Charlie Rose Science Series
Click here to watch previous episodes of the Charlie Rose Science Series
The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals
by Jane Mayer
Buy it
by Jane Mayer
Buy it
01/08/2008
Mark Halperin, Al Hunt, Arianna Huffington, Matthew Dowd, Bill Bradley, Steve McMahon
Live coverage of the New Hampshire Primary
Keywords:
Live coverage of the New Hampshire primary with Bill Bradley, Matthew Dowd, Mark Halperin, Arianna Huffington, Al Hunt & Steve McMahon.
DVD
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Audio
Audio available through Audible.com.
Audio available through Audible.com.
Transcripts
Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
I listened to this show again, and thank goodness for Mark Halperin, the only voice that spoke the truth. The bias against Hillary Clinton is just amazing. Please have a more balanced view in the future. Thank you.
John, Nice word "infotainment", I like that. But as I am new to the world of politics, I am interested in everyone's opinions. They all have things to say and impart, and I am capable of reading between the lines, getting to the gist or heart of a matter. Right now I just need to learn as much as I can about the world of politics where anything aparently goes. Interesting world but it is the world we live in, and the world is listening in. I so wish we did not have to endure the divisive party politics; my sister for one is bummed, because she lives in California, and by the time the primary vote gets to her, she has little choice who to vote for, it is not fair to her. For me I think it is sad that people have to sign their life over to a platform whether they agree with all of it or not. We all have differing views, how can all people possibly be represented by only two parties. I wonder what it would be like for all the states to vote at the same time in the primaries, after equal time for all of the candidates, in all of the states. What would it be like to campain for what each candidate stands for and beleives, not what a party sets down in stone, and is accused of flipfloping if they stray or change their mind with evolving awareness? Are we like the Shiites and the Sunnis, Catholics and Protestants etc? Tribes that find the only solutions to be civil war or ethnic cleansing? Are we any better than any of those people? Why do we look for what divides us, or sets us apart from the other guy, rather than looking for common ground and what unites us? Is this divisivness the only way to win? What do we win? Why can't we have the freedom to learn and choose what we think, what our values are, without having them shoved down our throats by the radicals everywhere? Who really is making policy? I liked Richardson, Dodd, and Biden, too bad they are already out, they had a lot to bring. Are they out too early for the process to benefit from them totally? Even Kisinich(?) had good ideas, 'specially the impeachment plans. :-). As I in an earlier post said, I have always been registered Non Party, but I think I will go Independent, in fact I am going to go to the library today to do that, so I can vote in the primary this year. I have never voted for anyone before, only protest votes against someone and even protest no votes, because I so dislike the divisive system we have. Just because it is ours and a long tradition, does it make it right or sacred? Does it not need to be updated now and then? What are others opinions about this? Kathy Mae
I'd be sincerely interested to know how many people in this thread actually know what their favorite candidate stands for, because you sure didn't learn the answer to that question listening to this program. Infotainment at it's best.
Thanks Mark Halperin for having the fortitude to point out the recent media bias in candidate coverage. Regardless of who I'm leaning toward voting for, it is always helpful for the media to provide facts about the candidates to help voters choose well, instead of the recent overload of shifting journalistic 'narratives' about the primary race, candidate histories, and the predicted future outcomes. The press speculation is pervasive and all the stretching to tell only the most dramatic story is hurting the public and the elections.
To NH (Thurs. Jan 10. 02:51 AM): Who exactly refers to this "takeover plan" as a "reconquista"? That is definitley not the rhetoric used by the "radical Chicano movement." I've never heard a radical Jew refer to himself as a "neo-Nazi," have you? And how dare that Marcos Aguilar suggest that "Mexicans in the U.S. don't want to go to white schools or drink from white water fountains," the nerve of him. He's probably one of those freaks who believes in such silly concepts as "self-determination." I've heard he also denies the supremacy of Western Culture.
Halperin is a shill â?? and seeing as how he wrote a book predicting that Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic Nominee, itâ??s clear why. To foreign policy democrats like myself, its Clinton whoâ??s getting a free ride from the press. Even a quick comparison of the two staffs quickly reveals the superiority of his team to hers.
