Cliff makes GOP 'strategist' Karen Hanretty look like a total fool on MSNBC:
CLIFF SCHECTER, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: ... Maybe the Republican strategy should be to send over Mark Foley so he might actually scare the children of the insurgents, but I haven't seen anything intelligent come out of them recently.
[...]
HOST: Karen, in the (President's) radio address that we broadcast just a couple of hours ago, President Bush said the reason for the uptick in violence is that terrorists are the ones who are trying to influence public opinion, here in the US. What's that mean to you? How's that being done?
KAREN HANRETTY, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well of course they're trying to influence. Look, we've seen it in more than one election where Osama Bin Laden releases a videotape, or, you know, these people are probably watching MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, they're watching all the national cable networks.
CLIFF: That's because Bush never caught them.
Then Karen makes this face ..... oh so priceless:
posted by Anonymous @ 1:39 PM
19 comments
19 Comments:
Great job Cliff!!!
I also loved the face Karen had when she was told that Cliff had the last word. It was hilarious!
It's about time the Democrats start getting the last word on these shows. I'm glad the truth is finally being heard. Thanks to Cliff Schecter, we have an intelligent spokesman who isn't afraid to jump in and give the Republican "strategists" a taste of their own medicine.
Keep giving them hell, Cliff!
You definately got some mean mugging from her.... But now I wonder if Cliff hits girls?
It seemed like Cliff abused her. Attacking her was like taking candy from a baby... albeit a stupid baby with bad hair and worse talking points.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/21/215155/23
Ignore the haters Cliff. Interrupting does not equal misleading us into war, stealing congress, accepting bribes, hate speech, fearmongering, or any of the other atrocities the republicans pull off daily.
You are the man Cliff. Best wishes and thank you for bringing a new Schecter into the world.
I hope that life only feels joy.
Thanks guys for all the support.
PC, I simply don't agree with you. Being rude sure has cost Rush Limbaugh listeners and Anne Coulter book sales right?
Debating is about throwing people off balance. I am not perfect and don't always get it right. But I do think I angered her enough to do so. In addition, I am not going to apologize for being mean to war-profiteers, swift-boaters and other assorted miscreants. Sorry you disagree PC, but a helluva lot of people don't agree with you...
Liepardestin - Thanks for setting up the Kos diary and saying such nice things. I will probably write a diary about this tomorrow - how are side can get pounded into the ground for years, but Heaven's to Betsy, I was a bit mean!
No problem Cliff, I mean its not like its Chappaquiddick
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
First, let me say great work. Second, you need to start a video blog (if you don't have one already). You are getting huge on youtube (that's how I found you and my way here). You are the Anti-Coultergeist and non-sensical neocon ideology and propganda machine vaccine that we've needed for sometime. GREAT WORK (AGAIN)!!
p.s. A suggestion: invite Republican strategists 'pistol duel' style and debate them. I don't think I've seen a Dem make as many Rpbs stammer, sneer, contort and distort their faces and bodies in my life.
I hope you do listen to some of the negative feedback because the criticism is constructive and probably a little fearful of the direction you are taking this. If you think Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter are the role models you should base yourself on, you really are playing to the wrong audience.
I have been waiting to get Bush out of office since about day 10 of his reign but what I saw between you and Karen ended up making her look like the professional and you a beginner. The host of the show seemed fair, the points Karen was making were all going to be refutable and open for discussion and it seemed like you were anticipating a problem - put in personal attacks (?what's the point of that?), etc. It would be nice to see resolve, clarity, professionalism and class. That will win you every debate and you don't have to get into the gutter with Rush and Ann to do it.
Regarding the criticism about Cliff going after Karen Hanretty. Jill said, "It would be nice to see resolve, clarity, professionalism and class. That will win you every debate and you don't have to get into the gutter with Rush and Ann to do it." That may win a debate, but it won't win an election. What Cliff said was nowhere near the things that Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter have said in the past, and to compare the few remarks that he made to them is going a bit too far.
In an election, if you sit back and take the high road at every turn, you will end up like John Kerry...a classy loser. I'm happy to see some Democrats fight back. I can't tell you how many times I've heard from our own fellow democrats that the Democrats have no "backbone" or are "spineless". Now that someone is showing that they can hold their own, we shouldn't be criticizing him, but telling him he did a good job. It's good to throw them off balance. Obviously, Karen has never had anyone tell her where to go before and maybe she'll think twice before she tries to tell a Democrat that his arguments are inane.
I still say Cliff did a great job and he should keep on throwing those punches when he is attacked. Not before....but as soon as the first blow hits him, the gloves should come off.
pc,
No I did not endorse "their tactics." Don't put words in my mouth. All I said was that being "rude" has not hurt them.
If you can tell me how my making a sarcastic comment about "lack of oxygen in the brain" compares to Coulter's saying the Jersey Girls "enjoyed their husbands' deaths" or Rush's saying Abu Ghraib was like a "fraternity prank" I am all ears.
