Krugman.."we're talking about war, peace and the future of U.S. democracy

[madfloridian]

New Year's Resolution

SNIP..."If a reporter must use anecdotes, they'd better be true. After the Dean endorsement, innumerable reporters cracked jokes about Al Gore's inventing the Internet. Guys, he never said that: it's a malicious distortion of a true statement, and no self-respecting journalist would repeat it.

• Look at the candidates' records. A close look at Mr. Bush's record as governor would have revealed that, the approved story line notwithstanding, he was no moderate. A close look at Mr. Dean's record in Vermont reveals that, the emerging story line notwithstanding, he is no radical: he was a fiscally conservative leader whose biggest policy achievement — nearly universal health insurance for children — was the result of incremental steps.

• Don't fall for political histrionics. I couldn't believe how much ink was spilled after the Gore-Dean event over Joe Lieberman's hurt feelings. Folks, we're talking about war, peace and the future of U.S. democracy — not about who takes whom to the prom...."

[KittyWampus]

1. Funny, I Didn't Hear Any Reporters Cracking Jokes About Al

inventing the internet after the endorsement. I'm fairly certain the ones who might have weren't innummerable.

If a reporter must use anecdotes, they'd better be true. After the Dean endorsement, innumerable reporters cracked jokes about Al Gore's inventing the Internet. Guys, he never said that: it's a malicious distortion of a true statement, and no self-respecting journalist would repeat it.

[dsc]

2. Then you weren't paying much attention

http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh121103.shtml

All of the quotes below are from the Daily Howler and their original sources are noted.

From Fox's morning show Fox and Friends

DOOCY: No, he took credit once for inventing the Internet, has thrown his weight behind this man who is using it to raise millions of dollars!

From Joel Klein as quoted on Paula Zahn's show

KLEIN: No, I think it works the other way. I think the fact that Howard Dean is such an outsider and so popular with techies and young people and Internet sorts help Al Gore’s reputation with those sorts of people, because, remember, he was the guy who invented the Internet.

Jeff Greenfield on CNN American Morning

GREENFIELD (12/9/03): And the third thing I would mention, and I’m not being flip—Jack Cafferty read us an e-mail about somebody who said well, of course Gore likes an Internet-based campaign, he invented the Internet!

Clarence Page in the Chicago Tribune

PAGE (12/10/03): Gore, the techno gadget freak, must be impressed with how well Dean's new-wave campaign machine rides on the cutting edge of technologies adapted to populist politics. Dean’s ability to draw crowds, organize local campaigns and raise funds has broken all expectations by his use of the device Gore once inaccurately claimed to have invented, the Internet.

From the Christian Science Monitor

FELDMANN/MARLANTES (12/10/03): “If you understand the Internet, you understand that this is the coming to fruition of the full potential of the Internet, and that Dean has used it to transform politics,” says Elaine Kamarck, an adviser to Gore who teaches at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Ms. Kamarck notes that Gore, as a senator, was indeed instrumental in the development of the Internet, despite the grief he took for saying he “invented” it, and that the future is now. “We will never go back to the old political system,” she says. “That’s what Gore’s talking about.”

Tim Russert on David Letterman

E-MAILER (12/10/03): I caught a bit of Tim Russert on David Letterman . I found their crocodile tears for poor Joe Lieberman quite pathetic. That was the theme—do these guys get together on this or what? Russert again claiming that Gore envied Dean since he “invented” the internet but Dean figured out how to use it. As you say, the clowning was pathetic.


But of course no one said it.

[Myra]

4. Thanks dsc

A good reminder of reality.

Geez, the 2000 election wasn't that long ago.

[madfloridian]

5. Thanks.

Good find.
:hi:

[KittyWampus]

7. Oh, So You Counted Six? That Is Certainly Not Innumberable

but then that is only tangetal to the point...

Disregarding the mediawhores who went on about the lie about Gore...

What I heard from fellow Democrats is how highly ironic it seems that Gore, who lost an election due to votes not being counted, implied that Democrats should rally and unite behind Dean before any Primary votes have been caste.

As for talking about Dean's record in Vermont... it is Center RIGHT.

Dean is on the record saying that he believed Affirmative Action should be based on Class not Race, that patient's rights to sue HMO's should be limited and that recognition of Native American Tribes depends on their willingness to denounce casinos.

Then we could talk about Dean's push for Energy De-Regulation using a scheme that had already failed in Quebec. We might even talk about his being lionized at the CATO Institute where he bad mouthed the Liberals in Washington who were fighting to get money to states like Vermont.

