Captain's Quarters -

"And btw, the mainstream media are so, uh, 2006. The first stop for press secretaries, according to the guidebook, should be bloggers who can create "buzz" and inevitably trigger stories in the drippy MSM."

I doubt this is the solution. After all, Allen's political career was basically single-handedly destroyed by a still-powerful partisan newspaper called the Washington Post.

As long as the WaPo wields the power it still has, having the Repubs enlist the blogger brigade is an idea, but not necessarily good enough. I'm not denigrating the fine folks here and at the other blogs, just opining that the proof that the traditional media still rules was confirmed by the 2006 election results-especially the result in Allen's race.

Excellent analysis Capt. The blogs have to be wary of manipulation but they are a very valuble venue for the campaigns.

I think that the Republicans are going to do this more than the Democrats, simply because the Democrats have the MSM as a proactive ally, not a challenging opponent. The Dems could go to places like the Daily Cause (heh) but they probably will keep that to a minimum to keep up the looks of things. There is just too much in DU or Kos to get tarred with if they were to get too close.

It's a good strategy as it goes, and it's nice that some of my favorite Blogs are listed (how did they miss Big Lizards?!?) but I wonder how many of the bloggers are going to be outmatched in this scene. The campaigns are sending out the best spin and stroke artists in the country... some bloggers may be immune enough to keep a level head, but I'm afraid that too many will fall prey to manipulation, and the reputation of the 'sphere will suffer for it.

Sunlight will help the most, I suppose... if you meet with a member of a campaign, mention it on the Blog, and don't take anything 'off the record' if you want to maintain credibility.

Oof. Somebody is going to have to come up with some guidelines as to what is acceptable... I'd really feel sad if I start seeing "...sources tell PowerLine News that..."

Hey CE; congrats on hitting the 30 million mark...

Excellent analysis...

Mr. Michael has some good words of wisdom...

As a longtime reader of CQ, I would only caution against the difference between straightforward commentary based of facts, (which Mr. Morrissey accomplishes with impugned integrity) and media manipulation where CQ becomes a tool for damage control.

The daily battle to correct the inaccuracies and fabrications produced by our left leaning media goes on without saying thruout the blogosphere------(Newsbusters does a fine job)-------but having spoon-fed diction from any resource should be scrutinized: "To examine or observe with great care; inspect critically."

Del, I think Allen sealed his own fate when he addressed the cameraman that way. He felt comfortable enough talking that way in front of his supporters then. You can call the WAPO partisan but the editorial board of the paper backed Bush against Gore in 2000 as I recall (or was it the NYT?).

I can't really see how going directly to partisan blogs could have mitigated the gaffe then and I can't see how it would prevent any future brain>mouth connection failures from having an impact on the electorate. I wouold prefer that blogs retain their independence rather than be cheerleaders for this or that campaign. Once they start reiterating talking points they will cease to be interesting.

lexham fox threw this lazy softball over the plate:

"You can call the WAPO partisan but the editorial board of the paper backed Bush against Gore in 2000 as I recall (or was it the NYT?). "

Uh, hello? Both papers endorsed Prince Albert.

Here's a research project for you-when was the last time the NY Times, or the WaPo, endorsed a Republican for President?

NYT endorses Gore (registration required)

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/29/opinion/29SUN1.html

WaPo does the same thing:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55041-2000Oct21.html

And here's a compleat list for future reference

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/natendorse5.html

Oops, the WaPo endorsement link is bad. Wonder why!

A "clump" of five?

From where I sit and type, Captain, you're the only one that allows the public to speak back. And, it's not of "one voice" at all. Instead, you're capturing the spirit.

You've also discovered that "some republicans have tin ears." And, no matter what will happen, ahead, they're not gonna fathom any of the voices that rise from the People.

George Allen LOST, not because of Macaca. But from what I've read was his STRAIGHT JACKET.

Today, there are 8 men on the republican stage; ALL looking for presidential support. Even though only. One. Guy. Gets. It.

So, if you've been following the debates. Or, like me, you tune in afterwards; and get the clips; I'd say that "being able to talk about it ...

IS NOT ONLY THE "NEW" THING.

But it's part of the "OLD WAYS" AS WELL.

That's why Lincoln, in 1860, did NOT campaign! He knew people were already discussing the big issues. He had compiled his opinions; which were in his debates with Douglas, done in 1858.

