A Bad Week For The Politico
A Bad Week For The Politico
Politico’s Roger Simon covers Saturday’s CAPAF/SEIU presidential health care forum with the headline, “More Than You Wanted to Know About Health Care.” His lede:
Because you did not want to spend your Saturday sitting in a room for three hours listening to Democratic presidential candidates tell you how they are going to provide universal health care for America, Politico did it for you.
Simon may be bored by health care, but the American public isn’t (especially the 47 million who don’t have health insurance). A recent NBC/WSJ poll finds that Americans rank health care just below the war in Iraq as the “highest priority” for the federal government to address. Eighty percent believe it is an extremely or very important issue that Congress and the President need to deal with.
Simon’s insights top off what was a very bad week for the Politico. A round-up:
Politico (Tuesday): “Republican sources also disclosed that it is now a virtual certainty that Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty, whose incomplete and inaccurate congressional testimony about the prosecutors helped precipitate the crisis, will also resign shortly.”
FACT: McNulty has not yet resigned.
Politico (Thursday): “John Edwards is suspending his campaign for President, and may drop out completely, because his wife has suffered a recurrence of the cancer that sickened her in 2004.”
FACT: “Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, seeking to overcome doubts he can stay focused while his wife undergoes treatment for an incurable cancer, said on Saturday he will campaign until the very end. ‘I’m definitely in the race for the duration,’ he said.”
Politico (Friday): “The Politico will be co-hosting a debate among the major Republican presidential candidates on May 3 in Simi Valley, Calif., where for the first time citizens will be able to submit real-time questions for the candidates via politico.com.” (Press Release)
FACT: On Saturday, March 24, citizens were able to submit real-time questions for the candidates via ThinkProgress.org.
White House senior adviser Karl Rove once speculated that Politico “would prompt regional papers to dismantle their Washington bureaus.” Reporting that’s wrong won’t have that effect.
To the people who brought us slow-bleed: We wish you better luck in your reporting this week.
UPDATE: Media Matters has more on Politico’s reporting problems.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Is there a reason why Politico’s graphics look a lot like those at Red State?
March 26th, 2007 at 6:59 pmWhat is an “lede”?
March 26th, 2007 at 7:00 pmOh, you meant LEAD.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:00 pmThe Politico: We get it wrong, so you don’t have to.
Heh.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:07 pmOh, you meant LEAD.
Comment by Jake
No, it’s lede, jackarse. Even when you try to be condescendingly funny you still manage be show how little you know about anything.
TP’s kung fu is better than Politico’s.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:09 pmWhat is an “lede�
Comment by Jake — March 26, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Oh, you meant LEAD.
Comment by Jake — March 26, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
*sigh* Okay, who wants to tell him?
March 26th, 2007 at 7:10 pmJake,
Hey retard, here’s a link to explain what the definition is:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lede
For future reference you can look up the meaning of words at http://www.dictionary.com it is the online version of what the book provides.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:10 pmJake, Standard-Bearer of the Right.
Thank God only morons populate the Right or we might be in genuine trouble.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:15 pmJake,
You so funni
March 26th, 2007 at 7:15 pmLeave Jake alone, it’s not nice to pick on the “special” kids.
Does anyone else find the Politico’s interface to be impenetrable? I go over there thinking that I’ll be able to get a quick read on something like with a blog but you evidently need to have the secret decoder ring to figure out what the Crypt and the other stoopidly named areas are. And since Allen and Vandenhei pedal their GOP crap there, I usually wander away. Maybe I should invest in a longer attention span…
March 26th, 2007 at 7:17 pmYes, KRank (I saw that and was reading the links first): Lede is often spelled lead. The odd spelling was adopted when newspaper type was set in lead. To keep from confusing the word for the metal with the word for the beginning sentence, the spelling “lede” was used.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:19 pmMaybe I should invest in a longer attention span…
Comment by Pinson
Nah.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:20 pmJake sez:
Anyone find it especially amusing that Jake didn’t know that ‘lede’ is a Middle English variant of ‘lead’, considering that he once attempted to pass off his misspelling of ‘riddance’ as ‘riddence’ as intentional (Middle English)?
Just when we can’t imagine you getting any more pathetic, Jake, you lower the bar for us once again.
Thank you so much for this. ^_^
March 26th, 2007 at 7:21 pmRocks911,
The only reference Jake reads is the Bible.
