AMERICAblog: "The lack of any consistent lines of attack against McCain is becoming palpable"
stephencrose
· 1 year ago
This works for me:
McCain is unreliable personally -- compulsive craps player who goes 14 hours at a time, he's a raving NEOCON who was caling for an Iraq attack within 5 weeks of 9/11 and he would take away the right to choose from all women. That is enough to sway the independents I run into.
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 1 year ago
They're stymied, because Obama is putting his faith in American voters' better angels. If he comes out swinging, he's the Angry Black Man. If he's mocking, he's a punk who's disrespecting a war hero-victim. If he's too policy-driven in his campaign, he's wonkish and boring. If he's too multi-pronged in his campaign, he's unfocused. If he's too focused on just 2-3 issues, he's too simplistic. If he tries to get out in front of an issue, the MSM will fail to report it except in a negative light. If he critiques anything, the right wing outrage machine, goes into high gear. As long as McCain is the MSM's candidate, there isn't much he can do except keep on keepin' on. The polls aren't giving me much cause for concern, since it looks like an electoral college slam-dunk. It's important not to internalize the negativity from the MSM, the 24/7 cable news pundits, and the right wing noise machine.
carp
· 1 year ago
I'm less confident about the electoral slam-dunk than I was a couple of weeks ago. We really have to hold Michigan - it still looks okay, but McCain is going to go after that one HARD. If this is how we fight back...
And then we have to flip one of those magic seven - CO, OH, IN, NV, VA, FL, MO. CO looks promising, especially after the water thing, but I'm not sure. The dips in the polls are going to hurt us in those states, and that's exactly where we need to be staying strong. If we can't hold MI, we need to flip more than one. CO, VA, OH are the only ones that seem "easy", - FL, IN, NV, and MO (especially) are the long shots, and I fear that any trailing in the polls is going to show up there and not prop up the numbers we need. Technically, McCain only needs to hold those states. We need to steal them.
I hope it's a slam-dunk, but I'm seeing how we can lose this thing very palpably for the first time. Hopefully that will spur us on to fight in a way that certainty wouldn't.
Psyche
· 1 year ago
I've been comforting myself with that, too, but not such an electoral college slam dunk any longer. (See fivethirtyeight)
PrezCamacho
· 1 year ago
John,
Cmon dude, is this any surprise? Axelrod is the new Shrum and Barry is the new Dukakakis...
This is all fixed - Pro Wrestling shenanagians....Barry is playing his role to the letter of weak and pathetic Dem who can't be bothered to fight back against laughably overbaked and easily defended Rethug attacks AND MORE IMPORTANTLY REFUSING to go on the attack. We;ve seen this Disney movie before and we know the ending
Barry got moolah from me in the Primaries - never again! Even if he wins a squeaker the Right Wing noise machine and BS so called mainstream media will hound him 24/7 because he's EFFIN WEAK!
What a COLOSSAL disappointment!
Change indeed :-(
Angry Greek
LunaStick
· 1 year ago
Maybe there will be substantial attacks during the convention. You know, get the speakers to bash McCain on different things, each on one particular issue and then praise Obama before wrapping up. The attacks are going to have to come. If Obama himself can't or won't do it, he better pick a VP who will attack like there is no tomorrow. The simple facts that we here know about McCain need to get out. Maybe we should start our own viral email campaign. Ours will at least be truthful.
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
Screw it, John and Joe:
The blogosphere will have to just move forward without Obama.
Look! We're starting to get good media play and a very satisfying reaction from McCain's campaign over the "cross in the dirt" lie.
Hopefully, we can fire up Moveon.org and the unions and just move ahead without Obama's help.
Nigel Elliott
· 1 year ago
McCain has KKKarl Rove, the man who outed a CIA operative, advising his campaign. The GOP always project their own treason on the Democrats. However, McCain's alliance with Rove, religious fanatics and the neocons guarantees Independents and moderates won't vote for him. All McCain promises is more war...well, who wants that except those extreme groups, and that's not a winning coalition. And besides, Democratic voter registration is going through the roof in every swing state.
The McCain of 2000 would have won, but McCain 2008 is a desperate old man, and even his hero status is in trouble by his totally dishonest campaign tactics.
McCain has peaked and next week when Obama and his VP pick head to the convention, the entire party apparatus will beat up that old man senseless. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNgA5xLxao
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 1 year ago
To take another tack: Why hasn't McCain polled higher than 45%? He's spending more money on TV ads now, he's a known quantity, supposedly, with a quarter century of Washington celebrity, he's been on late-night TV for two decades. And he's a heroic POW, supposedy. Why can't he seal the deal with a majority of Americans? Most electoral college watches show him with only less than a 40% chance of gaining a victory. Why isn't McCain doing better than that?
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
Hope he picks Biden.
He's the closest thing the veep possibilities have to a slasher.
Busboy
· 1 year ago
Right now Obama is an "empty suit" with a banner sticking out of the breast pocket which says"change". He needs to fill in the blanks on "change". His votes in Illinois to allow children surviving abortion to die would put him in the 43% level for good; except for the fact that it's too early for most voters to be paying attention...
LynnDee
· 1 year ago
John, Can you give us any reason to believe that people who feel as you and Josh Marshall do, and the others you mentioned, are getting through to the Obama campaign? Or that there are people in the "inner circle" of the campaign who feel as you do? I'd sure love to hear that.
I saw something the other day about the Obama campaign possibly looking the other way if the 527's got (back) into action -- but nothing since. Any chance of that?
Obama keeps saying he knows how to punch -- and occasionally we see it. But never with any consistency.
And Prez Camacho, I'm curious: Do you refer to Obama as "Barry" out of frustration? Because, I read that and I think: PUMA or Republican troll. But you say you contributed during the primaries, so I guess this is how you get frustrated or something?
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
It's up to the 527s to get in touch with us.
The blogosphere would certainly give big money to a 527 who wants to tear McCain a new one.
C'mon 527s! Give us your plans! We're ready to back you!
LynnDee
· 1 year ago
The Obama campaign basically shut the Democratic 527's down several months ago. I would guess they need to let the word out that that's off now?
SoLeftImRight
· 1 year ago
Interested to hear more as well. I agree entirely with the original post...I'm worried, and getting annoyed at the constant jabbing and dancing around the ring by this campaign, instead of hitting the wrinkled old white guy square in the jaw with a couple of good uppercuts and a right cross. But, no offense, are these blog posts having any effect or getting any response from the campaign? However articulate and correct, great blog posts need to get beyond the blogosphere and into the heads of the campaign dolts.
PrezCamacho
· 1 year ago
Dear Americablog readers,
Let's all make a bet - if Bary is still doing his Dukakakis imitation after the end of the DNC next week and his poll numbers are behind McSame's after the RNC thugfest in the Twin Citays can we agree that it's over come November?
To think I actually fell for his Change BS earlier this year. That's what 8 years of BushCo will do to you - never again!
Maybe the UTTER HUMILIATION OF THIS IMPENDING LOSS will wake the Dems the eff up and force real progressive change...but probably not.
Angry Greek
McSame - is mean Malaka in Greek
'Impeachment is off the table" - is mean double Malakia in Greek
Liza
· 1 year ago
John,
You guys should be worried. I'm one of a group of 12 people that travels to Philadelphia every weekend to canvass. WE AREN'T GOING ANYMORE. The Philly Obama office is begging us to come. I personally told them NO no more volunteering until Obama's campaign fights back.