And, Lincoln ALSO knew that any direct access the press would have, IF he made campaign stops; would include TRAPS. That's what journalists do.

Journalists are like snipers. They are not your friends. And, if we look at our presidential history books; we can see that some men dealt with the press with ease. Heck, You know I talk about FDR. But how about JFK? He was the most charming fella. The cameras loved him. So, he was able to step up, and in his Bostonian accent, deliver a few good lines.

To this day, I even remember one of them. When a journalist tried to trap him with a question about landlords getting into trouble "if they didn't rent" to someone they definitely didn't want to rent to, anyway. And, JFK said "it would only bother him if the apartment sat on a State line; between competing jurisdictions.

Actually, it didn't matter what JFK said. He just said it "charmingly."

\Not a talent George Allen owns.

Of course, now that we know he lost to Webb; and the race was close enough. IF Allen was less fearful of making statements ... Where, instead, he chose to "play it safe;"

That's why we came to the "ba-kakta" moment. In Yiddish that means a diaper full.

As to the current crop of GOP contendahs for the presidential nod; what divides out is the "bunch" who belong to the "Jesus loves me" crowd. And, I can't tell them apart.

Then there's McCain, with a tin ear. And, his recent mistake.

And, you'll also notice that even though the president is a republican, he has plunging numbers. Tin ears does this all of the time.

It did it to his dad.

It did it to LBJ.

It did it to Nixon.

Oh, and it did it to Jimmy Carter.

So if you were the personnel director, looking for the management flaw; you might notice that for some men the power just goes to their heads. And, it leads them to do things that are not smart.

Whether someone got paid to write a GOP manual, or not; it's a waste of money, IF it was done with money raised by contributions. Probably true.

On the other hand, where Fred Thompson is concerned, he's got a waiting audience.

You know, I'm reminded of Rodgers & Hammerstein. And, later, the team that wrote My Fair Lady.

When you put people together who can write hits; the words get out even as these shows are playing out of town!

I lived in New York City, when it was impossible to get tickets to see My Fair lady! That's how good it gets when Word Of Mouth takes over. People who've seen the show, can't stop humming the tunes. And, talking about "being there."

And, that's how you capitalize on your strengths.

The other thing about the list of 5? It's missing Little Green Footballs! And, when you attract millions of people ... you should at least have a list that matches what a lot of the "viewers" here, do.

Again, George Allen "played it safe." He didn't win.

Winning, among other things, takes risks.

But the wonder of the Net is that it is able to counter the harms being done by insiders. Some have the GOP label sewn into their garments.

In a different environment this would have been poison.

Perhaps, it's a good thing to know that when you're a failure, you're also an orphan.

Only success gets the crowds.

Anyway, you could do a "separated at birth" experiment. And, take Bush's "open mike" comment to the New York Times reporter; whose name escapes me.

So for what it's worth. Do you remember what Bush said? I don't remember that comment having a down side.

So, if politicians have anything left to learn; they should learn to smile and stick to their points of view. That idiot with the Mohawk was a moving target. George Allen, shooting his mouth off, however, proved he is not a pro.

Oh. George Allen is gone from the senate. While Trent Lott's still there. Stupid as ever.

Well, at least the GOP has one less stupid senator, now.

What are the odds that the donks have any advantage?

From what I see here, real voters come by. And, just like opinions, they come from all over the map.

Now, that's a strong suit if this is your business.

Great posts here - I agree with Rovin in heeding that caution mentioned.

And also, I agree with Carol when she says, " Captain, you're the only one that allows the public to speak back."

Cap'n you have been on a roll lately - with weeks and weeks of poignant, publicized writings and top line interviews and great live broadcasts. You've worked hard ...it shows and now it is really paying off for you.

Yes, indeed, you are listed there in very fine company but there is one aspect of Captain's Quarters that sets it apart from even those other four blogs listed - it's the genuine nature of this blog. It's a class that's reflected by your integrity. I have seen people here call you out on the carpet yet even their sharp words are tempered with a respect i do not see at other blogs.

I think a major part of that is due to the fact that we rarely see Cap'n Ed compromise his inner self. As CQ skyrockets, as Blog Talk Radio soars....don't change, man...don't change.

powerline on some stories and hugh hewitt allow comments.

malkin uses "hot air" as her backdoor for comments.....

Allen was not undone by blogs, spin or the WaPo. He was undone -- in part -- by hurling a racial slur at someone on tape. It's pretty simple.

