Countdown, Countdown, Countdown!

Posted: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 1:33 PM by Countdown

Stunning results last night, and while Senators Clinton and Obama begin their post-New Hampshire trek around the nation, we're still wondering what happened. We'll do a complete C.S.I. NH, trying to sort out what accounted for the huge late swing to Clinton, how so many pundits and pollsters got it wrong, and what it means for the road ahead. It will be an almost all '08 show tonight...and good news for all you who miss the 8p and 12a et shows, we'll be repeating a third time tonight at 10p et. Hope you can join us.

P.S. Big news for the Obama camp...the Illinois Senator has bounced back with a big Nevada endorsement.

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Comments

Mr. Olbermann was astute in spotting yet another ploy by the Clinton campaign. While I do believe Mrs. Clinton is human, her tearing up episode was right on cue for her lead-in attacks on Mr. Obama. She should get the Oscar. If the other journalists continue to be so naive where her campaign is concerned and continue the same kind of political coverage we have had for decades then we will continue to have the same kinds of snow jobs, the same kinds of candidates and the same end results. Trust your gut instincts Mr. Olbermann. You see the truth more clearly than any other, with Mr. Matthews a close second. For all our sakes, please keep holding their feet to the fire.

Karen F., Florida (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:09 PM)

Keith,

Here are my nominations for the Worst Person, enjoy!

Worse: Brian Williams and Tim Russert for putting down Hillary throughout all the debates!

Worser: Chris Matthews for being such @#$hole to Hillary!

Worst: MSNBC for giving us such a great predictions and standing by them and loosing viewers like us to CNN!

Cheers!
Dan Nawrocki
CT

Dan Nawrocki, Cheshire, CT (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:12 PM)

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 2:55 PM)

Right on Steve; I knew I loved you!! You summed it up perfectly!!

PEACE!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:13 PM)

It’s clear to me that New Hampshire women will not follow Opraha’s every command as it is apparent Iowa women will. Maybe it’s the difference of being in the middle of the country versus being a bit more cosmopolitan on the East coast, where people in general march to their own drum beat rather than follow a piped piper. Perhaps the polling discrepancy is because, maybe the phone calls were made when the Opraha show was airing in those cities, but when these folks turn off the television they think for themselves. Congratulations people of New Hampshire you do think for yourselves and not what the television pundits or Opraha Winfrey tells you what to think! You have restored my confidence in this political process…for now.

John Czarnik, Burlingame, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:14 PM)

Pam (3:26 PM Post):

I understand where you are coming from, but I wonder where the youth learned these dirty tricks and political back-stabbing tactics from? They had to learn them someonewhere and I'm sure they were not picked up from the generation that will follow them.

In any case, I agree that Bill is very popular with the Dem base. After all, an exit poll did show that voters in NH would have voted 77% for him versus 23% for Hillary if he were able to run and they were competitors.

But let's not begrudge Obama and his ability to incite the youth and even older newcomers to enter into the political process and arena. You may not like his positons or lack of experience and may not want to vote for him, but remember that we both respect people who at least will incite others to march on the bastille. Obama may not be the one you want in the lead after the fall of the bastille but hell let him do his thing and insight people to help tear it down. If people want Hillary as their President so be it, but use Obama to convince the troops to make it through one more harsh winter at Valley Forge to defeat and destroy the Bush and neocon grip on this country.

Also remember that no candidate has the award over the others for playing various dirty political tricks. They all do it, Obama and Hillary as well (or at least some staff member of hers that she will state she did not know was doing so). And most likely they will share in the dirty tricks fairly equally before this is all over. You just have to look more closely for Hillary's as she has more experience at playing these games more subtlely then Obama and has Bill to help who is the all-time slick politician (but you know I like him).

And remember, although the media deserves a bloody nose for proclaiming Hillary the nominee this summer before the primaries even started (and I'll bet she enjoyed that proclamation), and then Obama after his Iowa victory (and I know she didn't like that), Obama does not control what the media and the stupid comments they make or stupid positions they take.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:16 PM)

There are millions of people depending on the outcome of these elections for their health & homes & livelihoods. It is not a game.
gothamtomato, nyc (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 3:43 PM)

Excellent; sadly, many men will NEVER get it!!

