Gruesome, But...

The National Journal strolls with us down memory lane:

The 10 Worst Moments in Presidential Debates

I am surprised that no one moment stood out from the infamous Oct 13 1988 Bush-Dukakis debate. I would guess that it is best remembered for moderator bernard Shaw's question to Mike Dukakis about whether he would rethink his position on the death penalty in the event of a hypothetical rape of his wife. The Duke's answer, paraphrased - I would drown the perpetrator in liberal mush until he knew the meaning of boredom. Oh, let's go to the transcript:

SHAW: For the next 90 minutes we will be questioning the candidates following a format designed and agreed to by representatives of the two campaigns. However, there are no restrictions on the questions that my colleagues and I can ask this evening, and the candidates have no prior knowledge of our questions. By agreement between the candidates, the first question goes to Gov. Dukakis. You have two minutes to respond. Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?

DUKAKIS: No, I don't, Bernard. And I think you know that I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life. I don't see any evidence that it's a deterrent, and I think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime. We've done so in my own state. And it's one of the reasons why we have had the biggest drop in crime of any industrial state in America; why we have the lowest murder rate of any industrial state in America. But we have work to do in this nation. We have work to do to fight a real war, not a phony war, against drugs. And that's something I want to lead, something we haven't had over the course of the past many years, even though the Vice President has been at least allegedly in charge of that war. We have much to do to step up that war, to double the number of drug enforcement agents, to fight both here and abroad, to work with our neighbors in this hemisphere. And I want to call a hemispheric summit just as soon after the 20th of January as possible to fight that war. But we also have to deal with drug education prevention here at home. And that's one of the things that I hope I can lead personally as the President of the United States. We've had great success in my own state. And we've reached out to young people and their families and been able to help them by beginning drug education and prevention in the early elementary grades. So we can fight this war, and we can win this war. And we can do so in a way that marshals our forces, that provides real support for state and local law enforcement officers who have not been getting that support, and do it in a way which will bring down violence in this nation, will help our youngsters to stay away from drugs, will stop this avalanche of drugs that's pouring into the country, and will make it possible for our kids and our families to grow up in safe and secure and decent neighborhoods.

SHAW: Mr. Vice President, your one-minute rebuttal.

BUSH: Well, a lot of what this campaign is about, it seems to me Bernie, goes to the question of values. And here I do have, on this particular question, a big difference with my opponent. You see, I do believe that some crimes are so heinous, so brutal, so outrageous, and I'd say particularly those that result in the death of a police officer, for those real brutal crimes, I do believe in the death penalty, and I think it is a deterrent, and I believe we need it. And I'm glad that the Congress moved on this drug bill and have finally called for that related to these narcotics drug kingpins. And so we just have an honest difference of opinion: I support it and he doesn't.

I recall watching that debate with a very liberal friend, who agreed with my assessment about twenty minutes into it - if this were a fight they would stop it. My favorite moment came when the Duke explained that all his heroes were dead, or at least, nameless. While Dukakis spoke, viewers at home could almost literally see George Bush's wheels turning, and he came to the sensible conclusion that heroes ought to have names. The exchange:

COMPTON: Governor, today they may call them role models, but they used to be called heroes, the kind of public figure who could inspire a whole generation, someone who was larger than life. My question is not, who your heroes were. My question instead is, who are the heroes who are there in American life today? Who are the ones who you would point out to young Americans as figures who should inspire this country?

