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Opening Remarks of the Senator from Brooklyn

Posted by James Poniewozik Friday, September 26, 2008 at 9:00 am
8 Comments • Trackback (0) • Related Topics: Archive

I'm TIME's TV critic and media/pop culture columnist, James Poniewozik. In the event that there is a Presidential debate tonight—and quite possibly even if there is not— [Update: And there will be!] I will be liveblogging here with Karen Tumulty. Karen is a dogged reporter and a compendium of political knowledge. I am a guy who gets paid to yell at the TV and type down some of my comments in the process.

Those of you who don't read my blog, Tuned In, or my columns under the same title may not know it, but I'm a big believer that journalists should vote, and should disclose their preferences. (Before you ask: [1] Karen doesn't work for me, [2] she doesn't have to, [3] I can't make her and [4] I wouldn't tell you anyway.) So, as I've told Tuned In readers ad nauseam: I voted for Barack Obama in the primary and plan to in November. (I voted for McCain in the Republican primary in New York in 2000, but I don't pretend that makes me neutral now.)
I think you should know that, but having said it, I'm not here to cheerlead or to decide who "won" the debate, which is probably the aspect of campaign coverage that annoys me most. I can barely figure out what my immediate family members are thinking, much less the American electorate. 
What I am going to do is... well, I'll figure that out as I go, but it will involve the visuals and semiotics of the event, my gut impressions, inappropriate wisecracks and plangent observations on the soul of this ragged weary giant, America. Also typos. A lot of typos. 
This is the best TV show of the fall. And I'm not just saying that because Knight Rider debuted this week. I can't wait to watch. 
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  • 1

    the Web advertisement as posted by the Washington Post in which it claims “McCain Wins Debate,” with him in the foreground and an American flag in the background.

    McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said the ad posting was a mistake by the Wall Street Journal. Oops.

    trifecta
    September 26, 2008
    at 7:39 pm
  • 2

    "Karen is a dogged reporter and a compendium of political knowledge. I am a guy who gets paid to yell at the TV and type down some of my comments in the process."

    Good lord! Now even the debate live-bloggers are trying to manage expectations.

    I suppose that post-debate will sound something like: "By not being reduced to tears by KT's superior political knowledge, James clearly scored a win".

    Anon
    September 26, 2008
    at 7:49 pm
  • 3

    " voted for McCain in the Republican primary in New York in 2000, but I don't pretend that makes me neutral now."

    I was really considering the McCain/Powell ticket. Of course, it didn't happen, and I voted for blam! blam! blam!

    Thump...

    53_3
    September 26, 2008
    at 7:54 pm
  • 4

    KT here--

    Anon: The expectations are way too high for me.

    Karen Tumulty
    September 26, 2008
    at 7:55 pm
  • 5

    Karen Tumulty is perhaps the best election liveblogger since Cicero.

    James Poniewoz…
    September 26, 2008
    at 7:58 pm
  • 6

    James Poniewozik combines the wit of Dorothy Parker, and the nuanced understanding of pathos that greek drama in character studies such as Oedipus Rex examined in an infantile form, until Mr. Poniewozik came along to complete the blosssoming concept and leave all further observations redundant and irrelevant.

    trifecta
    September 26, 2008
    at 8:06 pm
  • 7

    @trifecta: Bastard!

    James Poniewoz…
    September 26, 2008
    at 8:09 pm
  • 8

    That Cicero comment just makes me want to watch my Rome DVDs. Speaking of, I believe Mr Poniewozik still owes us a review.

    Anon
    September 27, 2008
    at 3:08 am

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