November 13, 2004

TRAIN STOPPED

While we’re waiting for CBS to conclude its investigation into Dan Rather's missing brain, perhaps someone could investigate this:

On November 4, Jodi Wilgoren of The New York Times reported details of election night television coverage that are yet to get the attention they deserve. Buried deep in a story, far from the front page, here’s what Wilgoren wrote:

"The critical moment came at 12:41 a.m. Wednesday, when, shortly after Florida had been painted red for Mr. Bush, Fox News declared that Ohio — and, very likely, the presidency — was in Republican hands.

"Howard Wolfson, a strategist who joined the [Kerry] campaign this fall, burst into the room where the brain trust was huddled and told them ‘we have 30 seconds’ to stop the other networks from following suit.

"The campaign pollster, Mark Mellman, and the renowned organizer Michael Whouley quickly dialed ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC — and all but the last refrained from calling the race through the night. Then Mr. Wolfson banged out a simple, two-line statement from Mary Beth Cahill, expressing confidence that Mr. Kerry would win Ohio once the remaining ballots were counted.

"'All through the process, what was driving our decision making was the memory of how in 2000, by allowing Florida to go for Bush, a lot of momentum was blocked,' said one person who was in the room. 'Our whole goal was stop the train from moving that way.'"

They stopped the train dead, and with it any pretense that CBS, CNN and ABC were practicing independent, objective, knowledgeable analysis and journalism. It is perfectly acceptable for networks to listen to what a campaign has to say, but not to ignore empirical evidence to favor that campaign.

Speaking of waiting, Margo has finally returned to her vital Webdiary role. She made it through 53 words in her comeback post before the first spelling mistake.

Posted by Tim Blair at November 13, 2004 09:35 PM
Comments

And 'brain trust'?

Only one?

Posted by: ilibcc at November 13, 2004 at 09:41 PM

He had to ensure that noone important in the party would be too miffed by what he said, and protect a leader whose position is so tenuous that one Labor staffer told me after lunch that Rudd could challenge within the month ...

But who's worried about spelling errors with prose this leaden? It hurts the eyes to read it - no wonder they're haemorrhaging readers.

Posted by: ilibcc at November 13, 2004 at 09:47 PM

"But who's worried about spelling errors with prose this leaden? It hurts the eyes to read it - no wonder they're haemorrhaging readers."

I couldn't agree more - isn't it just awful! "It was a dark and stormy night"

Posted by: Bavarian Weissbier at November 13, 2004 at 10:21 PM

And there were Labor supporters to report to too.

Margo Kingston. Raw talent.

Posted by: Hanyu at November 13, 2004 at 11:49 PM

But did you notice the first thing she mentions is going to LUNCH? Didn't see anything about expensive wine, but then, didn't get more than 15 words in before I fell into an Arafat-like sleep.

I blame this blog for exposing me to hazardous Margo-prose. I'd have never seen that stuff if Tim hadn't linked there. It should come with a warning, as it's worse than some hazardous chemicals I've handled.

Posted by: birdwoman at November 14, 2004 at 01:18 AM

They stopped the train dead, and with it any pretense that CBS, CNN and ABC were practicing independent, objective, knowledgeable analysis and journalism. It is perfectly acceptable for networks to listen to what a campaign has to say, but not to ignore empirical evidence to favor that campaign.

Sadly, this is only the icing on the cake....and a poorly made cake at that. Rathergate; Reuters & AP photos of terrorists (showing they are "embedded" with the terrorists); the rantings of various "journalists"; the apparently coincidental timing of the Kerry "favored son" campaign and NYT article; the missing explosives segment on 60 Minutes scheduled just before the elections, but scuttled by other media; the near deifying of Arrafat; the glossing over of Iraqis murdered by Saddam; and so on.

The MSM is clearly biased to the left. They favor those political parties that on the left. Their hypocrisy of "unbiased reporting" is sickening.

The odd thing is, should you have the fortitude to browse through leftie sites like the Democratic Underground, a common meme is how the MSM is biased towards the right wing. I've not seen much in supporting evidence on DU for this; in the typical leftoid fashion, opinions are presented as facts. Backing opinions with facts on DU is almost blasphemy.

But I have to wonder....is it that the MSM isn't blatant enough in their support of the left?

