The Nation criticizes the Des Moines Register's weak endorsement of Hillary over Edwards:

[Stop Cornyn]

Here's an excerpt:

LARGEST IOWA PAPER, ONCE FOR EDWARDS, NOW BACKS CLINTON...

The Des Moines Register's 2004 endorsement of John Edwards helped to pull the senator from North Carolina out of a pack of also-rans and put him on his way toward a strong second-place finish in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses.... Edwards was dismissed this time because, apparently, he has gotten too serious about addressing the fundamental challenges facing the nation. "We too seldom saw the 'positive, optimistic' campaign we found appealing in 2004," the paper's editors griped about the former senator's recent campaigning in Iowa. "His harsh anti-corporate rhetoric would make it difficult to work with the business community to forge change."... But nothing the editors are saying about this year's candidates -- including the paper's pick -- is nearly so convincing as the case the Register made for Edwards four years ago.

Unfortunately, now that Edwards is not just delivering vague speeches about "two Americas" but actually addressing the role that corporate power plays in fostering economic and social inequity, he's too "harsh" for the Register.

[dogman]

1. I'm more concerned about his anti-Democratic Congress rhetoric.

I think it would be hard for him to work with Congress for change.

[1932]

14. I bet a lot of people in the House are hoping he's the nominee so that

they can win reelection.

[dogman]

17. I admire Jimmy Carter, but I've seen the damage done to our Country and Party

when the President and a Congress of the same Party are at odds. I believe any Dem will have coat tails if they can get elected. It is post-election leadership that concerns me. I do not want a President who can never seem to get it right the first time. Apologies after the fact do not satisfy me.

[knight_of_the_star]

35. I think here we need someone prodding Congress to work

Since they have the means to act and need to be reminded of their jobs. That and it seems like if Edwards gets in he's going to lead much more like a Roosevelt, going out in front, setting the agenda, and leading.

[dogman]

61. What if they follow his example?

Like him, they want to be elected. They might vote for what they deem politically popular at the time and apologize later. A windsock reacts, it does not lead.

[knight_of_the_star]

66. Exactly my point

If he gets the public on his side and that makes opposing his policies a political liability at the least then he gets what he wants.

[dogman]

72. He was not able to get the public behind his support of the IWR.

He has relented on his involvement in the (Jail for any) Patriot Act. the point is, he does not know what he wants until the public has reacted to it.

[Andy823]

55. I think

The only ones he would have a hard time working with, would be those who are "corrupt"! The ones who want the money from lobbyists, and corporate America. Now in my opinion, those people, be the dems or repugs, need to be voted out of office. "Not" working with him to clean up the mess in D.C. would be bad for them, not him!

[dogman]

62. Have they done the "right" thing yet?

He never worked to clean up the mess in Washington when he was there.

[IndianaGreen]

68. Our Democratic Congress has done such a great job fighting for the people... (puking sound)

That Congress that you defend is about to give amnesty to the telecom companies for spying on Americans.

[dogman]

70. I am not defending Congress.

But they are what he will have to deal with. Is he far enough removed from them to suddenly be a leader? I doubt it, and I don't trust his judgment. I don't believe in the conversion of Paul at Damascus, either.

[corkhead]

69. What are you talking about? All he would have to do is be petulant and obstinate

and and our current Congressional Democrats would lay right down. He would easily be able to get his way just like we have seen for the last 2 years.

[dogman]

71. He would have to be a GOPer.

They only respect the other side. They laid down for Raygun, not Carter.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

2. Des Moines Register getting an earful from the public...

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071215/NEWS/71215018#gslPageReturn

From poster Found:

With this debate debacle, the Des Moines Register has proven itself an enemy of the democratic process, and a pretender to the calling of honest journalism. First excluding two worthy candidates, Kucinich and Gravel, then failing to apologize for such exclusion, then finally showing its true colors with the actual reason for its censorship. We now see that the Register supports Hillary Clinton, and that the exclusion of Kucinich and Gravel was merely a self-serving contrivance for the Register's operators or owners. These two candidates have called Clinton to task, in past debates, for her repeated votes prolonging the war (even while she pretends to oppose it in speeches). It is easy to guess that she'd have been called to task once again. The Des Moines Register instead chose to exclude Kucinich and Gravel, giving ludicrous excuses about "home offices" not qualifying as "offices," but today's endorsement is quite a clear announcement of this newspaper's true character and motivation.

