I have to ask all the handwringers from a week ago: Are you liking the campaign NOW?

[scheming daemons]

- Quick response ad on McCain's "fundamentals" gaffe.
- Detailed plan to fix the financial mess introduced today in Colorado and covered by the networks
- Continuing to hit McCain on his lying ads and loss of honor.
- Fighting the McCain camp's caging operations with fast-track lawsuits.


This is NOT the Kerry campaign. The polls and narratives are moving back in our direction. Our campaign is a lean, mean, fighting machine.


Back in March, many Democrats said they weren't sure how well Obama would stand up to the Swiftboating Republican machine.

I think they're answering the question with flying colors.

[liberalmuse]

1. Obama gave a fantastic speech today.

Just brilliant! It was extremely detailed, and some might argue that it was "too wordy", but he laid out a very specific economic plan. It was a speech he had to give, and did exactly what he had to do, across the board. I'm glad my apartment flooded last night, or else I wouldn't have been home to see the entire thing.

[SeaLyons]

10. Ugh! Your apartment flooded???

I'm so sorry. Hope everything is dry and good as new soon.

:hug:

[phantom power]

2. It's good...

How good depends on whether they sustain it, and keep McCain on the defensive. They had great momentum going into the Dem convention, and then they completely tripped over themselves for a couple weeks after the Palin announcement.

If they succeed in taking this week's financial earthquake, and pinning it on the GOP for good, that will be a huge coup. Don't forget, McCain is already trying to blame this crap on the Dems, and that will work if Obama can't crush it.

I'll give you an example of how they're still blowing some very easy stuff:

I certainly don’t fault Senator McCain for these problems, but I do fault the economic philosophy he subscribes to. It’s a philosophy we’ve had for the last eight years – one that says we should give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. It’s a philosophy that says even common-sense regulations are unnecessary and unwise, and one that says we should just stick our heads in the sand and ignore economic problems until they spiral into crises.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gG5qKN

Now, this paragraph is awesome, except that he fucks it all up right in the first sentence. Republicanism is a failed philosophy, but Don't blame McCain!. WTF??? "Voters! Don't blame my opponent!" Bad, bad, bad.

[Alter Ego]

6. Well, it's not John McCain's fault personally.

But it IS the shit he believes in and will continue to push on the American public.

[phantom power]

7. The point is, you just never ever say "I don't blame him."

You don't say that. Nobody is asking Obama to say anything untruthful, like "McCain is personally responsible for every economic decision leading up to this crisis."

You just don't say positive things about your opponent. Ever. It's not necessary. Absolutely no voters will say "wow, Obama is really a swell guy for saying those nice things about McCain, that swings my vote!" But many voters will say "Well, even Obama thinks McCain isn't such a bad guy, maybe I'll vote for McCain."

As I said, that paragraph would have been perfect if he had simply left out that first phrase. But that first phrase sucked a lot of rhetorical oxygen out of his case.

[European Socialist]

3. I still think they should have bashed Palin full bore much earlier.

All the Dems have to do is tell the truth about her--Why is that so hard. Yes, they are doing a better job of being aggressive now.

[theoldman]

Palin is not running for president. and should be ignored.

[Jennicut]

4. Palin is a distraction. McLame is the right target

[European Socialist]

5. Strongly disagree--McCain has no chance with a disgraced VP.

[Cha]

9. Well, I'm glad you're not on the campaign staff...

They know what they're doing.

[anonymous171]

8. More offense, and more attacks on McCain's character would also be nice.

But overall I think he's doing pretty well.

[SeaLyons]

11. The tide is changing....

Obama was terrific today. "a lean, mean, fighting machine."

I'm happy!!

GOBAMA!!!!

[Vattel]

12. McCain has more appeal

to the massively brain-damaged segment of the population, which according to recent polls has been growing rapidly. Obama could appeal more to that demographic by lobotomizing himself or otherwise causing a precipitous drop in his IQ. But catching McCain in a diminishing cognitive faculty race would be difficult. Let's face it. Obama is smart. I don't blame him for it; it's probably genetic. We'll just have to do the best we can.