Campaign Food Diary

What, no arugula?

How’s the coffee?

lol @ Joe. That another example of how a story that wasn’t got hung around Obama’s neck. KT does the plane really stink?

KT here–

Fine, and yes, commenters, I know this post is totally frivolous.

KT here–

Plane smells fine. But it does have sort of a frat-house decor that all these planes get at the end of a race. The Halloween decorations are still up, there is some crime scene tape in the middle cabin, and all the walls are covered with people’s snapshots from the road.

KT here–

Also, there are hundreds of plastic hotel keys taped to the ceiling.

Psh, my McDonald’s pancakes and hashbrown are better than that!

Always choose the option that includes bacon. That’s just common sense.

You should be feasting entirely on a little thing I like to call: hope. Altogether now.

lol @ animal house on the Obama plane

KT here–

The hotel keys crack me up. There are lots and lots of Holiday Inn Expresses, Comfort Inns and at least one Super 8 Motel, interspersed with an occasional Fairmont and Omni.

KT,
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Jake Tapper videotaped a landing yesterday and said that Obama must have the worst pilot EVER because the landings are always very rough. Any thoughts?

It’s fine that you can enjoy an egg-bagel but everyone wants the answer to the actual burning question. Can the candidate eat his waffle uninterrupted???!!!

Halperin is on This week with George S

What? No Fruit Roll-ups?

Someone needs to think of a joke involving reporters and staying at a Holiday Inn Express. Quick!

KT here–

Actually, Obama brought that up in the interview I did with him flying out of Amman this summer, when they had just refurbished the inside of the plane and he was seeing it for the first time. He said it’s an old plane with old shock absorbers. I’ll find the quote.

What is the sniper fire situation? Lessening, I hope.

KT here–

Here it is:

TIME: First of all, how do you like your new plane?

BARACK OBAMA: Well, I was just thinking how lavish it is, although it is an old plane, so the shocks are still a little shaky — you’ll hear it when we land.

KT here–

The candidate is not on the plane at the moment, though the word is that he is en route. I’m way, way, way in the back, but loving this power outlet.

KT
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Did you already publish that interview or will you be putting it out later?

KT here–

SG: This was months ago. He has arrived, so we will be wheels up in a few. Signing off.

Have them check the davidaxelrods – they rarely but sometimes get out of alignment after a while.

Exciting! And the food sounds great. The trick I use when I travel is to taste everything, but don’t eat it all. So fun to be down to the wire…

oh ok. Safe travels

My campaign contributions are going to feed reporters?

Hmm… well, okay, I guess. Scherer doesn’t ride in that plane, does he?

KT:

Thank you! I find this sort of thing (insights into the mind and lives of campaign reporters) very interesting.

I don’t think anyone minds frivolous reporting on frivolous topics (so to speak). Its the frivolous reporting on serious topics or the serious reporting on frivolous topics that seems to draw the criticism.

You should eat the fruit cup first!

Karen, sounds like fun, I’m sure the food is great. I agree though on creating a food diary, that will at least keep you accountable. I have to imagine the excitement of these closing days is worth the few extra pounds. Are you in Missouri today then with the campaign? I loved Barack’s comment about the Cheney endorsement yesterday, I’m sure that got some reactions:) Have fun these last few days.

What? No leftover Halloween candy for breakfast?

Sounds yum! Being one of the “boys on the plane” must be a great bonding experience with fellow journos. Have a great time and stay safe.

Pourme-
You win, and I am insanely jealous.

@dennisdenuto

Well said.
Discussing the cost of haircuts while ignoring interrogatioon techniques – Bad.
Discussing interrogation techniques AS IF they were expensive haircuts – Worse!

At this stage, there is only room for frivolity.

I saw TIME Magazine’s Halperin make his predictions for the President, Senate, and House. Will our Swampland hosts be doing the same?

what a great experience for you. I am lying in bed just waking up…Mtn time, eating a banana, with a big furry dog warming my toes. Turn on my laptop and find out what is for breakfast on the future president of the US’s plane!! I also signed up for a couple of hours of volunteer hours this pm at the Obama office. Isn’t the internet great!!! LOL…and one of the reasons I’m voting for Obama…his connection with the people…even if it is just knowing what he is eating for breakfast!!!

