How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
I try to remember how weird I am. I actually enjoy watching conventions from start to finish. Yesterday was a hoot -- from the floor fight over inserting the words "God" and "Jerusalem" into the platform to all 50 minutes of President Clinton's "Sure, Obama promised you the moon, and didn't provide it, but nobody (excluding myself) could" speech.
But most people don't watch an ounce of convention coverage. It makes me curious how newspapers or other media convey what happened. I know that the audience Clinton spoke to and the media itself loves Bill Clinton as much or more than they love President Obama. But while it's easier to convince sympathetic audiences that the economy is just fine, it's much more difficult to convince people whose loved ones have struggled for years.
To that end, I'm not sure if this USA Today front page is good for President Obama or bad:
Byron York says Clinton is a great salesman but that even a great salesman runs into trouble when the product is less than stellar.
Don't get me wrong, I think Clinton gave an effective speech (albeit not as good as Michelle Obama's very different one the night before, in my opinion). But if the media/DNC motto for Obama's second term is "lower your expectations," I'm not sure I'd be confident of re-election.
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Aug '11
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
Four years of Obama really made me miss Bill. Bill's speech last night reminded me that I never really liked him all that much. But it also reminded me why he had the nickname "Slick Willie." The man can tell a lie with astounding conviction!
I'm afraid that I've gone wobbly. After listening to Bill's speech, I began to think that the landslide for Romney is less of a possibility. Bill did a great job selling a lousy product, but he also showed the rest of the Dems how to sell it as well. This was Bill giving salesmanship lessons to the troops. Thanks to Bill, Obama might just pull it off after all.
Edited on September 6, 2012 at 4:39pmJun '12
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
Who ya gonna believe, Clinton who says (according to the headline) that we're "right on course," or your own lyin' eyes?
Me, I believe my eyes rather than a lyin' philanderer.
Jun '12
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
Mollie, as usual, perfect summary of Bill's speech and thank you for calling out that platform circus so quickly. It's weird, I am almost feeling sorry for Obama being played around by Bill Clinton. And I definitely don't understand what the DNC's point of their convention. They have a long list of divisive whiners moaning about how bad this country is. What are they celebrating?
Aug '11
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
ConservativeWanderer: Who ya gonna believe, Clinton who says (according to the headline) that we're "right on course," or your own lyin' eyes?
Me, I believe my eyes rather than a lyin' philanderer. · 1 minute ago
Yes, but we soak deeply in this stuff. The average voter, who maybe only tuned in to watch Bill, could be easily convinced.
Dec '10
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
The whole thing came across to me as one big excuse for why we're stuck in neutral, moving forward only as gravity and inertia compel us, and as a preemtive grab at the accolades that are sure to come when things do eventually get better. The question that remains for me is whether or not the American people can shrug off the malaise regardless of who is in power. I think it's possible even under Obama, just more difficult.
Sep '10
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
It depends on the meaning of "right course". Bill Clinton never lies - people just misinterpret his words.
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
In light of his own volatile history with the truth, Bill Clinton should not be allowed to give public speeches unless he's under oath. Even the Washington Post is fact checking him today. The Democrats are betting that they can fool some of the people all of the time.
Jun '12
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
DrewInWisconsin
ConservativeWanderer: Who ya gonna believe, Clinton who says (according to the headline) that we're "right on course," or your own lyin' eyes?
Me, I believe my eyes rather than a lyin' philanderer. · 1 minute ago
Yes, but we soak deeply in this stuff. The average voter, who maybe only tuned in to watch Bill, could be easily convinced. · 0 minutes ago
Hey, that's my argument!
Personally, I think unemployment or underemployment is where Bill's argument breaks with the average person. Chances are either he is out of work or is working less than he wants to, or knows someone in that situation. We're "right on course" is not gonna resonate with such a person, he's gonna ask, "what planet is Bill Clinton living on?"
Jun '12
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
DrewInWisconsin
ConservativeWanderer: Who ya gonna believe, Clinton who says (according to the headline) that we're "right on course," or your own lyin' eyes?
