I find it absolutely disgusting that this board, which I understood prided itself on its

[Atticus]

tolerance and concern with substance, has had so many posts in the last 24 hours which criticize NOT what Mueller said, but tbe manner in which he said it.

Somewhere, Limbaugh and Hannity are chuckling.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. I agree with you totally.

[True Blue American]

8. So do I!

Mueller was very careful in what he answered. Handled hateful Republicans well. It was clear they disgusted him.

Then Nadler and Schiff did a bang up job, nailing Trump on his every lie and act of obstruction.

I am very happy and we need to work to get every voter we have to the Polls!

I noticed this morning that Democrats are spreading out to bring real news to the midwest. Wonderful idea!

[Politicub]

18. Mueller forcefully said that election interference was happening as he sat there

He was right. Literally. Bad actors, including Trump, spread propaganda while the hearings were in process. Social networks were immediately flooded with posts about Mueller’s appearance or demeanor. Reddit’s Donald Trump fan forum was a wall of memes discrediting Mueller for people to download and spread.

This is what we are up against. Our nominee and their team have to outsmart the interference. I hope they can. And DUers should not spread propaganda and disruptive posts, and call out people who do.

[BigmanPigman]

89. I blame the media for the hype and narrative they created.

[Cha]

106. Absolutely.. Ungrateful!

[mcar]

2. This!

[USALiberal]

3. Why are you shocked.....

Posters here make fun of looks, weight, etc weekly.

[brooklynite]

11. Point to someone who's post "made fun" of Mueller

Addressing physical condition AS IT APPLIES TO DELIVERING HIS MESSAGE is entirely relevant. House Democrats put him in front of the Committees to deliver information. How it's delivered is as relevant to the audience as what the information is.

[USALiberal]

22. Where did I say Mueller? Nt

[brooklynite]

24. "Why are you shocked...?" (your title)

[LanternWaste]

25. Support that allegation with objective evidence, please.

"How it's delivered is as relevant to the audience as what the information is."

Support that allegation with objective evidence, please.
Or simply continue with the bemusing (or merely petulant) pretense that a book's cover is as relevant to the content as the actual content is.

[MadDAsHell]

90. Wow, I'll need some extra utensils to attempt to address this word salad of a post.

But I'll try.

Objective evidence = Donald Fuckin Trump.

That asshat mutters nothing but bullshit, but because he says it with a smirk, or with a Hitleresque anger, the other asshats lap it up.

[BunnyMcGee]

95. "How it's delivered is as relevant to the audience as what the information is."

Would many people believe a true, factual, and well written story in the National Enquirer or any supermarket tabloid? Or how about Geraldo Rivera? Or a animated cartoon? I can't name any stories myself, I must admit, but it's possible.

[mahina]

84. How the messag is delivered is not as important as the content. This is false.

If I tell you there’s arsonist pouring gasoline and about to light a match to your house doesn’t make a better difference if I say it in a resonant tone or if I stammer.
He’s an old man and he has done better than any of us could’ve done under the circumstances.

[oldsoftie]

51. Well, as long as the targets are the "right people"

Aim that shot at the WRONG one and you get a quick hide!!!

[marble falls]

4. Somewhere, Limbaugh and Hannity are chuckling? Laughing their fat asses off, more like it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Too much TV.

Short attention spans, insistence on a riveting “performance.” That’s what a world of TV and social media and ideas reduced to bumper stickers does to people. Thinking and analyzing beyond the superficial is just too hard.

[GusBob]

42. Yep. DU is no different than the rest of the internet

The on demand attention economy, click for likes culture, which dominates the landscape. Context and substance are an anachronism.

Here we are now, entertain us

[BlueJac]

66. Correct...

society has changed a lot for the worst I am afraid. Instant this and instant that.

[emmaverybo]

78. Without TV and social media, no Trump. Sad to see performance standards influencing our

perceptions here.

[hlthe2b]

6. Much of it is reacting to how MSM is depicting it. I believe Mueller was walking an incredibly

difficult tightrope. He's honorable as anyone we could have in that role IMO, but faced with what I'm sure were not subtle threats from DOJ et al re: his overstepping into areas that have not clearly been delineated by concurrent SCOTUS decisions (e.g, full extent of Executive Privilege), the rule-follower, Mueller took it very seriously. That surely made the morning's session on obstruction far more difficult for him or anyone else to "thread the needle", especially someone accustomed to a prosecutor role.

