CNN caves, but Clinton will still struggle in Iowa.

[calteacherguy]

CNN Caves, But Clinton Will Still Struggle in Iowa
By Dick Morris (former political advisor to Bill Clinton)

Under Wolf Blitzer's gentle questioning, Hillary was able to avert another debate meltdown in the Nevada Democratic debate held last night, November 15. Asked about driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, a compliant, even subservient, Blitzer accepted Hillary's one word answer, "No," with no follow up. Had a better journalist been asking the questions -- like Tim Russert -- he would have followed up the bland negation with probing questions about why she is yet again flip flopping on the issue.

The Drudge Report today highlights that a "senior adviser to the Hillary campaign" said, earlier today, that Blitzer "was outstanding, and did not gang up like Russert did in Philadelphia. He avoided personal attacks, remained professional and ran the best debate so far." And Blitzer checked his journalistic instincts at the door.

<snip>

Hillary's strategists had prepared the way for Blitzer's cave-in by pre-debate warnings against a repetition of Tim Russert's aggressive -- and appropriate -- questioning during the Philadelphia debate. Their loud criticisms of the bias of the "all boys club" paved the way for Blitzer's intimidated and pathetic performance during the Nevada debate.


And, of course, the reason Hillary could give a clipped one word answer to the question of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants was that New York's Governor Eliot Spitzer withdrew the proposal the day before the debate. Spitzer, who is not universally known for his weakness or even flexibility, likely pulled back the proposal to spare Hillary the embarrassment of having to defend it in the Nevada debate.

<snip>

But the underlying inability of the New York Senator to take clear positions on issues has not been assuaged and will increasingly become apparent to the savvy voters of Iowa and New Hampshire. Her slide in Iowa has reached dangerous proportions.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/11/cnn_caves_but_clinton_will_sti.html

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. You Obama Symps Are Masters At Quoting Right Wing Sources

Just today

Drudge

Human Events

Dick Morris

[Clintonista2]

3. Don't forget- Robert Novak

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. That's How Obama Is Going To Bring Together Red Staters And Blue Staters

DSB

[journalist3072]

12. You hit the nail on the head!!! It's really sad to see what DU has become, hasn't it?

Just another outlet for right-wing talking points against Sen. Clinton.

[ClarkUSA]

17. Hillaryworld has mastered planting stories with right-wing sources.

Over the past few weeks until today:

Drudge

Novak

And didn't Dick Morris teach Clinton all about triangulation before he started sucking
toes? He was a good teacher, obviously, so don't be such an ingrate.

The Clintons have never minded having connections with the right-wing at all. In contrast,
Obama doesn't plant stories with right-wing sources nor does he take money from
Rupert Murdoch or have two-hour tea with Richard Mellon Scaife and he doesn't want
to talk politics with Karl Rove or play golf with Poppy Bush, either.

[creeksneakers2]

50. Hillary hasn't mastered planting stories with right wing sources.

They've been able to get some campaign announcements and positive news articles on Drudge. Why not? That isn't planting. That's plain old PR.

Do you think Hillary planted the story with Novak? That's a wild theory. Not that it has to be true. If you believe in Dick Morris you must not care if something is true or not.

[rocktivity]

54. Hillaryworld? I call it HilProp!

:rofl:
rocknation

[John Q. Citizen]

42. Morris used to work for the Clintons didn't he? Was he good then but now he's bad now?

Or do they just hire any media slut when it suits them?

[creeksneakers2]

49. He's been a terrible person all along

Are you defending Morris? The only way Morris could make a buck since he was fired was writing books full of lies about Hillary and going on right wing talk shows spreading propaganda.

[John Q. Citizen]

51. So I guess Hillary is a poor judge of character. So why should we trust her?

[creeksneakers2]

55. He was Bill's friend

The White House staff couldn't stand Morris and tried to get rid of him. Clinton knew Morris was scum but kept him on because he believed Morris knew what he was talking about and his advice would save Clinton from defeat.

[CyberPieHole]

67. Hillary didn't hire him. Bill did.

Is it that difficult to understand?:eyes:

[John Q. Citizen]

70. So Bill and Hill aren't a team, but just claim to be? OK

[CyberPieHole]

71. Yes. You are correct. Hillary Clinton was President of the United States...

she chose the cabinet etc. I guess she has even more experience than I had previously gaged. I shall send her some money because of it. Thanks.:hi:

[John Q. Citizen]

72. If that's what gets you off, who am I to rain on your parade? I can see why

you support her.

[CyberPieHole]

74. No, please...you take the cake...people who cannot see that there are shades betwween black and...

...white are always SPOT ON. Me, I have trouble with simple questions because I don't believe in simplistic answers. Shades come in beige, greige and mauve....and every other color. I believe that any one of our candidates is better equipped to win the white house than any one of theirs. simple.