Note that our campaign contributions don’t go to feeding KT & Co. bacon and asiago cheese bagels. The news orgs pay more than $25,000 per month for that privilege — the plane, the shuttles, the food, the hookups, the accommodations. All paid by the news agencies.

TPM notes that the CW is the undecideds will break for McCain. I think that’s right. The ‘undecideds’ are people who are embarrassed about voting for McCain, IMO.

Here’s a little example:
Last week, we got a bill from the Obama campaign, which we expected. We didn’t want or expect a free ride or free food.

The details of the invoice were surprising, however.

Meals: $115.62.

Bus: $226.17.

Supplies: $5.54.

Files: $91.41.

Invoice total: $438.74.

Invoice from Obama coverage another view of campaign: HeraldTimesOnline.com

“Note that our campaign contributions don’t go to feeding KT & Co. bacon and asiago cheese bagels. The news orgs pay more than $25,000 per month for that privilege — the plane, the shuttles, the food, the hookups, the accommodations. All paid by the news agencies.”

Well then… never mind and bon apet1t! (But they still shouldn’t feed Scherer.

@Pourme: Adjusting the Pfotenhauer and trimming the Palin will feel like a new shock!
@KT: Heard you on NPR and saw you on CNN(?) the last couple of days. Give us a heads up when you get a chance. (I recall that you were commenting on the abundance of campaign food in one of the interviews. My tip: lots of fruit – fills you up when you have food and always leaves you hungry later. Oh, and like PaulNNTO said, *Bacon* for those in-between meal snacks!)

Yeah, hecks. The news organs don’t accept meals and stuff from any source. The NYTimes details the very few exceptions, such as a meeting at a private club where the source has signing privileges and the reporter does not. But such circumstances are to be avoided.

Affleck got KO pretty good last night on SNL
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/02/saturday-night-lives-olbe_n_140102.html

(Dang, I hate the lack of formatting in the “new” Swampland. Starting with “Last week” all that was a quote from the little story. I myself have not been On The Bus.)

Scherer only eats bbq. His special diet costs extra.

Besides, he rides on the Lap Dog Express.

just tried to post a link to Affleck doing KO on SNL. The mods didnt like it but take my word for it….It was FUNNY lol

Thanks for that information James on what the news organizations pay with regard to food, access, etc. on the campaign planes. I was just discussing this with someone in regards to reports being banned from certain campaign planes and how it relates to various things. Based on a newspaper or news organizations endorsement, I don’t think the individual reports should be accountable to that necessarily.

Obama up 7 in CNN’s final poll.

I am sure the bacon must be Neuski applewood smoked bacon. I think I gained a pound just reading about it.

Posts and comments like this must drive JNS crazy. “Why don’t they attack KT like they attack me?”

James–
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Blockquote tag works.
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mh17. hecks
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My comment on this is in limbo. Trying again–it’s not just campaigns. Reporters aren’t supposed to take anything of value offered by a source. The NYTimes goes on at some length about meals, and exceptions to the rule.
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As for being thrown off planes, the Obama campaign claimed it was for space reasons. McCain’s campaign is more…personal.

@sgwhite – I am trying to figure something out. It looks like VA and CO will be the surest flips from red to blue. I’m trying to make sense of that to get a feel for the broad themes of election night. My guess is that those two states show a corresponding trend to much higher percentage of people living cities, e.g. urbanization. I wonder where I could find trend data to test that a$$umption.

Dennisdenuto and dirks explained why, mred.

pour-
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In VA, i think it’s more like NH, a growth in college educated suburban commuters to DC/Boston. In CO, it’s like Montana (Dem governor and two dem senators), liberals moving in.

I definitely agree on the McCain campaign being more personal,I think a lot of things with McCain are personal.

@jay – I bet they are moving into urban areas (my sister is one – lives in Crystal City!).

