How Do You Solve A Problem Like Obama?
That’s our subject for today. How do you solve a problem like Obama? How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?* We know its hard to catch a cloud and pin it down, but how can Obama expect Northern Nevada Democrats to vote for him if he doesn’t make the effort to meet us where we live? I suspect now that Clinton has thrown down the gauntlet, we may be able to answer all of these questions soon, because really, how long can Obama ignore the region that Jill Derby, the new state party chair, has called the must win territory in the Nevada caucus? For the Clinton/Obama drama to continue at its current feverish pace, I expect the Obama campaign to begin looking to book a Reno community center, library, armory or YMCA town hall soon.
By the way, what’s with Ray Hagar’s fixation with prostitution? I think he sees it as a potential gotcha question for presidential candidates but as a state issue, it seems kind of pointless and unrelated to a presidential election. Edwards couldn’t believe Hagar asked him about it, and even though Hagar seemed to have learned his lesson, he couldn’t stop himself from asking Clinton the same questions. If I were a Freudian, I would speculate that Hagar has some sort of undiagnosed compulsion, but, oh wait, I am a Freudian……
Anyway, Bill Richardson continues to beat the dusty drum of western issues; water, public lands, the environment and immigration. That works in Nevada, kind of, but its not going to get him elected as president. I actually think Richardson and Joe Biden are in a early runoff election for secretary of state. Did you see Biden on “Meet the Press?” He was excellent–too bad he voted for that damn bankruptcy bill.
Speaking of presidential candidate visits and problems that are hard to solve, John McCain will be in Reno this Saturday for Cinco De Mayo–break out the maracas! Will Mr. Straight Talk sing again? Let’s hope so. I love straight talk, even when its singing.
By the way, does it crack anyone else up that most Republicans think Clinton is the most liberal presidential candidate? Seriously, how much more liberal is Clinton than the leading Republican candidate Rudy “Where’s My Mistress” Giuliani? If Republicans feel more comfortable voting for Obama or even Edwards because they see them as less liberal (and they do according to the new Pew Research Study), the 2008 election could be one of the biggest April Fools jokes ever, (in November though). Okay, you can’t bring yourself to vote for Clinton? We”ll give you an Obama/Edwards ticket if that’s what you really want?
Does it crack anyone else up that I just wrote “does it crack anyone else up?” It totally cracks me up.
*You guys got the Sound of Music reference right? I thought it would be better to go with “Maria Lyrics” than with “The Lonely Goatherd.” Who wants to listen to Bjorn the Houseboy yoodle all day? Certainly not me.
Similar Posts:
- There Is A Caucus AFTER New Hampshire and BEFORE South Carolina
- A Modest Proposal To Elevate The Nevada Caucus
- John Edwards Makes It Official
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Trackbacks & Pingbacks
[...] That was fast wasn’t it? Okay, something important happened today–so important in fact that I was compelled to emerge from my all of a sudden very short hiatus–Obama came to Reno. Yes, I said Reno. He also made the obligatory pilgrimage to Comma Coffee in Carson City. See what you started Joe Biden? [...]
Comments
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Somebody needs to tell Hagar, if he even cares about holding the mutual respect of journalist, that’s the kind of question one asks only when they have the last question…and it’s important to ask relevant questions!
Don’t be surprised Hagar if you get a bunck of glares for a while, and the pack of journalists pushes you to the back for your mis-step and dumb question.
At this point doesn’t he kind of have to ask that question? If he didn’t, he’d lose consistency and probably question himself and his job performance. Plus, with the ridiculous reaction he got from Edwards, how could he not think of it as a gotcha?
Yeah, but then he said he wouldn’t ask the question again in print.
Why on earth does he have to ask that question? Who says you have to ask each candidate identical questions?
Also, it just seems strange that a Nevada journalist would keep using legalized prostitution as a sort of litmus test for presidential candidates.
You crack me up Myrna.
Actually, it cracks me up to read the blogs and realize how many people on the left view Clinton as conservative (or at least “conservative light”). Okey dokey artichokie.
As for the whole “when will Obama and the others realize the state’s third largest city is up yonder” - believe me, we have similar questions about the cartography skills of these campaigns as regards the state’s second largest city. Dodd has actively campaigned here in my neck ‘o the woods. Can’t seem to recall any of the others venturing down here so far. It is early - but it getting a wee tad annoying that their GPS devices all seem to only have unions programed into them.
I said Clinton is the most conservative of the candidates, not that she is conservative.
Myrna, I don’t know for sure, but I think he is asking the same question ONLY because he got a big, crazy, weird reaction from Edwards. If Edwards had laughed it off and actually said something other than making a big deal out of it, it would have gone away. That’s just a guess, but when you smell blood, I think you go after it.
Myrna, I wasn’t referring to you. Check out some of the comments over at Kos and elsewhere. Some of those folks really, really think there is some huge difference between Clinton and the others. That, to me, is ridiculous beyond words.
