Disqus - Latest Comments for joegandelman

Re: An Indignent John McCain’s Memory Problem?

joegandelman — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:39:42 -0000

DaGoat (and others): If you see a typo (we do have a proofreader who clearly did not see this) it would be highly appreciated if rather than run a comment on it you simply email me. As many know, I do many of my posts while on very long trips. This current one that I left on on 12/9 has so far included me doing events up and down the state and driving -- so far -- about 1200 miles. All posts I do today are done from a hotel and I'll check out tomorrow, do an event, and drive about 300 more miles tomorrow. Leaving a comment like the one above is pointless because I do make mistakes but once i see them or someone points them out I fix it. Except for my comment here, no one would know what you're talking about once I fixed it. So in the future..email me? OK?

Re: R.I.P Democratic Hopes for Permanent Majority

joegandelman — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:47:07 -0000

IMPORTANT TMV COMMENTS NOTE: The comment
"Julius Streicher would be proud of you, son" is what we need to avoid. The reason: it's always best to stick to and debate (even passionately where temperatures rise) a given post. We try to avoid characterizing writers and commenters and thus turning into something that can be construed as personal. This is outlined in our comments policy. if someone answers a comment that is personal then the other person answers, etc and before you know it its a big grudge match (where people who never even met each other hate each other because they see an issue differently) .I know we all slip once in a while, but do keep in mind that TMV comments is sort of like the wild and wooley west -- but there are some important guidelines that need to be followed. Also: you'd be amazed at how people who can completely disagree can debate extensively and really add to a discussion. Once it seemingly turns personal, any chance of a discussion that sheds light on an issue raised by a post ends.

Re: Poisoned Wells and Hamster Wheels

joegandelman — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:23:24 -0000

POLIMOM IMPORTANT: I don't normally do it THIS way but I have gotten all of your emails back for several days now. Nothing is arriving and I don't have your phone. Can you email me and I can hit reply? Has your address changed? All of them are coming back..and I was emailing you to say complimentary things about your posts. JG

Re: Healing Power Of Indian Curries

joegandelman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:53:30 -0000

How great to see this! Three things for Swaraaj and readers:
1) My mother is now 88 and she STILL talks about when we had a great, hot curry dinner in New Delhi and my friend, a young Times of India reporter named Swaraaj, joined us and told her to have some yogart to cool her mouth.
2. I LOVE curry and go to restaurants here but also order Patak's online at Amazon. Last night I made the Rogan Josh. My niece Kayla lives here and her Dad Thomas and 18 year old brother Greg have all become HUGE curry fans.
3. Indian curry is an anti-inflammatory. Tumeric is a great ingedient. I have not posted as much on TMV the past few weeks partly because I really hurt my right index finger which I use to write with and also do my shows with (if it was the MIDDLE FINGER I would have a driving disability here in California). Rice and curry are anti-inflammatories. Almost all curry you buy in jars, or even the powders is far far better than any fast food or processed foods. I ordered two big batches of powdered curry dishes. In one I used lamb, but later used beef cube stew meat. All were delicious. Also: curry is starting to catch on here in the US. When I came to San Diego in 1982 to start work as a reporter on the San Diego Union, there was ONE Indian restaurant in Oceanside: I did a story on it and the owner and they got lots of business (the owner would ask you if you wanted the "rocket fuel" since all curry is NOT hot and he would ONLYgive the very hottest version to people who really insisted on it). Today there are many many Indian restaurants to choose from. Ditto on the East coast.

So BRAVO on this post...and to readers who have not tried Indian foot I RECOMMEND IT. I've been taking tumeric pills and have had curry and rice twice int he past week. That and other herbal pills I take have greatly reduced my problem and I hope to be back to regular blogging in a week or two. JG

Re: Sean Hannity Apologizes to Jon Stewart Who….(Etc.)