Teresa – nice to have you around. Have you been reading and just not commenting?
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@Karen – yes a food diary is a great idea, but aren’t you starting a little late? There’s two days left. So I wonder about how serious you are. (Telling someone out loud what you intend to do is good though).
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Isn’t asiago the cheese equivalent of arugula?

pourme,
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I don’t know for sure but I would bet fivethirtyeight has something on that. I did hear on one of the talk shows today someone make a similar comment about how if Virginia flips early then it will likely point to Obama having support in rural areas where the suspicion is that he will under perform but if he loses Virginia then maybe that means he will lose Penn also. At this point I have just about driven myself crazy so I am sticking to blogging with out looking at too many polls

Jay – I wonder about the libertarian vote in NH. Because of no income taxes there is now a movement among libertarians to move to NH (I know someone who did this, from MD) just to increase the numbers there with an eye to eventual majority libertarianism (sort of an oxymoron, isn’t it)

Airforce pilots always smoothing landings. Nice long runways on land (airforce bases). Marines and Navy rough landings. Attempting to land on postage stamps (aircraft carriers) in the middle of the ocean.

Kathy,
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They have an asiago chicken pasta at Bennigans that is DELICIOUS but I didnt see any arugula on the menu. Besides you guys need to let up on Obama. lol He didnt say he ate arugula. He was talking about folks GROWING arugula

Obama is leading because he has demonstrated that he is a practical man who will govern from the center. …………..

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/11/01/obama-will-govern-from-the-center/

sgwhite – it’s safe to look at Silver – he’s very reassuring. And Charlie Cook, who I am pretty certain was a McCainite early on, said that if McCain wins he (Cook) will be reduced to flipping burgers at MacD’s.

I hope you’re differentiating between McCain’s campaign being personal, as opposed to personABLE.

Kathy–

I was born in Nashua, and still have family there. The southern part of the state has changed enormously in the last 20 years, filling up with commuters to the 128 beltway.

sgwhite –
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I don’t understand why anyone would eat arugula. It tastes like lettuce that is getting old and starting to bolt. Tear the stuff up and start over.
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also – stuck in moderation, so this is a redo: sgwhite – it’s safe to look at Silver – he’s very re@ssuring. And Charlie Cook, who I am pretty certain was a McCainite early on, said that if McCain wins he (Cook) will be reduced to flipping burgers at MacD’s.

Jay – so I think you’re saying the commuters are why it’s becoming more liberal? Could never quite understand why Vt and NH are so different.

I am just trying to reconcile red/blue America and it starts to look like red state America is where people’s social lives are connected through church. I know that’s naive, but if you pick apart the map, it seems true.

SG:
Haha. That skit was great! The Mitt Romney-Pol Pot comparison and of course, Miss Precious Perfect!

sgwhite: Nate has his Pennsylvania diary up. says definitively that Obama will win PA. deal done.

pourme – it does sometimes look like that. Not true for highly R. Catholic areas though – mostly an evangelical protestant phenom.

KT: I was tied to the tv so am coming in late. Sick of Joe on Morning Joe, but the others were ok. It is good to know that you are being fed. Given the hours, the miles and the boredom a post like this just adds a pleasant touch about things I don’t know. Travel well and enjoy the closing.

- so I think you’re saying the commuters are why it’s becoming more liberal?
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College educated white collar workers, yes. Rather than a state full of milltowns.
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Could never quite understand why Vt and NH are so different.
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It’s strange isn’t it? Two states couldn’t be more alike in climate and geography and more different in lifestyle. No place like Brattleboro in NH. Bernie vs Sununu.
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I think it has to do with VT as vacation/second home destination for New Yorkers, for a very long time. And VT, for whatever reason, being more agricultural than light industrial. No sheep boom in NH.

It’s interesting to look at ALL of the variables broken down for the 2004 election. Religion is a powerful predictor for large numbers of people.

kathy,
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Yeah if I do anyhere I go to nate silver’s website for polling. But I just think polls are not important at this point. And I don’t want to develop an ulcer over the next two days.
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I have never tasted arugula so I will take your word on it.
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I heard the Charlie Cook quote and I think one of the commenters here, maybe pourme, said they were conflicted because they wanted to be able to personalize their burger with Charlie Cook lol

For instance, religion is a more powerful predictor than education. Bush/Kerry was a tie for college degree v. no college degree. Kerry wins for church attendance occasionally (52) or never (62) and Bush wins for weekly (61). Social bonds are strong.

