On Demand
DNC Coverage: Hour 2
Ross Douthet, senior editor and columnist for The Atlantic Monthly, and Collin Levy, Wall Street Journal senior editorial page writer, react to Obama's speech and preview the Republican National Convention.
Then
Dr. Paul Ekman, director of the Paul Ekman Group, explains how to interpret micro-expressions to better understand emotions and distinguish truth from lies.
Then
Humorist and blogger Mo Rocca talks about his experiences at the Democratic National Convention and shares his thoughts about Barack Obama's speech.
Then
Patrick Forgey, state government reporter for the
Juneau Empire, on the announcement that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is Senator McCain's choice for vice president.
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Comments
One man's opinion that 75,000 don't share.
Obama made no attempt to reach across party lines and gave no indication that he would work closely with Republicans if elected. The reason that John Kerry strongly considered McCain as a running mate in 2004 and the reason that Biden said he would share a ticket with McCain is because McCain has always worked with Democrats. Sure, Obama can say that McCain votes with Bush 90% of the time, but Democrats know that McCain will work with both parties - will Obama?
Overall, I think it was a B+. Covered a lot of ground well.
However, I think he's again failed to connect with fiscal moderate/conservatives.
There are a lot of undecided independents/republicans who will listen to him say health care for all, hear instead "big spending", and just turn off.
But he could get them!
He has to better frame issues such as health care as an *economic* imperatives.
(Because it *will* sink our economy when the baby boomers begin to retire in Feb 2009 if we don't deal with it.)
Obama has already played nice with others and worked across party lines in Illinois and Washington. And everybody likes him, unlike McCain who has rubbed many individuals the wrong way with his decidedly unPresidential temperament. Let me quote Thad Cochrane, senior Republican Senator from Mississippi in a rare moment of political candor: "The thought of his being President sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper, and he worries me."
... iam pridem, ex quo suffragia nulli
uendimus, effudit curas; nam qui dabat olim
imperium, fasces, legiones, omnia, nunc se
continet atque duas tantum res anxius optat,
PANEM ET CIRCENSES.
By picking Sarah Palin, McCain may have neutered Joe Biden. Biden will be walking on eggshells during the VP debate for fear of bearing branded a sexist.
This was a completely cynical move by McCain and his team to rip apart the Democratic coalition.
I seriously doubt that McCain honestly believes Palin is the Republican best qualified to be VP.
Unfortunately, the MSM will probably buy into McCain's desperate stunt.
By the way, that's what I like about McCain: that he rubs people the wrong way and can be very intense. I am like that. I am misunderstood. But I ain't running for President...
Does ANYONE really think embittered middle-aged and even older women who are die-hard HRC supporters will flock to Pallin?
It is fun to talk about, but historically the VP choice never makes a difference. There is lots of bluster and commentary but they don't matter, except in how it reflects on the decision-making abilities of the person on top of the ticket.
Palin? Are they kidding? A bold choice should deliver more than a collective "Huh?" from the populace!
eva #8
Yes
I think Sarah Palin is a gimmick. It's even more irresponsible than the gas tax holiday.
McCain's wife is getting a little old for his tastes so he needs a new woman in his life.
The choice of governor Palin gives Obama an easy response to Republicans who state that he is too inexperienced for the job. McCain - through his pick - shows that he feels a couple of years as governor plus a few years as mayor of a small town are sufficient background to prepare one for the Presidency
Eva,
Why on earth would women in this country be embittered?
Palin:
This is ridiculous -- does John McCain even KNOW Sarah Palin? This is a tragic attempt to pit women against blacks just to capitalize on Hillary's loss. This is a woman with NO foreign policy experience at all who is one heartbeat away from being president? This is just pathetic tactics in the face of McCain imploding campaign. It is embarrassing tokenism at its worst.
Touche, Robert #15.
Brian,
I feel very cynical about McCain choice for VP. This feels like a stunt to me. It's ironic that the Republican party has so been influenced by Obama's and Hillary's historic runs that they have been "forced" into diversity. My question to your guests is, are Republicans really going to stand for this. Will Bill O'reilly and Rush Limbaugh extoll the values of having a woman VP, (and if something happens to McCain) a possible woman president?
chris o #4,
Besides the ethics bill in the Senate, when else do you remember BHO working across party lines in the US Senate?