joegandelman — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:13:16 -0000

Austin: Your comment above is NOT appreciated. This is so typical of how internet blogging works. When the first protests started in fact some general medias (not just msnbc) called them tea bag protests because bags being sent out in protest. If I used that phrase in other posts you COULD have simply sent me a polite email and I would have changed it. Most of my blog posts are done on days when I am in meetings, performing at venues or driving or flying huge distances. For instance, I am out the door in about two minutes. But rather than contact me you decide to put on the internet that I am 'slurring": the protesters, as if I'm sitting around rubbing my hands with glee. This couild have been corrected in other posts if I had gotten a simple email and I frankly can't tell you how i phrased it since I do these quickly. I generally won't respond to this kind of thing but you put this here as a comment and I can't let it stand. I think we should both move on but in the future kindly email me if you have concern before you write thing that are in fact inaccurate. I don't demonize YOU in your comments that you've left on other issues and I would be highly appreciative if you avoid doing it to me. The issue is Stewart's bit: was it good, lousey? Out of line? Could Hannity be correct and therefore could Stewart be taking a cheap shot? But as usual blog comments somehow have to evolve (or devolve) in going after the person who wrote something that someone doesn't like. We both should move on but I will say this again: had you contacted me by email when a given post ran it would take about a second to change it.

And, in FACT, it is stil being used and not just by the left. Check out Google News and Google Web. You'll see some on the left using "tea bag protest" and some that are not ideological sites using it. On this post above, I didn't use it because I was aware this WAS a controversy and the intent of some who use it is political. If you saw it other posts, I just did it on auto pilot and you COULD have sent me an email pointing it out -- an email not in attack mode.
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&source=hp&q=t...
http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&ned=us&tab=nw...

I won't be commenting on this in the future.

Re: Ex-Miss USA Carrie Prejean Flips Out On CNN’s Larry King

joegandelman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:32:40 -0000

You put in the comment as this was corrected.

Re: Rush Limbaugh To Be Miss America Pageant Judge

joegandelman — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:06:07 -0000

I would LOVE to run a link providing you can send me some info about Perez Hilton's hugely popular cable or radio talk show and about how some think (rightfully or wrongfully) PH is the de facto head of a political party or an ideological movement. I can't tell you how much I love it on the internet when you write a post and someone comes back and tries to change the subject from the post by going on the attack by throwing out a comment that seems like it was written by a writer from The Onion. You're welcome to address the subject of this post and Limbaugh being a host or demanding to see links I ran about Michael Moore, Pee Wee Hermany or Woody Woodpecker. I won't be in comments all day so ENJOY. But the subject here -- I THINK -- is how the pageant used to be a family event, a unifying event that everyone watched, how changes in attitudes have reduced its audience, how it seeks to get it back (I neglected to add how it has run the final event as part of a reality series), and how Limbaugh has his many fans but is anathema to many Americans because of the way he treats those with whom he disagrees with such contempt. You can challenge me all you want on Perez Hilton or throw in Chris Matthews. It ain't the same thing. See ya.

Re: Dancing With The Stars Will No Longer Feature The Dancing Feet of Tom DeLay

joegandelman — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:32:19 -0000

Why I'm so happy you loved it. I will be sure to run more of these. Your snark aside, in fact, every single post on a website or blog doesn't have to be a deadly serious political analysis. Since the site started we have run some features, reviews, cartoons, videos, things on comedy and an occasional fun piece. Sorry you didn't like it but you will see more posts that aren't the usual breathless issue posts that all blogs are running these days. If anything, websites need to run more foreign news and features,offbeat features, humor. So thanks for the comments. I'll make sure I put more of a lot of these up since you enjoyed it so much.

Re: Newsmax Calls for a Military Coup in U.S.

joegandelman — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:37:32 -0000

I just got back from a trip where I drove 1200 miles since Sunday. Kathy beat me to it on this one. I don't have time today for comments but I need to add this:

An even bigger issue that I see emerging here is that on several fronts SOME conservative Republicans basically have the narrative: unless you elected a conservative Republican who agrees with US the government is evil, the President is illegitimate, etc., our country is threatened.