jarais,
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I thought the best part was when Affleck kept spinning around in his chair during “special comment” and saying “Sir” over and over again. I think they nailed him. You know there was a report that KO crashed the set to watch Affleck practice but KO put out a press release that he was fine with the skit

jay –
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I, too, think it has to do with the difference between agriculture and manufacturing. Also, Vermont attracted more back to the land types. There’s a different kind of libertarian streak here – sort of an egalitarian libertarian streak. There’s certainly plenty of reactionary pockets, but the larger towns and cities are pretty accommodating of whoever shows up.
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Since 1960 when we elected our first Democratic governor in 106 years, every time a new governor has been elected, we have switched parties. every single time. Unfortunately, we have usually waited for the current governor to retire before we elect a new one, and so we’re stuck with Jim Douglas for the time being.

I am just trying to reconcile red/blue America and it starts to look like red state America is where people’s social lives are connected through church.
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Sean Quinn over at 538:
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Barack Obama enjoys a massive voter registration edge, where 52% of the state is now registered Democratic, more than Republicans and independents combined. Obama enjoys a massive organization edge, with an unprecedented operation up and running the state for months. It’s a high Catholic voting state, and Joe Biden’s selection as vice-president helps in the working-class Catholic demographic. Not many white evangelicals or Mormon voters hold down the Republican advantage. Obama and Biden have spent plenty of time in the state, and it’s a done deal.

I enjoyed the KO sketch, but I think Jon Hamm would have been better at capturing the misplaced confidence and anger. Ben Affleck is always so… nice.

McCain’s giving an invigorated speech. He’s an adrenaline junkie, and can’t function unless everything’s on the line. Just what we need in a President.

There’s a different kind of libertarian streak here – sort of an egalitarian libertarian streak.
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I think what you mean is “cheap.” I remember some site I visited where they had a big flagpole. The caretaker happened to be there, and mentioned that it was a recycled ship’s mast, that he’d priced flagpoles, and, being a Vermonter, found a better solution.

Ok this thread went down REAL well with my morning coffee! So funny! I’ve been reading about this campaign for so long i feel like I know all these people – but I wouldn’t have guessed at the hotel keys on the ceiling. Reminds me how young many of them are – it’s like a college dorm.

A little nostalgia: do the plane’s shocks scream “POW POW POW!” when it touches (slams) down?

I just want to say that SNL QVC spot with Palin “going rogue” and selling her 2012 T-shirt was so funny I spit out my coffee!! Back to our regularly scheduled fretting over the election that shall be over in 48 hours, but remembered for not just 4-8 years, but 48 years.

KT here–

More campaign plane decor: The wall of the cabin where the staff sits is papered with post cards from the places they have been, and there is a huge plastic spider taped to the lid of at least one of the toilets. I really think they ought to preserve the interior of this plane and put it in the Newseum.

Speaking of campaign food, I’ve been baking as a stress-buster. Made homemade puff pastry (reduced fat) and have been making fruit crostadas like a baker on fire.

Lots of breads and scones and biscuits. Yesterday I made cracked wheat buttermilk bread and blue cheese scones. I froze six pizza crusts. I’m buying flour in bulk.

I knead help.

(Ha- I meant “need”… I’m worse off than I thought.)

Is Senator Obama sharing any of the candy his daughter got at that party with members of the press?

He’s an adrenaline junkie, and can’t function unless everything’s on the line. Just what we need in a President.

That’s what scares me the most, he LIKES it when he has to come from behind, as opposed to staying on top of things.

Oregon and Idaho are next door neighbors. Obama up 15+ in Oregon, down 25+ in Idaho. I choose those states because neither have any black population. I’m just obsessing a little on the divide which that data reflects. Drive an hour and you are in a whole new world. Amazing.

KT,
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What the chances of getting some pictures of the decor? I realize some people might not want it published until after the election but I for one and I dont think I am alone would love to see the inside of the plane.

KT – Re: the toilet, who won’t you go after?

Maurice I am with you there. I read something about Dems feeling they were coming out of an 8 yr wilderness. I look at the wilderness as one of 40 yrs – of political and policy misery – my entire adult life lived in a country that was in reaction to convulsions I was too young to be part of it. All Clinton and Carter did was tentatively shuffle way from the edge of the precipice. We have a chance here to change the tone for generations.