[EV_Ares]

22. From those comments, almost every one negative, I think they have

given Obama and Edwards a boost.

[SaveElmer]

25. Wait...you mean the left wing blogging community is not for Hillary...?

And they are expressing their opinion online...

I'm shocked...SHOCKED I tell you...

I thought Hillary had the nutroots in the bag already...


Wow...I guess she is doomed!!!!!

[knight_of_the_star]

36. The attitude of her and her supporters would be part of why

Considering that holier-than-thouness seems to be available in spades from Camp Hillary and doesn't make any friends.

[gmudem]

73. Hmm nutroots

That's the way to attract people to supporting your candidate. *rolls eyes* You seem like a good candidate for the ignore list.

[Cha]

39. "True colors" and that would be..

"corporates rule", you suckers and don't forget it.

[Evergreen Emerald]

3. The press has been notorious in it's attacks on Clinton

So, I was surprised when she was endorsed, and not surprised at the attacks.

She will always have to dance backwards and in high heels.

[BlueManDude]

4. I've decided to vote for Edwards.

[dmosh42]

5. Another 'flunky' editorial by 'Gannett' news Corp. n/t

[antigop]

10. yes, it's the "Gannett" news CORPORATION -- what did you expect? n/t

[Cha]

41. So gratified that more and

more people are catching on to corporatemediawhores. Someday maybe they'll be on the shitpile of history where they belong.

[PATRICK]

6. What you see crystallizing

is corporate news setting the agenda above the candidates. What some of us have been warning about is that the Clinton team will run on a business conciliation agenda, back to schmoozing with past and future enemies, nascent Enrons, and makers of the problems that need to be addressed. They are trying to shove the whole progressive agenda or any hope to restore democracy and good government down a black hole where they think DK is already confined. That comes first and explains why Obama is nearly overlooked in the attempt to raise up Hillary on a corporate platter and sink Edwards for being "negative" about criminality and treason.

I see nothing wrong with this endorsement but what it gives Hillary with one hand it takes away hope with the other. Not that the Clinton campaign is not already playing it this way but it guts any idea of 'big' change by Dems although horrifying changes have already happened with little newspaper fanfare.

It is weird and very sad to see DUers stubbornly going against the grain of what most of this board stands for as far as leadership, agenda and resounding victory are concerned. In the negative and the limited positive, the leading candidate's campaign is shaped by the GOP and at the least will not enter office with any concern for us except as pariahs as defined by Al Frum. Can the register deliver votes with this principled stand for big money interests? If Hillary wins it seals the relationship and the mutual favors on into the WH. The strategic accommodation years that also brought us some of the disasters that led to today has far far outlived any rationale. Now it looks cartoonishly naive and even arrogant, siding with the very crocodile smile people with the knives ready and the people, as always, the biggest losers.

Tell us the Clintons have a secret plan to unleash their inner Roosevelt. Tell us how they will grasp some blown away mandate to accomplish this theoretical turnaround. Tell us how this is not the salvation of the totally decayed and dangerous Bush GOP. Electability. Experience. There is no rocket. No launchpad. Even an insane but understandable perception of little difference whether she wins or not.

Tell us how this peachy keen for the impassioned liberals on DU.

[chimpymustgo]

11. Good post, PATRICK. Though I DO have problems with a basic lack of logic in the

paper's endorsements and it's arguments.

