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Why no bounce for Barack Obama?

Everyone's raving about his triumphant trip!

Posted by: Mark Kilmer

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 03:02PM CDT

36 Comments

The American political media cannot understand why president candidate Barack Obama's triumphant entry into Jerusalem Tel Aviv and elsewhere has not pushed him further to the fore in the heart's of America's voters. The TIME glossy infotainment magazine's blog Swampland offers us this gem:

Lots of speculation on the web, and in whispering circles, about why Obama's foreign trip--a slam-dunk success substantively and in photo-op terms (Obama laughing with Petraeus in the helicopter was the best)--hasn't resulted in a polling bump. The emerging conventional wisdom seems to be that the trip is a bit too grand, too...presumptuous and voters are wary of that. (And presumption, of course, always comes with the subterranean tinge of racism.) Maybe so.

Okay. According to the media, we either see through Barry's stage show, contemptuous as it is of our eyes, ears, and minds, or we're racist punks who cannot bear to see a black man triumph in the manner Obama has. No, no, no to the latter excuse. Even the New York Times saw through Clinton (Bill) playing with rocks on the beach at Normandy in 1994, and Obama's act seems much more obviously a fraud.

Joe Klein, the blogger of the piece, has his own little theory:

People may be thinking, what on earth is Obama doing over there when we have so many problems back home? Why isn't he talking about the economy? No doubt, the Obama staff figured they needed this week abroad to establish the image of Obama as a potential Commander-in-Chief...and, no doubt, he will turn to the economy--a Democratic strength, according to the polls--when he gets home. But I wouldn't be surprised if Obama is paying a price for vamping about overseas while banks are cratering, gas prices soar and people are getting really, really nervous about their futures.

He thinks Americans want Barry here in the States, front-and-center, blaming Bush because we're all going to die and alien beings will invade Earth any day now.

Maybe so, Joe. In your little dream world, where everyone sees the obvious: that Obama has arrived to save the world from the evils of Bush and to remove the last vestiges of Reaganism.

The first responder (First Responder) to Joe's post relates that his (her?) theory is: "Normal people who don't pay attention to everything that happens in politics have better things to do." Maybe the media fawning over Obama rolls off these people like spit off a greased duck. (Never mind.)

Half of Americans surveyed by Rasmussen believe that people like Klein are trying to convince voters to support Obama. If these Americans can detect that the media is engaged in fakery for Obama, surely they can see through Barry's stage show.

So the media couldn't pass off this nonsense as something substantive, or even important enough to be more than a blip on the public radar screen; how does this bode for their upcoming effort to push this flawed candidacy down Pennsylvania Avenue to street number 1600?

Category: Barack Obama, Bounce, Joe Klein

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Comments

  1. I would say this election is quickly turning into...

    Commodore Perry July 23rd, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. CDT (link)

    Shocker: The media has been biased for a long time, and they are usually wrong.

    DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP

    More analysis at Commodore Perry

  2. The picture of him with a hero like Petraeus

    Jaded July 23rd, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. CDT (link)

    just makes him look the appeaser piece of crap we all know him to be....not a great photo-op to have a weasel with a hero!

    Whoever has his enemy at his mercy & does not destroy him is his own enemy

    1. Absolutely

      E Pluribus Unum July 23rd, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. CDT (link)

      It's Little Lord FauntleRoy standing next to Douglas MacArthur.

      Kill the terrorists
      Protect the borders
      Punch the hippies

    2. I Have Seriously Noticed That

      IJB July 23rd, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. CDT (link)

      I've been assiduously avoiding the coverage of Barry's Big Adventure(tm), but what's struck me about the few clips I have seen is how Barry completely comes off looking like a little kid playing "dress up" as an adult.

      What really struck me is one shot of him sitting at a big table in Afghanistan - Barry totally looked like he was too small for his chair, and came off looking like the little kid sitting at the table with the big kids and the adults.

      If I'm not the only casual observer to have had that same reaction, I can't say that this trip will likely do much in the way of improving Barry's chances of being crowned king getting elected President...

  3. Who's paying the freight

    Political_Lizard July 23rd, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. CDT (link)

    I must ask if the Obama campaign is paying for this campaign trip or did the taxpayer?

    It is painfully obvious that this fact finding mission has become a grandstanding campaign stunt and should be paid for by the Obama campaign. This trip has nothing to do with Obama's Senatorial duties.

    Again I must ask who is paying the freight. If it is a taxpayer, a FEC complaint should be filed as this is an abuse of power and obviously a campaign trip.

    1. I believe that in 2004

      Pi Over Three July 23rd, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. CDT (link)

      some liberals did just that President Bush, saying that use of Air Force One should be billed to his campaign.

      Have you added to the population of the McCain 2008 minicity yet today?

