Politico: Why Biden Is Rejecting Black Lives Matter's Boldest Proposals

[JoeOtterbein]

Politico

Activists want to defund the police. Biden won’t even legalize pot.

By RYAN LIZZA, LAURA BARRÓN-LÓPEZ and HOLLY OTTERBEIN

06/26/2020 04:30 AM EDT

Updated: 06/26/2020 09:55 AM EDT


At a megachurch in Phoenix this week, Donald Trump regaled a crowd of mostly maskless students with a story about the moment he said he knew he would win a second term.

The president explained that he was in the White House recently and passed by a TV screen and saw the words “defund and abolish.”

“What are they going to defund and abolish?” Trump said he asked.

“The police,” he was told.

“Oh, great, I just won the election!”

The data suggest otherwise. In fact, since the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer on May 25 and the rise of protests against police brutality and systemic racism, including activist calls to defund the police, Joe Biden’s average polling lead over Trump has doubled from 5 to 10 points. The day after Trump's Arizona event, The New York Times published a poll showing Trump down by a staggering 14 points.

snip

more at link

P.S. FYI, neither I, or the writers of the article, wrote the headline and sub-headline above. The editors in most publications, online or in print, write the headlines.

[Demsrule86]

1. Another hit piece by the usual suspects. Defund the police is a terrible thing to run on...Biden

shows sense. And he is winning that must really burn some who supported other candidates...like the authors of this hit piece.

[JoeOtterbein]

2. Legalizing cannabis is the politically smart, and more importantly, it is...

...morally correct.

[Demsrule86]

8. Not a voting issue...I believe this will ultimately happen at the state level.

[JoeOtterbein]

20. Oh, ...(

That is no help for those of us who need it in a "illegal" state. What happened to equal protection under the law?

[Demsrule86]

28. This article is about defunding the police...what has that to do with cannabis.

[NurseJackie]

70. Huh? What's that? I know... I'm shaking my head too.

Some things are self explanatory. Some things are clear after reflecting on them. But... some things are beyond explanation.

[Calculating]

67. I feel your pain

I live in Utah, and they always just point to "It's still federally illegal" as an excuse not to have a better state program on the issue. We need to legalize it federally and remove it from the controlled substances schedule already. It's the logical AND moral thing to do.

[Indykatie]

19. Biden Was Right to Run From the Rhetoric Around "Defunding the Police"

Biden needs to focus on getting elected and to do that he doesn't need to campaign on any policies or ideas that are seen as extreme. Biden was also smart not to embrace M4A policy. Warren did initially and I will always think that began the downfall for her campaign.

[JoeOtterbein]

24. Legalizing cannabis is....

...popular!!!!

[BannonsLiver]

31. It is and it should be but it has nothing to do with defunding police

Let’s not get it twisted.

[George II]

51. This is starting to look like the beginning of the Obama Administration, except that the....

....attacks on Obama didn't begin until after he took office.

Some people are acting as though there still is a chance of Democrats nominating someone other than Biden. That's not going to happen.

[StarfishSaver]

3. Why should Biden make "defund the police" a part of his platform?

It is primarily a local and state issue.

But suddenly Politico is all worked up about it.

Whatever.

[JoeOtterbein]

6. Legalizing Cannabis...

...is smart and the right thing to do!

Also, it will cement the indie votes for Joe as well.

[Budi]

27. Now its about Pot. Politico needs to fire those ametuer sleuthers of smear.

That Headline alone is sensationalist trash.
That place is sounding more like The Nat'l Enquirer all the time.

WTF politico..smear & trashy sensationalism doesn't belong in the Democratic Party.

Did they do any honest research at all?

Cripe sake. They should be embarrassed.

[Squinch]

49. Perfect description! And yes, this is nothing but trashy clickbait. And though the OP seems

to think the headline is the problem, it isn't.

[LanternWaste]

53. Can you cite the cost/benefit analysis of voters gained and lost?

And the objective numbers on which that is based upon?

Or is simply another bumper sticker? Again.

[questionseverything]

112. 90 % of the country supports mmj

over 60% support legalizing recreational mj

cops love mj being illegal, easy to plant a doobie on a poor black kid and boom his life is ruined

while the primary was active all we heard was, biden will de criminalize it,its about the same, now ya'll seem to want him to be the "law and order" hippie crusher, which is it?

