Another Round of DAN "RATHERISMS"

MediaResearchCenter ^ | 10.06.2002 | Brent Baker

[fight_truth_decay]

It wouldn't be election night without some wacky "Ratherisms" or, if you prefer, "Danisms." Here are the ones we observed from the CBS Evening News through the end of CBS's 10pm EST hour. MRC analyst Patrick Gregory tracked down most of them:

> Opening the November 5 CBS Evening News: "CBS News has assembled an experienced team of correspondents to bring you the returns and analysis tonight. And we could be in for a long night with the Senate battle as tight as a botox smile."

> During 9pm EST two minute update before Judging Amy. -- "Two hands worth of white knucklers still hanging ten."

-- And, on the Arkansas Senate race: "Polls closed one half hour ago in Arkansas. We can tell you that race is crackling like a hickory fire."

> During CBS's EST/CST prime time hour at 10pm EST: -- "Georgia now is colored red. What a big win for the Republicans. And they'll be breaking out the longnecks in Republican headquarters in Texas and elsewhere, not to mention the White House itself, although Lesley says they pop the caps only on Doctor Pepper ten two and four there."

-- "Well Bob certainly as recently as a week or ten days ago, the Republicans would have considered this kind of win in Georgia as a situation somewhat like the cat that finds a mouse in the milk: unexpected but very much appreciated."

-- "Now, we'll be back with more of our election coverage, and it's beginning to get exciting as the Democrats' fingernails are beginning to sweat now, so stick in here with us, we'll have more after this break."

-- "If, Bob, if it turns out that Republicans regain control of the Senate, and thus President Bush has the White House, both houses of Congress, and a very substantial majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, would or would it not be too strong to say that this night has been the 'Bushification' of America?" Schieffer gave in: "You could say that."

> Depending on what happens on the morning shows, late this afternoon I may do another CyberAlert on what evaluations are espoused on them.

-- Brent Baker, with the overnight team of Brad Wilmouth and Patrick Gregory

MRC NOTE:Editor's Note: The lack of exit polling data and the delay beyond prime time EST of definitive numbers for many races, inhibited trend analysis from TV journalists and pundits on election night, making way for rather dry and straight-forward coverage of returns. But there were some exceptions in the coverage from the cable networks all night and the 10pm EST hour from ABC, CBS and NBC, as well as the 10pm PST/1am EST hours from ABC and NBC. Washington, DC's CBS affiliate did not carry the 10pm PST/1am EST hour from CBS News and significant portions of the 10pm EST hours on the broadcast networks were interrupted by local coverage.

When posted, this CyberAlert will be readable at: MRC Election Night Coverage Rundown

Other stories: Baffling Why Poor Economy Didn't Help Democrats; Blaming Democratic Losses on Not Being Liberal Enough; Warning Bush to Not Pursue Conservative Agenda; What "Worries" You Most About GOP Senate Takeover? Highlighting "Republican Voter Suppression Tactics"; Bill and Hillary "Big Winners"; "Depressing" How Little Bush Doing to Fight Terrorism; CBS: "Moderate" Dems vs. "Ultra- Conservative" Republicans; Townsend Loss "Frightening"; Another Round of "Ratherisms

[fight_truth_decay]

lol..ya think a put down???

[IowaHawk]

Hummina hominy! This race is tighter than two cousins in a Pennsyltucky hayloft! Hold onto your potato forks, folks, it looks we'll be baling this one until the coonhound says a sermon at the feedstore!

Update! This one has more ups and downs and twists and throughs than a pair Aunt Mildred's filthy old underthings! There's frost on the griddle and the outhouse hasn't been peeked in just quite yet!

Steam up the Victrola, Elmer, and tuck in the Massey Ferguson! Now it can be told... this one's sealed up tighter than a dime bag in Willie Nelson's dressing room!

[Cyber Liberty]

Hey, Thanks!

{I figured it was the frequency thing myself...}

[Atlas Sneezed]

[F-117A]

It was part of Dr. Pepper's logo. Click on the link, then About Us, then Our story and look at the company logos.

