Get Out of the Golf Cart!

And today, the word of the day in the corporate press is... "presumptuous." Used in a sentence: Senator Obama is being presumptuous during his trip -- acting all presidential and dignified. How dare he be presidential while running for, you know, president. Presumptuous. During the live CNN web feed of the Berlin address, an anchor used it to describe the event. Joe Klein used it in a blog post today. Of course Joe attributed it to racist voters rather than very serious reporters -- racist because it's presumably a synonym for 'uppity' and we can't accuse the press of such awfulness. And Candy Crowley used it in her post-address analysis on CNN. That's a lot of coincidences. "Presumptuous" must really be a popular word. Odd that it's being used so often by people who want Senator Obama to win.

AP: "In a speech that risked being seen as presumptuous..."

TIME Magazine: "capable to become the Commander in Chief of a superpower -- without seeming presumptuous..."

The National Journal: "He is well aware voters here at home might see that as presumptuous..."

Washington Post: "Whether by the end of this week he will be seen as presumptuous or overly cocky..."

Chicago Tribune: "That means walking the fine line between looking presidential and appearing arrogant and presumptuous..."

Boston Globe: "plus the growing sense in some quarters that the presumptive Democratic nominee is getting a little presumptuous..."

Can you feel the wanting-Obama-to-win love radiating off your computer screen? No?

The reality is that positive coverage of any Democrat is limited and temporary for fear of networks and newspapers either being accused of liberal bias or being tossed out of the very serious barbeque loop. Regardless of whether the Democrat, in this case Senator Obama, is having a good day, it's somehow unethical to report on such good news for too long without deliberately concocting an antidote to appease the far-right. So rather than standing up as the only industry explicitly named in the Constitution and defending the very basic idea of journalistic integrity, the corporate media is all too quick to capitulate to these specious Republican attacks -- that is, when they're not tossing their ethics aside and taking bribes in the form of barbeque and McBusch beer from a candidate whom they're supposed to be covering objectively.

david brooks is a disturbed convoluted conservative that William F. Buckley Jr would disown. he is nothing but a lackey for the Repugnant spin machine and I am surprised that nyt still allow him to be published. But, then again everybody has to have a job.

Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho He He He

PS. Eleanor, I'd change the subhead to "Obama's trip made him look strong, while McCain looked like a Rich Retiree" but that would really get some hot responses!

That image was just awful - two old farts tooling around in a golf cart in their sunset days!!! Loved the sarcasm on Hardball too, it made me crack up.

If that's America's ideal of "commander in chief" I'd hate to see their idea of "decrepit"!!! hahahahahaha

Great article, Elinor!!!! Love the title, very apt.

This is an important observation: "McCain claims to be strongest on national security, but not many among military brass are standing up and endorsing McCain. They don't like him...."

I can't understand the laggards who still want to vote for McCain, given this bit of information. Do people across American not read? Have most uf us never traveled? I thought we were more "advanced" than we are. I guess not - we're still hovering around that "second-to-SouthAfrica-during-peak-Apartheid" temperature in our racist fears and sentiments - that is the ONLY thing that could possibly be holding people back from wholeheartedly embracing Obama.

He's brilliant, charming, down-to-earth, sincere, and oh-so-savvy. Is there ANY reason whatsoever to vote for McCain now? Sheesh... it defies all logic!

I believe the word you are looking for is moron. Unless, of course, you were referring to those men as colors in the red family of shades. Ironic, huh?

It is moron. Unless, of course, you were referring to those men as a color in the red family. Ironic?

This is perfect "Mccain't and isn't able to Govern" should keep riding around in Jr's golf cart and while he is at it he should hitch a ride in Rush's cart, Rove's cart, Hannity's cart and any of those other maroon's golf carts. At least the American voters will see exactly which crowd he truly relates to."The Corporate Elitist"

It???s kind of sad to see this geriatric trying to impress people with his vast military experience sitting out the war in a POW camp always whining about his opponent???s courage to do something besides riding in a swamp buggy and golf cart.

It???s kind of sad to see this geriatric trying to impress people with his vast military experience sitting out the war in a POW camp always whining about his opponent???s courage to do something besides riding in a swamp buggy and golf cart.

Sorry, I cut my self off . . . Doesn't he realize the historical nature of this election? Or maybe he just doesn't care that he is running against the first black man to have a legitimate chance of winning the presidency. Yes, the media is falling all over themselves to have his ear. Yes, there is some bias. But McCain is 71 years old and should be secure enough in himself to be able to ignore this and handle himself like a man.

Thank you for your commentary. I have been an Obama supporter since Day 1 but I always said that if I had to vote for a Republican, it would probably be John McCain. I have changed my mind. I truly believe he is too darned old and set in his ways to be the POTUS. I thought an agreement was made to not attack each other while overseas. McCain seems bitter, cranky, and reactionary. He could have laid low during this week. He sould