Great post; thank you!!

PEACE!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:19 PM)

Keith, I am curious about Hillary's show of emotions to the point of tearing. If she crys now when she feels "ganged up on", what will she do if elected as president and Congress and/or the Senate vetos one of her bills. She doesn't have a clue about being ganged up on yet!!

Kevin Deal, Mission,KS (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:19 PM)

Rory (Bows to the Big Willies) Oakland, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:05 PM)

Looking forward to it Rory; we'll make plans!! Also, you can't miss me; I'll be in a formal gown, pearls, long white gloves and a tiara to celebrate the day as usual!!

PEACE!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:21 PM)

...per Karoelynne's post of 4:31 pm.
Yes, I agree, the triumvirate (Mathews, Scarborough and Russert) were a little much. Gave up on the coverage before 9 pm...and we are devoted to KO!

Also, I thought I was hallucinating when I saw Rachel M on CNN, not MSNBC, but then again, on another forum, they had five men pontificating all at once. And this afternoon Jack Cafferty made a comment that sounded suspiciously like New Hampshire voters are racists, while Iowans want change. (I'm paraphrasing.)

Perhaps it's time that Americans who want change (uh, most of us?) demand competence from all "communidates." I, for one, would like to see the list of who they'd like as running mates, cabinet members, advisors, judiciary nominees, and, oh yeah...just what happens when the Euro becomes the currency of the realm...

Yawn.

Muzz (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:21 PM)

Karen F, Florida, While I do agree with you about Keith, I have to vehemently disagree about Chris Matthews. He hates anything Clinton and it shows. As a seasoned journalist, he should maintain his objectivity. While I used to regularly tune in to Chris, I refuse to do so anymore. The better Hillary does, the more he spews. And that is just not professional in my book. If he wants to talk about facts, like her voting record, I am willing to listen, however, when the comments are personal and mean, that is where I draw the line. And I am not really a Hillary supporter, but I do think she has been villified by the media.

Pat, New Lenox, Il (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:22 PM)

My message to the GOP, be careful about bashing a woman. We women may investigate that woman and like what we see.
Stevie SLC Utah (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 4:25 PM)

Thank you!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:22 PM)

Okay, guys, I got the message. From now on I'll restrict my piss and vinegar to Auntie's board. Fortunately there it's appreciated.

gb (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:23 PM)

Please Keith, look into this:

blackboxvoting.org
bradblog.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/opinion/07poundstone.html?em&ex=1199941200&en=9c87c614f4814fe2&ei=5087%0A

untitled, Chicago (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:26 PM)

Pam Bignardi, so glad Hillary is above the fray, I guess all that race-baiting by her surrogates was an anomaly. Also, that fine little bit of fear-mongering Sen. Clinton gave in her final stump speeches (that Keith covered on Monday) was another anomaly, right?. As Keith said, "Right out of Rove's playbook". I guess Obama, Edwards, Richardson & Kucinich didn't realize they were running against a republican during the Democratic primary. Well, we can look at this way, at they'll be "vetted" for the general.

untitled, Chicago (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:27 PM)

Let's try not to reduce the campaign to the level of a bad Jim Crocce song.
Chris F., Just o'er the border in Williconsinois (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 4:18 PM)

I agree Chris; my anger and outright disgust has been brewing for a few weeks as I stated on another thread!! I DID have fun last night; today, well, it appears from many comments here what I stated to my sister was correct. "I was NOT the only person in the United States who felt that way" (about the "Hillary Hate Speech")

However, you are correct!! I'll start up again when the MSM or anyone begins ordaining Obama the second coming of Christ!!