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 14, 2004 at 02:57 AM

becuause, becuause, becuause, becuause, becuause ...

becuause of the wonderful things she does

Posted by: m at November 14, 2004 at 03:09 AM

I can write idiotic and boring prose. Why can't I get this gig?

I like working metaphors hard too. But if that that ice climbing entry were a horse, she would get in trouble with the animal rights people for cruelty.

Posted by: Steven at November 14, 2004 at 03:19 AM

I can write idiotic and boring prose. Why can't I get this gig?

I like working metaphors hard too. But if that that ice climbing entry were a horse, she would get in trouble with the animal rights people for cruelty.

Posted by: Steven at November 14, 2004 at 03:19 AM

Okay, I'm not the sharpest cove who ever hit a keyboard, but Margo lost me in the first sentence,

...I took time out from my time off...

Posted by: jafa at November 14, 2004 at 04:10 AM

A double negative, jafa? Or would that be a double time out? No?

About the closest example of that I can find is Dean Wormer's infamous "double secret probation" in Animal House. One wonders if Margo is channeling Flounder ......

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 14, 2004 at 08:24 AM

In more Mango related news No thappy John hasn't been updated since the election . Does this mean we're all happy with the little liar now ?

Posted by: Bill O'Slatter at November 14, 2004 at 09:21 AM

Real JeffS,
The lefty idea tht the MSM is biased to the right is a real puzzler, isn't it? As near as I can figure, it is based on the observation that most MSM are organized as businesses in corporate forms, ie they are corporations. Since everybody knows that corporations are Bad Things (ignore the fact that most peoples' jobs depend on them)the corporate structures of their businesses make the MSM rightist, irrespective of what they actually say or print and however seemingly biassed against Republicans, conservatives, and Christian religious believers their reporting actually is. This belief, as with so many leftist beliefs, is the triumph of Pravda over Istina.

Posted by: Micahel Lonie at November 14, 2004 at 10:36 AM

Michael, I think you hit the nail on the head! That train of "logic" would follow nicely with how the lefties think.

But, thinking upon your point, this train may have many cars and many stops. I recall reading that, during the Republican National Convention, a crowd of anti-Republican, anti-Corporation, anti-Everything, demonstrators stopped for lunch.

At a McDonalds, fer Gods' sake! The ultimate in American Corporations, yet these Halliburton-Is-Evil types marched in their for their Chicken McNuggets like any other Stupid Red Stater (TM).

The writer was snickering about this apparent about face, but now I realize this is yet another facet of the left's ability to rationalize anything to suit their immediate needs.

Pravada over Istina, indeed!

Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 14, 2004 at 11:19 AM

Im sorry i never really did join in on the margo bashing frivolity this blog enjoys - until i saw her at press club on abc (with the ALP national Secretary) ... i think she had too much wine payote or something !!! talk about wasted and disoriented
A true professional ...

Posted by: Will S at November 14, 2004 at 12:37 PM

Will S, wasted and disoriented ?

Nah, she was having time out from her time off.

Wait to you she her on duty...

Posted by: jafa at November 14, 2004 at 03:38 PM

jafa, Will, Andrea called Miranda Divide drunk here. She also speculates that maybe Miranda Divide is Margo Kingston. God knows the two equally nuts, and there is a certain relationship between their appearances.

Maybe if one correlates the time of Will S's comments with Miranda's post here, this might be settled one way or the other......


Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 14, 2004 at 04:23 PM

Hahaha !

Another evil conspiracy uncovered by the underblog community !

***NEWSFLASH***

"Margo Kingston is secret special assistant to UN Secretary General!"

Posted by: Will S at November 14, 2004 at 04:50 PM

Did Gartrell answer the question we all want answered, "Is Margo happy?"

Posted by: Anthony at November 14, 2004 at 08:36 PM

I saw the NPC address and when the Margit rose to ask a question I finally realised what she has been doing for a month.

She looked like she had been on the bender to end all benders, the term "unmade bed" classically describes her appearance and the $2 hawaiian shirt was a nice touch.

But I guess a month when BOTH Howard and Bush win with increased majorities, tends to make you look like a dill considering her strident criticism of both leaders.

Tim, take it easy on the Margit, shes only just found out that nobody seems to listen to her bleatings, so shes a little fragile.

The poor luvvie.

Posted by: Nuffy at November 14, 2004 at 10:04 PM

So where does the estimable Miranda Devine fit into Margo's delusions ?

Posted by: jafa at November 15, 2004 at 04:34 AM