Behind the Talking Points at the GOP Convention

Josh Marshall of TalkingPointsMemo shares a clip and transcript of casual conversation caught over an open microphone at the Republican Convention between MSNBC's Chuck Todd, GOP consultant Mike Murphy and conservative columnist Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal. After Murphy ("it's not gonna work") and Noonan ("it's over") express their pessimism about the GOP effort to sell the Palin nomination, they offer this analysis:

Todd: Yeah, I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?

Noonan: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bull**** about narratives --

Todd: Yeah they went to a narrative.

Murphy: I totally agree.

Noonan: Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, they blow it.

Murphy: You know what's really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.

Todd: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky.

It is fascinating to get a glimpse of what the "talking heads" are really thinking in unguarded moments. It also gives voice to what many have been thinking about McCain's transparently cynical choice while campaigning under the slogan "Country First."

--Ballard Burgher