PEACE & THANKS FOR THE "CHECK"

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:29 PM)

Pam - I agree with both of your posts today - Last nite, I heard something worth repeating here - Evidently Gloria Steinem wrote an Op-Ed piece in the NYT over the weekend and stated (I'm para-phrasing here) "if Obama were female he'd never be treated to this kind of 'rock star' status with only two years as a U S Senator " - and especially one that's missed so many votes in the last year -
In the words of one of my great idols, Ms Bette Davis - "Fasten your seat belts, it's gonna be a bumpy ride(nite)" -

~L~

Laura, St Louis, Mo (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:32 PM)

Saw that freaky Bill O got Worst Person again yesterday - got me to wondering - who has gotten this "honor" most often? Y'all shoulda done a "Worst Person of the Year" - it's one of my favorite parts of the show.

My guess - it would be a tie between Bill O and Rush

Viv - Austin, Tx (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:32 PM)

RE: Karen F, Florida (5:09 pm) Sure KO is entitled to his opinion, as are you, and am I...but aren't we on dangerous ground when commentators deign to make the final judgment call on whether or not a "communidate" is sincere and imply that they are right while others are wrong? Aren't we ALL entitled to our opinions? A lot of people actually believe that "Communidate Clinton" was at nearing the end of her tether that morning. Does that make them all wrong? (And hey, just for the record, I'm not a banner-waving CC supporter...)

We didn't see people attacking Rudy G. for tearing up during and after 9/11 -- perhaps if you had been in NYC during that time(as I was) you'd feel differently...he has said as much.

When one candidate's very humanity is stripped away, then we are all at greater risk. Perhaps NONE of the candidates are sincere. How would we really know? Through slanted journalism? What then? What do we do, whether the "communidate" is D,R,I, or whatever else?

And I wonder just how many PRESIDENTS HAVE CRIED THEMSELVES TO SLEEP since 1776. Golly, we may never know the answer to that one.

Muzz (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:33 PM)

Lost in all this 'Who's the front runner?' frenzy are two historically sifnificant events for the country. The first monination process primary win for an African-American and a woman in U.S. History.

David Hoffman, St. Louis, MO (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:34 PM)

Lost in all this 'Who's the front runner?' frenzy are two historically sifnificant events for the country. The first nomination-process primary win for an African-American and a woman in U.S. History.

David Hoffman, St. Louis, MO (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:36 PM)

Karen F., Florida (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:09 PM)

Karen, it is this kind of stuff that is really, really old also. Clinton won because the people of NH voted for her; end of story, it's no JFK conspiracy; however, this will turn more people away from Obama in my opinion --

Oh, but what do I know?? I was the stupid one, etc. etc. etc. I was even accused of being a "Hillary plant" --just like the woman who asked the question that made Hillary have her "emotional moment" was --until it was discovered SHE voted FOR Obama!!

Please, let's move on; let's debate; let's get ALL candidates involved; thank you!!

PEACE TO YOU!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:38 PM)

Chris F., Just o'er the border in Williconsinois (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 4:18 PM)

Senator Kerry has endorsed Obama; someone correct me if I am wrong; however, I'm sure I heard this on the news over the weekend.

PEACE!!

Pam Bignardi, San Pedro, California (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:40 PM)

Anna Molly: … Go ahead and run for public office and cry away. Naw, Anna Molly wouldn't do that anyway. She would smack them right back so hard it would bring tears to their eyes. C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 3:51 PM)

Why, C A, thank you – I think. I might be more inclined to kick than smack, but tears would be involved, for sure.

Anna Molly (: (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:43 PM)

People say Hillary's the life of the party,Ah, take a good look at my face
"You see my smile looks out of place
Now look closer it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears"
Back to Dubya and that Peace Mission.
"Man the Potatoes Men"!General Quarters! The Iranians are Water Skiing off the Port Bow!You may throw your potato when ready,but do not ask Dan Quayle to spell the word,it's top secret.Wonder when the last time was he had a Peace?Cheney knows I bet or Condi?
Yea less waste some more air time on this primary nonsense to divert the attention from the War and the problems being created to keep our attention off our problems.TAX OIL IMPORTS WITHOUT IT BEING PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER!I want a Robin Hood candidate who is going to rob the rich tax-less and give to the poor who need help with jobs,educations,and medicine!
The primary process is all about the money!If wanted that they have got some better places than that they could spend that money.Go back to old school and conventions delegations, candidates I'm tired of all of you already,and these stupid one horse primaries.
Pam's right about Obama too.He's the Democratic Romney. I want George Clooney as the Big Guy,to run with Martin Sheene,or Brad Pitt and Even yeppers Angeline the Ambassador of UN good will.I'm tired of these boring boars.I want change Obama.
CLOONEY means and Sheen Change to me.Angleline and Brad mean change to me.You want pretty faces and smart people there ya go!

