From Bob's omitted posts file

[flockofseagulls104]

Bob hasn't yet reported this, so I thought you might like this news.

As if she doesn't have enough trouble with the main stream media frenzy against her, Sarah Palin will not only have to deal with Joe Biden, but a debate moderator who apparently has a financial interest in the outcome of the election.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/polit ... _book.html

Gwen Ifill of PBS has been chosen to moderate the VP debate. She also has reportedly written a book called 'The Age of Obama" which is reportedly scheduled to be released on inauguration day. I don't think it would really sell that well if McCain/Palin wins.

Maybe the next debate should be moderated by Limbaugh or Hannity.

Don't know all the facts, could be just another partisan swipe, just what I've heard. Doesn't seem exactly fair. I'm just saying.
-----
Pea's right, sorry

[peacock2121]

I think you meant BobJuch, not Bob####.

[Bob Juch]

Bob hasn't yet reported this, so I thought you might like this news.

As if she doesn't have enough trouble with the main stream media frenzy against her, Sarah Palin will not only have to deal with Joe Biden, but a debate moderator who apparently has a financial interest in the outcome of the election.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/polit ... _book.html

Gwen Ifill of PBS has been chosen to moderate the VP debate. She also has reportedly written a book called 'The Age of Obama" which is reportedly scheduled to be released on inauguration day. I don't think it would really sell that well if McCain/Palin wins.

Maybe the next debate should be moderated by Limbaugh or Hannity.

Don't know all the facts, could be just another partisan swipe, just what I've heard. Doesn't seem exactly fair. I'm just saying.
-----
Pea's right, sorry

Did you read this part?

Malkin's concerns are understandable. But here's where I think she doesn't have a whole lot to worry about.

Ifill is going to be under the microscope. Every question she asks and the way she asks them will be apparent for all to see. If she appears to be favoring Obama, we'll see it and she knows that.

She also must know by now that she is coming under fire for moderating the debate and having an Obama-related book in the works. If anything, I'm guessing she'll bend over backwards to show deference to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Malkin may be trying to ensure Ifill's attention is focused on this issue by raising the battle cry.

Unfortunately I won't be able to see the debate between Joe Biden and Joe Six Pack as I'll be on vacation and not near a TV then.

[BackInTex]

Did you read this part?

Malkin's concerns are understandable. But here's where I think she doesn't have a whole lot to worry about.

Ifill is going to be under the microscope. Every question she asks and the way she asks them will be apparent for all to see. If she appears to be favoring Obama, we'll see it and she knows that.

That hasn't stopped any other liberal news person from being biased in their interviews.

[Bob Juch]

Did you read this part?

Malkin's concerns are understandable. But here's where I think she doesn't have a whole lot to worry about.

Ifill is going to be under the microscope. Every question she asks and the way she asks them will be apparent for all to see. If she appears to be favoring Obama, we'll see it and she knows that.

That hasn't stopped any other liberal news person from being biased in their interviews.

Ifill is not conducting an interview.

[SportsFan68]

Did you read this part?

That hasn't stopped any other liberal news person from being biased in their interviews.

Ifill is not conducting an interview.

I bet the book will sell the same, elected or not. I think she should continue as moderator.

By Howard Kurtz
It's no secret that Gwen Ifill has been working on a book about the younger generation of black politicians. The PBS correspondent talked about "Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" in a Washington Post article on Sept. 4.

But today, the day before Ifill is to moderate the vice-presidential debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, a conservative Web site made an issue of the book, which quickly ricocheted onto the Drudge Report. "VP Debate Moderator Ifill Releasing Pro-Obama Book," said the headline on World Net Daily picked up by Drudge.

There is no evidence that the book will be favorable to the Democratic nominee. Ifill, the host of "Washington Week," told The Post she is focusing on Obama and three other up-and-coming politicians, such as Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. She said she started the book when it looked unlikely that Obama would win the Democratic nomination.

"The book has been out there and discussed for months," said PBS spokeswoman Anne Bell. "It's a non-issue."

On the World Net site, the "Deal of the Day" is a $4.95 offer for what is described as the "Obama blockbuster: 'Anatomy of Deceit.'" The Web site says the book "reveals" that "his brand of change is a hostile attack on the Judeo-Christian values and freedoms most Americans hold dear."

