WaPo: Team McCain taking off the gloves
posted at 12:15 pm on October 4, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Republicans frustrated by a perceived lack of fight from the John McCain campaign will find cheer in a Washington Post report this morning. Sources within the campaign say that they will become much more aggressive in exposing Barack Obama’s ties to radicals and his lack of experience and judgment in the final four weeks of the campaign. This strategy entails significant risk, but they need to regain the edge they had before the conventions:
Sen. John McCain and his Republican allies are readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack Obama’s character, believing that to win in November they must shift the conversation back to questions about the Democrat’s judgment, honesty and personal associations, several top Republicans said.
With just a month to go until Election Day, McCain’s team has decided that its emphasis on the senator’s biography as a war hero, experienced lawmaker and straight-talking maverick is insufficient to close a growing gap with Obama. The Arizonan’s campaign is also eager to move the conversation away from the economy, an issue that strongly favors Obama and has helped him to a lead in many recent polls.
“We’re going to get a little tougher,” a senior Republican operative said, indicating that a fresh batch of television ads is coming. “We’ve got to question this guy’s associations. Very soon. There’s no question that we have to change the subject here,” said the operative, who was not authorized to discuss strategy and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
As Michael Shear notes, there is some risk in this, although Shear gets another point wrong. The ad “Original Mavericks” is not the only positive ad this campaign has on the air; “Week” is a positive ad, and Team McCain just rolled it out, and “Foundation” is a hybrid, and I believe that’s still on the air as well. Shear also points to “Tax Cutter” as an example of Team McCain’s new attack, but McCain has been hammering Obama on his tax record for weeks, if not months, and it has nothing to do with Obama’s associates.
The risk comes with an imbalanced attack — one that doesn’t talk about McCain nearly as much as it talks about Obama. Nothing in the article indicates that Team McCain plans to stop talking about their own candidates, though. They may run positive ads, such as “Week”, right along with ads focusing on Obama’s political work with William Ayers, and Obama’s lack of any efforts at reforming Chicago politics. They almost certainly will continue to produce and air positive advertising, although it won’t gain anywhere near the attention from the media that sharp new attacks on Obama will. And that’s really the point.
Obama has run on his experience as a community organizer. That makes the Ayers connection through the Chicago Annenberg Challenge relevant. Obama has run as a reformer. That makes his support for Richard Daley, the Strogers, Larry Walsh, and the rest of the corrupt Chicago Machine germane. McCain doesn’t need to focus on Jeremiah Wright, but Hillary Clinton brought it up and Obama made it into a major speech earlier this year, so that’s also on the table. McCain should have been talking about all of this since June, but perhaps it makes more sense to wait until everyone is paying attention to raise these issues.
With the bailout bill behind him, though, McCain has to start talking about the real reasons behind the financial collapse — the perversion of the lending markets through Democratic intervention, and the Democrats who protected Fannie Mae from the OFHEO regulators while they blithely bought billions in bad paper and turned them into bad securities that poisoned the entire investment sector. He may have held his tongue while building bipartisan support for Congressional action, but the time has come to name names, and to point to Obama’s massive fundraising from Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac interests and link it to his complete inaction on the subprime lending crisis.
The gloves have to come off now. Republicans want to see John McCain stand up and fight. They’ll stand up and fight with him, but they’re not going to do that until McCain leads them.
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Fixed.
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Heartache
Spirit of 1776 on October 4, 2008 at 1:19 PM
I keep thinking there are two debates left where McCain can step up and pimp slap B’HO in front of a nation-wide audience.
Now that the bailout is done, McCain can get backed to focusing on the campaign.
He needs to do it, or he’ll go home.
91Veteran on October 4, 2008 at 1:20 PM
My pissy, obnoxious, snarky, dark-side pessimism explained in a nutshell.
ManlyRash on October 4, 2008 at 1:20 PM
McCain has a call into Gore for some advice for the next debate. Specifically, he wants to ask Al about that lockbox thingy.
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Call them again and ask if they have contact lists. Then grab some friends and call or e-mail the people on the list telling them to look at http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/09/barack_obama_and_the_strategy.html and e-mail back if they would be interested in taking part in a rally/protest big enough that at least the local news would have to cover it. We could do this all over America.
justincase on October 4, 2008 at 1:21 PM
justincase on October 4, 2008 at 1:11 PM
A little leadership would help.
How many times have people gone out to fight for McCain, only to be slapped down by McCain’s campaign? He has this little way of contradicting his supporters. It can be demoralizing.
So, the McCain camp needs to lead us to battle. We just wish him to act like this is war of epoch proportion, not a slight difference of opinion.
Saltysam on October 4, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Fixed.
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Bipartisanship is over rated.
The Democrats discovered that fact years ago.
mylegsareswollen on October 4, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Nothing like betrayal from the High Command is there kids.
Kinda makes you question the uniform you’re wearing- huh.
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Not really.
tgharris on October 4, 2008 at 1:23 PM
justincase on October 4, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Sorry for the poor sentence.
