The 60 Minutes Non-Retraction

I also posted this blog over at my IR blog, which exclusively focuses on international relations and related topics.

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After 60 Minutes announced they would apologize for their Benghazi story on Sunday, I eagerly anticipated a detailed, informative apology at the start of the show. Unfortunately, my expectations weren't realistic. What I got, after sitting through 56 of 60 minutes, was Lara Logan telling me she made a mistake. It was all over in less than two minutes. Logan had previously said the same thing on the CBS Evening News and CBS This Morning. Her 60 Minutes apology contained no new information for people who have been following the story.

For example, one would think it would be important to point out that Dylan Davies' book is published by Threshold, "a conservative imprint of Simon and Schuster," a subsidiary of, you guessed it, CBS News. And that said book just hit the shelves around the time the 60 Minutes report aired. The Huffington Post gives more detail regarding this point:

Did "60 Minutes" find Davies on its own, or did his book add an irresistible synergistic flavor to the show's Benghazi report? Did it face any internal pressure to help push for Davies' story to get on air?

Speaking on MSNBC last week, New York Times correspondent Bill Carter speculated that "60 Minutes" leapt to embrace the book because it needed a "new angle" for its Benghazi story.

I just don't think Logan's two-minute presentation was enough. It clearly didn't address the connection between 60 Minutes and the Davies' book, nor did it go into detail about how their key witness for their year-long Benghazi investigation was totally outed as a complete liar. This is a guy that started asking Fox News for money when they attempted to interview him. Fox News turned him down after that. On top of all this, it's Benghazi, a now highly politicized scandal, which the Republicans have pounced on as an integral part of their strategy to discredit Hillary Clinton as she moves toward the inevitable--her decision to run for president in 2016.

Benghazi is still a tragedy, even if 60 Minutes had done a full, in-depth retraction. However, I don't want the journalists I occasionally rely on to give me transparent, reliable reporting, to become what they are reporting on.

Midterms

This is my push, my one political blog before the midterm vote next week. This is where I stand. I voted for Obama, a human, not the second-coming of Jesus, so getting crap done takes a long time and given the problems the country faces now his presidency is one of the hardest in decades. He is doing his best and I believe it is much too early to see if his best is good enough for what America needs. I believe the rising tide of fear in this country is a cyclical event pushed on us by the party not in power and by the media. But I also believe the opposition has gone over the edge with claims of socialism and comparisons of Obama to Hitler. I think if Obama’s 2008 supporters go out there next Tuesday and vote for a Republican, they are voting in fear and they will be fueling a machine which runs on myth and superstition, a machine which is led by Glenn Beck, who hasn’t completed one college-level course in anything, and Sarah Palin. To so soon hand the reins of power back to the Republicans would be a huge mistake. Think about it. Agree or Disagree. Just be patient and sane and go vote in one week.

Like I said, I voted for Barack Obama in 2008. I was part of that liberal tide that swept across America in the wake of eight Bush years. But I was not under a magical spell when I worked for the campaign, nor was I when I voted for the man in November. I voted for a young, relatively inexperienced politician, but I also voted for a Constitutional Law professor, a man with a top-notch education, which a disturbing portion of America believes makes a man disconnected and out of touch with the “real” America. I thought then—and I still do—that a president with an Ivy League education isn’t a bad idea, but a good one. Some say his education classifies him as an elitist. Good.

I was wary of lavishing too much praise on candidate Obama when I was working for him. And now I am wary of agreeing with every one of his policies just because I voted for him. I don’t agree with some things he has done. Frankly, he hasn’t been as liberal as candidate Obama, almost kowtowing to the Republicans at times. I want him to be tougher and show off the intelligence I know he has. It reminds me of the debates with Hillary and the other Democratic candidates running in the primaries. Obama’s levelheadedness was agonizing at times in the face of ridiculous criticisms he faced about his friendship with Reverend Wright and his connection with William Ayers. I wanted Obama just to lash out once and put these absurd people in their place, both in the media and in the party. But it never happened.

I eventually really appreciated that about candidate Obama, but I am having a hard time appreciating that about President Obama. By voting for Obama I gave him a personal mandate to run the country the way candidate Obama wanted to run the country. Really close Gitmo, don’t just try once, hit a roadblock and give up. Really end the wars in the Middle East…don’t get bogged down in Afghanistan, much more of an endless war than Iraq ever was. Really end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, not just keep promising it will end on your watch. Really restore sanity and an America I can be openly proud of when I am not in America. Don’t let the people across the aisle get you down, not tiptoe around an issue until it is too late for it to be resolved the way candidate Obama promised it would be.