I felt that he was more unleashed in the afternoon's session and it showed. The Russian impacts are an immediate and continuing threat and that honorable, country-first Marine was quite emboldened to discuss. Of course, that aspect of the report was always more an intelligence issue, so the portion SC had carved out for criminal consideration was always a much smaller part.

I think at least some of the media will have to reassess their "immediate" reactions. I hope that perspective does come through.

[pazzyanne]

19. Absolutely agree about the tightrope!

Also agree that he did a better job in the afternoon. Overall, Mueller did exactly what I expected him to do. He presented the material from the report, just as he said he would.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

70. part of tightrope: ongoing investigations

No telling how many investigations and potential prosecutions he was trying to avoid sabotaging. The man probably had to navigate amongst fewer mines and booby traps in Viet Nam!

[hlthe2b]

71. Yup... it is easy for some to ignore those constraints, but those are absolutely real.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

72. I caught less than an hour and was impressed by Mueller

Was busy yesterday and caught 30 minutes at one sitting and about 15 or 20 more at another.

Mueller stuck to his guns, flatly refused to "speak to" any question that might impinge on continuing work, and was deferential to those who respected the boundaries. He did not appear friendly to the ranting Repugs that I heard. He was unequivocal about the seriousness of ongoing Russian activity against us. He did not disavow any part of his report.

He also refused to baldly recommend impeachment, which is for the House to decide, and that fits his character. He doesn't try to expand his power beyond the law. He wasn't appointed to determine and decide if impeachment is needed.

[emmaverybo]

79. THIS.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. I think it may be that people were hoping for both?

A strong message and a strong media punch and demeanor? But like many said yesterday on TV...it's not in his nature to be emotional and demonstrative. So it was unrealistic to hope for this. There are so few big moments on this thing, we built our hopes up too much.

That said, wonder if it might have been a tad more effective if he said "Trump was not exonerated" rather than the answer to "Was trump exonerated?" A simple "no". May be splitting hairs but it is a subtle difference?

[TwilightZone]

9. The expectations of some were completely unrealistic.

Some seem to have expected him to jump up and down and demand Trump be impeached, when the report and his prior statements made it abundantly clear he would not be doing that. Nor should he have; it's not his call to make.

[ehrnst]

12. There are many on DU who trash Dems and allies the minute their unrealistic expectations

Last edited Thu Jul 25, 2019, 09:54 AM - Edit history (1)

are not met.

Being presented with facts that show their expectations of what can and can't be done are indeed unrealistic is often met with double down effect.

It's incredibly sad, and very helpful to the GOP.

[BumRushDaShow]

28. THIS

[mcar]

49. True. And yes, it's sad

I've been here since 2002 and always hope it will change. Never does.

[StarfishSaver]

92. And no matter how often the facts are explained, they continue to repeat the same false assumptions

I'm starting to think that some people here aren't interested in facts.

[milestogo]

10. I am appalled at the ageist comments here.

[hlthe2b]

13. +1

[pazzyanne]

21. +1

[llmart]

35. +1

[nolabear]

48. + another 1

[RelativelyJones]

86. +1

[Lucid Dreamer]

105. Yes. Sadly, when you get as old as I am you get used to it.

[UpInArms]

14. it is falling into the tRump narrative - that it is all about ratings and performance

sanity has receded in so many areas ...

Mueller was reticent in giving testimony ...

he was in charge of the investigation ...

he supervised all of the participating investigators

he did not singlehandedly perform all of the functions ....

.....

what he was asked to do yesterday was impossible in many ways ...

take personal criticism from the Republicans

have the mental alacrity of a 27 year old - (not possible at 75) - what you have at 75 is credibility and gravitas

deal with poorly situated microphones and fast talking politicians - all looking for their "soundbite in the sun"

.....

What he did was show the world that they are shallow and uncomprehending of the actual facts ....

we were not watching a "movie" - we were watching "testimony"

big difference ...

and now ... we have a 24/7 punditry that cannot distinguish alternative reality from reality ...

.......

Mueller testified for 6 hours ...

Trump has not ... Twitler sat in his flopppy bathrobe and let his bitty fingers tap nasty things .... and that is the narrative. The talking heads have now become Shitler's new "Cohens" - where he tells them what to say and do .... and they are so easily led off the cliffs of reality.

