I am assuming most with any interest in the upcoming primaries and eventual election have been keeping up with the story about the story on Politico about Ben Carson.

Curious to see who thinks what - was it a hit piece, lazy reporting, or good journalism?

After a day full of questions about the origin and tone of the story, Politico has since quietly updated the story and the lede, without any editorial remarks (just an 'updated' with a new time stamp).

To clarify, I am not a fan of Dr. Carson's with respect to his candidacy as he has taken too many positions counter to my own, but I do believe he is a good and decent man and as such is undeserving of what I believe to have been a deliberate, partisan hatchet piece (par for the course from Politico IMO).

Given the way the 24-hr news cycle works, and the way stories spread primarily by lede line (The Drudge Report effect) - the damage may have already been done (I contend that was the intent).

You say?

'Gimp

I have no problem with the press vetting our candidates.  If the story is true then it needs to be told.  If it isn't true, then a thorough and honest vetting by the rest of the media will bring that out.

But the problem is that there is no "thorough and honeste" vetting going on.  Except for FOX, the vetting is all one sided, and is not disputed.  That makes it a hit piece.

Quote

During her Fox and Friends interview, Mendoza expressed her frustration with Washington more broadly, stating: “The Democrats want [illegal immigrants] here for voter base, and the Republicans want them here for cheap labor, so we are basically hitting our heads against the wall.”

Kind of sums it up well.

http://www.westernjournalism.com/mom-begs-wh-for-answers-after-cop-son-is-killed-by-illegal-she-just-revealed-their-response/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=NewVoiceNetwork&utm_content=11/03/2015&utm_campaign=manualpost

That's a well worn lie propagated by left leaning pundits to try to act as if they are painting a balanced picture.  Yes, Democrats want, expect and generally receive the illegal votes.  But I don't believe Republicans in any great numbers want the cheap labor any more than Democrats do.  I know many liberals that are happy to employ illegal lawn care and domestic help and they brag about the great job they do for very little pay.

There are plenty of jobs available.  But there are not enough qualified people.
Part of the reason (a big part) that I sold my business and retired was that it was so difficult to find qualified workers with a good work ethics, no matter how much I offered.

http://www.businessinsider.com/hr-professionals-finding-it-difficult-to-recruit-new-hires-2015-11

eta:  By "unemployment so high", I am talking about workforce participation, and all the low paid positions.  I never could find sufficient people to hire that would have warranted the higher wages.

So, aside from the FBI, whom do you think can defeat her?

Rubio or Fiorina.

I think that Trump and Carson have peaked and it will be hard to turn anyone that is not already supporting them.

Jeb has not shown any spark in this election, and he has his last name to contend with.

Too many people just don't like Cruz.

I think if Rubio gets the nomination, and if he makes a sane VP selection, and if the party gets behind him, I think he can win.

Fiorina would have a harder time, but when people hear her speak, they generally like her.  I have some issues with her performance and HP (I lost almost 6 figures $$ on them so I remember) but the majority of voters have no idea what happened then.

Did you see that Hillary's foundation just "restated" their tax returns for past years admitting to foreign donations?  Maybe the IRS and the FBI together can beat her. (wishful thinking).

I'd love to see the FBI beat her.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/11/12/fbi-expands-probe-clinton-emails-launches-independent-classification-review/