Blog-Bud Doc put up a thoughtful post earlier this week entitled “Why I’m Leaning Toward Obama.” His very first line is this:
“Leaning, mind you. Much can change in the next few weeks.”
And then Doc launches into a well-reasoned explanation for his leanings, which basically involve contrasting Senator McCain’s character with that of Senator Obama’s. And Doc obviously finds flaws with Senator McCain, or rather with Senator McCain’s campaign, and to a much greater extent, some of Senator McCain’s idiot supporters… the sort of people who send out idiotic rants like this in the hope of swaying opinion.
(Short parenthetical digression: people who send out videos like the one at the link aren’t so much McCain supporters as they are Obama haters… and there are a LOT of haters out there, sad to say. I’ve noticed there’s a tremendous amount of bad information — which is to say info that is factually inaccurate or outright lies, as in the “Obama is a Muslim” meme — being circulated via e-mail, and I’ve received way too much of it. But the point is… the “hate” stuff is out there and it’s having a NEGATIVE effect on some of the undecideds.)
This, I suppose, plays into my point that McCain is running a very inept campaign. I’ve not articulated that point in a main blog-post here at EIP, but I’ve left comments to that effect in my friends’ blogs when the subject comes up. One such comment:
I'm of the opinion that the McCain campaign has been... to date... one of the most inept, tone-deaf, and incompetent presidential campaigns... ever. One expects this sort of thing from the Dems (witness: Dukakis and Kerry), but from the GOP? McCain's descent into faux populism ("Greed and corruption on Wall Street!") turns my stomach, and the "handling" of Palin has simply been a disaster... of incredible and potentially devastating proportions.
I'm thinking it's too late to save it, but I HOPE to God I'm wrong.
So. Back to Doc. If I’m reading him correctly, Doc believes Obama has run a more principled campaign while McCain has opted for traditional mud-slinging. Or… McCain is doing the classic “whatever it takes” maneuver so common to our politicians (especially when they fall behind), thereby sacrificing his principles. Doc does have a point with the direction he’s taking here, and that point is “character matters,” where the tone of a campaign is concerned. This is something of an explanation as to why otherwise rational people might choose to vote for The One. I’m sensing there’s a lot of disgust over the state of our political process, but I’m of the opinion that The One is most certainly NOT the answer. But to give the Devil his due, Obama has played this discontent like a freakin’ Stradivarius. And McCain has not.
It ain’t over ‘til it’s over… and The Fat Lady ain’t gonna sing until the wee small hours of November 5th. Doc, in closing to this particular post, makes the point that American politics has (seemingly) always been about choosing the lesser of two evils. I’ll agree with that. You have to go back to Reagan to find an example of someone worth voting for, rather than someone to vote against. But… that said, McCain is the lesser of two evils in this election cycle, which is obviously one of the more important elections of our time. The One is just be SO wrong and SO detrimental to the success and prosperity of
Your mileage may vary. But I hope not.
(Image from NY Magazine)
We deserve a whole string of bad leaders if it's okay to be that "lesser of two evils" in an election, but not okay to point out to people that's what you are.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Obama has run an honorable campaign at all. I don't even think he's run a positive one. Yes, the dulcet tones of his voice are soothing. But if you listen to the substance of his words, it's all negative all the time.
Hey Obama, Wheaties for breakfast or Special K? "Well, that's a very good question, and you know, for the last eight years the Bush administration has completely screwed up the blah blah blah blah blah..."
Someone says McCain's been negative where The Messiah has not, I conclude they simply haven't been paying attention.
Buck, I agree with your comments re the poor race tactics and methodology of the Reps campaign for the Presidency. Having John almost running everywhere on the stage, seemingly never standing still is supposed, I guess, to prove how capable he is physically. To me, it shows him to be (almost) on a par with those people who think it's clever to stand outside the window of the Today show (in freezing cold
ReplyDeleteweather) and wave at a camera. (If you're guessing I haven't watched that show in a lot of years -- you're right.)
We don't need to see him pretend to be an athlete. We need to see him as a wise, strong adult with definite opinions and the guts to force a recalcitrant Congress to give him the tools he needs to do the job. One of our strongest Presidents couldn't even walk unaided. But Congress did not want to get into a brawl with that handicapped man.
With this kind of campaigning, it is, once again, a case of voting against someone, rather than for someone. Oh, BTW, don't forget Ronnie not only gave us B movies, he also thought Nafta and Cafta and all the baby aftas were good things.
McCain isn't the perfect choice, but he certainly is better than the other. I may disagree with some things, but some of the biggies I can agree with. He's got a few weeks left, hopefully he will do some wowing for those people that are on the fence. Hoping he's waiting til the last minute for a more dramatic and lasting effect, so it will be fresh as the people are heading to the polls rather than it being old news and Obama trumps it first.
ReplyDeleteMcCain has been strange to say the least. But that's what happens when you were a darling of the left wing press, and now they hate you....Ol' John is still in shock, and I don't know if he'll be able to recover.
