The Uncreative McCain Campaign

The Atlantic ^ | SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 | Ross Douthat

[bahblahbah]

Writing in response to my suggestion that the McCain campaign has wanted for creativity, I think Rich Lowry makes a strong case that they've been quite tactically imaginative, and I agree with Rich that they wouldn't be where they are today if it weren't for some brilliant improvisations. What I had in mind, though, was ideological creativity - the sort of creativity, for instance, that might have provided stronger talking points for your new-minted veep nominee to trot out when the subject turns to, say, the state of the economy. The McCain camp has found exactly one good domestic-policy talking point to call their own - namely, offshore drilling - and that one was more or less forced on them by rising gas prices and pressure from right-wing talk radio. They have a potentially decent health care plan that they don't want to talk about because they don't know how to sell it, and a grab-bag of tax proposals that they don't want to talk about because there's not much for the middle class and the numbers don't add up ... and then, of course, they have earmarks. (ZZZzzzzz ...) Which is why they're spending most of their time trying to tear down Barack Obama - because the case against the Democratic nominee is the best case they really have.

[bahblahbah]

They have a potentially decent health care plan that they don't want to talk about because they don't know how to sell it, and a grab-bag of tax proposals that they don't want to talk about because there's not much for the middle class and the numbers don't add up ... and then, of course, they have earmarks. (ZZZzzzzz ...)

Team McCain is going to end up suffocating Palin... her strengths are touting and gathering support... and his policies aren't packaged right at all... Palin is bringing a lot of energy but what is Team McCain giving her to push and who are they putting with her with to help push?... I have zero trust in the people running this campaign

As far as health care goes, you can sexy that up by nudging hard on exercise and recreation... I've been bugging people via (fake account)email about that... I've got a few more general ideas... yarrrr@mail.com

[goldstategop]

They can push standard Republican themes but no new spending. It may not be exciting but the voters like bland as opposed to have their wallets raided. If the GOP brand has been tarnished, its where its tried to outbid the Democrats in jacking up spending. As a political formula, its a loser.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Opinionated Blowhard]

To Ross, “ideological creativity” = going liberal on big issues.

I’ve got a really creative idea that hasn’t been tried in a long, long time. How about actually cutting spending. Not the rate of increase, but actually cut spending. Pain would be shared and we’d be out of our fiscal crisis and prepared to deal with these looming obligations like Fannie and Freddie. Even more creative—how about getting rid of these government corporations that require taxpayer bailouts? How about letting the market make the decisions and hold people accountable?