Okay and his subscriptions to Scat Babes, and KKK News.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:23 pmComment by Jake — March 26, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
Pity you couldn’t have done your homework before you made a fool of yourself…again… :P
March 26th, 2007 at 7:23 pmWhy you all keep allowing Jake (aka MA) to hijack every thread is beyond me.
Take a look at EVERY thread and how it becomes an orgy of everybody smacking it down with it constantly regurgitating its “List of Ignorance” meme.
Think about it in the context of “fool me once” and it seems obvious where the shame should be. Unless it’s Bush in Tennessee of course.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:32 pmSo recently Jake you argued to me that “OldEnglish” was appropriate, yet now you correct people that use the same? BAHAHA, you’re a hypocritical old fool – aren’t you twerpy?
March 26th, 2007 at 7:37 pm“The only reference Jake reads is the Bible.”
jesus knows what a ‘lede’ is
March 26th, 2007 at 7:37 pmTuber, Jake does have that Mighty Moron quality to him. What a freak of nature. No wonder the old fool doesn’t have any life outside of *pretending* his opinion is educated! Feel sorry for the idiot – he’s too st*pid to know how foolish he actually looks! Assuming he even is a man – sounds more like another voice pulled out of the Anorexic *SS of Mighty Pukie.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:38 pmNo one should be replying to Jake. He ruins every thread.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:38 pm#17 – I agree. It degrades the whole thread and the web site itself. I come here expecting to read some good commentary from fellow progressives and often feel like I’m back in college reading off the bathroom walls.
I really can’t understand why someone like Jake would continue to post here and constantly start disagreements with everyone. Does he think he’s going to win anyone over? Jake, can you explain what satisfaction you get from this? Why would you prefer to spend so much time hanging out with people who disagree with you? I might spend a little time arguing with right-wingers, but I limit it to very small doses to avoid getting a headache.
Jake, I would argue you’ve got some real issues if this is how you prefer to spend your days.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:40 pmTuber’s right, of course. Just another form of Distraction from the Issue, a favorite tactic of the Right. Along with “Slime the Messenger”, “Clinton Did It First” and “Nothing Here, Folks, But Rank Democrat [sic] Political Partisanship.”
March 26th, 2007 at 7:43 pmThe Politico has been a big disappointment. I thought it would be something I would like to read every day.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:43 pmI don’t like its navigation;
I don’t like its Republican/conservative slant;
I don’t like its inaccuracies. It tries too hard to be first that it gets it wrong.
I have written to them and told them same.
I used to read “The Note” also and left them for similar reasons. They are more blatant than Politico, but given time, I am sure Politico will be indistinguishable from The Note and any other news center that labels itself centrist, but is actually conservative, anti-Democrat.
I expect we will see many more “bad weeks” for them – if they don’t change their methods and slant.
VVGFU – Tuber isn’t referring to Jake, he/she is talking about people who give Jake power by posting to and about him.
Marie – Jake doesn’t ruin the threads, if no one replied to him (myself included), he’d be a non-issue. That said, people are replying because Jake is pushing their buttons, and it’s against human nature to turn the other cheek.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:46 pm#22,
It’s classic PR strategy, pollute the dialog and you end up discrediting the argument/debate from both sides. Such is the easiest way to obscure the truth and lots of folks here are falling for it hook, line, and sinker.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:47 pmvinnie:
I certainly don’t mean to “degrade” the whole thread and the web site itself, but I come here to reach the lurkers — I don’t think I’m going to win anyone on the “Ignore List” over — speaking of which, I would be more than happy to include on said List rather than give you a headache. Let me know.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:48 pm[...] the health care forum, but some important news was made this past weekend. SEIU President Andrew Stern and Center for [...]
March 26th, 2007 at 7:53 pm“I certainly don’t mean to “degrade†the whole thread …”
Well, you do! I don’t see you add any meaningful substance to the conversation. People don’t like you here and, not suprisingly, it gets nasty.
“I come here to reach the lurkers”
What?! You assume there’s some group of people who read your posts, think you’re great and cheer you on, albeit silently? That’s really delusional. I would suggest you go to rushlimbaugh.com or something like that. You’ll be sure to make friends there. Just leave us alone.
“I would be more than happy to include on said List rather than give you a headache. Let me know”
If it means I won’t see any of your posts, then please do.