In The Post interview, Ifill said that as the daughter of a minister who marched in civil rights demonstrations, she recognized the historic nature of Obama's candidacy. But, Ifill said, "I still don't know if he'll be a good president. I'm still capable of looking at his pros and cons in a political sense." She added: "No one's ever assumed a white reporter can't cover a white candidate."

Ifill, who has worked for NBC News, the New York Times and The Washington Post, was widely viewed as doing a fair job as moderator of the 2004 debate between Vice President Cheney and John Edwards. She drew a bit of criticism for asking a question about Cheney's former company, Halliburton, and when the vice president said he would need more than 30 seconds to respond, she said: "Well, that's all you've got." Ifill said she was not trying to be snippy toward Cheney.

Update: Ifill will face one handicap at the debate. She broke her ankle Monday night, her birthday, after tripping while carrying some files up stairs at her home.

[mellytu74]

From the September 30th, New York Times

Mr. Brokaw said he had also conducted some shuttle diplomacy in recent weeks between NBC and the McCain campaign. His mission, he said, was to assure the candidate’s aides that — despite some negative on-air commentary by Mr. Olbermann in particular — Mr. McCain could still get a fair shake from NBC News. Mr. Brokaw said he had been told by a senior McCain aide, whom he did not name, that the campaign had been reluctant to accept an NBC representative as one of the moderators of the three presidential debates — until his name was invoked.

“One of the things I was told by this person was that they were so irritated, they said, ‘If it’s an NBC moderator, for any of these debates, we won’t go,’ ” Mr. Brokaw said. “My name came up, and they said, ‘Oh, hell, we have to do it, because it’s going to be Brokaw.’ ”

Mr. Brokaw will moderate the second debate, on Oct. 7, in Nashville.

Where's the assurances that Brokaw won't kowtow to McCain on Oct. 7?

Edited to add The Washington Times link from JULY:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... log-anger/

The debate moderators were agreed to on August 6.

http://www.thoughts.com/news/Politics/m ... ates-37062

And McCain's camp is just noticing this NOW?

I've worked on campaigns and, to me, this shows a complete and, frankly, apalling incompetence by McCain's people.

EVERY campaign has (or should have) kids working on scouring the newspapers and Internet for every mention of any person relating in any way, shape, or form to the campaign.

The minute the pool of moderators was discussed, their names should have joined that list.

Period. A simple Google search finds this out in a heartbeat.

[Appa23]

That hasn't stopped any other liberal news person from being biased in their interviews.

Ifill is not conducting an interview.

I bet the book will sell the same, elected or not. I think she should continue as moderator.

By Howard Kurtz
It's no secret that Gwen Ifill has been working on a book about the younger generation of black politicians. The PBS correspondent talked about "Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" in a Washington Post article on Sept. 4.

But today, the day before Ifill is to moderate the vice-presidential debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, a conservative Web site made an issue of the book, which quickly ricocheted onto the Drudge Report. "VP Debate Moderator Ifill Releasing Pro-Obama Book," said the headline on World Net Daily picked up by Drudge.

There is no evidence that the book will be favorable to the Democratic nominee. Ifill, the host of "Washington Week," told The Post she is focusing on Obama and three other up-and-coming politicians, such as Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. She said she started the book when it looked unlikely that Obama would win the Democratic nomination.

"The book has been out there and discussed for months," said PBS spokeswoman Anne Bell. "It's a non-issue."

On the World Net site, the "Deal of the Day" is a $4.95 offer for what is described as the "Obama blockbuster: 'Anatomy of Deceit.'" The Web site says the book "reveals" that "his brand of change is a hostile attack on the Judeo-Christian values and freedoms most Americans hold dear."

In The Post interview, Ifill said that as the daughter of a minister who marched in civil rights demonstrations, she recognized the historic nature of Obama's candidacy. But, Ifill said, "I still don't know if he'll be a good president. I'm still capable of looking at his pros and cons in a political sense." She added: "No one's ever assumed a white reporter can't cover a white candidate."

Ifill, who has worked for NBC News, the New York Times and The Washington Post, was widely viewed as doing a fair job as moderator of the 2004 debate between Vice President Cheney and John Edwards. She drew a bit of criticism for asking a question about Cheney's former company, Halliburton, and when the vice president said he would need more than 30 seconds to respond, she said: "Well, that's all you've got." Ifill said she was not trying to be snippy toward Cheney.

Update: Ifill will face one handicap at the debate. She broke her ankle Monday night, her birthday, after tripping while carrying some files up stairs at her home.