Palin - LOL. Can't wait to see what's hidden in her closet.
fantastic choice of Palin!
even more historic than putting a mixed-race "black" Obama in office would be putting a woman in this high office!!
executive experience
youth
TRUE change agent
substance, not arrogance and fluff!!
This is hilarious -- they're trying to play "experience chess" with Obama and Biden. I can hardly wait for the VP debates -- everyone calculating and gingerly sidestepping... sigh..
The pick of Palin could also be seen as a sign of McCain's weakness.
He's picked a relative unknown, younger, and clearly with _NO_ national or international experience. Someone who can't challenge him or leave him in the shadows as Cheney did with Bush on occasion.
So there goes a substantial element of the McCain attack on the Obama campaign.
It's extremely humorous and ironic to hear you all cry about Governor Palin's 'lack of experience'.
The pot calls the kettle black, but you can't take the heat.
Let the games begin.
Seth,
You don't get it. Older and middle-aged women who have been passed over for promotions in favor of some younger babe, or have been dumped by their husbands for some better looking babe are NOT going to flock to some Alaskan babe. Their intense attachment to Hilary was because she was a certain type of woman, with a particular history. It's not about XX v. XY. It was never that simple. They IDENTIFIED with Hilary for a whole variety of reasons, but in part because she, to them, was like them. Palin is a very different entity. It is not that it is not saleable, but it will take some work.
you who say that it is a "cynical choice"
LOL ...and what about picking Obama! THE racial candidate!! that wasn't cynical?
you who say that Palin will have skeletons in the closet
LOL...how can anything top terrorist Ayers, racist Wright, scumy Rezko?!?
funny how your logic cuts both ways!!
Check out her page at OnTheIssues:
http://www.issues2000.org/Sarah_Palin.htm
no known opinions on virtually anything!
#20 nuclear non-proliferation and in the State Senate, he had great working relationships with the Republicans. And at Harvard Law Review (many many conservatives), he worked very well and effectively with them and won their respect and affection. But it is more about his temperament and personality than political negotiations.
Gee. We've heard republicons waffling about the qualifications of Obama to be president. Now that goes by the boards for both sides.
Is this anything more than a plea to Hillary blowhard diehards and ultra-right-wing crypto-fascists?
Eva,
By "certain type of woman," do you mean "doormat?" Someone willing to look the other way, for years and years, in order to get political power?
Drilling / Nuclear is 20th century thinking. Why aren't our candidates paying attention?
Listen to Amory Lovins, please!
http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2006/11/28/1/a-conversation-about-energy-with-amory-lovins-founder-of-the-rocky-mountain-institute
http://nc.rmi.org/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.rmi.org%2fimages%2fPDFs%2fWTOE%2fWTOE.pdf&srcid=192&erid=0
chris o 14
LOL
and people say i'm too much
Seth,
on second thought, you might be right on your "yes" comment, but my intuition says it will be far from automatic.
Then again, the die-hard tendency to cut off one's nose to spite one's face... it's so tempting for them.
This could work in a much more complicated way, with those who immediately flock to Palin having serious second thoughts before November.
What I find funny and can't help notice is the right wingers who tend to have no integrity on these matters praising Palin as bold etc. The "ready to be President" charge is now off the table. Perhaps Bill Clinton's full-throated endorsement pressured McCain to Palin, realizing the experience argument was dead.
#27 Leo says:
"no known opinions on virtually anything!"
That sounds familiar...
Oh yes.
The Senator from Illinois that voted 'present' nearly 130 times in the Illinois State Senate.
Obama and Biden don't need to argue that Palin doesn't have enough experience; McCain's pick simply means that McCain can't make that (up till now incessant) argument without the Dems coming back and pointing to Palin.
Not easy to attack a woman??? What just happened to Hillary? How do Democrats go about making the argument about her inexperience?? After last night? This is not a strong choice. And after reading something about her I doubt it will do anything to attract the center. Who are these people trying to make her seem like a bold exicting pick. Oh, the Wall Street Journal editorial board. Ridiculous.
chris o #28,
I asked about the US Senate.
eva, #25
Gentle reminder. Some people (women included) supported her because her economic polices are more progressive than BHO's IMHO.
