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Year: 2008

Obama Slam

I’m in London, England, so I didn’t get to watch last nights debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, save for some video snippets available on ABC.com. According to some of those who did watch the spectacle, Obama fell victim to the effects of an ABC/Clinton tag team who delivered a sizable can o’ whupass.

Keeping the score card, there’s no way Obama could fared worse. Nearly 45 minutes of relentless political scrutiny from the ABC anchors and from Hillary Clinton, followed by an issues-and-answers session in which his anger carried over and sort of neutered him.

A lot of stuff that Obama doesn’t want Pennsylvanians to think about were the subject of fairly detailed questions. Obama’s supporters are already blaming the “establishment” — that is, the powerful institution of the mainstream media — for the tone of the debate. This sets up a blowback scenario wherein his supporters will rally to his defense and lash out at the media very loudly. But Obama’s going to be the next president of the United States, maybe. The most powerful person in the world. And questions about his personal associations, his character, his personal beliefs, his statements at private fundraisers — the answers to these questions tell us a lot.

Being a supporter of Operation Chaos, I don’t mind the fact that Obama might have had a bad night. Heck, I’m not even a Democrat, so as far as I’m concerned, both Hillary and Barack could fall flat on their face and I’d be happy. Yet, like any God fearing Conservative, I can’t bear the thought of Hillary Clinton being our next president. If that means rooting for Obama, so be it. Do I wish he would have slam dunked Hillary in the debate? Sure. But even if that’s not what happened last night, it’s no matter. Hillary’s bound and determined to play the role of suicide bomber in this primary. Make no mistake about it, she’s packing the proverbial explosives in her vest as we speak. If she doesn’t get the nomination, she’ll blow up the Democratic party in full public view. And I’d pay to watch that.

More: Plenty of folks are ticked off over ABC’s performance in the debate.

Still More: Shales Slams ABC

Technorati Tags:
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania

Obama Will Lose PA Big

He had a shot, but he blew it, big time. A poll was taken in Pennsylvania over the weekend and Barack Obama’s “bitter” rant has left him 20 points behind Hillary.

Hillary will bang this drum all week. Obama’s stumble has been a gift. It’s reinvigorated her fight. She’s further away from getting out of this race than ever.

More: The poll, explained.

Technorati Tags:
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania

Penguin Unafraid of eBooks

Many publishers are taking a conservative approach to eBook publishing, mostly because of fear that digital books will adversely affect the sale of print editions. This is especially true in reference book publishing. Recently though, more book publishers are looking eBooks square in the eye. The fears are being allayed by a developing customer channel.

Penguin, the publishing house, will release new “ebooks” at the same time as it produces a print edition in order to feed a growing demand for digital books.

Pearson, the UK media group which owns Penguin, said that books from the publishing house, from its travel division and from the Dorling Kindersley brand, will be available to download from its website and from digital retailers from September.

The electronically-available books will come out at the same time as the print editions and will cost the same.

The simultaneous release of both eBook and print editions is significant. Most publishers who have jumped into the eBook market have released backlist titles so as not to divert attention from their frontlist. Penguin is signaling that they believe the digital market can coexist with the print market, not take away from it. For those publishers who are still timid, Penguin’s strategy will be something to watch closely.

Technorati Tags:
Digital, eBooks, Penguin, Publishing

LOC Going Digital

The Library of Congress will make use of technology to exhibit more than 6,000 volumes from Thomas Jefferson’s book collection.

“Artifacts like the Waldseemüller map (the first to include the name “America”), the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, the Gutenberg Bible and original volumes from Thomas Jefferson’s Library will be virtually at your fingertips. You’ll be able to flip through their pages, magnify sections of interest and access commentary from the Library’s top experts-all on the same touch screen,” the Library of Congress’ website informs the public.

Digital technology is not something new for libraries, but Librarian of Congress James Billington assured the public that the exhibit is “unlike anything the Library of Congress has undertaken in the past,” allowing visitors to see “stunning detail up close that we’ve only had a general idea of before.”

