Normally open July 4th only---the one day a year when partisan politics, religion, etc. are acceptable topics on this Board. (The 2012 window is now closed; thanks for playing.)
paulthefan wrote:If in the last few weeks the GOP is able to "make Bill Ayers his running mate" we could see Obama in a severe tail spin. Just a remote possibility and something to ponder as we go into the final 3 weeks.
I think that would be much more effective if the McCain campaign had also focused on defining who HE was in the early part of the campaign. As I mentioneded earlier, both campaigns have done an effective job of defining the other candidate. However, the strategy you mention doesnt take into account that people still need a reason to choose the supposed "good guy". Other than the fact that many voters are intelligent enough to check facts, the supposed "bad guy" has done an effective job of taking out his own "good guy" insurance early in the campaign.
I'm still scratching my head at this and other McCain Campaign strategies that have failed to attract those Independent voters. This strategy excites the GOP base, and work for those who would lean that way anyway. But, it has been shown (during this Election) to REALLY turn off TRUE Independent voters. If there is any group that has a disdain for the traditional partisan bickering/name-calling/not getting anything done due to distraction, its the Independents.
McCain may come out of this whole thing as a figure out of a Greek tragedy, reminiscent of the old saying "Whom the gods would destroy, they first call to greatness." His gross negativity, questionable choices and campain tactics that feel so desperate may very well negate his prior image of a thoughtful man of integrity. Sad.
racewalker wrote:McCain may come out of this whole thing as a figure out of a Greek tragedy, reminiscent of the old saying "Whom the gods would destroy, they first call to greatness." His gross negativity, questionable choices and campain tactics that feel so desperate may very well negate his prior image of a thoughtful man of integrity. Sad.
I still give McCain credit for refusing to play the Reverend Wright card, which Hillary played from the bottom of the deck. And last Friday, he adamantly corrected his supporters who tried to smear Obama with the Arab/Muslim/terrorist label, as opposed to Hillary with her "as for as I know" comment. As a matter of fact, Hillary has stood on stage with people and watched people smear Obama and stood by and said nothing. Now that things are looking good for Obama, the Clintons have suddenly gotten off their behinds and are hitting the campaign trail to make sure that they get credit for helping the winning team.
jazzcyclist wrote:And the most unfortunate thing about all the Arab/Muslim rumors about Obama is not that people are trying to cost Obama the election, it's that in 2008, people still feel comfortabe using the name of a ethnic or religious group as a perjorative. And I'm not blaming one party because it happened in both the democratic primary and the general election. And I also blame Obama and McCain for not telling their supporters that there's nothing wrong with being an Arab or a Muslim. And Hillary is a disgrace with her "as far as I know" comment. Because I'm Black, I don't get all of the emails that my White friends get smearing Obama with these Arab/Muslim rumors. But they've showed me a few of them and it's sickening that people who will say, "I don't have a racist bone in my body", will send that crap. Just think how people would react if John McCain was being smeared as being a Jew.
jazzcyclist wrote:And the most unfortunate thing about all the Arab/Muslim rumors about Obama is not that people are trying to cost Obama the election, it's that in 2008, people still feel comfortabe using the name of a ethnic or religious group as a perjorative. And I'm not blaming one party because it happened in both the democratic primary and the general election. And I also blame Obama and McCain for not telling their supporters that there's nothing wrong with being an Arab or a Muslim. And Hillary is a disgrace with her "as far as I know" comment. Because I'm Black, I don't get all of the emails that my White friends get smearing Obama with these Arab/Muslim rumors. But they've showed me a few of them and it's sickening that people who will say, "I don't have a racist bone in my body", will send that crap. Just think how people would react if John McCain was being smeared as being a Jew.
jazzcyclist wrote:Now that things are looking good for Obama, the Clintons have suddenly gotten off their behinds and are hitting the campaign trail to make sure that they get credit for helping the winning team.
Should we have expected otherwise after watching them for the past 16 years. Credit to Obama for holding his tongue countless times over the past 8 months while the wiley couple worked their magic.
After answering Bill Sch. question Obama secured 99% of the public school teacher vote that is for sure.
Both McCain and Obama did well in the last debate. Two tough competitors, if they were track athletes, Id call McCain a javelin thrower and Obama either a race-walker or a marathoner. Very different temperaments.
Last edited by paulthefan on Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I thought it was interesting that when Bob Scheiffer asked them to compare VP candidates, Obama decided to take the pitch. I'm sure many of his supporters thought that was an 80 mph fastball right across the middle of the plate, belt high, and were expecting him to knock it out of the park.
jazzcyclist wrote:I thought it was interesting that when Bob Scheiffer asked them to compare VP candidates, Obama decided to take the pitch. I'm sure many of his supporters thought that was an 80 mph fastball right across the middle of the plate, belt high, and were expecting him to knock it out of the park.
