alarms lowered

[novapsyche]

The text of Chris Todd's words have allayed my fears. Somewhat. Still, he's not deconstructing the paradigm of which he speaks--he seems to be preserving it.

LexisNexis had a transcript ahead of MSNBC.

(Overarcing context: Matthews and Todd are speaking about Obama's trip to Israel and how Jewish voters might perceive him.)

MATTHEWS: Let's take a look at this tracking poll here in America, just so we (INAUDIBLE) Historically, Jewish voters have been Democrats going way back to the time they came to the country, in many cases, back 100 years, for all I know. But look at this -- 61 percent for Obama, 32 percent for McCain. That is not high.

TODD: For Obama.

MATTHEWS: For the Democrat, right.

TODD: That is a low number. That is a number -- look, if he ends up at a 65-35 split in the Jewish vote, that is problems in Florida. That is potentially problems in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

MATTHEWS: Yes, look at...

(CROSSTALK)

TODD: Exactly. I mean, when you look at this and you see that, regularly, Democrats get 70 percent, 80 percent -- I mean, only Michael Dukakis, who was the first sort of ethnic Democratic nominee, somebody that was not like the others in a while -- you know, here's this second generation Greek immigrant...

MATTHEWS: A newcomer, really.

TODD: ... a newcomer, and the Republican Party did a good job of painting Dukakis sort of not -- you know, not one of -- not one of us. And we're almost seeing the exact -- I've always thought if Republican -- if John McCain wins, it will mean that he was able to do to Obama what George H.W. Bush was able to do to Michael Dukakis.

He is skirting that line. Like I say, the text (and context) lead me to give him the benefit of the doubt. But I would urge you, if you feel I have leapt to conclusions, to at least view the above in a clip of the interview.

Comments

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

I still say that McCain is this election's Bob Dole - someone who has been a party faithful guy but is underequipped in this campaign. Obama has vitality, intelligence and like Bill Clinton, the charisma to rally people to him. Compared to someone seen as old and wishy-washy and a defender of the last two terms of near-disaster presided over by Republicans.

America can't take any more republican rule - trashing our economy, foreign credibility, stretching our military capabilities, generations of debt.

[davehogg.livejournal.com]

His job is to analyze the strategy of the campaigns and how it affects the behavior of the electorate. That's what he's doing.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

I understand that, and I am grateful for that. God knows we need an informed citizenry.

All I'm saying is that he needs to watch his language. That includes tone and body language.

[pstscrpt.livejournal.com]

I still say that McCain is this election's Bob Dole
Not nearly so much as John Kerry was. I think a lot of people who voted for McCain in the primary did so because they weren't happy with where the party has been going, and McCain has been seen as an alternative, if not so much lately as in 2000. And in open primary states you had people like me who were fine with any of the major Democrats, but wanted to vote against some of the more objectionable Republicans.

McCain may not be nearly as interesting a candidate as Obama, but I don't think he's widely viewed as a party faithful. And he's not such an inconsequential party standby as Kerry, Dole, Mondale, Gore or George H.W. Bush.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Speaking of debt, did you see the news today of a $490B deficit? It's a new record. We should hide our collective heads in shame and disgust.