Sometimes leaders need to express the emotions of people for them so they don't have to act them out in ways that harm themselves or others. In doing so, they provide a great public service. The challenge for those "pressure release valve" leaders, of course, is to "channel" their supporters' emotions without encouraging violence. Does Trump have the skill (or intention) to manage his supporters' anger and frustration? We'll see. Sanders, I think, does and has never come close to inciting his supporters to violence, except one time he said, "We're coming for YOU!" RE the oligarchs. That, I thought, was over the line.
I for one was amazed at the arrogant, dismissive tone of the comment from Joel Benenson. I can't imagine a more explicit way to reinforce the image of HRC as "brittle and defensive" as Maureen Dowd has pointed out, or appearing entitled as HRC demonstrates every day. Speaking of tone, what about the tone of Chelsea Clinton's badly distorting Senator Sanders' position on ACA.
What about the tone of HRC urging Iowa's caucusers to "get real" And her tone in '08 before the South Carolina primary that "hard-working white folks won't vote for him."
Hillary Bots, beware. Your candidate has very powerful negatives. She can lose to anybody.
What about the tone of HRC urging Iowa's caucusers to "get real" And her tone in '08 before the South Carolina primary that "hard-working white folks won't vote for him."
Hillary Bots, beware. Your candidate has very powerful negatives. She can lose to anybody.
1
Not what you say, but how you say it.
Translation: We'll debate Bernie provided he doesn't show his passion and looks as unauthentic as Clinton.
2
The "Tone Police", a new, special branch of the "Thought Police". Love it! "Tone" is a cool word for the greater or lesser levels of sophisticated "Bushwa" present in one's rhetoric. Instead of bushwa, I'd much prefer the actual word I use in "common parlance" (i.e., the way 99% of people speaking English, actually speak), but that would diminish the "tone" of the NY Times Comments section, and therefore not "moderated" to my advantage. Bushwa will have to do (or "Bushwah"; why the last "h" is an eternal mystery). This piece should have been on the paper's front page, where it could at least potentially seep into the consciousness of seriously dim-witted members of the electorate who might, by accident, read the Times. Of course it's in the Magazine, where only the cognascenti, at least some of whom already "get" this stuff, will benefit from its edgy wisdom and truth. As another commenter mentioned, I'm a native New Yorker, so for me Bushwa from politicians is like gasoline at the pump: you simply assume and expect it's the stuff flowing into your tank. Anyone who actually believes what's coming out of their mouths: Please, just take a look around you at the degenerating state of this country--its economy, its culture, its scared, diminished people, its Everest of problems-most of them intractable, unsolvable for decades-most of them rationalized or ignored by the very people elected to fix them, supposedly for the benefit of the rest of us. Like I said, Bushwa.
Maybe it's not tone we should be worrying about, but tone-deafness. The big surprise of the 2016 election cycle is how badly the establishment wings of both parties misjudged the mood of the electorate. The establishment wanted to give us another Bush or Clinton. But the electorate wanted change.
In any other year, Jeb Bush's stockpile of campaign cash and his establishment support would have seen him through to the nomination. But he went nowhere. All the energy in the Republican Party was with anti-establishment candidates like Trump and Cruz. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton held $27,000-a-plate fundraisers every week, but Bernie Sanders outraised her with individual donations averaging $27 and he consistently drew larger crowds.
And it wasn't only the political establishment that wasn't listening hard enough. The establishment media, too, misjudged the mood of electorate. See David Brooks' self-analysis in this paper: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/18/opinion/no-not-trump-not-ever.html.
We may yet get an establishment President. Hillary Clinton is still the most likely Democratic nominee and she is favored over Trump in the general election. But even if she wins, she will take office with a favorability rating that is 14 points lower than her unfavorability rating. Unless it improves, her reelection bid will be a dicey proposition. The writing is on the wall for the political establishment. Let's hope they can read, even if they can't hear.
In any other year, Jeb Bush's stockpile of campaign cash and his establishment support would have seen him through to the nomination. But he went nowhere. All the energy in the Republican Party was with anti-establishment candidates like Trump and Cruz. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton held $27,000-a-plate fundraisers every week, but Bernie Sanders outraised her with individual donations averaging $27 and he consistently drew larger crowds.
And it wasn't only the political establishment that wasn't listening hard enough. The establishment media, too, misjudged the mood of electorate. See David Brooks' self-analysis in this paper: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/18/opinion/no-not-trump-not-ever.html.
We may yet get an establishment President. Hillary Clinton is still the most likely Democratic nominee and she is favored over Trump in the general election. But even if she wins, she will take office with a favorability rating that is 14 points lower than her unfavorability rating. Unless it improves, her reelection bid will be a dicey proposition. The writing is on the wall for the political establishment. Let's hope they can read, even if they can't hear.
