Obama: What happened?
posted at 7:45 am on September 9, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Apparently, Barack Obama is no fan of irony. CNN reports on John McCain’s strategy of attacking Obama on change, with his attack on Obama’s lack of track record on reform or legislation while arguing for his own. Obama, predictably, wonders how they can make that case:
Lord, please have Obama continue to use that Bridge to Nowhere line. It has progressed from a dumb attack almost all the way to a Big Lie. Obama voted for that bridge — twice! So did Joe Biden. Obama has requested almost a billion dollars in earmarks in just three years of being in the Senate; McCain doesn’t earmark at all.
Obama is flailing, because he’s getting exposed. All anyone has to ask Obama is this question: “what have you yourself done to effect change and reform at any political risk to yourself?” His only examples come from bills he co-sponsored that were so uncontroversial that they passed without roll-call votes.
He takes umbrage with McCain’s attack on his theme of change, but Obama usurped it in the first place. He made it even more obvious by picking Joe Biden as his running mate. Obama’s talking about McCain’s advisers being former corporate lobbyists, but Biden’s son Hunter has been lobbying Congress for years on behalf of corporations. And Obama should know — he’s cut Hunter at least one earmark himself.
McCain’s the only presidential candidate this year who has taken real political risks to effect change and reform in Washington. Palin has done the same in Alaska, blowing the whistle on her own party’s chairman and exposing his corruption on an important state commission, quitting her own job in order to do so. The only one writing fiction on this campaign trail is Barack Obama.
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Obama’s there’ll-be-pie-in-the-sky-bye-and-bye style of campaigning can’t stand scrutiny. The MSM covered for him as long as they could but the Internet allows an end run around the MSM now.
TooTall on September 9, 2008 at 9:19 AM
May I repeat the “Don’t get cocky, kid” theme.
Instapundit says it well:
zmrzlina on September 9, 2008 at 9:22 AM
I think another ‘Look At Me World Tour 2008′ is in order for Baracky.
Bishop on September 9, 2008 at 9:23 AM
I agree. The McCain campaign and Sarah Palin have definitely thrown Obama and his media cheerleaders off of their game, but it’s a long way from being over.
rsrobinson on September 9, 2008 at 9:26 AM
respecting someone’s integrity and ideas is not quite the same as fainting for him…
and I am NOT taking my eye of the ball I was the one cheerleading that record setting donation drive for McCain eh?
sven10077 on September 9, 2008 at 9:26 AM
No doubt…but she has a lot more depth and broader appeal the Obama.
As Carnegie once said “put all your eggs in one basket, and watch the basket”.
They are keeping a short tether on her, introducing her to the media a little at a time.
A good indication of her was on c-span the other day showing her give and take with a news reporter in Alaska (the day before she was picked). A lenghty interview (maybe posted on HotAir)
Impressive, calm, reserved, thoughtful, not flashy, no slogans, passionate about the people.
They won’t over expose her, the difficulty now will be keeping her under wraps because she is so popular. Every close congressional race will want her, and need her.
right2bright on September 9, 2008 at 9:31 AM
Look Mommy,
The Emperor has no clothes!
fdldd on September 9, 2008 at 9:31 AM
Another Obama Intrade meltdown taking place… these “market adjustments” seem to be happening daily… big swings, settles back to a point where Obama is lower and McCain is higher. The latest split of Independents appears to be driving the latest trading spree… This is fun to watch.
CC
CapedConservative on September 9, 2008 at 9:32 AM
Having a seizure picturing Sven as a cheerleader. (yuck)
Loxodonta on September 9, 2008 at 9:34 AM
that’s just folks taking their profits…
of course unlike them we were saying….meh it’s the polls…when behind or ahead…..
Hey I look good in an angora weater with pom-poms…..
sven10077 on September 9, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Very good, Piper. Now switch to double-aught bird shot. We don’t want to lead him up too much.