Why waste my time volunteering if they aren't serious about winning.
Psyche
· 1 year ago
The Obama organizer for our Ohio area just arrived and visited our local progressive group last week to look for volunteers. Talked with him for a long time and basically gave him the same message. He seemed dispirited and acknowledged he had some of the same concerns we did. This whole operation could implode if volunteers give up. With the FISA vote, etc., I'm expecting a lame VP.
I'm working hard for down-ticket candidates and donating only to them until Obama gets his ass in gear (if he can).
PrezCamacho
· 1 year ago
Lyndee,
100% Liberal here - not a troll
Barack became Barry to me once he started this Pro Wrestler imitation the past 5 weeks - imo he is a FRAUD.
I SO wanted to believe....hell, I (with a friends help) put up 2 Pro Democrat sites :
It isn't just me - ALL of my liberal friends are PISSED OFF and ANGRY at Barry and his so called campaign...
I am sick to my stomach at this betrayal.
Angry Greek
McSame - is mean Malaka in Greek
'Impeachment is off the table" - is mean double Malakia in Greek
smiling_dog
· 1 year ago
It is not Obama who needs to have consistent lines of attack. It is us. We are all over the map. There is no Drudge to disseminate talking points on the left. We have much more firepower this time around, but we aren't putting it into a cohesive campaign. We need to be doing Obama's dirty work for him and we are failing.
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
I remember the bloggers being somewhat coordinated during the 2006 midterms.
I think there was some kind of an e-mail thing between the leading blogs for talking points and such.
I don't see it this year.
John Aravosis
· 1 year ago
We? And how do you propose that 'we" come up with a coherent strategy when the campaign isn't helping us figure it out? That means we come up with a strategy that could very well be at odd's with Obama's.
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
Ah, that's true.
Seems like Drudge gets his talking points from the Repubs.
Then the other blogs pick up from him.
smiling_dog
· 1 year ago
John, when I say "we", I suppose I really mean "you." The blogs on the left are too independent-minded, which is a good thing most of the time, but not for an election. Who the hell cares if our strategy is at odds with the purported strategy of Obama. This isn't about Obama. Bush didn't do the swift-boating, he had others do it for him. There needs to be a coordinated effort to pick the issue of the week and pound it into the ground. How the hell does it not get traction, for example, that McCain just verifiably made up a story about his POW experience? We should have a media machine that starts here with a story like that and works its way into the mainstream media. It isn't happening, and it's not just because of some conservative bias. Every day there are stories that should be absolutely killing McCain and aren't getting reported. Isn't this obvious? Where is our Drudge?
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
I think the blogs have taken the "cross in the dirt" story as far as they can.
A couple media outlets have picked it up, and the McCain campaign has acknowledged it and tried to fire back.
Really, I think we need some 527s to step up and keep it alive now. (Although this story seems made for a good viral e-mail too.)
Obama made a mistake by eschewing 527 support earlier, but I think he's learned his lesson and won't fight them anymore.
LynnDee
· 1 year ago
I don't think he's a Dukakis. I think he's made it clear he can hit hard. But he needs to do it consistently and if he can't do that, he needs to get someone who can, whether his VP pick or someone else. The 527's even.
And if he feels like has to pick and choose, then fine. But surely what he picks and chooses should include these periodic accusations of treason.
Indigo
· 1 year ago
It will all begin to come together after the convention. No fear.
LynnDee
· 1 year ago
Quote: "Let's all make a bet - if Bary is still doing his Dukakakis imitation after the end of the DNC next week and his poll numbers are behind McSame's after the RNC thugfest in the Twin Citays can we agree that it's over come November?"
No, thanks. What exactly would that gain? I think anyone who can't stand the anxiety of seeing the numbers fall or not knowing how it's going to turn out should feel free to throw in the towel for themselves, but what exactly is the point of trying to convince others to throw in with you? I think I'm beginning to see that at least some of the people I thought were trolls are really just Dems who can't stand the thought of losing again. And I totally understand that. But, I guess throwing in the towel isn't the way I deal with that.
Hmm. Can I suggest you take a brief break from all this, come back when you're rested up or something?
Maybe have a cocktail? Or three?
gaiilonfong
· 1 year ago
PREZCAMACHO ...STFU you concern HILLARY troll....I know you from other sites...you are here to start trouble. You are mulaka and un pendejo bugaron
LynnDee
· 1 year ago
Is he really? Interesting.
Fireblazes(CheetohsandCatfood)
· 1 year ago
So what is the word for homophobe in Spanish?
LLDEM
· 1 year ago
OK all you ADD instant gratification junkies, take a breather. If you're willing to trust this man to run our country, then try a little faith in his ability to run his campaign. I believe he's got a plan and I believe things are going to get ugly after the convention for Mr McGOO. So all you brats who don't think he's playing it your way, not running the kind of campaign you approve of... put your money where your mouth is and run for President yourself or just shut the f*ck up.
Fireblazes(CheetohsandCatfood)
· 1 year ago
I have been saying this for weeks.
devis1
· 1 year ago
Amen.
John Aravosis
· 1 year ago
How did that faith in Congressional Democrats work out for you? Faith has nothing to do with poll numbers. We're in trouble. I'm glad you have faith. Then don't get involved. I just find it rather funny that you're idea of being involved in politics, in trying to make a difference in your country, is to sit back, shut up, and not do anything when you sense things are going very wrong. If you think things are going well,I'm happy to hear your detailed explanation as to why. Rob will be writing a post shortly,and Joe probably as well, about why the current polls are troubling,and why you should care about them this far out from the election. Again, if you have facts to back you up, I'm happyt o hear them. But I know people who actually know politics, who actually worked on elections, and they're scared shitless about what they're seeing. They're the actual experts. So let's stop playing the Republican game of beating up the very people who know best what's going on.
devis1
· 1 year ago
I canvassed in my district this weekend and have been making calls for the dem's in SE VA. Maybe the people you know are "above my pay grade" but I still see alot of enthusiam out there. Naive, maybe.
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
I think the obama people are probably playing a good game under the radar, with voter registration and putting the field organization together.
But they seem to be ignoring the above the radar game, and that's what's worrying a lot of us.
naschkatzehussein
· 1 year ago
I started watching Larry King with Claire McCaskill and another Obama spokesman saying that if McCain cheated at Saddleback or Warren lied, it's no big deal. That's what I just can't take about the Democrats even though I just recently joined the party. They never go for the jugular! A "man of the cloth" lying and a presidential candidate cheating are very big deals.
lynchie
· 1 year ago
I saw the same piece and it sickened me that McCaskill said no big deal. I am so tired of the Dem's who want to hold onto the status quo, who think everything is rosy and being nice is how things are done. Well I have seen very little in the way of balls in the current Congress. No impeachment, no stopping the war funding, no stopping the immunity to the telecom companies, no stopping the no bid contracts, no stopping the billions being lost and pissed away, no voting for armored humvees, in fact the only thing they passed was the 70 cent an hour minimum pay raise so now the working class make $275 a week before deductions and they patted themselves on the back as they got a $4,100 a year raise almost half of what minimum wage pays for a year. There is no one defending Obama and while I understand he does not want to be framed as an angry black man, there should be enough Dems in Congress who can go on the offensive for him. I want to see our Party stand up and be counted.