B. A. Buddusky (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:52 PM)

People say Hillary's the life of the party,Ah, take a good look at my face
"You see my smile looks out of place
Now look closer it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears"
Back to Dubya and that Peace Mission.
"Man the Potatoes Men"!General Quarters! The Iranians are Water Skiing off the Port Bow!You may throw your potato when ready,but do not ask Dan Quayle to spell the word,it's top secret.Wonder when the last time was he had a Peace?Cheney knows I bet or Condi?
Yea less waste some more air time on this primary nonsense to divert the attention from the War and the problems being created to keep our attention off our problems.TAX OIL IMPORTS WITHOUT IT BEING PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER!I want a Robin Hood candidate who is going to rob the rich tax-less and give to the poor who need help with jobs,educations,and medicine!
The primary process is all about the money!If wanted that they have got some better places than that they could spend that money.Go back to old school and conventions delegations, candidates I'm tired of all of you already,and these stupid one horse primaries.
Pam's right about Obama too.He's the Democratic Romney. I want George Clooney as the Big Guy,to run with Martin Sheen,or Brad Pitt and Even yeppers Angeline the Ambassador of UN good will.I'm tired of these boring boars.I want change Obama.
CLOONEY means and Sheen Change to me.Angleline and Brad mean change to me.You want pretty faces and smart people there ya go!

B. A. Buddusky (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:53 PM)

Just wanted to pass along a reminder that I got from my boss today--and a very wise woman she is. She doesn't care who gets the Dem nomination--for her it's truly "anybody but Bush." It is hard to understand how men like Biden and Dodd can't get any traction, but I guess all politics has that high school popularity contest component.

What bothers me is that I am not hearing questions in the so-called "debates" about things that are really important: where do these people stand on the expanded executive powers? on signing statements that erode the powers of Congress? on the political neutrality and independence of federal agencies? on how and why the U.S. should go to war? on using nuclear bunker-busters in pre-emptive strikes? on holding their appointees accountable for breaking the law (Scooter Libby, Karl Rove's destruction of emails that are required to be archived. etc.), the outsourcing of government responsibilities to for-profit corporations like Halliburton and Blackwater. And so on. How else will we know who intends to clean up this awful mess?

PS--JAM the invitation to do laundry at my house holds...

Linda, Pittsburgh (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:53 PM)

How can a Senator from New York who was leading the polls until last week pull an upset in a state that is 20 minutes away. I am happy for her that she won, but an upset, no. Richardson, Dodd, or Biden, That would have been an upset.

Doug Gunderson (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:58 PM)

RE: Chris Matthews. He seems to react to the blatent rewriting of history and the numerous and obvious ploys of the Clintons (could Bill have whined or blamed any more!) more than, to me, displaying a true vehemence or disdain for the Clintons. I have seen him defend them as much as he has denegrated them.

RE: Diebold. I am not saying there is a conspiracy. I just am still exceedingly nervous as the election approaches that the past troubles with these machines have not yet been addressed. If women did vote for Clinton out of empathy for her emotionality, which seems to be the general consensus being offered, then I would urge them to understand that each of the candidates are human and they should look past the drama to see the vast and incredibly consequential issues facing the next president and vote by those criteria only.

Karen F., Florida (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:59 PM)

Laura (4:09 PM Post):

I was angered at how the media tended to be harder on Hillary then the other candidates. Not because she is a woman but because no candidates should get breaks and all candidates should be made to answer some tough questions, including Hillary, equally.

