Axelrod DISMANTLES Rick Davis, Stale GOP Talking Points!

See below for video of Axelrod schooling Rick Davis.

On FOX News Sunday this morning, Axelrod flashed his mastery of the verbal smackdown by dismantling Rick Davis's exhausted talking points in sensei-like fashion. Axelrod controlled the entire segment by subduing interruptions, deflecting lies and reducing Davis's patented GOP drivel to a feeble, incoherent mash-up of tired conspiracy theories.

Chris Wallace opened the segment with the Obama campaign's condemnation of the virulent racists attending the McCain/Palin rallies. Apparently oblivious to why remarks like "kill him!," "bomb him!," "off with his head" and "he's a terrorist!" aren't appropriate political discourse, Wallace wanted to know, specifically, which remarks the Obama campaign condemned.

Without dignifying Chris's moronic question with a response, Axelrod pivoted to the fact that McCain et al.'s hateful rhetoric is universally condemned--by newspaper editorials nationwide, Republican insiders (e.g., former MI Governor Milliken, IL Rep. Ray Lahood), GOP party officials and other assorted Republican tools.

Then Axelrod linked the nutjobs at the McCain/Palin rallies directly to the tenor of the McCain campaign. He cited the campaign's own admission that, because the economy was a losing issue for Republicans, they intended to pivot to baseless smears.

Magnanimously, Axelrod expressed sympathy for their predicament:

The economy does hang from their neck like the anchor of the Lusitania--I understand that.

I'm not going to spoil the rest; just watch the brilliant two-part video below.

Transcript here.

Part 1 of 2:

Part 2 of 2:



Display:


Geez that was annoying (none / 0)

Chris Wallace lost total control of that discussion almost from the beginning. Simply an awful display of inability or unwillingness to control the interview.

Davis tried to talk over everything Axelrod said, and then has the gall to say "I didn't interrupt him, so don't let him interrupt me." Axelrod did interrupt a little too, but mostly out of self defense. I suspect that was Davis' strategy - to blow up the interview so badly that nobody could really follow (or even hear) Axelrod's points. When a Republican has to sabotage a segment on Fox News, you know they do not have much ammo.

Perhaps, as you say, Axelrod "dismantled" Davis, but one would need TiVO and an hour of rewinding and relistening to hear both sides of the discussion (using the term loosely). The only impressions a neutral and casual watcher would come away with is that Rick Davis is a very angry and rude man, and Chris Wallace does not care whether his viewers hear anything that is said on his show. All in all, the whole thing was a waste of 17 minutes. If that is what passes for discourse on an issue as important as a Presidential election, we are truly in trouble as a nation.


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 02:53:11 AM EST

We've been in trouble... (2.00 / 1)

for eight years. To quote the Pyle from Full Metal Jacket: "I am in a world of...shit."


by Bob Sackamento on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 09:10:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: We've been in trouble... (2.00 / 1)

"is that you John wayne? is this me?"


President-elect Barack Obama spent the day thanking the people who helped him win the election. Obama's first phone call was to Sarah Palin.
by wellinformed on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 09:20:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Pwnd (2.00 / 1)

I'd like to hear what Davis thinks about G.Gordon Liddy's support of McCain.


I might be crazy... but are you seeing what I'm seeing?
by mydailydrunk on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 03:02:11 AM EST

That interview was a complete clusterfudge (2.00 / 1)

I really had a hard time understanding what either of them were saying.  Wallace sat there with an idiotic grin on his face while his guests talked over each other for 20 minutes.  It felt like a highbrow version of a Maury Povich paternity test episode.

The only thing I took away from that interview was a good chuckle when Davis complained about Axelrod interrupting him.  Pot, meet kettle.


And so, may evil beware and may good dress warmly and eat lots of fresh vegetables.
by thatpurplestuff on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 05:18:34 AM EST

That was fun! (2.00 / 1)

Probably one of the most enjoyable interviews I've seen by Chris Wallace.  Of course I thought Axelrod came out the winner but it was great watching him going at it with Rick Davis.