[TexasTowelie]

4. Great job supporting our presumptive nominee, Joe.

[JoeOtterbein]

5. We need to make him stronger. Ignoring a vast amount of possible voters helps...

..no one!

[TexasTowelie]

7. I know that your daughter wrote the article,

but it's rubbish like this that is going to help the Democrats lose the election. I don't understand why you are pushing this on a Website of Democrats.

[JoeOtterbein]

11. One person's "rubbish" could be many other's truth.

I don't understand why we can't support the full legalization of cannabis.

It seems we are both left bother wondering.

[Demsrule86]

16. This has nothing to do with cannabis.

[JoeOtterbein]

21. What is Joe's position?

Please tell me he changed it to LEGALIZE NOW!!!!

[Demsrule86]

32. I don't care...

[Calculating]

68. I care

Cannabis being a schedule 1 controlled substance is an utter joke at this point and Biden seemed to have no intent of making reforms in this area.

[Demsrule86]

73. Are you saying you won't vote Joe over Cannabis? I am so not interested...and I don't give a damn

about this right now...you want to fall for a hit piece authored by the usual suspects...feel free. I did learn the 2016 lesson about this sort of thing...so no. Everyone knew Biden's position on Cannabis before the primary ended and he won in an overwhelming manner...so too bad that you don't agree. One doesn't get exactly what one wants...deal.

[Calculating]

78. Not saying I won't vote for him

But it certainly hurts my will to donate or actively encourage others. Biden won in overwhelming fashion because Bernie scared the crap out of the establishment and within a week everyone had unified behind Biden to have a 'safe' bet for this important election. Doesn't mean Biden can't take some steps to reconcile with the progressives like getting behind legalization.

[Hortensis]

108. You mean kinda hard to claim Biden's worth bothering to

vote for if he won't go all in for weed? Maybe he loses a lot of his fuzzy appeal without a buzz? Does this position erase much of any frail preference that exists over Trump and his attitude toward weed?

I'm trying to follow your thinking. One thing is, are you SURE you are pulling your own and your friends' direction here? You've already tried out one crazy-corrupt Republican administration. Are you SURE you, or at least everything you have, would survive another? Destitution and weeds, weeds everywhere but none to smoke?

[sheshe2]

118. Hmm.

Calculating
78. Not saying I won't vote for him

Good to know.

But it certainly hurts my will to donate or actively encourage others. Biden won in overwhelming fashion because Bernie scared the crap out of the establishment and within a week everyone had unified behind Biden to have a 'safe' bet for this important election.

"hurts my will to donate or actively encourage others." 125K+ dead is not enough to motivate you?

Doesn't mean Biden can't take some steps to reconcile with the progressives like getting behind legalization.

What are you saying here? Progressives are more interested in legalization than what this Admin has done? Children in cages. Racism and violence on the rise. A botched response to COVID with 125K+ dead and the toll is rising. PPE, critical to first responders that are literally dying to save us, seized by this government. They are looting the treasury and yet legalization is your primary concern.

Move to Boston, it is legal here.

[la-trucker]

107. There is a pandemic going on

the economy is crashing, there is massive unemployment, the world is in a mess, Russians are offering bounties for American heads, Black people are being murdered by the police, Trump is gutting all oversight and fueling the pandemic ...

and these reporters are worried about penny-ante issues

[TexasTowelie]

29. Joe,

I'm a stoner too--I have nearly four decades of experience under my belt. I don't have any children, but if I did then I'm certain that my usage of cannabis would have been curtailed significantly since a) I would have needed the money to pay for taking care of my children, and b) because I would be trying to set an example for my children so that they didn't become stoners too since I couldn't afford to support their indulgences along with my own.

You are welcome to advocate for the legalization of cannabis to your heart's content, but when you start posting content that criticizes the Democratic candidate then you have crossed the line--particularly when we need to coalesce behind our candidate rather than criticize him. There is a time when can constructive criticism is appropriate and this isn't that time. The premise of this entire thread is destructive rather than constructive.

[questionseverything]

37. there was nothing in the article that wasn't true

he doesn't support legalizing mj or defunding the police

democrats shouldn't be the "thought police " party

[TexasTowelie]

38. .

I'm leaning towards these OPs promoting his daughter's articles as being spam which is why I don't read them.

[demmiblue]

83. You accusing someone of spamming is kind of funny.

I didn't bother to read the article, btw.

Why not just trash the thread, or put the OP on ignore?

[TexasTowelie]

90. .

[demmiblue]

91. .

