Tuesday, November 11, 2008

MSNBC's coverag on election night

The 2008 election ended up being a landslide victory for the now president-elect Barack Obama. While John McCain showed fight and hope early, once Obama won Ohio the election was basically his.

MSNBC’s coverage of the election showed and predicted everything just as NBC did, but that was a good thing. After Obama won Ohio they showed that with an inevitable victory coming in California he would only need five more electoral votes and how he surely had that and more to come.

They also constantly updated all the other races constantly as did all the other networks. They also, kept showing the updated red/ blue map of the United States as more and more states were declared. On their website, they also, had the same map and a list of all the other races.

MSNBC’s coverage of the election was very good in an election where it wasn’t very difficult after the first couple of hours to predict who would win. They called states as soon NBC called states. Their analysts shifted quickly to what an Obama win meant for both candidates and did a good job focusing on the senate races and control of congress as soon as Obama won and it became clear he would win. In the end, MSNBC’s coverage was a winner just like Obama.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

SNL Characters on election

Fred Armisen, Tina Fey, Darrell Hammond, and Jason Sudeikis have been playing Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, John McCain, and Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live sketches leading up to the election next week. Based on the interviews of these cast members and how it affects their schedule the following is a fictional conversation of the SNL players celebrating after one of their shows.

Tina Fey: I’m glad this election is almost over.

Jason Sudeikis: Why’s that? Hasn’t it been fun being back on SNL?

Tina Fey: Certainly but I’m so busy with 30 Rock and everything else. I really can’t handle much more.

Jason Sudeikis: What if McCain comes back and wins?

Tina Fey: Haha! O God, I hope not.

Fred Armisen: Me too. I haven’t had this much screen time ever. This barack impersonation has been my meal ticket.

Darrell Hammond: I really love portraying John McCain, but I’ve already done over a hundred celebrity impersonations over my tenure so I know I’ll begetting screen time no matter what. I’ll probably be somebody in Obama’s cabinet.

Jason Sudeikis: I like playing Biden. I feel like I get to yell at people a lot.

Tina Fey: Well hey, no matter how it goes it’s been a fun election.

Sudeikis/ Hammond/ Armisen: Here! Here!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Candidates SNL Reactions

The following are mock letters written by the candidates running in the 2008 election.

Dear Lorne Michaels,
I would just like to say that fellow playing me on SNL does a wonderful job impersonating me. He really hit the nail on the head with me. I am a maverick. I am a straight-talker. And I have crossed party lines numerous times over the year to the dismay of my own party. That’s what we need from our next president someone who will cross party lines and be bipartisan, unlike that other guy. That’s why I want to thank you for your upcoming vote. Clearly, you’ve seen us for who we are and that’s why I know I can count on at least one vote out of New York.
Sincerely,
John McCain

To Whom It May Concern:
The lovely Tina Fey does a wonderfully hilarious impersonation of me. She’s so pretty and smart. She seems like she has a little maverick in her. Maybe one day she can run for vice-president. I still don’t know exactly what the V.P. does so maybe she’s as or even more qualified then me. Anyways I do have one complaint. I think you’ve been far too easy on Obama. I think you need to have sketches having him hanging out and playing basketball with terrorist like William Ayers. Maybe even Osama? These are just a few suggestions from a regular, maverick hockey mom.
Love,
Sarah Palin ♥

Dear Mr. Michaels,
Even though I’m running for the highest most powerful office in the world, I understand humor still plays an important role in society. I understand this because I am a very, very understanding person. Now, while you’ve really hit on John McCain and Sarah Palin and even Hilary Clinton, I think you’ve missed the boat on me a little. First off I’ve been a much better and eloquent speaker then you’ve had me portrayed. In fact, I could probably right some pretty funny jokes for you as I’m actually quite a funny guy. On another note, I would like to thank you for being much harsher on the McCain campaign and their gaffes then my own. John might say this is the media being biased but we know it’s the media doing what’s right for the country.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama

Dear Lorne,
Even though I’m running for the highest most powerful office in the world I still watch SNL. You guys are hilarious. Really, you guys are hilarious. Adam Sandler does a wonderful impersonation of me. Though I have to say I think my hair looks a little better in real life and is even a little blonder. I also, love your McCain humor. He’s a great guy, a dear friend, and has a terrific sense of humor but your portrayal of him as a nutcase should help us win this election, although sometimes I wish the ticket could be McCain/ Biden. Nonetheless, come Thanksgiving I fully expect Obama/ Biden will be wrapping up this election with a final push.
Your Next Vice-President,
Joseph Biden

Tuesday, October 14, 2008



The following is a fictional twittering conversation between John McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt and Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe during the second presidential debate.

