Did Maureen bury the lede? The ostensible subject of Dowd's column of this morning, Yes, She Can, is the way that Hillary, with a big helping hand from Bill, is undercutting Obama and casting a shadow over his upcoming convention. But tucked down as her 12th paragraph comes this [emphasis added]:
The Clintons know that a lot of Democrats are muttering that their solipsistic behavior is “disgusting.” But they’re too filled with delicious schadenfreude at the wave of buyer’s remorse that has swept the Democratic Party; many Democrats are questioning whether Obama is fighting back hard enough against McCain, and many are wondering, given his inability to open up a lead in a country fed up with Republicans, if race will be an insurmountable factor.
Dowd might be a thorn in many a side, but the New York Times columnist surely has a wealth of well-placed Dem sources. When she blithely states as a fact that a "wave of buyer’s remorse has swept the Democratic Party," is that not some pretty big news?
Could it be the prelude to a real attempt by Hillary to nab the nomination at the convention? In any case, what does it portend for Obama that one of America's most prominent columnists has declared without nuance that his party is gripped by a feeling that it chose the wrong candidate? Will the rest of the MSM pick up on Dowd's declaration?
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Lets call up the Democratic
August 13, 2008 - 07:45 ET by USA4freedomLets call up the Democratic party and call for a mulligan..(for both parties)..
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
I think it's just the MSM
August 13, 2008 - 07:46 ET by Hunter12I think it's just the MSM fed up with Republicans, they won't go away. They are fed up with the inaction of congress, but that disgust cuts across party lines. Most intelligent people realizes it's the Democrats driving the congressional bus that is carrying the country off the cliff.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Every one except the far
August 13, 2008 - 07:47 ET by USA4freedomEvery one except the far left loons are going to hate the next 4 years.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
they might start to
August 13, 2008 - 07:53 ET by USA4freedomthey might start to understand that no matter how they prop him up, he cant get any higher in the polls. No matter how many puff interviews he or..she gets, America is starting to see that there is nothing to..Hope..Change..Change..hope..I hope..to..change..ect.
No matter what the world thinks, (I personally think that worked against him) we are still the people that vote.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
This is an excellent example
August 13, 2008 - 07:48 ET by BruzillaThis is an excellent example of why the Clintons lost. I'm sure Dowd is hearing lots about how "Democrats" are having second thoughts about Obama. I'm also sure that Dowd has a wealth of well-placed Dem sources, but that's her problem. All these well-placed Dem sources are the ones who are of the type who support the old guard... the Clintons. Dowd, like these well-placed sources, seem to have missed the fact that the Dem parade seems to have passed them by and that it was folks who Dowd has likely never heard of that got Obama elected. The Dems keep talking about how it is young voters and those new to the process that won victories for Obama, but they rely on the Old Guard folks for their insight into the party. Of course these folks would prefer Clinton... they always have!
Excellent
August 13, 2008 - 09:37 ET by docbBruzilla....playing into the repub/clinton playbook..Access is the name of old politics and they see none/limited with Obama...Remember they can not get to the new people in the fold who ONLY use cellphones --so the polls do not reflect those views...They do not watch MSM either.
Coincidentally, I had just
August 13, 2008 - 07:53 ET by JasonCCoincidentally, I had just finished Dowd's article and was transitioning from the Times to NB right as your story was going up. I have to say I disagree strongly with your critique. If anything, NB bloggers who consistently take issue with the NYT, especially outspoken and at times acerbic writers like Dowd, should applaud the stance taken here. To claim that she is "burying the lead" by not mentioning Obama earlier in the piece - a detail that is merely an essayist's rhetorical choice - in a piece that roundly criticizes the Clinton's increasingly underhanded and mafiaesque approach to politics, and points out the not exactly earth-shattering trend of Democrats articulating "remorse" about Obama's disappointing performance of late, strikes me as rather disingenuous. How is this media bias? Because the criticism of Obama isn't in 18 point font at the top of the op/ed page? Anyone who didn't read far enough to get to it has only him or herself to blame, not Dowd.
