Sep 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Inside the Bubble
I went to a breakfast discussion this morning hosted by Politico about the Sarah Palin pick. It was basically Mike Murphy plus a smattering of GOP elected officials. And it was fascinating the extent to which they were cocooning about this disaster. Their basic points were:
- Upside: She’s a fresh-faced mavericky reformer.
- Downside: Some will say she’s inexperienced
- Upshot: We’ll have to see, but conservatives love her!
It was basically exactly what you heard the moment she was announced — no discussion whatsoever of the information that’s come out in the intervening days. I got a chance to ask a question and it went on C-SPAN:
Later in the program, all of the panelists agreed that Palin wouldn’t have been picked had she been a man.
57 Responses to “Inside the Bubble”
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September 2nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Shape of Earth: opinions differ.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Good job bringing those items up and what luck that they were broadcast! Thanks.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
WTF did he mean by, “I don’t buy the Ted Stevens argument”? It’s a matter of public record, isn’t it? She worked for his 527.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
First, thanks for asking about the real stuff (not the family drama). Second, what a totally evasive non-answer.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Nice job Matthew. It’s a great question.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Oh, snap! Mike Murphy at the very end (rough paraphrase): “I think Barack Obama made the best political move of the past few days when told people, ‘Lay off the kid,’ and it’s from some of the liberal blog world, my friend (looks at Matt?), where that’s coming from.” pwned!
I also think it’s funny that Murphy has internalized the “my friend” McCainism.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Yeah, Matt. Too bad you weren’t on that panel. Mike Murphy is such a smug piece of shit and I would have relished you being able to follow up on his complete garbage non-answer.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
For an alternative take on who is Cocooning, you should read Jerome’s post on Palin as a game-changer.
Of course Jerome also thinks rightwing snooze-fest Mark Warner is a game-changer so read it with a grain of salt, as it contains several grains of truth. Particularly MONEY.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
With even people like David Frum slamming the decision, I would say the coccoon is starting to resemble a bunker. We may just be a few hours away from some major Republican leader stepping up to call for consideration of a different nominee. That will be the bomb that breaks loose all hell, and sets people running from the bunker.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
“Pacifica”
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
1) Sarah Palin can’t have been close to Ted Stevens because it is know she is not close to Ted Stevens…
2) Sure, the Maverick Sarah Palin flip-flopped on the Bridge to Nowhere but that is because the Maverick Sarah Palin is just a politician…
3) I have never heard of the AIP and will not have heard of the AIP the next time you ask either…
4) Did your question have something to do with John McCain? I can’t remember but I’m pretty sure you attacked Bristol Palin which is disgraceful!
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Ah, come on. You’re still locked into that Democratic glass-half-empty Negetivism.
John Dickinson at Slate appreciates Sarah Palin’s virtues:
“she’s a bio writer’s dream. She was a sportscaster and a fisherwoman, doesn’t mind smelling like salmon occasionally, was once runner-up in the Miss Alaska competition, and her husband is a champion snowmobiler. For all I know, she may also throw knives. “
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
To Dan Kervick, absolutely. Wonder what Powell, Lugar, Hagel and those ‘real serious’ Rs think about McCain’s choice. They must be horrified. Would serve McCain right if they all came out & endorsed Obama.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
My biggest complaint this week is that during the Democratic convention the MSM went to Republicans for input on how the convention would play out.
Now that we are covering the Republican convention the MSM is… going to Republicans for input of how the convention will likely play out…
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Nicely done. MY.
Everyone catch that Murphy touche in Matt’s direction?
“And some of the liberal blog world, my friend [tilt head toward Matt], is where that’s coming from and it’s trash.”
And there’s nothing more irritating than when paneluists like this bat away questions with canned quips like Murphy’s Alaska-Hawaii-Pacifica thing.
WTF on the Stevens answer? He doesn’t buy the argument that she headed Stevens’ 527? That’s a matter of public record. The issue isn’t whether Stevens would like or dislike this pick. The question is: are Palin’s claims to outsider-dom and corruption-fighting sincere?
Oh and it’s a sort of a two-fer, in that 527’s themselves were designed to circumvent
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:09 pm
…to circumvent McCain-Feingold.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Murphy is apparently into guilt by association. Which means he should really not be a fan of the AIP links.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Excellent work Yglesias, but you kind of got sonned at the end. There’s nothing you could have done at the time since the panel always gets the last word in that set-up, so you’ll have to get back at Murphy by continuing to reveal what a world class schmuck he is.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
8: Jerome’s post is based on the argument that Palin will get the base excited, which is important with Republican identified voter falling from from 36->25%.
The problem is that it’s only the 25% hardcore partisans who are going to be excited. If you’re not a total nutter, picking Palin appears ludicrous. Sure, they might raise more money and get better turnout from that 25%, but McCain picking Leiberman or such would have had a much better chance reining in that 10% that’s slipping away.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Murphy was concern trolling on Swampland all last week, so he can talk.