Maybe it's not tone we should be worrying about, but tone-deafness. The big surprise of the 2016 election cycle is how badly the establishment wings of both parties misjudged the mood of the electorate. The establishment wanted to give us another Bush or Clinton. But the electorate wanted change.
In any other year, Jeb Bush's stockpile of campaign cash and his establishment support would have seen him through to the nomination. But he went nowhere. All the energy in the Republican Party was with anti-establishment candidates like Trump and Cruz. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton held $27,000-a-plate fundraisers every week, but Bernie Sanders outraised her with individual donations averaging $27 and he consistently drew larger crowds.
And it wasn't only the political establishment that wasn't listening hard enough. The establishment media, too, misjudged the mood of electorate. See David Brooks' self-analysis in this paper: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/18/opinion/no-not-trump-not-ever.html.
We may yet get an establishment President. Hillary Clinton is still the most likely Democratic nominee and she is favored over Trump in the general election. But even if she wins, she will take office with a favorability rating that is 14 points lower than her unfavorability rating. Unless it improves, her reelection bid will be a dicey proposition. The writing is on the wall for the political establishment. Let's hope they can read, even if they can't hear.
In any other year, Jeb Bush's stockpile of campaign cash and his establishment support would have seen him through to the nomination. But he went nowhere. All the energy in the Republican Party was with anti-establishment candidates like Trump and Cruz. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton held $27,000-a-plate fundraisers every week, but Bernie Sanders outraised her with individual donations averaging $27 and he consistently drew larger crowds.
And it wasn't only the political establishment that wasn't listening hard enough. The establishment media, too, misjudged the mood of electorate. See David Brooks' self-analysis in this paper: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/18/opinion/no-not-trump-not-ever.html.
We may yet get an establishment President. Hillary Clinton is still the most likely Democratic nominee and she is favored over Trump in the general election. But even if she wins, she will take office with a favorability rating that is 14 points lower than her unfavorability rating. Unless it improves, her reelection bid will be a dicey proposition. The writing is on the wall for the political establishment. Let's hope they can read, even if they can't hear.
1
It's good to see that the comments here have no such problem with tone.
Most I have read right now and in prior months in the NYT comment section have been so vitriolic in spewing such negativity towards Sec. Clinton that I wouldn't be surprised if Donald Trump had written every one.
Most I have read right now and in prior months in the NYT comment section have been so vitriolic in spewing such negativity towards Sec. Clinton that I wouldn't be surprised if Donald Trump had written every one.
1
Bernie Sanders talks about leadership. So, let's test his judgement and his understanding of leadership: Will he (Sanders) support Hillary Clinton AND the Democratic Party if he (Sanders) does not win the nomination?
The bottom line is that Sanders needs more debates to maintain momentum and Hillary does not need more debates to maintain her lead. The only question has been how Sanders would claim more debates are needed and how Hillary would justify her refusal.
Sanders needs another opportunity to claim Hillary is in the pocket of Wall Street. He's a lovely man in so many respects but what political base did he build during his 24 year tenure in Washington? What constructive, successful legislative campaigns can he claim? Painting a negative image of Hillary is his path forward at this point. I suggest he should be satisfied with directing potential voters to watch the many previous debates on YouTube, starting with the first.
Hillary is not thin skinned, as some commentators have claimed. She and President Clinton have been the targets of Republican attacks for those same 24 years. Perhaps Republicans would speak highly of her if she had spent the time baking cupcakes. Instead she's about to walk into the White House.
Hillary's tone is appropriate. She challenges Sander's current tactics, while leaving room for him to deliver a unifying concession speech at the convention.
Sanders needs another opportunity to claim Hillary is in the pocket of Wall Street. He's a lovely man in so many respects but what political base did he build during his 24 year tenure in Washington? What constructive, successful legislative campaigns can he claim? Painting a negative image of Hillary is his path forward at this point. I suggest he should be satisfied with directing potential voters to watch the many previous debates on YouTube, starting with the first.
Hillary is not thin skinned, as some commentators have claimed. She and President Clinton have been the targets of Republican attacks for those same 24 years. Perhaps Republicans would speak highly of her if she had spent the time baking cupcakes. Instead she's about to walk into the White House.
Hillary's tone is appropriate. She challenges Sander's current tactics, while leaving room for him to deliver a unifying concession speech at the convention.
1
Ah, "Tone" that wonderful horse-race concept that you can report on if you don't feel like reading policy papers and comparing the candidates on their substance. A worthy replacement of the old question "Which candidate would I most like to have a beer with?"