I read something about Dems feeling they were coming out of an 8 yr wilderness.

Coming out of the wilderness into a scary world, where even the forest-dwellers know that the GOP will stop at nothing to ensure a victory.

KT – You don’t have to answer. I understand. I know it’s Howard Fineman. I’ve heard the stories.

Jayack – we prefer to think of that as frugal. And mostly out of necessity. “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

KT:
Great. The edifying tales of woe from the media (of the ruling class elites)!
[Eat your hearts out, you 30+-million-starving-American-kids.]
):|
Ah! The many wondrous ways of winning the (measly) hearts of media elites! In the good old days, the POTUS-wannabe Neanderthal made BBQ for the reporters. Nowadays, a power outlet and cheese to nibble on delivers the media’s asiago-elites into their a hog, er, blog heaven (or is it Woodstock?) that oozes with goodwill to all arugula-elites.
[For it is said that you can't stand in the path of progress .. or something like that.]
[Is it true that if his the situation - and the gloomy reporting - has not improved by the eve of the GE then a desperate McCain will be giving away his mansions and his wife's $millions to select reporters on his zigZag Express? (Just kidding - Rovian style)]

kathy Says:
“.. if McCain wins he (Cook) will be reduced to flipping burgers at MacD’s. ..”
“reduced to”? Did he mean “elevated to”?

Ok I have a question and I am frustrated because the website for the Rachel Maddow show doesnt allow for sending her a message or an email. Did anybody else get a little irritated with Rachel for her assesment of the Obama interview? Im talking specifically about two instances. One when she felt like she and Obama were talking two different languages when she was questioning him about repudiating everything having to do with conservatism and he said “we’re winning”. And the other was when she said he avoided the question that she asked about whether it was a good idea or not to build up forces in afghanistan.
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ON the first issue I think she is missing HIS point that it would be stupid to try to repudiate all of conservatism when the race is still going on and he might actually need some of those conservative votes. If he calls out conservatives and then loses the election I would call that a repudiation of progressives.
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On the second issue I felt like he gave a very good answer-that he wouldnt try to build up troops like we have in Iraq and he would switch the focus to be on building up their economy to wean the Afghan people from the poppy trade as well as turning the focus in Pakistand and Afghanistan away from India and back onto their own domestic best interests.
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It just seemed to me that she didnt give him credit on those to issues because he didnt specifically agree with her position. Any thoughts?

KT;

Sounds like junk food heaven mixed in a with a little animal house. Please please give us a follow up article on the last flight to where-ever. How crazy does it get, etc? We normal humans never get to experience the end of the trail flights and are truely interested in what happens.

May I suggest you write a book on your Obama campaign experiences: Would really be interesting from a female point of view. We really don’t need one from one of the old male war horses.

Ok I have a question and I am frustrated because the website for the Rachel Maddow show doesnt allow for sending her a message or an email. Did anybody else get a little irritated with Rachel for her a$$esment of the Obama interview? Im talking specifically about two instances. One when she felt like she and Obama were talking two different languages when she was questioning him about repudiating everything having to do with conservatism and he said “we’re winning”. And the other was when she said he avoided the question that she asked about whether it was a good idea or not to build up forces in afghanistan.
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ON the first issue I think she is missing HIS point that it would be stup!d to try to repudiate all of conservatism when the race is still going on and he might actually need some of those conservative votes. If he calls out conservatives and then loses the election I would call that a repudiation of progressives.
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On the second issue I felt like he gave a very good answer-that he wouldnt try to build up troops like we have in Iraq and he would switch the focus to be on building up their economy to wean the Afghan people from the poppy trade as well as turning the focus in Pakistan and Afghanistan away from India and back onto their own domestic best interests.
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It just seemed to me that she didnt give him much credit for what he DID say because it wasn’t what SHE would have said.

Jayack – I’m remembering a hydrology professor telling a bunch of us how the big names in Woodstock (meaning Rockefellers) weren’t like the natives (involved clothing, I think). A native said “Oh they wear sweatshirts just like everyone else.”…”yeah, but they don’t sweat.”