Busboy
· 1 year ago
Obama has a huge warchest. He's coasting to the presidency. A few more debate failures and he might spend some of that money and open up a "second front"
John Aravosis
· 1 year ago
Actually the Rs have just as much money - Joe has written about this a few times.
Busboy
· 1 year ago
They do; but, I think McCain has less than Obama in discretionary funds that he can spend himself. The GOP party has lots of funds; but I think the McCain-Feingold act prevents the party from running ads that mention Obama by name 60 days before the election. You're the political guru, John. Are these guys toe to toe on money; or, is much of it restricted as to use?
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
As I understand it, McCain is pretty much using the RNC as his own piggy bank.
He's been running his campaign outside the law for awhile , so I wouldn't expect him to start following the rules now.
Doesn't matter from what I understand: the FEC is a shell anyway. Bush tried to stack it with Repubs, Dems balked, so it's not even functional.
Busboy
· 1 year ago
I think you've nailed it...
Nigel Elliott
· 1 year ago
I'm trying to figure out who's more bonkers, you or McCain.
Obama went into the lion's den and excelled. Orange County is one of the few red areas of Cali and Obama did quite well, even without cheating like McCain. His only purpose for going to that redneck Church was to have a conversation with fellow Christians. McCain gave campaign sound bites in church. I serious doubt that helps him with the vast majority of other Christians, who frown on mixing politics and religion. No true Christian would do that and McCain's performance has backfired and ruined the credibility of Rev Warren in the process.
Busboy
· 1 year ago
Excelled? You must have undergone hemispheric harmonic dissonance during the "debate"
Nigel Elliott
· 1 year ago
I don't know if you get cable or satTV in your white trash can, but if you watched Larry King, he asked Rev Warren, why did you whisper to Obama "home run"? Rev Warren deflected the answer, but he was impressed that Obama, not McCain, was able to quote scripture. McCain, on the other hand, was all about war, 9/11, adultery, and chasing Bin Laden to the gates of Hell.
McCain is a one-trick pony headed to a glue factory come November.
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
LOL.
I was wondering if he should talk about chasing someone to the "gates of hell" in a church to a group of evangelicals.
Seemed inappropriate to me.
devis1
· 1 year ago
McCain plans to announce his VP pick on his 72nd birthday--David Gergen thinks this will overshadow negatives stories about his age. Hah
jayjay1977
· 1 year ago
Anyone catch Keith Olbermann's "special comment"? Absolutely brilliant!
Terryco
· 1 year ago
I usually love you guys in my hetero way, but you guys are just playing the MSM game to sell shit. I mean if you have such deep friends that are worried then you have idiotic, uninformed friends or quelle surprise you have to keep your traffic up to "sell" your site. My best friend from college is one of the major pollsters in Washington and he and I laugh our asses of at you people while we're on his 50 ft. Bertram fishing in the keys. He gets paid to produce what his client wants, from South America to Europe, Washington in between. I will admit that south Florida politics is bread and butter stuff, but still. He does know politics better than anyone you know John and he laughed at your article. This is still an electoral college vote and the debates aren't even here yet, chill people, they don't even want to steal this one they want the Dem in charge for what's coming.
devlzadvocate
· 1 year ago
how cleverly cryptic and patronizing.
devlzadvocate
· 1 year ago
Plus, its the first time I've heard Rs say, "We secretly want to lose" duh.
bumpkis
· 1 year ago
I get the impression sometimes that McCain may NOT end up being the nominee...I mean how much more embarrassment can the GOP take before McCain's doctor says he cannot be allowed to continue?
Obama camp keeping their financial powder dry for now?
Poll numbers don't mean a thing ....it cannot be as close as they indicate...there cannot be that many stupid people in one country...can there?
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
Bush.
Any other questions?
devlzadvocate
· 1 year ago
"there cannot be that many stupid people in one country...can there?"
who do you think voted for Bush in two elections? He didn't win fairly, but still got a lot of votes.
naschkatzehussein
· 1 year ago
Still, I get the same feeling sometimes that McCain will not be the Gooper nominee, but I don't see who they would replace him with. They have hit rock bottom with attractive potential candidates, and the issues are against them.
devlzadvocate
· 1 year ago
Jesse Helms?
mf_roe
· 1 year ago
Sadly, if you tested the I.Q. of most of the people you come into contact on a daily basis you would most likely fine that the average was below 97.
Coming Undone
· 1 year ago
So how is he supposed to attack McCain with a MSM that is against him and Democrats that are always praising McCain and giving him the benefit of the doubt and with the grassroots ready to turn against Obama any time that they think he has gone off message. If Obama really attacks McCain this election will be about the angry black man versus the honorable war hero.
News Nag
· 1 year ago
I agree with John A. The despondency is palpable. The Obama campaign needs to put on its cup and stride into battle. Hopefully, they are starting to do that now.
I do think that the Rovian campaign to this point is meant to demoralize the Democrats as much as generally smear Obama to the general public. It's the only thing they know that might work to slow or stall the wave of revulsion against Bushism.
The Rovian campaign, in and of itself, is effective so far in blunting the enthusiasm and power of Obama's formerly widening base, and Obama's people can do more to neutralize the effects. But, really, the Rovian nastiness is going to continue throughout. We Democrats need to sack up as well and fight through the despondency with everything we've got.
We need to have Obama's back especially now. Yet, I still agree he has to show more back-bone so we can know where and how to follow his lead!
cmpnwtr
· 1 year ago
The Armchair Generals need to go join the campaign or STFU.
bdhp
· 1 year ago
I agree with you but I think you are missing a couple of points. Yes, Obama needs to be more aggressive, however that is not the roll he wants. I agree that hurts us now. But you are forgetting that he will soon have his "attack dog" to do his dirty work. I also think he needs to and will take the gloves off of Move On. We need them to attack. If we do not attack we will lose again, you are correct. I just would not assume that we will not attack. Also John you were the one who predicted that McCain will flip out before November. I agree that will happen. I also have had a strange feeling that McCain will not finish the race, as strange as that may seem. Don't ask me why but I have always had that feeling, but that really does not matter at this point in time. But I will go on the record with my feeling about McCain not finishing the race. However, I am not saying that is the reason why we will win. We will win if we attack regardless of McCain. America wants a change but they do not a wimp. Obama needs to realize that.
"Concern trolling"? You're saying they're only pretending to care? Why would that be?
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
I think "concern trolling" means being a worrier who's destructive to the cause.
I don't really like the term, because sometimes concerned bloggers make good points and to call anybody who says "Wait a minute. Are we doing this right?" a "concern troll" encourages group-think, which can be more destructive than "concern."
blackwolf
· 1 year ago
All Obama has to do is stay the course. I'm not sure why he's not pounding back. This feeling is beginning to permeate the blogosphere about Obama. I can't firgure it out.
Nigel Elliott
· 1 year ago
John and Joe,
hang in there guys. You both keep forgetting that polling firms don't ring up mobile phones. Many voters and especially younger voters don't have landlines, so the polls are totally skewed. The fact that Obama is still leading in the polls, despite the absent of his target demo, should allay your concerns. ;-)
Psyche
· 1 year ago
Sorry, can't remember where I saw it -- maybe someone else has the link -- but they've actually done studies controlling for cell phone use. Turns out cell phone users' votes weren't significantly different from landline users.'
