issues with the speech itself...But Obama's speech, and how he delivered it, isn't the issue here. The issue is that despite the calls for more, or even a little, civility in the general political discourse, especially concerning the shooting last weekend, there has been virtually no let up, that I have seen, in the attacks on the right and it's figures, from the leftist media.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Well, Jer, not that I've seen or heard
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:37pm.
But as a bridge player, there's a saying, "lose your losers"....basically, there are always certain tricks you can't win, so give them up early in the game. IOW, let Obama score a cheap, early round, from the Republican POV.
The speech itself was not bad, except it was three times longer than necessary, and there was a bit too much "I, I, I" in it for my taste. However, Obama would have scored many many more points had he reminded the crowd that it was a memorial event, and not a pep rally.
I stated as soon as I heard he was going to do this "event" that it would be Wellstone V.2.0, and was proven correct immediately. I could see Napolitano as a speaker, but why Holder when Sandra Day O'Connor was sitting in that first row? Why not John McCain, as the senior senator from Arizona? What about the Obama themed t-shirts? Seriously, t-shirts at a memorial service? Whose bad idea was that?
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Precisely...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 5:30pm.
The whole tenor and tone of the "memorial" was completely inappropriate. The U of A president and/or Obama could have addressed the "pep rally" atmosphere and put the kibosh on it, but neither did, which I think was very telling, and likely by design. And don't even get me started on the t-shirt issue.
I also agree that "O's" speech was too long and as usual too much "Obama" centered... as you said, "I", "I", "I".
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Too long? Are you surprised?
Submitted by stunned on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 7:13pm.
His speech ran more than 10 minutes longer than Bush and Clinton's memorial speeches remembering those lost 9-11 and Oaklahoma COMBINED. A friend commented to me there were no standout lines and it will be forgotten in a couple of weeks. Reminded him how Lincolns's Gettysburg address was panned by the MSM of his day while the 2 hour speec eeceeeeh by the legendary speaker of his time of his time Edward Everett was praised as glorious. We will remember Bush and Clinton's memorial speeches while this one with the classless t-shirts, innappropriate cheering and crass audience will soon be forgotten.
tired of liberal lies
Actually, stunned...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 7:25pm.
The reaction to Lincoln's Gettysburg address broke virtually along the fault line dividing the pro-Lincoln and the anti-Lincoln press--lauded by the former and derided by the latter. Even Edward Everett remarked to Lincoln just after the President finished speaking that he (Lincoln) had said more in two minutes than he himself had said in two hours.
Jer
Well, Blonde...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 6:00pm.
as a former bridge player, I would say Obama successfully executed a trump squeeze by which his opponents were stripped of potential winning cards.
But, for the umpteenth time, I will concede the criticisms of the tone and stucture of the event to be fair, although I think even in that regard there are understandable extenuating circumstances which, imo, ought to at least moderate the decibel level of the objections. For example, should the individuals who responded heroically not have been recognized during the ceremony? And, once having been singled out, should the crowd have reacted with deafening silence?
I guess what I'm saying is that Obama's words--which seem to have generally provoked bi-partisan praise--should be the principal point of focus, rather than the albeit questionable description of the event as a "memorial" service.
Jer
He had one winning card, that's all
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 6:16pm.
A competent, workmanlike speech.
He blew the rest of it, however, by not taking control of the crowd, as he should have.
I agree, the first responders should have been acknowledged, but the level of "hootenany pep rally" was inexcusable, and Obama could and should have managed it.
In the long run, this means nothing, unless, of course, he continues to focus on "civility"....I hope he does.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
If I may ask
Submitted by 26CX on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 6:23pm.
When you say that "Obama's words... should be the principal point of focus, rather than the albeit questionable description of the event as a "memorial" service" do you mean that Obama's speech itself was more important than the reason he was there?
26CX...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 6:56pm.
Not at all. However, both the reason for the service and the content of the President's speech are eminently more important than breaches in decorum and the titling of the event. Again, if the families were offended by lapses in protocol, then the degree of criticism would be more defensible. But, it appears to me the most vocal objections are (unsurprisingly) emanating almost exclusively from the most vocal critics of Obama.
Jer
Unsurprisingly, indeed.
Submitted by 26CX on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 7:51pm.
But certainly for different reasons. While the "most vocal critics of Obama" have their reasons for objecting, the supporters of Obama have their equally relevant reasons for not objecting.
In the end, the only people whose opinions about the tenor of the event really matter are those who were directly impacted by the tragedy. If they were consulted in the preparations for the "memorial service" and agreed to the overall pep rally atmosphere, or if they come out with praise for the event, then that's the end of it.
It will be interesting to see whether any of those directly impacted speak out on the event after they have had a chance to deal with their grief.
Jer
Submitted by Denny Crane on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 11:45pm.
How much you want to bet that he had 2 speeches prepared, the one he gave and 1 where he blamed the right. When the polling showed the public didn't believe the media, they went with the calmer speech.
We Are The 53%
Denny...
Submitted by Jer on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 11:51pm.
I would bet there isn't a chance in hell that was the case.
Jer
→ Good bet, Jer
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 11:53pm.
Because he'd deny it even if it was so, wouldn't he?
Of course, Cool...
Submitted by Jer on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 12:05am.
he's a compulsive liar.
Jer
→ Of course, Jer
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 12:21am.
I agree with you, Jer. He's a compulsive liar, at least when the truth won't do.
I thought compulsive liars
Submitted by Jer on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 12:29am.
