tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post2076231843831008533..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Oy, FournierJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-20876528699458518872013-11-01T11:12:11.518-05:002013-11-01T11:12:11.518-05:00The week that the shutdown ended, Bob Schieffer on...The week that the shutdown ended, Bob Schieffer on CBS Evening News (as a special commentator/observer) said that it was good to see the moderates of both parties triumph over the extremists.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-83721052684536185742013-11-01T09:31:39.514-05:002013-11-01T09:31:39.514-05:00The outcome of the Syrian business polled well, bu...The outcome of the Syrian business polled well, but pundits didn't like it. A lot of pundits are obsessed with "consistency" without regard for changing circumstances.Scott Monjenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-24209431810065440712013-10-31T17:39:51.838-05:002013-10-31T17:39:51.838-05:00Hmmm...I predicted before the fact that the shutdo...Hmmm...I predicted before the fact that the shutdown would cost him approval, so I'm inclined not to write it off so quickly.<br /><br />What I actually believe happened (but haven't done the work to show it's true) is that Obama lost ground with liberals over Syria (and perhaps NSA) pre-shutdown, and then gained them back when shutdown happened, but lost low-information folks who blamed everyone for the shutdown.<br /><br />I don't know that the ACA stuff is actually high enough profile to affect approval.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-41148710007393528712013-10-31T14:36:05.206-05:002013-10-31T14:36:05.206-05:00He writes for rubes, and doesn't want to mess ...He writes for rubes, and doesn't want to mess up that gig by writing something that would only appeal to a bunch of eggheads.purushanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-79264123488631387172013-10-31T14:13:26.154-05:002013-10-31T14:13:26.154-05:00It's clearly a pathology on Fournier's par...It's clearly a pathology on Fournier's part because there are millions of more *interesting* stories that he could have written, many of which would not even have required him to drop his nonpartisan schtick, if he really felt that was crucial to him protecting himself from "bias" charges. This is what is often so confounding about so many "neutral" journalists. They don't even choose to be *interesting* nonpartisan journalists. It's misleading or vapid conventional wisdom all the way. And it's a false choice!<br /><br />People often point out that the sorts of biases that journalists have are merely "for the good story" or to keep it an exciting "horse-race." But in fact they're usually turning down plenty of really fascinating and compelling stories and "takes," actively trying to be boring. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-15681800904391860632013-10-31T12:46:07.956-05:002013-10-31T12:46:07.956-05:00Obama seems to have been the 19th most liberal Sen...Obama seems to have been the 19th most liberal Senator in the 109th Congress (2005-2006).<br /><br />http://voteview.com/SENATE_SORT109.HTMarthurnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-79169251776874739982013-10-31T12:11:08.969-05:002013-10-31T12:11:08.969-05:00I would assume that whatever drop Obama has gotten...I would assume that whatever drop Obama has gotten in October is almost 100% a result of the botched ObamaCare rollout. Democrats are supposed to be competent at running the government, and this literally has Obama's name on it.<br /><br />It also should be obvious to anyone paying attention that the NSA and (especially) Syria have approximately zero to do with Obama's approval ratings. Fournier's not alone in this, though. I heard Chuck Todd mention yesterday that Syria was one of the factors driving Obama's poll numbers.TNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-68419680422070931332013-10-31T11:12:55.872-05:002013-10-31T11:12:55.872-05:00Obama himself is likely further from the political...<i>Obama himself is likely further from the political median (recall he was scored the most liberal senator of all 100 in 2006) than is Ted Cruz.</i><br /><br />Well, you've certainly made your rooting interest clear with this comment.<br /><br />Even if Obama was, in fact, 2006's most liberal senator, keep in mind - this is 2013. Obama has a governing record. And those outside the conservative feedback loop are well aware that Obama has consistently rebuked his left wing by seeking centrist common ground.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Cruz thinks that the health-care reform law conceived of by the Heritage Foundation is so liberal that it is worth shutting the federal government down over.<br /><br />Obama has made mistakes, that is for sure. Governing in an ideologically extreme manner is not one of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-26049704441807619082013-10-31T11:06:37.239-05:002013-10-31T11:06:37.239-05:00When the median is three quarters' crazy and o...When the median is three quarters' crazy and one quarter craven, well, the further away from it you are, the better. You want a Senate full of Ted Cruz lookalikes, no wonder you're Anonymous.Trevorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05981782365985498038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-32170913338096184432013-10-31T10:55:57.493-05:002013-10-31T10:55:57.493-05:00Point Four is entirely rooting-interest dependent....Point Four is entirely rooting-interest dependent. Obama himself is likely further from the political median (recall he was scored the most liberal senator of all 100 in 2006) than is Ted Cruz.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-86821017657342092832013-10-31T10:52:31.992-05:002013-10-31T10:52:31.992-05:00Why do some journalists make assertions that are p...Why do some journalists make assertions that are patently and obviously false?purushanoreply@blogger.com