March 26th, 2007 at 7:55 pmI certainly don’t mean to “degrade†the whole thread and the web site itself, but I come here to reach the lurkers — I don’t think I’m going to win anyone on the “Ignore List†over — speaking of which, I would be more than happy to include on said List rather than give you a headache. Let me know. Comment by Jake — March 26, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
If your intention in “reaching them” is come here to show then what a useless lying piece of sh*t you Conservative idiots are – it’s working…
March 26th, 2007 at 7:55 pm“I come here to reach the lurkers” =
“I hold the opinion that God raised Bush for such a time as we found ourselves after 9/11 — For there is no power but from God: the powers that are, are ordained by God — Romans 13:1 Comment by Jake — March 26, 2007 @ 4:59 pm”
March 26th, 2007 at 7:57 pmpgw, yeah this is the same guy that believes it’s *ok* to destroy the lives, careers and opportunity for “politics”. What a disgusting piece of filthy ignorant trailer park trash Jake is.
March 26th, 2007 at 8:01 pmTo the people who brought us slow-bleed: We wish you better luck in your reporting this week.
yeeow, amanda! … go girl…
good post… good style!
March 26th, 2007 at 8:55 pmFAT-F*CK Rove and THE trolls OF THE BLOGOSPHERE ARE OVERCONFIDENT MORONS, BOMBASTIC IMBECILES, MENDACIOUS MALADROITS(Clumsy Carps), FECKLESS FOOLS, IMPOTENT IDIOTS, BLUNDERING BODACIOUS BABOONS, NIGGARDLY NITWITS, ASININE ANUSES, TEPID TROLLS, BRAINLESS BLUBBERING BANSHEES, DESICCATED DOLTS, GUTLESS GRINNING GHOULS, LEPER-LICKING LICHES, ET CETERA AD NAUSEUM, WHO HAVE NOT LEARNED THEIR LESSONS AFTER BEING BITCH-SLAPPED TIME AND AGAIN—-TIME TO TAKE THEIR NO-ACCOUNT NECKS AND SNAP THEM LIKE ROTTEN TWIGS—-SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! HAH!!!!!
March 26th, 2007 at 9:01 pm#11 Jake
Yes, KRank (I saw that and was reading the links first): Lede is often spelled lead. The odd spelling was adopted when newspaper type was set in lead. To keep from confusing the word for the metal with the word for the beginning sentence, the spelling “lede†was used.
What a piece of work. If you think that was anything but a feeble attempt to cover your gaffe, it all makes sense now why you might think the lame-ass lies and excuses of the White House sound faintly credible.
Admit it. You had no idea what was meant by “lede”. Oh wait, that’s one of those things about Bush and his sycophants. You just can’t admit that you made a mistake. It would kill you.
“Lede” is the common spelling in journalistic parlance, where it’s not considered archaic.
March 26th, 2007 at 9:15 pmWhy do I get the sense that ThinkProgress hasn’t been happy with Politico’s coverage of Shrillary? Funny that there is also now an Obama hit piece up at Politico. What a crock this all is.
March 26th, 2007 at 10:02 pmvinnie:
I don’t assume anyone thinks I’m great and/or cheer me on silently. I am more than happy to include you on the “Ignore List” from now on, but I can’t do anything about your vision probelm — sorry.
pgw:
Are you saying that NO lurkers could gain some insight from God working in mysterious ways?
March 26th, 2007 at 11:25 pm“CONservative:
Southern Baptist here too — we are going to have to agree to disagree that Bush is anywhere close to a KING though (for instance, we know, worse case scenario, his term ends January 20, 2009 ; )
Comment by Jake”
isn’t bill clinton southern baptist too? you seem to enjoy badmouthing one of your own.
March 26th, 2007 at 11:29 pmLet me guess: There will be no love lost between Politico and ThinkProgress.
Heh.
March 26th, 2007 at 11:48 pm#35 How many times have they heard “God works in mysterious ways”? It is kinda stupid. In other words…”I don’t understand it so it must be some wacky old idea of our wonderful creator”. Yeah, smart.
March 27th, 2007 at 12:16 amYou are Southern Baptist, Jake??? Shocking.
March 27th, 2007 at 12:19 amJake,
You are not the first one here who did not undertstand the term “lede.”