"I don't like your tone, young lady" was a rebuke I heard from time to time from Mom, Dad, and the Sisters of Saint Joseph during my adolescence. It's a power play and nothing more.
1
That's great. Let's just keep focusing on the pageantry of this absurd election, because the real issues will work themselves out in the long run. The tone of this entire election has been noisy distraction. Bernie and Trump are similar in their delivery. They both holler about who is to blame for our problems, but neither have offered very realistic solutions.
Bernie was in the Bronx the other night, telling a large crowd of mostly minorities about their part in his political "revolution." I grew up in the south Bronx, had Mr. Sanders not been there, any revolutionary gathering with that many blacks and hispanics would have been met with a 1000 police officers in riot gear.
Sorry, I'm a native New Yorker. My tone is rather cynical.
Bernie was in the Bronx the other night, telling a large crowd of mostly minorities about their part in his political "revolution." I grew up in the south Bronx, had Mr. Sanders not been there, any revolutionary gathering with that many blacks and hispanics would have been met with a 1000 police officers in riot gear.
Sorry, I'm a native New Yorker. My tone is rather cynical.
15
Actually, both Sanders and Trump HAVE offered solutions and whether you think they are "realistic" is your opinion. I much prefer Sanders' solutions, despite his "tone."
Let's have the debate at the Apollo Theater and see where the tone goes.
9
Tone is an integral part of the message. It lends itself both to the content and the context of delivery. In a campaign debate, tone should be authoritative and emphatic to win points.
3
Tone? The Tone setters of the GOP have honed that bone to a drone of political nastiness. That “just say ‘no’” to everything and anything that is fair, provided for in Our Constitution AND is right (with the exception of “The Right”), AKA Republican Party has finally met it’s match:
Itself.
After stirring the pot of racial injustice, of arrogance, of greed, all ingredients generously provided by the Kochs of the world at no cost to anyone or anything (except to our freedoms and rights and God-Given Constitution), the Party of Lincoln has transformed itself into the party of nihilism.
It has earned it's place in this years Presidential Campaign in Spades, Diamonds, Hearts and, most of all, in Clubs (did you see the macing of a 15-year-old by a grinning Patriot from Wisconsin?).
All this thanks to the greed of its backers whom, now the GOP knows, will abandon them (did you read the story about all the corporations running for the GOP Convention emergency Exit?) as easily and swiftly and completely as The GOP has the poor, all whilst trashing kindness and concern for our fellow human beings.
Mitch McConnell, may you find a warm place to park your soul for what you have done to our country and the Party of Lincoln.
Thank you, God, for Obama. May we be so fortunate after November.
Itself.
After stirring the pot of racial injustice, of arrogance, of greed, all ingredients generously provided by the Kochs of the world at no cost to anyone or anything (except to our freedoms and rights and God-Given Constitution), the Party of Lincoln has transformed itself into the party of nihilism.
It has earned it's place in this years Presidential Campaign in Spades, Diamonds, Hearts and, most of all, in Clubs (did you see the macing of a 15-year-old by a grinning Patriot from Wisconsin?).
All this thanks to the greed of its backers whom, now the GOP knows, will abandon them (did you read the story about all the corporations running for the GOP Convention emergency Exit?) as easily and swiftly and completely as The GOP has the poor, all whilst trashing kindness and concern for our fellow human beings.
Mitch McConnell, may you find a warm place to park your soul for what you have done to our country and the Party of Lincoln.
Thank you, God, for Obama. May we be so fortunate after November.
36
Oh, yes. Tone is very important. I notice that Paul Ryan always maintains a polite and conscientious "tone" when he discusses his plans for privatizing Social Security, turning Medicare into a voucher program, repealing the ACA, cutting taxes on the ultra rich, etc. It's easy to maintain your composure when you hold all the power.
43
I don't understand the political vulnerability of mainstreet. anymore. Perhaps it's because I don't watch TV ? I must have overlooked the early scenes, before Don Quixote broke into the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.
As some have observed here - no time like the present to begin a closer, honest examination of what is being proposed, all round. Far, far too much hangs in the balance, suddenly.
As some have observed here - no time like the present to begin a closer, honest examination of what is being proposed, all round. Far, far too much hangs in the balance, suddenly.
7
My wife and I haven't had a TV for decades. Glad to know we aren't alone.
1
There's a problem with the word "tone?" Lucky you don't speak Mandarin or a Chinese dialect because without tone most of it's gibberish.
Perfectly good word that has precision and clarity. It's the hashtag for politics this year.
Clinton's advisor knows that tone is code for Sanders using the lies and smears about HRC without sullying his status as Saint Bernard. As Sanders grows more desperate the zealots who experience his campaign as a messianic cult have double-downed their Hillary hate with his tacit approval as he can't resist drawing from GOP poisoned wells to bolster the futility of his march to the sea.