DUKAKIS: Well, I think when I think of heroes, I think back, not presently, Ann. But there are many people who I admire in this country today. Some of them are in public life in the Senate, the Congress. Some of my fellow governors who are real heroes to me. I think of those young athletes who represented us at the Olympics were tremendously impressive. We were proud of them. We felt strongly about them, and they did so well by us. I can think of doctors and scientists, Jonas Salk who for example discovered a vaccine which cured one of the most dread diseases we ever had. And he's a hero. I think of classroom teachers, classroom teachers that I have had, classroom teachers that youngsters have today who are real heroes to our young people. Because they inspire them. They teach them. But more than that, they are role models. Members of the clergy who have done the same. Drug counselors out there in the street who are providing help to youngsters who come up to me and others who ask for help and want help, are doing the hard work, the heroic work, which it takes to provide that kind of leadership, that kind of counseling, that kind of support. I think of people in the law enforcement community who are taking their lives in their hands everyday, when they go up to one of those doors and kick it down and try to stop this flow of drugs into our communities and into our kids. So there are many, many heroes in this country today. These are people that give of themselves everyday and every week and every month. In many cases they are people in the community who are examples, and are role models. And I would hope that one of the things I could do as president is to recognize them, to give them the kind of recognition that they need and deserve so that more and more young people can themselves become the heroes of tomorrow, can go into public service, can go into teaching, can go into drug counseling, can go into law enforcement, and be heroes themselves to generations yet to come.

SHAW: One minute for Vice President Bush.

BUSH: I think of a teacher right here, largely Hispanic school, Jaime Escalante, teaching calculus to young kids, 80 percent of them going on to college. I think of a young man now in this country named Villadaris, who was released from a Cuban jail. Came out and told the truth in this brilliant book, Against All Hope, about what is actually happening in Cuba. I think of those people that took us back into space again, Rick Houk and that crew, as people that are worthy of this. I agree with the Governor on athletics. And there's nothing corny about having sports heroes, young people that are clean and honorable and out there setting the pace. I think of Dr. Fauci. Probably never heard of him. You did, Ann heard of him. He's a very fine research, top doctor, at the National Institute of Health, working hard doing something about research on this disease of AIDS. But look, I also think we ought to give a little credit to the President of the United States. He is the one who has gotten us that first arms control agreement.

SHAW: Mr. Vice President

BUSH: And the cynics abounded. And he is leaving office with a popularity at an all-time high, because American people

SHAW: Mr. Vice President, your time has expired.

BUSH: say, he is our hero. (Applause)

The Times noticed that too:

The two men differed in style throughout the encounter. Mr. Dukakis, widely rated in the first debate as lacking warmth, sought a more relaxed appearance, and smiled frequently. But when he was asked to list those whom American children should regard as heroes, Mr. Dukakis seemed taken aback and listed general categories of people: doctors and scientists, classroom teachers, policemen and scientists.

Mr. Bush, who answered the question second and had more time to consider his response, replied quickly with the names of Jaime Escalante, the Hispanic educator; Frederick H. Hauck, the commanderr of the space shuttle Discovery, and Armando Valladeres, a Cuban released from a Communist prison who wrote of his experiences.

And a last bit of nostalgia - when the debate ended Dukakis fled the stage as if a skunk had wandered onto it, while Bush hung around to shake hands. As the reporters watched the scene one of them said, roughly, it is not really our job to declare winners and losers here but I will say that after a big football game you generally see the winning team celebrating on the field and the losers head to the locker room.

Since that debate I have never noticed any candidate ever scampering off-stage afterwards, so score one for the consultants.

AND ONE LAST THING: Among the Ten Worst moments is Bush 41's gaffe in looking at his watch during a 1992 debate. But I find the epilogue interesting: in the 2000 Cheney-Lieberman Vice Presidential debate, Cheney mentioned to Lieberman (2:00 min mark) that he had not worn his watch. I have a strong recollection of Bush 43 making the same point after one of his debate appearances, but Google is not helping me out here.

I CAN QUIT ANYTIME: The 2000 Presidential debates gave us The Three Faces of Al - we got hyperaggressive Testosterone Al, medicated Thorazine Al, and finally, "Real Al". Oddly, not quite enough voters were interested in electing three President in one. And Gore's sighs made this list of debate gaffes.

 

 

 

Comments

[Stephanie]

Boo!