[Eyeball_Kid]

59. Nice mix of fact and opinion. Seriously. n/t

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. +1. . . . nt

[Politicub]

16. All of the sudden the internet and social networks were filled with posts

saying how Mueller looked senile or confused.

I fully believe this was a coordinated effort by the Russians and other bad state actors. A lot of people on DU pushed the propaganda and, as you said, didn’t speak of the substance. Trump supporters were a willing audience to create memes and spread others.

For anyone who watched the hearings, there was plenty of substance. Mueller was sharp yet concise. I can’t imagine having my work scrutinized for hours as he did.

[padah513]

31. Spot on

All the pundits were calling it a "disaster" and I was like what hearing were they watching? Nadler set the tone with the first question and I have yet to hear Trump say no collusion no obstruction total exoneration. Has anybody?

[Delmette2.0]

46. What I thought was outrageous was the R's .

The morning Judcial Meeting was about Volume 2. The R's kept bouncing to Vol.1 and back to Vol.2. Mueller should have refused to answer those questions for being outside of the Hearing's agenda or purview. But he was courteous and respectful even when they were not.

I think Mueller did just fine. He may have had a lot of constraints put in his way. We may never know all the investigations he was protecting so not to disrupt the rule of law or lose evidence.

[malaise]

17. +1,000

Sad

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=12314967

add link

[happy feet]

20. Thank-you

[dalton99a]

23. Indeed

[MaryMagdaline]

26. Now that's a headline!

[emmaverybo]

80. Brilliantly shows it's all about the spin. NT

[H2O Man]

97. Nice.

Thanks for that!

[dlk]

27. Let's Not Forget for a Moment all of the Foreign Operatives and Trolls

They are everywhere, including here. We must remain vigilant.

[rzemanfl]

29. I posted yesterday afternoon that he was "not a morning person."

In my seventies, I'm not one either. He said what needed to be said.

[Scarsdale]

30. Mueller did something tRump is afraid to do,

he showed up in front of the committee. He is not a politician, looking to make points with tRump or Faux. He is a serious professional, doing his job. The gop members like Gym Jordan (who seemingly cannot afford a jacket) Goetz and Screwy Louie Gohmert made asses of themselves, as usual. What a clown show they put on. I remember when we had ADULTS representing the country, not two bit comedians looking for 15 minutes of fame. Mueller did just fine, seriously answering those questions he was allowed to. Nobody, not even the "stable, handsome genius" in the WH could have withstood those ignorant questions and kept cool. Thank you Mr. Mueller for showing the country how a serious professional, honorable man comports himself in these so-called "hearings". I respect Mr. Mueller.

[MuseRider]

32. These days a measured response is considered

a cowardly one, or a loss.

He is almost 10 years older than I am and I know I would have had to have been slow and measured because my memory is not what it used to be. That is a sad thing that happens to all of us and the slowness of response that comes with it as you attempt to be clear and correct.

No one is above these kinds of responses anymore.

[dawn5651]

33. mueller

not me...i figure he was being very careful not only with what he said but how he said...this man is a true hero...i don't say anything against heroes on either side of the aisle.

[secondwind]

34. I feel the same way and agree with you 100%

[Merlot]

36. I am always surprised that people think that everyone on this board

is a democrat.

[dalton99a]

39. Bingo.

[uponit7771]

43. +1, there are many people who come for informed conversation

[watoos]

37. The format was the problem,

Don't get me wrong, it was a good idea to get Mueller to speak about the report on TV because most people never read it. Also we did learn some new information from Mueller that will be useful.

Here's the problem; Democrats were basically prosecuting a case to the American people. It is unusual for a prosecutor to call in another prosecutor as a witness to make his case. It isn't as good a look to ask Bob Mueller, did Don McGahn tell you that Trump told him to fire you? It is a much better look for a prosecutor to ask Don McGahn directly, under oath, Mr. McGahn did Donald Trump tell you to fire Bob Mueller?

The only way to prosecute this case properly to the American people is through an impeachment hearing where witnesses are called to testify.

[denbot]

38. For many of them, there is a term.

It rhymes with droll.

[GusBob]

44. And if they are not trolls?

does that not present a greater problem?

