Prometheus 6

sagereader at Think On These Things has done a very nice job of showing how Luntz did exactly what we expected . Lists seven ways he screwed with the outcome. My favorite is number six.

6. I found it interesting that many of the non-blacks in the focus group were moderate or non-Hillary Clinton supporters. This would then create a dynamic of everytime they said something and Luntz would ask if they agreed, all the black people would say in unison, “No.” You can’t racially stack a focus group like that. A reputable focus group would not have it such that the racial demographics are correlated with the political demographics.

What's yours?

(heads up by rickyrah) 

It's 3 am as I write this...it will be somewhere around 8 am, soonest, when you read it.

This train travel thing is interesting. You can get your tickets whenever you want but you take the chance of them selling out. You can buy them in advance but you have to be sure when you're going to leave and this time I wasn't.

Was actually tempted to stay longer. It was a pleasant rip, actually. I wound up talking to one of the security guards for a while during a cigarette break. There was this excellent ledge they throw a tent over for eating/partying purposes that overlooks a lake. I thought I wasn't one to rant about a scenic view anymore but this one brought out the ol' landscape photographer in me. Mentioned what great pictures it would make and found the guard also had a silk-screening business. FINALLY met Professor Kim, FINALLY met Pam, FINALLY met Terrance. And I wound up being one of the last out of the joint, which was also good. Brother running the shuttle to the Metro spotted me in the middle of the block looking all media-like, took me to Union Station (well deserved tip which cost me half as much as a cab would have). He just had to go back to Howard for his final run. So I'm sitting in the seat right across from the entrance watch ten or so really fine sisters walk up the stairs and smile at me. Shuttle bus had two little video screens playing a tape of Earth, Wind and Fire playing at some edition of the Montrose Jazz Festival. We wuz sangin' on the bus, yo. I could have been convinced to stay.

Maybe I should have...I got to Union Station at 1 am...and as I said, 3 am I'm on the train typing, digesting the stuff said at the forum. I got issues, though.

I am NOT going over there.

Media access means you talk to who feels like being there, IF you can navigate through the crown of cameras, microphones and bodies. There's all manner of spokesmen, and two candidates (Dodd and Kucinich...they already locked Gravel in the basement). The candidates touched on all my questions, and handled them like politicians. And I can't see getting any more data in Spin Alley than I got from the forum.

Interesting seating...I was next to a right wing warblogger who posted at Ace of Spades. Met LaShawn...we were both nice...still won't visit her site because I don't link Christian Conservatives. Getting through politics is deep enough, a talk on religion would just become a catfight.

Um...I think that's it. Late start tomorrow. 

I'll hold off on these...I feel there's some oversimplification going on (though I do like the no-fly-zone over Sudan).

Maybe we should have invaded Darfur for its oil. They got close to as much oil and would have been much easier to defeat than Iraq.

Then again, the Somalis are asking for more American military support right now.

Michele Martin went all United Nations on them, asking if they would support a right to return. Senator Clinton is kinda working around it the way she works around apologizing for voting for the invasion of Iraq. Biden ducked the same way.

Edwards talks such a good game. And Sen Obama oes the embrace and extend thing.

Mr. Edwards agrees that unearned income is privileged over earned income and should not be. Biden says the equivalent. I invite the unified feed readers to check this Blogcritics.org post on the topic (yes, I wrote it).

And Gravel is a pisser! Paul/Gravel 2008! 

Tavis dissed Dodd...watch that hit The Daily Show .

Al Sharpton didn't look happy with Biden.

These statistics are difficult to hear. I'm going to have to look into them.

Dodd: Who wants to hear about Bush? Grasping for the center will not help your campaign, sir.

Edwards did well. Obama co-signs, and adds the need for discussion (shame, homophobia, etc).

Hey, another valid expansion of reference by Sen. Obama! 

Kucinich: Health care is a public good and should be just...provided.

Gravel: I am actually with you on ending the drug war.  You gotta say other stuff, though.

Dodd brings up access, as well as coverage...he ran over

Oh, Senator Clinton! You get your title fully spelled out for your answer here!

Biden: Got a little carried away..."I know Barack got tested for AIDS"??

We seem to be coming to an agreement that school will start at 4 years old. Fine...but I insist

1. Education is not a priority...training is
2. The achievement gap is more of a grading gap...I will never forget the ACT survey that showed only 1 in 4 students that complete college prep course actually are capable of college level work

That's me, not them. 

Edwards wants kids to start school before 4 years old?

Obama betta say something...okay, he said a little something.

Richardson and Kucinich: end the war to fund education.

Gravel said the Dems haven't done much better than the Repubs, and said "we're all guilty on this stage!" If he ever had a shot, he doesn't anymore...

Dodd gives the general affirmation of the value of education.

Hillary (who I call 'Hillary' in this particular instance) went all "it takes a village." She broadened the issue...NOT invalid this time, either.

Everyone: We have made enourmous progress, but it is not enough 

Sen. Clinton: She's trying...my only issue is the invalid expansion of reference (us and the world)

Sen. Biden: He's right...he was tough on Alito and Roberts, but everyone else was too soft

Gov. Richardson: Oh, please...authenticity??? The dialog request is asking for trouble...which I will be glad to provide over the next few years

Ex-Sen. Edwards: He's hitting more points...racism, poverty, and tossed in voting for good measure

Sen. Obama: Ain't said shit so far, but shared responsibility

Rep. Munchkin: Constituional amendment in response to the Supreme Corporate's restoration of the perogatives of Dixie

Ex-? Gravel: War on Drugs!  