(And the whole ‘DKos = evil’ is just bullshit, given that they did nothing to elevate or encourage discussion of the Palin/baby rumours, and those rumours appeared on open comments sections at CNN and other big media sites the moment the pick was announced.)
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
What are the odds that those rumors were originally started by Palin’s Republican political enemies in Alaska?
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Funny that Murphy used the word ‘trash’. Slightly Freudian slip there – well off, connected dudes like him think (*really* think) that people like the Palins are kinda trashy. That quality – call it what you will – is exactly what makes her so popular among the religious base (cough…THE SOUTH..kaff).
And Murphy’s deliberate meaning there is horseshit, too. He’s saying that any mention of any of the soap opera stuff is ‘trash’. We aren’t allowed to even refer to any of it, or we’re trash. My god, there’s a thread over at Obsidian Wings which is now 300+ comments of not talking about it. It is a preposterous argument on his part: issues which are currently outside the purview of government anyway, are somehow being affected in any material way by basically powerless people chatting about it.
Obama is right, both politically and morally to have said and meant what he did. He and his team are way too smart to take bait like this anyway. What a contrast with McCain.
McCain is not a ‘maverick’. He’s a Wild Card. This is a crack-up. All I can say is – about friggin’ time.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
MPowell, those odds are 100%. Isn’t that established fact? And fuck Mike Murphy for repeating that the blogosphere spawned these rumors that predate blogosphere awareness of Palin.
Also, apparently the GOP endorses dissolution of the Union? Because that’s what I just heard.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Kudos to Matt for asking the obvious question – the same question that has been driving me nuts for the last 24 hours. And what exactly did Matt say that was “trash” exactly? Murphy doesn’t say. But that’s Murphy. How long do the Republicans think they can keep this up. I spent some time this morning reading both ‘The Corner’ and TWS and they are both in total denial about all of this. It is clear now that Palin wasn’t vetted and this was a very rash, reckless, completely irresponsible decision that should effectively kill any chance McCain had of getting elected President – no?
What am I missing?
I have asked myself this same question so many times over the last eight years, but I have to ask it again – surely the Republicans aren’t this stupid?
What is going to happen the second Sarah Palin comes out of hiding and is actually faced with a reporter who dares to ask her about her history with ‘Alaskan Independence’? Her relationship with Ted Stevens? (if there was ever a current poster boy of contemporary Republican corruption) Lying about the ‘bridge to nowhere’ during her introduction rally? Her use of earmarks while the Mayor of Wasilla? The tyrannical nature of her tenure as the mayor of Wasilla? etc, etc, etc – and who knows what else?
I notice that the Alaskan Independence thing has now made it into the NYT. James Carville on CNN last night kept saying that she only got her first passport in order to travel over to Kuwait to see the troops.
How can the American people be expected to vote for a ticket that has a former secessionist on the ticket? How could the party of Lincoln nominate her? John McCain is on video now calling her his ’soul mate’.
It just all seems like too much. Like weirdly too much. There has to be something up here. The guy over at Hufffington called it a ‘fumblerookski’ (or whatever). She pulls a Harriet Miers before the end of the week citing media pressure on her daughter. The Republicans nominate Lieberman/Romeny/Palewnty as her ‘Alito’ replacement and McCain hopes that the Republican social conservative base is sufficiently energized enough to blame it all on the ‘left wing media and blogosphere’. This is the only thing that makes sense to me.
Unless the Republican party and most of the right wing commentariat is in full on psychic meltdown. And this is the Bush Doctrine applied to VP selection – and she is the Ahmed Chalabi of VP picks. So we’ve invaded, now – what’s the plan? Don’t worry. Ahmed will take care of it – that kind of thing.
Excuse Secretary Rumsfeld but it seems that we are torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib and there are even pictures.
Rumsfeld: I don’t want to hear about it.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
MPowell @ 19: This is what I believe as well, it won’t be enough but the religious righties are going out of their minds (even more) over her.
Of course Sully found an article that indicates Palin supports contraception which should throw a hell of a lot of cold water on the fundies.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
The point is about McCain not vetting someone before announcing them. Everything else is just smokescreen.
BTW, good job Mr Yglesias.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I love it: prominent liberal blogger asks substantive question about Palin’s political record with no mention of her family, and Republican strategist responds to the three issues by 1) denying the plain evidence that Palin and Stevens have been more allies than enemies 2) capitulating, in a joking way on the “Bridge to Nowhere” issue 3) obfuscating Palin’s fringe-y Alaska-first history with a lame joke about a new state, which is not, last time I checked, what a secessionist movement is about.
He then ices the cake by smearing liberal bloggers for saying nasty things about Palin family, despite the fact that a liberal blogger right in front of him just raised serious questions about Palin that had nothing to do with her family.