To add to my last post: Mark Halperin was right. Obama LIED to the American people during the New Hampshire debate when Clinton called him on having a lobbyist as a co-chair of his campaign. Obama denied it. When Halperin brought this up on your show Huffington tried to dismiss it by saying all the canidates have lobbyist on their campaigns. That was not the point. The point was Obama lied about it and the press ignored it. That is the kid glove treatment Obama has gotten. Talk about double standard. One of the only reputable journalist left on PBS is Bill Moyers. His programs lately have been excellent. And hats off to Tom Brokow who had the wisdom to say maybe the pundants and TV "journalists" should hold off on their predictions and just report the facts. What a concept.
Well the United States had 5 days where there was hope that some real change could take place in the governence of this nation. However reality set in on Tuesday evening and the forces of the status quo won the day. For both the winners of the NH Primary election are old Washington hands. They are both known commodities who really will offer no surprises. At least Mr Obama as the "outsider" canidate made it farther than Howard Dean did in 2004. He won the Primary in Iowa. However let us suppose that Mr Obama did win in the November election. Upon taking office his program of change would meet with some tough sleding from not only the Federal and State Bureaucracies, Congress, but also from many of his own constituants that have vested interests in the status quo.A real change of direction is only something that is talked about but not really wanted. You might say that the only change that the Democrats really want is to change who gets to put their snouts in the trough of the public treasury.
Well HELLO Hillary Clinton. What a difference a day makes. She has finally figured out that politics is "not just a game" that is played by making all the smart moves, but involves putting yourself on the line by being honest and forthright as to what you believe in your heart. In other words to be geniune, otherwise why should anyone trust you to guide their future. For MS Clinton the road to the White House is going to have to include her invoking her past as a "Goldwater Girl" to catch all those Independent voters in the center of the field. Instead of hiding from her past she should be proud and embrace her history, after all Goldwater is now viewed as a man of great integrity and principle.
I finally got around to watching this show and I agree with most of the comments. I was very disappointed to see that you had so many openly Obama supporters on this program. Huffington was the most disturbing. She didn't even try to hide her disdain for the Clintons and love of all things Obama. I find the Obama worship highly frightening for our country. This is the presidency we are talking about, and yet everyone is blown away by flowery speech and a nice human story. I'm sorry, but I am concerned about the Mid East blowing up, the economy blowing up, and health care to name just a few things. I think Obama has a future but he is too green. Why are the media annoiting him? Why are you falling in line too? Is the whole American society turning into a glorified American Idol? What happened to old fashioned journalism? Good for Mark Halperin. At least he is speaking truth to power.
NH Chooses Raging Trotskyites McCain, Clinton January 9th, 2008 Liberal establishment candidate, war-mongerer, and ill-tempered veteran-with-an-axe-to-grind John McCain won the GOP primary in NH after the sheeple dutifully went to the polls in obedience to the many controlled-media newspapers who endorsed him. McCain has been the defacto proponent of open borders, and supports government control over the internet and your ability to finance campaigns. He has stated he is in support of the ICC in violation of our US Constitution, subjugating our US sovereignty to international law. He is no Republican, no conservative, and definitely not a patriot. Oh how the CFR must love it. But the worst thing is, heâ??s stated that he doesnâ??t care if we stay 100 more years in Iraq? Al Qaeda has already noted this in their training manuals. Hillary is a racist Hillary Picks La Raza Leader As Campaign Co Chair Thu, 04/12/2007 The former president of an extremist group that organized many of the country's disruptive pro illegal immigration marches and advocates the return of the American Southwest to Mexico will co-chair Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Best known for his radical pro Chicano work during 30 years as president of the National Council of La Raza, Raul Yzaguirre is being promoted by the Clinton campaign as a prominent Hispanic activist who will lead the New York senator's outreach to Hispanic voters. The reality is that Yzaguirre alienates many American citizens of Hispanic descent (in other words, those qualified to vote) with his so-called La Raza rhetoric, which has been repeatedly labeled racist. The National Council of La Raza describes itself as the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, but it caters to the radical Chicano movement that says California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and parts of Colorado and Texas belong to Aztlan. The takeover plan is referred to as the "reconquista" of the Western U.S. and it features ethnic cleansing of Americans, Europeans, Africans and Asians once the area is taken back and converted to Aztlan. While this may all sound a bit crazy, this organization is quite powerful (thanks to Hillary's new campaign co-chair) and annually receives millions of dollars in federal grants. Its leaders also managed to get included in congressional hearings regarding immigration. Last year alone, the National Council of La Raza received $15.2 million in federal grants and one senator gave the group an extra $4 million in earmarked American taxpayer dollars. The organization uses the money to support projects like a Southern California elementary school with a curriculum that specializes in bashing America and promoting the Chicano movement. The school's founder and principal, a Calexico-educated activist named Marcos Aguilar, opposes racial integration and says Mexicans in the U.S. don't want to go to white schools or drink from white water fountains.
