Listening to Gary Eichten moderate MPR’s coverage of the pre-Obama speech pundit wankery, it’s hard not to utter imprecatory prayers. If a reporter tells him something that isn’t “Obama lies,” he sounds sad as he cuts away. Anything that gives traction to a critical line of dialogue excites him and prompts additional questions.

Communications and psych grad students looking for thesis topics could do worse than to tape a month’s worth of Eichten’s work for linguistic analysis.

NPR is doing well because of the Annenberg money, but MPR does well because it’s designed to be a money machine that, from its many various entities, shovels money to Bill Kling.

No Minnesota corporation, foundation or wealthy individuals should give MPR another dime until Bill Kling publicly discloses ALL of his MPR-related compensation.

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Yes, the DFL stacked the house with Obama supporters. I got a robo call the other day (the list of people I’ll never vote for in a primary thanks to hearing their voice on a robo call just keeps growing…), and an email. Lots of sports events happening right now, the most virulent teabaggers went to DC for Trollstock, so anything less than a pro-O crowd would be newsworthy. Still, it’s notable that the Trollstock will probably only draw 2-3 times as many people as this indoor event thrown together with much less

Gary Eichten just lifted up his voice to bray about the protesters outside who “want nothing to do with the President.” I swear, his voice went up in register and intensity just like my Mom’s does when she starts quoting Fox News talking points.

Every word, and I do mean every word coming out of Eichten’s mouth is to diminish the moment, issue caveats, or sell the President’s critics’ points.

Otoh, he hasn’t said anything about handshaking and cheek pecking and swine flu yet, so it’s still advantage MPR over CBS’s utterly lame Congressional speech coverage.

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Eichten’s now using the public option to try to drive wedges between Democrats (Keith Ellison specifically). Gary Eichten despises the public option, but gleefully uses it to divide the left.

We can divide up on our own just fine, thanks.

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Doing some research I’m not surprised to learn that wingnuts think Eichten is a Democrat. If they ever impose a test on who can be a Republican, the party will shrink radically.

Pun intended.

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They’re chanting YES WE CAN now.

I could die happy if before this is over they started chanting SINGLE PAYER! SINGLE PAYER!

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The applause-o-meter gives Mpls Mayor Rybak the edge over St Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, and the cheers for embattled A.G. Lori Swanson were noticeably gender-driven.

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A dig at Fox for airing entertainment instead of the speech to Congress.

More of those please.

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UPDATE1:

Reciting the litany of problems facing us individually now.

One accident or illness away from bankruptcy.

Reaching out to the middle class because Obama is really daring and radical that way.

More data for the rigth to dissect and minimize.

“We gotta do something” just got a huge cheer.

Call and response now, but Lutherans don’t do that well and Obama is moving into anecdotes. Good decision, Lutherans listen better than they cheer.

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UPDATE2:

Teddy Roosevelt again. I guess anything’s easier than pointing out the bastards in this passion play by name.

“If we do nothing” is not a promising line of rhetoric, implying as it does that what’s coming will be little more than nothing.

“The good news is we’re closer now to reform than we’ve ever been before.”  If I drove to western South Dakota, I’d be closer to California than I’ve been in thirty years.

“The time for bickering is over, the time for games has passed, now’s the time for action, now’s the time to deliver on health caare for every American.”

This is a campaign rally, if anything new is said I’ll be shocked. Today it’s fair to talk horserace politics because that’s what this is about.

I think I’ll spend the rest of the speech doing dishes. I’ll keep the speech on, but you don’t need a blow by blow for a speech you’ve heard before.

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UPDATE3:

Obama and the crowd are now fired up, and everyone’s ready to go.

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UPDATE4:

From the Strib:

Outside the Target Center, some 200 protestors made their voices heard while police kept a watchful eye.

In front the arena,  a man in a wheelchair shouted at those headed inside: “Look at all of you – socialists! Shame on you guys!”
An Obama supporter, also in a wheelchair and with a missing an arm, yelled back. “Who bought your wheelchair?”  “You’re a socialist, sorry,” the protest or replied.

Nearby, a man walked by giving obscene gestures to the crowd. Another had fake blood streaming down his forehead, and when someone held up a sign reading “Death panels already exist — they’re called insurance companies,” a cheer went up….

When a woman with  a pro-Obama sign and a union button walked up to protestors, one man in a Vietnam veterans hat shouted at her:  “I call it like it is, when you see a moron, you recognize it,” he said.

Before the doors opened, the line of people waiting to enter had stretched four or five blocks around the Target Center. Some reportedly had gathered before midnight last night to wait.

I know there were progressive protesters there, so the 200 protesters number includes critics from the right and the left.

The Strib actually mentions single payer, but not the public option.

We’re getting railroaded. Once again the Dems compromised before negotiations started, compromised again, and will compromise yet again to get the deal cut.

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UPDATE5:

Transcript here, and yes, the public option was mentioned once.