Posted on 02/29/2008 10:04:19 AM PST by SmithL
The presidential race is sure looking like it will be Democrat Barack Obama vs. Republican John McCain. Team Obama is no doubt overjoyed, having already run with the "yesterday vs. 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 likability 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Hussein vs. Juan. I don’t want either one.
McCain isn’t really that likable. I will be voting for him, but likability he lacks.
I understand but one or the other is and the difference is a mile wide.
Obama, a senator in only his third year, can be beaten. If only McCain would try.
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Yes, if only McCain will get with it...but maybe he is waiting for Tuesday. If Osama Obama wins both states, there is nothing holding McCain back. IT IS HIS RACE TO LOSE AT THAT POINT. Osama is easy to beat. Just look at what he is, and what he is not. McCain’s whole campaign has already been laid out. Osama is an American antithesis. Everything that the American left is, and that our enemies are, is all wrapped up neatly in Osama....easy knock over for McCain if he will just fight — no Mr. Nice Guy -— just nail his butt. And it will be over.
Both will harm our nation and plunge us towards the left. But, McCain may be the worse evil since he will bear the “R” by his name. I’d rather have a democrat blamed for leftist failures than a Republican.
The difference si not a mile wide. Do I want to risk the country for 4 years while the Republicans rebuild and repair and strengthen, or do I want to risk the country slightly less for 4 years but destroy the Republican Party for the forseeable future. It leaves us with comparing the lesser damage of 4 years of McCain plus the greater damage of umpteen years of a weak and worthless GOP — compare it to the nightmare of 4 to 8 years of Obama but with a renewing, regrouping, restrengthening GOP. The difference si not a mile wide at all.
Accomplishment-Gap is not working for Hillary (Even though I don’t think Hillary is all that accomplished. She has indeed managed to hang around accomplished people and claims partnership in their accomplishments).
One reason is due to expected accomplishments that would come with “change’.
Time after time in Frank Luntz’s focus group on Fox, Dems raise their hands for Hillary in overwhelming Majority when asked who is more experienced and accomplished. Then when it comes to final vote, they still give edge to Obama.
I think McCain’s Accomplishment-advantage is huge. So much so that even Hillary referred to his background as “legendary”.
Obama would portray him as “more of the same” guy, and tie him to W.
Mac has to get him on SPECIFIC points. A general slogan like “liberal” or “in-experienced” won’t get it done by itself. Because of the way Obama carries himself, unflappable confidence, people have high expectations, so they give him a break on his current resume, assuming that he would fill it out nicely in future.
What Mac has to do is to establish point after point that whatever Obama is shoothing for and proposing has HOLES in it and is OLD AND TIRED TAX-AND-SPEND PLAN.
Mac has to make the point that if Senator Obama wants to champion change, then he should propose something INNOVATIVE, NEW, and MORE APPLICABLE to next century. Instead he is is proposing us to CHANGE to FAILED IDEOLOGY, FAILED IDEAS, FAILED METHODS.
Social Security and medicare are all examples of NOBLE INTENTIONS and SOON TO BE COMPLETE FAILURES because it lacks the innovation in its implementation for future. These programs were not able to keep pace with changing times and needs.
More programs and proposals like these would have same results and will be in state of constant disrepair. Like an OLD CAR that needs to be in a Mechanic’s shop every month.
Hammer him on the fact that NONE OF HIS PROPOSALS REPRESENT CHANGE. ALL STEM FROM FAILED IDEAS and have NO SOLUTION for problems we face today.
There you go again.......Mac needs a VARIATION of that.
Every Tax-and-spend proposal Obama spouts, Hammer his and say YOU CALL THAT CHANGE? I am Puzzled, how is that Change Sir? Have you not seen other BUSTED and failed programs? How do more programs like that represent Change?
JMO.
I think McCain will win. He is the more reasonable of the two candidates, he will attract many of the Hillary voters who will not vote for Barack, and...Obama has peaked way too soon.
With the help of the unconstitutional McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Political Speech Limitation Act it is virtually certain the this time George Soros, along with the obscenely well-paid Hollywood Left, leaders of Organized Labor, Environmental Wackos and global socialists will be able to succeed in buying the United States Government.
Get used to the idea of President Barack (n) Obama and Michelle, his voluntary Press Secretary.
I’ll tell you how he wins: Just by showing up. It’s over.
McCain can win by being a TRUE conservative. Since that’s not going to happen, he’ll have to go with something else. I think he’ll win probably more easily than McCain haters think. I can’t stand McCain but once B. Hussein is pressed on the real issues it’s going to be a slaughter.
I think you are right. McCain will win.
A lot of old people love McCain.
Nor I.
McCain again lost my vote in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
I’ve started to wonder whether McCain’s really even running for the presidency. It’s almost like the “corporatist” party elders have promised him some reward in exchange for going out and destroying the conservative movement with a colossally stupid campaign which will result in “Messiah Obama” in the White House. Any conservative who, however reluctantly, voices support for him is publicly rebuked by him. I’m thinking “Screw this guy” 3rd Party or whatever.
McCain has both an authority that comes with real experience in Washington and a good-old-boy likability to anyone who’s not working with him.....
He can drop the good-old-boy likability crap. Jorge gave me enough, thanks!
Kathryn Jean Lopez was one of the stupid idiots who thought that Mitt Romney was the most “electable” candidate. It was her stupidity, and Hugh Hewitt’s, and a few others, that helped the MSM bury the only conservative candidates in the race and set things up for Juan McCain.
So, now she’s arguing that Juan mcCain is electable. Thanks, Kathryn, but no thanks. I’m not voting for Obama, but I can’t vote for McCain, either. I’ll just fill in the rest of the ballot.
Isn’t that a bit overreacting?
Nope. He betrayed a friend.
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