The American Conservative Union is probably as good a source as any for who is “most conservative” of any group. Clinton’s lifetime ACU rating is 9.0 (on a scale where 100 is their wet dream of a bible-thumpin’ hero). Clinton is ever so slightly to the right as compared to Dodd (8.3) and Obama (8.0), but fails miserably when put up against that noted neocon Biden (13.4). FYI, Edwards had a rating of 6.0 for his one term - and Biden’s more recent years have skewed more to the left so his number is really a reflection of some votes many, many years ago - I guess that makes him a neolib.
“mrjerz” it’s the quality of the question that’s offensive! It’s not just about any “gotcha” reaction.
For example I could ask you “So, how long have you been beating your wife?”
And I wouldn’t be surprised if you answered saying, “I can’t believe you asked me that question?”
Get it?
Believe it or not, there are some rules of etiquette amongst the various journalists and the candidates communications directors - we take turns, and listen to each others questions and the customary follow-up, AND the candidates responses, and, often another journalist will ask a better questions, or, a similar question in a better way - and it’s a win/win for everyone.
We don’t need someone throwing out flippant questions, or causing the candidate to end the media interview because someone’s just trying to be cute!
These are too brief, but very important, moments - and it’s not just about people’s careers, that’s important. But, it’s, more importantly, it’s about trying to get the truth to the readers!
Hagar should have known better!
I wonder what people are going to talk about once Obama has visited
Northern Nevada? Will there be a running tally of exactly how many
seconds each candidate has spent here? It’s getting to the point where grown men and women are sounding like petty high school girls (“Well, Kaitlyn didn’t come to my party, so I’m definitely not voting for her for Homecoming Queen,” “Does he like me? I don’t think he likes me. Not that I care. But I wish he’d ask me out. Not that I’d go.”). We are NINE MONTHS away from the caucus. I don’t know about you, but I’m trying to focus on how the candidates stand on the issues, not on how many times they visit an area high school. So rather than running around like Liesl, wasting away the hours, wondering if Rolfe really does or doesn’t “like me,” I’m going to put my efforts into “fighting the Nazis” (to continue your “Sound of Music” reference).
Its a bit of a stretch but I appreciate the effort to continue the reference.
Come on, JLA. I don’t get it. That’s a completely different question. It came out later that Edwards was caught off guard because he didn’t realize prostitution WAS legal here, didn’t it? I remember hearing that somewhere and it might not be true, but if it is, wow. That’s what makes the question pertinent.
Don’t try to sell me on any sort of etiquette among journalists. What we’re trying to do here on the Internets is break down that barrier that keep regular people out of the journalism world. I don’t buy that crap and neither should you. It does, however, fit in with your ideology here.
What resulted is that edwards got huffy because some evil reporter had the gall to ask him his feelings about a legal action that takes place in Nevada. If edwards would have simply said, “It’s an issue that Nevada has decided to deal with, and I respect that” instead of leaving like a baby, there would have been no traction. If Hagar doesn’t keep asking the question, someone might think that he was out to get edwards. I’m sure you and your ilk would be the first to call him on it. Fixating on the fixation is part of the problem.
“mrjerz” did you even read what you wrote?
“I remember hearing that somewhere and it might not be true, but if it is, wow.”
Are you joking? That’s how rumours, innuendo, hearsay and gossip is spread - that’s not objective thinking or speaking!
You’re clear off base IF you think I am trying to “sell” you on anything - I was just reminding Hagar and making known a very widely known reality. Politicians, and their Communications Directors, have the advantage in controlling their press availability events - and their are some rules (though I don’t care for all of them) - that’s the reality!
You’re also wrong to say “Edwards got huffy…” that’s another inaccurate misrepresentation of what happened - he just politely put Hagar in his place.
BTW: My “ilk” are the ones that fought for your freedoms and protected your civil liberties and rights - so remind your “ilk” of that fact JERK!
I think Obama will be in Reno sometime within the next few weeks, or that we will know a date for him coming (soon).
This is based on very big hints from the Obama staff.
I liked LuckyMonkey’s point.
“When is Obama coming to Reno?…” is indeed a frequently asked question in Democratic Party circles.
JLA, get off it. Edwards ENDED THE PRESS CONFERENCE! That’s getting huffy. The only reason I said that is because I can not find the evidence. Sorry. That’s also why I didn’t refer to it in my argument. I just mentioned it might be true. So strike it. He knew prostitution was legal here (another thing I can’t prove) and still acted like a baby. Were you there? Nope. I can’t prove that, either, but I’m positive it’s true.
You have many different ilks. One happens to be as a vet. Congrats. Another happens to be as an apologist for any democrat presidential candidate when faced with things that might possibly make him or her look poorly. Hagar got him. The issue is so small it’s ridiculous. But now the two biggest blogs in the state are talking about Hagar instead of the lack of composure. He really taught Ray a lesson didn’t he?
A white, East coast attorney and presidential candidate (and has been) maintaining composure during the Democrat’s presidential candidate selection that includes Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton, AND involves the state of Nevada, with it’s prostitution and gaming laws and such?
And one wonders why Mr. Obama tends to shirk this state…