Just to fully fill out the issue with the appearance of a conflict of interest by Ifill, she also authored a very positive article about him (and his family) in Essence magazine (IIRC). In addition, there is some concern with the negative comments and reactions that she has had to Governor Palin.

Although I do not watch much PBS, my impression of Gwen Ifill has been positive. I am surprised that she did not consider this appearance of impropriety/conflict, if not an actual conflict, when the moderator gig was being discussed.

[silverscreenselect]

For what it's worth, I think that the very debate format prevents a moderator from having too much input in the process. Iffil or any moderator won't be able to turn what may be a dozen or so total questions into an inquisition.

The biggest thing in Palin's favor is that she will get time, two or three minutes at a clip, to frame and explain her answers without interruptions by a moderator (or Joe Biden) trying to "sum up" her position when she hasn't finished speaking and then trying to find a contradiction. If Biden wants to wait until she's finished talking and use his rebuttal time to do so, fine, but the audience can hear both of their explanations and charges and make a decision.

Both the Gibson and Couric interviews have been exercises in gotcha journalism and selective editing, not designed to find out her position but to score points against her that she is inexperienced, a religious zealot, or corrupt. She hasn't always handled the questions well (and unfortunately, the flubs get far more prominence than the ones she does handle well), but that says more about her experience in dealing with the Charles Gibsons of this world than her grasp of the issues.

If the governor of Florida (either party) were running for President and said that the proximity of Cuba and the necessity of dealing issues related to Cuba gave him a degree of experience in foreign affairs, no one would have thought that a stupid response. Palin was trying to say the same thing and fumbled it a bit.

Palin may well fumble things Thursday, and the pressure is far more on her than Biden. If he screws up the debate, the first word out of everyone's mouth will be, "you're voting for President, not VP." But at least she's going to be on the same playing field with Biden playing by as close to the same rules as you're going to see in this election.

My view on the first debate was that it was essentially a draw. Although the media went out of their way to paint it as a victory for Obama, the polls out now are the same as before the debate. Where Obama moved ahead was due to the financial crisis, not the debate. There will be a lot more people watching this debate than the usual VP debate, and I think they will be able to judge for themselves how well she does.

[ne1410s]

The biggest thing in Palin's favor is that she will get time, two or three minutes at a clip, to frame and explain her answers without interruptions by a moderator.

This is the absolute worst case scenario for the Republicans...

[SportsFan68]

The biggest thing in Palin's favor is that she will get time, two or three minutes at a clip, to frame and explain her answers without interruptions by a moderator.

This is the absolute worst case scenario for the Republicans...

I'm sure she'll be OK. We've seen what she can do with intense advance preparation. If she fumbles tomorrow, it won't be her fault, it will be the fault of the people who right now are writing little two-minute speeches in reponse to every conceivable question and listening to her deliver them.

If Biden can throw her a curve or two without looking arrogant and condescending himself, making her reply to something she wasn't prepped for, he'll score big. If not, it will be the same as last week -- no flameouts, no home runs on either side.

[flockofseagulls104]

Bob hasn't yet reported this, so I thought you might like this news.

As if she doesn't have enough trouble with the main stream media frenzy against her, Sarah Palin will not only have to deal with Joe Biden, but a debate moderator who apparently has a financial interest in the outcome of the election.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/polit ... _book.html

Gwen Ifill of PBS has been chosen to moderate the VP debate. She also has reportedly written a book called 'The Age of Obama" which is reportedly scheduled to be released on inauguration day. I don't think it would really sell that well if McCain/Palin wins.

Maybe the next debate should be moderated by Limbaugh or Hannity.

Don't know all the facts, could be just another partisan swipe, just what I've heard. Doesn't seem exactly fair. I'm just saying.
-----
Pea's right, sorry

Did you read this part?

Malkin's concerns are understandable. But here's where I think she doesn't have a whole lot to worry about.

Ifill is going to be under the microscope. Every question she asks and the way she asks them will be apparent for all to see. If she appears to be favoring Obama, we'll see it and she knows that.

She also must know by now that she is coming under fire for moderating the debate and having an Obama-related book in the works. If anything, I'm guessing she'll bend over backwards to show deference to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Malkin may be trying to ensure Ifill's attention is focused on this issue by raising the battle cry.

Unfortunately I won't be able to see the debate between Joe Biden and Joe Six Pack as I'll be on vacation and not near a TV then.