[questionseverything]

113. she is representing a lot of young people with her opionion

how can you complain about something you didn't read?

[TexasTowelie]

117. I don't have to justify my comments to you. nt

[JonLP24]

44. LOL people really can't handle mild criticism

[Demsrule86]

74. Criticising the only person who can stop Trump...yeah...not interested in holding his feet to the

fire. This is Democratic Underground and I question the motives of those who engage in this sort of thing...no not you-but some.

[Demsrule86]

9. This would not make him stronger and would cost us votes.

[JoeOtterbein]

13. What do you mean by "this"...

...please try to be specific. It's always a big help in active discussions.

[Demsrule86]

22. using the term 'defund' and I don't know why you go on about cannabis...this is a hit piece about

Black lives matter...marijuana is not the point and if you read the source. Why are you emphasizing the cannabis which is not the point...

[LanternWaste]

54. You should then try to hold yourself to that same standard...

And rise above your previous empty allegations lacking objective evidence or numbers-analysis to support them.

That too "would be a big help..."

[Demsrule86]

75. Enjoy yourself. We get it...this OP is just plain wrong. This is

Democratic Underground...not cannabis underground. In the meantime. I am done with this. Joe Biden is our nominee whether you like it or not. And he is doing well...not working.

[TexasTowelie]

10. BTW, I refuse to click the links to Politico when I read such garbage. nt

[StarfishSaver]

12. This Poliico article won't "make him stronger." Nor is that likely the intent

It's a hit job.

And it's unfortunate that you're amplifying it here, regardless who wrote it.

Any voter who refuses to vote for him because of his stand on cannabis is probably not going to vote for him anyway. And if this is enough to keep them from voting for him, they are the problem, not him and they need to get over themselves.

[JoeOtterbein]

15. NO ONE said we will not vote for Joe.

I will. Why can't we talk about him?

[Demsrule86]

23. You are bashing him with this article and you know it...those who wrote it dislike Joe and

just another little dig at the Democratic nominee.

[Demsrule86]

25. The question should be why should we talk about legalizing Cannabis with a president who has ignored

a deadly pandemic, destroyed the economy, created civil unrest, allowed an enemy to put a bounty on our soldiers and is trying to end the ACA...perhaps now is not the time worry about legalizing cannabis. Maybe there are way more important concern at the moment...I can't even believe this post is still here really. You should self delete really.

[LanternWaste]

55. Maybe people recognize that your Freudian slip is showing...

[Demsrule86]

26. But the GOP will never legalize marijuana...so I never get why people don't vote for Democrats for

this issue.

[NurseJackie]

57. Oh, horseshit! This is a hit-job, divisive, and designed to weaken the candidate and split Democrats

Stop it. We've seen this shit from at least ONE of the three writers before. This isn't reporting, it's revenge.

[Gothmog]

125. Then pushing Joe to adopt bad positions is not going to help

The article cited in the op is not elpful if we want to beat trump

[LuvNewcastle]

14. Biden can:t afford to support defunding police.

Even if he wants to support it later, he'd better think of something else to call it other than defending police. He would lose the moderates of he did that and he knows he can't win without them.

[Me.]

17. Fake News IMHO

[GulfCoast66]

18. Because defunding the police is the biggest election lost I have ever heard?

No matter what you mean by it. Americans want police. Black, White, Democratic and Republican.

And if you are about to tell me it does not mean getting rid of police, then rename the fucking idea.

Because to any thinking person defund the police means getting rid of them.

Reform them, remake them, demilitarize them... Most people would go for that. But defund? Obviously the person who came up with this never studied marketing.

[BGBD]

30. yup

the left wing is really, really bad at politics. They have this idea that everything they do has to be bold and shocking, and it usually comes off as too far at best and crazy at worst. It's pretty easy to run against and it's why they have managed to only win elections in the bluest places in the country, which doesn't include anywhere buy a handful of districts.

It's also why we dodged a bullet when we nominated Biden and not Bernie. Bernie would have been knee deep in the defund the police stuff, and we'd have spent the past week watching him explain why his close advisor Shaun King wanted to take down statues of Jesus.

[GulfCoast66]

33. Yup. Totally agree.

America is center left weather they know it or not. But will become center right if the alternative is far left.

[Takket]

34. Are you related to the Holly that wrote the article?

I support legalizing pot but it’s down about 50 spaces on my list of important things we need to do to save the country.

