Good news/bad news for the news-starved
The good news is that this Sunday a CNN commentator said something that was insightful, rational, and avoided a pack-mentality response in addressing an issue that's received massive coverage.
The bad news is that this in itself is newsworthy.
Read before bedtime and repeat as necessary to induce nightmare-free sleep [rush transcript]:
WATSON: You know, Carol, many ways Howard Dean is to Democrats what New York is to fashion. Meaning, he's often kind of six months ahead of where they ultimately end up.
Now sometimes you go, that's fashion and rather not see walking down the street. But other time, you say, you know what, maybe leg warmers are a fashion statement, maybe that does make sense. So, whether it's on that issue or confederate flags. And later on John Edwards shows up saying, essentially something very similar, which is we need to go after the south. Howard Dean is often kind of the lead dog.
LIN: OK. So, you're saying he can be useful to the party. So, what does a party do with a man that they don't know how to channel? I mean, if the Democrats had a Karl Rove, what would that Karl Rove tell the party to do with this man?
WATSON: You would channel your political provacateur. You would send him into states where they're open Senate seats this upcoming year like Minnesota, like Maryland, like Tennessee. And where the actual candidate herself or himself may not be able to change the topic to healthcare or to national security. You let Howard Dean throw out the explosive statement either about an issue or about a candidate. And that way, you might actually start to get a foothold. You know, good cop/bad cop. Let Howard Dean be your bad cop more often than not.
LIN: Make a statement. Be memorable.
WATSON: Without a doubt.
And you know what's so interesting that is that Republicans already do it. In fact, Republicans have a whole chorus, if you will of political provacateurs. They're are in the media, whether it's Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly or others and the reality is with the exception of Michael Moore who shows up with a movie every two or three years, Democrats don't really have that political provacateur to move the needle and ultimately reshape debate. So there's a role for Howard Dean if he's managed and used properly.
The Daily Sandwich salutes CNN political analyst Carlos Watson. But shouldn't have to.
The bad news is that this in itself is newsworthy.
Read before bedtime and repeat as necessary to induce nightmare-free sleep [rush transcript]:
WATSON: You know, Carol, many ways Howard Dean is to Democrats what New York is to fashion. Meaning, he's often kind of six months ahead of where they ultimately end up.
Now sometimes you go, that's fashion and rather not see walking down the street. But other time, you say, you know what, maybe leg warmers are a fashion statement, maybe that does make sense. So, whether it's on that issue or confederate flags. And later on John Edwards shows up saying, essentially something very similar, which is we need to go after the south. Howard Dean is often kind of the lead dog.
LIN: OK. So, you're saying he can be useful to the party. So, what does a party do with a man that they don't know how to channel? I mean, if the Democrats had a Karl Rove, what would that Karl Rove tell the party to do with this man?
WATSON: You would channel your political provacateur. You would send him into states where they're open Senate seats this upcoming year like Minnesota, like Maryland, like Tennessee. And where the actual candidate herself or himself may not be able to change the topic to healthcare or to national security. You let Howard Dean throw out the explosive statement either about an issue or about a candidate. And that way, you might actually start to get a foothold. You know, good cop/bad cop. Let Howard Dean be your bad cop more often than not.
LIN: Make a statement. Be memorable.
WATSON: Without a doubt.
And you know what's so interesting that is that Republicans already do it. In fact, Republicans have a whole chorus, if you will of political provacateurs. They're are in the media, whether it's Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly or others and the reality is with the exception of Michael Moore who shows up with a movie every two or three years, Democrats don't really have that political provacateur to move the needle and ultimately reshape debate. So there's a role for Howard Dean if he's managed and used properly.
The Daily Sandwich salutes CNN political analyst Carlos Watson. But shouldn't have to.
posted by Matt Sandwich | 6:47 PM
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