As I've said before, the Democratic Leadership is owned by the GOP, that is simply self-evident. The Democrats are NOT allowed to win any more, the GOP has ordered them not to. When they do win, like the 2006 Legislative elections, the Leadership then makes sure that the majority will refuse to fight back or get anything done.
So why is anyone surprised at Obama's whole-hearted attempts at losing this election?
I'm not.
nsr
· 1 year ago
We've got Jeff Merkley here in OR running against Gordon Smith. Smith's ad, which I see a few times every day (casual TV watching), out and out calls the guy a hypocrite, literally, I mean "That's hypocritical. That's Jeff Merkley". Three times, four times a day.
Merkley's response? Zip. He won't even fight for his reputation. What a doormat. I'm sure if he wins, Merkley will do a GREAT JOB standing up for us.
If any Democrat staffers read this blog and their boss is up for election-- the best way to convince us you're a fighter is to fight. If you can't stand up and defend your integrity, grow a backbone or get out of the race. You too, Barack.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 1 year ago
obama is not attempting to lose. he is attempting to transform our stinking rotting polical culture. yes his restraint is frustrating. but so was nelson mandela's. that didn't turn out so bad. stop comparing obama to kerry. obama is always on his game, focused and brilliant. he prefers a style of leadership that doesn't insult the people he's trying to lead. if it works it will be seismic. i think this is a good time in our history for something seismic.
a comment in an earlier thread said that obama was the same as mccain and nothing short of revolution will be acceptable. well if you believe that, you should encourage obama to start acting more like mccain. then we will have an excuse for a bloody revolution. the kind that mandela managed to avert.
Coming Undone
· 1 year ago
O/T
Meanwhile, Warren told FOX News Radio that the allegations that McCain heard Obama’s questions ahead of time were “total bogus.”
“Cone of silence is a silly term I used from Maxwell Smart,” Warren said. “We had him a green room in a totally different building. Somebody said there was a monitor in that room, yeah, but it was disconnected at the source. If he’d tried to turn it on, all he’d have gotten was fuzz, because it wasn’t even connected. So the Secret Service picked him up, brought him straight to that room, put him in that building. Somebody is systematically calling up all the media the media and trying to create, I dont know, I guess they didn’t like the format or whatever. ”
I agree that Obama should be going hard at McCain every second of every day.
McCain is accusing Obama of treason. Obama needs to fight back. Talk about McCain's senility. Talk about his wish to kill millions of innocent Iranians/Iraqis/Afghans. Talk about the first wife he abandonded.
Also every ad needs to show the Bush/McCain hug, and should end with "McCain can run negative ads, but he cant run the country."
PhilipGraham
· 1 year ago
Hey John, thank you for all that you are doing. I hope and pray you and others get through to the boneheads "running" Obama's campaign.
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
I'm staying out of it.
Good post anyway. Somebody had to say it.
Joneses
· 1 year ago
So Warren lied again. This is the Christian way? Hope he ask God for......., God help us.
Well the people I speak with across the country, white, black, Asian, and Latino, and others, are gun ho for Obama. The corporate media is trying so hard as to tell a different story about this election. It's not true. Unfortunately, we are in a country who cares more for money and profit than it's people.
Even the so called religious have lost their way. It's sad.
cmpnwtr
· 1 year ago
Sorry to see Americablog join the armchair generals caucus of whiners. If you yoyos here, attacking the Dem.candidate who came from nowhere to destroy the DLC Clinton machine, are such great politicians, why the hell aren't you running. I'm sick of bloggers sitting back and acting like McCain trolls. I recommend Al Giordano or the Jedreport for some adult political commentary.
John Aravosis
· 1 year ago
Insults are nice, but considering that my friends are actually experts on elections, experts on polls, and their read is that we're in trouble, I think you at least owe us some analysis, some facts, something, other than what amounts to personal attacks. If anything, you sound kind of like a republican - attacking the very people who know more because they know more. These are people who know elections, who are experts at winning. They say the signs are bad. You can choose to believe that, or you can choose to be happy. Good luck with that :-)
vwcat
· 1 year ago
I have seen Obama run the same kind of campaign in -04, in the primaries and now. He is quiet until he gets everything in place under the radar. When he is ready to go full force he will be tough to hold back. Remember a year ago when he was 30 points down and everyone was screaming for him to go at Hillary. He was busy laying down the groundwork for the primaries. Then the JJ dinner he came out and began swinging. I expect him to do the same and look for his coming out to be the convention. The problem for us democrats is that we are so use to losing that we get worried over every little thing and cannot understand strategy from not doing anything. Obama has a clear strategy and will unveil it in his own time. But, we are so gun shy we start the hand wringing and worrying over one point here or there and are certain it's doom when it's june. We all need to take a deep breath, realize that Obama has done this before and he ended up beating the Clinton machine and is doing just fine. He knows what he's doing and is not going to let himself be beat. Let him do what he needs to under the radar to prepare and realize it is only august. And John, tell Josh to take a deep breath and get a grip.
ThePrometheusMan
· 1 year ago
Except as a Senate candidate in 2004, he hardly had any opposition. I agree with John here, the Obama campaign needs to come out swinging and aggressive if they want to win. Obama needs to start stressing specific issues like unemployment and health care (really nuts and bolts and beyond energy policy) and needs to attack John McCain. And there is so much to attack McCain with. His nasty divorce, the Keating Five scandal, multiple stumbles and gaffes, his reversal on torture, and even a hint at his advanced age. Politics is a dirty game and Obama could be above the fray against another Democrat but he needs to strike against McCain.
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
I agree with John too.
But I would add that the Obama campaign has been hitting McCain in some of the battleground states--Ohio and Nevada (and I think I read Indiana and maybe a couple others too)--pretty good on local issues such as local plant closings, nuclear storage and trade.
We just haven't been seeing those ads unless we live in some of those states.
elleng
· 1 year ago
Frank Rich provided lots of grist for this mill, and the media and dems should sure use it! AS THEY SHOULD USE General Clark's suggestions!
Wesley Clark should be the VP. He has integrity, great credentials and the guts to tell the truth. He would be very effective as an attack dog which Obama seems to need badly. If Obama picked him, I'd keel over but recover quickly because it would be a sign that Obama, indeed, knows what he's doing. (He'd also neutralize the McCain military hero crap.)
jr
· 1 year ago
we have the same old diseased blood running the same campaigns every 4 years. They're afraid to offend the Matlock demographic. A woman's right to choose is at stake. This corporatist Roberts court wants to make Ludlow Massacres the norm
Joneses
· 1 year ago
Oh side note here, a large portion of the people who rarely get a phone call ( I have never got a call from the so called poll people, ever) know that the corporate media television is total bulls____.
I truly believed a man of God would be honest, shame on you Warren!
News Nag
· 1 year ago
weird as it is, radical progressive democratic instigator that I consider myself, I have been a Gallup Poll family for the last six months and was also a Gallup Poll family in 2004 as well. I have also been a Nielsen family filling out TV watching schedules before. Go figure! I couldn't be more out of the mainstream if I tried. I write hardcore political verse and perform rant versions of them, I live in a cabin in the woods, I arrange 300-lb boulders around the outdoors for exercise and aesthethic pleasure, live next door to my wife's cabin, like I said, must be the weirdest Gallup family ever! And even more satisfying than being the Gallup outlier, every month like clockwork I get to make my disapproval X mark in the box disapproving of George Bush's performance very, very, very emphsized (almost punching through the paper like a chad!).
oh, and of course, the corporate media TV, local and national, are indeed BS. Big BS. I hope there's a poll about that!