Oh yes, of course. As part of the mainstream media, her judgement, morals, biases or honesty cannot be questioned. Of course she will be fair, as were Gibson and Couric. All the media want to do is inform us. How silly of me. Never mind.

[silvercamaro]

Let's just wait and see.

Ifill is a professional, and she will try to be fair. She will think she is fair. If we don't think so, I suspect that some of us will find a way to express our disapproval. Sen. Biden and Gov. Palin will say whatever it is that they have to say. If either says -- or both say -- stoopid things, we will notice. We will discuss that and disagree, as necessary. One or both may even say something brilliant along the way, and we'll let ourselves be pleasantly surprised if that happens.

And the polls will be taken yet again, which doesn't really matter. Election Day is less than five weeks away. That matters.

[ToLiveIsToFly]

How big a to-do would it be for Ifill to be replaced? I think she ought to recuse herself and I think the Obama campaign should call for her to step down.

[mrkelley23]

Personally, I'd almost rather have a moderator whose bias is known, and whose bias will not be tolerated well, if shown. After all, both campaigns agreed to this woman. Both campaigns will have known this woman well. Surely they know something of her views already -- if nothing else, pure statistics would indicate she would lean more toward Obama than McCain.

If I know a person's bias in advance, I can either look past it and, you'll forgive the phrase, move on, or I can blame the bias for whatever might go wrong with respect to the situation. I suspect this is why flock is prepping us and TLITF is suggesting she step down.

[flockofseagulls104]

Let's just wait and see.

Ifill is a professional, and she will try to be fair. She will think she is fair. If we don't think so, I suspect that some of us will find a way to express our disapproval. Sen. Biden and Gov. Palin will say whatever it is that they have to say. If either says -- or both say -- stoopid things, we will notice. We will discuss that and disagree, as necessary. One or both may even say something brilliant along the way, and we'll let ourselves be pleasantly surprised if that happens.

And the polls will be taken yet again, which doesn't really matter. Election Day is less than five weeks away. That matters.

Sarah Palin is a professional. She has served her city and state well and I assume has has tried to be fair to everyone she has represented, regardless of their political leanings or beliefs. But I guess politicians are more apt to govern based on their own personal beliefs and preferences than journalists are apt to report based on theirs.

[Bob78164]

How big a to-do would it be for Ifill to be replaced? I think she ought to recuse herself and I think the Obama campaign should call for her to step down.

I'm inclined to agree, but for tactical reasons. As Nate Silver points out, the candidates have undoubtedly been preparing with a view toward what this particular moderator is likely to ask. Substituting a new moderator at the last minute will throw many of those preparations out the window, thereby giving an advantage to the candidate better able to think on his or her feet and with better general command of the issues. I believe I know who has the advantage on that front.

Be careful what you wish for. You may get it. --Bob

[Bob Juch]

Bob hasn't yet reported this, so I thought you might like this news.

As if she doesn't have enough trouble with the main stream media frenzy against her, Sarah Palin will not only have to deal with Joe Biden, but a debate moderator who apparently has a financial interest in the outcome of the election.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/polit ... _book.html

Gwen Ifill of PBS has been chosen to moderate the VP debate. She also has reportedly written a book called 'The Age of Obama" which is reportedly scheduled to be released on inauguration day. I don't think it would really sell that well if McCain/Palin wins.

Maybe the next debate should be moderated by Limbaugh or Hannity.

Don't know all the facts, could be just another partisan swipe, just what I've heard. Doesn't seem exactly fair. I'm just saying.
-----
Pea's right, sorry

Did you read this part?

Malkin's concerns are understandable. But here's where I think she doesn't have a whole lot to worry about.

Ifill is going to be under the microscope. Every question she asks and the way she asks them will be apparent for all to see. If she appears to be favoring Obama, we'll see it and she knows that.

She also must know by now that she is coming under fire for moderating the debate and having an Obama-related book in the works. If anything, I'm guessing she'll bend over backwards to show deference to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Malkin may be trying to ensure Ifill's attention is focused on this issue by raising the battle cry.

Unfortunately I won't be able to see the debate between Joe Biden and Joe Six Pack as I'll be on vacation and not near a TV then.

Oh yes, of course. As part of the mainstream media, her judgement, morals, biases or honesty cannot be questioned. Of course she will be fair, as were Gibson and Couric. All the media want to do is inform us. How silly of me. Never mind.

People usually wait for their candidates to lose before making excuses for them.

