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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Friday, August 16, 2024

Josh Marshall: I've come at this debate in my head from a bunch different directions over the last few days. On the one hand, journalists press for information, details, answers. It's part of their job to be annoying. But there is something uncanny and vaguely absurd hearing this mix of complaints, demands and warnings of electoral disaster leveled at [the Harris campaign] which is finishing up what has to be at least among and quite possibly the best single month of any presidential campaign in at least half a century.

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I actually got in a minor spat today with a reporter who I'd dinged for an article description which presented Harris as a sort mystery candidate verging on Manchurian Candidate, with unknown views and barely detailed ambitions. Are we kidding with all of this?

Campaign success isn't what journalists are or should be concerned about. But it defies belief that Harris and her campaign would shift gears when what they've been doing is working this well.

[T]here is one additional point: modern political campaign journalism is almost totally indifferent to public policy. Normally Democrats cannot get reporters to pay attention to it. So these demands for a "vision" for this and a vision for that and detailed policy papers on all the rest are just a bit weird. Where does this newfound interest come from?

The deeper story is that most campaign reporters simply don't know what to make of Harris's campaign and can't figure out how it has managed, at least for the moment, to be so successful. But for reporters the inexplicable-ness requires a storyline. And this is that storyline: the substance-less campaign, the lack of interviews, yada yada yada.

The final part of the story is rooted in official Washington's view of Harris. To put it baldly most elite DC journalists treated Harris with a kind of breezy disdain that could scarcely rise to the level of contempt. You'll remember that when Ezra Klein and others got together the calls for a Thunderdome convention Klein referred delicately and painedly to "the Kamala Harris problem," a problem so obvious that it scarcely required explanation: how to usher her out of the way for others from the vaunted Democratic bench.

I note this simply because it was such a deep conventional wisdom that it hardly required explanation. Everyone in that world knew what he meant. That backstory must have left Harris just utterly uninterested in what these folks have to say. They treated her as something between a punchline and a nonentity and now she's the odds-on favorite, if only by a small margin, to the next President. Why should she care?

It's simply amazing how Josh Marshall can articulate on issues at the forefront of everyone's mind at any given moment. I've felt the same as he does, and it's reinforced every single day by the repetition of ignorant speculations and comments from Trump and his minions. Marry this to the so-called progressive media that got high on its own importance in deciding Joe Biden's replacement only to be steamrolled and sidelined by the juggernaut Harris is currently riding, bursting with waves of energy and enthusiasm resonating up and down the ticket - as today's presidential polling from Florida and other down-ballot swings are showing.

Harris doesn't need to sit down with the media to get her story across to voters, she only needs the media to broadcast what she's saying on the stump in front of energized crowds. Don't fix what isn't broken.

#1 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-08-15 09:41 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

"In 2016 there was a heartbreaking piece during Brexit when Trump went off to his golf club in Scotland and announced he'd have a press availability. The media dutifully showed up to the lectern out on a rough somewhere and for a good 45 minutes while Trump made them blather on about what Trump was going to say about Brexit while showing the empty lectern. There was nothing happening, no news, no speech, not even a person in view of the cameras but the 24 hour cable channels stuck with it.

At the exact same time Hillary Clinton was giving a policy speech on how the federal government could support parents with expanded WIC funding, funded maternal care through the ACA, aggressive expansion of early childhood education, and tax credits for child care. It was a well thought out policy that had the potential to help millions of moms and dads but no one remembers it because the media prefered to cover an empty lectern and speculate on another country's referendum on the EU during the height of a US presidential election."

[T]he comical disconnect between the two standards is one elite political reporters as a whole need to have some reckoning with. And beyond that the many responses to these complaints show the anger that has built up over the years over the almost total click-the-snooze-button, we-don't-have-time attitude of most campaign reporters to discussions of policy.

talkingpointsmemo.com

#2 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-08-15 12:38 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

It benefits Kamala to be something of a cipher. The MAGAts and Faux have had to reach back to 2000 and further to pull comments made by VPOTUS that they can then twist to mean something completely different from what she meant. Maybe thats why she hasn't taken the time to sit for an interview, she doesn't have to. I agree with Keith Olbermann, they bad their chance. A few days ago Kamala approached the pool and asked them what they had for her. Rather than asking her policy related questions, they asked her about insane things Dotard said. She easily dismissed that by telling them she didn't see it, she's been talking to voters. As George Bernard Shaw wrote, "Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it."