But in addition to your feeling that the media is being harder on Hillary based on her gender let's look at how gender can impact this race in another way. If one of the male candidates had had a tearful emotional moment prior to the NH primary would they have received the same sympathy vote that Hillary apparently received because of her teary emotional moment. I doubt it. And most likely a male having such a moment would have been labled as nuts or weak. Not by all mind you but by quite a few folks. So on the one hand Hillary's gender may be the reason for the undue criticism from male media pundits yet her gender also allowed her to receive sympathy votes that a male candidate would not have enjoyed given the same circumstances. So lets not allow gender to play a role in the reason for ganging up on a candidate, but let's also not allow gender to play a role on who we vote for and especially refrain from giving sympathy votes. We have come a long way from the days when boys were taught it was not right for them to show emotion and to cry, but there remains a stigma in this society that when a male cries, especially under those same circumstances as Hillarys, there is no sympathy awarded the male and certainly it would not be followed with a sympathy vote.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:59 PM)

Nora O'Donnell cited exit poll results indicating that over 50% of Dem voters were more concerned with the economy than Iraq. Maybe some NH voters voted with their wallets. Remember the '92 Clinton campaign refrain-"it's the economy stupid."

Cathy Kelley, Stockton CA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:07 PM)

After hearing Chris Matthews say that Hillary was only elected Senator because people felt sorry for her (because of her cheating husband) I better see him on you Worst Person of the World. What kind of ignorant sexist statement is that? How is he allowed to get away with saying that? If O'Reilly said that you wouldn't let it pass but Matthews continuously makes the most ludicrous and offensive comments as if he actually knows something. All of you guys would be doing us a service by clearly presenting the positions of the different candidates on the issues, WITHOUT your unqualified pontificating. Let's see a show FULLY discussing the different proposed health plans, not a soundbite, a FULL analysis by QUALIFIED people, not opinions like we get from the media now (i.e., Tom Delay's opinion on Hillary Clinton??? WTF???)
Countdown is the only news show I watch anymore, but you are losing me Keith. We need facts, not opinions. I feel that the media has forgotten they are supposed to provide us the facts. We can all develop our own opinions.

Diane Driscoll, Ellensburg, WA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:21 PM)

What's with Chris Matthews? He comes across as tho he has a personal vandetta aginst Hillary? My favorite person on MSNBC is Olberman. Hope he does"t get like Chris. A shame that the media is trying to inject the race card. Chriss may be the reason why people are turnig against Obama.

Nick Lagala, Camarillo, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:32 PM)

I don't know where to put this, but I hope Keith names this guy as the worst person in the world. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-begala/fox-news-we-report-e_b_80698.html

Nancy Duan, New York, NY (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:33 PM)

So according to Chris Matthews, "...the reason [Senator (if you please, Mr. Matthews, not "Mrs") Clinton is] a US Senator, the reason she’s a candidate for President, the reason she may be a front runner, is that her husband messed around."

This right after referring to Senator (if you please, Mr. Matthews, not "Mrs") Clinton as a "Lioness" as if unaware that such diminutives like "actress" and "launderess" haven't been used in intelligent circles in over twenty years.

And when has a representative of a alegedly respectable news organization actually pinched the cheek of a legimate candidate for the President of the United States?!?

Wasn't Jimmy the Greek fired for far less a bigoted act? Mr. Matthews seems to announce on the air his hatred of women on each and every appearance!

If anyone has ever deserved the label "sexist pig" Mr. Matthews surely does. At the very least, he's topped my list of the "Worst Person In The World."

Why is Chris Matthews still on the air?

faboofour (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:35 PM)

I find the anchors making this a race issue so insulting. Watching Chris Matthews talk this evening about how could exit polling be so off in NH. The inference was that voters were racist and lying when they said they voted for Obama, when in fact they voted for Clinton.

Did it ever occur to ANYONE that if there was deception, that NH voters found it more acceptable to say they voted for a BLACK MAN instead of a WHITE WOMAN?? In my mind that makes it a Gender issue rather than a race one.