ClintonHater
· 1 year ago
I actually think it would be better to wait until they pick someone like Biden for Veep, and he can go balls to the wall on McCain. Obama doesn't need to dirty his hands.
ThePrometheusMan
· 1 year ago
Except as a Senate candidate in 2004, he hardly had any opposition. I agree with John here, the Obama campaign needs to come out swinging and aggressive if they want to win. Obama needs to start stressing specific issues like unemployment and health care (really nuts and bolts and beyond energy policy) and needs to attack John McCain. And there is so much to attack McCain with. His nasty divorce, the Keating Five scandal, multiple stumbles and gaffes, his reversal on torture, and even a hint at his advanced age. Politics is a dirty game and Obama could be above the fray against another Democrat but he needs to strike against McCain.
tbhull
· 1 year ago
This arrogant out of touch campaign failed when it believed the smell of its own failed farts were sweet when this coward, backed up by a pool of inexperienced and supplicant sycophants, btrayed his change message, moved to the center and folded on FISA.
Mark my words, much like Don MClean's ode to Buddy Holly's death, Obama's FISA fold is the day his campaign died.
CarrieCann
· 1 year ago
Pretty spot on post by the boys. As for the FISA fold, I agree with you 100%. That was the day I stopped blogging about the presidential campaign, as Obama just lost my vote. I'm not registered to any party, and never have been, and I am 56 and started voting when I was in my early 20's (somewhere around then when the age to vote was dropped from 21 to 18). I am the voter both parties are trying to woo. I'm not going to vote McCain, I'm just not going to vote. That's how much the FISA decision from Obama affected me. And I was just beginning to get aboard his boat, as it were. Now, he's become just another one of the Beltway "guys."
nsr
· 1 year ago
Obama's response: "The difference in this race is that John McCain is intent on spending $10 billion a month on an open-ended war, while Barack Obama thinks we should bring this war to a responsible end and invest in our pressing needs here at home."
LLDEM
· 1 year ago
How did that faith in Congressional Democrats work out for you? Faith has nothing to do with poll numbers. We're in trouble. I'm glad you have faith. Then don't get involved. I just find it rather funny that you're idea of being involved in politics, in trying to make a difference in your country, is to sit back, shut up, and not do anything when you sense things are going very wrong. If you think things are going well,I'm happy to hear your detailed explanation as to why. Rob will be writing a post shortly,and Joe probably as well, about why the current polls are troubling,and why you should care about them this far out from the election. Again, if you have facts to back you up, I'm happyt o hear them. But I know people who actually know politics, who actually worked on elections, and they're scared shitless about what they're seeing. They're the actual experts. So let's stop playing the Republican game of beating up the very people who know best what's going on
John, as a huge fan of your site, I'm honored that you took the time to respond to my post. That said,
I'm a bit taken aback that you took my faith in my candidate, Barack Obama, (the man that turned back the Clinton Machine without resorting to the gutter politics we're all tired of) with a call for inaction. And how that became a conversation about congress can only speak to your views on dating (if one man does you wrong, they all will). But more to my point, I merely stated that I have faith that this man has a plan. A plan that I don't have to be privy to. I NEVER advocating "sitting back" on any level. And certainly not shutting up under any circumstances. But as I read through the comments form selfish little punks who feel like things aren't going the way they think they should openly insult the man they claim to support, then yeah, if you think you know better, run for office yourself, or STFU. Because as much as I want a Democrat back in the White House and how much I realize that this election is more than Barack Obama, at the end of the day, his name is on the letterhead. And if he thinks that he should wait until he OFFICIALLY becomes the Dem's Nom to tear McGOO and new one, then I have faith that he will. And calling him an empty suit and threatening to leave the party doesn't help the cause at all. The netroots play a huge role in helping to get the word out the MSM chooses to ignore, but I don't give up my right to call people on bad behavior when it's justified, even self proclaimed experts. And when you've got a couple of hours we can discuss congress...
I believe in making a difference where you can. This past weekend I spent my time with some other volunteer filmmakers, directing Public Service Announcements for the No on Prop 8 campaign out here in California. Perhaps when they're ready, you can put your money where your mouth is and donate some space for them on your site.
Happy_Housewife
· 1 year ago
I think some folks need to get out and enjoy some sunshine, or watch some Olympics, like the rest of the country. Not everyone (indeed almost no one) follows politics as closely as we do. It's still a blip for them.
Right now, it's about Barak being intelligent, non-threatening and affable. Getting people used to him. The time for attacks is after Labor Day, when people start paying attention: That is the time to hit hard and not back down.
And don't forget: Hillary, if she were the nominee, would be drowning in the same old Vince Foster/Monica Lewinsky/Arkansa Whorehouse/Dead teenagers/Rose Law Firm/Paula Jones sewer by now. With added stories about Bill's last eight years, and how he made all that money. That's the bloodbath they wanted, and they didn't get. Hence, they are still off their game. Their main industry has been taken away from them.
After Labor Day. If the gloves don't come off by then, I'll start to worry.
P.S. Sorry to tell you this, but the FISA doesn't matter. Anyone of normal intelligence who is bothered by it - like myself - knows that there are no options: McCain is a million times worse, and the third-party candidates are nut cases. Our best hope, warts and all, is Barak Obama.
videoleft
· 1 year ago
very rational response. This will not be the Cage Fight you are used to progressives. Seems most posters here want revenge and blood and the Republican are trying to bait Obama into being the angry Black radical --Malcom X (from Obomanation), if you will. He and his campaign are way too smart to fall into that trap. So, it will not happen. The Vice Presidential nominee will respond a little more harsh, but there will be no militancy from Barack or(Michelle - see New Yorker magazine), no hate, no revenge. The volume will be turned way down. And when the opponent sees that they can't really lay a glove, they will implode. Now, in order for this new type of politics to work, we have to do our jobs. Firstly, we have to appreciate this new political art form, stay positive, and work the streets. If Obama does not get elected its our fault, not his. This is our time America.
AdmNaismith
· 1 year ago
But we were promised a pony...
All the Dems need to do is to tell the truth. No mud, no negative campaigning, just the truth- constant, relentless, ugly truth. I'm not even seeing that. Maybe Obama really is smarter than all of us put together and has something up his sleeve, but where are all the PACs and stuff that can pound McCain without restraint?
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
That was a big mistake.
Obama wanted all the Democratic 527s to play nice too.
While the Repub 527s went for the throat, as always.
He's stepped back from that demand now, but I don't know if the 527s can get it together in time.
moreleesafer
· 1 year ago
C'mon Barack. Show some cajones. attack. attack. attack.
but in a nice way. throw a few punches. there is enough material to kick his ass and stay above the belt
FunMe
· 1 year ago
Your post is very heartfelt. And I'm sure Josh's too. I mean sometimes I'm so exhausted and sad to see what is happening to our country. I mean to think that our politics have become a game - kind of like what pre-kinder children play. Ads about Paris Hilton, putting a candidate down because of false accusations of non-patriotism, not wearing a flag, pin, etc. Then looking at the "MSM" made up of NON-journalists joking and doing their hail to the chief (McCain=bush) and I sit back and wonder: what has become of my country?