Dr. Pepper

[YourAdHere]

He did look like he was getting physically ill as the republicans kept racking up victories. I almost felt sorry for him, but then, I am a compassionate conservative.
: )

[Lost Highway]

would or would it not be too strong to say that this night has been the 'Bushification' of America?"

I've been Bushified!

[NutmegDevil]

From my limited tastings, I believe Dr. Pepper's main ingredient is prune extract. It is certainly no Moxie.

[mallardx]

Yeah, in Denver I was unable to get much national coverage except on mSNBC, Fox News, and CNBC. I was clicking around 1) hoping to see Dan Rather crying into a towel, and 2) looking for a hockey game. It was fun watching Gephart put his spin on the results, he looked like a deer in the headlights of a '68 caddy. But I thought little Tommy D was very respectable in his behavior and demeanor, almost humble when I saw him. Made me forget my loathing for a second. Go GOP! Go Av's!

[ampat]

Those numbers were on the orininal bottle label. If you add them, the sum is sixteen. There are three numbers, so add three to sixteen and you get nineteen. If you are still confused, send an email to Calipso Louie to find out what "19" means.

[Pompah]

As I jumped back and forth last night between CBS and CNN enjoying thier obvious discomfort and nausea. I heard Ol'Dan say that the democrats still had a chance,but that he "Wouldn't bet the Double-Wide on it."
Sounded like Trailer-Trash talk to me.

[WSGilcrest]

Another from last night(excuse me if I get the quote wrong):

"If the dems put their ear to the ground, they'll hear the posse coming."

And my favorite from election 2000:

"If a frog had pockets, he'd carry a sidearm."

[Ipberg]

Gather the kids from the yard, mom and get dad from the fishing lake cause I'm here on television telling you Walter Mondale couldn't get himself elected dogcatcher in a St. Paul kennel. Jimmy Carter will be rolling in his political grave when he hears that Georgia elected a Republican governor. Look out Alaska Wilderness Reserve cause George W.'s got the political ammo to tear you a new ozone hole.

[NutmegDevil]

My recollection is that Dan said he would explain how CBS would make projections only after all of the vote results were all in and all counted. I don't think that is projecting, rather it is retrojection.

[Tacis]

I was cheated!! I watched FOX Cable and sometimes, MSNBC Cable for current result. And, then switched over to watch a little Don Rather to see the fear, horror and shock in his eyes. He wasn't there. CBS appeared to have shut down election coverage at about 10:30PM and showed Letterman at his usual time. I clicked through a couple of times and still didn't see him. I did note that Brokaw was the first one that I saw to say that the Republicans had retaken the Senate. Some of the cable outfits waited an hour or two after to reach the same conclusion.

[Ronaldus Magnus Reagan]

Perhaps everyone has heard of this web site, but for those that have not, go check out www.ratherbiased.com. It chronicles Dan Rather's liberal bias.

[Savage Beast]

You just can't beat these:

"I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things."

“We pride ourselves on being classy. And class never runs scared.”

“I have nothing original or profound to say.”

[OldFriend]

Oh IMUS went after Rather big time this morning. Talked about how biased the man is and how he should NOT be doing news.......blah blah blah.

The MSNBC coverage was beyond awful. My guess is they are still trying to figure out how to light those red dots on their map.

[mombonn]

Isn't that dan RATher? Never noticed how aptly he is named!

[capydick]

I was doing the same thing across the dial, enjoying their discomfort. As much as I like FNC, I found pleasure watching Dan, Petah, Tom, Judy woofwoof and the others look as though they had a real bad case of gas and a baseball bat shoved up their keisters .

On one of my pass thru's I caught bob scheifer on cbs refer to Bob Dole as "her famous husband who does those T.V. commercials". Not a mention of his standing or contribution to America. Typical but, I dont need to see more to confirm my beliefs. I had a whole lot of fun at their expense lastnight.