Back on Feb. 14, I had to explain it to Briseadh na Faire, who was also ignorant of the term. As I had to explain to BnF:
“Lede†is a journalistic “code†spelling of the word “lead,†when used to describe the opening sentence of a news article.
‘The first paragraph of a news story is the lede. It is often just one sentence, but it can be two. The odd spelling was adopted when newspaper type was set in lead. To keep from confusing the word for the metal with the word for the beginning sentence, the spelling “lede†was used.)’
http://www.uark.edu/~kshurlds/FOJ/HW2.html
Definition: The lede is the first paragraph of a news story that describes the who, what, where, when, why and how. In a feature story it serves the same purpose, but is written in a narrative line. Lede is pronounced like the word “lead†and is often spelled that way by accident.
March 27th, 2007 at 12:53 am#40 Not sure why that was such a mind-blower for Jake. Lede has been used for hundreds of years.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:00 amActually I do know why it blew Jake’s “mind”
March 27th, 2007 at 1:04 amJake,
Why don’t you leave it to God to take care of us hedonistic, liberal types? Or are you suggesting that God needs you to help carry out his neo-con agenda? Couldn’t he just implant conservative ideology into all of our brains if he really wanted to? Maybe he doesn’t want to. He did create Karl Marx after all.
I will admit I’ve participated in some ugly behavior on chat boards in the past. I was going through a divorce and found it fun to last out anonymously at strangers. I admit it was bad behavior and I don’t seek to return to that. The fact that you’re seeking out attention from people that obviously dislike you is really weird. I honestly think you should seek some kind of psychological counseling.
As for the “Ignore” button, I think I know how to operate this all by myself. This site would be much better if we all just ignored you.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:07 am#43 I am glad you have gotten over your anger, Vin. Divorce can definitely be ugly. However, when a toad like Jake posts he needs to be slapped down. We can disagree with reasonable people like Exley but the Jakes of the world need our disdain. They are worthless.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:10 am#44 – I agree. Every now and then I like to bitch slap them and put them in their place. I’m certainly glad to see it get done.
I guess this is a microcosm of the real world – on the one hand, I’d love to ignore Jake and his ilk. On the other hand, if we ignore them and don’t fight back, we’ll end up an even more corrupt, war-mongering government. Yes, that is possible.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:00 am“White House senior adviser Karl Rove once speculated that Politico ‘would prompt regional papers to dismantle their Washington bureaus.’ Reporting that’s wrong won’t have that effect.”
I was under the impression that most regional papers have, in fact, closed down their Washington bureaus and have reverted to taking dictation from Karl Rove and the aptly named Dick Cheney.
March 27th, 2007 at 3:39 amI’ll say this about Politico, they’re right in my case that spending three hours in a room on Saturday listening to Democratic presidential candidates drone on about universal healthcare is indeed NOT how I want to spend my Sat. They’re correct there. And I’m a voting-early-and-often-Dem that supports universal healthcare. So, at least they got something correct.
March 27th, 2007 at 9:06 amWhat,is this something Bush dreamed up,this Politico thing.I mean after all,clearly they are as factless as King George.What a bunch of morons.Sheesh.
March 27th, 2007 at 12:45 pmThat cobra acronym-who can quit their job(I mean it got outsourced) & take over the payments for their health insurance premiums completely? An extrs $4000 a month or so-none if you’ve ever had cancer, they take away your health coverage if you get cancer; the place for the cancerously uninsured is a health clinic, the slang term for them are abortion clinics & if you’re adequately pauver enough they try to kill the cancer out of you.
March 28th, 2007 at 2:36 amPoint missed entirely. The Politico sucks so badly because it is “vertical integration”, Allbritton owns TV stations, so he funds a group of pundits to spin content on his networks. Murdoch/Fox did the same for Bill Kristol. If it sucks and is mandatory distribution, the pundit is a media mogul lacky.
From Wikipedia:
“John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei left The Washington Post to become The Politico’s editor in chief and executive editor, respectively. The Politico is financed by Robert Allbritton, chairman and chief executive of Allbritton Communications, which owns television stations in Washington and elsewhere.”
March 28th, 2007 at 1:04 pm[...] Progress did a quick round-up of The Politico’s bad week, in which they reported Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty was on the verge of resigning for his [...]
March 28th, 2007 at 8:02 pm