I agree with a number of other people here. I would like to hear more from, and about, the others who are running for the nominations. I implore you Charlie to provide that. So far I have found that you and PBS have been parroting the general media, and presenting just the perceived front runners. Is it too much to ask that PBS get people on the ground who go where for profit media is not going? If PBS won't do it who will? Our next President is going to have a tough time. He our she is going to have to turn around our supertanker ship of state from the disastrous course of the last eight years. Our country will be in a recession, suffering from a housing bubble that has bust, loss of real jobs because our corporations, and capital investments have gone global, a treasury that is busted broke and thus has little ability to boost the economy, a war that can not be won anytime soon, because our military is over extended, and the cost is not sustainable; and add to that the real threat from terrorism, the need to restore our creditability, even though this Iraq venture has gone so wrong, and do it with strength and a smile; and rebuild our infrastructure both material and human, which means providing for decent health acre and education so that we can compete. And he/she will have to do all this with well entrenched forces who are very happy with the status quo, trying to stop him/her. I think we need a fighting spirit who has faced adversity, and prospered. I would like PBS/Charlie to give us a lot more about John Edwards.
Bill Bradley reveals why he was such a failure as a presidential candidate--he is smug, self righteous, and deceitful. As Bradley and Obama know, Hillary Clinton was never "for the war." For those who believe otherwise, read the text of the senate bill authorizing military action: http://www.c-span.org/resources/pdf/hjres114.pdf
Next time Arianna Huffington appears on the show, please make it clear to viewers she is an Obama supporter. And next political roundtable show please try to achieve more balance. Having Obama supporters like Bradley and Huffington while the rest are more neutral analysts makes for poor, slanted discussion. This post-election show gets a D-.
well it was a great run but after all these years i am finished w charlie rose his show goes into the waste basket w the useless likes of fox news between his interruptions and now his pro-obama act and the fools he put on to carry that out.... i see no point anymore but... like i said... it was a great run
Huffington is overly subjective and so much so that it is almost nausiating to watch her attempts to rationalize her positions with disparate facts/opinions.
