Refocusing the race

Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:23 AM by Carrie Dann
Filed Under: Luke Russert

NBC's own Luke Russert looks at the unfolding financial crisis and the ramifications that it may have for the presidential race.

"First and foremost," he writes in his most recent blog, "this takes the focus away from Governor Sarah Palin, which is exactly what the Obama campaign needs and wants. It also puts the media’s focus back on a real issue, instead of ‘lipstick on a pig.’ Most importantly, it gives both candidates a chance to act presidential and define themselves on economic issues when they have the full attention of the voting public."

Check out Luke's analysis here, at the Off Air blog at NBC's iCue.com.

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Comments

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Actually it puts the focus squarely on Palin and just how unqualified she is to deal with the economy or any other of this nation's problems.

twocanpete (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:42 AM)

Wow. Thanks for that brilliant analysis everyone already knew two days ago.

Jack, Boston, Ma (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:45 AM)

Thank goodness McCain doesn't listen to experts. Otherwise, he would have picked Romney and likely been way ahead right now.

As usual, McCain's refusal to listen to experts hurts him.
Deregulation
Iraq responsible for 9/11
Iraq responsible for Anthrax
WMD in Iraq
Victory in Iraq
Economy is fundamentally strong

Juanita, TX (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:47 AM)

Yes a great deal that the campaign gets focused on the issues, especially the economy. We can't afford 4 more years of the wrecking crew that has caused this global financial crisis with their siren song of government deregulation. Every industry that the repugnant ones deregulate ends up blowing up in their faces and they need to take the blame for the harm they've caused.

We can blame the repugnant ones for the global financial crisis, the failed VooDoo Economics of Ronny Raygunz and his clueless foot soldiers Bush/McCain. We can blame Phil Gramm for deregulating the banking industry and causing the Wall Street Massacre of 9/15/08. After "Bush Hugger" McCain loses on November 4th we'll be seeing him milling around muttering "Beware the Ides of September".

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:50 AM)

Luke, we miss your father. Hats off to you. Concur that Palin's moving off the front burner, but stuff keeps coming out each day on her Alaska problems. Hopefully, a clear an objective investigation will continue.

The joint appearance last night in front of diehard in Grand Rapids revealed a lot of "fluff" and very little of substances. This Republican's had it!

Joe, Southwest Vermont (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:51 AM)

This is an Excellent strategy from the Obama campaign. Have Barack hammer home his economic message & in the process hammer Uncle fester about the Economy also, then have Biden talk up his Foreign Affairs credential's.

It's a Win Win for Barack & Joe.

It also will make Uncle Fester & sarah seperate or be destroyed all over the Country.

Excellent Strategy from Barack & his team !

Rick,Ky (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:52 AM)

when people should be talking about our economy going all to hell you get wolf blitzer on cnn having multipal segments withe the baroness rothchild, a hillary fund raiser now backing mccain/palin as she feels obama is too elite. this comes from someone born with a silver spoon in her mouth and moving up to a gold spoon with marriage. why not be truthful and just say he wouldn't kiss my butt.

ln, nm (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:52 AM)

Obama Ads Carpet Bomb McSame - "He's Sold You Out"!!! Hotlist by Al Rodgers Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 06:23:48 AM PDT
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/18/73346/2819/580/602503

banko (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:53 AM)

This is how we get real change - Obama as president, because with a Democratic Congress, he'll be able to get his agenda passed.

This is how we don't get real change - McCain as president, because with a Democratic Congress, or at least, one half of it Democratic Controlled, he won't get anything done.

The reality is plain and simple, because there is no way we will have a totally republican congress under either scenario.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:53 AM)

Why does the media need such an obvious manifestation of a crisis to keep itself focused?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:53 AM)

MSNBC, Why do you continue showing the "above my paygrade clip" from Sen. Obama and fail to show and talk about Sen. McCain's remark about his greatest moral failure to which he answered - only..."my first marriage," from the same interview. Why can't someone go after him on this. It's about adultery isn't it? It's about character, right? Isn't that as important as Obama's question and answer, MSNBC?

bill, okla (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:53 AM)

The ALL NEW Caribou Barbie

You can dress her and change her positions to make her look like a politician, a caring nurturing mother, an outdoors woman, and now coming this fall, a fall guy.

Prices and policies may vary and are void where prohibited by common sense.

SuperD (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:54 AM)

Joe Biden, when he ran for president, never got more than 1% of the vote. That makes him a wrong choice for VP. He has said so many stupid things like "it's patriotic to have your taxes raised." He should have said "idiotic." And that's just part of the Democratic vacuum that is Joe Biden.

Full Moon (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:54 AM)

Imagine that, a presidential race on issues...

Finally, the american people can look at the issues, what the candidates plan to do about those issues...and make an educated decision.

Obama/Biden 08

GP Chicago (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:55 AM)

What U mean, Luke, is that the Wall Street meltdown FORCES the mainstream media to cover the real issues in this race -- primarily the continuing deteriorating US and world economy -- and which candidate will actually change USG policies that have caused the economy -- and this country to tank.

What a relief -- we are back to REALITY!! Now, we won't have to read any more of the trash and incredibly stupid fluff pieces about "white women" being the key in this election, and how Sarah Palin is their hero substitute for Hillary -- and how the right wing, neo-con, fundamentalist Christian Republicans just luvvvv her -- and are going to bring "victory" to McCain.

U have to wonder what planet these people -- who spout that kind of fantasy and dementia -- live on!! Not the USA, earth, 2008, that's for sure.