But do not mistake me for someone who regrets voting for Obama. Not. Even. Close. At times, as explained above, I am impatient with the progress, but then I see someone from the Tea Party on TV or I read the signs pictured at right-wing rallies and I realize I am very, very patient and comfortingly sane. For now, the Democrats deserve to keep their hold on the House and the Senate. Obama hasn’t been in power for two years yet. How would he have solved the greatest recession since the Great Depression in 22 months? Americans need a heavy dose of patience and sanity. Give the man two more years and see what happens. Hell, we gave Bush eight years, we can afford to give Obama and his squad half that much.

Not the same thing

I don’t watch any of the cable news morning shows, but occasionally, when I am not in front of my computer at that morning hour, I will scan all three networks to see what they are talking about. Obviously, this morning, the talk is about the 8^th anniversary of the September 11^th attacks and Joe Wilson, the guy that yelled at the President, “You lie” in the middle of his address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night. On Morning Joe, Joe was, as far as I can tell, comparing Wilson’s shout in the middle of a presidential address to Hillary Clinton criticizing General Petraeus and choosing to not denounce an ad taken out by a left-wing group in the NY Times that called him a liar. Now, Clinton’s decision to ignore that ad and denounce it as an irresponsible and false accusation was unfortunate, but tell me again how that is on par with shouting down President Obama in the middle of a speech? Clearly, I am confused.

The Power of Love

A great video of Brian McLaren on Justice, Power and The Kingdom via the BWC Writers' Blog.

White for White, Black for Black

When talking politics with a few people in the last week I have mentioned this map and the simple fact that for quite a few voters in Appalachian counties, the color of one’s skin is the determining factor for one’s vote. To put it bluntly, the map shows that many Americans are still racist.

However, the counterargument that I have been trying to fend off is that this is not in fact proof that Americans in the strip of Appalachian states are racist at all. If I take the liberty to call them racists, then I should call blacks that voted for Barack Obama, racists as well. In other words, people are telling me that whites voting for the white candidate are no different than blacks voting for the black candidate.

While I realize racism is not exclusive to whites in the backcountry of West Virginia and Kentucky, but can also be found in black communities in the South, I strongly disagree with the argument that blacks voting black are no different than whites voting white.

Although I could provide more reasons as to why I believe this, I keep coming back to this explanation.

I believe the black community is voting for a candidate and the white community—within the area shown in purple on the aforementioned map—is voting against a candidate. Do you catch my drift? A portion of the black vote is fueled by a sense of accomplishment and pride when they get to vote for the black candidate. The equivalent is a portion of the white vote being fueled by fear and superiority that continues to try to suppress non-whites to a position of inferiority. While in a way we all vote against something, voting against the color of someone else’s skin cannot be a legitimate reason.

Today at Work

We dodged a tornado. A number of customers pointed out that there was a funnel cloud right above us. Indeed, there was, but nothing came of it. I was a bit disappointed. I had been hoping to dive under one of our very sturdy counters at the last minute as a huge tornado rolled over us. It wasn't so. Maybe next week?

More and more people at work are finding out by word of mouth that my unofficial last day is next Thursday. I haven't put in my two week notice or anything like that. I'm holding off on officially hanging up the apron. Anyway, I mention this because it is fun to gauge their reactions when they hear what I will be doing and then tell them I will be doing it for free. I understand their shock though. I realize I am in an extremely fortunate position to leave my job and go work for free for something I feel much more passionate about than coffee.

A customer came through the drive through and reminded me to "fill up" my gas tank because "oil is up 11 bucks a barrel today." I didn't really have a response, but he went on to tell me that "it is all China's fault" and that if I "see a China-men give him a hug" while he did a punching motion. He drove off chuckling. It was all very disturbing, I guess because he was very casual and open about his racism, which is always disturbing, but even more so when you encounter someone who is willing to say such absurd things out loud as opposed to silently harboring such things in a quiet, tucked-away part of their mind.

And that's it. Hillary endorses tomorrow at 12 ET. There is speculation that she will once again bring up the popular vote and how she is winning it. Let's hope not. Those calculations are misleading and if she brings up the numbers then, she will not earn back the dignity, that she stripped herself of on Tuesday night, for a very long time.

The Right Thing

Hillary does it, but will her voters in November? I think they will. It is best not to press them about it now, but give them a couple of months.

Obama's Victory

The moment seemed normal, almost expected. I had a feeling that he would eventually get there, but while I was watching him last night I forgot about all those moments of fear during the last six months; moments I remember this morning, moments when a choice between Clinton and Giuliani was inevitable. They were moments when Clinton won California, Ohio and Pennsylvania. I remembered the countless times, including last night, when I saw what Obama was up against, the Clinton machine, which is entirely focused on their place in history, a place they feel they are owed. The Clintons, still stubbornly pursuing guidance from their voters on what to do next instead of having the decency to drop out, couldn’t humble themselves tonight and face the music. Instead Hillary encouraged her fans to give her advice, but really to give them money. Read: help the Clintons get out of debt for a losing bid at the nomination.