That One is the Right One for 2008.
by GFORD on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 05:37:48 AM EST

Re: Axelrod DISMANTLES Rick Davis, (2.00 / 1)

And of course, first thing, Davis gets in that McCain was in a prison camp in Vietnam when Wallace was spewing his hate. Completely irrelevant of course, but who cares?
And the weakest defense of all- He did it first!!
"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC
by skohayes on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 06:35:56 AM EST

Re: POW (2.00 / 1)

Who is keeping the list of things that being a former POW excuses you for?


by Bri on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 09:13:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: POW (none / 0)

I don't know, but so far, the list of things that being a former POW does not excuse is empty.


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Mon Oct 20, 2008 at 10:46:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Great catch (2.00 / 1)

Thanks for this


Now Loose on the Moose
by brit on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 06:52:08 AM EST

God I hate Rick Davis (2.00 / 1)

What a foul loud mouthed unpleasant bullying arsehole. And didn't he manage Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's 200 million lobbying budget?

I hope he's tarnished with that for the rest of his life.


Now Loose on the Moose
by brit on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 07:10:20 AM EST

Axelrod is a great campaign manager (2.00 / 1)

But he's a completely awful spokesman.  He does not come across forcefully enough or convincing enough.  I feel they should stop putting him out there, at least against better speakers.

Rick Davis is a partisan hack and pushing the line on corruption with his lobbying activities.  The NY Times has also implied that if you want access to McCain, you have to hire Davis (which is one of the reasons Fannie Mae was paying his firm $15,000/month up to the point at which the government stepped in and took them over).

I hated Howard Wolfson during the primary.  One reason was because I was behind Obama and I felt he distorted campaign positions.  The other reason was because he was extremely good at his job and would wipe the floor with Axelrod everytime he saw him.  Obama has needed a Howard Wolfson equivalent for a long time.


by shalca on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 08:43:23 AM EST

Re: Axelrod is a great campaign manager (2.00 / 1)

I agree that Axelrod ( Or A-Rod for short) is not the best of speakers and he doesn't come across forcefully ,but he does come across,as far more genuine and honest then Davis and he has been effective. I wouldn't want Wolfson as the public face of the Obama campaign.He's an obnoxious charachter and perception is reality.Wolfson has the ability to piss people off to the extent where it would be Obnoxious by association. See, I look at Davis ,and at all if the people surrounding McCain and as far as I'm concerned they do him no favors by their mean ,arrogant ,and dishonest public demeanor.I wouldn't want that happening in the Obama ccamp ,and with Wolfson I'm afraid it would. ARod is OK.
by Lodgemannered on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 11:31:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Good Point. (none / 0)

And honestly, it's far too long into the campaign to be making sweeping changes, like the primary spokesperson for the campaign.  However, I would have preferred someone likable, believable, but also able to express ideas clearly, concisely, and forcefully.


by shalca on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 02:13:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Axelrod DISMANTLES... (2.00 / 1)

Rick Davis looks like those creatures in that scene from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, where Johnny Depp's character is freaking out in the hotel lobby, and the lady behind the counter turns into a reptile.  

Shallow, I know.  But still...


No way. No how. No McCain.
by freedom78 on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 08:53:43 AM EST

Re: Axelrod DISMANTLES Rick Davis, Stale GOP Talki (none / 0)

I don't see how anyone watching this can say that Axelrod dismantled Davis!

Look, I may disagree with Davis and everything he said but he talked more, he interrupted and asserted himself more, and he made sure to focus the discussion on what he- rightly or wrongly- considers to be an Obama weakness..

Axelrod is just not a good person to trot out on these shows.. If I was Obama I just wouldn't bother. The Obama folks would do better just to let Davis spew his crap.


by obama4presidente on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 11:12:21 AM EST

I can, and I did... (none / 0)

but I ackgnowledge being highly biased in favor of the Obama surrogate.

Nonetheless, I disagree with your assessment. Even with Davis's rude interruptions, which I consider fouls, I thought Axelrod effectively dissassembled his musty GOP retoric. But, again, I'm predisposed to find Axelrod convincing while viewing Davis as a desperate, lying Republican tool.


by Bob Sackamento on Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 11:26:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]


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