Entries Tagged as ''

Obama chats with Brian Williams

Senator Barack Obama sat down and talked with Brian Williams today. In lengthy interviews, Obama is able to show his thoughtfulness on the issues.

With the New Hampshire primary coming tomorrow, 2 new polls (USA Today- Gallup and CNN-WMUR) show Barack Obama opening up a 2 digit lead in the granite state. Now, if you have listened to my podcast then you heard political science Professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell tell us to ignore national polls and to look at the local polls done by local people. CNN did something interesting by teaming with WMUR they provided the resources for a local TV station to conduct a local poll. (I’m just guessing. I hope that’s how it went because that would provide the best window into the future. On the other hand, if CNN did a local poll with their national people then paid WMUR to put their name on it. That would be a disaster. That would be a recipe for failure.)

On another note, much has been made about Hillary Clinton’s tearing up earlier today. Then we have the retarded analysis. Look, this is an emotional time. Hillary has wanted to be president for a long, long time. She was in position. 6 months ago, the talking heads were giving her the democratic nomination. If you hear something often enough you start to begin to believe it. She is now in for a serious fight that she just might lose. As TCR points out, the media can’t have it both ways. On one hand, Hillary is cold and calculating. On the other hand, now, she is a weak emotional wreck as ABC is trying to spin this. Of course, the reality is neither. She is a real person whose dreams maybe slipping away. Hell, students walked out on a Bill Clinton speech at Dartmouth yesterday.

This race is heating up. Now, who can stay positive? Obama is getting attacked from both sides. Hillary is saying that he isn’t ready. (As far as I know there is no readiness test. Harry Truman wasn’t really ready but did a great job. Hell, Bill Clinton fumbled the ball when he was elected taking on Gays in the Military as his first major issue.) He hasn’t thought things through (like she knows what he is thinking). John Edwards is attacking from the left. He is saying that Barack is too cozy with lobbyists.

 
icon for podpress  Brian Williams interviews Barck Obama [20:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Bill Moyers - Dennis Kucinich

Why wasn’t Dennis Kucinich in the New Hampshire debate? Let’s be honest. Dennis Kucinich does represent some of the Democrat core values - helping the underdog, fighting for the working man, fighting against the corporate giants. Why doesn’t Dennis get more air time?

I think it is sad that most people will not get to hear what he has to say BUT I must add that some of his lack of exposure is his fault. I know that I have tried on a number of occasions to contact his campaign for an interview. I got no response. Even if I’m a nobody, and I am, if you are trying to win friends and influence people some type of response is needed.

If you are a serious candidate then you can’t answer every question. Saying that you have seen a UFO makes you look like a crack pot. If you are serious then you focus on the issues. Dennis Kucinich goes out of his way to be truthful and honest. This is good. He needs to focus his message into 3 core values but he knows this. He is a very smart man. You message gets diluted when you have a list of hundred things that you care about. If you want to be taken seriously then you need to focus and play the game by the rules that the big boys have set up.

This video is a great interview with Dennis Kucinich. Bill Moyers as usual does a great job at fleshing out Dennis and making him more appealing to liberals.

 
icon for podpress  Bill Moyers Journal - Dennis Kucinich [14:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Errington Thompson Show 1-5-08

New Year.  Great Show.  Melissa Harris-Lacewell, associate professor of Political Science and African American studies at Princeton University, is in the house!!  She talks to us via cell phone from outside an Obama rally in New Hampshire.  Now, you can’t say that she doesn’t get her information from the front lines.  This is a fun thoughtful interview if I do say so myself.  If you are interested in the political process, you can’t miss this interview.

Remember I’m on iTunes and several other podcasting services.

 
icon for podpress  The Errington Thompson Show 1-5-08 [48:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Errington Thompson Show 12/22/07

This is the show right before Christmas. I have as my special guest Dwight Mullen, professor of political science at UNC at Asheville. We discuss the candidates before the Iowa caucus. Please note that Dr. Mullen correctly states that Obama will not suffer from the Tom Bradley effect. Extremely insightful.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

 
icon for podpress  The Errington Thompson Show 12-22-07 [49:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download