Besides, doesn’t make a damn bit of difference what Biden thinks. Presidents execute laws, Congress makes laws. If you want it legalized you need to get on the horn to your Congresspersons and have them change the law that criminalizes it. We could elect Cheech and Chong pres and veep but pot will still be illegal if Congress does nothing about it.

[still_one]

35. This is by the same authors who have been writing articles to divide Democrats for some time

Not surprisingly, the author's of this "tripe" supported the candidate who ran a campaign using that same divisionary strategy

[CentralMass]

36. I agree. Running on defunding the police is not a wise idea.

[The Magistrate]

39. Why? Because He Intends To Win This Election

"This has been another edition of simple answers to stupid questions."

[DFW]

40. Someone must be leading one very comfortable life indeed

With all that the country is currently wrestling with, and legalizing pot gets top priority?

Must be nice.........

[George II]

79. Exactly - we have 2-3 thousand Americans dying per day because the government ignored...

....a disease, we have tens of millions of Americans out of work, we have the Russians and Chinese interfering in our government, we have thousands of immigrants caged at the border, but yeah, let's pass a law so I can get high tonight.

[melman]

81. Someone must be leading one very comfortable life indeed

to not realize drug prohibition has fucked up a lot of people's lives.

[sheshe2]

84. Fact.

melman
81. Someone must be leading one very comfortable life indeed

to not realize drug prohibition has fucked up a lot of people's lives.
Response to:
melman (Reply #81)

Trump has fucked up a lot of peoples lives. Per John Hopkins, 125,434 Americans are dead and families grieve. Their lives are pretty fucked up since they are DEAD.

People not Pot are my priority at this moment. Nothing is more important than getting rid of a 'resident and the GOP as they willfully murder Americans. Four months and he let 125,434 people die. It didn't have to be this bad.

PS: Move to MA. It is legal here and we have a Republican Governor. It is a state level thing...fight for your priorities.

[melman]

89. What, you don't think people have died due to the drug war?

Again. Comfortable lives.

[sheshe2]

92. Of course they have.

However, not 125K+ in less than 4 months. Prioritize.

So all these people dead due to COVID have very comfortable lives? Is that what you are saying? I am a tad confused with your repeated use of the words. "Comfortable Lives".

[melman]

93. Then why be so dismissive and suggest it's a matter of pot vs people?

And no, that's not what I'm saying. You know that's not what I'm saying.

[sheshe2]

94. If you reread my post again...

You will she what I actually said.

People not Pot are my priority at this moment. Nothing is more important than getting rid of a 'resident and the GOP as they willfully murder Americans. Four months and he let 125,434 people die. It didn't have to be this bad.

I did not say it was an issue that should not be addressed...I said it is not my priority at this moment. Fact is the article was geared toward "let me smoke pot" and not about the dead and incarcerated due to pot laws.

[melman]

96. "people not pot"

Like I said. This comes off very dismissive.


This is an issue I take seriously. Okay? I don't think it's a minor thing.

[sheshe2]

99. Select quote.

You forgot my whole sentence.

People not Pot are my priority at this moment.

Ummhm. Nite melman.

[melman]

100. I didn't forget your sentence

Nor did I miss your point.


as for "nite melman" as far as I can tell I'm not the one that started this exchange. So...

[George II]

121. Amazing, isn't it?

[sheshe2]

123. 👍

Yep~

[betsuni]

41. "Biden's campaign is led by an older and whiter group of operatives... ."

"'The first thought of someone my age is Nixon and Law and Order,' said one advisor to Biden."

Trying the both-sides thing again.

[Cha]

42. Black Staff Matters: Behind the Scenes with the Biden 2020 Team

“”I’m very proud to have a diverse and experienced staff; it’s important that this campaign has a wide range of perspectives, voices and backgrounds that reflect the America we live in,” Biden said

https://www.ebony.com/news/black-staff-matters-behind-the-scenes-biden-2020-team/

Where did politico pull that quote out of in title?

Why do we have to still be doing this?!

[betsuni]

43. The rule is to always assume the worst about Democrats and get both-sides-both-sides out there.

Reality be damned. Anyone with one eye halfway open can see that the Biden message is unity. Have to keep the out-of-touch elite status quo establishment Democrats bullshit going! At least they stopped using those old tired buzzwords so much.

[Cha]

45. So True! I've heard the buzzword..

"status quo" is very much the thing now.

Little do they know that.. Putin Puppet in the WH is very much the fucking "status quo" right now and we're working to get him the hell out.

