Fox News Sunday: Rick Davis Tells Voters To Forget His Lobbyist Ties, Calls Them "Ghosts Of The Past"
By Nicole Belle Saturday Sep 06, 2008 12:00pm
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Republicans ought to thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster for Fox News Sunday. Where else could you get away with this laughingly lame deflection? When Obama Campaign Manager David Axelrod reminded viewers in an earlier segment that McCain's "reformer" claims are at odds with the people with whom he chooses to staff his campaign--a whole bunch of connected lobbyists, led by uber-lobbyist (allegedly retired) Rick Davis, Davis dismisses the charge by saying that the Obama campaign has nothing left but to chase after "ghosts of the past."
The past, you say? Oh really? Only if you consider "the past" to be just a few weeks ago.
Transcript below the fold
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<![endif]-->WALLACE: Well, as a matter of personal privilege, I'm going to give you the opportunity to respond to David Axelrod, who said, you know, for all the talk about wait ‘till we come in and shake up the lobbyists that the campaign team of McCain is filled with lobbyists, or in your case, former lobbyists. Hopw do you respond?
DAVIS: Oh, I think that you know, this is just more of the same from David Axelrod. I mean, they've been running against ghosts of the past all along. And I think it just shows that they don't really have anything to talk about. If they want run against Rick Davis or our campaign staff, let ‘em. I think it's hilarious! It's a wonderful distraction from the real issues that we're trying to debate. It's a classic example of a campaign that doesn't have anything else to say so they pick on staff.
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Its like watching one of those scam corporations caught doing bad things, they change the name, but its all the same players.
Born again Republicanism, same ol same ol.
Never talk about the past, ever, if you are a Republican nowadays. Pretend your only concern is "what are we going to do now."
Rick Davis is SO twisted, it shows in his face CONSTANTLY.
Chris Wallace is disingenuous, hypocritical, biased flack. He ran his stupid Obama Watch clock for weeks to goad Obama into appearing on his lame-ass show. Now he has Rick Davis appear - but where's the Palin Watch clock? Did he even ask Davis to serve up his VP nominee?
Well, here's The Palin Watch clock. I guess it's up to us to force her to come out of hiding and speeak to some real reporters.
I know it's hardly productive to mention, but Rick Davis is such a douchebag.
Notice that he has the Rovian Mirror Strategy down pat: using the most effective and challenging criticism that Joe Biden leveled on the McCain campaign - that they have nothing to talk about so they "talk about the other guy" - to try and make that about the Obama campaign noting his career as a lobbyist as some kind of specious criticism.
That's hilarious.
Well, then let's forget all those other "Ghosts of the Past:" William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko, the Hanoi Hilton.... Please, PLEASE forget the Hanoi Hilton.
Instead , look forward to Johnboy becoming more unstable and Sarah Barracuda taking over. Oh, Happy Day!!!
No if mcsame gets elected it will be the voice of even more lobbyests.
I think there is nothing wrong with lobbying but the way they do it today is not lobbying it is bribing or just plain owning your own private polliticain.
All the big corporations own several polliticians! It's a shame the American people are left out under the john bush, george mcsame. mitch mcconnell, republican, christian fascist version of America.
And yes fiver what republicans do best is pretend!
No Rick! What is really hilarious is that McCain is bullshiting Americans about how he is going to change politics as usual and how he is going to change Washington, and how wonderfull reformers he and his VP pick Palin are. But the reality, the facts and people like yourself Rick are revealing that his rhetoric is absolute and total bullshit he is indeed same old same McSame.
The Obama Campaign came out Blazing Today
Obama took down this Week with GS
Biden mopped the floor on Meet the Press
Robert Gibbs just tore McCain Spoke Person a part on Late Edition
Tim Kaine also did a take down! Carville was right behind
And the final Knock Out, Senator Boxer demolished John McCain, you almost felt sorry for Kay Bailey Hutchinson for being forced to defend John McCain and the PTA Lady
Word is that the McCain campaign is holding Palin in a box, away from the press, so that she can become better prepared for the Vice Presidency.