to Ellen, I like it better when Charlie let's the guest talk without too many interruptions. I need to know so much, and when he interrupts it sometimes interrupts the train of thought, of the guest, that I was interested in learning about. I like the fact that I feel like I am listening in on a conversation between two intelligent and knowledgeable people. I am there to learn. If I want to listen to hard interviews and debates, I go to Hard Ball with Chris Mathers and the like. Charlie is for learning what the other guy is about, not challenging. I want to know what other people think and feel, without judgements or if they are right or wrong. We are all subject to propaganda, not just others. Knowledge and education is what empowers us all. What I do like Charlie to do is add to the knowledge of the conversation, explain things, the viewers might not know, about the history, the person or the region. He knows so much, and I want to know too. I am so thirsty, and a sponge right now. I have a lot to make up for.... Kathy Mae
to Thomas. Thank you for your comments and insight. I too have always agreed that the "on the job training" is a real issue, and have also been amazed at how the job ages each and every one of our Presidents. It is partly why I am against term limits. Why do we throw away valuable and hard won experience for an outdated fearful reason?...do we not have the wisdom to vote for who we want when we want? Re: Barack's inexperience...no one running now has ever been the President before and I agree with you totally, that one could not possibly know what it is like until you, actually, are the one doing it. Hilary was close, involved and interested, but that is not the same... and she would also face the inevitable "on the job training" all of them would. I like Hilary, she would make a great president as well, but for me the most important issue of the day is what we say to the world. They are all smart enough to have smart people advising them. They learned that much from the mistakes of Bush's administration, I would hope. Hilary is from that old status quo good old boys club, but she has gained some experience and is smart enough and cares enough to navigate through all that, she does what she can, but it isn't a whole lot, maybe she accepts "the way it is" a bit too much and is too jaded for the change needed. Barack has a slight edge for me right now because his message and vision is about hope and change, not only for us but for the world. His message is that "it most certainly can be done" and no one can tell him otherwise, I like that. Most people do not think world globalization is important, but what one does effects all. The more successful everyone is the more prosperous we all become, that is what the economists say. There is enough bounty in the world to go around, that is what God says (for those that believe) and wants us all equally to have the bounty the world has to offer. Our economy has created modern day slaves here in this country by keeping the middle and lower income classes down. Now they are spreading it throughout the world, it's a corrupt capitalism that is out of control. I am not against capitalism, but our founding Fathers knew to control the Government with checks and balances, where are the Corporate checks and balances?. We don't elect corporations to make our policy, but they do. They control our media and Washington. The laws we have made to protect the public against corporate environmental pollution, labor rights etc. do not apply when they go to other countries, where they go and take advantage with no recourse. We need to tell the world that we are done with the "do what I say and not what I do" messages to the world. We need to establish checks and balances on big corps. The damage we have done in the world, because of out of the control corporate greed, by those with outdated, fear based politics, who have the need to control others by force is barbaric. Let's bring to the table the best of all of our diverse philosophies, religion, government etc., let's learn from each other, mistakes and all, apologize where needed, edit our policies and ways that no longer work...let's be like the cooking show East Meets West...there is nothing wrong with that, no fear, just hard work...the fear is if we continue doing the same old isolationists ways of rationalizing what is in our best interests. Our best interests are to be brothers and sisters in the world, with equal say and interests for all. Lastly I don't agree with you that you need the perfect candidate to win, that if you don't there will never be another chance. I do acknowledge racism is alive and well...but with each generation the separation gets less...I believe there will be many chances, you don't have to wait for the perfect one. Your point about Barack surrounded by white or black faces is well taken, you have a point there. It is amazing how slow progress is, but in the scheme of things, our is a puff of smoke. The dream will happen I have to have faith in that, maybe it is naive, but if we don't think it, then it won't happen, it won't have a chance, ideas become realities, the ideas always come first. I respect your ideas and concerns and am honored to be part of what I consider to be of paramount importance; respectful dialogue between Black and White. respectfully Kathy Mae
has anyone else noticed that lately charlie rose has not been talking and interrupting so much? Suddenly he's changed since about 2 shows ago if I'm correct. Last time he talked too much was with Paul Krugman. Am I right? If someone agrees or not, please post! Anyway, I like the new charlie a lot more. Thanks
I am in disbelief!!!! What happened to the winner tonight???? Let's hear about the fact that all pundits in the last show were wrong....Let's hear about Hillary ability to rebound.....and what about the fact that women will always stick to one of ther own...
One thing is clear: Charlie didn't learn any lessons of the media failure in New Hampshire. Three Obama shills on the show; nobody "spinning" for any other candidates.