And then we get our Democratic candidate Obama, that we really really want as US President. He comes out and plays the "centrist" part right after getting the most delegates. He socks it back to the Democrats with his FISA bill, and you wonder ... what??? Don't you want to win Senator Obama because you sure don't show it with DEFLATING the enthusiasm of so many of your supporters?
Then the worst part: Obama playing the NICE card. And again you ask why?
Didn't our Democratic Party learn that playing NICE = recipe for defeat?
We are not dealing with opponents who are HUMAN beings. No, instead we are dealing with republiCONs, neoCONs and CONservatives who truly have no conscience.
That's who we are dealing ... "CONservatives without a conscience".
Having an attitude of "I'm better than that" or "I'm not going to lower myself to them" is not going to help Senator Obama win.
Come on, let's change the strategy NOW.
I'm sure some of Obama's staff comes here. Can you please URGE the Senator to change his ways now and put on the gloves?
And don't play NICE at the convention. We saw how that helped Kerry with his policy of no bush bashing. Had he done let others talk the TRUTH, bush definitely would have lost (or better yet, it would have been hard for bush to steal the election).
CHANGE ... when will it happen?
So Senator Obama: are you ready to change your campaign so you can WIN for us, the We The People of the US Constitution?
Joneses
· 1 year ago
But I learned from Christian beliefs to be grounded with earth. That said, O kick a lot of ass.
SociologistTina
· 1 year ago
Sad. And scary. Thanks for letting us know, John & Joe.
HelenaMontana
· 1 year ago
The utter incoherence of Democratic presidential campaigns has always been dismaying. It's as if they WANT to lose.
I have no political experience whatsoever, and no particular talent in that direction, but I could put together a much better effort than what is currently on display. These clowns just never, ever learn.
Polly_Tics
· 1 year ago
I am hoping that John and Joe's post here is more to kick Obama's people in the arse than anything actually going on within the campaigns. If so, it is really disheartening. I really thought that Obama + company were different in the Republican hit back area and still have hope that is what we will see happening in spades.
However, if the campaign remains in the current mode, it worries me no end. What happened to that man of electricity, the man whom liked to "play" with the Republicans (remember the night he actually won the Primary? It was right in the Repub convention's back yard).
I am holding my tongue momentarily until I see more action one way or the other. Let us pray...
SouthernYankee
· 1 year ago
Obama needs to push back more. Whatever happen to Hillary getting out there? She has only been out twice. She is all talk and no action. The Clintons are showing their shelfish true colors. They should put the party above themselves. She is playing it just the way she wants.
shrrrr
· 1 year ago
Best post in a long time....and timely. Thanks for saying what many of us have been thinking for a while now. Last Saturday night, listening to the Rev. Rick show, was when it first really hit me that the Repugs could actually win. It's a sinking feeling.
mikep
· 1 year ago
Goodness, what does it take to get people to wake up. Once again: there is no difference at all between the two parties. They are one giant party with two branches. They agree on virtually everything and are clearly united in promoting war and corporate profits. Anyone who claims otherwise is clearly and knowingly lying (with all due respect).
If you care even the tiniest bit about America's future (not the Democrats future, but America's -- there's a difference) then you simply cannot vote for the Democrats or Republicans. This is obvious. It will only make things worse. It's time to move on.
Happy_Housewife
· 1 year ago
No difference, huh? Somebody must have been drinking their Nader Kool-Aid. It's amazing how people will go for the simplest, most broad statement, and accept it as dogma.
But more importantly, just how would you propose this "movement" take place? Have you a viable candidate - not a nutcase or elderly egoist, but someone who could actually sway people? Or is this just another every four years whine?
ginsmill
· 1 year ago
I hate this post-----but I am also feeling the same. It would seem that Obama taking the high road is simply not winning which is a sad comentary to have to make. There are a lot of people that are using different excuses, "I don't know enough about him", " he may not be able to answer the phone at 3am", "not enough experience", when in fact, they are hiding their prejudice. It is a bigger factor than we want to believe. Some of the worst of those were sitting with Warren in his so called church. It was obvious, and now is record, that McCain heard the questions before he appeared on stage. And why not more on McCain's change on R v Wade in 2007? He sounds like Pat Robinson now.
All Comments
McCain is unreliable personally -- compulsive craps player who goes 14 hours at a time, he's a raving NEOCON who was caling for an Iraq attack within 5 weeks of 9/11 and he would take away the right to choose from all women. That is enough to sway the independents I run into.
And then we have to flip one of those magic seven - CO, OH, IN, NV, VA, FL, MO. CO looks promising, especially after the water thing, but I'm not sure. The dips in the polls are going to hurt us in those states, and that's exactly where we need to be staying strong. If we can't hold MI, we need to flip more than one. CO, VA, OH are the only ones that seem "easy", - FL, IN, NV, and MO (especially) are the long shots, and I fear that any trailing in the polls is going to show up there and not prop up the numbers we need. Technically, McCain only needs to hold those states. We need to steal them.
I hope it's a slam-dunk, but I'm seeing how we can lose this thing very palpably for the first time. Hopefully that will spur us on to fight in a way that certainty wouldn't.
Cmon dude, is this any surprise? Axelrod is the new Shrum and Barry is the new Dukakakis...
This is all fixed - Pro Wrestling shenanagians....Barry is playing his role to the letter of weak and pathetic Dem who can't be bothered to fight back against laughably overbaked and easily defended Rethug attacks AND MORE IMPORTANTLY REFUSING to go on the attack. We;ve seen this Disney movie before and we know the ending
Barry got moolah from me in the Primaries - never again! Even if he wins a squeaker the Right Wing noise machine and BS so called mainstream media will hound him 24/7 because he's EFFIN WEAK!
What a COLOSSAL disappointment!
Change indeed :-(
Angry Greek
The blogosphere will have to just move forward without Obama.
Look! We're starting to get good media play and a very satisfying reaction from McCain's campaign over the "cross in the dirt" lie.
http://www.openleft.com/viewQuickHits.do#2793
Hopefully, we can fire up Moveon.org and the unions and just move ahead without Obama's help.
However, McCain's alliance with Rove, religious fanatics and the neocons guarantees Independents and moderates won't vote for him. All McCain promises is more war...well, who wants that except those extreme groups, and that's not a winning coalition. And besides, Democratic voter registration is going through the roof in every swing state.
The McCain of 2000 would have won, but McCain 2008 is a desperate old man, and even his hero status is in trouble by his totally dishonest campaign tactics.
McCain has peaked and next week when Obama and his VP pick head to the convention, the entire party apparatus will beat up that old man senseless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNgA5xLxao
He's the closest thing the veep possibilities have to a slasher.
His votes in Illinois to allow children surviving abortion to die would put him in the 43% level for good; except for the fact that it's too early for most voters to be paying attention...
I saw something the other day about the Obama campaign possibly looking the other way if the 527's got (back) into action -- but nothing since. Any chance of that?
Obama keeps saying he knows how to punch -- and occasionally we see it. But never with any consistency.
And Prez Camacho, I'm curious: Do you refer to Obama as "Barry" out of frustration? Because, I read that and I think: PUMA or Republican troll. But you say you contributed during the primaries, so I guess this is how you get frustrated or something?
