For months, critics and candidates have been publicly denouncing what they view as open favoritism of the Democratic National Committee (and particularly DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz) toward Hillary Clinton. Even DNC members have objected to the role of the DNC and the view that it is trying to guarantee that Clinton is the nominee. One of the most commonly cited (and commonly accepted) examples are the small number of debates scheduled by the DNC at hours that guarantee the least exposure for Clinton. That criticism is likely to become deafening this Sunday when the key debate before the Iowa caucus will be scheduled not only on a Sunday night but in direct conflict with the NFL playoffs and the new episode of Downton Abbey. Our house is a typical example of the obvious dilemma. My wife is a Downton Abbey fan and, as you know, I am a football fan. The result? The debate might as well have been held by the DNC on Mars. It is a schedule that only Max Bialystock could truly love. [Update: despite virtual universal derision over the scheduling of the debates, Wasserman Schultz went public today and claimed that the schedule was actually designed to “maximize” exposure. This type of statement only magnifies the view that party leaders and some politicians have such a low opinion of voters that it borders on open contempt. How would scheduling a debate on a Sunday night in conflict with two of the biggest television draws maximize viewership — putting aside the refusal to allow more debates as demanded by two of the three candidates and many voters? Indeed, if she was implausibly trying for the largest audience, she is grossly negligent as the low ratings have proven.]
Despite this bizarre and overt effort to minimize audiences, any effort to shield Clinton is failing if recent polls are an indicator. Clinton is falling in the polls much as she did in 2008 and the bias of the DNC is resonating with the base.
What is curious to me is that I thought Clinton was doing quite well in debates and recent interviews. The clumsiness that we saw earlier seems to have been largely removed. In other words, she really does not need the help from the DNC. Indeed, all of this weird minimalist scheduling is simply reaffirming the view of her critics that she is an establishment insider and that there is no real choice being allowed voters.
The scheduling on Sunday is also playing into GOP critics like Sen. Ted Cruz who observed that “They keep scheduling the Democratic debates at like 2 a.m. on Alaska PBS. It’s almost like they don’t want anybody to see their candidates for president.”
I find all of this fascinating to watch (or not watch in the case of the Democratic debates) because it seems so counterproductive and damaging to both the Clinton campaign and the DNC. The conventional wisdom has long been that parties want as many people to watch debates as possible. Conversely, this seems engineered to be a flop like the DNC version of “The Producers”
In the end, when the low ratings roll in, the DNC could always quote Downton Abbey with a sense of satisfaction: “We were a show that flopped”
John ” The “child” is exhibiting learned behavior. Duh.” You’re quite the cynic in my humble opinion.
C’mon Nick. Tuck us into bed and tell us all about the better deal you would fashion.
Oh yeah. Forgot about the dismantling of centrifuges and stuff. What a horrible deal. Do you think maybe Nick really General Jack D. Ripper?
Right. 10 military men released a couple of days ago. Five more released today. All without a shot being fired or a bandaid needing to be issued.
Horrible indeed. Nick prefers they remain incarcerated until we can turn Iran into glass. Don’t you wish he were Secretary of State?
Colleges Mandate Sexual Confessions
Student pushes back against school’s invasive policy
http://www.infowars.com/colleges-mandate-sexual-confessions/
Turley should be doing articles on things like this. Where are the all the young activists; the angry young men and women fed up with what the world is coming to? Staring at screens?
Obama gave up some bad people in prison, and gave preemptive pardons to traitors awaiting trial. He makes Jimmy Carter look competent and makes Nixon look lawful. But someone here obviously got an erection from this HORRIBLE deal.
I think isaac and Patriot are the same person. There is no way this blog could be blessed with two equally insane people from opposite ends of the political spectrum. 🙂
Need a break from the close examination of the Democratic debate schedule and cankles? There is an exciting episode of Gillian’s Island on in thirty minutes. I hope it doesn’t prove to be too much of an intellectual stretch for the ‘cankle’ crowd.
Now continue your in depth discussion of the really important issues —– cankles
Manwhile, five Americans released from Iran without the need to carpet bomb them.
Damn, Obama. It’s all his fault.
“Nowhere Man.” LMAO. Well played.
David B. Benson
“Skimmed through all these comments although I am not sure why I bothered.”
Nowhere Man – John Lennon
He’s a real Nowhere Man
Sitting in his Nowhere Land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Doesn’t have a point of view
Knows not where he’s going to
Isn’t he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere Man, please listen
You don’t know what you’re missing
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command
He’s as blind as he can be
Just sees what he wants to see
Nowhere Man, can you see me at all?
Nowhere Man, don’t worry
Take your time, don’t hurry
Leave it all ’til somebody else lends you a hand
He’s a real Nowhere Man
Sitting in his Nowhere Land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Hildegard, so you’re saying God is a big baby? I think we need to meet the parents here. I suspect their opinions and philosophy are precisely the same as those presented by this child – even the presence and delivery. The “child” is exhibiting learned behavior. Duh.
“We only see what we want to see; we only hear what we want to hear. Our belief system is just like a mirror
that only shows us what we believe.”
Don Miguel Ruiz
“There’s a sucker born every minute.” P.T. Barnum
Skimmed through all these comments although I am not sure why I bothered.
All
There’s this couture haute designer in the west I think his name is
Shareef Arpieu’ who has plenty of striped dresses as well as ankle jewelry. I’m quite sure he’ll donate.
Nick
Lol! I think that they are going to go the XXXX route–XXX may not be sufficient.
I also heard that her cankle bracelet will be a musical one, which comes with show tunes, but that could just be a rumor. 🙂
bam, They are making XXX canklet bracelets for when Hillary is on house arrest.
BFM, The polling and focus groups done by the DNC and Hillary show conclusively, the more people see her, the less they like her. That is a BIG problem and that’s the reason for this horse manure move on the debates.
Forget the Democrats. Take a break. This is what God looks like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNCRYMwKBVU
Just stunning!
VietVet
Yeah. I suppose that you are correct. She needs to get ready for that attractive and flattering prison garb.
Hey, no problem with those horizontal stripes making her look chunky. The gals in prison like ’em big. 🙂