Ironic, eh?
It's really funny how the GOP is so quick to have god forgive them, old news or now ghosts of the past, But the DEM's have to pay for their mistakes until the rapture.
"Nothing to talk about"? Umm, did he really just say that? Ummm, the clip enedd so I'm sure Chris Wallace put him in his place. Right? Of course he did.
We live in a time where politics is so disingenuous, so Machiavellian, that you almost expect political agents to say the exact opposite of reality. And it sure does appear that the farther right you get, the more distorted the frame gets. There's no longer a need to do satire or farce, they are so perverted, straight analysis is wackier than Alice, her mushrooms and talking rabbits.
I don't believe that it's a ghost of the past. why? he has been in lobbying a long time....it's in his blood. in addition to that he is surrounded by several other lobbyists and ceo types.
mccains campaign is run by lobbyists.
randy scheunemann a lobbyist who has deep involvement with georgia. phil gramm on the board of ubs warburg charlie black strong/long time lobbyists.
we will always have lobbyists but they have become
DOMINATE on capitol hill especially the last 8-10 yrs.
this is the core of what Obama wants to change you
have to read between the lines sometimes but this is
what he wants to change in washington. reduce the power of lobbyist/corporations vs the people. there
is something like 30,000 lobbyists in the beltway...they have become too powerful.
rick davis is behind/involved in the NEOCON ambition.if
mccain gets elected you can count on these ambitions
being center stage of his administration.
"Ghosts of the past"? Does he mean the ghosts of tens of thousands of Americans and Iraqi's killed during the Bush administration?
Jay Severin Has A Small Pen1s @ 10:
'yup...yup' she's not ready now for the heart beat away but she'll be ready in a couple weeks....and they say obama will never be ready...it's all right there. this
is ridiculous. they are schooling her big time.
this was a POLITICAL choice by the mccain
campaign but a poor governing choice...they know it
so they will put her in a 'cone of silence'.
if your one to vote on perceived personality/character
you overlook this....it plays into the... she's just like me theme....which is absolutely ridiculous.
I think Chris Wallace's recessive journalist gene is starting to show.
What the bleep is Wallace saying with this statement, "Well, as a matter of personal privilege"? He's supposed to be a "journalist", their job is supposed to be presenting all sides of an issue, what does "personal privilege" have to do with anything about that job?
Fahgedaboudit.
Government Takes Over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac:
Corporate welfare with big auto begging for it.
FDIC borrowing to bail out banks.
Yeah, fahgetabout the election and shut it down.
Damn.
Does anyone really think McCain as President will be able to abandon the lobbyists that have invested in his campaign?
I really think NOT.
surfjac @ 19:
one word answer: NO
These guys are tricky assholes. They keep using the Democratic messages like "more of the same", "distraction from the real issues", "they don't have anything to talk about" in hopes to what? Denigrate the Democratic message? When Democrats say it, it actually has substance behind it. When these ass-clowns say it, makes me wanna reach through the tube and smack them upside the head.
Ernest Tee @ 11:
Is that funny like "Do you think I'm here to amuse you" funny or funny like "It's funny how those poorly built houses collapse and trap everyone inside during an earthquake." I guess pathetic is the word that comes to my mind rather than funny. You are spot on pointing out the rampant hypocrisy.
Stop the chest pounding already, Obama's campaign has half as many lobbyists or former lobbyists on staff as McCain, but that's still a significant number of lobbyists dictating Obama's policy. This isn't an "us and them" scenario, Obama hasn't cleaned himself of lobbyists, it's "them and them". They own both parties.
constituent @ 15:
This is a lot like Bush and Cheney telling Putin how to handle invasions of sovereign countries.