Another thing helped him lose the election, and this is mostly forgotten. That press release his people came up with insinuating Webb may be a pedophile or hate women because of what he wrote in his Vietnaim novels. It was so idiotic and insulting to the voters of Virginia that I think a lot of boderline voters were swayed toward Webb because of it.

I wonder if the lefty blogs will bother to pick up Ed's advice: "We have achieved some parity with our counterparts in the press, which is an excellent development, but we should also remember that we can be exploited as well if we don't watch carefully."

Given the level of disapproval of a Democrat controlled Congress that ground the nutroots into the dirt trying to gain political power, and the insistence of those same nutroot bloggers that in true abused spouse fashion the problem is "the Dems aren't anti-war enough yet but I believe in them still!" I'm going to have to say that as usual, they have no friggin' clue.

It would be fascinating if the entire country (if not the free world) weren't at stake.

I think we will see a rapid development of the blog as a recognized member of the "media" during this national election cycle. Look at what has transpired during this amnesty fiasco.

Talk radio is being blamed by the open border people (can't say left as my Senator Warner has been backing this and all sorts of other Kennedy initiatives), and they did a good job. However, so many things were happening and happening so rapidly that they could only summarize what had occurred the day before. However, it was necessary to check out the blogs on an hourly basis to keep up on what was happening and who was having a temper tantrum. Talk radio, network news and newspapers cannot do that. If a person can only, say, watch fox twice a day, they are going to miss alot of what is going on as Fox has only so much available time and thus have to keep replacing what happen a couple of hours ago with new information when things are breaking fast. Bloggers can just go into "live blog" mode and they can create a record that is up to date and also will fill me in on what I missed.

While there is plenty of room and need for all forms of media, blogs are making their influence felt more and more. Thank you people with the gift so very much.

Tom Shipley sez:

"Allen was not undone by blogs, spin or the WaPo. He was undone -- in part -- by hurling a racial slur at someone on tape. It's pretty simple."

First of all, the hard-copy evidence proves you wrong-the WaPo acted as a one-newspaper wrecking squad against Allen after he said what he did. www.newsbusters.org has all the poop on their saturation bombing of the Allen story, including frequency of articles.

You can't say they are lying, as the Newsbusters people provide the actual links. Have fun!

As for racial slurs, how is Allen's calling someone "Macacca" more offensive than former Ku Klux Klan member and current West Virginia Senior Senator Robert Byrd using the "N" word on national TV a few years ago? He was never called on it. Ouch!

FYI, I grew up as a white person in Hawaii in the 1960s, where I was in the racial minority. Several times a year, us white kids (known by the Hawaiian name "Haole") had ther crap beat out of us, just because we were white.

Case closed.

blogs will come and go. enjoy it while it lasts.

Allen was well over 20% ahead in the polls at the time of the remark. If he had immediately come out and apologized, said it was a stupid thing to say but he was annoyed that the Webb campaign was sending this guy following him everywhere hoping for a goof - "and darn if I didn't give 'em a good one, didn't I?" -the whole thing would have been defused. Would it have cost him in the polls? Probably a few points. Nothing like the nonsensical and extended response the Allen campaign delivered, though.

Hahaha! The NRSC totally disrespected the Kiddie Korner! I would gloat and throw some cheap shots about the Kidz wearing short pants and all, but it's the NRSC, for crying out loud. The guys who missed the chance to unseat Reid and Dorgan in 2004 and lost a few other opportunities that year despite winning a few net seats, and gave us the debacle of 2006.

Heck, being on the NRSC's list ain't doodley-squat, is it? I mean, would you even go to a restaurant they recommended, giving their track record?

Dang, I should UN-bookmark the landlubber Captain, the UT pretty-boy Reynolds, that albino bastard Hewitt, and those nit-picking lawyers at Power Line right now! Sorry, can't de-list Malkin, even though she is clearly the weakest of the group, because there is always a chance she'll post a genuine bikini shot. (The rest of you guys - fuggiddaboudit).

j/k, of course, but they WERE endorsed by the NRSC (National RINO Simpleton Committee), weren't they?

That should read "... GIVEN their track record ..."

Ugh! Sorry!

The MSM has long played the race and ethnic cards in order to boost the fortunes of their Democrat pets. Why give up a winning strategy? Already in the debate about the amnesty bill we are hearing about the "racism" of the opponents. Don't forget how the MSM played upon racial hatreds in promoting the phony Duke rape case and the phony "epidemic" of black church burnings. If you thought that the MSM's race-baiting was bad in 2004 and 2006, just wait until 2008.