How do you comment about what black Americans think without asking us? Although you didn't ask I'll tell you. First Barak is too inexeprienced, the world is dangerous and right now we can't wait two years for someone to figure out how to be the President (that's how long it took Kenedy, Clinton, Bush II, Reagan, and Carter. if you noticed Bush I, Nixon, Ford, Johnson, didn't need a learning period, they had the experience and saw first hand what the job actually is). This is also the reason we didn't want Clarence Thomas to be a Supreme Court Justice, not becaus he is a conservative (most blacks are conservative we just want to be repaid for Jim Crow and Slavery) he lacked the experience and we felt he wouldn't excel in the position. As so far he's proved us right. Secondly the first black President has to succeed. If he fails we will never get another chance. Right now Barak is a dream to whites. So they see him standing at the white house surrounded by white faces and they're happy with that, things change when they start thinking of him surrounded by black faces. A lot of us think that Hillary as President and Barak as Vice President works. We'll have someone who knows what to do (which is really Bill CLinton) and Barak will learn what the job of President really is and in 2016 he'll be ready. Being President seems like a highly stressful job. They go in looking young and energetic and leave looking old. The Presidency ages eveyone who takes that job. I don't think he realizes what the Job of President really is. Ask him what it means to be the leader of the free world. As Bill Clinton said, no one that hasn't been President really knows what that job is. We (black Americans) cannot have a McGovern ( win the nomination only to be slaughtered in the general election) or we will never get another chance. So don't take it easy on Barak. Ask really hard questions, point out his mistakes and make him explain, because the Republicans will not give him a break and neither should you.
Mark you were spot on when refering to the press giving a free pass to Obama. Now that the NH voters have proven the press wrong on their predictions (( double digit lead ))their analisis is Hill cried. Its very obvious that the media is very biased. History is being made Thank God for educated voters who can see thru the media hype that Obama is our president before we even go thru the primaries. We will decide who will be our nominating candidate and NH proved that. LOL last nite on nightline it was stated that obama lost because he was being cocky their words not mine the media is the real flip flopper.
I agree with Mark Halperin's comment that the media in general has been a little easy on Obama than other candidates. Prime example is when Arianna Huffington was trying to defend the media then in the same breath slings mud against Clinton. I was so disgusted that I just turned the TV off. Can you please invite journalists who would actually report and give a fair perspective of the news and not someone who sounds like a campaigner.
Right on Mark Halprin; anyone who is willing to stand up and deny that Hillary has been trashed in every possible way, is probably an old white male chauvinist pig and wouldn't admit that fact if he were put on the rack. Even the other men on Charlie are trying to snipe at her in the most underhanded way. I have observed news cast after news cast and noted old white males pretending to offer information, but it ain't so, it is designed for no purpose other than to try to bring her down. Thank you for having the guts to say it.
One more thing, I predicted correctly about the Iowa, as I have been paying close attention. I predicted a McCain win wight Romney 2nd and Huckabee third. I predicted Obama to win, but qualified it, when I watched him that night and the next day and said "if he loses it will be because he is getting a bit cocky. Then Hilary cried...That is what I believe NH did. It will be a good thing tho...he can go on from here and learn from it; and just keep getting better and better. He must humble and strong and inspiring at the same time, that is the way to win. Have strength and be adaptable, listen, learn, and think; be smart and be yourself....Like Nelson Mendela