[henry]

I do not want to recall how bad many of those debates were. The whole concept deserves a faceplant with chtulu.

[narciso]

actually compared to recent ones, the '88 one was like Lincoln/Douglas,

[rich@gmu]

the three faces of al ... keeper (now if the dems could only get him to run again).

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

No wonder Kitty hit the bottle hard...

[Thomas Collins]

My favorite debate line came pre-debate with ex-Guv of California Reagan explaining who paid for the microphone. Whatever happened to that guy in the '80 election campaign? I also recall a "there you go again" line of his at some point.

[Jim Eagle]

TC,

"there you go again" was his line with Carter. It was during the portion on SS and Medicare.

His line with Mondale was:

"I want you to know also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience."

But do you remember Gerry Ford debating without his helmet when he noted that there was no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford Administration.

[Thomas Collins]

The response to Mondale was another great one, JiB. Yes, I remember Ford's response. The most disgusted I have been with a candidate's antics is Al Gore stalking George W. Bush.

[Dave (in MA)]

In a list of 10 "worst" moments, the one that is credited for possibly winning the Presidency is included?

[danoso]

IIRC the Reagan quip was from the second debate. He didn't look good at all in the first, and there was talk of him slipping. The race pretty much ended with the single line IMHO.

[Thomas Collins]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN7gDRjTNf4

There he goes again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRI6iSrS1kc

Paying for the microphone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiNVqYwVfWE

Making fun of his age in a speech.

[jimmyk]

The most disgusted I have been with a candidate's antics is Al Gore stalking George W. Bush.

But the little nod W gave Al was priceless.

[rich@gmu]

>>>The most disgusted I have been with a candidate's antics is Al Gore stalking George W. Bush.

Posted by: Thomas Collins | August 13, 2015 at 11:36 AM<<<

was that before or after naomi klein tried to turn him into an alpha male in a three, earth toned-three piece suit ...

... and gravitas, always about the gravitas.

[Miss Marple]

In one of those Gore debates I was convinced that they had made him up to look like Reagan.

[Dave (in MA)]

.

[rich@gmu]

Posted by: Dave (in MA) | August 13, 2015 at 11:42 AM -

she's a millennial and it is the dog days of summer ... all that is ancient history and anything that brought about the dark days of the Reagan Terror has to be bad.

[Porchlight]

But the little nod W gave Al was priceless.

Yes, and classic GWB, though we didn't know that at the time.

[Porchlight]

Huma lawyers up: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/hillary-clinton-email-probe-turns-to-huma-121314.html

[Jeff Dobbs]

Wait a second...

The ATP fined Nick Kyrgios on Thursday for his ''insulting remark'' toward French Open champion Stan Wawrinka during a match at the Rogers Cup.

Greek last name, initials NK, plays tennis. I mean, if they say he refs soccer matches then....

...the 20-year-old Australian...

Ah, false alarm.

[narciso]

plus, the 'flop sweat' isn't a moment, well credentialed is she,

[GUS]

Why would Huma Weiner need to LAWYER UP.
Everything Rodham did was completely a-ok.
Right??

[Dave (in MA)]

At least he didn't tell him his wife tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios.

[Thomas Collins]

Well, I have no idea what Huma knew or did, or when she knew or did it, but I know this as a general matter: If one is subject to a criminal investigation or one in which a criminal investigation could be on the table, one is not treated better by the federales if one goes commando. It's always better to lawyer up with a Kendall type if one can afford it.

[Jim Eagle]

Kygios is the same guy who decided not to return Patrick Gasquet's thunderous serve during one game in the second set (IIRC(. His excuse was it was unreturnable so why bother. He even hugged a ball boy (big no-no at Wimbledon) and swore up a storm at the Referee.

He is another McEnroe minus the talent - so far. Lots of potential if you ask him.

[Jim Eagle]

My 12:50 takes place at this year's Wimbledon.

