Posted on 02/23/2008 4:35:46 AM PST by Kaslin
The presidential race is sure looking like it will be Democratic Sen. Barack Obama versus Republican Sen. John McCain. Team Obama is no doubt overjoyed, having already run with the "yesterday versus the future" rhetoric that is typical for a fight between a charismatic 46-year-old and a 71-year-old Vietnam War veteran. But Team McCain, despite its outreach problems even among the GOP's base, needn't despair. Obama, a senator in only his third year, can be beaten. If only McCain would try.
Just days after Chris Matthews reported experiencing a thrill up his leg when Obama spoke, the "Hardball" host lambasted a Texas legislator who braved the MSNBC talking-heads show to do his part in support of Obama's campaign.
Matthews was merciless: "What has he accomplished, sir? You say you support him. Sir, you have to give me his accomplishments. You've supported him for president. You are on national television. Name his legislative accomplishments. Barack Obama. Sir."
The poor local pol's answer was instructive (and accurate): "Well, I'm not going to be able to name you specific items of legislative accomplishments."
Matthews pressed on: "Can you name any? Can you name anything he's accomplished as a congressman?"
The local pol: "No, I'm not going to be able to do that tonight."
Matthews: "Well, that is a problem isn't it?"
It sure is. McCain has both an authority that comes with real experience in Washington and a good-old-boy likeability to anyone who's not working with him (he's known for outbursts in the Senate), plus he doesn't have the high negatives his colleague Sen. Hillary Clinton suffers from, perhaps fatally. McCain can adopt the "ready from day one" meme the former first lady has unconvincingly and patronizingly used with Democratic primary voters. He can do it with a legitimacy Clinton never has had.
He needs to make the fullest possible use of this obvious advantage. He needs to embrace the fact that he doesn't have a naive belief that he can wave a magic wand and remove our troops from Iraq the day he is inaugurated. He's a responsible leader, so he knows that left-wing promises to "end the war in Iraq" are euphemisms for losing the war in Iraq. However, he who campaigned for his early primaries on a "No Surrender Tour" needs to go beyond what has been his saving grace with conservative voters -- the fact that he was the leading advocate of the "surge" policy that Gen. David Petraeus has successfully executed in Iraq, at a time when that position was very unpopular in Washington. As Congress went into the Presidents' Day recess, McCain missed a great opportunity to show he's willing to be a leader. When Congress faced a deadline to continue a post-9/11 reform that allows intelligence officials to monitor foreign terrorists overseas, Congress went on vacation without getting a bill to the president's desk. As the House defiantly and recklessly refused to act, McCain could have taken the opportunity to show leadership on the domestic front of this war against us, using the deadline as a clarifying moment in both the election and the war.
But he didn't.
After winning the Wisconsin primary the following week, McCain took aim at Obama. He declared: "I will fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change ... that promises no more than a holiday from history and a return to the false promises and failed policies of a tired philosophy that trusts in government more than the people. Our purpose is to keep this blessed country free, safe, prosperous and proud. And the changes we offer to the institutions and policies of government will reflect and rely upon the strength, industry, aspirations and decency of the people we serve."
For all his faults, Rudy Giuliani -- when it came to terrorist surveillance -- was clear and unrelenting. He talked like the prosecutor he once was, tracking down and convicting mobsters. Maybe McCain needs a talking to the next time Rudy does a campaign appearance for him. If McCain means what he says, he needs to fight the whole war. He can convince the nation he belongs in the White House, but he's going have to lead on security, both foreign and domestic, to do it.
So far Obama has benefited from having appeared in debates with the strange world of democratic politicians. His stump speech may be great...but he actually looked immature next to Hillary. His only benefit...was that he was next to Hillary. The debates with McCain should be visually interesting, because we are used to Presidents who look mature. Even Kennedy looked older than Obama...who could pass for someone in his mid thirties.
OB was not very good in debating Alan Keyes, IMO, OB’s debating skills were on par with Jr. High debaters!
A puff the majic dragon campaign will not get him in the WH, unless JMcC implodes!
And DO NOT bring up immigration. That will not be a problem for John McCain. The Democrats will be the one to propose the sellout solutions on the border if elected. If McCain on the other hand is elected, we are safe in knowing that he has surrounded himself with tough border advocates like Dr. Juan Hernandez, who will see to it we are protected. It will be much better than the Democrats in there.....
Sorry I don’t get the ABM acronym -
Did you dump your kool-aid allotment in Tokyo harbor?
LOL
[I poured mine down the sink. It ate a hole in the plumbing. Plumber is scheduled for next week.]
Anyone BUT MCCAIN.
“After the two Bushes (moving toward the “center”), what have we gotten, or will we get?”
What you WON’T “get” is a socialistic quasi-Muslim at the pinnacle of the Executive branch and Commander-in-Chief.
Frankly, that’s enough for me.
I’m much more in favor of four years of “divided government” than I am in the “changes” that the Obamessiah will bring...
- John
The more I think about an Obama-McCain race, the more I think that it will be a landslide: for McCain.
The Obama balloon will burst. There is no substance there, at all. Obama may be the most unqualified person to ever seriously run for President. When voters start comparing the two candidates, the difference in substance and experience will be evident.
While their is a clear difference in age and vitality when the two candidates are seen together, I think that it will ultimately work against Obama. We aren't chosing up sides for the office softball game. I think that the voters will realize that as the initial enthusiasm for Obama begins to wane.
While conservatives are alarmed by McCain's actions, these same actions play well with independents and moderate Democrats. The more Obama is seen and exposed, the more these people will see McCain as a viable option in the general election.
By the general election, all but the most rock-ribbed of conservatives will be on board with McCain. So his base will be secure, even if not enthused.
In other words McCain recognizes that he'll never get the base shorn up and is standing aside in favor of a real conservative????
Inquiring minds want to know.
But, on a brighter note McCain has agreed to become the spokesman for Metamucil if he loses in November.
You think too highly of democrat voters and other leftists. Have you seen the crowds squealing when Obama speaks? I doubt there's a dry seat in the house by the time he finishes.
The base will rally to Mccain as the election nears, the Hunter/Tancredo fringe crowd will whine as usual but they are insignificant to the general Conservative voting population.
BTTT
WTF does that mean.
Oh I doubt very much that lord McCain will be let anywhere near a mic from this point forward. He will be so well packaged and wrapped by 60 days before the November election nobody will get near his ribbons.
“The base will rally to Mccain as the election nears,”
Speak for your CINO self.
“the Hunter/Tancredo fringe crowd will whine as usual but they are insignificant to the general Conservative **”IN NAME ONLY”** voting population.
Corrected that for you.
GregH
Since May 11, 2006]
I am amazed that you do not know that it means to
Bump To The Top! (of the page that you are viewing, that is)
“Obama will beat McCain handily. The majority of Americans are truly that stupid.” ~ mike-zed
I disagree. In fact, I think we may find that before all is said and done, Obama has been a God-send.
Reason #1: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1974398/posts?page=104#104
Reason #2:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1974972/posts?page=31#31 (and #32)
Perhaps. The Convention is two eons and the general election is another eon further. This has been the year of suprises. But, it should be no suprise that the glow of Obama will dim.
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