I meant:
We just wish he would act like this is a war of epoch proportion, not just a slight difference of opinion.
Saltysam on October 4, 2008 at 1:23 PM
We can submit letters to the editor pounding home that name CLOWARD-PIVEN. I think Cloward-Piven could be our rallying call because it embodies Obama’s entire career and relationships – including the corruption that got us to FM/FM and the bailout.
justincase on October 4, 2008 at 1:25 PM
I said it above:
McCain = androgynous Pat from the 1990s SNL skit, right down to the sniveling laugh.
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2008 at 1:25 PM
McCain knows that the conservaive base has no where to go…what… we’re going to vote for Obama? we’re staying home and thus voting for Obama? What he is trying to do is get some of the independents and blue dog dems who are dems because they are touchy feely about things like the environment etc. but look at Obama and see nothing they can relate to…so buck up all of you…I’ll let you know how many conservaives show up at the Home Dept Center in Carson today…Carson which is very Democrat and black…
CCRWM on October 4, 2008 at 1:25 PM
McCain has made his career out of talking about reform. I am sick of hearing it. If he is a reformer, why hasn’t it happened yet?
If he is going to talk about this crap, he needs to add detail about what he is going to reform, and state clearly putting B’HO in the WH does not constitute reforming anything.
91Veteran on October 4, 2008 at 1:25 PM
The Republican Party has been without leadership (much less Conservative leadership) since Reagan.
And THAT, my friends; is no accident.
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Too late.
(A big indicator is the next debate. If it has the same or less viewership than the last debate, then people don’t care to hear or see more, they have decided. If there are lots more people watching then there is a bit of hope.
Most people were watching the Palin-Biden debate hoping to see a train wreck happen by either one… )
McCain has let Obama pummel him for the last 10 days and he did nothing in return.
Plus He wasted Palin’s talents.
McCain just seems to now be going through the motions and has decided he does not really want to be President. (With all the bad news going on and more to come, I can’t blame him.)
The day after the VP debate, McCain should have been at a big rally with Palin in Ohio or Pennsylvania, letting her snarl away at Biden and Obama. But it did not happen. Lost opportunity.
To quote Sen. McCain on Thursday regarding Sen. Barack Obama’s poll numbers are rising as the economy seems to sink “because life isn’t fair.”
That line will be the epitaph of this campaign…
albill on October 4, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Saltysam on October 4, 2008 at 1:22 PM
I agree. But don’t you think that choosing Sarah Palin as attack dog was at least a little bit of a statement that he knows these are drastic times?
If he makes charges that the media immediately washes over, it’s going to hurt his chances even more. We have to have an upswell from the ground up to prepare the way for this. Then if the media tries to wash it over, they can be tied to the whole KGB strategy thing. See http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x32cxf_yuri-bezmenov
Techno_barbarian, if you read this, could you post your throw-away e-mail? I’ll e-mail you and then you can reply to me with the audio file so I can transcribe it. This needs to hit the newspapers or something.
justincase on October 4, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Exactly.
McCain shouldn’t worry about the “risk” of offending the voters. If the voters are offended by telling the truth that Obama associates with an unrepentant terrorist, an America-hating preacher, convicted felon-slumlords, Fannie/Freddie execs who raided the piggy bank at taxpayers expense, a thuggish Chicago machine, and so forth, then the voter deserve all the pain of an Obama presidency.
thirteen28 on October 4, 2008 at 1:30 PM
Yep.
When you let Pelosi, Faggot-Fwank, Dodd, Obama, lying scumbag et al-
get out in front of the cameras FOR TWO SOLID WEEKS, and blame Republicans for this DEMOCRAT FINANCIAL MELTDOWN in THE LAST MONTH OF THE ELECTION-
Then yeah……I would say it’s a little too late.
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 1:30 PM
McCain’s right, life isn’t fair. And the proof of the pudding is in the eating–McCain will return to his Senate seat after his horrible, half-a** campaign.
Shifting gears, can we file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing McCain of impersonating a candidate?
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2008 at 1:33 PM
When even some of the most partisan lefties start saying this in front of their brain-washed followers… it’s a big deal.
They still are outright ridiculing the notion of small government and low taxes. For such supposedly ‘intelligent’ people, how can you not understand that lowering taxes and letting free enterprise thrive absolutely works every time it’s tried?
Frustrating. Of course everybody on that panel is filthy rich and will never be touched by ANYTHING that happens, no matter which way things go.
They think taxes are the solution because they have money to burn for looking deeply into a camera and lying their asses off as actors, newscasters, and politicians. It’s a way for them to assuage their guilt at having gotten so very much for doing so very little.
techno_barbarian on October 4, 2008 at 1:33 PM
McCain has made his career out of talking about reform. I am sick of hearing it. If he is a reformer, why hasn’t it happened yet?>>
The same reason we haven’t been able to get reform done even though we’ve been talking about it forever. The media and our colleges are bought and paid for by communism sympathizers. We need to find a voice that reaches the people who as of now rely only on the MSM.
justincase on October 4, 2008 at 1:33 PM
One would have thought this would be an issue the Republicans in races all over the country could win on, and retake the House and Senate.
