Joe Klein: Sometimes the Obama Stumbles

Sometimes the Obama Stumbles
Posted by Joe Klein

Best of the Sunday shows was the sequential face off between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama on Face the Nation. From where I was sitting, McCain got the better of it--not because he had the better argument (he didn't), but because he was clear, concise and confident. It was, in fact, classic McCain, actually criticizing the military for not moving faster on the troop increase and saying, straight out, that this was our last chance to fix Iraq. He also threw down the gauntlet to the Democrats--if you're really against the war, don't mess around with non-binding resolutions, cut off the funding.
Obama, by contrast, seemed to be picking his words very, very carefully. He could have shown some anger at McCain--and Dick Cheney, who did his usual unreality show on Fox--for the outrageous suggestion that a non-binding vote on the surge would somehow hurt the troops. (In truth, it would only hurt the President). He was way too fudgy when asked about Ted Kennedy's proposal to cut off funds for escalation. I didn't disagree with a thing he said--his support for a phased, nuanced withdrawal is the right one, as opposed to the "Get Out Now" nonsense proposed by some--but he sure seemed less assured, less presidential, than McCain.

http://time-blog.com/swampland/ (and scroll down)

with his crap?

Who cares?

They "anoint" each other to choose for us what we should think, what we have seen, and what we should do.

I especially love the way they sit around the table and act like they know all there is to know about conducting a war...cause they are experts in everything....so they think! :eyes:

I remember Joe Klein on TV being asked his opinion on Primary Colors, a disguised account of the Clinton 1992 primary campaign, and on the identity of its author. Klein played it coy, even though all the chattering class knew he was the author.

What a pig!

"Less assured, less Presidential?"

I see the hand of the Clintons at work.

oppose Bush's "surge" so vehemently though as well as his indignation about Bush's plans to punish Iran and Syria. I suppose he does have moments of lucidity but they're few and far between.

Probably along the lines of - "disrespectful, unprepared, running off at the mouth without considering what he said, arrogant, snotty-nose junior Senator."

Klein loves to invent the political center so he can become the voice of reason. There's nothing that gets him all sweaty like phrases such as the "muscular center" and whatever.

Basically, he's looking for rhetorical boldness wrapped in cautious ideas. That, and he just likes to be a contrarian, which is why he loves McCain and loves to hate himself for loving him...and loves to hate McCain.

All of which is typical media egocentrism (don't be fooled by the whole "anonymous" novel publicity ruse).

Even the furthest on the left are looking for an orderly exit, not just "let's throw it all our stuff in a duffel bag and skidaddle."

His opinions are to be discounted as far as I am concerned!

Isn't it amazing that all the faults he assigned to Kerry are now assigned to Obama. Does it strike you as weird that speaking calmly and intelligently - is "not expressing anger". But, but .. if you're a Democrat who is not Bill Clinton and express anger, then you are treated as Dean was as "Is this man too angry to be President?" How narrow a band is the acceptable emotion.