I thought compulsive liars lied even when the truth would do.
Jer
Good catch, Jer
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 12:34am.
Apparently, I was willing to give him more credit than you did.
Jer you forgot the sarc tag.
Submitted by Denny Crane on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 11:56pm.
Or do you think they didn't prepare the speech until after the data came in?
We Are The 53%
Denny...
Submitted by Jer on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 12:11am.
I think it was relatively clear well before the "memorial" service that the shooter was a screwed-up kook acting on his psychotic delusions rather than a Palin-inspired hit man.
Jer
Jer IF polling would have been different.
Submitted by Denny Crane on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 2:07am.
Do you think he would have given the same speech?
I think he wold have given a much different pep talk had more people across the country bought into the MSM lies.
Over here in Japan, the news even talked about Palin's "hit list" when they were reporting on it all week. It was disgusting.
We Are The 53%
Denny...
Submitted by Jer on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 2:12am.
Well, as long as we're speculating, my guess is yes, substantially the same. Facts are facts.
Jer
Blonde
Submitted by well99 on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 6:11pm.
It is amazing the President had no problem telling Republicans that they were in the back seat of the car.Yet he cant ask the crowd to show respect.Also funny how he didnt have people in prior to him entering.Who should of said something about the tshirts.Funny how that works.
Yes, isn't it "funny"?
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 6:17pm.
His PR team is still managing to hit that clanking chord. :)
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Palin
Submitted by TerryWest on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:11pm.
I have come to realize these dolts really do block out America and not just the millions who use the internet and live in a sad isolated little world of their own, the attempt to push the thought that Palin made herself the news is pathetic to the majority of American's who like her not have watched her become the main stream medias daily piñata.
As for the President being given credit for ending the discourse in the media what hog wash, He sat on the side lines watching it, feeding it himself for 2 years when he thought it would have the results that would benifit him.
As it became clearer to even the most tone deaf that it was not working out comes a speech to end it.
imo the white house and MSM media are only regrouping and re adjusting stadegy's.
PDS has meaning*
Submitted by cajun2 on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 4:44pm.
It is my belief that Sarah Palin is much like ordinary Americans. She is hard working, resilient, independant, honest, a woman of Faith and straight forward. She does resemble most Americans. It is for that reason that the elitist hate her. They do not want ordinary Americans to look like nor identify with this woman regardless of one's politics. The media attacks of this woman this past week has not gone un-noticed nor accepted by majority of Americans in every poll yet the media again ignore the majority regardless of the issue. This persistant demeaning of Palin is to me a clear example of the liberal media's persistant demeaning of ordinary Americans.
I think I know what Together we Thrive might mean;
Submitted by ant on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 5:17pm.
Twist Honest Republicans Into Violent Extremists or
Tucson Hooting Rally Instead of Victim's Eulogy.
Pretty good, ant.
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 5:47pm.
We conservatives are a rather clever lot, I think.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Thanks, Blonde.
Submitted by ant on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 7:31pm.
I have to agree that I find conservatives, in general, wittier and definitely more civil than their leftists counter-parts. Not always, but in general. I've noticed a liberals idea of clever is something akin to, "I fr***ing HATE so-and-so, I wish they were DEAD!".
There's no coming back from
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 6:56pm.
There's no coming back from this by the insane left media -- which now includes the alphabet soup networks as well as HATE CABLE TV aka MSNBC.
It's not that an honest press is on life support, it's been like that for a while -- it's that last week it was beaten to death by vicious punks masquerading as journalists.
I thought I'd seen it all in 2008 when the media rolled on its back and went into FULL ADULATION MODE for Obama.
But apparently at that point we ain't seen nuthin! We have know though -- the media in FULL HATE MODE -- well not since Hilter...
And I suspect he got a better press than Sarah Palin.
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.
Media acted like naughty
Submitted by Ashrak on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 6:57pm.
Media acted like naughty children so the Mack Daddy could decipline them, collectively of course, and come out smelling like a rose- as the voice of "reason"?
So called "journalists" have become so self depricating and used to being e,ployed as a tool by this political faction that it has come to this?
Sean called it the year journalism died. I am starting to wonder it was the year self respect went extinct among thse so called "professionals".
This guy is the biggest
Submitted by mostlymoderate on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 9:37pm.
This guy is the biggest a$$hat I have seen all week for asking this question. Ridiculous. Like asking the rape victim if she made the case all about herself,.
jw5745---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 10:12pm.
Jaydub:
"Nina makes me hot."
"Rachel makes me hotter."
Fixed it for ya! ;o)
MD
Troubling
Submitted by Morganfrost on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 10:19am.
Krauthammer-- as usual-- gets it right. And yet, it seems so obvious that one can't help but wonder why so few others do.
I'm inclined to suspect that nobody (at least, no rational person) at the NY Times or AP ever seriously believed that Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck (or a second shooter somewhere in a grassy knoll) was in any way responsible for the shooting in Tucson, and that this is yet another case of the media using any means possible to push an agenda. On the one hand, it's a terrible abuse of their position; on the other, I suppose one might be glad that they're so overt about it, as it has destroyed their credibility, and left them with far less influence than they had when Cronkite was getting away with it...
Two Minutes?
Submitted by MSimon on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:37pm.
Of Hate?
Isn't it funny
Submitted by Patriot II on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:50am.
this liberal nutcases never make it an issue when EVERYTHING oblahma says is about HIM!!! Hypocritical clowns!!!