OR/ID

But eastern OR votes like ID. There are just more people in the west.

sgwhite – I think Rachel was just trying not to look like she was smitten (well, who wouldn’t be) and was trying to show she was “objective.”

sgw, Rachel is great, but she’s definitely a hard liberal and isn’t always happy with candidates that aren’t as progressive as she wants. It annoys me, but she makes up for it in snark.

Calkate and Maurice. I feel like I’m just holding myself in until Tuesday night and I know it’s real. I love this man, and I want to be able to breathe again.

@jay – Obama’s a centrist at heart and Maddow isn’t. They — we — are basically headed in the same direction, but this sailboat is going to have to tack aggressively to get there.

KT – Pictures of the plane would be very much appreciated.

kT
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Since when does a bagel with vegetables and soy sauce pa$$ as breakfast? Ugh.
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How was the landing?

sgwhite. soy sauce??

I didn’t see the interview, but I think progressives should be concerned that Obama is not committed to their causes. The pressure from the Village has already start. Matt Bai in the NYTMag today says that Obama needs to appoint Republicans to important offices if he wants to govern effectively–this after an 8 year demonstration that republican policies, when implemented are uniformly disastrous.
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I could see a pragmatist appointment to a foreign policy post, but certainly Secretary of State or Defense. Like Hagel could be head of the NSC. And the list of pragmatists is quite a bit shorter than it was. But it is insane to say that the response to a wholesale repudiation of Republican policy should be…more republicans.
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That does not mean Obama sees it that way, though.

kathy,
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I think Rachel if thats the case should take her clues from fixed noise. They never made any secret of who they were behind and THATS how they blew up during the Bush years. The whole reason she and KO are blowing up now is because of the rise of Obama. I am not saying she needs to sell out for Obama but I am saying that if she wants her trendlines to keep going up then she shouldnt try putting on a show for people who will never watch her anyway. I do realize that she is rabidly anti war but thats just not a practical political or personal policy position to have right now. What happens other places affects us and there are things we DO have to do to defend the homeland. I respect her position on that but I think she would be better served just saying that she doesnt agree with him than making it seem as if what he said was wrong or didnt address her question when it did. By the way I mentioned this on another thread, the roundtable on fox this morning was all of a sudden laudatory of Obama and his campaign and how he might govern. I think thats another sign that Murdock realizes that the primary reason Fox has such high ratings is because they hitched their wagon to Bush and that if they are frozen out after tuesday their ratings will plummet like a anchor in the sea.

@jay – Never, never forget what a careful planner Obama is. I’m sure he views his governing goals as a 4-8 year project. On Tuesday, he’s a man who should be given a little credit for his ability to manage challenging long term projects.

Obama’s a centrist at heart and Maddow isn’t. They — we — are basically headed in the same direction, but this sailboat is going to have to tack aggressively to get there.
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It’s funny, but I don’t think we really know that. There’s plenty in his background that would lead to his being more progressive than he has campaigned, or voted.
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The House committees are chaired by people who are left of the American center, and are largely on the left wing of the party. Glenn and Jane’s Accountability Project is going to put the fear of the electorate in the hearts of some people in safe seats who have not been voting their constituents’ interests.
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Set against this is the fact that a number of Republican seats will fall to people with Blue Dog sympathies. They’ll be freshmen, but they’ll be hard to whip. And if Emmanuel continues his DLC ways, there may be fracturing in the caucus.
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This is all set against an environment ripe for transformative policy making, with obstructions from large oligopolies that have been fattened for the last 8 years.
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The next two years will be interesting.

I agree, coffee. I just don’t think anybody, even many of his advisors, know well what those plans are.

kathy,
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I think Rachel, if thats the case, should take her clues from Fixed Noise. They never made any secret of who they were behind and THATS how they blew up during the Bush years. The whole reason she and KO are blwing up now is because of the rise of Obama. I am not saying she needs to sell out for Obama but I am saying that if she wants her trendlines to keep going up then she shouldnt try putting on a show for people who will never watch her anyway. I do realize that she is totally anti war but thats just not a practical political or personal policy position to have right now. What happens in other places around the world affects us and there are things we DO have to do to defend the homeland. I respect her position on that but I think she would be better served just saying that she doesnt agree with him than making it seem as if what he said was wrong or didnt address her question when it did. By the way I mentioned this on another thread, the roundtable on fox this morning was all of a sudden laudatory of Obama and his campaign and how he might govern. I think thats another sign that Murdock realizes that the primary reason Fox has such high ratings is because they hitched their wagon to Bush and that if they are frozen out after tuesday their ratings will plummet .

kathy,
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look at the update

@jay – The clue for me is what he does when in the spotlight. It’s almost always more centrist than what he’s done slightly offstage. Everything is in under the spotlight when you are President.