Tone defines Sanders and Trump.
Sanders thunders against easy villains and scores points with those who barely pay attention and disdain politics aside from social media driven apoplexy and who confuse personal validation with savaging skeptics. Trump offers his trash-talking worldview to those who confuse swearing with truth-telling and self-medicate with racism, same sex-hate and misogyny so they can blame others for their wallowing in misery punctuated by hurling misery at others.
Tone sets the parameters of perception and possibility. Both Sanders and Trump incite an imagined revolution, a popular uprising against an evil oligarchy engendered by corruption instead of endemic public apathy and complacency.
Their tone celebrates emotion over reason, blame over responsibility and masks the lie each of them tells.
Tone is their tonic.
Perfectly good word that has precision and clarity. It's the hashtag for politics this year.
Clinton's advisor knows that tone is code for Sanders using the lies and smears about HRC without sullying his status as Saint Bernard. As Sanders grows more desperate the zealots who experience his campaign as a messianic cult have double-downed their Hillary hate with his tacit approval as he can't resist drawing from GOP poisoned wells to bolster the futility of his march to the sea.
Tone defines Sanders and Trump.
Sanders thunders against easy villains and scores points with those who barely pay attention and disdain politics aside from social media driven apoplexy and who confuse personal validation with savaging skeptics. Trump offers his trash-talking worldview to those who confuse swearing with truth-telling and self-medicate with racism, same sex-hate and misogyny so they can blame others for their wallowing in misery punctuated by hurling misery at others.
Tone sets the parameters of perception and possibility. Both Sanders and Trump incite an imagined revolution, a popular uprising against an evil oligarchy engendered by corruption instead of endemic public apathy and complacency.
Their tone celebrates emotion over reason, blame over responsibility and masks the lie each of them tells.
Tone is their tonic.
36
Brilliant assessment.
Sometimes a tone of righteous indignation can be used to make a word salad seem like a biting condemnation and conflation like comparison.
1
Well said. I am tired of the manipulation being used by these motivational speakers to claim credibility and ability to be President of US. The emotional part of the brain has been hi-jacked and used to create "energy and action" based on feelings not logic.
Sometimes it does look as though "tone" is much more important than actual policy proposals and other wonky stuff in this election year. But we can only hope that this is an optical illusion caused by the Internet's overwhelming concentration on fluff. This may be the first election in which there is such intense emphasis in many people's minds on the latest "viral" wind to sweep through the Intertubes, which are becoming largely a gigantic cotton candy producing machine. Let's hope that voters can get their attention focused on something more substantial when they enter the polls in November, though I'm not entirely sure that they will.
3
How about Hillary's "tone" of abject lies re Sanders stance on the issues, yeah,yeah HE has to adjust, give me a break!
17
Watch your tone please.
:-)
:-)
Mr. Ryan should be congratulated for his sense of "tone" even as he is ducking for cover. He does that a lot. His economic theories have been thoroughly debunked by serious people such as Mr. Krugman. The only place Ryan feels safe is ducking behind the Speakers' podium hoping not to be hit by the arrows fired from the right side of his caucus. Trump scares the bejesus out of Ryan and his shrinking ilk. "Oh my gosh, what has happened to our GOP?" They all wail; while the policies they have clung to with chrome grips--not iron ones--fall away in the challenge from a modern fakir. What a bunch of sniveling playground connivers!
4
If the Clinton campaign considers the Sanders campaign to be "negative," it will need a whole new thesaurus if/when she is the nominee.
27
Maybe you should finish high school or try English as a second language if literacy is such a challenge. Maybe you think Bernie's whole shtick is an affirmation of all the dark forces he alone can vanquish. Maybe he affirms paying women less than men. Gee, the basketball Coach K at Duke gets $9 million a year and poor Hillary just takes the paltry fee other luminaries get for talking to Bankers. Mimicking Trumps pucker face is a bad look for zealots who confuse Sanders' campaign with a religious cult that requires a public act of idiocy as proof of faith. Sorry if I'm being insensitive about your issues with plain English. Politics must really confuse you.
1
The Clintons are already familiar with the Republican Smear Machine.
As one late night talk show host remarked, Hillary Clinton makes fun of Bernie Sanders until she appropriates his ideas two weeks later. Remember when she said, " I am a Progressive"?
Is the tone thing related to political correctness ? Seems so. As for the kisses blown to Paul Ryan, come on now. The puppeteers have pulled his strings telling him to "nice guy" his way into this refreshingly rambunctious fray. Lets remember his vile ideas for Social Security and $8000.00 vouchers in lieu of Medicare. Hope no Medicare senior he cares about ever needs expensive medical care. Also, remember he couldn't even hold his own against Uncle Joe Biden in his veep debate. His Boy Scout image is perpetuated by the media at great risk to the majority of the citizens.
18
"Tone" is a distraction, and the media are complicit in the distraction when they buy into the premise that it matters. The unemployment rate does not care about politicians' tone. The warming planet does not care about tone. Tone has zero effect on how many millions of people are still without health coverage; or on the deductibles and copays of those who (theoretically) have it. Politicians who have no intention of fixing the things that matter love to talk about tone.
21
"Tone" is meaningless if it isn't tied to sincere respect. What "tone" was Mr. Ryan setting by joining the efforts of McConnell and Boehner to obstruct the duly-elected president at every turn? Give me a break--from phony sanctimonious dodges!
29
Truth matters.... and that's the 'tone' we need. So Bernie, for instance, should stop blaming Clinton's support for trade deals as the reason for the blight in the Midwest.... and should stop promising things he can't deliver.
Rather, if he wants change, he should really join the party and use his strengths to help get things done.
But, apparently, working WITH is not his forte.... when BLAME is so much easier to shout from the mountaintop.
Rather, if he wants change, he should really join the party and use his strengths to help get things done.
But, apparently, working WITH is not his forte.... when BLAME is so much easier to shout from the mountaintop.
21
To borrow Clinton's Great Line: I will when every other politician does.
BTW Bernie has been surprisingly successful working WITH.
BTW Bernie has been surprisingly successful working WITH.
If the media would just inform, we would get news instead of opinion. The whole tone debate would go away and then we can find out how the majority of people in this country are getting swindled by those at the top. We would find out about our elections being totally corrupted by money and how our elected officials are in the pockets of those they beg for money. We would find out that billions of our dollars are going to maintain our military in a state of constant war. We would find out that corporations such as GE pay zero in taxes while the middle class gets pummeled. We will find out that our infrastructure is falling apart while we send money overseas to rebuild other countries.
None of the above will ever be covered because our corporate media wants the nasty entertainment of Donald Trump and his rollicking circus show of a campaign which is bringing them ratings galore. A bully that nobody calls out because they are too scared of his response.
Please America, vote for Trump, lets just sink the system once and for all and then maybe we can start all over and remember who it was that was telling you the truth, his name is Bernie Sanders.
None of the above will ever be covered because our corporate media wants the nasty entertainment of Donald Trump and his rollicking circus show of a campaign which is bringing them ratings galore. A bully that nobody calls out because they are too scared of his response.
Please America, vote for Trump, lets just sink the system once and for all and then maybe we can start all over and remember who it was that was telling you the truth, his name is Bernie Sanders.
7
Tone is an interesting topic to discuss politics. It diverts the political process from the issues, and the candidate's response is to create a tone characterful image like an Oscar winning best actor winner for the media.
Now, what the candidates are really like and how they think on social and economic issues are hidden from the voters. We are just getting started in this primary election to determine who the candidates will be for each of our political parties & all I really read, see, or hear are the absurd views of the GOP frontrunner. I know enough because of the position of the GOP on global warming that I would like to turn my attention to the Democrats but the truth is a hardly know them & know their approach to government and their views in sufficient detail to make a decision. I think they both accept the realities of global warming but I am really interested in how they plan to use their office internationally to make the World shift from fossil fuels to other sources of energy that will not diminish the standard of living. This is a super challenge.
There are also serious economic problems world wide. It is my understanding that the demand for jobs globally is more than twice the number of jobs created. This clearly is not good.
I urge several more Sanders-Clinton debates so that the public can become more aware of the issues & their approaches or ideas on how they would approach issues. It will also be a chance for media to dig in an study issues.
Now, what the candidates are really like and how they think on social and economic issues are hidden from the voters. We are just getting started in this primary election to determine who the candidates will be for each of our political parties & all I really read, see, or hear are the absurd views of the GOP frontrunner. I know enough because of the position of the GOP on global warming that I would like to turn my attention to the Democrats but the truth is a hardly know them & know their approach to government and their views in sufficient detail to make a decision. I think they both accept the realities of global warming but I am really interested in how they plan to use their office internationally to make the World shift from fossil fuels to other sources of energy that will not diminish the standard of living. This is a super challenge.
There are also serious economic problems world wide. It is my understanding that the demand for jobs globally is more than twice the number of jobs created. This clearly is not good.
I urge several more Sanders-Clinton debates so that the public can become more aware of the issues & their approaches or ideas on how they would approach issues. It will also be a chance for media to dig in an study issues.