[betsuni]

46. As usual, words have bizarre new meanings. Status quo is obviously now Trump, but it somehow

is used to bash Democrats. Weird.

Thanks for the link, by the way. I tried Googling about the Biden campaign and diversity but all this anti-Democratic crap came up. How Republicans/Russia hope to win again by depressing the vote, making people cynical "lesser of two evils."

[Cha]

47. They need to get their priorities straight.

The Democratic Voters Across America sure do. The Blue Wave House victory didn't happen for nothing. Those over 40 red seats were Flipped to Blue by Moderates who don't want ACA repealed & they want trump GONE.

I got lucky when I googled.. I remembered Ebony magazine did a piece on Biden's Diverse staff.. so I threw that in there.

of Truth!

[lapucelle]

63. Biden's campaign is led by Symone Sanders. N/T

[betsuni]

65. She must be an old white man stuck in the '60s.

[betsuni]

97. Oh look, proof the article is wrong. What a surprise.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100213664102

[Squinch]

48. Oh, look. The circular firing squad is awake.

[George II]

50. Where and when did Biden "reject Black Lives Matter's boldest proposals"? I submit, NEVER!

But it generates clicks though.

[GeorgiaPeanut]

52. Lousy journalism which doesn't hide the reporters' personal bias

This is particularly true of Holly Otterbein.

After failure at politico, she may have a job at Fox news where she can fight against Democrats with even less requirement to be truthful.

[NurseJackie]

58. Holly Otterbein is still upset. Even Cenk Uygur got over his anger, (publicly at least.)

What is this? Revenge? -- Clearly, Holly Otterbein is still upset. Even Cenk Uygur got over his anger, (publicly at least.) Holly's immaturity and inexperience are showing when she allows her emotions to guide her (ahem) "reporting" or "writing". But then again, it is Politico. They're really not known for having the highest journalistic standards. She'd be better of with a self-funded blog (perhaps with Patreon supporters around the fringes.)

This is crap. It's harmful. It's divisive. It's intentionally designed to weaken and divide (under the guise of "just trying to help'') What bullshit!

[brooklynite]

62. Do you by chance know who Holly Otterbein is?

Given your post count, I'm guessing "no".

Joe, would you care to opine?

[sheshe2]

87. I will opine.

She is a DU posters daughter that writes for Politico. So

As for post counts? So? Fact is I read DU for years before I joined. Years. I knew a lot of the players. I finally joined...had never been on a message board before, it is never easy to be a newbie. It took me a bit, yet got my sea legs under me and here I am after eight years. We were all new here once.

Try serving on MIRT, I have.

[brooklynite]

88. So have I, and I'm not claiming the post was disruptive...

I'm claiming that the post was ignorant. Holly Otterbein is a responsible journalist who spent months assigned to the Bernie Sanders campaign. I don't recall anyone here complaining about the integrity of her writing.

[NurseJackie]

95. I have. She's a hack.

I don't recall anyone here complaining about the integrity of her writing.

Then you weren't looking closely enough. It's not reporting for someone to take a campaign press release and copy 99% of it verbatim, and call it "journalism".

I'm claiming that the post was ignorant.

Charming. But, thank goodness it wasn't "snobby"... gasp!

[sheshe2]

98. "The post was ignorant?"

Please stop, brooklynite. You can DU better.

I don't recall anyone here complaining about the integrity of her writing.

I have.

[JI7]

110. It was brought up many times

[DenverJared]

103. Yes. She is a sorry excuse for a journalist.

[Gothmog]

124. Why does this matter?

I really do not care if the author is a child of a poster on DU? I also disagree with the premise of the article in the OP. Joe Biden is running a very effective campaign and there is no need to adopt positions that would hurt him in the general election.

I was a first day contributor to Joe and maxed out for primary purposes back in October when Joe really needed the money. I am active with Lawyers for Biden and I have been fortunate to have met Joe in person at two different fundraisers. I was the recipient of a "Biden hug" when we got to talk about stuttering and voter protection.

Joe is running a very smart campaign which means that he does not have to adopt positions that would hurt him in the general. I really do not care who wrote this article. Right now, the most important thing is to beat trump. trump really wanted to run against socialism and Joe is not going to fall into that trap.

Again, Joe is running a great campaign and I think that Joe is making the correct decision on these issues.