The blogosphere would certainly give big money to a 527 who wants to tear McCain a new one.
C'mon 527s! Give us your plans! We're ready to back you!
Let's all make a bet - if Bary is still doing his Dukakakis imitation after the end of the DNC next week and his poll numbers are behind McSame's after the RNC thugfest in the Twin Citays can we agree that it's over come November?
To think I actually fell for his Change BS earlier this year. That's what 8 years of BushCo will do to you - never again!
Maybe the UTTER HUMILIATION OF THIS IMPENDING LOSS will wake the Dems the eff up and force real progressive change...but probably not.
Angry Greek
McSame - is mean Malaka in Greek
'Impeachment is off the table" - is mean double Malakia in Greek
You guys should be worried. I'm one of a group of 12 people that travels to Philadelphia every weekend to canvass. WE AREN'T GOING ANYMORE. The Philly Obama office is begging us to come. I personally told them NO no more volunteering until Obama's campaign fights back.
Why waste my time volunteering if they aren't serious about winning.
I'm working hard for down-ticket candidates and donating only to them until Obama gets his ass in gear (if he can).
100% Liberal here - not a troll
Barack became Barry to me once he started this Pro Wrestler imitation the past 5 weeks - imo he is a FRAUD.
I SO wanted to believe....hell, I (with a friends help) put up 2 Pro Democrat sites :
www.whydemocrats.com
www.whybarack.com
It isn't just me - ALL of my liberal friends are PISSED OFF and ANGRY at Barry and his so called campaign...
I am sick to my stomach at this betrayal.
Angry Greek
McSame - is mean Malaka in Greek
'Impeachment is off the table" - is mean double Malakia in Greek
I think there was some kind of an e-mail thing between the leading blogs for talking points and such.
I don't see it this year.
Seems like Drudge gets his talking points from the Repubs.
Then the other blogs pick up from him.
Bush didn't do the swift-boating, he had others do it for him. There needs to be a coordinated effort to pick the issue of the week and pound it into the ground. How the hell does it not get traction, for example, that McCain just verifiably made up a story about his POW experience? We should have a media machine that starts here with a story like that and works its way into the mainstream media. It isn't happening, and it's not just because of some conservative bias. Every day there are stories that should be absolutely killing McCain and aren't getting reported. Isn't this obvious? Where is our Drudge?
A couple media outlets have picked it up, and the McCain campaign has acknowledged it and tried to fire back.
http://www.openleft.com/viewQuickHits.do#2793
Really, I think we need some 527s to step up and keep it alive now. (Although this story seems made for a good viral e-mail too.)
Obama made a mistake by eschewing 527 support earlier, but I think he's learned his lesson and won't fight them anymore.
And if he feels like has to pick and choose, then fine. But surely what he picks and chooses should include these periodic accusations of treason.
No, thanks. What exactly would that gain? I think anyone who can't stand the anxiety of seeing the numbers fall or not knowing how it's going to turn out should feel free to throw in the towel for themselves, but what exactly is the point of trying to convince others to throw in with you? I think I'm beginning to see that at least some of the people I thought were trolls are really just Dems who can't stand the thought of losing again. And I totally understand that. But, I guess throwing in the towel isn't the way I deal with that.
Hmm. Can I suggest you take a brief break from all this, come back when you're rested up or something?
Maybe have a cocktail? Or three?
You are mulaka and un pendejo bugaron
But they seem to be ignoring the above the radar game, and that's what's worrying a lot of us.
He's been running his campaign outside the law for awhile , so I wouldn't expect him to start following the rules now.
Doesn't matter from what I understand: the FEC is a shell anyway. Bush tried to stack it with Repubs, Dems balked, so it's not even functional.
Obama went into the lion's den and excelled. Orange County is one of the few red areas of Cali and Obama did quite well, even without cheating like McCain. His only purpose for going to that redneck Church was to have a conversation with fellow Christians. McCain gave campaign sound bites in church. I serious doubt that helps him with the vast majority of other Christians, who frown on mixing politics and religion. No true Christian would do that and McCain's performance has backfired and ruined the credibility of Rev Warren in the process.
McCain is a one-trick pony headed to a glue factory come November.
I was wondering if he should talk about chasing someone to the "gates of hell" in a church to a group of evangelicals.
Seemed inappropriate to me.
Obama camp keeping their financial powder dry for now?
Poll numbers don't mean a thing ....it cannot be as close as they indicate...there cannot be that many stupid people in one country...can there?
Any other questions?
who do you think voted for Bush in two elections? He didn't win fairly, but still got a lot of votes.
If Obama really attacks McCain this election will be about the angry black man versus the honorable war hero.
I do think that the Rovian campaign to this point is meant to demoralize the Democrats as much as generally smear Obama to the general public. It's the only thing they know that might work to slow or stall the wave of revulsion against Bushism.
The Rovian campaign, in and of itself, is effective so far in blunting the enthusiasm and power of Obama's formerly widening base, and Obama's people can do more to neutralize the effects. But, really, the Rovian nastiness is going to continue throughout. We Democrats need to sack up as well and fight through the despondency with everything we've got.
We need to have Obama's back especially now. Yet, I still agree he has to show more back-bone so we can know where and how to follow his lead!
I also think he needs to and will take the gloves off of Move On. We need them to attack. If we do not attack we will lose again, you are correct. I just would not assume that we will not attack.
Also John you were the one who predicted that McCain will flip out before November. I agree that will happen. I also have had a strange feeling that McCain will not finish the race, as strange as that may seem. Don't ask me why but I have always had that feeling, but that really does not matter at this point in time. But I will go on the record with my feeling about McCain not finishing the race. However, I am not saying that is the reason why we will win. We will win if we attack regardless of McCain. America wants a change but they do not a wimp. Obama needs to realize that.
concern trolling already?
http://bloggerinterrupted.com/2008/08/here-come...
I don't really like the term, because sometimes concerned bloggers make good points and to call anybody who says "Wait a minute. Are we doing this right?" a "concern troll" encourages group-think, which can be more destructive than "concern."
hang in there guys. You both keep forgetting that polling firms don't ring up mobile phones. Many voters and especially younger voters don't have landlines, so the polls are totally skewed. The fact that Obama is still leading in the polls, despite the absent of his target demo, should allay your concerns. ;-)
OK found one here: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/901/cell-phones-pol...
So why is anyone surprised at Obama's whole-hearted attempts at losing this election?
I'm not.
Merkley's response? Zip. He won't even fight for his reputation. What a doormat. I'm sure if he wins, Merkley will do a GREAT JOB standing up for us.
If any Democrat staffers read this blog and their boss is up for election-- the best way to convince us you're a fighter is to fight. If you can't stand up and defend your integrity, grow a backbone or get out of the race. You too, Barack.
a comment in an earlier thread said that obama was the same as mccain and nothing short of revolution will be acceptable. well if you believe that, you should encourage obama to start acting more like mccain. then we will have an excuse for a bloody revolution. the kind that mandela managed to avert.
Meanwhile, Warren told FOX News Radio that the allegations that McCain heard Obama’s questions ahead of time were “total bogus.”
