One impressionistic conclusion I’ve formed is that despite its much vaunted influence, the partisan American “A-list” blogosphere has been next to useless in uncovering what’s actually at stake in the presidential campaign. Analytical pieces are few and far between, as bloggers stick to the talking points, and relentlessly feed the already insane focus on the instant. The worst of the mediated election cycle gets reproduced in the blogosphere as the horse race becomes all, and a bunch of West Wing wannabes outspin the spin doctors. So it’s worth – in the context of Kevin Rudd’s visit to Washington – recommending a longer piece in one of the various American outlets for long form journalism of venerable esteem – the New York Review of Books. Elizabeth Drew, who’s long been, in my view at least, one of the best observers and analysts of the Stateside political scene, takes a long hard look at the differences in the Obama and Clinton campaigns, at what the campaigns imply about potential governing styles, and, in the process, demystifies some of the demographic differences in the appeal of the two candidates, with a keen focus on the issues. Hillary doesn’t come out looking very flash. Recommended.
5 Responses to “Of molehills and mountains”
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There is decent policy related stuff around the American blogosphere, but it doesn’t tend to make the front pages of the “A-list”.
Even on Kos, the diaries often have some interesting energy policy related stuff, though the latest faux-scandal will always be given preference on the front page…
Agreed that it doesn’t make Clinton look good. However, I do take issue with this interpretation:
I think being chameleon like is something employed by many people in order to find common ground with the people they are talking to and win trust. I don’t think it necessarily shows that that she is not a natural politician and willing to try anything. I think it shows that she is a very canny operation and knows a lot more about winning people over than she is given credit for in this article. Whether this would make her the better President, I don’t know. Either Democrat would do me.
I left Kos, Huffington etc way back around Super-Tuesday when the bias became so irrational and unreadable, as one regular said “It would appear that nothing less than abusing Clinton’s corpse will satisfy them”.
, ‘riverdaughter’ occasionally, and once in awhile PBS network news sites, or ‘No Quarter’.
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I tend to visit ‘talkleft.com’ most these days, or ‘corrente’ (especially Lambert – he’s entertaining
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As they say, according to Party rules, the nomination will come down to the Party officials in late June, when all the State Party Conventions have confirmed final numbers of delegates.
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There is concern in Party circles from exit polling – in some key states, up to 30% of Clinton supporters have indicated they will not vote for Obama in November. SUSA is considered one the most reliable polling outfits in the USA.
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Some alternate sources of information which may (or may not) be of interest to readers here:
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Chicago Smack Down Rules
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Background on Senator Obama
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A reporters story
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Sean Wilentz is a highly respected academic in the USA, but has no political or personal affiliations with the Clintons:
Sean Wilentz – the Race Card
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A-A Democrats speak
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Matt Gonzalez is a well-known US Green Party politician in Californian state politics. He has now agreed to be Ralph Nader’s running mate on an Independent ticket:
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http://quartz.he.net/~beyondch/news/index.php?itemid=5413
(link didn’t work?)
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And from our very own Australian:
Clinton backlash
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And in the light of Rudd spending so much more time with Clinton (private meeting) than Obama (courtesy phone call) on his recent US trip,
I found this old comment by Laurie Oakes interesting:
Rudd – Obama
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Obama’s economic advisors are David Cutler, Jeffrey Liebman and Austan Goolsbee, all of which are known for their right-wing economic policies.
Jeffrey Liebman worked as economic advisor for Bill Clinton too.
David Cutler also worked for Bill Clinton. None of these three are right-wingers.
MB: “One impressionistic conclusion I’ve formed is that despite its much vaunted influence, the partisan American “A-list” blogosphere has been next to useless in uncovering what’s actually at stake in the presidential campaign.”
Mark, there are diamonds among the dross, but for the most part, I agree.
There’s been some quality coverage of the Sep presidentials over at Poll Bludger. On a good day PB’s links, comments and banter can be as informative as Dan Froomkin’s WaPo column, but as with everywhere (exept Mr.Quiggan’s blog) scallywags and idiots do from time to time disrupt commentary.
The “Molehill” essay by Elizabeth Drew is beautifully scribed analysis and provides many insights. Considering that Drew filed before March 18, it contains much prescience. eg.
“Members of the Obama team have also been raising questions about Hillary Clinton’s assertions of her “experience,” particularly in foreign policy. They point out that she didn’t have security clearance in the White House, and could not attend National Security Council meetings. They have also been taking apart her claims of specific foreign policy successes, for example her assertion that “I helped to bring peace to Northern Ireland,” a claim that even Northern Ireland officials debunked recently. “
Drew wrote this before Lara Croft-Clinton’s Excellent Bosnian Beat-Up Adventure broke so shatteringly for her in the MSM.
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Fair point, Mindy. To be successful, a pollie doesn’t play Tammany Hall by bunging on a Pommy accent.
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Rain outpours: “I left Kos, Huffington etc way back around Super-Tuesday when the bias became so irrational and unreadable, as one regular said “It would appear that nothing less than abusing Clinton’s corpse will satisfy them”.”
Well spotted, Rain. The Obamaphiles won’t be satisfied till they have nailed the ghoul vote. These people have no shame. As we blog, hired Obi-Goths on “Cemetary Watch” are approaching suspected fellow travellers as they case graveyards in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Indiana.
Ahh, Rain, if only you knew how much the Kossacks, Huffys and etceteras pine for your lost patronage.