Close Finish by Edwards Jolts News Networks' Coverage(News Media "Conventional Wisdom" Wrong Again!)

The New York Times ^ | February 18, 2004 | Jim Rutenberg

[Timesink]

As long as I posted the article, I might as well ping people to it. Maybe I'll keep pinging to Schadenfreude/Shenanigans occasionally, I don't know.

Media Schadenfreude/Shenanigans ping.

[Porterville]

It means that many voters see Kerry as unelectable or unpalatable.... or just Scary... scary Kerry

[JennysCool]

This is studied and intentional, of course. Dean went nuts so the media went South on him; Kerry is suddenly, allegedly, a serial philanderer and the media is going South on him; now they'll latch onto Edwards until being embarassed by his being a glorified ambulance-chaser. Not much further south to go. Cape Hillary?

[okie01]

"It means that many voters see Kerry as unelectable or unpalatable.... "

When your only positive is your perceived "electability", even a modest little scandal scare, a la Alex Polier, can knock eight points off your polling.

The Kerry "juggernaut" is not strong enough to withstand a mild gale.

Please, oh please, let him limp to the nomination.

[ChiMark]

Wisconsin was to be a blow -out for Kerry. No one has yet to tell us the percentage of primary voters coming out for the democrats. I wonder if the interest in the democratic party is
energizing the base of stalwart democrats. The media tonight seemed to be subdued.

[MattAMiller]

The Alex Polier story could still grow some legs. And tonight demonstrates that Kerry is more vulnerable than everybody thought. This primary might get interesting. Or it might not.

[KQQL]

ZOGBY SAUCED AGAIN!

[Fracas]

I used to be a political speechwriter. Kerry's speech was painful to watch and hear. I listened to it twice (I know, I'm a glutton!), once with the sound off just to watch his delivery. It was atrocious. He can't walk and chew gum. Watch his eyes when he's speaking. There's no one home! BTW, GWB has wonderful eye contact.

Kerry's speech featured his usual boring delivery, but the content was poor. It was a candidate's attempt at a SOTU speech - someone needs to tell him he's not POTUS. A win after a primary is not an appropriate place to deliver a policy speech.

He tried to give something to everyone, and instead, gave nothing to anyone.

[Timesink]

They spent a LOT of time on Hardball talking about how bad Kerry's speech was.

[Fracas]

I'm not surprised! Good to see my instincts were correct.

You're a brave man to watch Hardball. I hold to the theory that if conservatives didn't watch, Matthews would be off the air in about a month. OTOH, that's the place to be if you want to know Dem strategy.

I'm watching Kerry on FOX now. He has wrinkles in his brow - I guess the Botox is fighting a losing battle.

[My Favorite Headache]

All of Kerry's speeches are bad. He is so boring it is not even funny. He incites ZERO passion and change in tone. He is the human answering machine "leeeeeeave youuuuuur naaaaame atttt the tooooooone"

[Miss Marple]

I fell asleep on the couch and woke to that speech. Yikes!

I also got to see Kerry attempt to kiss Theresa, only to be met with a turned cheek and a grimace. All is not well in Ketchupville, methinks.

[Fracas]

Did you see this from Lloyd Grove? Strange Lloyd would waste a column on a story reportedly going nowhere, don't cha think?

Before her 15 minutes of fame are up, we have maybe 30 seconds to share the fascinating Friendster profile of someone identified as Alexandra Polier.

That's the same name as the 27-year-old Columbia journalism grad who has denied as "completely false" the Internet and British tabloid rumors of a "relationship" with Democratic presidential frontrunner John Kerry.

The Friendster profile reads:

"About Me: just another hot piece of a- with a philosophy degree and a love for old movies. I'm afraid of death, hospitals and insects. I can't spell. I like old people. I want to travel the world reporting on injustices while taking the time to enjoy an umbrella drink when appropriate."

There's no way of knowing for sure if these colorful and provocative musings were really posted by Polier, but after checking with folks who know her, I believe they were.

Yesterday, a person listed by the "online social networking community" as a Friendster "friend" said that yes, it's the same Alexandra Polier.

The cyberspace Polier is identified as a "member since May 2003" and mostly recently logged in last Friday, as the nonscandal was reaching critical mass. She didn't respond to Lowdown's E-mail asking for verification.

Some profile highlights:

"Occupation: journalist/socialite... Status: Open Marriage...Hometown: Malvern, Pa....Interests: doting on Yaron, reading bad novels, wedding planning, drinking too much...Who I Want to Meet: A spastic, compulsive, insatiable, well-dressed Israeli, with big blue eyes, a philosophy degree, and a cute infant nephew."

"Yaron" is apparently a reference to Yaron Schwartzman, the noncyberspace Polier's fiance, an Israeli raised in Kenya.

http://nydailynews.com/front/story/165432p-144854c.html

[samtheman]

The RATS are starting to have second thoughts. alQerry's past is very very bad. After Vietnam he became a communist sympathizer. All through his Senate years he was to the left of alQennedy. Very very bad.

[Miss Marple]

You know, someone posted that Friendster profile the other day. We discussed at the time it was probably a fake from someone who had picked up the news story.

Why is Lloyd Grove puttting this in his column? Perhaps to pre-emptively discredit Ms. Polier in case she doesn't stay bought.

Take a look at that picture of Kerry kissing his wife. She is definitely not happy.

[Judith Anne]

This is so interesting--dems can't settle on a candidate, every single one of them who gets the limelight, suddenly falls...and I think Kerry's fall is just now in front of him. I don't think Edwards will last either.

And unlike some others here, I am not afraid of a Hillary! candidacy. Her negatives are, if anything, higher now than ever before. She would absolutely galvanize Republicans, as a dem candidate, and would cover herself in permanent humiliation after the inevitable loss.

[Fracas]

I did see that picture - see my comment #30. GMTA!

The timing of Lloyd's 'Alex' blurb is a little bit off. We saw this last week. Lloyd's a smart guy, and I'm sure he saw it, too. It seems logical to assume one of two things. Either, as you suggest, it's a shot across the bow to any journalist pursuing the story, OR, it's a where-there's-smoke-there's-fire: KEEP LOOKING!

I don't think the story's dead.

[Miss Marple]

I don't think it is, either. However, I would like to see Kerry make it to the nomination before the story resurfaces.

[EQAndyBuzz]

And the RATS continue to eat their young.