How funny is it when George Will is predicting Obama winning 378 electoral votes on Tuesday. Now THATS a repudiation of conservatism!
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http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2008/11/predictions-ele.html

LETS PREDICT THE HOUSE AND SENATE RACES—
SENATE:
DEM = 56 + 2* (VA,NM,CO,AK,OR,NH,NC)
REP = 42 (MN,GA,MS,KY)

HOUSE:
DEM = 255 TO 260
REP = 175 TO 180

ALSO PRESIDENT:
OBAMA – 311** (CO,IA,NM,NH,NV,VA,PA,OH)
McCAIN – 227 (FL,NC,IN,MO,ND,MT)

* TWO INDEPENDENT SENATORS
** EVEN IF OBAMA WERE TO LOSE OH & PA, HE CAN STILL GET TO 270 BASED ON MY PROJECTION.

KT CAN YOU START A NEW THREAD FOR PREDICTION. IT WILL BE FUN.

kathy Says:
“I think Rachel was just trying not to look like she was smitten (well, who wouldn’t be) and was trying to show she was “objective.”"
I was unwilling to broach the topic. But now that you mention it: That word “smitten” crossed my mind with regard to JNS’s recent blogs on Obama.
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pourmecoffee Says:
“On Tuesday, he’s a man who should be given a little credit for his ability to manage challenging long term projects.”
I give my credits easily. Actually, Sen Obama got all my credits a while back – after the Super Tuesday and before the Pennsylvania primaries.
That Clinton juggernaut was potent, imposing.
["You slew the Jabberwocky my son!" I chortled in my joy.]
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jayackroyd Says:
“This is all set against an environment ripe for transformative policy making, with obstructions from large oligopolies that have been fattened for the last 8 years. The next two years will be interesting.”
Yes. It going to be a bumpy ride.
[and KT and JT had an early start on the 'O Force One']
*
–off topic: the cringe-factor in retro
1) The issue of patriotism: When did John McCain start loving this country?
HERE.
…
2) Sarah Palin once said it was God’s will to build a multibillion-dollar pipeline to deliver natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48 states. HERE.
….
3) Of McCain’s Iraq-Pakistan border! Doesn’t he have any foreign policy adviser? Yes, he does. HERE.
….
4) “Real Patriotism” at no taxes.
““You said recently that higher taxes or asking for higher taxes or paying higher taxes is patriotic. In the middle class of America, which is where Todd and I have been all of our lives, that’s not patriotic.”” – Sarah Palin. HERE.
So, the LOWER the taxes, the MORE patriotic becomes the middle America. We want the ‘ultimate patriotic citizens’. So, lower the taxes go. LOWER! Zero anyone? Negative taxes?
Sarah wants a government that provides better education, better transportation and better social services such as better programs for kids with special needs – at the patriot’s zero taxes. And it should invest in clean energy technology too. And Sarah wants a bigger, more potent and best equipped USA military to face terrorist and Putin when he rears his head – bought at less, and maybe zero, tax revenue.
Sarah Palin wants to lead probably the world’s largest government in the world that is run primarily on tax-revenue- and then cut its tax revenue to a really patriotic zero. [Did someone say "secessionist" or worse?]

Here is a correction to the link that will be unavailable when my stellar article is released out of moderation by those jealous, green goblins:
—
2) “Sarah Palin said it was God’s will to build a multibillion-dollar pipeline to deliver natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48 states.” – The Associated Press, October 2, 2008. HERE.
—

KT,
.
You are making my stomach hurt from all the food they are giving you. I don’t want to hear ANY complaints from journos any more after hearing how high off the hog you guys are eating!!! lol

KT I don’t think you are still checking comments on this old thread but if you are please tell Margaret Talev that her story on the BHO campaign music was quite good.