LesG, Cayucos, CA (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:56 AM)

this is like a bad dream that keeps repeating itself could we possibly elect someone whose record belies everything he is now saying ?please make this race so one sided we decide the outcome not the supreme court or the diebold co. we must vote and educate ourselves as to what we are voting for and against.

rick maryland (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:56 AM)

Yes, it is the economy stupid!!

Manufacturing jobs leaving the USA!!

Standard of living dropping for the middle class!!

Free trade or Fair Trade?

No regulation or oversight of the financial industry!!

15% tax rate for Hedge fund managers????

Billions being spent on an unnecessary war!!!

A real program of energy independence instead of "give me a tax break now and I will do a better job of exploring for energy" after we pay our CEO a geneous exit package for being around to enjoy the tax breaks !!!

Yep, there are a lot of things more important than an inexperienced unqualified candidate for VP from a state with a population of 500,000.

Joe, Elmira,New York (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:00 AM)

Last night on the Daily Show, Jon Stewart said, "McCain is the only POW who was brainwashed AFTER he was released."

Exactly. Everything that comes out of Palin's and McCain's mouth sounds like they are puppets or robots reciting the party line of the day.

J Gordon, Princeton, NJ (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:00 AM)

Yes, Yes, Yes. The issues. I havent heard McCain give a solution to any problem that we have facing us right now. Not the economy, it is not imperative to write down a plan at this time, says advisor to McCain. No solutions to the war in Iraq, stay the course, General Patreas says not really a victory in
the near future or in the long term either. WOW! 10
to 12 billion dollars a month for GWB and McCains little war that wouldnt cost the Americans a thing, oil will pay for it. Are we going to stay there and keep the security for China to pump their oil.
Yes its time for Issues

Obama/Biden
marty

marty holloman,columbia,s.c. (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:05 AM)

you want part of the focus on palin cause she is beginning to crash and burn as the TRUTH about her comes out and she will be as big a drag as bush/cheney/mccant, this is a no win situation for rethugnutz, they have nothing to offer but DISASTER after DISASTER.

thats a fact jack (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:06 AM)

Yes, Luke your friend has the right feeling. He thinks today that we are in pretty bad shape. But, don’t forget the domino effect this has on the global economy. Our dollar means nada. My friend returned from Cameroon,African a few months ago. They would not accept her money.
Obama knows the fundamentals of values most Americans try to live our by lives and our economy. McCain doesn't get it. Fundamentally, Johnny boy doesn’t understand when Enough Is Enough! Johnny boy, never will get the change he wants. First of all, he needs to understand people are not the…
• rising food prices
• Inflation rates
• Interest rates
• Budget deficit
• rising transportation costs (that would be…(rail, truck, air, mass transit and, vehicles)
• Unemployment rates

This an early Christmas to the people who are really hurting.
With Mccain/Palin, The Worst Is Yet to Come and you get what you got, literally.
Enough
Enough glossing over!
No way!
No how!
No McCain/Palin!
Nobody but Obama/Biden

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:06 AM)

I saw Palin speak--she is nothing but a cheerleader for McCain... made me sick.

Andress (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:06 AM)

Joe, Elmira,New York (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:06 AM)

This is not what Mcdunce wants. He wants the issue to be about the lipschtick and I'll borrow a line from a movie "Pig in a Poke" instead of his dismal record of financial crisis. Remember the Keeting Five anyone? The real issue is the damn cost of living these days, the real issue is not lipschtick on a damn pig! McDunce does not want to face the real issue of this country just like the dunce in chief and his many minions who have helped in making the country what it is today and please don't give me that crap the Democrats are in control of Congress because anybody that does not subscribe to the Repuke mantra can figure out the very slim majority held does not give them real power to change anything. If you think I am nuts just look at the record of Congress and at how many times the repukes blocked stuff and no the dems are not off the hook either. The real issue is the status of this country as it is today!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:08 AM)

Yea. Finally getting back to the issues. Maybe now Palin will be forced to give actual answers to questions and not vague changes of subject...

But then again, maybe not. In yesterday's townhall, she still didn't give a real answer on foreign policy. She just made a snide "joke" about how if people want specifics, they should play the game "stump the candidate".

Does she actually know anything about anything that is vital when a breath away from the presidency? Anybody know? Has she answered any real questions for anyone?

She dodged all around the "hard" questions Charlie Gibson asked her. Will she do the same with Katie Couric?

answer the questions!!! (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:08 AM)

Interesting that the media is crying foul about Senator Obama's ad linking McCain with Rush Limbaugh - Rush Limbaugh spreads lies on behalf of John McCain and the Republican Party 3 hours a day, 5 days a week.

John McCain has not "rejected and denounced" one word. President Buseh (current and former) call in to congratulate Rush Limbaugh on 20 years of hate mongering.

The derogatory words that Rush Limbaugh said about Mexicans actually came out of his mouth. John McCain knew about it. John McCain didn't say A WORD. And this is not the first (or last) time.

The media can try to pretend like the ad is a low blow, but the low blow comes from Mr. Limbaugh, in his own words, the same guy who basically hand picked John McCain's running mate.

John McCain has a MUCH GREATER RELATIONSHIP with Rush Limbaugh than Senator Obama has with William Ayers, yet the right wing radio nuts have been beating that dead horse for months - with an assist by the media - so spare me the phony outrage.

The ad is FAIR and ACCURATE, so don't try to run for your sordid past now, John McCain.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:08 AM)

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