CNN outdoing AP on the "Dean's Already Quit" Meme. [View All]

[stickdog]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/16/mgrind.day.monday/index.html

We're told a concession speech is being drafted in Burlington, where thousands of Deaniacs are ready to converge Wednesday for one last hurrah, the "meetup" to end all "meetups." There's no polling going on, no plans for new TV ads, no ... nothing.

TOLD BY WHOM?

Of course, all this defeatist talk contrasts sharply with Dean's weekend game face, including his declaration that "we're in no matter what" happens Tuesday. Dean dismissed an Associated Press report that, quoting Grossman, basically shoved him out of the race. "The confusion comes from people writing the stories that don't know what they're to talk about," Dean sniffed, referring to the AP wire story. "We're not dropping out after Tuesday, period."

OK, so we are supposed to believe the unnamed, unattributed "sources" who ostensibly "told" the writer that Dean was dropping out of the race tomorrow over the direct quotes of Dean himself? Why? On the basis that Dean "sniffed"?

After Sunday night's debate in Milwaukee, Dean rallied a crowd of young Deanies at Gaffrey's bar. There's been beer here, according to CNN's Claire Brinberg. People are excited. "No, we are not dropping out of the race after Wisconsin," Dean said as the crowd went wild. "We're in this for the long haul."

There's been beer here? What the hell is that supposed to signify? Not beer in a Milwaukee bar!

But then there was this from Dean campaign chief Roy Neel, posted on the campaign's blog last night: "I just talked to Governor Dean a few minutes ago and can tell you unequivocally, that no decision has been made about the nature of our campaign after Wisconsin, that he is determined to go forward, keep fighting, to advance the message of this movement all the way, to defeat George Bush, to change American politics."

"BUT"? Why "BUT"? Wouldn't FUTHERMORE be more appropriate?