Instead, they roll over.
91Veteran on October 4, 2008 at 1:35 PM
In this regard, McCain sounds somewhat like McCarthy in the 1950s when he fell apart: “I have names.”
I commented yesterday, right up until the end, didn’t Hitler keep promising some secret weapons.
McCain is a turd floating in a pool right now. Where’s Bill Murray when we need him?
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2008 at 1:36 PM
I’m half convinced that, given the upcoming entitlement disaster that is going to hit 2011-2012, that they don’t want to win.
Let the democrats take the hit and come in on white horses in 2012.
lorien1973 on October 4, 2008 at 1:37 PM
If Obama wins I’m not going to blame it on he “didn’t fight hard enough.” The reason might win is because we’ve had a Republican president for 8 years and bad economy. Although, I don’t personally blame Republicans or Democrats for the bad economy, I think the private sector has it’s ups and downs irrespective or who’s president, but the American public doesn’t see it that way. Usually, the incumbent party gets trounced when there’s a bad economy. That’s going to be the reason why might lose.
terryannonline on October 4, 2008 at 1:38 PM
And these mysteries just keep happening in the GOP don’t they.
And they have been for years now- haven’t they.
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 1:41 PM
Taxpayers are bailing out the government for guaranteeing loans so that everybody can own a house even if they’re dead broke. Everybody owning a house at taxpayer expense is called communism, and I think people can understand that if it’s framed right.
justincase on October 4, 2008 at 1:42 PM
interesting point
Spirit of 1776 on October 4, 2008 at 1:46 PM
This is why Senators make awful nominees.
McCain is suppose to rip Democrat Senators that he likes and works with? If he does it , it is half-hearted.
Being in DC this long also cuts against this “reformer” stuff also to the average dopey voter.
There is only 1 option left but I fear he doesn’t have the stomach to do it.
Barack Obama must be presented as a “dangerous” man- there is enough evidence that he truly is.
Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, et all= hatred of traditional America
200 million in overseas money- for what payback?
Most liberal member of the Senate.
A foreign policy coward at best.
A return to Carterism at home and abroad.
The Democrats would do this in a heartbeat down by 5 to 8 with a month to go.
Starting on tuesday at the debate- if you want this Mr.Mccain it is there for you.
jjshaka on October 4, 2008 at 1:52 PM
There is no more unhealthy being, no man less worthy of respect, than he who either really holds, or feigns to hold, an attitude of sneering disbelief toward all that is great and lofty, whether in achievement or in that noble effort which, even if it fails, comes to second achievement. A cynical habit of thought and speech, a readiness to criticise work which the critic himself never tries to perform, an intellectual aloofness which will not accept contact with life’s realities – all these are marks, not as the possessor would fain to think, of superiority but of weakness. They mark the men unfit to bear their part painfully in the stern strife of living, who seek, in the affection of contempt for the achievements of others, to hide from others and from themselves in their own weakness. The rôle is easy; there is none easier, save only the rôle of the man who sneers alike at both criticism and performance.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face in marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/research/speech%20arena.htm
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Which to me means they don’t want to lead at all. There seems to be some morons in the Republican party that think if they lose an election at any level, it is OK because they will be in a better position next time.
How many more “next times” do they want? I am tired of waiting and seeing America chipped away every election. It is time to step up and lead or go home and let someone else do it. Rolling over to stay safe and hope next time is better is to be a coward.
As for surrendercrats taking the hit, we have seen since 2000 how many times that has happened. The 911 Commission and the current bailout are prime examples. The ‘Crat party could have been hit hard on both issues, instead we play nice while members of our own party get crucified for things like macaca…while still hoping things will be better next time.
I don’t care to suffer through until next time.
91Veteran on October 4, 2008 at 1:52 PM
They have already started. The Chicago Machine ad came from McCain’s campaign. Palin is hammering on the CIC angle starting yesterday.
When they go after Rezko and Ayers with both barrels, and hit the foreign policy and liberal angles hard also, are you going to admit you were wrong?
Or just show up and criticize something else?
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 1:55 PM
I want a candidate that will reach across the aisle and snap their necks.
Then start naming names within the GOP.
Maybe McCain is afraid of Palin, too.
Saltysam on October 4, 2008 at 1:56 PM
lorien’s an Axelrod astroturfer. He’s been here calling every single issue over the past 2 months THE ONE that’s gonna lose it for McCain, and calling McCain weak, cowardly, blah blah
and you guys stampede to agree with him, instead of preparing to fight like hell to keep Obama out of the Oval Office.
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 1:57 PM
justincase, send me an email at techno_barbarian -at- yahoo -dot- com and I’ll send you that KGB audio. Got it down to 2.4Mb for the entire 16 minutes and I fixed the audio levels so they’re more even and easy to understand.