Otherwise, don't take a quote out of context and put words in my mouth. All I said was rude works. I never said I would sink to their level, and people like you who have compared me to Coulter and Rush really amuse me, because what I said was so harmless compared to most of what they say.
Ditto to you Jill. As I don't remember ever saying I would model myself on either of them.
Shmaas - I have given the video blogging thing some thought. Will let you know what I decide to do. And Mary Ellen and Fernando and Leprechaun and illyia and Liepardestin - thanks for understanding what some of these folks don't seem to get.
Next time you they can go on for me and sing kumbaya while the GOP Swiftboats Kerry again, impeaches Clinton over nothing, steals the 2000 election, smears Cindy Sheehan, and guess what? We'll lose due to people like you them who don't understand what people are looking for in an MSNBC debate (I did PBS the day before and handled it in an entirely different way-pc might have even approved!).
I have been on many shows and tried your way. It leads to the Republicans interrupting, lying, filibustering and getting away with it. So thanks but no thanks.
"The host of the show seemed fair"
You must not watch MSNBC often. She's vying for Tucker's job as lead GOPropagandist
Yes pc it is important to me to throw some anonymous person with nothing better to do than heckle me at my blog "off balance." That is what I spend my days thinking about. I'm sure there's a comedy club somewhere near you where you are just a fave.
Again, I said rude works. People pay attention. Maybe you watched Keith Olbermann's special comment last night? Or saw when Bill Clinton leaned forward toward Chris Wallace, when Wallace was willfully lying, and called him out on his "smirk" and dishonesty. There are times when it is necessary to be rude.
But I bet that just had you crying in your milk, calling for all of us to just hold hands.
You see there are many different levels of rude. And maybe I brought up Coulter and Rush because a few silly people have been comparing me to them. But I don't remember saying I would "model myself" after them or endorsing making fun of death and disease among your opposition as they do (although I do enjoy the occasional drug addict joke about Rush, which I guess I will have to apologize to you for in advance).
But I'll by awaiting your pithy response. Apparently you have nothing better to do. As for me, I'm done wasting my time.
Of course I still love you platonically Ed! Isn't it obvious? As for the choking joke, some people think it worked, some don't. In my first comment here I made sure to admit that I don't always know what will work and what won't. You have 3 minutes to get all your points out against Republicans willing to lie about everything.
Sometimes some things don't work. But better that I try than just sit there like LieberDemocrats and nod kindly. I know you Ed, and so I know you agree with that.
Republicans whining about rudeness. The same douchebags who claim that anyone who questions the administration is un-American or giving comfort and aid to Al Qaeda. Ahhh, good times!
Keep making them look stupid, Cliff. Good work.
Are you referring back to these comments in your next post? I hope you're not because that would just be silly.
I really don't feel like I got my point across so I'm going to try again and then just leave it alone.
I am not trying to score "gotcha" points here. If I misunderstood your comment about Rush and Ann, I apologize. If you think I don't understand what plays in Poughkeepsie, fine. What I'm saying is that, I, as a liberal and almost always a Democratic voter, did not think your performance was a helpful one to your cause or the party. To be blunt, I thought you came across as immature and unprofessional. That is just my opinion. I also think (my opinion again) you could run this for a focus group of Republicans, Democrats and undecided and my assumption? The Republicans would not be swayed, nor would the undecided and 1/4 of the Democrats (like me) would actually be motivated AGAINST your take. Which means, my guess is you are having somewhat of a negative effect.
I do know the format is tough. On the other hand, I have seen people hold their own in more unfriendly circumstances. I do think you had a pretty fair moderator.
As you said you aren't always right but, you posted this as if you had counted coup on your enemy and, as part of your target audience, I would beg to differ.
\For what it's worth (and apparently you feel not much) I wanted to give you feedback because I know your intentions are good and you are fighting a pretty scary enemy.
So - I'll leave it at that. Good luck.
Jill,
Jill,
I take what you say very seriously. I try to listen to everyone. I guess I just took umbrage at the "modelling myself after Rush and Ann thing." It is not what I am trying to do.
I am going to be aggressive. I am going to call them out. I do hear your point about interrupting and other things. So sorry if I came off as too harsh, but while the vast majority of people have been supportive or offered constructive criticism like you, there are a few others who have been nasty for no reason. And I don't see any point in giving their views credence.
So in any case, hope you'll keep coming around and offering your views.
Thank you, Cliff. I will keep coming around.
I imagine you are going to start getting some really nasty trolls. I think the GOP has started assigning two trolls per liberal blog - recently all the blogs I've been going to have been infested with one or two annoying commenters dutifully presenting the Republican talking points de jour.
So, best of luck on fighting the good fight. I know your job isn't easy. I just watched the footage of Scarborough and Maher and then O'Lielly and Wesley Clark....I think what you do must be like banging your head against a brick wall except not as pleasant.
Post a Comment
<< Home