Two things about this: 1. Someone like me has voted for Republicans over the years and used to be one. I cannot say how absolutely turned off I am by this kind of rhetoric. I start tuning out those who indulge in it because it is as extremist to me as the far left that I opposed during the Vietnam War was during the 60s. 2. Conservatives who use the Unless You Elected Our People It's Not Democracy rhetoric are setting themselves up for a very difficult time the next time the election cycle changes and they get a conservative Republican in the White House. American democracy has always functioned by Americans who are on the losing side accepting the legitimacy of those who won. And before I hear about all Democrats saying that Bush didn't really win, Al Gore accepted the election results and the Democratic mainstream did not make that an issue for 8 years. There were other issues and some leftist bloggers and talk show hosts raised it. But most Democrats accepted the legitimacy of the government. It can't be accurately stated now that MOST Republicans are calling Obama illegitmate or a threat to America as we know it. But this fringe is a huge turn off; if this rhetoric wasn't so extremist the GOP would probably have more people voting for it in 2010 who are disappointed with Obama (in terms of what he has done and hasn't done). But these are voters who will differ from Obama on policy and will not want to cast votes for people who seem agreeing with those who are politically foaming at the mouth.

This is NOT the Republican mainstream But it is a total turn off. Some people hold their nose and vote for the party that they feel stinks less. The Democrats now seem to be heading in a direction where they will be at war with each other over the public option. This segment of conservatives who are painting Obama as a Marxist, Nazi, Socialist...are not helping the image of conservatism, except among those who eagerly contribute to infomercials to fund groups that want to pursue the birther issue.

A realistic chance of a coup? Highly unlikely.

Newsmax has its sources but as a longtime professional journalist who worked not just here but overseas I will say what any reporter can tell you: there are LOTS of sources you can use. But because you have a source doesn't mean that source represents a consensus.

A reporter or columnist can say "sources say" or "analysts say" but how many sources is that against a context of available sources? And are they talking to sources who already agree with them?

Military coup? This is kind of like a Code Pink on the right but with bigger paranoia issues. You read this and can just hear The Twlight Zone theme.

FOOTNOTE: I've read Newxmax for years and even subscribed to its magazine for a while. I don't link to it and its reporting. I consider it on the same line as a lot of the Matt Drudge EXCLUSIVE REPORTS! that have occasionally shown up, prove to be inaccurate, and just vanish from the DR without a correction or follow up. I know of at least one more conservative blogger who years ago said the same thing.

NOW if they do an article that later shows up in MAINSTREAM MEDIA reporting, then I'll link to it. I figure the mainstream media will pursue it if it is valid. I know some bloggers will denounce that attitude since the mainstream media is untrustworthy (unless you link to it in about 85 percent of your posts, quote its news stories and opinion columns and make its content the basis on which you do your blog...THEN you trust it when you need it), but if AP or the WaPO wrote about rumblings about a coup..THEN I'd run it. I'll leave the Story That'll Bust This Town Wide Open to others.

Again, I was going to do a post on this with my point above on sources and the image this is creating that some conservatives cannot accept election results, yet will fully expect Americans who don't agree with them to accept it when their candidates win (which they will at some future stage since political history is cyclical)

I think this piece Kathy linked to is more significant because it is one more indication of how Obama is being painted as a danger to American that "real" patriots see as such. Troubling to say the least.

Re: ABC Denies It Ever Said Yesterday’s Protest Rally Had 1 Million People

joegandelman — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:37:30 -0000

Make sure you contact the AP and other news organzations and let them know you can estimate a crowd better than the police or any agency by looking at a photo. You could make a fortune since no one has ever had that talent. Congradulations! CORRECTION: I'm sure Glenn and Rush and Sean have that talent, too. I'm sure we'll see and hear it on display on Monday. Also, be sure to contact Rupert Murdoch since hsi Wall Street Journal and Sky News both got it wrong.

Re: Newest Hero To Some: Rep. Joe Wilson Who Yelled “You Lie” At Obama

joegandelman — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:49:01 -0000

Note that in my post I NEVER day say all Republicans or all conservatives (I
myself voted for Ronald Reagan and was a Republican before I became an
independent voter).. Not all Republicans condone what is going on now. I
know many thoughtful Republicans and they are aghast at some of what they
see unfolding because it's ruining the image of a party for which they
worked so hard. Some are now former Republicans and independent voters
because of this.