I am a baby boomer, white, female, 52. This is the first time in my life I have been excited about politics. The only time I have ever voted was to vote against someone, not for someone. I believe we all need to learn and get involved now more than ever. So much is at stake. There is so much to do and to repair. I have been reading all I can get my hands on. Books about the Middle East, biographies on past presidents, and important historical and political events. Just finished a book about Mao and Nixon. And of course eating up every Charlie Rose and Bill Moyers show. It has opened up a whole new world for me. I am a person of the "One World One People" mind set, and am registered Non Party. I have never believed in party politics. But now I am thinking of reregistering to the Independent Party so that I can vote in the primary this year. It is exciting right now, and I want to be part of history. Since High School I have been passionate about women's rights, and the Black and White issue in this country, even when it made me unpopular with my friends and family. I now think I would like to put my vote where my mouth, my head and my heart has been ever for more than 3 decades. I was there during riots at my high school, and witnessed the blood shed in the struggles for human and civil rights. I want to vote for the first black president of the united states. It's not just that tho... I do believe he is the best guy for the job, he is smart, inspiring, articulate, and inclusive (I could not take another bumbling idiot in the white house). I believe Barrack would do the best job of telling the World we are sorry for any mistakes we have make, and that we care about them. Then to get on with the job of rebuilding relationships, friendships and working for peace in the world. We need to learn from them and they us, with articulate dialogue and strong relationships skills. He has shown me that he learns very fast, lightning fast. That is important to me, that he can progress, adapt, change and learn. There is not that much time for one person to learn on the job training and get things done in four years. Also he looks good, not that it is on the top of the list of important qualities, but it is a plus. I like Huckabee too, even tho the "God thing" in politics is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. But at least he is genuine and smart, and his Faith does not offend me, like when George Bush played it. Huckabee has good ideas and has common sense values(I don't think God would tell him to have and illegal war); I wonder what he would say different tho, if he wasn't stuck to stupid "Party" rhetoric. No one should be stuck spouting nonsense they don't believe just to get money from a Party or to be electable by a Party, in order to serve as President. Something is very wrong about that. If independents can vote for either party now...why not all of us Non Party people and progressive thinkers in other Parties, those of us who like to think out of the box, why not reregister to the Independent Party, and let's tell the world we are done with Party Politics. Barrack, I believe thinks out of the box and is the most conscience of, being a citizen of the World. We are one family, the leaves of one tree, the flowers of one gardin and all that...we need a leader to remind us of that and work toward a World conscienceness. We are not the chosen ones nor do everything right, and everyone else is not our enemy and do it all wrong either. Soldiers of our supposed enemies also have Moms and Dads, sisters and brothers, kids....we all hurt, we all make mistakes and we all need to be heard and validated. Most of all we all need to learn, equally, how to come together as a world, listen and find the common good, and we need a leader that understands that. Let us at last learn from our mistakes and history. I think at least Barrack is well read and still reads, not like that other guy in office right now. And finally one last thought; It is good to love your family, village, town, city, state; It is good to love your Country, but it is a higher calling to love the World we all belong to, that we all depend on. Maybe someday we can compete against other planets and be us against them, but hopefully it will be a non violent competition. Then I will have to say we are all One Universe I suppose lol. Sorry for the soapbox, I have never done this before, guess I had a lot on my mind....thanks for reading and listening. Kathy Mae
We should all keep the phrase of Mr. Don Cetrulo,"the corrosive aggrandizement of power" forever in our minds and the reason why Hillary Clinton will loose in the general election if she, unfortunately, wins the nomination. Her husband's comment that Barack Obama's quest for the White House is a "fairy tale." will ensure that few, if any, Blacks will brave a cold November day to vote for her. The good ladies of N.H. have done nothing but ensure eight more years of republicanism and an Iran war by putting White sisterhood above the country's best interest. This sisterhood is the "Ralph Nader" in this election When you take a hard look at his life, his presidency and his marriage, Bill Clinton has never amounted to much. He is an empthy man, clinging to the one thing he thinks is vindication--a failed presidency. Is this what Mr. Cetrulo means by "corrosive?"
Hi Charlie, I think your guest tonight hit it right on the head when he suggested the media has been favoring Obama from jump street. I have been watching tv closely ever since he won the senate seat and the media just built him up and built him up and already made him a presidential candidate before he ever did anything. He is definetly overated.