You’ll still need to use the video here in order to get the spelling of the names he names in the various assasinations and overthrows, though.
techno_barbarian on October 4, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Oh that’s real catchy. Can you melt that down to a 30 second sound bite? Will the public really get it? Will they even care? Will it take their minds off of BLAMING REPUBLICANS FOR THE DEMOCRAT FINANCIAL SCANDAL?
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 1:59 PM
91Veteran at 1:52
Exactly!
But as long as a person who cares to reform needs media help to get elected, the media will in the end be America’s godfather. We can only be as good as our newspeople.
We have to find a way to break that. We need the “Horton Hears a Who” model. If enough of us make enough noise, the media will HAVE to cover it. If they cover it wrongly, we need to make enough noise that they have to cover it right.
justincase on October 4, 2008 at 2:00 PM
I am fighting. I’m fighting like hell to tell McCain to ATTACK THE DEMS ON THEIR HOUSING SCANDAL.
But alas-
McCain doesn’t want to fight for me.
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 2:01 PM
I honestly think the key to that lies in humor, satire, and open ridicule. Cuts right to the heart of the matter in a way nothing else can. That’s why I love political cartoons.
It’s also why entertainers like Will Rodgers was so beloved. Down-home, common sense observations that appeal to a broad spectrum of intellectual capabilities.
Oh, regarding the link to that alex baldwin shocker above… my favorite alex baldwin role was the one he played in Team America. ;)
techno_barbarian on October 4, 2008 at 2:05 PM
I agree…it’s the only way some issues have gotten any coverage so far in this campaign.
Problem is, unless McCain starts making similar noise, the drive-bys will whitewash whatever issue is noisy, like the NY Times article on B’HO’s connection to Ayers in the other thread.
91Veteran on October 4, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Here’s the cold, hard truth:
If McCain says he’ll make porkers etc famous, but he won’t call out the dems on fanny/freddie, he has no credibility. You can’t blame Lorien for that, that’s McCain’s fault/problem.
He talked the talk, now he needs to walk the walk, or people are going to leave him to the wolves and start planning for ‘10 and ‘12.
Spirit of 1776 on October 4, 2008 at 2:09 PM
jjshaka on October 4, 2008 at 2:10 PM
The problem is that the Republicans have conceded so much ground on the subprime catastrophe that I think McCain’s campaign is doomed. The Democrats have very successfully created a narrative that Republican deregulatory policies caused the subprime crisis. The Republicans have FAILED to counter this charge; McCain and Palin BOTH dodged this during the debates.
That is inexcusable political malpractice. Worse than that, it threatens to undermine the very sense of liberty and freedom that Ronald Reagan fought for. McCain’s incompetence and stubbornness now threatens to undo 25 years of hard work.
I do not know how McCain is going to reverse this lead. Fact is, in every election year since 1960 (except for Reagan-Carter in 1980), the candidate who led the Gallup tracking poll at the beginning of October by a statistically significant margin won EVERY TIME. Carter led Reagan by 4% in 1980 around that time, and Reagan obviously turned it around. But McCain has to erase an 8 point lead! (And don’t hand me any malarky about the polls being wrong; that’s like the people whose TV shows get cancelled whining that the Neilsen ratings are unfair).
Outlander on October 4, 2008 at 2:11 PM
BINGO!
You nailed it Spirit.
This other crap is just a losing strategy.
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 2:11 PM
Yep.
And apparently, McMaverick-
doesn’t give a shit.
So why should we any more?
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 2:13 PM
I’ve never been a big fan of McCain, but there is one thing about him that I do admire: he’s no quitter. People who think that he has given up or that he really wants to lose this election don’t understand him.
AZCoyote on October 4, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Thank you all for working so hard to install Obama as my husband’s commander in chief starting in January.
Really brilliant job you “lifelong conservatives for Obama” have done around here.
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Funky, respectfully, Lorien’s not for obambi at all. Pessimist and very darkly humorous, yes. But to me she represents a realist attitude, not unlike AllahPundit, that can be used to help balance ones views.
I understand your frustration. I’m a fighter too and am having a great deal of frustration over the lack of harder attacks from McC and team.
I think they’re waiting for the news cycle to clear from the bailout fiasco and will be coming out hard from now till the election.
If I’m wrong, I’ll have to agree that we just might be toast, because we are facing some staggering odds and formidable opposition right now.
Bottom line, cut her some slack. She’s not attacking us. She’s just being realistic.
techno_barbarian on October 4, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Yeah, that RNCC ad about the bailout that Allah posted, real defeatist stuff.
The RNCC is on team McCain. The RNC is on team McCain. McCain’s ads have been pretty terriffic….
but because you didn’t hear the exact words you wanted in ads, on the exact day you wanted to hear them, that means that McCain is a p*ssy, coward, quitter, etc and so forth.
It’s laughable that a bunch of anonymous blog commenters think they look like big, brave, strong men when they do that.