Plouffe (0:40)- Why does Tom get to pick the questions?

Schmidt (3:28)- So is he going to answer the question?

Plouffe (7:22)- giving a lot power to an unnamed source?

Schmidt (8:50)- looks like you don’t have anyone either o and you completely ignored the question

Schmidt (10:15)- Does anyone know how this bailout works?

Plouffe (10:16)- I don’t think so.

Schmidt (11:49)- Well aren’t we getting chippy early tonight.

Plouffe (13:00)- There’s chippy for you.

Schmidt (14:25)- O the I don’t point fingers even though I already did.

Plouffe (23:30)- again with the partisan.

Schmidt (24:00)- That’s right you need to be able to multitask when you’re the President.

Schmidt (25:10)- Is your candidate comparing himself to JFK and his race to the moon.

Schmidt (26:38)- You believe this guy rushing are candidates.

Plouffe (26:39)- Tom becomes the moderator and he thinks he’s The Almighty.

Plouffe (28:10)- That’s not going to be too popular

Schmidt (28:11)- Doesn’t matter he’s a straight talker.

Schmidt (33:10)- He’s a doctor now.

Schmidt (35:27)- Yes, that’s the point we want to get across!

Plouffe (36:00)- Tom! Let him respond.

Schmidt (37:00)- So he’s already serving two terms.

Plouffe (37:34)- Sounds better then your plan.

Plouffe (39:25)- Is that cause he can’t respond

Schmidt (40:14) Looks like he’s responding right now.

Schmidt (42:40) Good John keep separating yourself from Bush.

Plouffe (44:10) These are great points by Barack.

Plouffe (45:10) 23! Really? Ouch!

Schmidt (45:12) That’s misrepresenting the numbers.

Plouffe (45:16) You guys haven’t done that.

Plouffe (46:20) Brokaw’s has jokes.

Schmidt (46:21) Your candidate blames mine, surprise, sure the media will too.

Schmidt (47:46) Look at john cracking Tom up.

Plouffe (49:12) Where is your candidate walking too.

Plouffe (1:24:48) Well I think we did pretty well again.

Schmidt (1:25:56) I think John won the debate.

Plouffe (1:26:02) I think Barack won. We’ll see what the polls say.

Schmidt (1:26:18) I’ll talk to you during the third debate.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

TW Cable: Here’s how to watch TV online

I read this article on lostremote.com about a dispute by Time Warner Cable and Lin TV. Apparently Lin TV wants to be paid by Time Warner for airing there shows and have gone dark since being rebuffed. However, the odd thing is Time Warner has posted a tutorial on how to watch shows online for free. This is odd as usually cable channels want their shows to be watched on television and are against people watching shows online unless its through a way in which they can better themselves. I guess Time Warner is just that upset with Lin TV.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

print v online

The New York times print article versus online article (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/business/29bill.html?ex=1380427200&en=933b094dee82628a&ei=5124).

The articles are both written exactly the same and have the same amount of words. However, they are presented in different contexts. The print version starts on the front page with the headline above the fold and then continues on A15. On the other hand, the print version is presented in its entirety on one page. The online article allows you to on certain words or phrases in the article such as Federal Reserve or Henry M. Paulson Jr. which redirects you to a definition or small biography. Neither version of the article is accompanied by pictures.

McCain and Obama mudslinging ads

The 2008 election has been full of each presidential candidate making harsh accusations about the other. The television campaign ads have been called into question by both sides.
The Huffington Post headline read, “Gutter Politics: McCain Campaign Called Out For Half-Truths” in response to one of McCain’s ads against Obama. In the add in question, the McCain ad said Obama agreed to teaching kindergarteners about sex education.

Obama responded, “It is shameful and downright perverse for the McCain campaign to use a bill that was written to protect young children from sexual predators as a recycled and discredited political attack.”
This is just one example of the half-truths that have been spun in ads this far. Obama did the same in his most recent ad as well. In the ad, he portrays McCain as old and out of touch but doesn’t mention that the Arizona Senator’s war injuries are what actually prevent him from using computers for an extended period.

