Reality-Based Engineering: Media Soundchamber

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Media Soundchamber

Driving home late from work today, I was able to listen to the 6PM Rachel Maddow Show on XM167...as some know, the first hour is now a feed from MSNBC's prez talk show, hosted by David Gregory. They talked at length about who had a better week, McCain or Obama. Somehow, McCain's shitty week was a bad thing for Obama, since he wasn't on the air every day hammering McCain on the economy. Gregory (I thought, I was driving) ended the segment by saying if he [obama] is then he's not 'bubbling up'.

Tired of the silliness, I turned to POTUS08 XM130 and listened to a live-on-tape Obama speech today about energy and the economy...specifically I heard this:

"So when he talks about the failure of politicians in Washington to do anything about our energy crisis, understand that Senator McCain has been a part of that failure. When he proposes policies that give $4 billion in tax breaks to oil companies but only pennies a day to Americans struggling with high gas prices, understand that that’s not part of the solution in Washington, that’s part of the problem in Washington. When he offers a plan that doesn’t make any real investment in alternative sources of energy, that represents a failure to think long-term about our nation’s future. That’s what we’ve had in this country for too many years, and that’s why we need change in November."

Yesterday was the Dr. Phil comment about Gramm's retardo statements. Uh, not hammering?

"Now Senator McCain is an honorable man, and we all deeply respect his service to our country. But when you look at our records and plans on the economic issues that matter most for women, it becomes very clear that he won't bring the change we need – while I will.
That starts with acknowledging the economic difficulties so many women are facing right now. Senator McCain, however, has said that we've made "great progress" on the economy. And Senator Phil Gramm, a top economic advisor to Senator McCain, just recently said that this is merely "a mental recession." Senator Gramm then deemed the United States – and I quote – "a nation of whiners." This comes after Senator McCain recently admitted that his energy proposals will have mainly "psychological" benefits.
Well, you know, America already has one Dr. Phil. When it comes to the economy, we don't need another.
Let's be clear, when people are struggling with the rising costs of everything from gas to groceries, when we've lost 438,000 jobs over the past six months, when typical families have seen their incomes fall nearly $1,000 since 2000, this economic downturn isn't in our heads. It isn't whining to ask for more than just psychological relief.
And I think it's time we had a President who doesn't deny our problems – or blame the American people for them – but takes responsibility and provides the leadership to solve them."

Amazingly, at the end of the show they even recognize that they live in an echo chamber and aren't listening to either candidate (about the 1:40-1:50 mark in this clip):

Of course, the past two days Obama's talked about women and the economy and then energy and the economy. One reason I dont have cable and listen to the chatterboxes. It's POTUS08 for me!

Labels: 2008 Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain, POTUS08