[SportsFan68]

Sarah Palin is a professional. She has served her city and state well and I assume has has tried to be fair to everyone she has represented, regardless of their political leanings or beliefs. But I guess politicians are more apt to govern based on their own personal beliefs and preferences than journalists are apt to report based on theirs.

Dangit, Flock, she hasn't represented everyone fairly. She tried to get an ex in-law fired from a state job, and from what I can tell, it was just because he's an ex in-law. She tried to get the town librarian fired over some books the librarian wouldn't take off the shelves. She dodges AK's Sunshine Laws using personal E-mail accounts. She does not act fairly.

[TheCalvinator24]

She tried to get an ex in-law fired from a state job, and from what I can tell, it was just because he's an ex in-law.

Really? The fact that he admitted using his taser on his 10 year old stepson doesn't support his firing? The allegations of drinking on duty don't at least raise a question?

She tried to get the town librarian fired over some books the librarian wouldn't take off the shelves.

FALSE!

[Ritterskoop]

But I guess politicians are more apt to govern based on their own personal beliefs and preferences than journalists are apt to report based on theirs.

Say more about what you mean by this.

If you mean that journalists, like everyone else, naturally lean in some direction or another, that is true. The sooner we acknowledge it and are open about it, the sooner we can compensate for our leanings.

If you mean something else, I am trying to figure out what it is.

[SportsFan68]

She tried to get an ex in-law fired from a state job, and from what I can tell, it was just because he's an ex in-law.

Really? The fact that he admitted using his taser on his 10 year old stepson doesn't support his firing? The allegations of drinking on duty don't at least raise a question?

She tried to get the town librarian fired over some books the librarian wouldn't take off the shelves.

FALSE!

Acting fairly would have meant inserting herself into every tasering. She apprently inserted herself into that one only because of the in-lawness.

Palin fired the librarian after she refused to go along with Palin's plan. The town residents stopped Palin and reinstated the librarian.

http://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/let ... 26107.html

[silverscreenselect]

If I know a person's bias in advance, I can either look past it and, you'll forgive the phrase, move on, or I can blame the bias for whatever might go wrong with respect to the situation. I suspect this is why flock is prepping us and TLITF is suggesting she step down.

As I said earlier, in a debate forum like this, where both candidates have to field a half dozen or so questions each and reply to the other one, there is a limit as to what the moderator can do.

Even if the moderator tries to ask Palin one question after another about her past, she will have time to reply to Biden's questions and can expand the debate by doing just that. Palin had a bunch of debates in Alaska against three experienced professional politicians (the incumbent governor in the primary and a former governor and state representative in the general election) and handled herself quite well in them.

If you listen to Palin's interviews, on the questions on which she was allowed to articulate her positions, rather than have Gibson and Couric play games with her, she gave intelligent, reasoned answers about gay rights, about abortion, and even about Roe v. Wade.

She fumbled when asked to name another Supreme Court case with which she disagreed, which isn't that surprising because when pressed, a lot of people only know the names of a few Supreme Court cases, most of which have become long time case law. It's not surprising that Joe Biden, a lawyer, could give a detailed description of a bill that he spent ten years working on, while Sarah Palin, a non-lawyer, couldn't come up with a Surpreme Court case, by name, with which she disagreed.

I think that McCain is playing the prejudice card here for effect, to make it look like the deck is stacked even more against Palin than it is. It also will get a lot of people looking more closely at the type of questions being asked each candidate which plays in Palin's favor.

I've gotten the impression that Alaskan politics is somewhat of a rough and tumble, Wild West affair and Palin has more than held her own there. I don't expect to see a "deer in the headlights" performance tomorrow night.

[silverscreenselect]

Palin fired the librarian after she refused to go along with Palin's plan. The town residents stopped Palin and reinstated the librarian.

http://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/let ... 26107.html

The next time I need to find out what's really going on in the state of Alaska, I'll consult your source, Alice King, the librarian of Hilton Head Island.

[SportsFan68]

Palin fired the librarian after she refused to go along with Palin's plan. The town residents stopped Palin and reinstated the librarian.

http://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/let ... 26107.html

The next time I need to find out what's really going on in the state of Alaska, I'll consult your source, Alice King, the librarian of Hilton Head Island.

LOL! I looked a little bit for that E-mail that got forwarded around.

Anyway, as many sources as Cal can find saying False! I can find an equal number saying True!