But you are more complex than I. Have at it. I give you my blessing. (as if it mattered).:hi:

[JeffR]

2. Wolf has journalistic instincts?!?!?

Well, suck me dry and call me dusty. Who knew?

[Cha]

4. Like I would pay any attention

to anything ol dickiemediawhoremorris had to write about anyone.

[Richardo]

6. "Better journalist -- like Russert" ?

I admit that it's a pretty low bar, and Wolf will never be tall enough to get on the journalist ride, but....RUSSERT?

At least we know whose toes Morris is sucking now. :eyes:

[jonnyblitz]

7. LMFAO!! DICK FUCKING MORRIS?!?

unfuckingbelievable!!! I didn't think you clowns could top robert novak/human events but you certainly have!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I have to log off and take a break. this is just too much. I seriously feel sorry for you.

[calteacherguy]

8. I agree with Morris on this one. Blitzer was pathetic. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. Stay Around, Bro

I'm sure Ann Coulter is next...

[Guaranteed]

10. I know! He is SO DLC!!

LOL!

[ClarkUSA]

Well, Dick did teach Bill everything he knows about triangulation

Toe sucking, cigar "smoking", what's the difference?

[emilyg]

11. You beat me to it.

[calteacherguy]

18. You're good at attacking the messenger, but not so good at attacking the message.

Dick Morris is not the issue.

[CyberPieHole]

75. Your message has no validity here...peddle it on Freeerepuglic where it belongs.

why are you trying to be so obtuse. Cal, you are smarter than that. We ALL see through you.:hi:

[itsrobert]

13. I wouldn't trust anyone who had a relationship with Dick Morris

n/t

[calteacherguy]

16. Who has a relationship with Dick Morris?

I'm simply saying I agree with his assesment here. It's spot on.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. I Recommended It Just To See An Obamite Cite Dick Morris Approvingly On The Greatest Page

DSB

[calteacherguy]

19. Thank you for the recommendation.

You can attack Dick Morris all you want. I have no problem with that.

Now...what about his analysis? I think it's spot on.

[rocktivity]

15. All the king's horses and all the king's men

Couldn't make Iowa a shoo-in for Hillary again.

:headbang:
rocknation

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. After Thursaday's Night

All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put John Edwards' and Barack Obama's heads back on their shoulders again.



:headbang:

DSB

[rocktivity]

32. Unless she wins decisively in Iowa, she'll lose her leverage

and she knows it.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Divine Discontent]

48. I think that's correct...

she'll appear beatable... and that plays into Edwards, Biden and Obama's hands.

[ClarkUSA]

21. Morris slams Woof and the Democratic candidates for not being alert to catch this....

'In the meantime, Hillary used the debate to spin her platitudes. One of them was a peon against unsafe toys.
"We shouldn't permit the import of unsafe toys," she said in the debate. But her chief strategist, Mark Penn,
is the CEO of Burson-Marsteller, the PR company that represents Aquadots, the company that makes the
bead toys with an adhesive coating that turns into the date rape drug when children suck on it. Penn is paid
by Burson based on a percentage of their profits, and Aquadots is an important contributor to their bottom
line. But neither Blitzer nor any of Hillary's Democratic opponents were alert enough to call the conflict into
question.'

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. Still Beating That Dead Horse Again...

I'm reporting you to the ASPCA...

[John Q. Citizen]

47. Don't call Hillary a dead horse. It sounds sexist and she already has enough problems.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

60. I Wasn't Referring To Hillary, Peanut, But You Already Know That

PWNED

[ClarkUSA]

65. Interesting how Hillary decried bad Chinese toys when Mark Penn REPRESENTS bad Chinese toy makers.

More Clintonian hypocritical pandering for the Mommy Vote at the Las Vegas debate.

Quel surprise.

[calteacherguy]

23. 22 posts and the Clinton supporters still have not addressesd any of the points made in the OP.

This is getting really interesting to watch...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. What Points

Hillary Clinton kicked Obama's and Edwards' asses on Thursday night... But rather than do the chivalrous thing and admit defeat they whine... And their devotees in their press and at DU do the same thing...

It's sad to watch... It reminds me of fans of vanquished sports teams whining about the refs...

[calteacherguy]

26. We agree to disagree. nt

[ClarkUSA]

25. They never will, either.

It's like watching gnats flying around a lightbulb. Great points in the story. After all, Dick Morris
taught Bill Clinton everything he knows about triangulation so it's all in the family, right?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. Yeah

Bill Clinton loved Dick Morris so much he almost beat him to death until Hillary pulled him off... Instead of lambasting The Hill he should thank her for saving his life...