Re: Newest Hero To Some: Rep. Joe Wilson Who Yelled “You Lie” At Obama

joegandelman — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:42:43 -0000

Leonidas also make sure you immediately inform the New York Times about their huge error in their story that just was posted on the web. Here is the link and the section you need to tell them is flat out wrong:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/us/politics/1...
Other Democrats said they did not want to dwell on the outburst or allow it to overshadow what they saw as an effective address by the president. But they also said it bolstered their contention that some Republicans were not interested in constructive dialogue, and they noted that Democratic plans specifically barred coverage for illegal immigrants.

It's very important that you set Newsweek, The Politico and the Times straight that their reporting is incorrect and that they run retractions. As I noted, Glenn and Sean and Rush will have the facts tomorrow, I'm sure, just as surely as tree roots will fall from the sky.

Re: Newest Hero To Some: Rep. Joe Wilson Who Yelled “You Lie” At Obama

joegandelman — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:21:38 -0000

Make sure you foward your links also about Wilson being correct to The Politico and Newsweek and other non-blog, non-ideological publications so they can run corrections. I see that some other mainstream news organizations are also reporting what these two have reported, and someone needs to set them all straight. I'm sure Glenn Beck will deliver an accurate account of all of this tomorrow, too. Be sure to post the iPod link in comments so we can all be enlightened.

Re: Book Review: I’m Hosting as Fast as I Can

joegandelman — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:49:20 -0000

I don't know what it was about AVF's former and talented host Bob Saget that grated on me so much when he was the host. I could not watch that show for more than a few minutes without turning it off. Perhaps its because as a fan of classic and even corny humor Saget didn't do that well. In interviews, Saget didn't seem to feel totally proud of his gig there. In any event, TB is a JOY to watch. He seems geniuinely funny in any venue - not forced, not egotistical. Just funny and pleasant. As an entertainer, when I watch him I always hope some of his likability and ease rubs off on me and that I come across as well as he does. Many people don't realize that there is a real gold mine in many show biz bios, since people don't usually just appear on the national scene but usually have to work years before they get their "big break" and others may work under the radar and be busy and never get that break. I view him as the perfect emcee who could have succeeded in any ear in show biz. And, no, I never met him or Saget. Saget is said to be a superb comedy club performer and is respected by many pros for his work in that and other venues.

Re: Quote of the Day: Where Is America’s Partisan Political Ugliness Heading?

joegandelman — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:38:14 -0000

TYRONE ET. AL: I'm offline for most of the day and need to copy this so I can paste this when I need it (about three times a week).

1. Polls show that moderates, independents and centrists are not monolithic. 2. When someone from the left or right (and sometimes they believe only they are the center) about a post or a site not being moderate or centrist it usually means there is a post or idea they don't agree with or don't like so that means the other person can't be moderate. 3. This mantra that starts up (it happens on posts we have that may be more to the center right, center left or flat out center) is usually a diversionary flourish: rather than address the issue in the post, someone decides to try and turn it into a debate about the writer or a website (not just TMV). In fact, the issues are the issues in this post and over 100 comments show that most people are debating the issues or raising new ones related to the post. That is what we love to see in comments..

4. TMV has a ton of writers and we also run guest voices from the right or left (READ the description of the site at the top). And if some people don't like us running a viewpoint or giving an honest take, then that's life. But we will continue to give our honest take on events. Turning threads into discussions about whether a post fits someone who veers left or right's opinion of what a real moderate is (i.e. how THEY view something) is really not what comments are all about -- and doesn't reflect the reality of polls that show that, yes, moderates, centrists and independent voters do not all vote alike and to be a moderate does not mean you talk or sound like a CSPAN host.

But the bottom line is that when that starts up it's a sign that someone has either run out of arguments or is trying to put a writer on the defensive. It's quite old, a cliche by now and will not impact us offering our honest takes on events and running a variety of content and Guest Voices on TMV.