#3 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2024-08-15 07:17 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

"It benefits Kamala to be something of a cipher.
#3 | Posted by _Gunslinger_"

Kamala 2024: "it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to talk and remove all doubt"

#4 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-08-15 08:01 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Kamala 2024: "it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to talk and remove all doubt"

Posted by Claudio at 2024-08-15 08:01 PM | Reply

You've removed all doubt long ago.

#5 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2024-08-15 08:06 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

Ain't that right.

#6 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-08-15 08:10 PM | Reply

Oh, dont worry Claudia, she'll talk to the media eventually, there's just no rush as long as all the media wants to ask her about is Dotard's most recent outrageous lie. She plans a policy speech on the economy in a few days in NC. But prior to the debate, she can ride this wave of enthusiasm, joy, and positivity to even fatter polling leads, while Dotard continues to hold a weekly Klan rally in front of shrinking crowds and demonstrate his deteriorating mental condition in so called press conferences.

Currently there is nothing pushing her to change anything, pollsters aren't just projecting that she's the better bet to 270 EVs, but now they are talking about a potential landslide that could include FL and OH. Polling shows her swallowing up undecideds, women, RFK's voters, and now has massive leads with Hispanics, GenZ, and Afircan American voters. Plus she's making inroads with evangelicals and white males without college education, I think the last is the Walz effect.

#7 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2024-08-15 11:21 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"Polling shows her swallowing up undecideds"

Believe me, we all know about Kamala swallowing poles - that is how she got the Heels' Up nickname.

"Currently there is nothing pushing her to change anything, pollsters aren't just projecting that she's the better bet to 270 EVs, but now they are talking about a potential landslide that could include FL and OH.
#7 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ "

This is libturds smelling their own farts again. Rasmussen Reports has Trump +5 nationally - little changed vs. Pedophile Biden. I will give you that Kamala has re-energized the Dem base - but, they were already going to vote for her anyway. What we have is polling companies drastically overweighting Dems in their samples to try to drive a narrative of massive grassroots support when it is a 100% astroturf campaign. To be fair to them, perception can drive reality so this astroturfing may result in some actual votes - but there is literally not a single person that flipped from supporting Trump to supporting Kamala and we both know it.

This election will be won on Democrat turnout (legit and illegitimate) and I don't think Kamala really moved the dial there.

#8 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-08-15 11:50 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

" we all know about Kamala swallowing poles - that is how she got the Heels' Up nickname."

If anyone is wondering why Frank Luntz couldn't find ANY undecided women under 27 for his desired panel ...

... wonder no more.

Clodio shows us a shining example of Republicans' 2024 Outreach to Women.

#9 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-08-16 12:40 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"If anyone is wondering why Frank Luntz couldn't find ANY undecided women under 27 for his desired panel ...
#9 | Posted by Danforth"

I said before THERE ARE NOT UNDECIDED VOTERS - at least deciding between the candidates. The only decision is one to vote or stay home - which is why Kamala refuses to announce policies or do an interview - she is only going to turn off the enthusiasm. She is not winning a single Trump voter over and the same goes for Trump. But, Trump has a much longer - and truly organic - voter enthusiasm that the Dems lack. So, it is up to the press to astroturf a movement for Kamala while keeping her locked away from the public.

#10 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-08-16 01:29 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

" Trump has a much longer - and truly organic - voter enthusiasm that the Dems lack."

Tell us you didn't see a moment of the Dem Philadelphia rally without using those specific words.

" I said before THERE ARE NOT UNDECIDED VOTERS"

And just about all the new ones ... ESPECIALLY the women ... will be voting for Women's rights, and while they're there, Kamala, and the Dems downstream.

Donald Trump will be the greatest drag on a political ballot in presidential history. Most pundits will blame it on the Dobbs Effect.

#11 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-08-16 01:52 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"And just about all the new ones ... ESPECIALLY the women ... will be voting for Women's rights, and while they're there, Kamala, and the Dems downstream."

Nah, not really. The only women supporting Kamala are the young and older but unmarried - this is the same core that the Dems have won for the last 2 decades. Also, I just don't see the same enthusiasm from the young women - which is why the rallies are packed with butch-looking blue hairs.

"Donald Trump will be the greatest drag on a political ballot in presidential history. Most pundits will blame it on the Dobbs Effect.
#11 | Posted by Danforth"

We will see - you -------- were predicting Biden was going to win a month ago and he crashed so hard that old piece of crap has been knocked out of even running. The more people know about Kamala, the more they will be turned off and stay home. This has always been her problem - which is, again, why no one was cheering for her to be the candidate when Trump took out that old sack of crap at the debate. Now, you think Kamala is the second coming of Obama - good luck with that.

#12 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-08-16 02:23 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

#12
"The only women ... ."

Laughs before morning coffee? Hey, thanks!

#13 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2024-08-16 05:46 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Also, I just don't see the same enthusiasm from the young women

12 | Posted by Claudio

You know one?

#14 | Posted by Zed at 2024-08-16 08:16 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Also, I just don't see the same enthusiasm from the young women

12 | Posted by Claudio

You know one?

#14 | POSTED BY ZED

It's no wonder they aren't enthused. They are in a pit in his basement.

#15 | Posted by donnerboy at 2024-08-16 10:37 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

" Also, I just don't see the same enthusiasm from the young women"

Frank Luntz couldn't find a single woman under 27 who was undecided ...

... and Clod thinks that's GOOD for Trump!

It's like the comedy writes itself!

#16 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-08-16 10:59 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

" you -------- were predicting Biden was going to win a month ago"

No, I was predicting The Dobbs Effect is under-valued.

That's still true.

You, otoh, will lie about ANYTHING.

#17 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-08-16 11:02 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

-No, I was predicting The Dobbs Effect is under-valued.

Do you think it will move some states from red to purple or purple to blue? or even red to blue?

and do you think it will move the needle in the US Congress?

#18 | Posted by eberly at 2024-08-16 11:16 AM | Reply

" Do you think it will move some states from red to purple or purple to blue? or even red to blue?"

Red to purple, absolutely.

Red to blue? NC, probably. They've got a total kook ("Some people deserve killing") running for governor.

And keep in mind: ~10 states will have abortion rights on the ballot, including AZ, MO, NV, FL, and MT. Not that FL will turn red, but Rs will be forced to spend where they thought they wouldn't.

In addition, Tester should be helped, and Rick Scott and Josh Hawley are nervously looking over their shoulders.

They fear Kansas was a harbinger.

#19 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-08-16 11:27 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

" do you think it will move the needle in the US Congress?"

Short answer: yes.

NY learned it's lesson last time, and anything looking close will go Dem, since any new voters coming out for women's rights is NOT going to turn around and neuter the reason they came out.

The big news on Election Night will be The Dobbs Effect. Talk will revolve around why/how the polls missed it so much.

#20 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-08-16 11:32 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Good responses....we'll find out soon enough.

#21 | Posted by eberly at 2024-08-16 11:35 AM | Reply

The big news on Election Night will be The Dobbs Effect. Talk will revolve around why/how the polls missed it so much.

And the youth turnout too. They're excited to see the first non-Boomer or older President of their lifetimes. I saw that before Harris' ascension Biden was drawing 51% of those under 26 to 46% for Trump. Two weeks after the shift, Harris was polling at 86% and Trump 14%.

It's simply unbelievable that so many think that old out of touch elected white men and judges are determining what women can and cannot do regarding their own body's health and that it won't have an outsized effect on what types of candidates women will vote for in the next election. Freedom versus Subservience and 2nd class citizenship, overlorded by men and the government.

Easy decision.

#22 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-08-16 11:47 AM | Reply

Harris was polling at 81%, not 86.