Me, I believe my eyes rather than a lyin' philanderer. · 1 minute ago
Yes, but we soak deeply in this stuff. The average voter, who maybe only tuned in to watch Bill, could be easily convinced. · 0 minutes ago
Drew, all that will evaporate in 2 months. When the job report comes out tomorrow, when they start to fill their gas tanks and Ryan debates Joe Biden.
Jun '12
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
Good one. And he did not have "sex"with "that woman".
Aug '11
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
I will say that I think the Democrats benefited by ending the night with Bill. It took away the sour taste left by earlier speakers like the pitiable Ms. Fluke and the weird booing of the platform.
Aug '11
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
Joan Greathouse
Drew, all that will evaporate in 2 months. When the job report comes out tomorrow, when they start to fill their gas tanks and Ryan debates Joe Biden.
That, I kept thinking to myself, is one great benefit of ours. Obama may get a nice bounce from this convention, but the election is still two months away -- time enough for people to come back down to earth.
Jun '12
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
Dave, I am sure he will be able to get around the oath as well. He is almost a SuperHero with Lies.
Jun '10
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
Clinton says the U.S. is right on course. Well, so was the Titanic before it collided with reality. Except that this time the passengers and crew are awake to the danger. We're about to see a mutiny aboard the S.S. Barack Obama. In the nick of time, too.
Oct '10
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
I agree. Right track/wrong track question weigh feelings, not evidence. There's no hard metric.
So, the USA Today headline itself may damage the Obama campaign by undermining Clinton's credibility. The right track/wrong track poll numbers, indicate that a significant majority will have a gut-check when they read that headline, something along the lines of
"If this is what the right track feels like, then what would the wrong track feel like?"
And then, the value of Clinton's endorsement goes negative, because many will remember that Slick Willy is just doing what he always does and saying whatever he needs to say. If Clinton says "America is on the right track", people may remember that Clinton also famously said in defending himself of perjury charges, "It depend on what the meaning of is is"
By the way, does it strike anyone else as strange that the Democrats continually showcase the only living president to be impeached, and forced to surrender his law license?
Is this really who they are?
Edited on September 6, 2012 at 4:59pmRe: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
Limestone Cowboy
ConservativeWanderer: Who ya gonna believe, Clinton who says (according to the headline) that we're "right on course," or your own lyin' eyes?
Me, I believe my eyes rather than a lyin' philanderer. · 10 minutes ago
I agree with this, because right track/wrong track question go to feelings rather than hard evidence. There's no hard metric.
So, the USA Today headline itself may do more long term damage to the Obama campaign. The right track/wrong track poll numbers, indicate that a significant majority will have a gut-check when they read that headline, something along the lines of
"if this is what the right track feels like, then what would the wrong track feel like?"
And then, the value of Clinton's endorsement goes negative, because they know Slick Willy is just doing what he always has done... say whatever he needs to say. If Clinton says "America ison the right track" · 7 minutes ago
You beat me to it. The headline flies in the face of deeply-felt conviction. Americans do not want more of the same.
Oct '10
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
It speaks volumes about the media that Clinton's speech is on the front page today, rather than the God/Jerusalem debacle.
Needless to say, if something comparable had happened at the RNC, nothing that happened afterward would even have been noticed. The speeches would have been a mere footnote in a cover story about the splintered, out-of-touch Republican party.
God, I wish Breitbart were here.
Jan '11
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
I imagine that much of America reacted like my house did.
The NFL game was on. During commercials, I'd switch to the speech. His speech roughly corresponded to the game's second half. After switching back and forth a few times, my wife eventually complained: "He's still talking? How long is he going to talk?"
Mar '11
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
How many people who read USA Today actually saw the speech? I was tuned in to the Cowboys/Giants game, as I suspect most of the country was. The only impression many will get is from the MSM accounts.
BTW, my mental health was categorically improved by choosing NFL over DNC. 4 out of 5 doctors agree.
Edited on September 6, 2012 at 5:18pmSep '10
Re: How Did Day Two Play In The Media?
Here's a headline on HuffPo: Bill Clinton Speech Asks Undecided Voters To Hang On, Give Obama Another Chance
I'd call that damning with feint praise, as failure is implied. (It's also the line he used for himself in Arkansas after the voters kicked him out after his first term as gov and he begged to be let back in.) I just wonder if any of these people can do anything purely related to anyone else.