America Wins et.al #26
LOL at all of it. I can't wait for the show to begin.
#24:
I'm sorry...but a decade of State Senate service in Illinois, the fifth most populace state and the anchor of its region, followed by four years in the US Senate constitutes a great deal more experience than two years of being a governor in the forgotten frontier state, preceded by serving on the city council of a town of 5,000 people. I'm sure she's got plenty of experience debating such important issues as moose hunting licenses and laws regarding the use of snow tires, but THIS IS THE VICE PRESIDENCY!
#38, Suzanne:
Who are these people trying to make her seem like a bold exicting pick. Oh, the Wall Street Journal editorial board. Ridiculous.
Right? I love it...
Brian,
You should have rebutted the inaccurate comment by Collin Levy, Wall Street Journal senior editorial page writer, that Obama is a huge liberal in terms of government programs and spending. Tell her to read the article by John Leonhardt in the August 24 Sunday Times Magazine, "How Obama Reconciles Dueling Views on Economy," before bloviating on Obama.
Stephen in Manhattan
Thanks, hjs, I think.
I am bald but sometimes let my hair down, emboldened by my ideological adversaries on this board to be mischievous.
eva
but some of these women libers were talking about voting mccain before.
IF, as President Clinton says, choosing a running mate is the first Presidential Decision a candidate can make, here's the box score:
Obama: 1-1, HR
McCain: 0-1, K (looking)
#39,
mc, howdy.
Yes, but I was referring to the embittered die-hards who want to go down with the ship, not former HRC supporters now voting for Barack.
Like the very angry delegate who could not stop screaming on NPR about how angry she was about Obama. I have a weird feeling she's not the type to be wooed by Palin. Just a guess.
eva,
Careful of the WSJ editorial board. They endorsed Obama's health plan.
#25 eva,
I beg to differ with you. After a long, brutal fight between Obama and Clinton, I think there's a lot of raw emotion still at play. Many women feel Hillary was trashed by the media and Obama because of her gender. I don't think it's a stretch at all to suggest that some older women who will gladly vote for McCain/Palin.
I think the Palin choice has the potential to be a huge game changer for McCain.
brian - maybe you can interview this guy next week - gassed and jailed by Denver police:
http://m.denverpost.com/topic/379-Denver%20&%20The%20West/articles/155750558
Is Paul Ekman claiming to be doing science?!
He just mentioned an awful lot of variables for a scientific analysis -- certainly not quantifiable.
Convenient for Mr. Ekman to make claims that few if any can challenge when he and only a few others can claim expertise.
Obama seems uncomfortable being the pit-bull/ attack dog against Hillary and against camoaign. Does he use any micro-expressions that highlight that tempermental lack of pit-bullishness?
One problem with the Obama campaign going after Palin's elected executive positions is that, yes, he was on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And he was given an important subcommittee to chair.
But he did not hold one meeting or any hearings of that subcommittee until April of this year, and after it had been noted that he had not held any meetings or hearings (because, he said, he was busy running for president), when some nominations were voted on and then he had another meeting in July at Biden's request. Biden said that he had covered everything important pertaining to Obama's subcommittee, so no worry.
Except if I handled my job that way I would be downrated and possibly let go. It appears Obama was given a position to pad his resume--and no one expected him to actually do any work on it!
So, not a good thing to bring up. The response will focus on Palin actually doing her job (providing she did), and then comparing that to Obama's "work" as subcommittee chair.
Now, if the MCM (Mainstream Corporate Media) has decided to work on Obama's side (as it did for Bush the Younger) and use all the little tricks which create doubt about a candidate's abiities and character and lessen enthusiasm, then it won't matter if McCain counters with that argument. The MCM will barely report it.
(See Bob Somerby's DailyHowler.com for his long running analysis of how the MCM has treated (mostly) Dem politicians.)
If the embittered gals vote for Palin, they'll be dumping the older woman for the younger one. Oh, what to do...
