Posted on 11/04/2004 12:50:49 PM PST by Cableguy
[only intersting parts are this]
The critical moment came at 12:41 a.m. Wednesday, when, shortly after Florida had been painted red for Mr. Bush, Fox News declared that Ohio - and, very likely, the presidency - was in Republican hands.
Howard Wolfson, a strategist, burst into the "boiler room" in Washington where the brain trust was huddled and said, "we have 30 seconds" to stop the other networks from following suit.
The campaign's pollster, Mark Mellman, and the renowned organizer Michael Whouley quickly dialed ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC - and all but the last refrained from calling the race through the night. Then Mr. Wolfson banged out a simple, two-line statement expressing confidence that Mr. Kerry would win Ohio once the remaining ballots were counted.
"What was driving our decision making was the memory of how in 2000, by allowing Florida to go for Bush, a lot of momentum was blocked," said one person who was in the room. "Our whole goal was stop the train from moving that way."
Train stopped, lawyers and strategists at the campaign's Washington headquarters prepared court papers to challenge Ohio's process for counting provisional ballots, and made spreadsheets comparing each county's provisional ballots with its margin of victory or defeat.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
But FNC does have Michael Barone, who is worth three or four of any other network analyst.
It's gonna be harder and harder for them to control the Media. People want and NEED real news. I hope we can get people to react to what they are seeing in the MSM.
Gad, I use to think what the Russians were doing with their media was bad, but these guys are worse, because they do the distortions and lying freely and willingly!
That's the inspiration for my new tagline.
We've got to give NBC credit for making the right choice and calling Ohio for Bush early on, along with Fox News. The other networks were disgraceful, especially CNN.
I agree. NBC, by far, had the best coverage on election night, including Chris Matthews and Tom Brokow, even though it pains me to say it!
Really. When there's a hot story, MS-NBC usually covers the details more thoroughly, more quickly than any news network. Aside from Ollie North, they had the best embed's for instance. Bob Arnot was unsurpassed.
so the networks belittle BC04 for pressing them to call Nevada, when they wouldn't, but tow the line for Kerry campaign in holding off on Ohio so they can deny the Bush campaign their due celebration.
I was thrilled when Tom Brokaw gave OH to Bush-Cheney and said "this race is essentially over." Must have pained him to admit that.
remember - they fired Bob Arnot for his work.
Lisa Myers was a star, too for NBC. (Nobody beat Barone, though.)
FOX and NBC may have called Ohio, but they then refrained from calling Nevada, New Mexico or Iowa so they would not have to put any number over 269 on the screen. Even after CBS, ABC and CNN called Nevada and New Mexico, FOX and NBC did not. They did not call those states until the next day, even after the number of votes outstanding was well less than the spread between the candidates.
They were just as bad as CBS, ABC and CNN, just in a different way.
Right. As for "fair and balanced" NBC is out the window.
Well, we have ourselves a case of fraud here, if that is the case. Dickie Morris's instincts appear to be correct.
Maybe NBC is trying to maintain some credibility in journalism.
I dont understand how they thought they could help hanoi john in that way, I mean by that time, the votes had been cast.
I felt that all along. I knew once they called Florida and then Ohio for Bush...It was over. And they were so slow calling Ohio that I became worried that they would ask for recounts...That's why I couldn't get any sleep till Ohio was called.,..
I question someone's memory (or perception of reality). Had Florida not been called for GORE before the polls closed in the panhandle there never would have been a dispute there.
Of course. When I saw that CNN refused to call not only Ohio but other definite states for Bush all evening, I knew they were in collaboration with the DNC. CNN operatives had been advised of the fraudulent provisional ballot coup of Ohio, which fortunately failed. On Wednesday morning, CNN still showed 254 for Bush and 252 for Kerry.
They were hoping until the last minute that the massive fraud with provisional ballots would work. WRONG!
Much credit must be given to Kenneth Blackwell, Secretary of State of Ohio, for challenging and dissipating the attempted provisional ballot fraud.
Blackwell was brave and resolute throughout the last days of the campaign, smashing every initiative by Dem lawyers to pervert the election process.
IMHO, Blackwell deserves a position in the second-term administration of Bush.
exactly..wonder if a blackberry message from Rove would have been responded to with anything but vulgar laughter.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.