Wow. That’s nice spin, diversion, and slime there, Mike Murphy. By the way, Mike, Ben Franklin just called. He wants his bald-man mullet back. Also, he thinks you’re douchebag.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I have to agree on laying of the kid though. Just want to find out if this Levi kid is the only one she has been spreading her legs for or if she is more of a general slut like we all knew in high school and then just leave her alone.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Oh and this does make the Palins seem like a normal family as the right-wing has been spinning (that and the fact that Mom got knocked up before getting married too). After all, every family has a daughter, or sister or cousin or aunt or niece that gets knocked up when they are still 16 and unmarried, right?
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Carville was arguing with some Congresswoman and having a similar experience–he went after the substantive issues, she claimed he was being sexist. That reaction is morphing into:
A: What about the substantive issues with the Palin pick, like seceding from the Union?
B: It is just dreadful the way the left is picking on a teenage girl.
There’s a chance to turn 2 into
2. Some will say she’s just too fringe for a nation that doesn’t consider Alaskan secession, helping Ted Stevens, and saving the bridge to nowhere issues they can get behind.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Great question. Incredibly weak response. Which is why when it comes to Palin, they got nothing.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Just want to find out if this Levi kid is the only one she has been spreading her legs for or if she is more of a general slut like we all knew in high school and then just leave her alone.
Not cool, mikelotus. We can question Sarah Palin’s judgment and character all we want; she’s a candidate for a major political office. Her teenage daughter, not so much. Leave the slime-by-association to the Republicans; we should be better than that.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
mikelotus is a troll, obviously.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I have good evidence that mikelotus is not a troll. Palin knew this would happen if she went in and she went in. There will be plenty of late night comedy jokes and who knows what else about the girl and yet, mom still went for it. And I for one am not willing to let Obama go down like Kerry — remember the Swifties. You can have 100% of your honor and loose? No thanks.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Oh happy day! MattY finally asks a question. Unfortunately, I’d need to start up a different computer to hear it and that would take a few seconds, so if someone could provide a near transcript of MattY’s question that would be appreciated.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Sounds like you dropped the proverbial turd in the kool-aid punchbowl.
Well done, sir!
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I have good evidence that mikelotus is not a troll….And I for one am not willing to let Obama go down like Kerry — remember the Swifties.
‘remember the swifties’? Oh yeah, dude, just what I was going to say.
if you’re going to be a troll, try harder.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Now I want to see Matt Y on tv more often. Seriously.
Sure, Mr. Yglesias doesn’t have much . . . um . . . “glamour” (but then again, maybe a good stylist could do something about that), but this little clip has more substantive questions than anything else I’ve seen in the last week of television coverage.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Denial is funny to watch…
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
JH – When you work for a 527 you may, or may not, know what corrpt backscratching is going on. Of course, the Obamessiah could be forgiven his association with Bill Ayers IF Ayers did NOT quit reiterrating that he wish the Weathertards had “done more”. Barack Obama, who has emerged out political nowhere, IS the Manchurian Candidate – -
So Sarah Palin wouldn’t be selected if she were a man. Such a stupid point. She isn’t a perfect person, but she is a perfect pick as she has demonstrated the type of character not recognized by those immersed in moral realtivism.
If qualifications were important Barack Obama wouldn’t be at the top of the Dem ticket (and require bolstering from Joe Biden, who does think Barack is qualified). Come to think of it, Hillary Clinton wouldn’t have been elected to the Senate if she hadn’t been married to Mr. Bill. And she doesn’t think Barack is qualified.
A suggestion……instead of telling me how stupid Repubs are (you and your minions seem to agree on THAT) – why don’t you tell us all of the positive ideas the Dem ticket has.
(foot tapping)…..
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Matt,
You’re great! I loved it. Keep it up!
You young kids give me hope for America.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Way to go, Matt.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
But… but… but… Bill Ayers! Scary! Soetaro! Muslim! Rev. Wright! Why are you not paying attention to me???!!!!
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Great question.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
“why don’t you tell us all of the positive ideas the Dem ticket has.”
Is this your first time coming here? Matt doesn’t have to point out how stupid Republicans are, you idiots do it just fine all by yourself.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Isn’t it just like the Repos to think of a woman more in terms of her “arm decoration” factor than anything having to do with the person herself?
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Like the question Matt. Just wanted to say that I feel like you should work on your intonation in public speaking/debate. Your sort of high-ish note with rising tone towards the end of phrases sounds fine in a discussion with a couple like minded friends, but, to me at least, makes you sound not as smart and less informed than you are.
IE, Mr. Very Serious Republican Strategist with his I’m Very Serious intonation sounds much more convincing basically dismissing you as part of the very unserious, hates America, lefty blogosphere. A different energy in your voice would make him sound more like what he is, which is a political hack who’s going to fail to answer an informed question from a serious journalist in a technologically new medium he’s too old and square to understand…
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