“Cone of silence is a silly term I used from Maxwell Smart,” Warren said. “We had him a green room in a totally different building. Somebody said there was a monitor in that room, yeah, but it was disconnected at the source. If he’d tried to turn it on, all he’d have gotten was fuzz, because it wasn’t even connected. So the Secret Service picked him up, brought him straight to that room, put him in that building. Somebody is systematically calling up all the media the media and trying to create, I dont know, I guess they didn’t like the format or whatever. ”
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/18/mccain-...
McCain is accusing Obama of treason. Obama needs to fight back. Talk about McCain's senility. Talk about his wish to kill millions of innocent Iranians/Iraqis/Afghans. Talk about the first wife he abandonded.
Also every ad needs to show the Bush/McCain hug, and should end with "McCain can run negative ads, but he cant run the country."
Good post anyway. Somebody had to say it.
Well the people I speak with across the country, white, black, Asian, and Latino, and others, are gun ho for Obama. The corporate media is trying so hard as to tell a different story about this election. It's not true. Unfortunately, we are in a country who cares more for money and profit than it's people.
Even the so called religious have lost their way. It's sad.
I expect him to do the same and look for his coming out to be the convention.
The problem for us democrats is that we are so use to losing that we get worried over every little thing and cannot understand strategy from not doing anything.
Obama has a clear strategy and will unveil it in his own time.
But, we are so gun shy we start the hand wringing and worrying over one point here or there and are certain it's doom when it's june.
We all need to take a deep breath, realize that Obama has done this before and he ended up beating the Clinton machine and is doing just fine. He knows what he's doing and is not going to let himself be beat.
Let him do what he needs to under the radar to prepare and realize it is only august.
And John, tell Josh to take a deep breath and get a grip.
But I would add that the Obama campaign has been hitting McCain in some of the battleground states--Ohio and Nevada (and I think I read Indiana and maybe a couple others too)--pretty good on local issues such as local plant closings, nuclear storage and trade.
We just haven't been seeing those ads unless we live in some of those states.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/opinion/17ric...
I truly believed a man of God would be honest, shame on you Warren!
oh, and of course, the corporate media TV, local and national, are indeed BS. Big BS. I hope there's a poll about that!
Mark my words, much like Don MClean's ode to Buddy Holly's death, Obama's FISA fold is the day his campaign died.
"The difference in this race is that John McCain is intent on spending $10 billion a month on an open-ended war, while Barack Obama thinks we should bring this war to a responsible end and invest in our pressing needs here at home."
John, as a huge fan of your site, I'm honored that you took the time to respond to my post. That said,
I'm a bit taken aback that you took my faith in my candidate, Barack Obama, (the man that turned back the Clinton Machine without resorting to the gutter politics we're all tired of) with a call for inaction. And how that became a conversation about congress can only speak to your views on dating (if one man does you wrong, they all will). But more to my point, I merely stated that I have faith that this man has a plan. A plan that I don't have to be privy to. I NEVER advocating "sitting back" on any level. And certainly not shutting up under any circumstances. But as I read through the comments form selfish little punks who feel like things aren't going the way they think they should openly insult the man they claim to support, then yeah, if you think you know better, run for office yourself, or STFU. Because as much as I want a Democrat back in the White House and how much I realize that this election is more than Barack Obama, at the end of the day, his name is on the letterhead. And if he thinks that he should wait until he OFFICIALLY becomes the Dem's Nom to tear McGOO and new one, then I have faith that he will. And calling him an empty suit and threatening to leave the party doesn't help the cause at all. The netroots play a huge role in helping to get the word out the MSM chooses to ignore, but I don't give up my right to call people on bad behavior when it's justified, even self proclaimed experts. And when you've got a couple of hours we can discuss congress...
I believe in making a difference where you can. This past weekend I spent my time with some other volunteer filmmakers, directing Public Service Announcements for the No on Prop 8 campaign out here in California. Perhaps when they're ready, you can put your money where your mouth is and donate some space for them on your site.
Right now, it's about Barak being intelligent, non-threatening and affable. Getting people used to him. The time for attacks is after Labor Day, when people start paying attention: That is the time to hit hard and not back down.
And don't forget: Hillary, if she were the nominee, would be drowning in the same old Vince Foster/Monica Lewinsky/Arkansa Whorehouse/Dead teenagers/Rose Law Firm/Paula Jones sewer by now. With added stories about Bill's last eight years, and how he made all that money. That's the bloodbath they wanted, and they didn't get. Hence, they are still off their game. Their main industry has been taken away from them.
After Labor Day. If the gloves don't come off by then, I'll start to worry.
P.S. Sorry to tell you this, but the FISA doesn't matter. Anyone of normal intelligence who is bothered by it - like myself - knows that there are no options: McCain is a million times worse, and the third-party candidates are nut cases. Our best hope, warts and all, is Barak Obama.
Now, in order for this new type of politics to work, we have to do our jobs. Firstly, we have to appreciate this new political art form, stay positive, and work the streets. If Obama does not get elected its our fault, not his.
This is our time America.
All the Dems need to do is to tell the truth. No mud, no negative campaigning, just the truth- constant, relentless, ugly truth. I'm not even seeing that.
Maybe Obama really is smarter than all of us put together and has something up his sleeve, but where are all the PACs and stuff that can pound McCain without restraint?
Obama wanted all the Democratic 527s to play nice too.
While the Repub 527s went for the throat, as always.
He's stepped back from that demand now, but I don't know if the 527s can get it together in time.
attack. attack. attack.
but in a nice way. throw a few punches. there is enough material to kick his ass and stay above the belt
And then we get our Democratic candidate Obama, that we really really want as US President. He comes out and plays the "centrist" part right after getting the most delegates. He socks it back to the Democrats with his FISA bill, and you wonder ... what??? Don't you want to win Senator Obama because you sure don't show it with DEFLATING the enthusiasm of so many of your supporters?
Then the worst part: Obama playing the NICE card. And again you ask why?
Didn't our Democratic Party learn that playing NICE = recipe for defeat?
We are not dealing with opponents who are HUMAN beings. No, instead we are dealing with republiCONs, neoCONs and CONservatives who truly have no conscience.
That's who we are dealing ... "CONservatives without a conscience".
Having an attitude of "I'm better than that" or "I'm not going to lower myself to them" is not going to help Senator Obama win.
Come on, let's change the strategy NOW.
I'm sure some of Obama's staff comes here. Can you please URGE the Senator to change his ways now and put on the gloves?
And don't play NICE at the convention. We saw how that helped Kerry with his policy of no bush bashing. Had he done let others talk the TRUTH, bush definitely would have lost (or better yet, it would have been hard for bush to steal the election).
CHANGE ... when will it happen?
So Senator Obama: are you ready to change your campaign so you can WIN for us, the We The People of the US Constitution?
I have no political experience whatsoever, and no particular talent in that direction, but I could put together a much better effort than what is currently on display. These clowns just never, ever learn.
However, if the campaign remains in the current mode, it worries me no end. What happened to that man of electricity, the man whom liked to "play" with the Republicans (remember the night he actually won the Primary? It was right in the Repub convention's back yard).
I am holding my tongue momentarily until I see more action one way or the other. Let us pray...
If you care even the tiniest bit about America's future (not the Democrats future, but America's -- there's a difference) then you simply cannot vote for the Democrats or Republicans. This is obvious. It will only make things worse. It's time to move on.
But more importantly, just how would you propose this "movement" take place? Have you a viable candidate - not a nutcase or elderly egoist, but someone who could actually sway people? Or is this just another every four years whine?