His response, or lack of a critical response toward his opponent's running mate was very smart. He's the big dog (Presidential nominee), and doesn't need to belittle his position by starting a tit for tat with a little dog (VP nominee). And Palin would have LOVED for him to say something critical since it would give her more ammo to excite the base on the trail. Most importantly, it was smart to be non-critical since women make up the majority of the electorate, and they tend to vote more often than men. No need to unnecessarily tick some of them off. I'm sure his gracious response -- although she didn't deserve it based on what she's been saying about him -- won over some of those undecided female voters.
I received this in an e-mail today (wide distribution list). It illustrates the degree to which some people feel the need to demonize the opposition. I'm sure there are anti-McCain diatribes as equally objectionable:
the content was so stupid, I couldn't even bear to look at it any more!
I would put the author in MattM's category.
Last edited by Marlow on Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jazzcyclist wrote:I thought it was interesting that when Bob Scheiffer asked them to compare VP candidates, Obama decided to take the pitch. I'm sure many of his supporters thought that was an 80 mph fastball right across the middle of the plate, belt high, and were expecting him to knock it out of the park.
His response, or lack of a critical response toward his opponent's running mate was very smart. He's the big dog (Presidential nominee), and doesn't need to belittle his position by starting a tit for tat with a little dog (VP nominee). And Palin would have LOVED for him to say something critical since it would give her more ammo to excite the base on the trail. Most importantly, it was smart to be non-critical since women make up the majority of the electorate, and they tend to vote more often than men. No need to unnecessarily tick some of them off. I'm sure his gracious response -- although she didn't deserve it based on what she's been saying about him -- won over some of those undecided female voters.
You make a good point. Obama and Biden obviously made a decision to treat Palin with kid gloves. It makes you wonder how a female candidate would have treated Palin if she had been in Biden's position for the VP debate, or Obama's position when Schieffer posed that question last night.
This will make your sad. There are plenty of villains involved in these smear tactics, but this lady seems like more of a victim. I guess it's easy to prey on the elderly and the uneducated.
Meanwhile, if you're plumber's name happens to be Joe, I hope your toilet isn't stuffed up because he's probably too busy today talking to journos, bloggers, and campaign aides.
Marlow wrote:I received this in an e-mail today (wide distribution list). ...........I would put the author in MattM's category.
So what is the source? From an individual (such as Ann Coulter?) or from a group?
Ann Coulter is far too intelligent to either write such dribble or respond to you, therefore I will step in. That Marlow message sounds so over the top it probably comes from the Dem side as a tool to incite exactly the reaction it is getting here.
paulthefan wrote:That Marlow message sounds so over the top it probably comes from the Dem side as a tool to incite exactly the reaction it is getting here.
Oh, no - I actually recognized the source, whom I know to be conservative, but he's just a private citizen.
paulthefan wrote:Ann Coulter is far too intelligent to either write such dribble or respond to you, therefore I will step in. That Marlow message sounds so over the top it probably comes from the Dem side as a tool to incite exactly the reaction it is getting here.
paulthefan wrote:That Marlow message sounds so over the top it probably comes from the Dem side as a tool to incite exactly the reaction it is getting here.
Oh, no - I actually recognized the source, whom I know to be conservative, but he's just a private citizen.
Good try, paul. Maybe you can try to spin this little gem from a southern California women's Republican group newsletter:
paulthefan wrote:That Marlow message sounds so over the top it probably comes from the Dem side as a tool to incite exactly the reaction it is getting here.
Oh, no - I actually recognized the source, whom I know to be conservative, but he's just a private citizen.
Good try, paul. Maybe you can try to spin this little gem from a southern California women's Republican group newsletter:
paulthefan wrote:Ann Coulter is far too intelligent to either write such dribble or respond to you, therefore I will step in. That Marlow message sounds so over the top it probably comes from the Dem side as a tool to incite exactly the reaction it is getting here.
You should read it before posting misinformation jazzc:
Of course, we would explain our decision to Ann, but the reality is that she's called the shots from the get-go. It was Ann who decided to sever her ties with National Review — not the other way around.
paulthefan wrote:Ann Coulter is far too intelligent to either write such dribble or respond to you, therefore I will step in. That Marlow message sounds so over the top it probably comes from the Dem side as a tool to incite exactly the reaction it is getting here.
You should read it before posting misinformation jazzc:
Of course, we would explain our decision to Ann, but the reality is that she's called the shots from the get-go. It was Ann who decided to sever her ties with National Review — not the other way around.
I don't post anything without reading it first and what misinformation are you talking about? Are you accusing Goldberg of misinformation?
paulthefan wrote:That Marlow message sounds so over the top it probably comes from the Dem side as a tool to incite exactly the reaction it is getting here.
Oh, no - I actually recognized the source, whom I know to be conservative, but he's just a private citizen.
Good try, paul. Maybe you can try to spin this little gem from a southern California women's Republican group newsletter:
