Posted on 08/03/2008 5:12:48 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Democrats remain flummoxed and liberal pundits fret: what’s the matter with Barack Obama? He is supposed to be winning. By a lot. Well, a Democrat is supposed to be winning, but this particular one is having his share of problems. Charles Krauthammer on Friday explained:
I think the sheen from earlier this year, where he was seen as a streaking meteor and he was the candidate of hope–I think it was Brit Hume who said he started the year by selling hope, but now he’s selling audacity. And I think there’s a sourness setting in. And you see it even in mainstream press when you get a Dana Milbank of “The Washington Post” write a brilliant article in which he says said that Obama started out as the presumptive Democratic nominee, and now he’s the “presumptuous” Democratic nominee. So there is a sort of a turn in the zeitgeist. Where the energy issue is hitting is in congress. The Democrats have made a huge mistake here, the stubbornness of Pelosi and Reid in not allowing a vote. The Democrats know it is a losing issue. It’s manna from heaven because Republicans were running uphill on all the economic issues, and they are clearly on the side of public opinion on this.
It is really three factors at play: Obama has gotten worse, John McCain’s campaign has gotten more aggressive in pointing out that Obama has gotten worse and Obama is no longer talking about the issues which were underpinning that huge advantage Democrats were thought to enjoy.
It’s the last point which has liberal supporters stumped. What happened to the laser-like focus on the economy? What happened to the non-stop message that John McCain is George W. Bush’s clone? These were lost in the audacity festival in Berlin and the aftermath of the trip ( e.g. the soldier snub gaffe). But even before that, between the securing the nomination and the overseas trip, the major campaign storylines have been: Obama’s flip-flops, Wesley Clark slurring McCain, Hillary Clinton voters still upset, Obama’s repositioning (kind of ) on Iraq, the success of the surge, and the faux seal and the arrogance meme.
Where was there anything positive for Obama or any moment in which he was leading the policy discussion? In any other year the candidate who ceded the debate so dramatically would be losing. It’s a measure of how tough a year it is for Republicans that Obama is still effectively tied.
So why not more focus by Obama on the economy? Well, first he thought he had to fix his commander-in-chief problem. That may have been a giant waste of time and simply distracted from the central problem Obama faces on domestic policy. Obama has a significant challenge there which I suspect he has to fix, and fix quickly. Most of his economic plan is a collection of tax increases for the “rich” and corporations and estates. Throw in some protectionism and it’s not a very credible message during a weak economy. So he can rail about the faltering economy and call it the Bush-McCain depression but until he has a more attractive, growth-oriented approach it may be hard to seize the high ground.
And when you’re not driving the message, others will. That’s in large part why the stories become all about “process” and his personal deficiencies. That polling lead he is supposed to have, I suspect, won’t appear until he can diffuse and shut down the myriad of harmful storylines now circulating. And to do that, he’ll need a clear and believable economic message. Come to think of it, McCain could use one too.
It's the arrogance stupids.
This election will come down to John McCains ability or inability to shut his yap so that he doesn't alienate conservatives.
“(Obama’s low poll numbers)It Really Isn’t Hard To Figure Out Why”
I don’t think it’s hard to figure out. Election after election we are led to believe by the Mediacrats that there are more Democrats out there then Republicans. They never explain to us why 83% of the counties in the US are Republican.
Obama peaked at 47%. Just like Clinton before him.
I think that apart from die hard unionists and lefties and Christian bashers most average decent people are discovering that he is a Chauncey Gardner...”the emperor has no clothes”.
Maybe mayor of New Orleans...??
PS Dinosaur Media,
Get off your lazy butts and do some simple reserach.
Beyond Obama’s audacity of elitism, I think that the public is really sick and tired of the endless fawning and praise by the media. Regular folks are picking up on the amazing amount of bias and love for obama and are really getting turned off by him. When the time comes for debates obama is toast unless McPain shoots himself in the foot.
Now, we know that "sheen is close to "shine", which is a racial slur.
Jennifer Rubin is racist!/sarc
When and if Obama retreats to the economy message, McCain can wipe him out merely by pointing out that the reason the economy is doing so poorly is that the price of oil has gone so high, and it’s the anti-drilling policy which Obama has defended that is causing those high prices.
Obama has not really changed his tune on drilling. He’s going to allow a very small amount of additional drilling in areas which may or may not have oil. We need to drill everywhere, and fast. Obama has followed McCain’s lead on drilling, but in a very timid way that has demonstrated his loyalty to the environmentalists who have contributed so heavily to his campaign, rather than loyalty to the suffering American people.
“Comments?”
“This election will come down to John McCains ability or inability to shut his yap so that he doesn’t alienate conservatives”
I respectfully disagree with this. He actually alienated conservatives YEARS ago. I think it’s going to be more his ability or inability to bring conservatives back to camp.
Vote Whitey in 08
No, Obama hasn’t changed his position on Oil Drilling. He is just lying. He is Bill Clinton JR. Remember Bill’s promise about a Middle Class Tax cut in 1992? This is Obama’s verson of that.
**It Really Isn’t Hard To Figure Out Why**
LOL! So true!
Al baby! How’s the mistress?
Personally, I think all of the Hillary-ites who Obama has hired are simply sabotaging his campaign. He needs to fire them and hire a new team.
Edwards stole her from me he has better hair care products
He could hire the Globetrotters
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