<p>Three lessons to learn:</p>
<p>1) Pundits will support the party line and the story line on camera when they actually think something far different off camera.</p>
<p>2) The media have a huge interest, because of ratings and the money they make on ads, in suggesting that this campaign is still a race even when behind the scenes they think it's over. Here's a peek behind that curtain.</p>
<p>3) Always make sure a microphone is turned off.</p>
<p>YouTube</a> - Noonan and Murphy on Palin</p>
<p>Here's the transcript, as best it can be recreated, from CNN:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Murphy: Um, you know, because, I come out of the blue swing state governor world. Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, I mean, and these guys, this is all like how you win a Texas Race race, just run it up, and it's not gonna work.</p>
<p>Noonan: It's Over.</p>
<p>Murphy: Still, McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech and do himself some good.</p>
<p>Todd: Its insulting to Kay Baily Hutchinson ??</p>
<p>Noonan: Saw kay this morning</p>
<p>Todd: She's(?) never looked comfortable up there..</p>
<p>Murphy: all bummed out.</p>
<p>Todd: I mean, is she really the most qualified woman they can obtain?</p>
<p>Noonan: The most qualified? No. I think they went for this, excuse me, political ******** about narratives...</p>
<p>Todd: Yeah, but what's the narrative</p>
<p>Murphy: I totally agree.</p>
<p>Noonan: Every time Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, they blow it.</p>
<p>Murphy: You know what's the worst thing about it, the greatest of McCain is no cynicism, and..</p>
<p>???: This is cynical.</p>
<p>??: And as you called it, gimmicky.
[/quote]
</p>