[NurseJackie]

56. More crap writing from Politico and the usual gang of hacks.

What good purpose does it serve to post this shit here, Joe?

[R B Garr]

59. ++++THIS and harassing people are all that's left.

[NurseJackie]

60. We're taking back America! (With or without them.)

C'MON! GET IN! We're taking back America!




Joe/Kamala or Biden/Harris 2020!!
They're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Biden Bandwagon & abandon the revolution!!

[R B Garr]

66. Absolutely! The people have spoken --loud and clear.

Love those pictures, NJ!

[mcar]

76. Seems like some still think their candidate will get the nomination

[Hortensis]

105. Magical thinking in common or catching? Whatever,

I've noticed this also.

[mcar]

109. It's not helpful

We have an election to win. This is not the time for this nonsense.

[sheshe2]

115. We need Sarah Cooper!

How to Journal.

[brooklynite]

61. Because he doesn't want to lose the election and the ability to make reforms?

[Calculating]

71. Embracing cannabis legalizing wouldn't make him lose the election

Who even cares about keeping it illegal at this point other than social conservative types?

[Demsrule86]

72. It would lose some voters and besides...we have way nore important stuff to deal with...so no. and

this is a hit piece on Biden that has nothing to do with Cannabis...

[Calculating]

77. What voters would it lose?

We're not in the 80's anymore, the vast majority of the public believe in legalization.

[Demsrule86]

82. Not everyone is for legalization...there simply is no point.

[Calculating]

101. Who isn't for legalization who would turn around and vote for Trump over it?

And yes, there is a point. Cannabis being a schedule 1 controlled substance at the fed level is simply an abomination from both ethical and logical standpoints. It needs to end, and people need to stop having their lives ruined over this crap.

[uponit7771]

64. I don't think black lives matter is asking to defend the police

[Calculating]

69. I'll keep this simple

1-Defunding the police=Bad idea politically speaking. Reforms, yes. Simply defunding=no.
2-Legalize cannabis=Good idea. It's logical, the right thing to do, and wouldn't really cost him any support or votes except from the prohibitionist types who are likely voting R anyway.

[ProfessorGAC]

85. It's Illogical To Want Him To Do So

There is a binary dilemma here.
Vote for the guy who won't "defund" the police, or vote for the guy who won't do ANYTHING to improve the situation, ever.
The expectation that he embrace DTP is shortsighted and rings of "we want it now" immaturity.
On the cannabis side, I'm a supporter of total, universal legalization.
But, it's NOT a campaign issue. There are much higher priorities.
And one thing we toking Dem supporters know, is that under Biden, the fed won't interfere with the already legal product in many states. The same cannot be said of PINO.
So, not embracing pot legalization seems superfluous because one person is potentially the solution down the road and the other will be the problem.
It's unnecessary as a point in the campaign.

[Calculating]

102. And those of us NOT living in legal states need a bit of Federal leadership on the issue

Especially those of us living in states that always point to it being federally illegal as a reason why.

[ProfessorGAC]

120. Redux

I said I want it legal.
Just do it after getting elected.

[questionseverything]

116. there are people that lose thier kids to dcfs for no other reason than mj and lack of money for a

good lawyer

for those people legalization will always be the priority

nearly brings me to tears when people act like it being illegal doesn't matter

[ProfessorGAC]

119. I Said I'm 100% For Legalization

Never said it doesn't matter.
I think it's a low priority campaign issue.
Get elected on other issues, then legalize it.

[SidDithers]

86. LOL...

Ryan Fucking Lizza.




Does your daughter feel the same way, Joe?



Sid

[la-trucker]

106. ...

[The Magistrate]

111. There Is A Blast From The Past, Sir

The odd thing about modern punditry is that there is no penalty whatever for being wrong, no matter how hugely wrong a pundit manages to be.

The reason is that when a pundit makes an observation or a prediction, this is not intended to be either accurate nor prophetic --- the pundit's intent is simply to say something a selected audience wants to hear. So long as a pundit continues to say what that audience wants to hear, he or she will hailed and welcomed and cited as an incisive observer and prognosticator, even if not one word of it is accurate and not one prediction ever proves out.

[DenverJared]

104. Such stupid and crappy stories posted here is inane.

[NurseJackie]

114. Yes. Insane... But intentional.

It's revenge and serves no good purpose. Very Sarandonesque.

[MrsCoffee]

122. I'd be embarrassed to be a writer for Politico.

But where else do you go when you don't have the guts to write actual headlines.