Obama’s speech was in stark contrast to those of his opponents. He has all the right to be frustrated with Hillary, but didn’t exude any of that tonight. He expressed gratitude in Hillary’s direction, thanking her for being a tough opponent and praising what she has accomplished as a woman. Nothing in his speech was divisive. He was welcoming of all Democrats and Americans and didn’t speak just to his supporters as Hillary often does. His aura of promise and change was on full display last night and it couldn’t have shown more brightly since many Americans had just cringed through McCain’s speech.

I don’t buy the theory that people are going to make their decision based on the quality of a candidate’s speech, but if they did, Obama defeated McCain in a landslide last night. McCain was rigid and looked out of place in front of his band of supporters. Even his supporters missed a couple of punch lines and didn’t know when to clap until McCain’s voice trailed off to a barely audible decibel and he smiled ear to ear, literally. It was a very awkward delivery for McCain and he pretty much flopped on what really was the first night of the 2008 presidential campaign.

History was made last night. I tend to overlook that and just see the man that I want to lead this country, but it really was a monumental step for Americans of all races, but especially African-Americans. I will never know the pride that many African-Americans must have felt last night, but I can see some of it on their faces and feel some of it in their words and that makes me smile.

I know it is lofty praise, but last night hope was delivered to American politics and for the rest of the world to have hope in America is once again a common theme.

Clinton's Speech

I might have something to add later on, but I thought this comment on it was very accurate.

Sullivan:

The speech tonight was a remarkable one for a candidate who has lost the nomination, though not remarkable for a Clinton. It was an assertion that she had won the nomination and a refusal to concede anything to her opponent. Classless, graceless, shameless, relentless. Pure Clinton.

More:

She will not go away. The Clintons will never go away. And they will do all they can to cripple any Democrat who tries to replace them. In the tent or out of it, it is always about them. And they are no longer rivals to Obama; they are threats.

Five Months Later

Yeah. That's right. It has been five months since the Iowa caucus and tonight looks like the night that Obama will reach the magic number. While that doesn't mean Clinton will concede, it does mean that Obama and his supporters can breath a sigh of relief because if Clinton presses on her arguments will reach a new level of absurdity because Obama has reached the magic number.

Also today, Clinton shopping around for the Veep position. Choose wisely, Obama.

Well, I don't know exactly

I've been getting a lot of inquiries about what I will be doing for the Obama campaign. Example: "What exactly will you be doing?"

My answer: "Well, I don't know exactly."

Training starts June 14th and runs for three days. I am sure after that I will have a decent sense of the work I will be doing. I will keep you posted. Hopefully, I will have the time to keep you posted. I have the feeling that I am about to be really busy and for the first time in a long time I don't mind that.

My last day for a while, or dare I say permanently, at the Bucks is June 12th. I still don't know if my schedule will allow for me to work 4-6 hours a week there. If it doesn't, then I am done. If it does, I might keep one shift a week to maintain the discount and to see some of my only friends in Milwaukee.

**It is the end of the primary season tonight. I want undecided delegates to endorse Obama after tonight's primaries. I want Clinton to finally see the writing on the wall and drop out and endorse Obama. But down in my gut I feel like in this situation, she will push onward with pride, ignorance and a sense of redemption. I will wait and see.

Letters of Support

This is an excerpt of a letter sent to Senator Hillary Clinton:

We, the Illinois Finance Committee, want to show our full commitment to and support for Senator Hillary Clinton, in the fight for her rightful appointment as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee at the convention this August.

When did cheating become a right? Unbelievable.

Hat tip: Sullivan.

The Bobby Kennedy Remarks

This is getting a lot of buzz on the internet, but even before she gets to the Bobby Kennedy comment she tries to zing us again by saying it is unprecedented that she is being pushed out of the race. You've all heard her reasoning for this. It's because she has won some big states, but doesn't have a majority in any major category. It's because of sexism.

No, Hillary, it is because you are losing!



I can't take much more of this.

She's pinned me. I'm a chauvinist.

I received this article about Hillary's claim that sexism has been a major factor in her failed bid to win the Democratic nomination.

Money quote:

It is sissy. It is blame-gaming, whining, a way of not taking responsibility, of not seeing your flaws and addressing them. You want to say "Girl, butch up, you are playing in the leagues, they get bruised in the leagues, they break each other's bones, they like to hit you low and hear the crack, it's like that for the boys and for the girls."

And because the charge of sexism is all of the above, it is, ultimately, undermining of the position of women. Or rather it would be if its source were not someone broadly understood by friend and foe alike to be willing to say anything to gain advantage.

Brilliant.

Hat tip: My Aunt in Phoenix.