ReplyDeleteThe moment I knew I was voting for Reagan came during a news conference in which some ass with press credential kept asking the same stupid question or versions of it until, on national TV, Reagan just cocked his head to the side, smiled that little smile, and said, "Why don't you just shut up?"
ReplyDeleteJaws dropped. Some of us cheered. But it was a moment we won't see repeated any time soon.
During the last two Presidential campaigns, The Press has told us that a Republican cannot win...and that the Dems were way ahead in the polls...that it would not even be close...
ReplyDeleteI don't know if McCain is falling behind or if the MSM is going into their usual kick for the Dems. Maybe the Republicans can pull this off, maybe not. I do think character matters, and with that in mind I have only too look at Obama's connection to William Ayers, Rev Wright, and Joe Biden - all who spout hate - to know who Obama really is. By the way, I included Biden in that group because prior to this election, every time I have seen the man on TV he was spouting such hate for anything Republican that I was horrified. If Obama really wanted change and was really in control of his campaign, he would not have chosen a hate monger, good ol' boy, power hungry man like Biden. Obama's ties to Wright and Ayers (no matter how small those ties might be) show a real lack of judgement - doesn't that prove his character?
Well, Buck, you know me: Libertarian, no dog in this fight, from a state with no chance of being moved from one column to the other. Having said that, I think McCain doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell. Maybe I'm just getting too much sensory input from the People's Republic of Massachusetts, where I live, but I think there aren't enough undecideds to make a real difference at this point. One way or the other, just about everybody has made their choice. It's going to take a major gaffe by Obama to blow this one. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAh, Suldog, a fellow resident of the liberal wasteland that is New England (CT here). I grew up in MA as well and I know exactly what you mean. CT is worse, if you can imagine.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Buck (and thanx for the linky lurve). McCain is missing most every opportunity to stick it to Obama. All he has to do is tell the truth.
Bigger problem is - no one will listen because the MSM is so into for Obama. It's sickening.
If we judge our president's by their campaigns - lord help us - as they are more media driven than not. Why not just ask the media who you should vote for and be done with it?
ReplyDeleteOnly one of these candidates has ever fought for America, sacrificed for America and I dare say loved America. There is more character there than would be revealed in a hundred campaigns.
I think people are looking for justification to vote for who they think is going to win, rather than voting for the good of the country.
PS - Neither candidate is running his campaign - they "have people" for that and go in the direction they are pointed.
Morgan: I don't disagree with you about The One. It's been all (the failed policies of...) Bush, all the time... more or less. My point, and I think Doc's point, was the inane fringe stuff that's circulating around the country. I'm not saying The One's supporters aren't doing this sort of thing and more (think: Acorn), it's just I'm not seeing a lot of that. And I AM seeing a lot of pure crap coming from Obama-haters, as noted.
ReplyDeleteAnd... what's up with this?
We deserve a whole string of bad leaders if it's okay to be that "lesser of two evils" in an election, but not okay to point out to people that's what you are.
Are you seriously saying a candidate should say "Vote for me, coz I'm the lesser of two evils?" Really?
Cat sez: Oh, BTW, don't forget Ronnie not only gave us B movies, he also thought Nafta and Cafta and all the baby aftas were good things.
I think those are good things, too, Cat. Ya, I'm a free-trader.
Jenny sez: McCain isn't the perfect choice, but he certainly is better than the other.
My point, exactly. I think there's still a chance.
Pat sez: McCain has been strange to say the least.
Agreed, Pat.
Doc sez: The moment I knew I was voting for Reagan came during a news conference...
I missed that! I was overseas for the greatest part of the 1980 campaign, so I missed a LOT. The Beeb, et al, just gave me highlights... not total immersion like we get here, now. And that was a good thing, in a way.
Lou sez: Maybe the Republicans can pull this off, maybe not. I do think character matters, and with that in mind I have only too look at Obama's connection to William Ayers, Rev Wright, and Joe Biden...
That was EXACTLY the point I made over at Doc's place, Lou. With the exception of Biden. But you're right on point with your analysis there, IMHO. Thanks for that!
Jim sez: One way or the other, just about everybody has made their choice.
I pretty much agree with you on this, Jim. But, as Lou and others have noted, things sometimes have a funny way of working out once all the levers have been pulled and the chads left hanging...
Kris sez: Bigger problem is - no one will listen because the MSM is so into for Obama. It's sickening.
Yup. I'll occasionally switch over to CNN for a while, and those guys are ALL "in the tank." I never watch network news, but I hear and read it's worse there. This is definitely an uphill fight for McCain.
Cynthis sez: PS - Neither candidate is running his campaign - they "have people" for that and go in the direction they are pointed.
I believe this is true, as well, Cynthia. And the impact is evident if you contrast the earlier, poorer (financially speaking) McCain campaign with what we're seeing now. A TRULY principled candidate would say "NO!" to some of the hare-brained stuff I've seen coming out of both campaigns. It's both sad and sick at the same time.
Just for you, Buck:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBA9uJXv3r0
Not the one I remember, but just as effective.
Thanks for that, Doc! I'm thinking McCain needs a similar "aw, shut up!" moment...
ReplyDelete