Obama’s own running-mate Joe Biden said, “making fun of John McCain’s inability to use a computer, I thought that was terrible.”
Biden said if he had known about it they wouldn’t have done it. However, he did go on to say he did not believe the ad was intentionally personal and was not nearly as bad as the McCain ads.
Obama’s most recent ad defends himself from accusations made by McCain and point the “sleaziness” and “half-truths” by McCain as the only negative parts.
Nonetheless, with so much name calling already, the 2008 election has taken on a very negative vibe and it will be interesting to see if new ads continue to go in the same direction or try to take on a more positive light.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

FoxNews.com rolls with Strategy Room

http://blackboard.quinnipiac.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_51334_1&frame=top

I found lostremotes.com's article on "FoxNews.com rolls with Strategy Room" very interesting. The article talks about foxNews' new online strategy room experiment which is a nine hour show instead of usual half hour. The just talk politics on the show and don't waste time with graphics and videos. Also, since it's a longer format I would assume they are able to delve deeper into certain topics rather then just giving the same general things you hear on every channel. However, this probably wouldn't be the the best show to watch for a quick synopsis of what is going on. Nonetheless, the next time I have a few hours to watch the news, I think I would liketo check this out.

Quinnipiac Polls Show Palin helping McCain in Swing States

The Quinnipiac Polling Institute is famous for its accurate and thorough surveys. The New York Post selected the Quinnipiac poll a winner for the most accurate prediction on the Schumer-D'Amato Senate race in 1998. The polls results are featured regularly in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and on national network news broadcasts.

With a presidential election just a few months away, the Polling Institute has provided many surveys gauging which way the election will go. Two recent surveys show Vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin giving McCain a boost in several key swing states since being named as his running-mate.

The polls shows Palin giving McCain a two to three point boost in the states of Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Michigan. While, in Minnesota and Wisconsin she has given him a huge 12 and six point boosts respectively. Obama still maintains a slight lead in all of these states with the exception of Florida. The polls found the main reason for Obama’s lead is the demand for change.

Despite the gains from McCain, Peter Brown, Assistant Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, still gives an edge to the democratic ticket.

“With a lousy economy, an unpopular war and an even less Republican president, it’s difficult to find voters who don’t want change.”

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

linking

quinnipiac.edu

Interactive Narratives

I find the interactive narratives (http://www.interactivenarratives.org/) a very interesting website. The website has a bunch of articles from different websites. They provide you with the headline and a small blurb allowing you to know what the article is about. if the article peeks your interest you can click on the link and it redirects you to the whole article on whatever webpage it came from. I think this is a good idea because the website provides you with a bunch of interesting articles from a variety of sources.

The Democratic Ticket

Democratic Ticket
Senator Barack Obama’s selection of Senator Joseph Biden, like McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin, allows for the candidates to compliment one another issues where they do not see eye to eye and appeal to more voters.

Issue
Iraq War

Barack Obama has made withdrawing troops from Iraq with a timetable one of the main focal points of his campaign. He is against sending any additional troops to Iraq. He does not believe in the United States having a long term presence in Iraq.
Joe Biden supports a timetable for U.S. troops leaving Iraq. He has and continues to disprove any idea of sending in additional troops. He supports the United States having a long-term presence in Iraq.

Gun Rights
Obama supports restrictions on access to firearms. He strongly supports a ban on assault weapons and is a board member of the Joyce Foundation. The foundation helps serve gun control organizations in the U.S.
Biden wants to keep the assault weapons ban and close the gun show loophole. Otherwise Biden seems to support keeping the status quo on gun control. However, the National Rifle Association gave Biden an F on pro-gun right policies.

Abortion
Barack Obama believes in a women’s right to choose and supports Roe v Wade. However, he says he does believe states can properly restrict late-term abortions as long as there is a provision protecting the mother. Admits he is unsure when life begins.
Joe Biden believes allowing women to choose but is against federal funding claiming it would impose a view. He supports partial-birth abortion ban but is not against overturning Roe v Wade. Biden believes life occurs at conception.

Gay Marriage
Obama opposes gay marriage but is a strong supporter of civil unions. And would like to extend federal rights and benefits to same sex couples.
Biden believes civil unions are ok feeling government has to prevent all discrimination. He is against gay marriage arguing the government should not be able to dictate religious views but goes on to say it is probably inevitable.

Global Warming
Barack Obama believes humans play a significant role in the cause of global warming.
Joe Biden is a strong believer human pollution is a significant cause of a global warming.