Same Old Story

I read today that Obama was sure to not claim an overall victory last night during his speech to supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, in order to not disrespect Hillary Clinton and to not lose favor with her supporters. Obviously, this was a smart move because Obama will not win in November if he fails to win Clinton’s voting bloc. And yet, no matter how respectful Obama is of Clinton, she refuses (even in her speech last night) to return the favor.

My response to Clinton has devolved from appreciation to criticism to anger and now to laughs. All I can do is laugh when I hear her talk about how she is winning the popular vote count. All I can do is laugh when she demands the Democratic Party stick to the simple rules of democracy and count every vote in states such as Michigan and Florida where, conveniently enough, she happens to be the victor. Who does she think she is, a Clinton? Do her supporters really believe she would be pressing the DNC to count those votes if she was trounced by Obama?

I get the whole honor thing. She doesn’t want to let her supporters down by pulling out now before everyone has been heard. She thinks she is doing the democratic process a favor by staying in. But even the democratic process has rules. Even though dropping out when you can’t possibly win isn’t one of them, it should be one now.

Randomness:

My favorite political footage of the last two weeks is a tie between Bill Clinton’s red face after the North Carolina and Indiana primaries and Matthews catching Kevin James throwing words around. Words he clearly doesn’t know the meaning of. Here is the clip.

You Don't Know What You've Been Missing

It was a quick interview. The job wasn’t offered to me on the phone. I should know within a week whether or not I am selected. It might be two days or a week. I can’t remember exactly. Anyway, I had to answer questions like “Why Obama?” “Do you think you would excel in this position?” “What organizing experience do you have?” For that last question, I had to get a little creative.

So that’s where I stand on that front.

I have been posting almost everyday since I have been back in Wisconsin, but as you may have noticed the posts lack substance. Explanation? Well, I have several. First, I had a freelance deadline on Wednesday and still hadn’t heard from three of my contacts at the beginning of this week. That was interesting, but I wrapped the pieces up and sent them in. I feel good to have that off my plate. Second, I just finished my seventh day in a row at the Bucks. I’ve been busy there too. Third, Kate and I went out the last couple of nights. Two nights ago to dinner and a movie. Last night to a friend’s apartment for dinner.

I don’t have to work until Tuesday and Kate has the weekend off. Sweet.

Also, I haven’t had much to say on here lately about politics. It has gotten to the point of certainty, certainty that Obama will be the nominee. Hillary won’t drop out before June 3. The Edwards endorsement helped. It is all the obvious and I don’t have that much commentary on it besides generally agreeing with things I have read on the blogs in the past week. I don’t want to rehash everything into my own ideas.

By the way, it is bike to work week. I rolled the bike out yesterday and got air in the tires and will probably bike to the Bucks for the rest of my time there. I love my bike. I love that it isn’t fueled by $4 gallons of gas. Yes, gas has it 4 bucks-a-gallon in Milwaukee. Pretty absurd. You know those stickers that say “Kill Your TV”? I want one that says “Kill Your Car”. The Milwaukee suburbs are about the least bicycling friendly place I can imagine, but I am going to do my best to not drive my car until the freeze comes again.

Last week, I read Enger’s new book, So Brave, Young, and Handsome in three days. The man’s ability to write a story is absolutely amazing. A review will be up soon. Read the book. It was so beautiful I wept.

Ah, Matthews

A follow up quote to the map below:

"It's almost like she is the Al Sharpton of white people." - Chris Matthews


Hat tip: Andrew Sullivan.

Deliverance, anyone?

This map is circulating on the blogs and I think it is fascinating. The purple is where Hillary has won more than 65% of the vote.



This isn't a helpful map when trying to abolish stereotypes. Race is definitely a factor.

Hat tip: Everyone.

Potential Veep

Yesterday:

"She [Clinton] is tireless, she is smart. She is capable. And so obviously she'd be on anybody's shortlist to be a potential vice-presidential candidate," he [Obama] said.

I hope he wouldn't select her because he thinks that is his only shot at winning in November. There are better choices.

Gas Tax

You may have caught McCain or Clinton criticizing Obama for not supporting the summer holiday from the gas tax. McCain thinks it is a legit way to ease the burden of a poor economy and expensive gas on the American family. Clinton is joining the fray to present a united front with McCain which is another one of her cheap tricks to win more support.

The idea sounds great until you do any amount of research on it and find stuff like this...

It's [the gax tax] 18.4 cents per gallon. The average consumer will save about $30 over the entire summer if we scrap the tax. ... Clinton and McCain aren't challenging the existence of the tax: They are implicitly saying it's a good tax that we should all relish paying in the non-summer months. Clinton is doing this and arguing that higher taxes on energy companies should be part of the bargain. It's phony populism in the service of a "tax cut" that would fund one meal for two at Applebees, which may or may not include dessert.