But, I hope the people of Iowa are smarter, more independent - more freedom-loving - than this. I think these "endorsements" may well backfire, and favor Edwards and Obama in the caucuses.

[EV_Ares]

13. Patrick very well written and expressed. eom.

[BeyondGeography]

15. Hillary Clinton for Chief Operating Officer

should have been their headline. The editorial as written perfectly reflects the corporate mindset, which is always more comfortable with subtle variations on existing themes than with fundamental change. It's a vision of the presidency as a leadership-free zone.

[antigop]

16. Will a "business conciliation agenda" include support for pro-business Supreme Court justices? n/t

[ChiciB1]

18. Great Points... And I Must Add It Makes My Respect For Edwards

all the more intense... he has said over and over what MANY OTHER candidates are afraid of saying! Unpopular statements against Corporations & Lobbyists don't garner much support, but he stands his ground and takes the hits.

Too many Americans can't see beyond the "hype" and only want to "say" I voted for a "winner" when they actually LOSE in the end!

I say, be careful what you wish for... you make just get it in ACES!!! I was going to say "spades" but thought that might be looked upon as a subliminal message and I didn't want to convey anything like that.

[Cha]

43. I know..it's funny. The reason for the

Des Moines register to not support John Edwards will be by this time in history.. the actual 1984 ENDORSEMENT!

[blm]

26. We already saw the Clintons protect the Bush agenda throughout the 90s.

Why on earth would ANY Democrat want to see that happen again after the last 8 years of watching that agenda steamroll this country and the world?

[antigop]

27. And you think you'll get an answer, blm? n/t

[blm]

33. No. Because then they have to admit they are FOR closed government as long as it

is packaged wearing the mask of a Democrat.

[antigop]

34. Yep. n/t

[Cha]

44. Because, they're

dlc like clintons and see STARS in their greedy eyes?

[Cha]

42. Very good post!

There's infiltrators everywhere. Even in the Dem party..except, come to think of it..how many infiltrators are in the repuke's?

[EV_Ares]

7. Link to comments to the Des Moines Register for endorsement of Hillary

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071215/NEWS/71215016#gslPageReturn

The way they are going, not sure how much influence or help will be for Hillary.

[rAVES]

8. I said this earlier too... blowback.. the people know when they are being phucked.

this is one of those times, weak ass endorsement, I'd be distancing myself to be honest.

[Bullet1987]

9. It'll depend on how the MSM runs with it...

but this COULD backfire on Clinton in Iowa.

[EV_Ares]

12. I think it might as well. Man, went back and almost every comment to

the paper is negative and blasting them for everything.

[Cha]

45. Thank the Universe for

Intelligent People!!

[Quixote1818]

23. Most of the support was for both Biden and Edwards on that board.

Perhaps that might be a glimpse of what might actually happen in Iowa once the votes start rolling in?

[joeybee12]

19. The Nation has a right to give their opinion...

...just keep in mind this is their opinion, as so much is what is written in politics, and not objective facts.

[Quixote1818]

24. At least the Nation is truly an independent magazine and not beholden to anyone

nt

[joeybee12]

40. No, but it's still opinion...I like and read the Nation...

...but they definitely have an agenda...to make their opinion somehow more valid than another opinion is way off.

[Clintonista2]

20. K&R because I love listening to the haters cry

[EV_Ares]

21. Then you should go to the link for the Des Moines Register and see

the comments they are receiving on this. I think they may have actually gave Obama or Edwards or both a boost.

[Clintonista2]

28. Anybody who gets pissed off that the DMR endorsed Clinton

probably wouldn't have supported Clinton anyways...

[waiting for hope]

29. One example:

I see that you have decided to stay with your track record of picking losers, including the biggest loser of all, George Bush. I want to thank you for not picking Joe Biden, as that would surely have been the Kiss of Death, and my husband and I switched to Democrats solely to come out, get involved, and support Joe, who is easily the most suitable candidate to be our next president. I am so relieved that Joe dodged your bullet! If for some perverse reason, in a campaign year of perversity, Hillary should be the Democratic nominee, we will just stay home on election day. http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071215/NEWS/71215018#gslPageReturn

I'm really crying....NOT.