      I drive a car powered by hydrogen - C8H18 to be exact.

      1. the use of Air Force One

        Streiff July 23rd, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. CDT (link)

        is billed to the campaign. Always. Unless the campaign stop is secondary to the trip.

        "A man does what he can and endures what he must."

        1. Yes, you are right

          Pi Over Three July 23rd, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. CDT (link)

          I looked at some stories from then after posting this. It seemed their beef was that Bush was not paying enough for the use of the AF1.

          I love the way they word this, as if all of his campaign money should go to the government, and he is wrong to keep it.

          Even when the White House deems a trip as political, the cost to Bush's campaign is minimal. In such instances, the campaign must only pay the government the equivalent of a comparable first-class fare for each political traveler on each leg, Federal Election Commission guidelines say.

          While Democratic rival John Kerry digs into his campaign bank account to charter a plane to roam the country, Bush often travels at no cost to his campaign simply by declaring a trip "official" travel rather than "political."

          But of the more than $203 million Bush has raised for his re-election, less than 1% has gone to reimbursing the government for travel costs this year.

          Have you added to the population of the McCain 2008 minicity yet today?

          I drive a car powered by hydrogen - C8H18 to be exact.

  4. more gaffes

    Pentagon16 July 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. CDT (link)

    more lies from Obama in the last few days.. on Jerusalem, on meeting with Achmedinijad (he never said he would have 'preparations' as he claimed yesterday) and today he takes credit for a Senate committee he runs where he is NOT EVEN ON THE COMMITTEE..

    "Small town folks get bitter after which they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment"- Barack Carter Obama

  5. really?

    dskerman July 23rd, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. CDT (link)

    so first you describe your source with the following "The TIME glossy infotainment magazine's blog Swampland offers us this gem:"

    then after the quote you say "Okay. According to the media, we either see through Barry's stage show, contemptuous as it is of our eyes, ears, and minds, or we're racist punks

    I think you have to choose, either these are the comments of a swampland-ish blog, or they are the proclamations of all media but they can't be both.

    One would think if these views were really being hammered into us as part of some media onslaught that you would be able to quote from more than a single article.

    Also, comparing Clinton touring a former battleground, to a candidate meeting with various world leaders for the first time as a presidential candidate is a bit of a stretch.

    1. this site is filled with diaries about the MSM Bias

      Aaron Gardner July 23rd, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. CDT (link)

      why don't you take a look around before you spout off too much.

      Also where do you stand on Bush...is he the idiot that the Dems try to say he is or did he dupe all the Dems in congress with cooked intelligence to start a war in Iraq...

      I'll wait for your answer.

      "Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy

      conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!

      Steel-Belted Radial Right Winger

      "I'll create 5 million jobs from out of unicorn farts and pixie dust" Justatron paraphrasing Obamessiah...yes I love it that much.

    2. Joe Klein himself told us

      Mark Kilmer July 23rd, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. CDT (link)

      that this was the topic of conversation amongst media types.

      As for Barry's act vs. Clinton (Bill)'s act, listen, b.s. is b.s. Granted, Obama's is a campaign event and Clinton's was an act of state, but Obama's peeps had to be reminded of this, the lines were purposefully blurred, and both are examples of see-through stagecraft.

      We're being sold a bill of goods? Are you buying?

  6. Another brick in the wall...

    MadHatChemist July 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. CDT (link)

    Obama might not get a bounce from this trip, but what this trip does is build, piece-by-piece, the plausibility of being "viable" when it comes to foreign policy and general competence.

    It WON'T be a single thing, but with a lot of little stunts like this, it'll probably reach a point when about amonth or so from the election you'll see a big break in Obama's favor because he will have cultivated an air of "viability."

    This is why it is so important to hit him on every little thing, even if taken individually they don't seem like they will be that helpful to Obama.

    1. What a joke.

      Socrates July 23rd, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. CDT (link)

      People will either vote for Obama because it's about time we had a black President, or they will judge him by the content of his character and vote McCain.

      105 days is not enough time for Obama to develop.

      -- Gone 2500 years, still not PC.

    2. The only "air" his candidacy will give

      Tim_Schieferecke July 23rd, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. CDT (link)

      off will smell like a truckstop bathroom on deviled eggs and burritos night.

      Tim Schieferecke

  7. Brilliant Barack doesn't understand- to connect with voters, meet with them!

    streetwise July 23rd, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. CDT (link)

    You're not in the Democratic primary anymore, where they don't count.

    And don't go galavanting to exotic climes and cavort with the glitterati of the press and Europe's cafe society.