[itsrobert]

28. So the Clintons had a relationship with Dick Morris

Now, what I posted above makes sense. ;)

[ClarkUSA]

39. Yep, Bill Clinton owes most of what he knows about politics to Uncle Dick's tutelage

Explains a lot, doesn't it?

By the way, nice follow through on the post linkage! :thumbsup:

[Sparkly]

29. Not a Clinton supporter, but what points?

I disagree with Dick Morris' opinion that Wolfy "caved." That word alone carries a lot of suppositions and assumptions with it. I think the debate still focused on Clinton too much and not enough on substantive discussion among all of the candidates.

I also disagree that Russert is any better.

I think the reference to "their loud criticisms of the bias of the 'all boys club'" shows just how objective all of this isn't. (WHAT "loud criticisms of bias?") And I think mentioning Drudge cuts credibility of a piece by at least 50% automatically.

This piece blends opinion, gossip, and speculation, as I see it.

[calteacherguy]

30. We agree to disagree.

Everything in that analysis confirms what I've thought since the "debate."

[durrrty libby]

35. You must be experiencing some extreme buyers remorse

Your frenetic obsession is alarming

[calteacherguy]

36. LOL.

No need to be alarmed.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

31. Excellent Analysis

I'm too tired to dissect the Toesucker's article...

[Rowdyboy]

33. So now we're making points based on leadership from Dick "Toesucker" Morris.....

Another new low for DU.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

34. Be Careful

The OP is going to test you on the article...

[calteacherguy]

37. Regardless of who the author is, I agree with the assesment.

The author is irrelevant to me.

[itsrobert]

38. Yup, I don't trust anyone who would ever listen to Dick Morris

Would you?

[Laurab]

41. And don't forget, both Clinton's listened to him

at one time. A lot.

[itsrobert]

43. Good point. n/t

n/t

[feminazi]

40. Actually, Wolf asked for a yes or no answer.

Biden also gave a one word answer of "no".

Here's the beginning of the discussion about illegal immigration:

"MS. BROWN: All right, let's talk about the issues.

Senator Obama, I want to ask you about immigration. It's an important issue in this state in particular. There are between 100,000 to 200,000 illegal immigrants here in Nevada. And you've supported various benefits for illegal immigrants, including driver's licenses and in-state college tuition."

snip

"MR. BLITZER: All right. I want to just press you on this point because it's a logical follow-up, and then I want to go and ask everyone. On the issue that apparently tripped up Senator Clinton earlier, the issue of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, I take it, Senator Obama, you support giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Is that right?

SEN. OBAMA: When I was a state senator in Illinois, I voted to require that illegal aliens get trained, get a license, get insurance to protect public safety. (Scattered applause.) That was my intention. And -- but I have to make sure that people understand the problem we have here is not drivers licenses. Undocumented workers don't come here to drive. (Laughter.) They don't go -- they're not coming here to go to the In-N-Out Burger. That's not the reason they're here. They're here to work. And so instead of being distracted by what has now become a wedge issue, let's focus on actually solving the problem that --

MR. BLITZER: All right.

SEN. OBAMA: -- this administration, the Bush administration, has done nothing about.

MR. BLITZER: Well, let's go through everybody because I want to be precise. I want to make sure the viewers and those of us who are here fully understand all of your positions on this.

Barring, avoiding, assuming there isn't going to be comprehensive immigration reform, do you support or oppose drivers licenses for illegal immigrants?

SEN. OBAMA: I am not proposing that that's what we do. What I'm saying is that we can't -- (interrupted by laughter). No, no, no, no, look, I have already said I support the notion that we have to deal with public safety and that drivers licenses at the state level can make that happen. But what I also --

MR. BLITZER: All right.

SEN. OBAMA: But what I also know, Wolf, is that if we keep on getting distracted by this problem, then we are not solving it.

"MR. BLITZER: But -- because this is the kind of question that is sort of available for a yes or no answer. (Laughter, cheers, applause.) Either you support it or you oppose it. Let's go down and get a yes or no from everyone starting with Senator Edwards."

snip

"MR. BLITZER: All right. Thank you.

Senator Obama, yes or no?

SEN. OBAMA: Yes.

(Cross talk.)

MR. BLITZER: Okay. (Applause.)

SEN. OBAMA: I am going to be fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, and we shouldn't pose the question that somehow we can't achieve that. I believe that the American people desperately want it. That's what I'm going to be fighting for as president.

MR. BLITZER: Senator Clinton?

SEN. CLINTON: No."

snip

"MR. BLITZER: Senator Biden.

SEN. BIDEN: No. (Laughter, applause.)"