Pay no attention to that
lobbyistman behind the curtain? The past is irrelevant! The great and powerful OZ has spoken!I've been saying this since the World Tour, but Axelrod, Plouffe, Gibbs, and expecially Obama and Biden need to throw everything they've got at McCain and Palin. Otherwise this election is going to the wire. If that's the case, Diebold comes into play.
Picking Biden as VP was a signal that the gloves were coming off. It's time the Obama campaign stopped beating around the bush (no pun intended), and moved ahead with sharp attacks on the stump and hard-hitting negative ads. There are far too many people ou there, even mis-informed Democrats, who don't know how utterly nutty McCain and Palin are, and who think they're in the mainstream on the issues. For the first time I'm actually starting to think McCain has a chance of winning.
surfjac @ 19:
Remember that we are talking about Ferengi like Republicans who are obsessed with profit and return on investment. Bite the hand that feeds you? Forget it.
"A wonderful distraction fro the real issues." I guess that means they admit that distracting voters from real issues is wonderful for them.
Wait a gall darn minute. I didn’t think this campaign was about the issues. It’s about personalities and experience, isn’t it??
Dionysus @ 23:
that's understood by most on this blog...so if your a grey area thinker you go deeper than they both have them so therefore it's pointless or a wash.
mccain has more lobbyists and receiving more money from them in comparison. mccain has about 40 high powered lobbyists and obama maybe half of that. to me
it's much more the both have them.
Dionysus @ 23:
Hopefully and I do mean "hopefully" Obama is using the lobbyists to attain his goal rather than what we know has happened in the McCain camp. Like so many things in life there is nothing intrinsically evil about lobbyists. The problem is when they go from trying to influence to ownership of the politician. We know McCain is owned we can only hope Obama is still his own man. The whole system stinks but currently it's the only game in town and we're stuck with it until we change it.
Jay Severin Has A Small Pen1s @ 10:
I heard it was because she's told so many lies, she's boxed herself in, and can't even go on FOX, let alone a sort of real media.
bmw 528 @ 27:
I believe you mean, "Ferengian" - great description.
Game over: http://www.gallup.com/poll/110050/Gallup-Daily-McCain-Moves-Ahead-48-45....
The retards outnumber us.
* sob *
Dionysus @ 23:
Who are you talking about? They don't get much slimier than Rich Davis.
Check out this story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR200801...
This should be front page shit, but don't count on the corporate media telling you about this.
Chicken "Hussein" Little - Not! @ 31:
The difference is whether they are merely influenced or if the lobbyists are writing the laws. Lobbyists are either trying to influence or write the laws such as the cheney energy policies.
Rick Davis also said that she was shielding Palin from the press as reciprocity for the "disrespectful" treatment they have given her - I can't make this shit up. Is that not the biggest cop-out you've ever heard?
Chuck @ 34:
If I weren't an atheist, I'd be praying right now.
Rick Davis beside McCrook you have to be the dumbest person in the USA. Thanks for a good laugh. PS call Adam Sandler maybe you can get the part to Waterboy 2.........Hey Moron I mean Rick Davis.....LOSER I still refuse to vote for idiot boy
I can't stand this pasty-faced punk.
"Ghosts of past????" Is Randy Scheunemann a "ghost of the past?" The guy hired by McCain to run his foreign policy, and Neocon extraordinaire???
damn the repubes running the campaign are so desperate and out of ideas and responces they have to actually steal the dems .
examples...
surprise appearance of their presidential candidate after the vice presidents speech
using change as the campaign mantra
fake fireworks in place of real fireworks
and this response as the opposition not having anything to say on the issues. what a friggin joke coming from the man that said this campaign is not about issues and is about personality. if this is so then he is in deep trouble because his candidate has none.
something to remember at least this is how i view it.
obama hasn't been bought or not bought as much. they don't own him this is very important....it's very hard to bring change when your bought.
there is a lot of money behind mccain. they're concerned...who? the elitist,k-street,NEOCONs and wall street.
another thing these lobbyists go in and out of being lobbyists it's part of their strategy....oh i'm not a lobbyists......i walked away from that firm 2 months ago please...