[Miss Marple]

Gus, exactly MY question.

And she just hasn't hired ONE lawyer.

"Abedin has hired a team of lawyers, one of whom is a former Clinton aide, who are responding to information requests from the courts and State."

Bolding is mine. A team of lawyers, huh? Seems to me that this should be pretty cut and dried if she has nothing to do but "respond to information requests." Why would she need a team?

[henry]

An interesting item found by our lurking friend:
Anyone else catch this? Boehner? McConnell? McCain?

@varghesekoshy: American Paratroopers in Ukraine Have Putin Rattled http://t.co/RVn3xc6oUk via @thedailybeast

[Thomas Collins]

In the matter in which Huma is involved, Miss Marple, there is no such thing as a simple information request. She needs legal counsel. She may be guilty as sin. However, even if she is 99 44/100 ivory snow pure, she needs counsel.

It is one of the great myths that if one is actually innocent and is involved in a criminal investigation, one doesn't need legal counsel. Those who are actually innocent may be most at risk. They are the ones who haven't thought about an alibi.

[henry]

BTW, the link above is weird.

[narciso]

yes, put its more likely a pack of lawyers, I've never had that problem with linkis

[henry]

Do not click on it... it does not appear trustworthy.

TM, a delete of my 12:57 is appropriate.

[narciso]

so it's going to be a zen campaign, like maverick and mittens:

http://www.nationaljournal.com/against-the-grain/the-republican-presidential-candidate-who-won-t-attack-hillary-clinton-20150813

[Miss Marple]

narciso,

OFGS! NOTHING will demoralize the GOP faster than this strategy, which is why everyone got so down on W.

LOSER!

[GUS]

Thomas, of course she needs a gaggle of lawyers, she and Rodham have broken the law numerous times. I understand the situation completely, your average govt employee who also works for the CRIME FAMILY SYNDICATE FOUNDATION needs lawyers. Thomas, how has this nation gotten to the point, where 3 full years after 4 Americans were murdered by MUZZTARD TERRORISTS, the stonewalled investigation has led us to HUMA and her LAWYERS?

[narciso]

needs more paste,

http://therightscoop.com/chuck-todd-joe-biden-thinks-hillary-is-running-a-terrible-campaign/

mailman, is being advised by john weaver, who's been known to crash the truck and set fire to it,

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

-- It's always better to lawyer up with a Kendall type if one can afford it. --

Since this all occurred while they were under the employ of Uncle Sammmy, who is paying for the Kendalls, them or us?

[Thomas Collins]

Well, GUS, I'd say lawyers haven't been the primary problem. Although most of the lawyers I know toe the coastal prog line, there are many other people, in all walks of life, who have either bought into it or vote that way even though they think they're voting for the party of Barbara Jordan and Scoop Jackson. Voters in all walks of life in 2008 voted in a manner to allow The Hill and her crew to damage out diplomatic and national security interests.

[Thomas Collins]

I hope it's them, Ignatz. i'll defer to those more knowledgeable on the rules governing reimbursement or non-reimbursement by the government of former officials' legal expenses.

[narciso]

'the horror, the horror'

http://www.steynonline.com/7101/the-two-party-one-party-state

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Dear God, read narc's mailman link and tell me there aren't a shitload of bent cards in his deck. To paraphrase Miss Marple, a presidential campaign isn't the proper venue for coming to grips with your demons.

[Porchlight]

one of whom is a former Clinton aide

AKA "lots of practice"

[GUS]

Gus disclaimer. My brother knows Abedin-Weiner and is NOT IMPRESSED. There are 2 words that would describe Mrs Weiner. One starts with B, the other starts with C.
1) Bill Clinton influence peddled and recieved MILLLLLLLLIONS from foreign govts BEFORE DURING and AFTER Cankles Rodham was Sec State. CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
2)HUMA ABEDIN-WEEEEEEEEEINER worked for BOTH The Clinton Crime family foundation and the State Dept AT THE SAME TIME. How can this not be a conflict of interest.
FOREIGN GOVTS GIVING MONEY TO THE CLINTONS, WHILST Granny Corona was Sec/State or even a candidate is WRONG. How hard is this to understand AMERICA??? Don't give me a bullshit line about the CLINTON'S doing good charity work, because that isn't what they are doing with this money. They are employing political friends and living the HIGH LIFE.