So frankly, I must agree, I really wish reporters would start to talk about Dean's actual record as Governor. Or about the very many inconsistencies in his public statements. But I'm sure they're saving all that in the hopes he manages to secure the nomination. Teflon only lasts when you're a Republican.

While I enjoy and learn from Krugman's columns I can't for the life of me figure out why he essentially compares Dean to Bush in this current column though. They have both benefited from less than vigorous scrutiny by the press.

Perhaps in a future column he might bring up Howard Dean's fondness for talking about Corporate Regulation ... his actual Policy Statements regarding Regulation (skimpy though they are) and his actual record as Governor regarding Regulation. Having read what Krugman's written about Protectionism and Free Trade, that could be an informative article.

Also, further down Krugman wrote, "It's not about you. We learn from The Washington Post that reporters covering Mr. Dean are surprised — and, it's implied, miffed — that "he never asks a single question about them." The mind reels."

Reminds me of Dean's stock campaign spiel which he yells to his supporters... "It's not about ME it's about YOU". Well, since this is a Representative Democracy, I personally feel this campaign is most CERTAINLY about Howard Dean and his ability to be Commander in Chief and his glaring need to find a VP who can help plug his hole.

Heres hoping that the Primary Voters wake up and take a closer look at Dean before the voting starts.... with or without the help of professional journalists.

[Myra]

9. Move away from the eggnog...

Just 12 little steps.
You can do it...

[dsc]

10. This is what I responded to

Funny, I Didn't Hear Any Reporters Cracking Jokes About Al

inventing the internet after the endorsement.

You added innumerable after. I came up with six from one citation. Oh and that was a mere one day after the endorsement in comparision to the over two weeks it has been now.

I won't even bother with any of the rest of your post, until you, like I did, provide citations for each and every one of your quotes.

[Terwilliger]

17. Clarence Page? OK that tears it

I used to think he was pretty stand-up...now it's clear that he has a non-Democratic agenda

[Myra]

3. Great words from the Great Man - KrugMan

"This time there can be no illusions: President Bush has turned this country sharply to the right, and this election will determine whether the right's takeover is complete.

...But if the conventional wisdom were instead that he's a phony, a silver-spoon baby who pretends to be a cowboy, journalists would have plenty of material to work with.

...history will not forgive us if we allow laziness and personal pettiness to shape this crucial election."


Krugram is becoming increasingly bold with his warnings.
Thank god. We need him to help balance hundreds of crappy
right wing journalists.

I think I'll reread this column a lot.
A daily reminder.

[mmm]

6. right you are

Paul is awesome

[frustrated_lefty]

8. Thank god for Krugman. (eom)

[Skwmom]

11. I have looked at Dean's record

and his constantly changing positions on a number of issues. Krugman hurts himself by being a cheerleader for Dean.

[frustrated_lefty]

12. Umm? Krugman is a bad man?

Do you have more swampland to sell me?

[Cheswick2.0]

14. D'oh

now Krugman is a bad man because he supports Dean? I don't think he supports Dean as much as he is asking journalists to be honest.

[Stuckinthebush]

19. Lord, deliver me!

Let's take a break from anti-Deanism and look at the bigger picture.

Krugman isn't a "cheerleader" for Dean, he is raising important points for the media to realize. We have said much of the same over the past three years - that is, telling the media to look at the issues that are important to this race and how another four years of Bush could doom us all.

Krugman is a good guy. He is one of the good guys. Congrats to him for writing a column to columnists.

[Myra]

13. Kick

It's only appropriate to heed the Wise Man today...
(ok, yesterday).

[quaker bill]

15. I just love his way with words

Lazy reporting was just one of the factors in 2000, but it was significant.

[madfloridian]

16. Ah, now Krugman is not so good.

Again here we go. When Dean started opposing the war, the war became ok. Religion was good until Dean decided to address the attacks on him, and now he is too religious or too secular.

Gore was good until he supported Dean, now Gore bad.

Poor Krugman,he will regret the day he said something nice about Dean.

[Rose Siding]

18. Don't forget poor Molly Ivins

She too drank from the cup.

[Stuckinthebush]

20. I have given up, madfloridian

on the handful of individuals who are so anti-Dean, that they have lost a grasp of the bigger picture. My advice...let it go. Just ignore the small, small number of posters that can't see past their hatred of Dean.

Lord, please help me understand where that anger comes from!