"Issue-driven politics in red-and-blue America is like a man whose
appetite for steak is greatly enhanced by his contempt for vegetarians."
I think it's a valid
August 13, 2008 - 08:09 ET by Hero SquadI think it's a valid question to ask if the lede was buried in this regard. But Jason, I think your point is equally valid.
Reading an opinion piece should be treated differently than a news article. I should be able to read the first several paragraphs of a news article and get the essence of the story. I need to be committed to the end to read an opinion piece, since the author may be setting up for a key point later in the story.
So I actually agree with what you said, save for your criticism of its inclusion here at NB. I think it was a good question for Mark to pose, then let us decide if it's a level bias or not.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
I don't think the lede is
August 13, 2008 - 09:11 ET by motherbeltI don't think the lede is buried.
One can make the argument that "buyer's remorse" is the big deal, but I don't think that's Dowd's focus. I think she's mostly analyzing how the Clintons plan to capitalize on those doubts and hijack the convention.
Hero Squad, Dowd makes it clear in her opening paragraph where she is going with this.
BTW, Dowd definitely writes better columns when she stays away from the "schtik" she has become accustomed to using.
I'm shocked I tell ya,
August 13, 2008 - 08:17 ET by dscottI'm shocked I tell ya, totally shocked, this was a very lucid analysis of the Dem political landscape. Of course she did have to toss in the obligatory pot shot at the Repubs, (a Projection I might add given it's the Dems PC silliness that caused gas prices to rise which the public is finally fed up with).
Ever since she stepped aside in June, she’s been telling people privately that there might have to be “a catharsis” at the convention, signaling she wants a Clinton crescendo.
Ah yes, I might even watch the drama on TV, I find it so fascinating when liberals eat their own and stab each other in the back, et tu Brute?
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Oh Boy!
August 13, 2008 - 10:00 ET by pbanks7Mostly true. I think this NB post is more of a "why didn't they catch on sooner" thing than a "check out the hypocrisy" thing.
It's starting to get interesting again! I hope the rest of the media get on Maureen's bandwagon. I bet Rush is going to start calling out the Operation Chaos gang today. The D's are going to be toast with the Black vote if they try to put Hitlery in over Obamessiah.
Delicious is my adjective for this mess. Keep up the good (first time for me) work, Maureen.
MSM - shaping all the perceptions you need to believe, then confirming it with a poll.
MoDo exposes crack
August 13, 2008 - 08:01 ET by Cool ArrowAre MoDo and the Dems hoping for change already?
This ain't like that Waterless Cookware you bought after a high pressure sales pitch in a home demonstration. They can't cancel the order or the check within three days of purchase.
The Dems are absitively and posolutely stuck to their choice. He looked good in the store window but doesn't fit the decor? Tough.
However acutely MoDo and the Dems feel their postdecisional regret, that crap ain't gonna fly on Main Street or MLK Blvd.
Put it out of your mind MoDo.
I ♣ my seal
Lemon Law?
August 13, 2008 - 08:03 ET by ChasvsSo will the Dems make a CHANGE You Can Believe in and get rid of this idiot at their Convention?
Nah, they aren't smart enough to do that! They'll run the bum they brung and call us racists if he loses!
Hey Barack you SOB, We don't need your stinkin CHANGE!!!
If I remember correctly...
August 13, 2008 - 08:53 ET by AmericanEnergist...it was Ms. Dowd and her camrades who were chiding Sen. Obama a while back about his ears. The senator confronted her saying that it was a sensitive issue with him to which Ms. Dowd replied 'we're just trying to toughen you up.'
This is what happens when you fall in love with the car before taking it for a test-drive or have it inspected by your mechanic.
At least it shows me that MoDo isn't afraid to confront her second thoughts. She does have talent, though I believe she's misguided at times.
It seems that many people bought into the hype and HOPED they had the right candidate. Only the crazed zealots will ride the bus off the cliff rather than jump out before it's too late.
www.ArmchairEnergist...
Obama now looks like
August 13, 2008 - 08:58 ET by 10ksnookerEvery other dented up politician. Rush warned the donks of the coming problem. He said the drive bys were so enamoured with Obama that they weren't telling the truth about his past.
