MyDD :: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy

Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy

by Todd Beeton, Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 04:49:14 PM EST

Wow. This is hilarious. In a moment of candor that only a live mic can deliver, here we have conservative icon Peggy Noonan and GOP consultant/analyst Mike Murphy discussing the choice of Sarah Palin with Chuck Todd after an interview and it's not pretty. Noonan's blunt assessment: "It's over."

Watch (listen to) it:

Note that, while all the buzz about Palin has been the extent to which she excites the base, that her pick has not gotten McCain above 44% in Rasmussen or 43% in Gallup daily tracking polls. If they're so excited where's the bump?

Josh Marshall explains it all:

First, the Democratic base is bigger than the Republican base. The number of self-identifying Democrats is substantially larger that the number of Republican-identifiers.
Second, contrary to what we might have imagined earlier in the year, Republicans have already been substantially more united behind McCain than Democrats have been behind Obama. I would not have predicted that. But the polls have been extremely consistent on this point.
In other words, the GOP 'base' was already substantially united behind McCain, subjective measures of intensity notwithstanding. The people who will win the election for McCain are disaffected Democrats and independents. In the context of 2008, a juicing-the-base strategy is a recipe for a respectable defeat, not victory.

Update [2008-9-3 16:54:46 by Todd Beeton]:Orrrrr, Palin could be, as Peggy Noonan wrote in her column today:

...a real and present danger to the American left, and to the Obama candidacy.

Tags: sarah palin, 2008 presidential election (all tags)

Permalink :: 28 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

This was so, so, so perfect. Andrew Sullivan (who also was the only pundit to realize that Bush essentially admitted to war crimes) asked how this was the same Peggy Noonan who championed McCain so proudly and strongly this morning. He should and does know the answer to that.

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 04:52:38 PM EST

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

"It's over"

Can I quote you on that Peggy?

Hey, how does she backtrack on this one?

"Oh, I meant THE INTERVIEW was over..."

Rush Limbaugh, Sara Palin and Joe the Plumber...The Triad of Republican Irrelevancy.

by WashStateBlue on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 04:54:39 PM EST

Peggy had it partially right (none / 0)

"she is a real and present danger to the American left, and to the Obama candidacy.

What she meant was

"she is a real and present danger to America....

Rush Limbaugh, Sara Palin and Joe the Plumber...The Triad of Republican Irrelevancy.

by WashStateBlue on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 04:58:09 PM EST

Josh is confused (2.00 / 2)

"Self-identifing" Democrats and "the base" are two different things in my mind. Otherwise, thats only saying that the "base" and the "party id" are one and the same. Clearly, when we "base" we are referring to a subset of the party id, maybe call it "activist base" to be clear.

Now, we may be even now, but I doubt it. We are probably much closer now in the lead than we've ever been.

But on the larger point, Peggy has been positing this election as old america vs new america, and Palin clearly didn't figure in her analysis. I've been wondering how she'd react, and there you go, haha.

by Jerome Armstrong on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 04:59:02 PM EST

Re: Josh is confused (none / 0)

I think what he means is that a high enough percentage of Republicans were backing McCain that it was obvious the base was behind him. That was the point of the whole "celebrity" campaign; to make Obama unacceptable to conservatives who don't trust McCain. It worked.

The difference now is that some of those people are "energized," meaning they might do the volunteer work, etc. But at what cost to the center? That's the question.

by elrod on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:03:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Josh is confused (none / 0)

Exactly. According to Peggy, it is over.

Michael Savage agrees as well.

Republicans usually go for experience over youth and charisma, so Palin is very unconventional for Republicans in that respect.

Personally, I just don't know. Too soon to tell I think.

Oh, and as to how Peggy backs out? She just says that tonight's speech removed her doubts. "Yes I had doubts, but after her performance last night blah blah blah ..." Easy.

by dMarx on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:10:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Josh is confused (none / 0)

"Oh, and as to how Peggy backs out? She just says that tonight's speech removed her doubts. "Yes I had doubts, but after her performance last night blah blah blah ..."

Yeah, to be meet with Guffaws and Chuckles around the globe.

The woman said "Bullshit" about this choice, she can try to back out, but she put a brick wall behind herself.

Rush Limbaugh, Sara Palin and Joe the Plumber...The Triad of Republican Irrelevancy.

by WashStateBlue on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:24:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Josh is confused (none / 0)

You only right if anybody really cares about what Peggy Noonan thinks. Probably not so much.

by dMarx on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 06:19:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Josh is confused (2.00 / 1)

Ronnie is rolling over in his grave ...

by Monkei on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 06:21:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Josh is confused (none / 0)

People may not give a crap what Peggy Noonan thinks, but the next time the McCain camp tries a "it's sexist to call our choice of Palin for VP cynical and gimicky", we can point to GOP consultants and GOP pundits that said the exact same thing on camera (albeit accidentally). Comments like the ones that were broadcast make it much harder for McCain/Palin to fall back on the defense that any criticism of this pick is sexist.

