May 15, 2008
Obama, Edwards and the Disappearing Hillary (Bob Franken)
If we didn't realize it before, now we know that Barack Obama is a magician. Or at least, he knows how to pull a rabbit out of his hat.
The rabbit, of course, is John Edwards. Although I'm sure he won't appreciate the imagery, Edwards chose Wednesday as the day he hippity-hopped to Obama's side in Michigan to deliver his long-awaited endorsement.
What a coincidence! The announcement was perfectly timed to steal the headlines and newscasts away from Hillary Clinton and the embarrassment she caused Obama by clobbering him the day before in West Virginia.
Suddenly, in the fickle news world, "Almost Heaven" became almost nothing. The reaction to Clinton’s sentimental media victory lap was "Not so fast, Hillary." > Read More
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What's This May 12, 2008
Talking Over Glossing Over (Bob Franken)
The question of the week: "What makes Hillary run — STILL?" In other words, what earthly reason does she have to run a campaign she flat-out cannot win and fritter away money her campaign doesn't have?
There is a simple, two-word answer. No, no, no — not THOSE two words. I'm talking about "saving face.”
You can bet that it's the guiding principle as Clinton and Obama representatives, behind-the-scenes, play "Let's Make a Deal.” They are negotiating the conditions of a truce that will allow Hillary to surrender with dignity intact to her new best buddy Barack. > Read More
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What's This May 9, 2008
To Hill and Back (Bob Franken)
While Hillary Clinton is still going through the motions, there are clear signs that it has started to sink in that divine destiny has not ordained her our next president.
If she was preparing anything but an exit strategy, her campaign advisers would have already had her out there in the hollows, telling the people of West Virginia she had just discovered she was a coal miner’s daughter and that she really did love Tammy Wynette's music.
But, other than her comment in USA Today that she has more appeal to white voters than does Barack Obama, she's kept the pandering to a minimum. Her heart's obviously not in this anymore. Which raises the question: What's next? > Read More
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What's This May 5, 2008
A Civics Lesson with Your Waffle (Bob Franken)
There's something that's really been bugging me.
(Would you like to talk about it?
Yes, I would.)
It's that incident in Scranton, Pa., where Barack Obama was photo-opping his breakfast when a newsperson had the GALL to ask a question. Obama was NOT amused: "Why is it that, like, I can't just eat my waffle?"
Senator, if you don't want questions, then, like, eat your damned waffle, or croissant, or whatever, in, like, private. No self-respecting reporter should ever allow you to stage your campaign events without challenging you with questions. We're not here to promote your candidacy, but to cover it. At all times, we must retain the audacity of hoping we might actually discover something important about you beyond your ability to contrive. Got it? > Read More
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What's This May 1, 2008
Toxic Gas (Bob Franken)
Sometimes we fail to ask the most obviously vital question. For instance: What does the Rev. Jeremiah Wright think about that proposal to temporarily suspend the 18.4-cent gasoline tax?
We know that Barack Obama has refused to join the McCain-Clinton ticket in its cheap-shot plan to exploit the gasoline profiteering. We also know that whatever Obama says and does right now is drowned out by the ranting of his former pastor, who is enjoying his 15 minutes of insane fame.
Actually, it's hard to decide which is nuttier, the summertime reduction in the gas tax or the AIDS-as-a-government-plot paranoia of the Rev. Wright. > Read More
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What's This April 28, 2008
The Race Race (Bob Franken)
Shouldn't we be honest about this?
Let's face it: The word "electability" is another term for "voter racism.” In other words, would Barack Obama be able to get enough support to overcome the lingering bigotry in this country? It's a fair question, but if we're going to deal with it we need to face it head on.
Let's put it in perspective, though. Whether it's Obama or Clinton who gets the nomination, he or she will not only make history, but will carry the added burden of oppression that is still with us.
Let's face it, the Republicans have a lock on both the racists and misogynists. There are so many devious ways to exploit prejudice. > Read More
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What's This April 24, 2008
Name-Calling Where it Belongs (Bob Franken)
My friend Jack Cafferty is up to his ears in hassle from China. As we know, he called that nation's leaders "a bunch goons and thugs,” which has caused all manner of outrage, real or contrived. It has come from citizens of that communist country and others who have been recruited to apply as much intimidation as they can. After all, they have the Olympics coming up. Any dissent must be eliminated at home or abroad. Beijing cannot tolerate any such impudence; nor can the trembling corporations in this country, which want to keep the profits flowing when they look the other way.
Jack cited a number of reasons for his provocative-as-always tirade — from deadly products China has imported to the United States to the brutally repressive actions taken by the iron rulers in Beijing. > Read More
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What's This April 23, 2008
Welcome to the Real World (Bob Franken)
The message was clear. When it comes to the "bitter,” Clinton does "bitter" better than Obama.
Although that contrivance of Hillary throwing back a Crown Royal in a bar looked to many as goofy as Michael Dukakis in a tank wearing that dopey helmet, apparently the shot-and-a-beer voters of Pennsylvania lapped it right up.
Up until recently Obama had gotten away with being the "No Sweat" candidate, making his run without showing a bead of perspiration. Well, this may come as a shock to those in his insulated wine-and-cheese world: Most Americans do sweat. Not only that, they resent those who don't. > Read More
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What's This April 18, 2008
In Defense of the Moderators (Bob Franken)
We reporters are a weird group. And a big problem we face these days is that no one understands what makes us tick, or what should make our craft what it is. Unfortunately, that includes many of our corporate owners, and certainly includes many of the highly opinionated bloggers who believe that if you ain't with us, you're against us, and MUST BE DESTROYED.
As Randy would say on "American Idol”: "Check it out": If all sides hate the way we've covered a story, we're either truly awful or we're doing our job right.
Which brings us to Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos. They have been taking a lot of heat for their line of questions during the ABC News debate Wednesday night. > Read More
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What's This April 17, 2008
3 a.m. Nightmares (Bob Franken)
I keep having dreams about that political ad:
It's 3 a.m. at the White House. The phone rings. But no one answers.
President Hillary Clinton is up Pennsylvania Avenue at the Hawk ‘n’ Dove, a neighborhood bar, throwing back shots and beers.
She's hammered. > Read More
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