[stillcool]

40. it's the television effect

there's a lot of repetition of the same phrases. Intentionally, or not, it creates a perception that creates a reality. Scary stuff.

[greatauntoftriplets]

41. Too many people expected Perry Mason.

But that was fiction written and produced for maximum dramatic effect.

[murielm99]

45. Finally.

Someone is saying it. I read so much snark here last night that I could not believe it.

We had to go to Madison yesterday for tests for my husband. We listened to the entire morning testimony on NPR. We listened to some of the afternoon testimony, and then to excerpts and a to a liberal talk show out of Wisconsin called "Devil's Advocate." The comments were spot on.

I came here later and found out that I had not heard what I thought I heard. People were saying it was a disaster for our side, and that Mueller was terrible.

We got out point of view out there yesterday. More people will learn that Trump is a crook and a danger to the world. That is what I heard.

Thanks for posting.

[procon]

47. I can't say I'm surprised when it seems

like most people are only interested in getting their daily dose of entertainment and reality TV shows. You know, mindless stuff that requires nothing more than a brief emotional outlet. There's no thinking involved, let alone the critical sort that needs to be brought to bear on weighty, complex issues.

No one I know even read the Mueller summaries, so forget about wading through his entire report. So they wanted to see Mueller starring in his own blockbuster action movie with loud explosions and thrilling chase scenes so they could hiss and boo at the ineptitude of the perpetually incompetent Trump gang. Instead they got something like the dry, college lecture by some visiting dignitary.

[GusBob]

60. Someone said it best

Mueller is the professor dealing with students who havent read the textbook

[moonseller66]

50. Where's the rest?

Gosh, gee golly! Imagine? Mueller didn't answer all the questions WE would have liked to have answered! What a surprise...considering the fact that probably over a hundred pages of parts of the report were redacted..AND Mueller could not refer to anything that was in those pages! DUH!

The only way to find out the actual truth would be to release the complete, unredacted report. But since Trump/Barr decided not to it has to be because there is incriminating evidence against trump, on-going investigations or some such BS about National Security.

As such, it's no wonder all those who jumped to the conclusion that nothing was solidified or that the "media news readers" jumped to similar conclusions forgot(?) that there is probably a wealth of data we may never know. So how do you come up with anything resembling "truth" when everything isn't known?

And exactly how many Representatives or Senators have read or were ALLOWED to read the "entire, unredacted" report? I'm betting one or two. And those are probably sworn to secrecy.

We need the whole report out. If it "exonerated" trump, so be it. But until that time, I won't take ANYONE'S word that it did, even if the media and some "negative nabobs" here do.

[garybeck]

52. IN FAIRNESS....

I listened on the radio. I did not see what it looked like.

I did not read the pundits' reactions. I did not propagate or spread positive or negative reactions.

I'm telling you MY OWN REACTION.

From the minute I turned it on, i thought Mueller sounded frail and unsure of himself. There were long pauses, he asked for the question to be repeated numerous times. He sounded shaky. I'm not talking about the substance and content of what he said. I'm talking about his voice and his delivery. He did not sound strong and confident.

The thought actually crossed my mind more than once that he had been drugged.

I think it is incorrect to say that this narrative was just created by the right wing. Did they magnify it? sure. but they didn't make it up. I reacted that way the minute I turned it on and the whole time I was listening.

I don't think it's particularly relevant, to make it the centerpiece of the discussion. But it is a valid point and I don't think the republicans are just making it up if they are saying he sounded frail and unsure of himself.

[AJT]

53. Well, for the first presidential debate Kennedy knew optics

and presentation mattered. Nixon learned a hard lesson from how badly that debate went. Kennedy won on optics and presentation not substance.

[emmaverybo]

81. As they say, we'd not have had Lincoln in the age of television. But we at DU do not have to

let our critical faculties be overtaken by optics.

[INdemo]

54. There are probably a lot of Repuke trolls that have somehow sneaked in the door unnoticed

..I thought Mueller disclosed enough info to cause Barr to be disbarred and give
Nancy Pelosi no other choice but to bring Articles of Impeachment to the floor of the House.
Nancy Pelosi being the seasoned politician she is should know that if she don't a huge number of Democratic faithful's will be pissed off and just stay home as they did in 2010 and allowed the T-Party to take over.

