The Times' tortured endorsementI finally read the entire New York Times endorsement editorial tonight. I'm not surprised the paper endorsed the hometown senator, and I respect the logic (the two top candidates have similar policy positions, but at a time when things are a godawful mess in this country, you need someone who can hit the ground running etc etc.). I disagree, but I understand.
Still, as someone who has been writing editorials for 20 years, and reading NY Times editorials even longer, I have to say: This is the most tortured, inelegant work I've seen out of that shop in a long time. It's a string of choppy paragraphs, held together with no transitions or logic; it reads like it was written by a committee, and it probably was.
You can fault the Times for their positions, and I often do, but damn: There was a time when they had some outstanding editorial writers. And this was a perfect chance to make some resounding, important and inspiring points about the future of the Democratic Party, American democracy and public policy. I'm really disappointed.
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Comments (3)
Tim, you're absolutely right. I read it, and while they endorsed HIllary Clinton, it seemed like they couldn't avoid praising Barack Obama. And their arguments for Clinton (despite kind words for Obama) were so pat that it came off as unpersuasive and insincere. And their well-deserved criticism of Bill Clinton's campaigning really undercut their argument. It seems like they always wanted to endorsed Clinton and that was just the plan all along.
Posted by Paul Hogarth | January 26, 2008 11:25 AM
As this Presidential campaign cycle gears up, there has already been much hype, much unfounded speculation, and unfortunately too much dirty politics. The thing there hasn't been enough of is honest in-depth debate on each candidate's plans and principles, not just positions. Conservative principles are the very core of our American spirit. They are what the Republican Party is supposed to be based on, right?
Fred Thompson has what America needs to take her back to the principles that made her great, the principles our forefathers based our Constitution on. Fred is the respected man he is because he stands solid on his principles, never swaying with the winds of political correctness. He is a man who stands rock-solid on his principles; a man who will look you straight in the eye and tell you how it really is, good or bad, straightup; a man who speaks with substance; the only one who can be trusted to stand tall and have the resolve to do what is necessary to protect America.
I'm writing this to reach out to more people and let them know America had a strong conservative candidate within her reach. Unfortunately though, with Fred Thompson dropping out of the race, it is truly a dark day for America. Do not despair though, there is still hope, the fight will and must go on; there is a plan. If we are all truly commited to Fred’s principles, and hope to see these principles have some bearing on the future of America, we all must vote for Fred in every primary, even if we have to “write in” his name. If we can keep the vote split enough, maybe a brokered convention could happen. At the very least, it will send a very clear message to Fred and the American people he actually had more support than they thought. This in itself may reinforce the possibility of Fred being selected to run as VP, which would not only bring some integrity into the White House in January of 09, but would garner him the exposure needed for a Presidential run in 2012 or 2016. It would also send a message to the Republican party there are still many true conservatives left who will not stand idly by and watch our party be hijacked by moderate, liberal-leaning Republicans. Last but certainly not least, it would educate the MSM to the fact that even though they may be able to influence a campaign’s decision, it is truly we the people who will exercise our God given right guaranteed by the Constitution to make the final decision, to select who we feel is the best leader for our great country
Posted by Charles Purvis | January 28, 2008 07:53 PM
There is an advertisement in The Examiner that links to the following website:
http://www.thoseshirts.com/?gclid=CPrdqqKfnJECFRpdagodsXNzPw
Posted by expatriate | January 29, 2008 12:20 PM