Eventually, this stuff will be available via the web, so you won’t have to travel to Washington, D.C. to access LOC materials.

Technorati Tags:
Digitization, Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson

Coup de Grâce

According to the Scotsman, a plan is in the works. Al Gore and Jimmy Carter are conspiring to deliver a message to Hillary Clinton. They will endorse Barack Obama and encourage Mrs. Clinton to quit her run for the presidency.

Falling poll numbers and a string of high-profile blunders have convinced party elders that she must now bow out of the primary race.

Former president Carter and former vice-president Gore have already held high-level discussions about delivering the message that she must stand down for the good of the Democrats.

“They’re in discussions,” a source close to Carter told Scotland on Sunday. “Carter has been talking to Gore. They will act, possibly together, or in sequence.”

Whether this is fact or fiction no one knows. I certainly wouldn’t expect anything to happen before the primaries end. That means June at the earliest. Clearly, the DNC doesn’t want a delegate fight at the convention in Denver, so it would make sense to have the two most influential Democrats, and chairman Dean, come out at the conclusion of the primaries on June 4th and let the world know who the nominee will be.

Technorati Tags:
Al Gore, Barack Obama, DNC, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Jimmy Carter

Poll Crazy

A new AP/Ipsos national poll out today shows that John McCain has erased a 10 point advantage held by Barack Obama which leaves the GOP presumptive nominee tied with both Democratic candidates.

The problem is, none of this is exciting. Why? Because it’s a simple poll. A one time event. A snap shot. Whenever the MSM pushes a poll story you know the political news cycle is weak. That’s what’s happening here. No real news so they create the narrative by pushing this.

Think about how many times this poll can move in the months leading up to the November election and you can understand why I snort at stuff like this.

More: Polls polls polls, everywhere, polls!!!

Technorati Tags:
Barack Obama, Hysteria, John McCain, Polls

Next Stop: Earl’s Court

Like many in our industry, I’m heading to London for the book fair which starts on Monday, April 14th. I’m looking forward to the show this year. Last year, digitization was the topic du-jour. That conversation carried over to the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. So, I expect to field more questions on this issue from my publisher partners when we meet next week.

I’ll let you know if I see a giant Kindle helium balloon floating from the rafters of Earl’s Court 1. Pictures will follow.

Technorati Tags:
Publishing, London Book Fair, Frankfurt Book Fair, Earl’s Court, London, Books, Exhibition
Kindle

When Politicians Jump the Shark

All three candidates for president – John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton – will be appearing together tomorrow night on national television. No, they won’t be taking part in a debate of the issues. They won’t be holding simultaneous campaign rallies. No, nothing substantive like that. Together, they will be appearing…

…wait for it…

…on American Idol.

What? Are they gonna sing or something? Will Simon be allowed to degrade them? (I’d even tune in for that!).

How ridiculous.

Technorati Tags:
2008 Election, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, American Idol, Simon Cowell

Condi Won’t Be Veep

I hate to break it to Eugene Robinson, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will not be picked by John McCain as his running mate. She doesn’t want to be Vice President. She never wanted to be Vice President.

I hypothesize that the Obama campaign pushed this story over the weekend, with the goal of damaging John McCain. Tying McCain to Bush and his administration is the only hope the Democrats have to cripple his candidacy. They can’t criticize him on his liberal viewpoints, for if they did, they would be criticizing their own beliefs. The only thing they can do is push the narrative that electing McCain will be like electing Bush for another 4 years. And how better to tie McCain to Bush than to suggest that a senior member of Bush’s administration wants an extended term of residency in the White House.

The Dems will have to come up with something better than this if they want to hurt McCain.

UPDATE: Condi says it again, even clearer.

Technorati Tags:
Barack Obama, John McCain, Condoleezza Rice, Vice President, Short List