Re: Sarah Palin’s Imagery Management Is About To Get Harder

joegandelman — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:39:33 -0000

In answer to the comment above, it gets kind of old whenever anyone on the right or left doesn't like a post that they start on the tired rant about you can't be a moderate site if you don't offer just THEIR viewpoint. In fact, if you check on www.memeorandum.com you'll find a lot of blogs on all sides are linking to this Vanity Fair piece and commenting on it. You also seem to be not noticing our posts by Michael Reagan and some other conservative writers, but it wouldn't make any difference. You don't like the content of this Vanity Fair article and therefore we are like Daily Kos for running this post. However, if you think TMV is like Daily Kos then you need to revisit Kos (we link to Michelle Malkin, Hot Air, Daily Kos and all kinds of sites and have run Guest Voices by writers and bloggers of different viewpoints). Also, if you check the polls you will see that moderates, centrists and independent voters are not monolithic. No poll shows 100 percent agreement. Sorry you don't like us posting things that you don't agree with which automatically makes us a clone of liberal sites you don't like but this is indeed the way we have done it and the way we will continue to do it. Read our description of the site at the top. We try to offer a variety of viewpoints and some readers who aren't into name calling have even sent them to us and we've run them to get another take on issues that may not be in agreement with a post or posts.

Re: Rhetoric Is Now Dangerously Beneath Contempt

joegandelman — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:29:11 -0000

CStanley: I don't get involved in comments but must answer yours since it is inaccurate to say the LEAST. I personally link a LOT to RealClearPolitics AND RealClearWorld. In fact, I occassionallly do link to their content or particularly on foreign issues link to them, quote a bit from their post and do my own commentary. It is one of the sites I LINK TO MOST. Even if they had 200,000 articles on it, no matter how much I did or didn't link to it, it does not obscure THIS STORY and the issue it raises about the coarsening and rhetorical violence in American political discussion. It's inaccurate to so say the least. And if you emailed those folks they will confirm that TMV links to it a lot because it has such great content. This is NOT a "left" or "right" issue but there are some Americans (like me) who see not just a polarization but increasing comments in terms of violence and the fanning of hatreds that could end badly. What would have happened if a politician made a joke like this 10 years ago? Or 8? Or 20? Or 30? Or right after the murders of JFK, RFK, MML, Jr, the attempted assassination of Ford, Reagan? Their name would be mud and the bulk of voters of both parties would consider them a kook, at worst, and a politician who doesn't consider the weight of words at best. Again: a)not a right or left issue b)yes, we know and link to RCP a lot of TMV, have and do. I love the comments you and others leave on the site...but there is no way I can let THAT assertion stands. I raise theissue again: if THIS is where we are trending in what people think is "cute..witty" and appropriate to say give the country's problems with political murders, high school shootings, etc. then exactly where are we heading as the bar is lowered so far down that you see a Welcome To The South Pole sign? There ARE thinking people in both parties who wish a lot of people on BOTH SIDES who use this kind of rhetoric would just go away. Unfortunately, I am concluding that those who tolerate and enable it are in the majority in voting. And if you think we are polarized, now, how polarized will the country be if someone on the right or left is hurt by someone on the right or left who didn't quite get the joke part of the...alleged joke? (I'll be offline all day)
Again: discussion on this post is GREAT. I just had to clear it up on RCP and TMV

Re: An Outrageous Example of Cowboy Civility When Ankle-Bit by a Know-Nothing Heckler

joegandelman — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:38:15 -0000

FATHER TIME: On a previous post by Dr. E I asked to you refrain from leaving that comment. If you have something specific to the post you are welcome to leave it as always about the issue raised. We don't use that terminology. For the second rpt time I am asking you not to leave that kind of comment on TMV. Please read out commenting [policy at the top of the page. I will also look to see if I can find your email address to send you a copy of this. I thank you in advance for not leaving that kind of comment on TMV or anything else that violates our policy in the future. I know we all slip into old habits (including me), so I'll write this second time using it as that, but we do not welcome comments or commentors who leave comments such as that on TMV. Thanks in advance for helping us maintain our very basic, easy commenting standards.

Re: Health Care, The Real Miracle: We Are Still Here

joegandelman — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:15:52 -0000

Father Time: This is a request that you don't leave that kind of comment on TMV. We welcome your comments on posts and on issues but not that kind of comment. Also, every post on a blog doesn't really have to be a typical political post and certainly won't be on TMV.

