I've never had much use for Dowd since she wrote a whole column psychoanalyzing Wesley Clarke's campaign strategy based on a shot of him in an Argyle sweater. A friend who had seen him at CNN a year previous to his running had seen that same Argyle sweater--there was no great significance to it at all as far as I could tell. This is kind of exactly the sort of political writing I want less of.
It is infuriating that she's the Times' only female columnist. Infuriating.
Christ, journalists should have to pass drug tests so we can quit wondering if they're high or not.
Dowd needs to STFU. And be fired.
Has anyone ever found a Dowd column to be informative? even "interesting?"
Dowd's schtick gets old, though I don't see it any more not reading the NYT, but I don't find this column all that bad. Personally, I am interested in what the guy's like under duress. What drives him to be the way he is. All I've heard is the hagiography, and I'm interested in a little coverage that looks at how he bleeds when he's scratched. Wanting to have it both ways, GQ + extremely thoughtful, seems like part of the story.
I'm one of those people who think it's reasonable to weigh personality in this choice. There's a lot more to learn about Obama's.
I think that weighing personality is far overrated and gives you People Magazine politics. Certainly the Dowd method od doing it does. Somerby has chronicled that stuff exhaustively.
Molly Ivins worked for the Times once. So did Seymour Hersh. (They both left by mutual agreement, I am told, meaning that the Times paid them a nice severance so they'd shut up about their firing.) For a long time I asked "Why is Dowd the token XX at the Times rather than Molly?", but I didn't know then that the answer is "Because the Times got rid of Molly".
Maureen is often called Molly too. The irony. "The two Mollies, and how the New York Times chose to be stupid".
Is "Moreen" some subtle kind of insult?
Well, anyway. Thanks for reminding me that yet another thing to dislike about her is how much her writing reads like a peformance for her clique (whoever they are).
Geeze, people, just tell me what you think. Don't try to show off how clever and cutesy you are. Smooth-jazz facade, indeed.
I would really be a much better choice for the lone woman op-ed spot. and that's taking into account the fact that I am in many ways a terrible choice. but seriously, why don't they get someone smart? she just reinforces irritating stereotypes about how womens' involvement with politics is all superficial and personality-driven. frankly, it would be better if they had h*******n.
Witt's third paragraph gets it exactly right.
Also, just tell me what the CANDIDATES' SAY. I don't give a fuck about what you think she/he "seems" to be saying or implying. I don't give a fuck what you "think" he looks like. Dowd is one of the worst character readers in the world. Lines like the following do not belong in the NYT:
"Barack Obama looked as if he needed a smoke and he needed it bad."
"The Illinois senator didn't have on an implacable mask of amiability, as Hillary did in Iowa. He didn't look happily in his element, like Bill Clinton. But he certainly didn't look as if he was straining to survive the Q .& A.'s, as W. did in the beginning."
Pure and utter bullshit.
All the avant-garde stuff I remember from my youth turned into commercial crap within 20 years (approx. 1964-1984).
1) Avante-garde film --> MTV.
2) "New journalism" (gonzo, impressionistic) --> Molly Dowd. (Plus all the others who trashed Gore for wearing earth tones, etc., etc., etc.)
Lines like the following do not belong in the NYT
No, they belong in a Mickey Spillane novel.
"Barack Obama looked as if he needed a smoke and he needed it bad. He didn't have on an implacable mask of amiability, as Hillary did in Iowa. He didn't look happily in his element, like Bill Clinton. That night at Duffy's, the dingiest bar on the East side, Barack Obama was looking for the dame who done him wrong."
Even when she's funny, Dowd is awful.
Is "Moreen" some subtle kind of insult?
I was wondering the same thing. Dowd is, it has long appeared, a serious drunk. Her life sucks, and so she devotes what's left of it to tearing into people whose life doesn't suck. That's her bag. The mistake lies with you, for reading her.
Dowd is, it has long appeared, a serious drunk.
Lots of people are serious drunks. Come on. No more WCTU please.
He doesn't lack confidence, but he's so hung up on being seen as thoughtful that he sometimes comes across as too emotionally detached and cerebral with crowds yearning for an electric, visceral connection. J.F.K. mixed cool with fire.
JFK ran his campaign on a completely fabricated "missile gap." The Breck Girl of the 1960s ran more hawkish than freaking Nixon--and as a result he nearly got us into a nuclear exchange. Is that what you're advocating, Maureen? If that's "fire," I could do without it.
He doesn't lack confidence, but he's so hung up on being seen as thoughtful that he sometimes comes across as too emotionally detached and cerebral with crowds yearning for an electric, visceral connection. J.F.K. mixed cool with fire.
JFK made Catholic girl Dowd moist between her legs, but she doesn't really dig black guys. That isn't really shocking opinion for someone her age. I think that's all fine.
Nicholson Baker could write a better column from the perspective of a woman than Maureen Dowd.
18.--It's ok to admit to having had a crush on JFK because he's been dead these thirty years. Having a crush on a live presidential candidate makes you look like a n00b.
Mrs.BarackObamaMrs.BarackObama.
JFK made Catholic girl Dowd moist between her legs, but she doesn't really dig black guys
Another entry for the pro side on the "is he black enough" balance sheet.
It would be totally awesome if Obama were able to bite the heads off his critics for the next couple of weeks with the excuse that he's really cranky now that he's quit smoking.
Yeah, he could express sentiments like these out loud.
"Senator Obama, what do you have to say about the suggestion on certain nonexistent blogs that you are too non-Catholic to be president?"
"SWEET MERCIFUL CRAP! Do I have to answer that? OK, you can quote me as saying that Bill Donohue should eat shit and die. In fact, make that into tonight's CNN Poll: 'Should Bill Donohue eat shit and die? Yes or No?' OK, this parole hearing is over. You honkies can find me in the stabbin' cabin."
7: It's fine to say that we need to learn more about Obama's personality. The trouble is that this article tells us far, far, far more about Dowd's personality than Obama's.
23: After following that link, I am now writing Mrs. Lizard Obama all over my legal pad.
Sunday mornings would be hard for you, Mrs. O; although I'd entertain your likely alternative suggestion if I were he.
Okay, one, many of you suck for criticizing Dowd in exactly the same sexist way she's criticizing Obama.
Two--and more importantly--look on the bright side, people. Finally we're beginning to have gender equality: a man running for president can be dissed for having "asked for it" and being too pretty to be taken seriously. I can't wait for a column about how swoony Hillary is.
Since this is the thread discussing nutjobs, apparently hybrid cars are too quiet. Why? Because blind people can't hear them.
Little bells on ribbons, like the way they keep cats from sneaking up on birds.
In Britain (and I suppose everywhere else, inc. the US), they add something smelly to odourless natural gas, so people can identify leaks. Same issue, no problem.
Blind people probably shouldn't be jaywalking.
Dowd has always been too much of a "Heather" for my taste.
And, ogged, don't think I didn't notice that "f-bomb."
At least she called him "pristine" and "eloquent" instead of "clean" and "articulate".
I've never liked Dowd, and I've always been convinced that the NYT keeps her on so that they can say 'See, this is the best one can do in a female political columnist.'