George Allen's campaign provides the best example of what happens when you roll over and play dead for the MSM. It was clear how Allen should have responded - he should have smashed it back down the throats of the MSM. He should have pointed out at every opportunity how the MSM plays up racial and ethnic hatreds for political gain. He should have asked why the MSM was obsessing on an obscure word like "macaca" (whatever the hell that means) while ignoring unabashedly bigoted individuals and organizations like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Robert Byrd, La Raza, and the NAACP. By apologizing over and over again, Allen legitimized the MSM's phony complaints. No wonder he lost - Allan did everything short of endorsing Webb.

As many times as Politico.com has flubbed "insider" information, this expose may be legitimate. But I have to pull back and wonder why Politico deemed it newsworthy to report that there exists a detailed campaign ‘plan for action’ by the Republicans? When do we get to see the counterpart the Democrats possess examined in a Politico article?

Don't know about anyone else, but I smell a rat.

Consider how viciously the MSM and the Dems and Libs have been on the attack against Rush Limbaugh, who is a force to be reckoned with during any election season. He calls a spade a spade, and uses facts on his show backed up by exhaustive research, not the hyperbole and rewriting of history for which the Dems are famous. His listeners get the real facts along with the news, which has done-in more than a few Dems in past elections.

So they're out to not only discredit him.....they're out to utterly destroy him and eliminate Limbaugh as a factor and a source for facts as well as insights into why what's happening is happening, and what Liberals are really saying when they say what they intended to say but declare they meant something else when it blows up in their faces after he researches the real facts and exposes them, whatever the issue.

So the Dems/Libs are trying to revive the Fairness Doctrine to remedy that, but since it doesn't seem a very promising undertaking at this point, they' re out to destroy Rush Limbaugh to eliminate one of the most listened-to important sources of factual information on whom tens of millions of Conservatives rely.

That Politico deemed it crucial to reveal that the Republicans also recognize the Conservative Bloggers as a crucial potential tool in upcoming elections is indicative of the fact that the Dems/Libs are all too cognizant of the impact and potential power this alternative media source represents. Hence, the Conservative Bloggers must also be discredited in the public’s eye.

Politico.com, while promoting a few Conservatives, is, in fact, a NeoProgressive site with mostly liberal journalists and commentators. Of course they're going to expose anything that might be a GOP game plan and any participants!

How better to discredit so important an alternative conservative leaning media source than to shrewdly and subtly imply that there is some partnership, or collusion, between the Republicans and the Conservative Bloggers?

How better to dismiss and discredit those Conservative Bloggers in the general public's eyes than to intimate that such bloggers are nothing more than mouthpieces for the GOP? Why, the NRSCC must be planning on starting a daily distribution of Talking Points from the GOP to their target A List Bloggers!

{shakes head} Maybe I'm getting too cynical and/or paranoid in my older years. But this seems all too obvious to me, watching the way the Democrats take out opponents through utterly discrediting them, through character assassinations, through destroying their careers, and especially by using 'guilt by association' mud slinging.

Ed was right to express caution about the possibility of being manipulated. Unfortunately, I don't think that the GOP and NRSCC are the only entities which are capable of shrewd and clever manipulations.

National recognition as an important alternative source for objectively and factually reported news is a Conservative Blogger's dream! How clever of Politico.com to massage their egos so sweetly.

Just remember what publications were the former employers of most of the major contributors of Politico.com.

Congrats on making the NRSC “top five.” That a nice achievement.

He should have pointed out at every opportunity how the MSM plays up racial and ethnic hatreds for political gain.

Do you guys ever get tired of the media bias crutch? I'm surprised it has broken for how much it gets leaned on.

First off, Allen said "Welcome to America..." to a native born Virginian. Why? Because of the color of his skin. He then called him Macaca, which is a racial slur derived from an African word for monkey.

And you guys are blaming the Washington Post? The guy got caught using a racial slur against an operative of his opponent.

I mean, he could have confronted this guy any number of ways, but it gives a window into his character that his reaction was to use a racial slur. Plain and simple. Virginians voted appropriately.

And Del, I don't mean to sound like your mother, but just because other people do it doesn't make it right.

I'm the last person to argue that George Allen has anyone to blame for his loss other than himself and his big mouth.