Re: Obama Weekly You Tube Radio Address: Ignore “Outlandish” Rumors About Health Care Reform

joegandelman — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:27:26 -0000

Yes it is over the line JWest. And you know it and tat is the fourth time you have done this.

Re: Obama Weekly You Tube Radio Address: Ignore “Outlandish” Rumors About Health Care Reform

joegandelman — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:48:05 -0000

JWEST: This is now yet another warning to you. Read our commenting guidelines. Firstly, on this and other issues we all may see things totally different due to our own values, our own interpretation, what we have read and the way our minds work. So instead of accusing me of lying because I don't see things as you do -- which you have done before -- you would instead then just give me your best take on how you see it and why I'm wrong, that is definitely valid. I have no problem with people disagreeing with me.

But when I see a post on The Huffington Post or PJ Media or Daily Kos or Red State and I don't agree, I realize people believe what they write..just as I know you do when you disagree with me or anyone else here. So this is my final polite warning to you that accusing people of lying when they write a post that differs from you is not welcome here.

You are welcome to outline in detail why you think Palin is correct. In fact, some commenters who disagreed or wrote thoughtful posts because regular guest bloggers. I have written versions of this comment several times now and enough is enough. I see lots of posts on TMV that don't fit my viewpoints and I shrug and realize each writer believes this is the way it is and that's THEIR honest interpretation. I don't have time to be in comments due to my schedule which barely allows me to post but I had to answer this one ....again.

You do well when you just outline issues and argue the points. This is at least the THIRD warning to you about something like this. Your best take on what we write is more than welcome. You can even send me a Guest Voice on an issue and if its a take on an issue (similar to the ones we run or Michael Reagan's Cagle columns on the right or the WaPo columnists) where you lay out your perspective on something w making your case on an issue, it most likely could be run. If I do get something like that from you I won't think you're lying or covering up for some insidious political purposes but just someone who took the TIME out of your busy life like all of us to do give me your best take on an issue and share it so others can read it and discuss it without name calling..

Re: Democrats and Republicans: Why Not Lighten Up On Healthcare Townhalls?

joegandelman — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:11:25 -0000

Didn't my post say something about both sides lightening up?

Re: Palin: Anatomy of the divorce rumor

joegandelman — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:23:28 -0000

I remind everyone to re-read TMV's commenting guidelines at top of this site. One comment is very close to being over the line. You can make it clear you don't like a post without going after writers. In this post David gives a summary of how this broke and his respectful take on it. You can debate whether this is a valid story or not, how the new media and old media work, news values. But comments going after writers are not welcome. People can discuss issues and posts without making it personal. I may remove one comment here.

Re: Just When You Thought Partisan Demonization Can’t Go Any Lower

joegandelman — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:07:07 -0000

The link I have up there is the correct one. And this really isn't a matter of focusing on the right. When you spread as a fact the assertion that the health care reform being proposed means the government is going to have the power to end your life and assert it as a fact when it is not, it is reprehensible. This isn't a matter of "the right". Or "the left does that too!" This is a matter of this assertion being spread when it is patently false. People on both sides excuse this kind of politics, figuring that the ends justify the means. It is reprehensible. Some voters won't mind and some independent voters won't mind. And some will. It also brings up the issue of credibility. It IS the bar being lowered and it is again and again. It's not a matter of fudging the facts...it's how our politics has now veered into sheer propaganda where anything will be said to undercut or boost.

Re: This Is Insane, and Grossly Disrespectful to the POTUS

joegandelman — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:44:47 -0000

Mad Dog: Comments such as yours do nothing at all to advance the debate. Just hurling out the name Marxist when you disagree with someone leaves open the question: specifically what is this person's take on this issue? How does he or she differ from the person writing the post? Make your best case for why you see otherwise. If you do that, you might change some minds. The mantra from people on the right AND left about how this can't be a moderate blog if they read one post they disagree with gets kind of old...especially if you look alt polls that show that moderates and independents are no monolithic blogs where every single person agrees or disagrees.