Old Billy Hussein @ 38:
Don't pay any attention to the polls. Some have Obama up by as much as 10 points while some have McCain up by as much as 3-4 points. Just keep talking to people. We'll win this from the ground up.
Old Billy Hussein @ 38:
My confidence in the American people was shattered in 2004 when Dumbya got in for a second term.
Old Billy Hussein @ 38:
Go here and take heart, it ain't going the way MSM wants you to believe it's going
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com
Chuck @ 34:
This is what I was getting at in my earlier post. The Obama campaign need to start hammering McCain and Palin.
As for the polls, it's tied in Rasmussen, and the McCain bounce was predicted by Nate Silver. Obama got his bounce, McCain's getting his. No biggie.
That's not say it doesn't piss me off that a small percentage of people who were FOR Obama a week ago have now moved to McCain, at least in the short-term. I'd love to see who these people are... they're so fickle.
In 2004, Bush had a double-digit lead coming out of the convention. This week's convention was almost identical in perso9anl attacks and content. Also, McCain/Palin are significantly more popular than Bush/Cheney.
About time we have THEM having to defend a position or an issue. We need more of this.
Cry me a river people! McCain has a net gain of 3 points and this is with him and Palin having all those news cycles this weekend. In contrast, Obama had an 8 point net gain with McCain stealing the news cycles that should have been Obama's by announcing Palin the very next morning. So in closing, conventions produce these bounces but I think Obama had the bigger bounce of the two even though it was sabotaged. Let's see how this next week plays out.
This week's state polling is now HUGE. If Obama's paths to victory are still intact, it could be significant.
Off Topic but I won't be around later...
Could I suggest a clip from "The Last Waltz" of "The Weight" for the late night music choice. It just seems soooooooo apt in light of the most recent example of corporate welfare to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Redux it'd go like this:
"Take a load off Fannie. Take a load for free. Take a load off Freddie. And and annnnnnnnndd... you put the load right on me."
So sad...
i highly recommend this short interview bill moyers and
fritz hollings who was in the senate 36 yrs. he has seen
the change money has brought to capitol hill. it's very
good don't have time save it
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07252008/profile3.html
This reminds me of what George H.W. Bush said in 1988 to reporters about the Iowa caucuses, where he had lost to Pat Buchanan, a few days later in New Hampshire:
"That's history."
The idea being that history is unimportant, meaningless, dead, a peculiarly American notion. And positively delusional in the hands of people like Bush and Davis and McCain, who think they can reinvent themselves by simply saying they're not the persons they used to be.
Chuck @ 34:
I talked to one these retards today. He said the news about the bad economy, our fucked up financial institutions, high gas costs, etc are coming from liberal news medias. He gave me diarrhea.
It's fascinating that Palin came out gang busters with blant lies (and even more baffling is the kid gloves the media responded with so far).
McCain has been lying all campaign long, so Palin joining in should be no surprise. Now about Rick Davis, he can't be blamed for lying thats genetic to lobbyists or retired (wink, wink) ones.
What is mind boggling is all the white GOP drones so petrified about the end of white rule in America, that they co opt the lies and hold them true and dear. (That US magazine responds was the funniest show of quasi nazi unity that I have noted ever in America; talk about whining Americans; it's just journalism).
How sad that such a deaf dumb and blind group of confused patriots are so desperate that they resort to lies as the foundation of their entire presidential and vice presidential campaign.
I think its more that obvious and fair to say that what the Republicans are offering are blant lies; that speak to white constituents that will do anything to hold on to white rule.
Did anyone else play count the "ethnics" visible at the GOP convention (other than the token showcased ones)?
This group that rallies around lies and refutes the questioning of concerns or truths; is really just a bridge to nowhere.
