I think my criticisms focused on their obsession with the final
Huckabee presser. In general I do think they missed Huckabee's
"appeal." ( I'm not talking the merits here- I'm talking
anticipating that Huckabee was going to be as successful as he was
in Iowa.) As for MSM more broadly I think there is much to praise
in this cycle. The ABC debate for example was stunningly good. My
comments regarding voting on non-rational grounds is not intended
as a defense of such practices. My intent was to point out that you
can't construct a candidacy by coming up merely with a list of
policy positions. The character, personality and record of the
person, I would contend, is more critical in the presidential race
than in other contests when we evaluate electability. I frankly
also think on the merits that temperament does matter and character
should.