Matthew Yglesias » Toobin: What Suspension?

Sep 26th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Toobin: What Suspension?

CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin has emerged over the past couple of months as a very rare person who goes on cable news, tells the truth, and manages to get himself invited back. Here’s an example from last night, calling BS on his colleagues’ credulity about John McCain’s “suspension” of his campaign:

Good work deserves some recognition.

Comments
30

Filed under: Cable, Media, Toobin

30 Responses to “Toobin: What Suspension?”

MN Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
“Good work deserves some recognition.”

I so agree….I appreciate Toobin’s honesty and intelligent analysis…..he and Cafferty are the reasons I watch The Situation Room.
Jake Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
In a related question: why does Wolf Blitzer have his own show? He’s terrible. Absolutely terrible.
Anon Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Yes, the idea that if a sitting senator actually does, you know, senator stuff during campaign season, he’s suspended his campaign is, in a word, dumb. In fact, the idea that if McCain actually did pull his campaign ads (was this on the table? first I’ve heard of it), then that would really mean he had suspended his campaign is even more wrong-headed. The whole “I’m not going to spend time campaigning so that I can focus on this crisis” at least makes sense but why on Earth would this requires suspending his ads? Does he think that that “I’m John McCain and I approve this message” thing requires him to watch the ads every time they air or something? No, pulling the ads only makes sense as an act of political theatre, which confirms what has been obvious since the beginning: this “suspension” was not a suspension of his campaign but a *part* of it.
strasmangelo jones Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
In a related question: why does Wolf Blitzer have his own show?

Tenure.
Anon Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
@Jake: Scientists have determined that the reason he has his own show is 50% beard and 50% first name.
Molly Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Yes! Toobin did this in the primaries too.

He called McCain out on lying about Romney.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz11W74nhFI
Jackie Lee Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Toobin is the anachronistic exception to the new media rules. He seems to think his job is about informing the public and moving dialogue forward.

Wolf has his own show because he knows better; mindless shillery is the mode du jour.

Call me old-fashioned; when I can stomach CNN, I watch for Toobin and Cafferty.
kth Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
There’s no such thing as “not campaigning”, unless you withdraw from the race. Even Jimmy Carter’s “rose garden” strategy, though it failed, was calculated to make him look more serious and presidential, and to make Reagan’s attacks look “merely political” in a time of grave crisis.
Matthew Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
What is with this disease that newspeople have that if a candidate says something that must be what the candidate is doing, even if all evidence suggests otherwise? Camera induced brain freeze?

http://thesebastards.blogspot.com/
Anon Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Why am I being asked to download Flash? I already have the latest Flash.
ostap Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Q: why does Wolf Blitzer have his own show?

Bizarre A: Tenure.

Correct A: ratings, i.e., money
pickandroll Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Q: why does Wolf Blitzer have his own show?

Most correct A: Because his name is WOLF BLITZER!!!
Geoff Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
The last (or maybe first) sane man on cable TV.

What I love is that when Toobin says, “Uh, no, he didn’t take his ads down” there’s no need for further discussion. Toobin doesn’t make shit up.

The poor guy is constantly saying “the issues matter so let’s get off this news cycle crap”. Futily of course.
James Gary Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Most correct A: Because his name is WOLF BLITZER!!!

Wolllllffff….Blit-zer, wider than a mile–
I’m–crossing you in style, someday….
Ohhhh, dream maker, you heart breaker–
Whichever way you’re going, I’m going your way—

Twooooo drifters, off to see the world–
There’s–such a lot of world–to seeeeee—
We’re after the same rainbow’s end–
Waiting ’round the bend–
My–huckleberry friend–
Wolf Blitzer, and me.

Enjoy the buffet, folks. I’ll be here all week.
Botswana Meat Commission FC Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Homies are sleepin’ on J. Toob!

He does this on the regular. Wolf sets him up with a CW-loaded question and Toobin, like any good lawyer, knocks down the entire premise with one or two careful phrases.
Comment Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Praytell - how did Stephen Hayes become regarded as a Serious Pundit?

Why isn’t Hayes treated like a UFO freak?
ty Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
As long as we’re having a Jeff 2Been love fest, someone should point out that his recentish book, The Nine, is a completely readable and relatively complete history of the Rehnquist Court. It’s not as good as Woodward’s examination of the early Burger Court, The Brethren, but it’s in the same league. Toobin’s good people.
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Matt Yglesias

Toobin: What Suspension?

30 Responses to “Toobin: What Suspension?”

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