#23 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-08-16 11:48 AM | Reply

" NY learned it's lesson last time, and (nationally) anything looking close will go Dem, since any new voter coming out for women's rights is NOT going to turn around and neuter the reason they came out."

Fixed that for me. I wasn't just referencing NY.

#24 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-08-16 11:55 AM | Reply

Trump was a loser for the Republicans in 2018, 2020, 2022. What makes this year any different? He's a drag on the ticket. Remember the non existant red tsunami the media and all the pollsters were predicting? All empty bravado from the bag of hot air. Most Americans have come to see he's one big fraud and joke.

#26 | Posted by AlternateFacts at 2024-08-16 03:31 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#25 | Posted by pressers_on

Someone is so sads...

#27 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2024-08-16 04:44 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Someone is so sads...

Hopefully the change in username will provide some much needed therapy.

#28 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-08-16 04:46 PM | Reply

- Rasmussen Reports

Speaking of smelling one's own farts.... rofl!

#29 | Posted by Corky at 2024-08-16 05:38 PM | Reply

Whatever Kamala's been doing the last few weeks, she should just go on and continue doing it. If the corporate journalists and right wingers freak out over it, that is their problem.

#30 | Posted by moder8 at 2024-08-16 05:39 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

I have a feeling optimism for Harris will die off as fast as the dinosaurs when the asteroid hit, soon as we get a debate and she actually takes hardball questions from the press.

#31 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2024-08-17 11:10 AM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

Even some MSM outlets are blasting her price fixing proposal.

Her "meteoric" rise is purely manufactured, mostly by the "back burnered press".

It's fake and choreographed. Remove all of the puff and fluff and she remains the same person who consistently had a sub 40% approval rating, and for good reason.

I get the strategy of avoiding unscripted moments at all costs and trying to run out the clock. Problem is it displays incredible weakness

With Biden it was understandable . He has dementia and they tried to limit exposure. She doesn't have that excuse.

Dems shouldn't fear the debates too much. She will have some prepared canned attacks against Trump that will go okay. And Trump will be his usual rambling self. Unprepared and just winging it.

She's pure cringe when asked unscripted questions, which is why she's avoiding the media at all costs. She tosses word salads even when given a softball question.

#32 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-08-17 01:50 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

She (Kamala) tosses word salads even when given a softball question.

#32 | Posted by BellRinger

You are, charitably, from Mars.

#33 | Posted by Zed at 2024-08-17 02:01 PM | Reply

"I have a feeling optimism for Harris will die off as fast as the dinosaurs when the asteroid hit, soon as we get a debate and she actually takes hardball questions from the press."

#31 | Posted by lfthndthrds

I promise not to rub your nose in that.

#34 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-08-17 02:06 PM | Reply

Somehow he missed the "Prosecutor" part, lol.

#35 | Posted by Corky at 2024-08-17 02:07 PM | Reply

#33. Does that mean Harris is from Venus?

:)

#36 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-08-17 02:09 PM | Reply

I promise not to rub your nose in that.

#34 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-08-17 02:06 PM | Reply

You're too good to me.

#37 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2024-08-17 03:21 PM | Reply

Check out what Frank Luntz had to say Wednesday on CNBC. Not good at all for tRump!

www.youtube.com

#38 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2024-08-17 05:34 PM | Reply

She's busy through the convention. I'm sure they'll get a shot in good time.
In the meantime, Cheeto Benito keeps shooting himself in the foot while it's in his mouth.

#39 | Posted by morris at 2024-08-17 05:39 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#39

www.etsy.com

#40 | Posted by Corky at 2024-08-17 05:58 PM | Reply

"Meteoric rise"

LOL the only reason she's not being laughed off stage is Trump is the other option.

Harris will be awful when she wins. Mark my words.

#41 | Posted by jpw at 2024-08-17 06:42 PM | Reply

After November, when the GOP once again goes down in flames for the fourth time nationally in a row, it will be fascinating watching the GOP finally being forced to move on from Trump. Just as it was big change when Trump took over the GOP in 2016, now it will be big change as he exits into irrelevance.