That guy has a real reptilian/evil quality about him. How can these people go out in public, and do the things they do?
Oh right, because they are sociopath's. Silly me.
is this not the guy who said this campaign IS NOT ABOUT ISSUES but about leaders...
Dionysus @ 23:
Do you really think all lobbyists are the same? In the top 25 the Teamsters Union and the AFL-CIO are listed, are they the same as National Rifle Association of America and National Right to Life Committee? First you should check out which lobbyists are backing which candidate.
StirFry @ 53:
I hope the repukes take back congress too if McStupid wins. We need a full blown depression with 25% unemployment in this country, before these STUPID SOB's will get a clue!
I am already looking to take my family elsewhere if the GOP wins again. Corporate fascism is not my idea of a good place to live in. I have had enough of the morons in this country.
80% say the country is seriously screwed ip.
75% blame Bush and the GOP.
48% to 45% support McCain. Same party, same policies, same people in charge. If this were not so pathetic, it would be hilarious.
What has happened that logic has been completely skewed by the people who dominate the dialog?
Politicians are elected by votes of citizens. That means politicians themselves are supposed to be lobbyists -- lobbyists for the people who elected them, not for corporations.
A few weeks ago is "ghosts of the past", but McCain's failure to complete his mission in Vietnam 40 years ago is his major qualification for the presidency?
So anything that's happened is a "ghost of the past" and should be forgotten? What's the cutoff here? A couple weeks ago? A few days? A few minutes? Anything at all? (Of course, anything that happened 40 years ago is talked about constantly.)
Oh, wait--I get it: Alzheimer's isn't a potential charge against McCain; it's the strategy for the whole campaign.
Chuck @ 34:
If I were a McCain supporter, I'd be embarrassed to be in his demographic category...
Support for presidential candidates by church attendance among [non-Hispanic] whites:
Obama: 28% McCain: 63%
Candidate Support by Education
High school or less: Obama: 45% McCain: 43%
Some college: Obama: 49% McCain: 42%
Postgraduate education: Obama: 57% McCain: 37%
Candidate Support by Education Among [non-Hispanic] Whites
High school or less: Obama: 35% McCain: 52%
Some college: Obama: 41% McCain: 50%
College graduate: Obama: 41% McCain: 53%
Postgraduate education: Obama: 52% McCain: 42%
Candidate Support by Region
East: Obama: 54% McCain: 37%
Midwest: Obama: 50% McCain: 40%
South: Obama: 44% McCain: 48%
West: Obama: 49% McCain: 42%
The trend being that the smarter/more educated you are, the least likely you are to vote for McCain.
While I usually agree with your perspective on things political, I'm a bit confused about why you feel it necessary to use the "flying spaghetti monster" pejorative. You are not a believer in a deity, which is your choice, but many of your readers are. If the wannabe intelligensia on the left continues to insult or dismiss,as deluded, the significant number of its politically like-minded constituents because of their theological preference, you only demonstrate the kind of intolerance you rage against that originates on the right. Instead of saying "thank the f.s.m., why not just say, "Thankfully voters, Americans, citizens,media watchdogs.." whatever? And you insult Martin Luther King, Daniel Berrigan,
Garry Wills, Jim Wallis, Ted Kennedy, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and many more. A bit more tact and a little less smarty-pants, please!
Man, you really can tell a republican just by merely measuring the distance between their eyes : ) .
Simple question --- How many of you would buy a used car from this guy? He's like the first frozen pond of the fall...slick but with no substance! It all reflects on the McSame message....there is nothing to sell. McCain = Bush: Eight is enough!
Why isnt Davis running for President instead of McCain? His pathetic answer is brilliant compared to McCains on the same question:
McCain: "Uh.. uhm .. the.. they uhm uh.. they are not lobbyists."
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/06/04/mccain-caught-off-guard-about-c...
The ISSUE now is how Davis and the republcian is misrepresenting Palin's record , not Wallace or Obama .