  8. This Iraq trip is reminding me of the race speech

    Dave_in_Fla July 23rd, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. CDT (link)

    When the Rev. Wright issue broke onto the scene, Obama went and did that speech in Philadelpia on race, which had the MSM all atwitter about how profound he is. Chris Matthews has the "thrill running up his leg", and the immediate post mortem was that Obama had transcended the controversy and turned a political liability into a political strength.

    But then people started to disect the speech and kept asking what it means in the face of the inconvenient facts of Rev. Wright and Trinity United. This resulted in almost two months of slow bleed that cost Obama seriously in the polls.

    This overseas trip is reminding me of that fiasco. The MSM is raving about how presidential he looks, and how this helps him, and how McCain is now damaged because this wipes out McCain's biggest advantage. But look at all the mistakes and gaffes that are piling up around him. Once the glow of the MSM coverage wears off, he is going to have to live with those on-the-record "inartful" statements, and they are going to hurt him.

    We haven't even gotten to the Berlin speech yet. I predict that this speech will be covered like the Beatles coming to the Ed Sullivan show, complete with fainting young German girls and adoring press coverage. But the visuals aren't going to play well back home among people who actually get to vote in this election (unlike the 70+% of the French that would vote for him if they could). I suspect that US voter patience is pretty thin with respect to elitist fluff in Europe, when they are feeling pain at the pump at home.

    "If they were merely incompetent, then at least SOME of their actions would have been to the benefit of the country."

  9. Joe gets a F

    Alberta July 23rd, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. CDT (link)

    Can you imagine going to your journalist prof and giving him a paper with the sentence " (And presumption, of course, always comes with the subterranean tinge of racism.)"

    Youd be laughed outta the class if you wrote that drivel. Im not even going to mention that he starts a sentence with (captions).

    Joe, please, its alright. Hysteria only makes you look hysterical.

    "I am a jelly doughnut"

  10. I'll make a prediction

    Shaggy_Dog July 23rd, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. CDT (link)

    Senator Obama will look far more comfortable giving a speech in Berlin to a million fawning Germans than he did hanging around a bowling alley in Pennslyvania with a modest size crowd of middle class Americans.

    And its no secret why that is. After all, what do those throngs of socialist Germans have to be "bitter" about?

    1. My sister was in that PA

      Mark Kilmer July 23rd, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. CDT (link)

      bowling alley with Barry, got her photo snapped with Obama and Junior Casey.

      You're right. Obama's a stadium guy, where he's lecturing without feedback. When he has to answer questions, think on his feet, we get nonsense:

      "So the point that I was making at the time was that the political dynamic was the driving force between that sectarian violence. And we could try to keep a lid on it, but if these underlining dynamic continued to bubble up and explode the way they were, then we would be in a difficult situation. I am glad that in fact those political dynamic shifted at the same time that our troops did outstanding work."

      Yuck.

  11. It seems to me....

    jeanie July 23rd, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. CDT (link)

    that most of the best and most effective leaders around the globe often have/had humility as one of their prominent qualities. Not so this Obama fellow. He's sure he's God's gift to us and makes no effort to conceal his certainty. He surrounds himself with others who will not cast doubt on this. Shouldn't one be wary of such?

  12. he will get a bump

    Pentagon16 July 23rd, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. CDT (link)

    the media is pulling a Lewinsky on him all week long.

    There are not enough Americans who remember the last politician who had a million Germans cheering on their feet and yelling "Jawohl we can!!"

    Obama is such a liar and Levin right now is playing clips of all his lies.

    "Small town folks get bitter after which they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment"- Barack Carter Obama

  13. I can see why he is confused

    Pi Over Three July 23rd, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. CDT (link)

    after all, he has yet to convene a meeting for the United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs he is chairman for.

    The committee has oversight on our involvement with NATO missions, such as the one in Afghanistan.

    Despite offering zero leadership of his own, still calling the surge in Iraq a mistake, two days ago he called for a surge in Afghanistan.

    Obama said troop levels must increase in Afghanistan.

    "For at least a year now,, I have called for two additional brigades, perhaps three," he told CBS. "I think it's very important that we unify command more effectively to coordinate our military activities. But military alone is not going to be enough."

    Have you added to the population of the McCain 2008 minicity yet today?

    I drive a car powered by hydrogen - C8H18 to be exact.

    1. This was supposed to be

      Pi Over Three July 23rd, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. CDT (link)

      in response to Penagons "today he takes credit for a Senate committee he runs where he is NOT EVEN ON THE COMMITTEE.." comment above.

      Looks like there are still a few bugs left in system.

      Have you added to the population of the McCain 2008 minicity yet today?

      I drive a car powered by hydrogen - C8H18 to be exact.

  14. in answer to the headline

    E Pluribus Unum July 23rd, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. CDT (link)

    because poop doesn't bounce.....

    Thank you, I'm here all week!