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 2:16 PM
For the sake of the future of this nation, I pray that you are correct.
ManlyRash on October 4, 2008 at 2:19 PM
The web ads aren’t bad. But they go to the choir, so not very effective, obviously.
Spirit of 1776 on October 4, 2008 at 2:19 PM
You need to grow up, funky.
Many of us here point out obvious problems in the McCain campaign. We offer solutions. I don’t run down McCain cuz I like to – I want him to win – but if he’s gonna be a jerk off and not fight for this thing; why should I bother blindly supporting him?
If you want to ignore McCain’s obvious faults: he won’t go after the congress, he won’t attack dems on fannie/freddie, he won’t espouse personal responsibility, but he will attack the free market – then that’s really your issue, not mine.
I’ve been defending Palin since her announcement. She is, in fact, the only reason I’m even going to vote on November. This country needs a Mr/Mrs Smith in Washington – these career politicians are the greatest threat this country faces – our founding fathers even knew this. I gave them the perfect attack on the experience question. And I’ve posted up a ton of excellent – just excellent – campaign ads here and advice, which, had it been followed McCain would be walking away with this thing.
But it’s my fault. I’m an astroturfer. That’s it. Keep repeating that. You may even convince people it’s true one time.
lorien1973 on October 4, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Notice that the RNCC ad mentions neither Obama nor McCain. It’s designed to be run for Congressional races. Don’t you find it interesting that Republican Congressional ads don’t feature McCain?
The downticket GOP races are doing the right thing. I think we need to concede McCain probably won’t win, and we need to focus our attention on shoring up our Gubernatorial and Congressional races. Obama can’t have coattails a mile long and leave us: (i) with a minority of Governorships and State Houses, since reapportionment will come in a few years, and we don’t want to be redistricted into a permanent House minority; and (ii) with a filibuster-proof Democrat majority. We have to keep it competitive so that when Obama tanks immediately after we take office, we can do a repeat of 1994 and retake Congress.
With that in mind, Ed and Allah, would you guys mind using your bully pulpit to focus on downticket races a bit more, and focus on McCain v. Obama a bit less?
Outlander on October 4, 2008 at 2:23 PM
91Veteran on October 4, 2008 at 2:07 PM
It’s best if it doesn’t come from McCain. He can claim the “high road” for those who know we can’t have total polarization in Washington.
The real target we need is to get the PRESS to take it up. I think it could be helpful for them to know that THEY are the target of folks like Ayers. See http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x32cxf_yuri-bezmenov
I think after I’ve transcribed it I’m going to send a copy of it to every newspaper in the state, as well as to the chancellors of all the colleges, asking them to discuss it with their professors. Probably won’t do anything but what can it hurt?
justincase on October 4, 2008 at 2:23 PM
They can’t feature McCain. They cannot explicitly endorse any candidate. They can only be general ads. That ad, while very effective, will never be seen on TV. Sadly.
It’s the best hand in any campaign -ever- and McCain and Republicans won’t play it.
It’s staggeringly incompetent.
lorien1973 on October 4, 2008 at 2:24 PM
No, it’s the other way around. If McCain won’t attack Washington, then he won’t win.
lorien1973 on October 4, 2008 at 2:25 PM
lorien, so you are this person:
I was giving you the benefit of the doubt on the Axelrod thing. At least that way you’d be fighting for something instead of hiding and sneering.
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 2:26 PM
You *have* posted some outstanding ideas for ads. Would you have any objection if I used those ideas and brought them to life?
People think it takes a lot of money, but if you own all the tools and know how to use them, the only thing you’ve really got in it is time. I don’t have a lot of time, unfortunately, but I very definitely have all the tools and know how to use them.
techno_barbarian on October 4, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Easy now. We know a lot of trolls were sent out to all sites by 0B0mber to infect sites and inflict morale problems within in the GOP. The great one himself Rush addressed this. 0bombers thugs are to get in their face intimidate. It is how they win. Intimidate and demoralize.
The pumas have not gone to 0B0mber in big ways. the Polls may just be rigged or a reflection of McCain lying low until the bailout bill cleared. He thought as many did it was necessary.
I did not argee, whatever, life goes on.
Win the next battle not the last one!
There is time yet to inflict serious damage on the Messiah. OBidens’ lying in the debates should produce some interesting ads. Paint them as liars who the media is covering for and build on the distrust of the media and politicians in general. OBiden won according to the media use his own words to expose his lies and 0B0mbers.
Palins got more attention than anyone right now she is the traditional one to deliver the body blows and no one better to do so as they will have a hard time painting her as a mean partisan when she is so sweet and middleclass.
The college professors and black activists are not a winning ticket the middle class is and that is where Hillary showed 0Bombers weakness and that is Sarahs strength.