[StarfishSaver]

57. Anyone who stays at home next year because Dems didn't impeach isn't a "Democratic faithful"

In fact, I wouldn't call them a "Democratic" anything.

[INdemo]

74. That's true but you know I know Democrat's that

Refused to vote for Obama just because he was African American.
There are also Democrats that do not know that we risk loosing our Democracy if tRump wins

[Cetacea]

98. Anyone who at this point has faith in a fair election hasn't been paying attention

And I am not implying that you don't.

[StarfishSaver]

100. One of the ways they "rig" the election is by convincing us they rigged the election so we stay home

One of the things I've noticed is that Republicans who supposedly have everything all rigged up go to the polls on Election Day. They vote. We, on the other hand, unilaterally disarm, so sure they have wired it so we can't win when in reality, in convincing us our vote doesn't matter, they make it unnecessary to actually cheat. We give it to them.

Democrats need to stop giving in to them. If they're going to steal the election, they need to pry millions of votes "out of our cold, dead hands," not have us just hand the election over to them without a fight.

[Cetacea]

101. We outnumbered GOP by nine million votes in the midterms, despite Russia

I'm troubled after learning that Manafort shared internal polling data on the states that Clinton should have won (and all of them were lost by one percentage point if memory is correct)

[StarfishSaver]

102. We outnumbered them, but if we don't vote, it doesn't matter

And we certainly didn't outnumber them in those margins in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. We allowed the margin to be much to narrow and that's where thefts can more easily take place since it's much simpler to steal a handful of boats then to flip a landslide.

You can play the We're DOOMED! card if you like. But don't expect me to play along - I know that we have more power than they do and I'll be damned if I'm going fold before the game even starts.

[Cetacea]

103. Noone should dismiss the very real threat that Russia poses

I don't know what you are saying . Your point about close margins are precisely my point. Clinton should not have lost the very states that Russia was most focused on.

[Cetacea]

104. Excellent points

I know you are trying to helpful but I have every intention of voting.

[Tipperary]

63. Anyone who stays home is an ass.

Period.

[elleng]

55. Thanks

[Eyeball_Kid]

56. All shiny objects, all the time. Just like TV commercials.

Information is dying. Propaganda is thriving. Our entire population no longer depends on gathering facts to determine action. If it feels right, if the marketing sells a “product”, then it becomes quasi-fact, and gets transformed into “truth.”

What this means for us is that real truth is held in the hands of elite propagandists, who then shape the facts into self serving nuggets to sell to their “customers,” or “voters.” This nearly seems as if we are regressing into a pre- Information Age in which facts are only known among the powerful Elites who feed the populations whatever suits THEIR interests. This is, at best, the destruction of Democracy in real time. As vast an information database as the internet is, it’s no match for propaganda.

[Doitnow]

73. Just like our choice of food is becoming---just because it tastes good and your mouth

feels good, the food is good for you. Wrong!! Haven't we all heard how the food industry prepares food that is addictive?

Haven't we all belonged to a group once in our lives where not the most pleasant but the most aggravating person was the person who got the work done well? I have.

[Enoki33]

58. It is a little window into one of the many things wrong with our society.

[Dirty Socialist]

61. I find the M$M's ageism more disgusting

The media should know better

[Hoyt]

62. Mueller's Report let trump off the hook, but he was great in hearing clarifying it. Democrats were

well prepared to elicit responses yesterday. I expected a total flop going in, but it was much better than that.

The problem is, even if Mueller had come out and said trump paid Ruskies for help, and here is the video and cancelled check from US Treasury, not enough people care.

By end of the Hearing -- with Schiff's brilliant opening and closing, and Mueller's admissions, trump was painted as unethical, immoral, unpatriotic, and quite likely criminal. And, they emphasized that the Russian junk is still going on and will affect 2020 elections. And, and trump is just joking about it.

[Cetacea]

99. And despite what Mueller said, people are placing naive faith in the fairness of a 2020 election.

Amazing.

[UniteFightBack]

64. It's called being real. nt

[yaesu]

65. my only post was praise, he conducted himself better than most of us could under those circumstances

[h2ebits]

67. Totally agree with you

I mostly lurk on DU but I had to disappear yesterday due to the nastiness and ignorance being displayed on DU.

