WaPo columnist Dan Balz unleashed a torrent of generalizations and speculation at the Clinton campaign yesterday in his entry for The Trail. So far, so good. But what sets this journalist’s review apart from the river, or better, oceans of bloviation that gush from the punditocracy is that this superb, veteran Editor and reporter — 27 years of experience at perhaps the finest paper in the country — placed the turning point for the Clinton campaign’s fortunes, (according to, “advisers to John Edwards,” whoever they are) on — wait for it! — the blogosphere:
Advisers to John Edwards believe Clinton’s troubles began long before the Philadelphia debate. They mark the transition point in the Democratic race to the Yearly Kos conference debate in Chicago in August, when Clinton defended lobbyists and declined to join Edwards and Obama in ruling out Washington lobbyists’ contributions.
Could this be the beginning of the end for our 216-year old Republic. Have our standards declined so far that public opinion has been handed over to bloggers. Fortunately, we’re only talking about advisers to the Edwards campaign, but one wonders if perhaps the BMG Kiss of Death might one day become the Kiss of Life. Oh, the humanity.
I don’t think the whole lobbyist thing has had much traction, despite Edwards wishing it were otherwise. Clinton suffered much, much more from booting the question on driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. In other words, Balz is IMHO basically right, and the unnamed Edwards advisors are wrong about what has caused Clinton’s large leads in the polls to evaporate.
Maybe you are right. Or, if not, maybe someone channeling Joe Trippi đŸ™‚
Joe Trippi is channeling Joe Trippi…same tunes , different candidate…always fighting the evil government empire..outsider brickbatting, fighting for the working slobs who are left out and left behind…so to speak.
Has a very good article by Matt Taibbi here that quotes Trippi on the subject. So, it looks like it’s Trippi channeling Trippi.
Not saying Trippi isn’t accurate in his assessment. I think he is on target more often than he’s given credit for.