[narciso]

he's picked a special whizzo chocolate sampler, while searching for the pony, 'eh mr. weaver, haven't you tried this scheme before,

[Porchlight]

I heard Kasich on Ingraham's show this morning and he actually sounded pretty good, overall. He did try the "you can't deport 12 million" line with her and she politely tore him down.

[narciso]

interestingly she's got marks on all the scorecards,

http://www.bsfllp.com/lawyers/data/2103

[Miss Marple]

It may be that we can't deport 12 million. We could start by actually deporting anyone convicted of a crime. Then start figuring out other ways to get the numbers down.

At least it would reduce the crime rate.

[narciso]

so as you see here, some lonely tech will be scapegoated, as happened in the body bomber case.

[Porchlight]

Exactly, MM. And if we also cut their benefits and stop hiring them and stop letting them bring their family over, a significant number will self-deport.

Kasich did strongly support building the fence, but there's no reason you can't do all of the above.

[Porchlight]

Sometimes Ace nails it:

"The earnestly naive Bernie Sanders is who the Democratic party wants to be. The corrupt and venal Hillary Clinton is who they are."

[squaredance]

throw people in jail if they hire, rent or loan to them, and they will be gone in 6 months

It is a complete lie that we cannot deport them.

You could crowdsource the whole cost online in 6 weeks.

[narciso]

your daily belmont,

http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2015/08/12/cloak-and-dagger-again/

[narciso]

other things that make you go hmm:

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/08/13/do-we-care-about-boys-and-men/

[James D]

who is paying for the Kendalls, them or us?

Donors to the Clinton Crime Family Foudnation, no doubt.

[Old Lurker]

I am way behind on the threads.

Saw Jane's comment last night about somebody at Clintons stripping the TS headers off emails on her server. The spin I see on that at Drudge et al is that perhaps it was stripped before it got to Clinton and her server (making her look lily white) so the question is who in her inner circle would do that.

Is that not the least likely sequence?

Is it not much more likely that her server was filled with all sorts of classified documents that went to and from Hillary and her staff all the time and just piled up on the server the whole time?

Then the heat got turned up on making her produce the "work related emails" and that was when the documents were edited then printed out so that Hillary could lie that "no emails were MARKED TS at the time...". This would have been one of those document parties in the basement at State that we heard about before.

If that is the way it went down, then a whole lot of lawyers in DC are going to get rich.

[Buckeye]

Deporting 12 million or so illegal aliens wouldn't be that difficult. Several railroads are bringing train after train of goods into the US from Mexico every day.

For the most part, they are returning empty. Offer the railroads $100/head.

[henry]

And why all Hilligula's aides are lawyering up.

[Porchlight]

OL, can forensics experts figure out when the headers were stripped?

[Porchlight]

It would be politically difficult. But you're right, Buckeye. Why we let those trains through in the first place I'll never understand.

[narciso]

they would leave like a watermark no,

[narciso]

so mrs. dunn has a large portfolio,

[Buckeye]

My 1:46 is step 1

Step 2 is a jobs training program in the 'hood on how to cut grass and trim hedges. Mandatory for 18-24 year old people of gummint assistance.

I started cutting grass when I was 11. Didn't kill me.

[GUS]

What a great thread.
The FOREIGN GOVTS that contribute to the CCFF a.k.a Clinton Crime Family Foundation, are going to defend the CLINTON CRIME FAMILY!!!! FULL CIRCLE ELEVENTY!!!!!11111
Thomas, you are correct, most "coastal" lawyers are progs, and couldn't be bothered with RIGHT V WRONG.