Who would think someone as naive as The One, and with no record of any significant accomplishment on anything in their entire life, would be qualified for President -- In a sane world.
Frankly, this mess is
August 13, 2008 - 19:47 ET by needleFrankly, this mess is exactly what the Dems deserve for their constant pushing identity politics, and in particular for their racism, I might add.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Run, Hillary, Run!
August 13, 2008 - 09:03 ET by nkviking75I'd love the Hillary supporters to rebel and nominate her, followed by about 30 rounds of balloting before the convention finally picks a nominee.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Once in a great while Mo
August 13, 2008 - 09:50 ET by marpelOnce in a great while Mo Dowd will not come across like the far left lunatic she is and write a column that doesn't make me completely furious. This is one of those times. She's got the ability to think straight, and I wish she would more often. She's good writer, but her talents are normally wasted on her socialist points of view. I'm glad to see that there may be hope for her yet.
I also will be watching the hideous Dem convention because I'll be hoping for some televised fist fights... LOL
I could go back and do a search, but dem buyer's remorse...
August 13, 2008 - 10:10 ET by R D Helm...over Barry-O is something I have been saying around here for months.
Barry didn't do all that well in the last round of the dem primaries, and his poll numbers against a weak candidate like McCain are far below where they should be.
And if a dem tells you they are confident and happy with the choice of Barry-O as the dem candidate, they are most likely lying to you. Believe me, I have a lot of dem friends. They are seriously worried about Obama's chances (the ones who aren't voting for McCain, I mean.)
The dem convention is going to be very interesting, as Hillary is far from out of this thing. :-)
-Dave.
One significant block of voters remains...
August 13, 2008 - 18:21 ET by ThalpyOne significant block of voters remains firmly attached to Obama, despite his lack of luster or buyers's remorse or anything else that may befall him. If Senator Obama fails to receive( not win) the nomination, city police departments all over America may be in for an interesting time of it. We all may.
If Senator Obama fails to
August 13, 2008 - 18:33 ET by bigtimerIf Senator Obama fails to receive( not win) the nomination, city police departments all over America may be in for an interesting time of it. We all may.
If he wins the nomination, but not the Presidency...we are going to face the same thing....
I say in either case....bring it on!
I am tired of all of this...the people in this country need to speak out loud and clear...I am sick of the constant accusations of racism, discrimination against women, and the intimidation...intentionally brought on by the msm, arm in arm with the leftist party.
The enemy within needs to get a message loud and clear....we are sick of you.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Did hell just freeze over or was it the flying pig I just saw?
August 13, 2008 - 20:03 ET by goldenthroatWait a minute - Maureen Dowd? Saying that Shmillary is plotting "her own convention"? Is she, too, beginning to see the light?
I have been saying for weeks now that she and Slick Willy are about to lower the boom on Osama Bama. Many of us on NB have been predicting this was going to happen and the circus is about to begin!
Correction - this convo will go beyond being a three ring circus now - it has all the makings of imploding the Demoncratic party into shambles - and it will be because of the Clintonistas and their croonies lighting the fuse!
I don't know who has the bigger ego - Shmillary or Obamessiah - and they're both too freakin' blind to care!
Send in the clowns!
"I think we're all bozos on this bus!" - Firesign Theatre
Racists against Obama
August 13, 2008 - 19:32 ET by needle“…many are wondering … if race will be an insurmountable factor.”
So, racist Maureen Dowd asserts [again] that anyone who does not vote for Obama is suspected of being racist.
The other day I understand McGovern got up out of his Lazy-Boy to tell the world that Obama is his kind of man. So what if Obama delivers McGovern’s kind of election results? Will we have a Watergate redux (i.e., another media putsch)? This time I dare the MSM to try it. In ‘73 and ‘74 there was the Media verses the silenced majority; now we have the Internet…and the MSM playing Vladimir Putin. Apparently we need to have this fight.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
I think old Larry Flint is
August 13, 2008 - 19:39 ET by cocodrieI think old Larry Flint is researching Barack Hussein's birth certificate for Butch Hillary and The Slick Willy Kid.