What Mueller said yesterday is really serious information regarding our nation and it should have put ALL of us on high alert demanding action.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE ISSUES ARE NOT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC ONES. OUR NATION IS AT RISK OF COLLAPSING. WE NEED TO STAND UP AND FIGHT!!

[emulatorloo]

68. Thank you. Well said.

[SayItLoud]

69. We have become a nation/world caring MORE about the messengers delivery...than

The Friggin M E S S A G E !

We have a compromised lying TRAITOR in the O R A L O F F I C E ! (spelled correctly)

#epsteintrump

[Joe941]

75. yup.

[Niagara]

76. Kicking for visibility

It seemed that the objective yesterday was to discuss Mueller's delivery instead of what's actually at stake.

Two security bills were introduced to protect our future elections which was blocked by Mitch McConnell.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/454742-mcconnell-blocks-two-election-security-bills

[ElementaryPenguin]

82. I agree.

[mahina]

83. Same but I assumed they were not DUers

At heart, but part of the blanket spread of their message.

[Silver Gaia]

87. I'm with you.

[lunatica]

88. Once we get past the initial instant knee jerk negative reactions

we’ll see Mueller’s testimony has legs. History was made yesterday and the facts will prevail but we need to stand back to see them clearly. If you notice, the initial reactions are usually based on emotions which have very little to do with intelligent analysis. Mueller’s report needs to be absorbed. The thinkers among us and in the punditry will know that time and objectivity will emerge out of the turbulence.

You’ll see. Like a mighty river there are whitewater rushes swirling at times when you have to concentrate on the immediate that give way to the calm, smooth deep flow that you can navigate easily.

[PatrickforO]

91. I'm not really disgusted with DU per se, but with the media in general.

There are so many pieces out there that are now DISMISSING the Russian interference in our election as being false.

The US Senate, in spite of an investigation that found massive Russian interference in all 50 states, has refused to vote on bipartisan legislation to harden our 2020 election.

We're going the wrong direction here, folks. Not HERE, as in on DU, but HERE as in the USA.

It is criminal to me, that after Mueller's damning report, and his six-hour testimony, there are so many so-called mainstream pieces that are dismissive, that are saying hopes of impeachment are gone, that are saying that the Dems counted too heavily on Mueller, 'drank the kool-aid' so to speak, and that the publication of the results of this two year investigation is actually damaging to Democrats!

This just utterly blows me away, but it is like a huge, heavy weight - the leaden weight of lies pressing down and burying the truth.

I never thought we would come to this. But we cannot give up. We must all keep fighting. The subpoena for McGahn is a great start - or continuation.

I will say this: when we win in 2020, we are going to need to make some sweeping changes. I don't know how to get back to some kind of Fairness Doctrine, but we're going to have to. We must find some legal way to pull the teeth of all these corporate-funded AM talk-radio shock jocks and Fox. Whomever is elected will have to work very, very hard, and closely together, and transparently, to restore faith in America's institutions.

[Pisces]

93. We have eyes and ears. My husband and I both though he looked weak and fumbling at times. THis is a

Clear observation. I’m sick of all of them being so careful. Just states the facts and ignore everything else. He should have expected them to try and trip him up. He should have stuck to his statement and nothing more. Especially when the questions were designed to confuse. He had a poor performance and we know when Trump says stupidities or seems off we pounce.

Call it what it was and move on. I never expected Mueller to throw Trump under the bus. I was hoping, but of course he backtracked the one statement that made brief headlines.

[warmfeet]

94. People noting this are voters.

We best figure out a way, to allay their concerns.

[H2O Man]

96. Recommended.

Thank you!

[RVN VET71]

107. The GOP and Fox and, of course, Trump and his crime family

are smug and convinced that Mueller's testimony fell flat, was a disaster, did nothing to harm their criminal enterprises.

Fortunately we have a free press which is interested in fact finding and holding to the fire the feet of corrupt and treasonous politicians and will present those facts to the . . . oops, my bad. I'm 73 years old and guess, for a moment, I had a flash back to what journalism used to be. Don't know what came over me. Of course, our "modern" journalistic rule is to stick with the superficies, don't dig beneath the surface, find the sound bites and run with them, go with the jokes, the witty and/or angry ripostes. Facts, after all, can be dull, and dull can lose readers and viewers.

It's all about the optics, says Chuck Todd and Brian Williams and the Washington Goddam Post.