Note for KT: Those key cards throw quite nicely! put them between the first two fingers and with a flick of the wrist and a little practice you can get even more of a frat house feel!

As a former hotel employee though I must warn you to aim low, they can leave a welt when thrown with force.

KT here–

SG: Actually, it’s really excessive, which is sort of the point of this thread.

KT here–

P-NNTO: And I will pass along your nice words to Margaret.

Thank you KT-we all have weird things that catch our attention and BHO’s music caught mine.

KT,
.
What have the crowds been like today? We were discussing on another one of your threads how the crowds always seem louder on TV at McCain rallys than at Obama’s even when Obama has much bigger crowds. Are Obama crowds just quieter?

KT here–

SG: Crowds are huge, huge, huge. i think the number was 80,000 in Cleveland, all of them singing “This Land Is Your Land” with Bruce Springsteen. The real Bruce Springsteen, not the loudspeaker version we get at most of the rallies. When the press bus pulled up, there was a huge groan, because we could see him on the jumbotron, and we thought we had missed him. But we got to hear at least three songs. Missed “Thunder Road,” though.

KT,
.
I am trying to picture 80k people singing this land is your land. lol Sounds like a blast. I was watching Obama speak when he told the Boss to put his hand down when he asked people who made under 250k to raise their hands. Obama seemed a lot more light hearted today during his speeches. He seemed to laugh at his own jokes a lot. He made me spit out my drink when he said him talking about Dick Cheney made the rain start falling. lol. Whats for midnight snack? dessert?

KT,
.
I am trying to picture 80k people singing this land is your land. lol Sounds like a blast. I was watching Obama speak when he told the Boss to put his hand down when he asked people who made under 250k to raise their hands. Obama seemed a lot more light hearted today during his speeches. He seemed to laugh at his own jokes a lot. He made me spit out my drink when he said him talking about D!ck Cheney made the rain start falling. lol. Whats for midnight snack? dessert?

KT here–

SG: See latest update, though I think that is not the last dessert we will see tonight. There’s still a flight to Jacksonville, Fla. Also, I skipped the cookies they were serving with the beef stroganoff on the bus in Cleveland.

Jeez, KT. Your campaign food diary almost makes me feel less guilty about my election anxiety diet of chocolate and then salad and then more chocolate. Almost.

“Also, I skipped the cookies they were serving with the beef stroganoff on the bus in Cleveland.”
.
There is a word for that, Progress!
We are cracking up about this food diary KT-thanks.

KT here–

P-NNTO: The campaign folks seem to be following it, too, as several have commented to me about it. Not sure anyone has ever added it all up before. By the way, this does begin to explain why our Amex cards get billed for hundreds of dollars of food every day. This drives the expense reporting folks at TIME absolutely crazy.

I’m worried about you, KT. This sounds like Hansel and Gretel.

KT here–

27,000 here in Cincy. Loudspeaker playing recording of Springsteen’s “The Rising.” The real thing at the last stop was better….

lalalalalalalala….

KT here–

Or is that, nanananananana…?

KT here–

A prominent journalist just walked in with a big tub of popcorn.

Has a host at Swampland ever had 3 comments in a row before? That’s obnoxious P-NNTO territory KT!

Dang I need to become a journalist just for the eats!!! I want a cupcake dammit lol

Karen, thanks for giving us a real slice of campaign life, pun intended.

This is one of the more memorable posts of the long season. Truly, thanks.

Ugh, okay, I’m convinced. They are trying to kill you with food. I’d be losing it by the time the second lunch came around. Just say no, Karen!

I love this Karen, and it’s soo true. I didn’t eat anything today until I got to the hotel and all I wanted was a salad. I think my stomach was still recovering from five days of Obama gluttony.

[...] campaign: Food is everywhere. Armies may travel on their stomachs I wear campaigns on my hips. http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/02/campaign-food-diary/?xid=rss-topstoriesSmart Voter by the League of Women Voters. Comprehensive …Election Information. * Get Mobile/PDA [...]

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[...] November 7, 2008 by janidavies I should take advantage of this to start a thread about one of the most basic realities of traveling with a presidential campaign: Food is everywhere. Armies may travel on their stomachs; I wear campaigns on my hips. Learn more here. [...]