I have lost much respect for Mr. Matthews and Mr. Carlson in this primary season. They have been almost as bad as those on FOX. And I have been a big fan of both these gentlemen for years.

Kathryn Wilson, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:42 PM)

Am I surprised this happened? Well, I was surprised when Bush Jr. won the election against Gore via the Supremes. I was surprised when Bush won the election against Kerry via Ohio. I was surprised when Kyle was re-elected, since the polsters were all against him. Am I surprised this happened? Heck no. The political machine wants what it wants and does what it does to keep the power it has.
I watched both Obama and Clinton be emotionally moved by John Edwards speech at the last debate with ABC. Hilary mentioned several times after that in various speeches that great speeches and beautiful words do not a good president make, but she got the point. Watch her on Letterman- she was acting. Watch her at the ABC debate when she said "that hurt my feelings" - this was acting. See those tears - that was acting. In a blink, she moved onto another topic.
I am frustrated with AP that they 'declared' the winner before the votes were in. I am frustrated with the idiots who decided that the NH primary occur when it did, and not wait till the rest of the college students were back in college from break. I believe that the pollsters got it right - in the days of no rights except the patriot act, we cannot even do a decent sit in without being arrested and thrown into a system we could stay in forever without an attorney. So, am I surprised that this happened? No, heck no. The powers that be want to keep that power-Obama is a threat to that power. Kerry's loss was just a tease-didn't we all think he won? I think the goal was to let us all think there was an election. I can only hope that Obama and his supporters, of which I am one, can break thru this mess. He represents our hope for a decent future.

melayne,phoenix,az (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:48 PM)

I'm incensed that Hillary and her husband would resort to the dirty tactics that they have, and simultaneously insulting blacks who have supported them overwhelmingly since the '90's. As for the MLK and President Johnson comment, that was as racist as it gets, and is worse than what was done to Harold Ford in the Tennessee campaign for US Senator, since this came from a fellow Democrat. Then for Hillary to use the 'cry' tactic just demonstrates that they'll stoop to any level to try to win. I for one, had vowed that if Hillary won the nomination, I'd abstain from voting for the President, as I absolutely will not vote for Hillary, but previously wouldn't vote Republican. However, if Hillary wins the Democratic nomination, I certainly will vote Republican in an effort to keep Hillary out of the White House. The feminists seem to want to give Hillary a blank check on everything and attempt to explain it away (double standards), rather than play by subscribe to one rule book. The have done irreparable damage and will never be viewed w/the favor they once enjoyed from many die-hard Dems.

Unhappy Voter (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:49 PM)

Chris Matthews just started his show with a comment something like"you have to give her credit-she had a gutsy performance". WTF?? Now he is discussing what went wrong with the polls! Hah. Maybe the American people are tired of the polls and told the pollsters what they wanted to hear and they voted their hearts and consciences.

Pat, New Lenox, IL (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:06 PM)

May Vote Republican, (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:20 PM)

Can anyone actually explain to me why in 2008 all primaries aren't on one day ,So all americans can have a say without any bounce or media medaling to keep all our voices heard? Does this sound to fair perhaps ? We all vote one day in the general?

Brian Mooresville N Carolina (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:22 PM)

RE: Kathryn Wilson, Dallas, TX I am also exceedingly dismayed currently watching Chris Matthews and the vast references to race. Since women overwhelmingly voted for Clinton, are they saying the NH women are all racists? I believe this absolutely denegrates the entire election process. Obama deserves better coverage than this, as do the other candidates as well actually; it is an insult to everyone involved in this process. I, too, want to know why the pollsters' numbers were so far askew...but given the data they do know regarding what specific groups tended to vote for which candidate, the racist references demean everyone. The explanation that women were empathetic to Clinton given the barrage she was facing seems much more likely an explanation to me. Again, I consider the gravity of the issues facing this country should take preeminences over a sympathy vote for any of the candidates. I think, too, that this kind of sideline reporting takes away from the time which should be being given to the issues, positions, plans, etc. of the candidates involved. Come on!