[Clintonista2]

31. I'm glad to see that you're finally admitting yourself to be a "hater"

At least you guys don't deny it anymore.

[waiting for hope]

32. I'm not a hater -

I just don't like her politics - and I have never stated that I do. The Registers' endorsement means nothing to me, so please, post another poll and remind us about her coronation.

[Cha]

48. It's gonna post another

whine about "hillary haters" and how they cry cause it has nothing intelligent to add.

[Cha]

47. Hey, hillary's hater..how's

that fookin' hate goin' for ya?

[Clintonista2]

49. Waaah!

Keep up the hating, hater :)

[Cha]

53. You cry too much,

and you really should stop hating in the name of hillary..it giving her and her record on bushit enabling a worse name.. if that's possible.

[Cha]

46. Will somebody fix

your broken record?

[IndianaJones]

30. waa. nt.

[Cha]

50. Yeah, I know you hillary's haters

cry a lot..but, try and keep it down, okay.

[dk2]

37. Weak is a nice way of saying something.

Much stronger verbage would be fine for me.

They totally have their heads in the sand and do not at all understands the needs of the middle and lower income families.


Even on the republican side, MC CAIN??????????

[incapsulated]

38. Who gives a fuck what the Nation thinks about another publication?

They can suck it.

[joeybee12]

51. It does seem like a waste of time to complain about it...

...it makes The Nation seem arrogant for complaining that another publication didn't come to the same conclusion as the Nation did.

[incapsulated]

56. Exactly.

Are they going to diss any paper that endorses Hillary or someone they don't like?

Who do they think they are?

[Cha]

52. The Nation is a strong Progressive

Magazine that's been around for a couple of centuries but I know that wouldn't impress elements who wanted corporate rule.

[incapsulated]

57. Please

The Nation doesn't make my decisions for me and I really don't give a flip what they think of a local paper endorsing THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE.

[Cha]

58. Of course, they don't make

my decisions for me, either..but I care about what they write and their thoughts on the state of our world.

Yeah, good ol' corporatewhore Des Moines register endorsing hillary..shocking.

[incapsulated]

59. Yawn

Yeah and anyone who endorses your candidate I'm sure is righteous.

This place is nothing but candidate propaganda and disingenuous posturing, why do I bother.

[Cha]

60. Maybe you should

take a nap.

[TwilightZone]

67. "candidate propaganda and disingenuous posturing"

You just summarized DU of the past few weeks in four words.

Nicely done.

[sandyd921]

54. I don't know anything about the Register's politics but

the "business community" (i.e., corporations) doesn't need to be worked with, they need to be regulated once again and be made to pay their share of the commons if economic justice is ever to return to this nation (and democracy as well). As a subscriber to the Nation, my hat is off to them :applause: As for the Register and their apparent motives in doing their part to quell any possibility of a resurgence of a strong and vital middle class: :puke:

[Cha]

65. Des Moines register is so

1984.

[BenDavid]

63. daily kos and the nation must be so upset. Get over it.

[Cha]

64. Because they care about

our country unlike the self-absorbed clintons.

[Czolgosz]

74. Is The Nation going to endorse? If so, who?

[Armstead]

75. They've been discussing it internally

At least that's what I heard the editor say on TV about a week ago.

[Czolgosz]

76. Did she say who they are looking at endorsing?

[Armstead]

77. I got the impression they're a lot like DU

Differnet factions duking it out behind the scenes

[Czolgosz]

78. If they're a lot like DU, I guess we can rule out Hillary and expect a choice between Edwards,

Kucinich, and Obama!

[Tejanocrat]

79. I hope so! I'd love a Kucinich endorsement, but I'd happily settle on an Edwards endorsement.