[weeve]

44. Morris is a Dick ...

... but if anything, he was being far too kind to Hillary and Wolf in this piece. She was her same triangualting, straight-answer dodging self in this last debate ... and what made it all the more nauseating was the audience full of cheerleaders and diamond-or-pearlers, plus the obvious slant of CNN and Blitzer. It's a sign of desperation if you ask me, and the good voters of Iowa and elsewhere will see right through this ( as in the Fun Run above - despite the ubiquitous presense of her "squad" around these parts recently ).

[Tellurian]

58. Obama is out of his league and hasn't got a clue ...

NYT

Paul Krugman

November 16 2007

Obama is, however, someone who keeps insisting that he can transcend the partisanship of our times — and in this case, that turned him into a sucker.

Mr. Obama wanted a way to distinguish himself from Hillary Clinton — and for Mr. Obama, who has said that the reason “we can’t tackle the big problems that demand solutions” is that “politics has become so bitter and partisan,” joining in the attack on Senator Clinton’s Social Security position must have seemed like a golden opportunity to sound forceful yet bipartisan.

But Social Security isn’t a big problem that demands a solution; it’s a small problem, way down the list of major issues facing America, that has nonetheless become an obsession of Beltway insiders. And on Social Security, as on many other issues, what Washington means by bipartisanship is mainly that everyone should come together to give conservatives what they want.

We all wish that American politics weren’t so bitter and partisan. But if you try to find common ground where none exists — which is the case for many issues today — you end up being played for a fool. And that’s what has just happened to Mr. Obama.

Obama is a fool. Only now are American Intellectuals understanding what working Americans knew long ago.

http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/16/opinion/16krugman.html&OQ=_rQ3D3Q26refQ3DopinionQ26orefQ3DsloginQ26orefQ3Dslogin&OP=6517812dQ2FRQ60J8RtToQ5E(TTOFRFQ7CQ7CZRQ25Q25RQ25SRTvp5pT5RQ25Sl(h0jQ5C5Q22Q5DOjQ7B

[durrrty libby]

63. Tell that article really needs its own thread

:hi:

[Tellurian]

64. Please start it.. I'll be sure to post in it..

[illinoisprogressive]

45. Real Clear is a nuetral site. Not RW. And the article hits it square on the head.

[illinoisprogressive]

46. Wasn't Dick Morris Mark Penn's mentor

[dsc]

62. that would be a no

Morris and Penn had nothing to do with one another.

[creeksneakers2]

52. RealClearPolitics is a right wing site

The polls are neutral but the site has lists of articles and most of them are right wing.

[creeksneakers2]

53. This article is total bullshit

One wild accusation after another with nothing at all to back up any of it. The Clintons controlled Wolf Blitzer? Go ring up Blitzer on Media Matters. He's a regular right wing schill.

Blitzer went after Clinton right off the bat. He first tried to create a spat between her and Obama. Then he tried to start a war between Clinton and Edwards.

Russert was a better journalist? Russert threw away every rule of journalism and objectivity and debate fairness and went after Hillary. At least one of Russert's question had false premises. Better journalist to Morris means somebody who spends the whole night trying to trip up Hillary.

I could go on and on. Every paragraph in this article stinks.

The reason Morris is attacked in the post rather than the article you linked to is that Morris himself is a brand name for this type of bullshit. Read him and that's what you'll get, every single time.

[mrfixit]

66. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha... It was a do-over.

Two words: "Asbestos Pantsuit."

Blitzen lobbed her the "piling on" and "boys' club" questions right on cue. He let her defend/clarify a number of her bad answers and gaffes (though she STILL screwed up/lied about HealthCare) from the previous debate, then gave her over to the adoring audience plants with the "Diamonds or Pearls" question at the end. I honestly thought he was going to bow over her and kiss her ring after it was over.

Just forget about the Carville/Begala lovefest post-debate - the whole thing was set up as an HRC do-over.

[Maven]

56. I stopped at "had a better journalist...like Tim Russert"

Puke.

[wiley]

57. Notice how the same Duers are always posting this stuff?

Democratic trolls are disgusting whoever they work for.

[Perry Logan]

59. Wake me up when she's sworn in.

[dsc]

61. 9 votes for greatest thread

Dick Morris is utter slime. Back in the day he would have been banned as a source not gotten people to vote for greatest status. A total shame.

[CyberPieHole]

68. Dick Morris is suddenly a hero, as is Robert Novak...

What is happening to this place?:shrug:

[Cameron27]

69. It doesn't matter anymore,

and I honestly wouldn't be shocked to see Ann Coulter quoted ---> only if it's about the Clintons though, either one of them at this point.

[JTFrog]

76. Did she used to work for the Clintons too? n/t

[AmBlue]

73. ...