On the other hand, anyone who says they knew what "macaca" meant, including George Allen, before some excited internet junkie sat down and googled the word, is a liar, relevant academics excepted.

It is a nonsense word.

OTOH, Kendra's cautions aside, it is my opinion that the blogs will retain their unique form of impact (or should I say 'the bloggers') right up until the time they are seduced by the power brokers. For some, it will be (and has been) a position in the campaign. For others, just the opportunity to name-drop and schmooze with the elite. For the most cynical, hard cash will suffice.

I don't blame those whom succumb to the seduction. Only the most noble and principled souls will be able to resist the siren's call.

On the other hand, anyone who says they knew what "macaca" meant, including George Allen, before some excited internet junkie sat down and googled the word, is a liar, relevant academics excepted.

Well, obviously George Allen had heard the word before he used it. And he used it in a context of "welcoming" a foreigner, so it seems who knew it had some sort of racial meaning.

Doesn't matter if 99% of Americans hadn't heard the slur before. He did and he used it.

Look guys, I am the last person to agree with Tom Shipley, because I think he is generally a dishonest toad, but he is absolutely right here: "Macaca" is a racial slur used typically in Northern Africa. And Surprise, surprise, Allen's mom is Tunisian. Wonder where he came up with it?

George Allen, whom I respect and would have considered voting for, tried to be cute, thinking no one would know what he meant, and got appropriately called out for it. This was not a hit job, it was stupidity, plain and simple, whether or not he actually retains a bias against individuals on the basis of skin color. I don't feel sorry for him.

And if Republicans expect to be taken seriously on matters of race, despite their superior record on race issues compared with Democrats, then you shouldn't either.

Gee, thanks Johnny.

I don't want to hijack the topic of this thread, but I'd be interested to see if you could show me one instance where you think I've been dishonest on here.

I am convinced that that is what you believe Tom.

Look guys, I am the last person to agree with Tom Shipley, because I think he is generally a dishonest toad, but he is absolutely right here: "Macaca" is a racial slur used typically in Northern Africa. And Surprise, surprise, Allen's mom is Tunisian. Wonder where he came up with it?

George Allen, whom I respect and would have considered voting for, tried to be cute, thinking no one would know what he meant, and got appropriately called out for it. This was not a hit job, it was stupidity, plain and simple, whether or not he actually retains a bias against individuals on the basis of skin color. I don't feel sorry for him.

And if Republicans expect to be taken seriously on matters of race, despite their superior record on race issues compared with Democrats, then you shouldn't either.

interested to see if you could show me one instance where you think I've been dishonest on here.

Bush lied.

That doesn't make any sense.

Bush lied.

Well, first of all, I don't think I've ever claimed that Bush lied. I've said he misled us into the war in Iraq. And I post an pretty extensive argument (when asked to back up that claim) as to why I believe that, to which no one responded or challanged.

I don't see how that's being dishonest.

I've said he misled us into the war in Iraq.

which no one responded or challanged.

While I sincerely doubt the veracity of the second statement; if true, I'm certain it is only because 5 years later people are tired of refuting the same repetitive sophistry. I can list thirty people on this site right off the top of my head whom have refuted, effectively, your very same arguments when made more eloquently by others. So, please remember if people aren't "challenging" your arguments, its not because your arguments are unassailable, as you seem to think, but rather that people are bored, and recognize that you're likely too thick-headed to listen, anyway.

Nevertheless, those two statements are in total, a microcosm of my initial statement about you, which, by the way, stands.

You were, however, right about George Allen.

"Bush lied."
Posted by: johnnymozart at June 14, 2007 11:07 AM

Have you seen the YouTube video of Al Gore giving that speech when he and Bill Clinton were running for the 1992 elections? Blows that all to heck! Gore specifically accuses Bush41 of deliberately ignoring the fact that Sadam had biological and chemical weapons, weapons of mass destruction, and committed mass murders of Iraqis!

I don't know who found it, but it is posted at YouTube for all the world to see now that you Liberals have been lying through your teeth for years now for the specific purpose of destroying President Bush. You ought to be embarrassed as all getout!

Here you go Johnny,

I laid out my argument in this post in this thread. Funny how you and Del disappeared after. Care to respond now? Or are you going to use the “bored” excuse.

Posted by Tom Shipley at May 10, 2007 12:07 PM

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/052007comm.cgi?entry_id=9931