5
While the disturbing tone of the current election certainly coincides with The Donald's ascendance, it is simplistic to blame him alone. After all, it was Little Marco who started the conversation about "little hands," and a Cruz-allied SuperPAC who first dragged wives into the campaign by publishing an ad featuring a semi-nude Melania Trump and questioning her suitability for the august office of First Lady. I'm definitely not here to defend Trump, only to give credit where credit is due.
2
You would give credit to a wheeler dealer with mom issues and who thinks bankruptcy is a successful business model? You belong on Wall Street.
Having been a woman in tech, finance, and construction, having torn the porn off the manager's wall when I was supposed to meet with him in said office, having come up, as it were, I'll posit the following. If you're screaming, people hear you scream and not what you're saying. If people can say you're screaming, they are saying your words are not worth listening to.
And by the way, as of tonight, MoveOn.org emailed that they are officially a PAC. They and other supposedly neutral get out the votes groups are funding Bernie. By their own emails to me. I do not trust Bernie to be an honest dealer, or authentic, after that. I am a New York Jew. The guy reminded me of everyone I loved. No more people. Hillary all the way. she owns up to her imperfections, sets herself up as the best she can be, not a false paragon.
And by the way, as of tonight, MoveOn.org emailed that they are officially a PAC. They and other supposedly neutral get out the votes groups are funding Bernie. By their own emails to me. I do not trust Bernie to be an honest dealer, or authentic, after that. I am a New York Jew. The guy reminded me of everyone I loved. No more people. Hillary all the way. she owns up to her imperfections, sets herself up as the best she can be, not a false paragon.
23
So why is Clinton constantly hedging? Why doesn't she address the issue of her speaking fees from Goldman Sachs and their ilk?
I'm afraid your comment that "The guy reminded me of everyone I loved" diminishes the effectiveness of your position towards Bernie Sanders. It's fine that you support Hillary Clinton (given all the sexism you have apparently dealt with all your working career, it's very understandable) ~ but perhaps it would be of value for you to take a look at why you are so negative about Sanders. To say that you do not trust him to be "authentic" indicates that you have not followed his career at all. He has been absolutely consistent in his policies, and is the rare individual who actually isn't afraid to speak without referring to notes or a teleprompter. He is comfortable speaking extemporaneously because he says what he means and doesn't worry that he will say "the wrong thing" ~ he believes what he says!
You mean the audience Bill Gates and Jimmy Carter also addressed to promote their foundations? But Hilary doesn't have a... Oh. Never mind.
I would suggest Mrs. Clinton bow out now. If she is discombobulated over Bernie Sanders' tone - who has been polite and correct except when he got tired to be interrupted and talked over by the Madame Secretary whose own tone "...But it's true, it's true...!" taunting Sanders for having been a life-long Independent, leaves much to be desired in the respect department - how in the world is she going to handle Donald Trump's insults and insinuations should the unfortunate event occur and she'll actually secure the nomination?
The guy who made fun of Carli Fiorina's face and Bill Clinton's sexual proclivities isn't going to go gently at the thin-skinned Secretary. I have a feeling we would see a heck of a lot more pouting and less of that awful cackle that usually characterize Mrs. Clinton's performance in those debates. Might almost be worthwhile to let her win the nomination. Not.
The guy who made fun of Carli Fiorina's face and Bill Clinton's sexual proclivities isn't going to go gently at the thin-skinned Secretary. I have a feeling we would see a heck of a lot more pouting and less of that awful cackle that usually characterize Mrs. Clinton's performance in those debates. Might almost be worthwhile to let her win the nomination. Not.
21
The point, of course, is that there is a huge difference between inter-party attacks and intra-party attacks.
If Sanders continues his shrill fabrications he hurts the party. So, is he really a Democrat or is he just using the party to shout about how evil everyone is.... but himself ??
We don't need another Nader....
This is the way things are in real life. Hillary isn't showing 'fear', she's showing that she's smart.
If Sanders continues his shrill fabrications he hurts the party. So, is he really a Democrat or is he just using the party to shout about how evil everyone is.... but himself ??
We don't need another Nader....
This is the way things are in real life. Hillary isn't showing 'fear', she's showing that she's smart.
1
Tone may account for how we feel but truth will tell us how to vote.
Hillary's advisors said she would now have Humor and Heart.
Forget that.
Simply stop lying.
Hillary has said, “Why do I have to keep proving to people that I am not a liar?!"
("The Survivor" by John Harris)
A small list of Hillary Congenital Clinton Lies:
She violated U.S. law by setting up her home government email server.
She didn’t know that her brothers were getting paid to get pardons that Clinton granted.
She “removed” a boatload of stuff from the White House, when they left, and called it a clerical error, returning everything.