The issue NOW is Davis is misleading the public that she had nothing to do with the increase of EARMARKS , when she hired lobbyist to get the pork .
Her opposition to the Bridge to No where is a fabrication as well , she supported until congress killed it and kept the money , it's a FACT even if the partisan Wallace admits as much .
And the lies the republican party keeps repeating is an insult to everyone , because even after getting EXPOSED for lies about selling the " Airplane on EBAY " when they sold it to a contributor for a LOST , Palin keeps bring up that (yesterday) " I put it on EBAY " in her typical self-congratulatory arrogance , " I put it on EBAAAAAAAY " , we'll she can lie by omission all she wants , however informed people know , it didn't sell on EBAY , so WHY bring it up , again and again . They will say aNYTHING and do aNYTHING to get her phony ass elected .
TheAdviceWeAllNeed @ 9:
Good to read this. We need all the good news we can get. Moosegirl (and the stupid people enamored with her) have me nervous.
just one look at that face should tell you he is a liar and an idiot.
i can't figure out how these people can even make a living?
Is Americans that stupid? That is a direct quote from george bush.
Chuck @ 44:
I'll never forget that European magazine cover headline after Chimpy stole another term: "How can 59,000,000 people be so dumb?"
This is a very stupid country. If McGramps gets in, the dumbing-down will be complete.
Rick Davis' lobbying ties..."Ghosts of the Past".
Isn't that what all reformed hookers say, too. Really, I don't mean to be disparaging former hookers. I'm disparaging Rick Davis
If it weren't for being supposedly conservative, who would vote for these people? Honestly, there are about 5% of people who will actually be benefited by the Repubes being in power. However, they then go after the a very large group and try to espouse their ideas (evangelicals) and fail. These people think that if they are anti-abortion, pro guns, they are heaven sent.
Not sure what it is going to take to slap these people into seeing what will actually benefit them. You would think with all of the conventional wisdom that these conservatives supposedly have, they would wise up and try to get a good ROI on their tax investment.
Only a pimp or a Republican can speak out of both sides of his mouth and his ass at the same time with both authority and sincerity. You've just got to admire that.
The giant ghost elephants are still in the room.
Justintime @ 57:
Yes. Teamsters / Union people are no saints and anybody telling you that they are saints is probably career criminal. They're all the same, circumventing what little representation we have in a semi-representative democracy. Their interests shouldn't be put above other groups just because they're better organized. Just because "pro-business" far right snakes hate the unions doesn't by rule of disassociation make them good. If one were to support groups based on the Republicans hating them, you'd be just as stupid as them.
Jamie at #69:
You are right. Rick Davis has dead eyes. I'm guessing he's got no soul in there.
I see Karl Rove with hair.
the obama campaign "doesn't have anything else to say"???
holy shit! if i was obama, i would be literally over-joyed with the sheer, breathtaking amount of things to say about mccain, bush, et al.
I'm sorry, I have to say this...
...doesn't he look just like a rat?
Isn't this the same fool Davis, the same person the just said "this campaign is not about the issues?"
You know what ghosts do. They come back to haunt you. Just ask the greedy, skinflint, bastard, Ebenezer Scrooge, the epitome of the Republican cause, if ever there was one. However, this story doesn't have a happy ending. In this day and age Scrooge remains hard and unforgiving forever.
You are right. Rick Davis has dead eyes. I’m guessing he’s got no soul in there.
That's exactly what I thought the first time I saw Dumbya.
Don't forget this is from the same scumbag who said the election is not about issues.
77 Jeffrey says: I see Karl Rove with hair........
Asolutely. He resembles Rove. They are probably related and Davis could be using another sur name, considering the things that go on the in the republican party in Texas. But Davis has that Wolfowitz look too.
McCain the maverick and honorable POW is just a ghost from the past. He disappeared long ago.
If he wore a top hat, and a monocle while clutching a cigarette holder in his teeth...who would he look like?
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