I would much rather be ahead in the polls Nov. 4th than Oct. 4th.
dhunter on October 4, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Somehow I find it interesting that you respect an astroturfer more than someone whose criticisms come from honest disagreements. Maybe you should re-consider your priorities.
lorien1973 on October 4, 2008 at 2:30 PM
McCain was HANDED the opportunity for greatness ON A SILVER PLATTER two weeks ago when President Bush proposed the Sh*t Sandwich Bailout bill — but (just as President Bush befor him has done on so many other occasions over the past eight years) McCain dashed madly for mediocrity.
Despite a DEAFENING roar from the grassroots — re-echoed by talk radio — McCain reverted to his true “Maverick” (read: pro-Democrat, insider) mode, and went along to get along.
I heard McCain yesterday on Mike Gallagher. Gallagher was gracious and respectful, but he was honest with McCain and said he wished McCain had opposed the bailout bill.
From the tone and content of McCain’s answer (half-hearted rambling), it was clear to me that McCain realized he had messed up and had no justification for what he did.
As so many others have said: McCain’s campaign is being run by incompetents; and it is not clear to me that McCain REALLY wants to win.
However, stuff happens, and McCain — despite himself — may stumble into the White House, yet.
One can only hope.
sanantonian on October 4, 2008 at 2:30 PM
I dont know how to edit video and do that stuff or I would have done it. Feel free. I’d love to see my idiocy become reality ;)
lorien1973 on October 4, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Is Sarah Palin part of team McCain?
She can, has, and will attack Washington DC up until the election.
But that doesn’t count? None of you thinks it would look stupid to the average uninformed voter to have John McCain attack Washington DC, seeing as he’s served there since 1981?
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 2:32 PM
If lorien is an astroturfer then those leveling the accusation might as well include me in the indictment. What colossal stupidity.
ManlyRash on October 4, 2008 at 2:32 PM
AMEN
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 2:33 PM
I feel bad. My sister was married to a Marine Lt. Col. until he traded her in for a newer model. Their youngest of three kids is doing very well in his first year at the U.S. Naval Academy.
That said, I see in McCain much of what I saw in my sister as she went through her divorce last year. Nothing I could do could convince her to fight back in an effective manner. I wasted so much time providing legal and financial assistance from three states away, but I couldn’t get her to do much more than sign mediation papers that didn’t get her the deal she was entitled to if she’d merely fought back.
I got a real education this morning from a friend here in SW Ohio. I recounted in the Palin thread dated later today. The current state of the country is all Bush’s fault and, therefore, all McCain’s fault. Unless and until McCain decides to kick some a**es and start naming names, he’s going to continue to sink. Obama is beating McCain like a tired rug, while McCain speaks of bipartisanship. Screw that, McCain needs to turn on Congress as Obama should have turned on Wright 20 years ago.
Palin can preach to the choir all she wants. The middle 20% does not care about national security. Run Wright, Ayers, and the like from now until the election. But without an even greater emphasis on going after specific Fannie and Freddie enablers (including Obama), McCain goes nowhere. For crying out loud, Biden has the country convinced that Obama was screaming for Fannie and Freddie regulation two years ago–and that’s the first I’ve heard of it and I don’t believe it. Yet it the story that’s out there and McCain is snoozing somewhere unwilling to go for the kill.
I believe Obama is evil. McCain said at Saddleback that the only way to deal with evil is to defeat it. As things stand, I consider McCain a liar. And I can’t do anything to help him. At this point, I’m voting for him, but I’m not throwing good time and money after bad.
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2008 at 2:35 PM
lorien, read the TR quote. If you were an astroturfer, at least you would be fighting for something you believe in (ie, and Obama victory). I disagree with that goal, obviously, but you would be working to achieve something.
As it is, you just show up and sneer and criticize from the shadows…demoralizing others around you for what purpose? To make you feel superior to John McCain?
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Think about it.
If this week has shown anything; it’s that washington is dysfunctional. It couldn’t spot the biggest financial crisis in this nation’s history until it occurred. After it happened, Senate leadership said “no one knows what to do” House leadership said “it’s not our fault”
You run against washington as incompetent and unable to function. You set yourself up as the person who can make it work again – you called the fannie mae mess 3 years ago. Your VP candidate fixed Alaska.
Pelosi also said this would be the most ethical congress ever.
Ranagel – tax fraud
dodd – sweetheart loans
Frank – ignored fannie mae mess, partner is a fannie mae ceo
etc etc etc
How do you run against washington? It’s easy.
so ask yourself, why won’t McCain?
lorien1973 on October 4, 2008 at 2:39 PM
True, but not far enough.’
From Reagan’s, “The Speech”, October 27, 1964
Note this section:
And just before that, the Star of the American Presidential Pantheon said this:
Insert any GWOT battleground for “South Vietnam”, or apply it to the current domestic threat from Hussein and the Left, and it’s all the more true today! Some people talk about, “Oh well. If we lose this, we will just be set up for 2012.” But frankly, there may not be a 2012 election, at least not one as we know it. There is no guarantee Hussein will allow such a thing, and given his record of suppressing opposition even now, once in power he will no doubt do his best to prevent it. And then, there will be no place to go. THIS MAY BE THE ONLY CHANCE TO STOP THIS. If this fails, America as we know it is gone, PERIOD!