[sbwaters]

squaredance: You could crowdsource the whole cost online in 6 weeks.

Whether true or hyperbole, this line was a great laugh. Thank you.

[Buckeye]

"Why we let those trains through in the first place I'll never understand."

So VW can make nice margins selling Mexican made Jettas to Americans.

[narciso]

credentialed idiocy of a high level:

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6329595&postID=609088310484614052&bpli=1

[sbwaters]

[Pointer to credentialed idiocy]

Narciso, I'm not sure what you do in your spare time.

[GUS]

Old Lurker, there IS a REASON, why Rodham set up a "private" server.

Hint: the word PRIVATE is the reason.

Why is there no discussion of this. If Tim Geithner had brought wheel barrows full of GOLD home from FT KNOX and the GOVT/TREASURY DEPT asked him to give it back. Would they allow him to give back whatever portion he chose???
I gave back all of the GOVERNMENTS gold, and you cannot search my house!!

[JiB]

It is staggering and incomprehensible to me that the SoS of the USA would not be receiving large amounts of TS and SCI as well as NOFORN every freaking day. And the IG for Intel can only find 4 of 400 random? Someone is hiding the cheese big time.

[narciso]

of course, we saw the cable traffic from wikileaks,
it's defies logic, but that is what they offer us,
on a platter,

[Dave (in MA)]

Rodham's minions and lackeys deflated her e-mails.

[GUS]

No Jack, Rodham was following all rules. JUST SHUT UP and get her some ICED TEA.

[narciso]

this could all sorts of wrong:

http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/celebrities/article30994560.html

[henry]

narciso, now Congress can defund PBS wihout hurting big bird.

[narciso]

everything happens by happenstance:

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/business/joseph-rossell/2015/08/13/networks-ignore-obamas-broken-promises-cybersecurity-90

[narciso]

yes, but what idiocy will they replace it with,

[GUS]

Rodham said she didn't use GOVT e-mail, rather she used her own server and Private e-mail accounts.

WHERE DID THE CLASSIFED AND T/S shit go to??

[narciso]

to another server altogether, they don't really get rid of all that data,

[jimmyk]

I heard Kasich on Ingraham's show this morning and he actually sounded pretty good, overall.

Porch, did he happen to mention his father was a mailman?

[Rick Ballard]

"WHERE DID THE CLASSIFED AND T/S shit go to??"

The Russians say the good stuff was in the RECIPES folder, the Chinese insist they got more from the WEDDING PLANS folder and the Persians say it was pretty evenly scattered throughout.

[Jim Eagle]

GUS,

Been meanint to ask you what kind of store you have? Is it a sporting goods store?

[mcl]

Is the system within the state department that Rodham's server was connected to classified or unclassified? I don't think I have read that anywhere, but presumably it was an unclassified system. Any separate classified system handling TS or Secret information would not have been physically connected to another unclassified system. The satellite images would have to have been printed on one system and then scanned onto the unclassified system or moved via some removable media, both of which are major security violations. On the other hand, if her server was connected to a classified system, then she is in much worse trouble.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Gus's 2:16 has me laughing a lot.

[Thomas Collins]

Rick, Kim Jong Un was especially interested in the following yoga pose: Staring Serenely While Micturating in Pants at Machine Guns About to be Fired Due to Dear Leader Making Another Change in the Organizational Chart. And Vlad Putin enjoyed the yoga pose titled Reset of Reset of Reset. . . .

[sbwaters]

Ben Carson hinted at the underlying issue when he suggested problem solving was more useful than 9000 years of political experience.

The way I see it:

We live in a culture where information is confused with wisdom.