Sen Dodd: Education! (and want to reverse the SUpreme Corporate) 

Deval did the intro. He said we want a real debate on right and wrong like we don't know what right and wrong.

The crowd cheered louder when Gravel was introduced...that just was cruel. 

Tom Joyner is gassing the crowd here.

We shall see if the candidates are making Black America a priority.

This "All America" thing is pissing me off in the wake of the Supreme Corporate's decision today. 

I have waited for this day since Concerned Alumni of Princeton member Samuel Alito joined the Supreme Corporate. Yet I can't blame him exclusively.He had lots of help.

And I want to see if this is in the 12 question Mr. Smiley et al asks.

I'm sitting in the media rom here. They piped in a couple of brothers singing The Start Spangled Banner and I am not feeling it.

1. Time for people of color to question the candidates

2. Tavis Smiley, Black Journalists Set to Question Democratic Candidates at Howard U. Debate

3. Tavis Smiley: People of Color More Influential in Presidential Politics

I was going to ask if anyone really worried about a pro-Obama bias in the forum.

THAT is the 'special' question. Makes me feela little dumber to have even considered asking it.

Smiley Promises Balanced Debate on Black Issues
By Politics
Thursday, June 28, 2007; A04

When Democratic contenders meet at Howard University on Thursday night for their third presidential debate, the agenda will be focused on issues of importance to African American voters. But despite a panel made up entirely of minority journalists, the event is "not tailor-made" for Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), said Tavis Smiley, the PBS host who will moderate the forum.

"Barack Obama could absolutely tank," Smiley said yesterday. He said he would neither prop up Obama, the only African American candidate in the race, nor set any traps for him. Instead, the eight candidates will all get to answer each of the 12 questions he asks during the 90-minute forum.

To correct some erroneous information, please note that Dr. Frank Luntz is NOT appearing on Thursday night's Presidential forum.

Uh-huh.

Immediate public feedback on the performance of the candidates will be conducted by noted pollster Frank Luntz, who will also appear on "Tavis Smiley" on PBS the following evening to discuss his findings.

I did say I was cool with Luntz appearing the next day on Mr. Smiley's show.

Okay, 'cool' is an overstatement. The quote is I could shiv a gitz. But in the end Mr. Smiley et. al. are entitled to pick their guests, just as we're entitled to smear people with the truth. If you really want things to work you have to let the truth have first crack at folks' minds.

We got a joint RSS feed working at the Media Bloggers Association web site. All the credentialled bloggers are listed there too...third name from the bottom is a bit of a surprise.

And by way of surprises, Cobb placed this post in his "Punch in the nose" category.

The Nearness of You (Stanky Republicans)

"It isnt your sweet conversation
That brings this sensation, oh no
Its just the nearness of you"
-- Hoagy Carmichael

That's ptcruiser with the heads up.

ALERT: Luntz's Conflict of Interest -- Contact PBS Today!

Email from David Brock, Tuesday, June 26, 2007.

Dear Friend:

Yesterday, I urged you to join me in asking PBS and the Tavis Smiley program to reconsider their decision to have Frank Luntz provide post-forum analysis of the Democratic presidential candidates -- today I am asking you once again to call or email PBS and Tavis Smiley.

Since my last email, Media Matters has learned that Luntz, a longtime Republican pollster and strategist, has worked on each of GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's three previous political campaigns -- a clear and serious conflict of interest PBS cannot ignore.

I sent a letter directly to PBS and the Tavis Smiley program detailing the reasons why Luntz is the wrong choice for this important job -- and your emails yesterday filled up the show's mailbox!

I checked PBS's press release about the dread debate. I find myself with this problem.

Immediate public feedback on the performance of the candidates will be conducted by noted pollster Frank Luntz, who will also appear on "Tavis Smiley" on PBS the following evening to discuss his findings.
This means Luntz is the only commentator other than we bloggers...and he will be live, on the air.

I don't want to hear shit about "fair and balanced." It looks way too much like part of the CBCI deal, and if Mr. Smiley is in bed with Fox News it's going to change the way I categorize him. Immediately. The inclusion of progressive bloggers was sort of last minute and I can't help but wonder if Luntz' appearance on the press release is connected.

Let him appear on Smiley's show the next day, I could shiv a gitz about that.

Yes, I'm still going, yes I'm paying my own way like all the others. And now, part of the reason is so can pass judgement on the media aspect as well as the political one.

I believe PBS will do the right thing here, but just in case they dont...

ALERT: PBS Selects Luntz for Democratic forum analysis...

Email from David Brock, June 25, 2007.

Dear Friend:

I'm sure you've already heard that PBS will be hosting the next Democratic presidential forum on Thursday, June 28, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. What you may not know is that PBS has invited Frank Luntz, a longtime Republican pollster and strategist, to provide "immediate public feedback on the performances of the candidates" during post-forum coverage on the Tavis Smiley program.

Of course, when Luntz's appearance was announced, the press release made no mention of his Republican ties or long history of being criticized for his work.

Really. I'm just setting up a feed for the debate thing.

Otherwise the Secret Service wouldn't have approved my credentials for the Presidential Debate at Howard University this week. So Thursday will be another slow posting day. Maybe Friday too...I won't be staying overnight so I'll get home stoopid late.

I get media access to candidates and such after the debate so if you got suggested questions I'm all ears.