She didn’t know that her staff would fire the travel staff….after she told them to do so.
She didn’t know a fundraiser in 2000 cost $700,000 more than she reported that it did.
She lied about her missing billing records which “showed up” on their own.
She negotiated the release of Macedonian refugees—released a day before she arrived.
She lied as a member of the house judiciary committee
She lied about flying into Bosnia under sniper fire but admitted to the falsehood later on.
She misrepresented her record opposing the Iraq war.
She misrepresented her role in Irish Peace Accord.
She lied about being named after Sir Edmund Hillary.
She lied about her role in passing Family and Medical Leave Act.
She lied about her trip to Africa.
Like we asked of Nixon;
Would you buy a used car from that woman?"
Truth sets the best tone for a politician.
19
What's the going rate for trolls these days? I should ask first if you're human, a GOP scripted automated bot or if you're a chain of shoe stores. Imagine they pay humans more even if you just crib from a GOP cheat sheet.
Maybe you're just an overwrought Bernie zealot who hates women and now can justify misogyny in service of your delusions. Maybe you just like lies and listing them to look less like lies, but that only works for simpletons, which means -- if you're neither troll nor bot -- you're writing for your side at their comprehension level. But you're most likely a troll so I'll skip your cheesy bait and not diss Bernie, who's ok and not my enemy.
It's just too often I can't tell the trolls from Bernie's curated crazies and their pepper spray screeds about lying politicians while overlooking the fact (as is their wont) that the object of their idolatry is a politician, who never lies, just can't do simple math. Maybe he just lies to himself. Socialists have to.
But he's harmless and if by some miracle he wins, maybe his wife can do the nuclear codes given his strong inclination to turn the cheek with national security threats and his aversion to guns except in the wilds of Vermont.
Your place in Dante's inferno -- not the bar you frequent but the first part of The Divine Comedy -- is writing twitter posts for Trump. Punishment is he can't fire you. But your misogyny and facility with lies should serve both of you well. I'd toast you but it's redundant.
Maybe you're just an overwrought Bernie zealot who hates women and now can justify misogyny in service of your delusions. Maybe you just like lies and listing them to look less like lies, but that only works for simpletons, which means -- if you're neither troll nor bot -- you're writing for your side at their comprehension level. But you're most likely a troll so I'll skip your cheesy bait and not diss Bernie, who's ok and not my enemy.
It's just too often I can't tell the trolls from Bernie's curated crazies and their pepper spray screeds about lying politicians while overlooking the fact (as is their wont) that the object of their idolatry is a politician, who never lies, just can't do simple math. Maybe he just lies to himself. Socialists have to.
But he's harmless and if by some miracle he wins, maybe his wife can do the nuclear codes given his strong inclination to turn the cheek with national security threats and his aversion to guns except in the wilds of Vermont.
Your place in Dante's inferno -- not the bar you frequent but the first part of The Divine Comedy -- is writing twitter posts for Trump. Punishment is he can't fire you. But your misogyny and facility with lies should serve both of you well. I'd toast you but it's redundant.
1
Fortunately for me, I'm tone deaf. The Dems have some thoughtful, profound and workable ideas going this year. And I like it.
11
This doesn't get at the crux of what I believe most voters want. We don't want candidates in the muck.
Sanders said he wasn't running a negative campaign and the first few months of his campaign demonstrated that. As his path has become more difficult, he has been openly suggesting that Clinton is a corrupt politician based on nothing. While it serves the public to contrast records and proposed policies, trying to undermine an opponent's campaign by impugning their integrity without a shred of proof of a quid pro quo is the definition of dirty politics and the essence of an 'artful smear.' That's what is being ignored here.
Trump does this with his "Lyin' Ted" nonsense. I don't like Cruz and his appallingly retrograde positions, but the nomination process should be about laying out what candidates have done and propose to do. Sanders undermines his case with his insistence on suggesting Clinton corruption without any proof.
Sanders said he wasn't running a negative campaign and the first few months of his campaign demonstrated that. As his path has become more difficult, he has been openly suggesting that Clinton is a corrupt politician based on nothing. While it serves the public to contrast records and proposed policies, trying to undermine an opponent's campaign by impugning their integrity without a shred of proof of a quid pro quo is the definition of dirty politics and the essence of an 'artful smear.' That's what is being ignored here.
Trump does this with his "Lyin' Ted" nonsense. I don't like Cruz and his appallingly retrograde positions, but the nomination process should be about laying out what candidates have done and propose to do. Sanders undermines his case with his insistence on suggesting Clinton corruption without any proof.
17
Style matters; substance matters more. When it comes to Secretary Clinton's thin-skinned complaints to the "tone" of Senator Sanders and his campaign, I despair. In my opinion, it smacks of girlish protestation.