I recently had occasion to watch two of your shows about the presidential primaries. After the Iowa caucuses, one of your panelists was a John Edwardâ??s strategist. He characterized the outcome of the Iowa caucuses, painting his candidate as the â??true agent of changeâ?? and describing Hillary Clintonâ??s candidacy as virtually over. Tonight, you had Arianna Huffington on your show and it was obvious that she is a supporter of Barack Obama. It seems that when you select your panelists you do not attempt to exclude those who are biased toward a particular political candidate. Former Senator Bill Bradley had endorsed Barack Obama and he was more objective than Ms. Huffington. I also agree with Mark Halperin that the press has given more favorable coverage to Barack Obama. While his candidacy is historic and has generated a lot of buzz, the press should try not to become part of the rooting section for Obama, but rather ask the tough questions that will reveal his concrete plans for his presidency. So much of what the voters know about the candidates comes from the media and if print and broadcast journalists are not doing their job who will know? The press continues to state unequivocally that Hillary Clinton is a polarizing figure. While her high negative numbers in polling may substantiate this assertion, has anyone in the press ever asked why her negative numbers are so high? Are the transgressions of her husband, Bill Clinton, being transferred to her? Has the demonization of her by the Republican Party defined her to some of the voting public? Or is she the victim of remnants of sexist sentiments that persist in the American society? These are questions that should be asked to provide insight and understanding of the polling numbers. I have watched your show on numerous occasions when you have interviewed entertainers, authors and policy makers. Your interviews have been insightful and illuminating. Thatâ??s why I am so disappointed that your coverage of the presidential campaign has been so subjective, superficial and unimaginative. Can you raise the standard of discourse on you coverage of the presidential campaign?
I am surprised that none of your commentators tonight voiced a particular reason for Clinton's victory. All week long, I heard various pundits say that Hillary was the favorite when considering who would make the best commander in chief. Don't you think the near confrontation today with the Iranian boats could have swayed some voters to cast a vote for her, i.e. a new, more serious war, became the deciding issue?
I am disapointed that othodox democrats and republicans favor the likes of hillary and mitt. The independent voters, most of whom chose McCain or Obama, picked canidates with whom they may not entirley agree, but they recognize as inspirational leaders. Everywhere we turn we see the narcissistic failings of the party political elite. Truman was in the white house when I was born, and my interest in politics died on the kitchen floor of the ambassador hotel. I would like to feel hopeful again. Maybe this will be the year in which the voice of the independent voter can break through. But I have grave doubts. Ron Paul may be right. The less we look to the party political class for anything, the better off we will probably be. They seem to care for nothing except the corrosive aggrandizement of power.
I agree with Steve D... I agree with Anne C... (if time is so limited, stick with the top two winners in Iowa ie. Obama and Edwards... but plenty of time is spent on the top 5 or 6 of the Republican race.) Corporate Media runs it all... Money = Airtime...Thank God the majority of Americans don't pay attention to it. And the younger generation spends more time online than in front of the television... sponsors take note!! Here's to same day National Primaries! Here's to NO MORE lobbyists! Here's to the obliteration of the Electoral College. Here's to election night blackout until the last person has voted in Hawaii. Perhaps, then, ONE PERSON - ONE VOTE will be true.
To Steve H: "Focusing on the candidates who are likely to win" is leading the question and in turn helps decide who wins. Reporting the news should not in turn create the news. The Primaries are already unfair and biased in the fact that Iowas and New Hampshire do not represent the interest of the majority of Americans, but somehow they virtually determine the Presidential Nominees for each party respectively. The Primaries should take place in all states on one day simultaneously and the news should report fairly on the race for the Presidency. However the interests of those who own and operate the the major media outlets think differently and unfortunately the integrity of journalism has diminished slowly but surely over time. If only the networks realized that year after year they alienate more and more viewers with their disingenuous news thereby limiting their advertising revenues. One day someone will wake up and realize that reporting the truth yields unlimited profit margins.
To Anne C: This is not a case of reporting on only "what the media finds palatable and interesting." The voters are expressing their opinions, and journalists have a responsibility to cover those results. I suppose you think the campaigns of Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel deserve equal time as well. Hear this: when you broadcast a nightly show, editorial decisions have to be made about what to cover and how to cover it. Charlie is covering the New Hampshire primary and can only address so many facets of the race in one hour. Focusing on the candidates who are likely to win is not a bad way to go.
I find it infuriating that the media, including Charlie Rose, continues to focus only on Clinton and Obama. There is so little attention given to the other Democratic candidates, especially John Edwards-he was second in Iowa yet one would think he wasn't in the race! Fair coverage would insure that the public has access to as much information as possible from all of the candidates rather than narrowing the field to the who and what the media finds most palatable and interesting.