ManlyRash on September 9, 2008 at 9:36 AM
But! But he’s a big hit with homeless, heroin addicted, British um…comedians.
ronsfi on September 9, 2008 at 9:44 AM
I’ve been checking around at all cable coverage this morning and it is truly amazing to watch every Democrat surrogate pushing so intensely, not a few, but EVERY. It’s hard to get to their message because their anger and frustration is very distracting. You would think they could fake “panic” better than that. Hasn’t Steve Schmidt shown the power of not reacting, emotionally? that is, until the nasty MSM began maligning Palin…THEN he brings in emotion. See how that works?
Moxie on September 9, 2008 at 9:47 AM
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ODQzZTc0NTE4ZWVmOTgwMGExOTUxNjM1MGY3YWY1MTk=
Is enthusiasm for Palin the mirror image of enthusiasm for Obama?
econavenger on September 9, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Didja ever notice how Barack rhymes with crock?
hillbillyjim on September 9, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Good point. Governor Palin is a strong, self-confident woman with and actual record of accomplishment who doesn’t need propping up by worshipers in the media.
Whereas, Senator Obama is very insecure and needs all the help he can get to make him seem like he is someone of substance.
Unfortunately, that substance is just styrofoam columns.
Loxodonta on September 9, 2008 at 9:57 AM
“Pride goeth before a fall”
nuff said.
Winebabe on September 9, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Wow.
Reading that explains quite a bit about what Democrats are thinking.
They think Kerry lost because Bush… I mean Rove:
1) Attacked Kerry at his strength (War Hero)
2) Did it with a Big Lie
3) Kept repeating the opposite of the truth until it stuck.
If Democrats really believe that…
… I finally understand why they used “Mcain = Bush 3″ as their campaign theme. And why they repeated it over, and over, and over.
ClintACK on September 9, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Palin as the new Lightworker? Palin-alujah?
This is something the MSM, and the Obama campaign, want to see happen.
But it won’t.
We do not worship Governor Palin.
We admire her. We share views and values with her. We haven’t built temples to her. And we won’t.
Are we enthusiastic? Hell, yeah.
But that enthusiasm is based on something more than just winning another election.
What Governor Palin represents isn’t just about beating Obama (or Biden, if he is still in this race by the time I get to the end of this post…), what Governor Palin represents best is what is best about America. The good things. Family. Decency. Kids. The Great Outdoors. Integrity. Real feminism. But this is just the surface.
Governor Palin best represents the next generation of Conservativism in America. And about damn time, too.
McCain got the ball and is handing it off to Palin for that end run to the goal line. The varsity got old. The JV’s have been waiting, watching, learning, for the past few years. Now it is their turn. A McCain/Palin victory enables the yout’s in the GOP to show us their game.
Hope and Change? Yep. Hope and Change GOP-style. That is what Governor Palin represents.
So we will cheerlead. We will do waves. We will toot the air horns. We will show team spirit.
But don’t expect worship and Palin-alujahs.
We’ve got a better grip on things.
coldwarrior on September 9, 2008 at 10:07 AM
The overwhelming response when an Obama commercial comes on here in Phila. suburbs among the “politics is boring” crowd, is negative…”he’s so depressing and negative about America; we’re not THAT bad off, especially in relation to the rest of the world.”
They just want something other than Bush, not necessarily Democrat. They’re actually beginning to see that a challenge to the whole political scene is the key, not just a change from one party to the other.
Moxie on September 9, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Yes I admire McCain’s shrewd campaign. I didn’t give the old guy enough credit. Strategic forward thinking is the best thing that could happen to the country right now.
petunia on September 9, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Shrill, is the word you’re looking for. Shrill.
Seixon on September 9, 2008 at 10:14 AM
There.
hillbillyjim on September 9, 2008 at 10:19 AM
well….thats simply NOT the Barrack Hussein I knew….
SDarchitect on September 9, 2008 at 10:20 AM
He’s not The Messiah anymore. Now he’s the Wizard of Uhs.