The leader of the Democratic party needs to be ready to face real criticism, unfair slime, and a truly nasty "tone."
The leader of the Democratic party needs to be ready to face real criticism, unfair slime, and a truly nasty "tone."
49
Are you saying Hillary Clinton hasn't faced criticism, slime, and nastiness in her political career? (Is it your mission to make sure she does?) As much as I respect Bernie, it is inescapably true that he, not Hillary, is the candidate who has not yet had to face the Republican attack machine. You need to think things through a bit more.
3
Mrs. Clinton has already faced all of those things, and has dealt with them very well. The same cannot be said of Mr. Sanders. And if anyone is "thin-skinned" in this primary season---and if anyone is setting "a truly nasty 'tone"---it's Mr. Sanders' supporters
3
Clinton already has faced it; She doesn't have to volunteer for more! Sanders is full of tedious, sanctimonious, holier-than-thou hubris! His supporters are constantly threatening NOT to vote for Clinton if she's the nominee next fall. In response, here's my warning to such threats by Susan Sarandon and Co: If Sanders destroys her in order to win the nomination, THIS Democrat will NOT turn out for Sanders next fall and I guarantee that millions of Democratic women and minority voters will join me!
It's worth noting that Ms. Sarandon campaigned and voted for Ralph Nader in 2000 and thus, helped to elect W The Worst and his myriad catastrophes!
It's worth noting that Ms. Sarandon campaigned and voted for Ralph Nader in 2000 and thus, helped to elect W The Worst and his myriad catastrophes!
15
Personally, I didn't like the tone of the NYT covering Bernie. I did not care for the tone in the Opinion Section. The tone in Paul Krugman's column was surprising as well as troubling. I think many of his readers have been disabused of "The Conscience of a Liberal." I read it now as "The Ire of an Invested Establishmentarian."
76
Go forbid that you or the Sanders' campaign might actually ADDRESS the concerns raised by Krugman and many other thoughtful LIBERAL journalists! But instead, you attack people for asking reasonable questions--just like the fringe dwellers and wing-nuts who refuse to deal in facts and policy specifics.
10
@scoter
Thanks for sharing your personal dislikes and unique insight into Paul Krugman. Maybe it's just part of the foggy mentality of serial Hillary-bashers but this isn't Krugman's op-ed column or his blog. But you like graffiti so any blank space is good for a quick tag and the accompanying rush of self-harm mainlined as self-righteousness.
Why do you bother investing so much of your meager supply of cognitive focus on something you consider so biased and tainted by a tone you don't care for? Only self-identified misfits bleat about how unfair the world is to misfits and spend all their time gathering evidence that misfits never get the validation they crave.
I think the key to your unhappiness is the first word in your comment. The world is so much bigger than the one you inhabit by refusing to go beyond "personally."
Nothing good comes from this infantilization of politics but gives life as a misfit an illusion of higher purpose.
Thanks for sharing your personal dislikes and unique insight into Paul Krugman. Maybe it's just part of the foggy mentality of serial Hillary-bashers but this isn't Krugman's op-ed column or his blog. But you like graffiti so any blank space is good for a quick tag and the accompanying rush of self-harm mainlined as self-righteousness.
Why do you bother investing so much of your meager supply of cognitive focus on something you consider so biased and tainted by a tone you don't care for? Only self-identified misfits bleat about how unfair the world is to misfits and spend all their time gathering evidence that misfits never get the validation they crave.
I think the key to your unhappiness is the first word in your comment. The world is so much bigger than the one you inhabit by refusing to go beyond "personally."
Nothing good comes from this infantilization of politics but gives life as a misfit an illusion of higher purpose.
12
Uh, actually, this column was written by Mark Leibovich. Facts first, then tone.
Innuendo can get great mileage; masterful political and social commentary writers can make a word or phrase truly blossom, as such...(need I say more?)
The immortal Joan Rivers could beckon us, "Can we talk here?"
Well, not likely, Joan. Hence the poignancy of your lifetime call to converse.
"scoter" inspired me to join this, reminding me of how disappointed I was, but not surprised, to read the Times' "Fact Check" (body check?) on Bernie, way back in November, issuing a ruling of "Kind of" (wasn't that phrase used in a lot of high school debates?) for Bernie's observation that we are spending "hundreds of billions of dollars to maintain 5000 nuclear weapons."
The rubber on the road being, that over 10 years we will spend $358 billion: "Kind of."
Let's be sure not to get too close to the actual cost of things, like 10 years of medical insurance, 12 years of public education, etc. Let's help the Times keep the focus on the here and now: one year at a time is the biggest byte our brains can handle, right?