Karen F., Florida (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:33 PM)

Kathryn (6:42 PM): It doesn't seem to occur to any of the pundits that maybe the group of people who said in the polling sample that they voted for Obama actually did vote for Obama, without lying, but that the sample simply wasn't representative of the state as a whole. They'll believe the respondents are liars rather then believe the poll was inaccurate.

Rich Bixby (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:41 PM)

What happened 24 hours before the N.H. primaries?
Hillary played the women card. Question I have, What if we found out that lady who's question sparked emotions in Hillary and the guy holding "Iron my shirt" at one of her rallies just day before the elections were actually planted by Hillary's campaign?.
Just a question...
Saifee
Utica, NY

Saifee, Utica 13501 (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:51 PM)

First Congrats to Hillary Clinton a job well done. Chris Matthews has been bashing her for months and I'm glad to see the people of this country are no longer allowing the media to influence their decisions, as it should be. Just one question to everyone, I recently received an email talking about Obama's muslim backround. He attended a Muslim School in Jakarta as a child. That when he was sworn into the senate he put his hand on the Koran not the bible. Also, he will not put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegience. Keith, I always felt your a truthful newscaster and get to the bottom of series issues, please look into this. If Obama is Muslim at heart maybe he isn't the best choice of canidate for President. Also, don't forget the muslims always said they would destroy us from the inside out. I know this may sound crazy, but if I told you in 2000 that 2 planes would take down the World Trade Centers, you would say I was crazy then.

Jaynee Buckelew, Branchburg, NJ (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:59 PM)

I don't understand all the fuss over Hillary shedding a tear. It's an emotion which our commander-in-chief has never felt as he's sent our friends, relatives and loved ones into an unnecesarry war. Tears when you are unhappy are as valid an emotion as laughter when you are happy. We've seen grown men cry at athletic events for goodness' sake.

Nanalinda, San Antonio, TX (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:59 PM)

I'm watching tonights show, and shouldn't it be "taking nothing for GRANTED", not "granite"?

Isaac Davison, DuQuoin, Illinois (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:20 PM)

How come nobody mentions the Diebold machines used in New Hampshire? Are we supposed to take for granted Hillary's jump
past double digit losing polls to victory? How do we know the results
aren't already being hacked to make Hillary, the only Democrat who
might be defeated, the nominee?

Susan (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:21 PM)

As a liberal, I don't know anyone who would vote against Obama because he is black. Most liberals detest the idea that he is going across the aisle to get lovey dovey with the far right wing. That is all it is and the fact that people have decided that Clinton is too emotional and that ticks a lot of us women off. She isn't my favorite, but the more they talk about fake emotions or being to emotional the more I will defend her.

Karen, Moore, Oklahoma (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:22 PM)

Keith misunderstands the "Tom Bradley Effect" (voters tell pollsters they'll vote for an African American candidate, then pull the lever for a white candidate). He just asked: how can this have happened in NH but not in Iowa? Answer: the theory is about the difference between public and private behavior on race. Iowa caucuses are public. You physically stand for your candidate by going to that corner of the room in front of your neighbors. NH primary voting is private. Whether or not one accepts this theory as the explanation for the discrepancy between polls & results on Obama in NH, media folks should stop saying it's illogical. The results so far are not incompatible with the Bradley Effect. Whether it is the best explanation is another matter.

Max Friedman, Washington, DC (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:30 PM)

While I agree the 'vetting' process is served by this election theft, it is still important that we find out WHY the jurisdictions in urban areas with large vote counts using DIEBOLD machines gave Hillary such a whopping edge. A careful study of the votes shows that in areas counted by HAND, the exit and tracking polls were correct. In most of the vote-rich DIEBOLD jurisdictions, the exit polls as well as tracking polls were turned on their heads. Even the questioner who asked the question that prompted those tears of Hillary (who felt her dreams of the Offal Office going up in smoke) saw through the facade and voted for Obama. SOMEONE needs to talk about the possibility of ELECTION THEFT just like Ohio and Florida were stolen in Novembers past. Keith, I hope to God you spend more time on this than you just did a few minutes ago.

Don Deppeller (Sent Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:32 PM)

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