And so, may evil beware and may good dress warmly and eat lots of fresh vegetables.

by thatpurplestuff on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 06:27:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Josh is confused (none / 0)

See, I don't know where that comes from, because its not what the numbers say. Clearly, all the polls show a depressed GOP base of voters overall, including both party id and activists. Yes, there are some that are shifted from GOP to Indy, but its also the case that a large amount have been sitting it out completely, saying they won't vote. But still, your point about 'the center' could be valid, but its not been in the previous two elections, re: "Applebee's America".

by Jerome Armstrong on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 06:23:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

The choice of Palin was "Cynical" and "gimmicky" according to GOP consultants... wow. If you're going to completely drag your nominee through the mud, make sure your mic is off. That clip is absolutely golden!

And so, may evil beware and may good dress warmly and eat lots of fresh vegetables.

by thatpurplestuff on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:07:13 PM EST

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

So how do we get this out to the mainstream media, so all those not as savvy as we get a chance to hear it? :)

by MtnFrost on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:09:47 PM EST

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

I'm sure Fox News will broadcast this 24/7, you know, like the open mic Jesse Jackson clip. Or, maybe not.

If yer after gettin the honey, then you don't go killing all the bees.

by Fluffy Puff Marshmallow on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:16:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

I don't think you should hold your breath waiting...

Rush Limbaugh, Sara Palin and Joe the Plumber...The Triad of Republican Irrelevancy.

by WashStateBlue on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:24:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (2.00 / 1)

pheeeew <lets breath out>

Thanks. Was starting to get light-headed. ;-)

If yer after gettin the honey, then you don't go killing all the bees.

by Fluffy Puff Marshmallow on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:27:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

OH MAN.

Peggy even used the word BullShit...

wow

by colebiancardi on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:21:39 PM EST

I liked the part (none / 0)

when they talked about "is this an insult to Kay Bailey Hutchinson"

cause it is. Kay would've scared me a little. Palin makes me laugh.

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:26:53 PM EST

Will KO mention it tonight? (none / 0)

Just wondering. Clip reflects poorly on Chuck Todd too. Or, at least, shows us what he thinks.

Will be interesting to see Chuck's word choice tonight when discussing Palin and her speech.

If yer after gettin the honey, then you don't go killing all the bees.

by Fluffy Puff Marshmallow on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:29:59 PM EST

McCain handed the election to us (none / 0)

Frankly, this selection tells whatever the country wanted to know about McCain. Such an important decision taken with breadthtaking impulsiveness and disregard for the office he seeks to occupy. Do we really want McCain's hand over the nuclear trigger with his opinions about Iran and other countries such widely known? Forget national security, this guy is a threat to humanity. I never thought I would say this, but Bush did all of us a favor by defeating him 2000. With this guy in power, we would have have been worse off than under Bush. I know, it is hard to imagine, but the incompetency with which he selected the VP scares the hell out of me.

by ann0nymous on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:31:51 PM EST

Re: McCain handed the election to us (2.00 / 1)

Received an e-mail to that effect (scaring the hell of us), began by a law prof's friend in Alaska, making the rounds to Hillary supporters insulted by Sarah Palin.

See http://malcontends.blogspot.com/2008/09/ alaskans-view-unequivocally-unqualified. html

But I agree with Peggy, it's over.

by MAL Contends on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:37:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

Awesome! I've posted that link on a few sports sites I frequent, just to drive the right wing posters mad.

So far it hasn't surfaced on the cable networks. I'm sure Olbermann is the most likely source, other than it's an MSNBC clip, his own network. I still think he'll go for it.

by Gary Kilbride on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:32:19 PM EST

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (2.00 / 2)

It's a big screaming headline on the Huffington post, so at least the big three are certainly aware of it. Next step is to create a buzz. "Everyone's talking about it!"

Make another thread or five.

by Jordache on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:44:19 PM EST

Already on LA times and Time (none / 0)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt on/2008/09/sarah-palins-vp.html

http://thepage.time.com/

by ann0nymous on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:48:50 PM EST

comparing the audio to the article ... (none / 0)

... is a truly damning indictment of what consolidated corporate ownership of the media has done to the free press

Noonan calls bullshit when she's among colleagues and then, right out of the other side of her pen, she writes pure propaganda.

To hell with the youtube video - even if the comments had not been overheard, how could she even face Todd and Murphy after writing the contradictory article?

McCain housing policy shaped by lobbyist.

by obsessed on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 05:49:59 PM EST

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

The base was ALWAYS gonna turn out and vote. What they did was piss everyone else off. Awe inspiring strategy ain't it. I mean you excite some party extremists. I wonder if the Repugs realize that they are called extremists because their views of the world are considered extreme as it relates to the "average". And it's the "average" voter they just pissed off. Geniuses all those Republicans.

Scy

by scytherius on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 07:10:59 PM EST

This makes Rev Jessie's hot mic (none / 0)

comment seem really tame!

Just makes you realize this pundit's on both sides are just doing their job carrying the water for their parties regardless if they are true or false.

by Monkei on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 07:29:05 PM EST

Re: Tell Us What You Really Think, Peggy (none / 0)

The republicans are like the borg of star trek, they are programmed with the talking points, but sometimes the truth slips out, thanks Peggy and Mike.

by thenurse on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 08:44:46 PM EST

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