Hillary Clinton seemed particulary stunned that someone as "inexperienced" as Obama was actually beating her in the primaries. Does she use any micro-expressions during the debates that highlight those raw and all-too-human emotions?
Your guest's thoughts on the "Enough!"
Yes, this all seems verrrrrrrrrrrrry scientifffffffffffffic to me.
Sure you could plan that. Cmon who is this guy?
Sure unwittingly sure.
Oh please, that Freudian slip moment was planned. He just practiced it very well.
there are great youTube clips of Palin at a range with an M4 carbine (yes, a full auto M16 variant)
Hot! Hot! Hot!
This guy sure is an expert ... an expert on describing the obvious!
And I wondered about that Freudian slip of Biden's ... I saw the exact same "slip" made more than once.
She sounds fake to me.
Huh. Her hands were large. And frequent.
eva #46,
I hope you are right about this type of HRC supporter. I'm afraid, tho' that seth #48 may be right. If someone is that irrational they may just go with it. Sigh! I can't unpack that kind of thinking so I just don't know.
Ron #51,
Not sure what you mean, but I think during the primaires he had surragate pit-bulls doing it for him. This may not work against McCain because McCain uses the same tactic.
nyorkistan lol
#48, Seth,
I get your point, but I don't buy it.
I think the double-headed image of Cindy and Palin is going to unnerve them the closer election day comes.
I happen to like Cindy, but Palin and Cindy are going to seem TOO similar, which just plays into the ugh, too-oft-reported story of McCain passing over his first, "fat" wife for the babelicious (and wealthy) Cindy.
(Personally, I do not judge McCain for leaving his first wife, because I think post-captivity soldiers returning to civilian life would have a LOT of issues in the first few years, and that would no doubt affect their marriages.)
Don't forget, we're talking about die-hards who were threatening to vote for McCain based not on policy, but on sentiment.
That sentiment can work both ways.
This segment is totally ridiculous. With all that there is to talk about -- this is the best you could do? Michelle Obaman's eyebrows and forehead?? Brian: Can we do this at home? Me: I hope not.
I think the way her nails were formed and angled in on each other sometimes rotating clockwise; sometimes counterclockwise was an absolutely 100 percent guarantee that none of her handmotions could not be planned!
You should invite Dr Ekman to one of the WNYC singles events. Maybe for a donation, he will will observe others reactions to members.
Can this guy analyze Obamas brother in the shack?
How about Hilary cackling? Can you analyze that for us on a loop?
Someone who spoke earlier in the convention made a similar slip, but I can't remember who. It came across as funnier. Anyone remember?
Ekman is, at best, a disingenuous researcher, and an outright academic fraud at worst. While he has conducted vast research on the face, and facial micro-expressions, there is no support whatsoever for their use as a reliable lie detection tool.
The Dept. of Homeland Security, sadly, has funneled vast funds to the Ekman Group in order to train security screeners in reading facial expressions (the SPOT program), when the research for applied uses of micro-expressions doesn't remotely support his claims.
In fact, there was research recently published which debunked the claim that his training procedures can improve lie-detection abilities whatsoever. (Porter & Brinke, 2008)
Someone should snap that finger off Bill Clinton.
I heard from the way the child spoke, that she wanted candy. She was mainly interested in cartoons, and somehow she sounded verry very young to me.
Eva: With you.
I feel from the tonal frequencies in the 228 mghz range that basically they were all lying.
search YouTube for this:
"McCain - Palin 08 - The Team You Can Trust"
now that is GUN CONTROL I can live with...she doesn't even flinch as she looks thru that red dot site (Aimpoint Comp M4?) and squeezes off a burst!!
there are gonna be AWESOME t-shirts!!! I'm getting the "baby Ts" for all of my lady friends! ;)
Please stop encouraging Mo Rocca...he's not funny. Jeez. Is anyone else tired of this guy?
The way you tell roman vs. greek is by analyzing the finials.
53] Ben Thompson from NYC area
August 29, 2008 - 11:35AM
If the embittered gals vote for Palin, they'll be dumping the older woman for the younger one. Oh, what to do...