Tommygun on October 4, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Hank Paulson is Bush’s man. Chris Cox is Bush’s man. When McCain criticized Chris Cox a couple weeks ago, conservatives went nuts….
Yes, the RNC needs to hammer the democrats from now until election day. I think they will do so. I think McCain and Palin will do the same. But you have already decided that they won’t do that and thus don’t deserve your support.
I see a lot of folks saying that kind of stuff…and I’m convinced that even if they hit all the issues listed hard and often, you folks won’t change your minds. You’ll just keep up the criticism.
And that will help elect Obama.
funky chicken on October 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
How can McMaverick attack Democrats distance himself from Bush AND beat Obama?
Start with THIS:
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Please send me a copy of the transcript so I can post it on my as yet completely empty new blog.
Thanks!
techno_barbarian on October 4, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Oh I stand for something. Sorry if you are too blind to see it. I stand for ardent fiscal conservatism. Social libertarianism. And when my candidate craps all over that; yeah, I think I have a right to call him out on it.
McCain going after “greed” for this mess, when clearly the problem was government social engineering? Want me to play happy soldier? Not happening.
Want me to jump up and cheer after my candidate tells me to support a 700 billion dollar bailout that goes against everything I believe? Yeah, ain’t happening either.
I don’t suffer from pride, sorry. I just call it as I see it.
lorien1973 on October 4, 2008 at 2:42 PM
On “Real Time” Baldwin blamed both dem’s and repub’s. Not surprisingly, NewsBusters started the vid and the transcript half way into the panel portion of the show to buttress the headline which you all gobbled down like turkey on Thanksgiving. Baldwin was placing blame on both dem’s and repub’s throughout the segment.
If you read the entire NewsBuster’s article, and I doubt most did, they contradict their own headline.
Balwin: “but I want to say there’s blame to go both ways. But I will say, I want to, I maybe keep beating this to death, but I still think anyone in this Congress who voted to add $140 billion to that bill, they should be ashamed of themselves. That is a disgrace. It’s a disgrace. This Congress is a disgrace, Democrat and Republican. “
Chimpy on October 4, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Oh and….you can throw me in with lorien and Manly also.
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Mac has to start getting down and dirty or it’s over!
Start calling Bambi Fanny Mae’s/Acorn’s ‘Go-To-Guy’ in Washington. Tar him with that nickname and pound it home constantly. Describe how he’s been working with Acorn for 15 years to get bank loans for unqualified people.
Make Bambi responsible for this mess. Ask him constantly why Democrats won’t call for an immediate investigation by impartial experts into this mess. Make Bambi the face of this disaster – pound it home and tar him in every ad.
rigdown on October 4, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Post of the Day. It’s all true.
(As an aside, my best friend when I grew up had a neighbor whose real name was the same as your screen name.)
capitalist piglet on October 4, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Thanks Lorien. I do know how to do all that stuff. I can’t post it on the blog I normally use for my business for obvious reasons, but I just created a new blog and will start posting some of this stuff as soon as I can figure out how to pay Wordpress anonymously for the extra 5Gb they demand before allowing posting of videos and audio.
Anybody got any good suggestions for how to go about doing that? Anonymity is very important.
techno_barbarian on October 4, 2008 at 2:45 PM
How’s that working out for him?
xblade on October 4, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Where in the Hell is all this “all that is great and lofty”? You keep posting this and I still can’t see where the “all that is great and lofty” is. Do you need special glasses to see it?
MB4 on October 4, 2008 at 2:46 PM
McCain has 31 days to turn this thing around.
There is only ONE WAY TO DO THAT:
Harness the public’s anger over the Housing Scandal and NAME DEMOCRATS!
And TIE THEM TO OBAMA!
Have you all forgotten about Obama’s Fannie Mae Advisors Raines and Johnson?
This isn’t rocket science. The public WILL GET IT!
There is no time waste right now on all this other stuff.
JUST F#CKING DO IT!
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Good friend, Manly. In funky chicken’s defense, she’s supremely concerned, and very justifiably so, in who will be the next CIC, since her husband will have to serve under him.
If I was in the same situation, I’d be a little more than concerned about the outcome myself.
Her fears are more than justified.
techno_barbarian on October 4, 2008 at 2:49 PM
I don’t think Rick Davis is incompetent. Remember, the candidate controls the campaign. If McCain’s economic advisers were telling him to oppose the bailout and he made an impulsive decision to go a different direction, that’s what he’s going to do. He’s very headstrong.
No, I’m afraid McCain screwed the pooch here all by his lonesome. In his entire political career, when has he ever aggressively attacked a Democrat? Hell, his best buddy is Lieberman. Why would you expect him to start now?