#42 | Posted by moder8 at 2024-08-17 07:22 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Harris will be awful when she wins. Mark my words.

#41 | Posted by jpw at 2024-08-17 06:42 PM | Reply | Flag

Fvvkkk that, shes awful now.

#43 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2024-08-17 09:28 PM | Reply

#31 - You know what's funny is that GQP leaning undecided voter focus groups thought POTUS won the first debate in spite of his senior moment, because he tried to answer the questions while Dotard gish galloped, was rude, talked over the moderators, and bald face lied about easily checked facts. If you don't think the top of her game prosecutor can't beat the elderly, clearly mentally unwell, convicted felon, I have a bridge in Kursk to sell you.

#44 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2024-08-17 11:11 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#44 | Posted by _Gunslinger

Exactly so. I posted a link above. What Frank Luntz has to say is encouraging for democracy loving Americans. Trump isn't playing well with almost every demo. He lays out why Trump will most likely go down in flames. Double haters, undecideds, even moderate Reupublicans moving to the Harris-Walz camp, etc

PS - Generously give tickets to vehicles with MAGA or Trump stickers :-)

#45 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2024-08-18 12:10 AM | Reply

MODER8 @ #42

And the GOP thought Biden was just a minor speed bump in their long term plans. As it turns out, Trump is the hump that's got them blocked.

#46 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-08-18 12:35 AM | Reply

Trump is the hump that's got them blocked.

He gets them a solid lock on not quite enough voters.

#47 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-08-18 12:56 AM | Reply

The media is just upset they didn't get the clicks from a mini Dem primary as some among them proposed, with all the discontent that would provide. Instead, the party fell in line behind Kamala and now the horse race coverage shows her pulling ahead, not good for hate and fear clicks. The ONLY negative stories are about the undisciplined Mango Mussolini campaign led by the racist, convicted felon, rapist and his mini-me the biggest misogynist on a major party ticket since the 60's. The media tried to make the Walz National Guard retirement a thing until the head of the MN National Guard issued a statement that the Governors retirement papers were submitted well before a deployment was even a rumor and yes he had the right to refer to himself as a Command Sgt Major because that was the rank he held at retirement. Now there is no more Dem click bait and the media is all grumpy, because they don't want to look like they're bullying Dotard as his mental deterioration is on full display. The media likes to cover Dotard like a normal candidate instead of the greatest threat to American democracy since the Civil War.

#48 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2024-08-18 01:50 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

REDIAL

He's got a little bit of time left. I'm sure his giant brain is working on another scheme to swoop in for the kill.

I suspect the National Guard will be on vanguard duty this time.

I hope they have water cannons. I enjoy watching water cannons disperse a crowd.

#49 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-08-18 02:06 AM | Reply

I enjoy watching water cannons disperse a crowd.

Probably fairly effective in DC in January.

#50 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-08-18 02:15 AM | Reply

#45 A few years ago I arrested a fentenyl dealer out of a hotel room where he was doing business. The search warrant I served led to the recovery of a bunch of the drug. I also saw a MAGA baseball cap in the room, which I thought was funny. His jail phone calls identified he and his whole family as MAGAts. I thought it was ironic that he supported a man for President who would have him summarily executed. He and Dotard share convicted felon status, he didn't get to vote for Donnie Dollhands in 2020, and bonus he won't get to vote for him again this year.

#51 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2024-08-18 04:10 AM | Reply

REDIAL

I enjoy watching water cannons disperse a crowd.

"Probably fairly effective in DC in January."

I swear on a stack,(/s) that never crossed my mind ~ LOL

#52 | Posted by Twinpac at 2024-08-18 06:24 AM | Reply

The USA Press and news media are trained by the cabal of the left from their first day of journalism school to be the PRAVDA for USA Communists, just as they were for the Stalin communist gang of Soviet Union.

The same demographics have always controlled the left and Democrats. Their sole role is now to push socialism leftism and Democrat policies. They do that via mis and malinformation and controlling media and exclusion of any negative Democrat coverage. They use us and fail us and will destroy us.

#53 | Posted by Robson at 2024-08-18 01:52 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

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