That's my thoroughly unscientific point. They'll have to join John McCain, already (unfairly) excoriated for dumping his first wife for younger, sexier model. They will be reinforcing his behavior by rewarding him for picking Palin. Who is, as noted on the previous page of posts, hot. Alas, it's going to mitigate the effect. Look at the die-hards demographically. McCain's pick wasn't aimed at them - it was, no doubt inadvertently, aimed at guys. If he was aiming for the HRC die-hards, he would have picked an older woman, and, to put it indelicately, a woman who is respectably presentable, good bone structure, but a little heavy, and decidedly not sexy.
You have no idea how small postures or habits can make someone look like an idiot. It's those things that can distract one from serious content.
Because I've been severely near-sighted since I was a kid, I always had a habit of lowering my chin and looking up at people when listening to them, even when they were at eye level. I continued this even after I got glasses and contacts in adulthood. This made me, frankly, look pretty evil. I looked like a devil-woman conspiring to kill you!
I'm so thankful that someone finally told me this, because unbeknownst to me, it was very off-putting, especially when I needed to make presentations or teach classes.
Now, I make a conscious effort to raise my chin, relax my eyelids and have my face facing forward when listening to people.
Wow. Oprah people went bonkers. Hmmm.
Very inciteful on the Gail Oprah bond
man this guy will go over big in minnie...he should do Prarie Home Companion
No more Mo Rocco...please....
Not funny! Leaving Mo to VH1 would make it the best week ever.
With Paul Eckman and Mo Rocca back to back, Brian is mailing it in bigtime today. He should have devoted more time to serious discussion of Obama's speech and Palin being selected.
Shame on you Brian for insulting the intelligence of your listeners. You're simply offering filler material.
I am disappointed in Brian's coverage of the convention. He seems to try to work the Clintons into every sentence, even when it has nothing to do with the topic at hand. And what's with having one of these kooky "body language readers" as a guest? Is he for real?
[79] America Wins with Palin from NYorkistan
August 29, 2008 - 11:48AM
search YouTube for this:
"McCain - Palin 08 - The Team You Can Trust"
now that is GUN CONTROL I can live with...she doesn't even flinch as she looks thru that red dot site (Aimpoint Comp M4?) and squeezes off a burst!!
there are gonna be AWESOME t-shirts!!! I'm getting the "baby Ts" for all of my lady friends! ;)"
See what I mean? This pick was not accurately aimed at the die-hard HRC supporters. It is aimed at horny men. I'ts not that die-hard HRC supporters are on the other end of the spectrum from the poster I quoted above - THEY'RE ON AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SPECTRUM.
I'd like to hear a show where they just take Wikipedia and put it through a computer voice reader. So we could hear background on Sarah Palin and others. Then we wouldn't need hosts.
Ferraro you witch!
Sheryl #71,
Did you catch the cackling pen with Hillary's head that Dave Shuster presented to Tucker Carlson?
One of the reasons I no longer watch MSNBC.
Well the previous segment makes Mo Rocca look like high discourse. The entire Greek Temple kerfuffle turned into absolutely nothing once you saw it. It looked like something made out of Legos. And one thing no one has mentioned is that the image televised during his speech was Obama standing in front of what looked like a window. There were no columns at all.
Sarah Palin = Dan Quayle. She's also 100% owned subsidiary of exon mobil and McCain into her so he can match Obama's money lead with Oil Money funneled to his Campain.
100:mc: MSLSD
WILL PALIN WEAR BANANA YELLOW OR PUMPKIN ORANGE TRAFFIC CONE COLOR PANTS SUITS?????????????????????????
DISCUSS.
Caller is right.
Palin is new the Condi Rice. But, uh, hotter. Lots hotter.
Which, ironically, may not work for McCain.
OKAY LET'S TURN ON RUSH NOW AND HERE THE PURPLE COOLAIDE!
bob 98
this is a breaking story.
Condaleeze Rice: Just add chicken stock or water, cover and dinners ready!
Palin is perfect. Seems to me her having been a beauty pageant contestant is all you need to know about the ticket's and the party's attitude toward women. These are not the actions of a woman who values woman's rights.
This thread is closed.
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