    Kill the terrorists
    Protect the borders
    Punch the hippies

    1. bravo EPU excellent read on the nothing...

      Jaded July 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 p.m. CDT (link)

      but crap Senator!!!

      and now for your next one :-)

      Whoever has his enemy at his mercy & does not destroy him is his own enemy

  15. The entire premise of Obama's campaign

    Kowalski July 23rd, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. CDT (link)

    From the earliest days when it sought to build an image of him as a new secular priest, is a very cynical academic view that Americans and people who live elsewhere don't care as much about the candidate as they do about the images presented to them, the internal referents, the narrative accompanying it, and the allusory quality of the candidate as hero.

    Barack's campaign is the most cynical exercise in applied political science that I've ever seen, and it's being orchestrated by liberal academicians who have decided to stop noodling about "agency" and "praxis" and do something about it. And they're all leftists, and so is he.

    It's going to be one set of contradictory and disturbing statements after another from this guy, and the media is going to go along with it because they all want to play spin-the-bottle. On the one hand it's deep, and in the execution it's extraordinarily shallow.

    The sad thing is that they might be right.

    Defend Liberty -- Join the NRA | Live in Massachusetts? Join GOAL.

    1. In terms of policy, Barack says

      Kowalski July 23rd, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. CDT (link)

      Barack says what he knows is going to be swallowed by the media, which at this point amounts to virtually anything.

      The guy could get up in front of a podium and snort a line of coke off it while standing right next to Andrea Mitchell and she'd report that she was looking at the crowd and didn't notice the powder on his nostrils because of the glint of sunlight.

      Defend Liberty -- Join the NRA | Live in Massachusetts? Join GOAL.

    2. But really, this is much cooler

      Kowalski July 23rd, 2008 at 6:54 p.m. CDT (link)

      The Pope is correct, BTW: there's a tremendous spiritual vacuum in Western, secular societies because of their sophistication, their agnosticism, and their materialism. Obama's people know this, and so do Al Gore's. They're going to capitalize on it, and already have, by making Obama's campaign (and anthropogenic global warming) a matter of secular belief.

      They're tapping into a vast spiritual emptiness in the culture -- it's completely self conscious, and even Obama's advisors admit that it's going to be tough to live up to the promises once they've succeded making him into a God.

      Defend Liberty -- Join the NRA | Live in Massachusetts? Join GOAL.

  16. The only problem is that there is no counterbounce

    Kowalski July 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. CDT (link)

    For McCain. At least not yet. I realize these things take some time, and we're doing pretty well, but I wish more people would stop sitting the fence here in the blogosphere.

    Punishing John McCain for not adhering to your vision of Conservatism is a losing strategy, and probably the biggest losing strategy in human history.

    So don't do it. Wise up.

    Defend Liberty -- Join the NRA | Live in Massachusetts? Join GOAL.

    1. I agree

      AJSHOPE July 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 p.m. CDT (link)

      I agree. I know some people believe (and I somewhat agree with this as well) that continually picking the lesser of 2 evils still sends us down the evil path, but the sad thing is that every election there is still a HUGE difference between the candidates. If anything, this should just show everyone how scary the Democrat party is becoming and how we can't let them win no matter what.

  17. There is a worrying degree of denial amoung

    Everton July 23rd, 2008 at 9 p.m. CDT (link)

    republicans.

    Look ,i really hope this story is true. But 1) the Wall St Journal poll today has Obama up by 6 over mccain (polls last week had him +2/3.)

    2) Obamas trip is not even done yet- the big event in germany has not even started. Its unfortunately way to early to see if there is a real bump yet.

    The more we gloss over reality, the less we all fight hard for mccain.

    1. The lack of crosstabs is suggestive.

      Moe Lane July 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. CDT (link)

      Unless they're there, and I'm just missing 'em.

      The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!

      1. As i say,

        Everton July 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. CDT (link)

        he hasnt even finished his trip yet so although its all good to hope there is no bounce, lets wait and see.

        Whats the 'crosstabs' reference you make?

        1. In this case? Demographic breakdowns of the people being polled.

          Moe Lane July 23rd, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. CDT (link)

          By age, gender, race, political affiliation, religion, and whatever else may be relevant. Good for eyeball assessments of polls.

          The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!

    2. 6 points is still nothing

      AJSHOPE July 24th, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. CDT (link)

      How many times have we gone over the fact that previously the Democratic candidate has had a double digit lead by this time? Obama has yet to have a real double digit lead and with all of the "inartful" statements and outright lies, I don't think he'll ever get that lead.

      Pretty much everyone is showing it as being a statistical tie which is bad for Obama because the polls usually favor the Democrat to begin with. Then we have Obama himself, as long as he doesn't shut up, he's just going to continue to hurt himself.


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