Outlander on October 4, 2008 at 2:50 PM
What the hell, this thread starts with an article about McCain taking the gloves off and the comments degenerate into whining and balling because he didn’t do it last week or is not doing it right
I wish a bunch of you arm chair quarterbacks would do something constructive. I hope to hell you’ve got signs in your yards, on your vehicles (removable ones of course) and are getting in the faces of 0Bomber supporters and not just McCain supporters.
I tend to think and hope the campaign has a take on the pulse of the country and now that the bailout bill has passed will act according to that information.
For instance California is a mess perhaps there is a chance there to turn peoples anger against the status quo and elect some reformers?
We can hope and try rather than be goaded into whining and complaining?
I detest the thought of my AFROTC kid being under the command of an America hating, marxist, community organizer from that cesspool that is Chicago Illinois.
Go Sarah! You are the future!
dhunter on October 4, 2008 at 2:50 PM
They can’t help it.
1. It’s compulsive–ideological purity and personal offense.
2. It’s self-indulging–striking out at one’s own can be fun.
3. It’s self-justifying–with what they say being the case, they can justify doing nothing.
At least Leftist traitors work FOR their cause. These people work AGAINST it. The irony is that their assistance to Hussein’s campaign will do nothing for them when the PC laws come with a vengeance.
Tommygun on October 4, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Start naming Democrats responsible for the Housing Scandal and you will see it resonate ACROSSED PARTY LINES.
People are nervous- money and corruption talks.
BullShit Obama walks.
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Agree. Obama has shown that he is thin-skinned (is that racist?) and does / says stupid things when he believes he’s being attacked personally. Which is what McCain should be doing. McCain worries too damned much about being ‘bi-partisan’. If he loses the White House there ain’t gonna be any bi-partisanship about anything from the Democrats.
GarandFan on October 4, 2008 at 2:51 PM
(Aside from the hope you seemed to have for CA)
Absolutely! But the naysayers only care about themselves, to the point of ignoring the reality of what will happen if the obvious fruit of their actions comes about.
I’d love to say most of them are enemy plants, but frankly I doubt that. They are just fools.
Tommygun on October 4, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Great, let’s wait until we have one month left before we attack this ego-tis-tic prick. Why? because we want to play by the rules and be “nice guys!”
……..How’s that working for you McCain?
try again later on October 4, 2008 at 2:54 PM
If talk radio, blogs or 527’s make charges against Obama, the MSM can ignore it. If McCain makes those same charges, the MSM will have no choice but to confirm or deny. Anyway, I’ve had this feeling for a while that McCain no longer wants the presidency. Maybe the fatigue of campaigning is getting to him. In any case, I hope that the country will be told, “straight talk” style, just who Obama is and where he wants to take us. And if McCain loses after that, there’s no hope for the land of the free.
NNtrancer on October 4, 2008 at 3:00 PM
It’s bad enough that McMaverick is either clueless or is not actually serious about winning this thing;
But going along with his half-assed losing strategy like some of you useful-idiots is amazing.
The number one issue RIGHT NOW is the economy.
The Democrats have deceptively made it the fault of the Republican Party.
It’s almost past the time for McCain to come out AND START NAMING DEMOCRATS. ESPECIALLY THE ONES CURRENTLY WORKING FOR OBAMA.
This is the only chance McCain has.
What the hell is so difficult about that? Why can’t some of you see that?
FiveWays on October 4, 2008 at 3:00 PM
I’m with lorien1973. I don’t follow anyone blindly anymore.
Someone get to Blockbuster and rent Braveheart for McCain and his gutless campaign staff. Fast forward to the scene in which William Wallace lectures Robert the Bruce about leading people. He emphasizes how many people simply want someone to step forward and lead them.
McCain can feel free to wait until January to investigate all the Congressional turds who enabled Fannie and Freddie, but he’s going to be doing it from a Senate seat rather than the White House.
Like William Wallace, McCain needs to get on his f*cking horse and go pick a fight with Congress and the Fannie and Freddie enablers.
This is the most shameful display of gutlessness I’ve seen in years. If he doesn’t have the courage of his convictions, he should fake an illness and step aside. Right now, he’s the one tanking this ticket. Palin’s holding up her end of the bargain. She’s revived his campaign twice. She faltered in the past two weeks, but he’s been absolutely pathetic. It’s up to McCain to decide whether he’ll engage. He has to begin reforming Washington now, not wait till January.
BuckeyeSam on October 4, 2008 at 3:01 PM
dhunter on October 4, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Six days ago I contacted my county GOP requesting a yard sign. They gave me an email address to send my request to…..No yard sign yet and I am NOT buying one. I have given to this campaign more money than I have ever given to a political candidate. Somehow they can still send me emails asking for more money.
red131 on October 4, 2008 at 3:02 PM
I think that Hotair should have a new feature. The Drama Queen comment of the thread and then maybe the Drama Queen comment of the day and then maybe the Drama Queen comment of the week.
As of now, I’ve got my money on Tommygun.
MB4 on October 4, 2008 at 3:05 PM
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