[Cispigmented Heteronormative Microagressive Ignatz]

SQ's 1:37 is EXACTLY right.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

The more I think about it, Kasich's goofy evangelical populism could be hilarious against the addled Rodham. I could see him fielding a question about race relations by bragging about "how we do it in Ohio" and then saying "I don't know what state my opponent is claiming to be from for the purpose of this debate but whichever it is they did worse" as Muffer falls to the floor moaning about blod clots.

[Jim Eagle]

Who's SQ? Ah, SD is at 1:37. And I agree especially with crowdfunding it. I be willing to pay for one of Porch's rail car one way.

[Cispigmented Heteronormative Microagressive Ignatz]

SQ/SD is particularly correct because the E-Verify system already exists and works quite well. That it is not absolutely perfect does not mean it wouldn't eliminate the vast majority of illegal alien hiring were it mandatory and given enforcement teeth.

[GUS]

I have a lapel pin from the Reagan Library.
It says..

It CAN be done.

I also have a pin from the Kasich Library.
It says..

I CAN be dumb.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

So will the impact of Trump cause whoever the ultimate GOP candidates are to tell the Gas Chamber of Commerce to pedal their crap elsewhere?

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

GUS is just crushing it today; must be residual angst from having smacked buttbuster around.

[Jane]

Saw Jane's comment last night about somebody at Clintons stripping the TS headers off emails on her server. The spin I see on that at Drudge et al is that perhaps it was stripped before it got to Clinton and her server (making her look lily white) so the question is who in her inner circle would do that.

There is a problem with this tho - the stuff that was labeled "Top Secret" is apparently obvious in it's Top Secrecy - they keep mentioning something from space or something that anyone would know was at that level of secret, so it isn't an excuse.

Now they seem to be saying "Maybe she didn't see it"?

Yeah, now that's a great Secretary of State.

[GUS]

Thanks Capn.
Jane, how could Rodham know which e-mails needed deleting because of SEXY SEXY CANKLES YOGA PICS, and not come across CLASSIFIED E-MAILS or TOP SECRET E-MAILS.

The classified or Top Secret e-mails were in large quantities. They just missed a few when they started the coverup.

[Porchlight]

Porch, did he happen to mention his father was a mailman?

Ha. Probably, but I can't confirm b/c I didn't hear the whole interview.

[Marlene]

Howie Carr is on a John Kerry rant.Howie said Kerry is the highest ranking official from the Commonwealth to go to Cuba since the other JFK in 1957.Howie said JFK and his buddies were on a "fact finding" trip,with hookers provided by the mob.Ha.

[Porchlight]

The headers on the emails are a red herring.

One of the many reasons you don't use a private server in your basement is because classified things might come through it.

Whether she knew something was classified or not means NOTHING. She set up the server, therefore she is responsible. PERIOD.

[GUS]

Porchlight, did you just say Cankles Rodham "is responsible"??
Ha! She's responsible for a sale uptick at CORONA BREWING CO.

[jimmyk]

I would turn it around: How could a Secretary of State not be getting classified or TS e-mail? If she didn't, what would that say about her? Where is the order from her not to send any classified info by e-mail? How did she receive classified info if not by e-mail?

I know there is still such a thing as "diplomatic cable," but this article (from 2010) suggests that there's not much distinction between that and e-mail.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2010/11/whats_a_diplomatic_cable.html

[Porchlight]

She would drink Corona, GUS.

[Porchlight]

I would turn it around: How could a Secretary of State not be getting classified or TS e-mail? If she didn't, what would that say about her? Where is the order from her not to send any classified info by e-mail? How did she receive classified info if not by e-mail?

That too, jimmyk. It would be impossible to do her job without receiving classified info somehow. The fact that she says some things weren't labeled classified means that some things WERE labeled classified.

"Secretary Clinton, did you ever receive classified information via email? If not, how did you receive it?" WHY doesn't anyone ask her these things? And check up on the answers? Even the questions they do ask her aren't that great.

I really don't think Gowdy knows what he's doing. And I don't want to think that.