Bill Moyer's Journal guest: Kathleen Hall Jamieson re: Biden dropping out

[Eurobabe]

Kathleen Hall Jamieson is a professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and the Director of its Annenberg Public Policy Center. Her latest of many books is this one — co-authored with Brooks Jackson: UNSPUN: FINDING FACTS IN A WORLD OF DISINFORMATION.)

Basically she was wondering why Biden and Dodd dropped out because of Iowa, "we've lost their voices, and essentially there is another election Tuesday (NH)"

KATHLEEN HALL JAMIESON: The important thing to remember about this is that there are a whole lot of primaries, and we've just, you know, put in place very, very few delegates. I mean, we'll get to the Florida primary, where Giuliani is hoping that he's going to be able to win, and as a result, stop this conventional wisdom that says he's now effectively out of the race. You're picking up almost as many delegates in Florida as you have in the primaries up to that point.

And so, we overplay Iowa and in the process, people drop out of the race. And this is the part of the thing that worries me the most, you saw Biden and Dodd drop out last night, as a result of the results that we had. They dropped out before we ever had people actually going in, in large numbers in a state, in a regular voting process, not a caucus process to cast a vote. They dropped out before a series of debates that in five days from now are essentially going to yield another election. We, as a result, have lost their voices in the process. Iowa has now accomplished its first effect. It's winnowed the field based on the decision of a relatively atypical state.

Now I wish Joe had hung in there until the end of January. :(

[gateley]

1. I think when he said he'd stay in until the end of January, he was assuming

he'd come in at least 4th in Iowa.

Remember, according to the ABC rules, only the top 4 get to participate in the NH debate, so he would have been excluded from that.

And as little as we heard his "voice" before, after the results in Iowa, I think he'd be getting even less media coverage.

So with lack of media coverage, and no exposure in the debate, there doesn't seem like much could be accomplished in such a short time.

IMO, anyway. :7

[Eurobabe]

2. Yeah, no one is covering Richardson, it's just Obama, Hillary, Edwards

actually more just Obama and Hillary. :shrug:

The media is trying to slaughter her already, especially MSNBC. I really hate the frickin' media.

[nyc 4 Biden]

3. just look how important . . .

That abc nh debate decision to include only the top 4 candidates is. I truly believe he would have stayed in if he would have been included in that debate.

[Eurobabe]

4. that decision was bullshit (by ABC) I am glad

Kucinich challenged them. Joe should have too. Dammit.

[cbear70]

5. I don't understand

Why did he drop out? I think he might have had a chance and I just don't understand. I am so sad over this. I don't like any other candidates, Joe was it for me. I really don't know what to do now. I am pissy...I won't watch the news or debates.. I am just mad as hell. I am really getting mad at other iowans for giving in and going with other candidates. Our regional chair kept telling us to go undecided, that would help Joe the most. But it didn't. There was no way I was going to go to another candidate because that was not my choice. My heart and my husbands heart were for Biden, so we sat there and fought with the others who were browbeating us with obama and hilary. Edwards didn't have a showing in our place at all....it was just as bad as Biden's....There were no undecideds to work on, no dodd's no richardson or kusinich... just the two h and o. But we proudly sat with our signs and stickers and tried to make it work....tried to cajole others.. but nothing...

i am just so sad. I wanted him to try at least in the other states... why put everything on Iowa...Its just one state...

so sad.

[1corona4u]

7. I'm with ya, all the way.

:-)

[elleng]

6. Folks,

I've proposed starting a new 'forum,' 'group' here ABOUT MEDIA,
including media effect on political and other public matters.

My point of view is that the media fails its responsibility to inform the public about significant public matters. We will discuss this and other matters as we work to develop a mission statement.

Announcement is at propaganda debunking group, if you're interested.