tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post3920877123665091694..comments2024-03-29T06:05:04.162+01:00Comments on Robert's Stochastic thoughts: Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455788499385673507noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post-39003092109449808272008-05-23T15:56:00.000+02:002008-05-23T15:56:00.000+02:00The devil slinks away.The devil slinks away.bjkeefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967912817595826059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post-20834750978384090362008-05-17T14:03:00.000+02:002008-05-17T14:03:00.000+02:00To be angel's advocate, I suspect that Dionne knew...To be angel's advocate, I suspect that Dionne knew or suspected that Corker was lying. This makes me disapprove of Dionne's choice even more. I think pundits should not accept lies (notice I said pundits not politicians). Accepting useful lies has a cost. In this case, the benefit is zero. <BR/><BR/>The Republicans will certainly not stop dishonest negative campaigning (it is all they have right now). Nor, I expect, will Democrats.<BR/><BR/> Political consultants look at old polls to see what worked. Dionne will not trick them into playing fair. However, by claiming that such tridcks don't work when the data shows that they do, he might trick semi involved citizens with good intentions into underestimating the threat and not bothering to fight back, say at the water cooler.<BR/><BR/>In fact, knowingly allowing false claims to stand in the paper (or on TV) is part of the very damaging wink wink nudge nudge we insiders know the facts, but we won't tell the rubes attitude which is very damaging. <BR/><BR/>To be charitable, I will assume that Dionne didn't follow the 2004 Tennessee race and was honestly tricked by Corker. The possibility that he chose to pass on the lie for strategic reasons would seriously endanger my respect for Dionne's integrity and intelligence.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455788499385673507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post-49125136424193188762008-05-17T13:07:00.000+02:002008-05-17T13:07:00.000+02:00Good catch, and a salute to you for careful readin...Good catch, and a salute to you for careful reading.<BR/><BR/>Just to play devil's advocate: I could imagine that Dionne went with Corker's spin, whether knowing it was inaccurate or not, because it serves Dionne's larger agenda -- to encourage the Republicans to get out of the sewer in their campaign tactics.bjkeefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967912817595826059noreply@blogger.com