Drilling for Oil
Barack Obama is strongly against drilling for oil in the United States. He believes in funding searches for alternative methods of fuel.
Joe Biden strongly opposes drilling for oil domestically. He believes in investing in alternative forms of fuel.

Obama’s selection of Joe Biden as his vice-presidential candidate can help squash some of the concerns voters have of him. NPR columnist Jennifer Ludden says Biden complements Obama on foreign policy experience, knowledge of the inner workings of Washington, and an appeal to working-class voters- all criticism the McCain camp have hurled at the presidential nominee. However, Ludden does mention Biden sometimes sticks his foot in his mouth.

These are links of sites where information for this entry where obtained
http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/joe_biden.htm
http://glassbooth.org/explore/index/joe-biden/2/gun-control/9/
http://glassbooth.org/explore/index/barack-obama/11/iraq-and-foreign-policy/5/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93906342

Tuesday, September 9, 2008


View Larger Map

Republican Ticket's Ideology

When choosing a running-mate for the Presidential ticket, candidates are careful to choose someone who aligns with them ideologically, but someone who will also help compliment them and bring in another demographic of voters towards their camp. This will lead to some different stances on issues.

Republican Ticket: John McCain and Sarah Palin
(Presidential Nominee) (Vice-Presidential Nominee)


Issue
Iraq War: McCain has always been a strong advocate of the war. He believes the United States cannot leave Iraq until the government there is stabile
Palin has not had to comment on the Iraq War until recently but since coming to the spotlight has supported McCain’s views. Her son is in the military and will be heading to the war.
Gun Rights: McCain has recently said he completely supports no gun control but has in the past has supported bills limiting gun rights
Palin has completely been for gun rights her entire tenure in politics and is even a member of the NRA (National Rifle Association)
Abortion: McCain has always voted pro-life. However, he has said he believes there should be exceptions (rape, incest). He has come out and stated he will look to appoint judges to overturn Roe v Wade
Palin is pro-life and would like to see abortion ended. Her 17-year old daughter is pregnant and will keep the baby.
Gay Marriage: McCain supports marriage between a man and women. However, he does not rule out that possibility of allowing others to have some sort of legal agreement.
Palin is for marriage only being allowed between a man and a women though she says she has gay friends and is sympathetic to concerns over discrimination.
Global Warming: McCain has acknowledged global warming exist and believes man has helped to worsen the problem.
Palin believes global warming is not man made and has even asked polar bears to be taken off the endangered species list.
Drilling for Oil: McCain is not an advocate of drilling for oil though recently has admitted he would do so if elected though he has reservations about it.
Palin has been a long time supporter of drilling for oil in Alaska. She said her and McCain have agreed to disagree on the value of drilling for oil.

McCain’s selection of Palin helps to secure confidence of Republican voters leery of his position on some of the aforementioned issues. She also helps to bring women voters, especially Hilary Clinton supporters dissatisfied with Obama, to the Republican side. Palin is also considered religious something important to many Republican voters whil McCain is considered much moderate. Also, at forty-four, Palin helps bring youth to the campaign of the seventy-two year old McCain. Finally, Palin fits the mold of McCain’s maverick/ reformer identity as she has been against and stopped corruption as Governor of Alaska.

These are links of sites where information for this entry where obtained
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/6609
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/16/obama-and-mccain-try-to-woo-conservative-voters-at-forum/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-04-19-mccain_N.htm

Thursday, September 4, 2008

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/01/palin-my-daughter-is-preg_n_122947.html

This is a big article as it is the first scandal to hit Palin in her short tenure in the public eye. It's very interesting how Palin's daughter is pregnant considering how Republicans are conservative. However, with Palin's daughter keeping the baby this may help keep Republicans happy as they are pro-life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=joe%20biden&st=cse&oref=slogin

This is a good article for those who do not know too much about Senator Obama's running mate. It also gives a look into why Obama chose Biden. The article also discusses how the news broke and how the Obama campaign chose to leak the information to the media.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09042008/news/politics/37_2_million_watch_palins_speech_127498.htm

I think this is a good article as it talks about the attention being drawn to the Republican ticket thanks to the Governor Sarah Palin's nomination as John McCain's running-mate. It now only discusses the ratings she brought with her speech but also makes mention of how well she spoke which could be something to watch for as thus far Obama has proven to be a much better orator than any of the potential candidates for president or vice president.