Cicero43 on September 9, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Speaking of which, lets not forget Obama’s chief strategist, stealth lobbyist David Axelrod.
Obama’s Lobbyist Connection
Nichevo on September 9, 2008 at 10:49 AM
So true, the adoration society for Barack seems to be a fickle group.
Sarah’s crowd appeal comes from two things, competence and accomplishment. Alaska loves Governor Palin and now the lower 48 has discovered why.
SayWhat on September 9, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Obama, people remember what you say.
Johan Klaus on September 9, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Now why hasn’t the MSM picked that one up and run with it???
/rhetoric
4shoes on September 9, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Push that new meme Glibama….just a bit harder now….
He’s dangerously close to home on the earmarking criticisms; and Mav will make him pay for that during the debates somehow…
Also, he’d better watch out on the lobbyist “outing” they’re doing now…Mav might just out the biggest astroturfer of all;
Herr GoebblesDavid Axelrod, his campaign manager!RocketmanBob on September 9, 2008 at 11:14 AM
That’s “double-ought buck shot.”
Maverick/SarahCuda ‘08
glendower on September 9, 2008 at 11:38 AM
One of the fundamental forces of this election is NOT being talked about at all by the MSM, or even the blogosphere.
There is a huge resevoir of anger out in America aimed at Washington in general.
Obama tried to run on that anger, as an outsider, but he is part of the Senate, and part of the Chicago political machine… add in his earmarks and lack of accomplishment while in the Senate, or State House, and you have another do nothing Washington type.
People are also fed up with Political Correctness. I mean when everyone is Washington agrees with the Green agenda, and dissent is suppresed, it angers a lot of us out here…
Palin IS an outsider, from about as far away from Washington as you can get. She’s taken on her won party, and is so politicaly incorrect that she POSES for pictures with dead Moose.
McCain can try to use his “Maverick”ness to get elected, but until he chose a REAL outsider, his credibility was limited… now people are willing to give him a chance…
But its about the simmering anger out here… and there really is not a dang thing Obama can do about it… he is now one of the focuses of Political/Racial correctness, and he is a Political insider…
Romeo13 on September 9, 2008 at 11:48 AM
rockmom on September 9, 2008 at 8:03 AM
I agree, and think that the Senate D’s made a fundamental error when they refused to convict on Clinton’s impeachment charges.
After Bill remained in office, Hillary was able to be elected to the Senate on a platform of no more depth than she was America’s-Most-Scorned-Woman. Then, she (warts and all) became the “inevitable” favorite for the D primary season this year. This allowed the completely unqualified Obama to sweep to her left and overtake her.
I’m just speculating here, but had the D’s convicted Bill Clinton, Gore certainly would have lost in 2000, and probably by a larger margin. Post-9/11, and especially with the clown Kerry on their ticket, Bush was going to be re-elected in 2004. The D’s would have had to go through a rebuilding process, but IMO, by now they would have grown a better crop of candidates than they now have.
Not convicting Clinton has left the party beholden to their corruption. Obama can’t get Hillary to fully support him, and he has to grovel to Bill later this week.
They should have impeached them (And yes…”they” means Trent Lott too).
azlibertarian on September 9, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Actually, “Swift Boating” is exposing the truthful record of the democratic candidate to his/her detriment. Obama is being Swift Boated, and he and his cronies earned every bit of it.
Wingo on September 9, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Barack really need to go back to Europe and give another speech.
Maxx on September 9, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Obama’s tired old lines and fibs aren’t working anymore.
” Like I’ve always said” or ” I’ve said before” or when he made up numbers, states, EVEN history and Obummer has done so for 19 months with impunity.
Well, the msm still don’t really quiz him on very much, but his fibs aren’t being printed as truths either.
shooter on September 9, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Absolutely!
hillbillyjim on September 9, 2008 at 1:52 PM
…Was there supposed to be a video link after the first paragraph? Kinda looks like it, what with the graph ending with a colon.
Paul_in_NJ on September 9, 2008 at 3:15 PM
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