I thought Dan Payne had a decent take in today’s Globe.
Formula for defeat. White bigots + lies about Obama + Hillary holdouts = President McCain. Nothing Obama says tonight can change that. Enjoy it because the next 68 days won’t be fun.
Notwithstanding Bush’s 30% approval (and, of course, Kerry’s “awe-some” speech…)
….is it just a happy lovefest out there, or are you meeting pro-Obama folks who dissent on the message/rollout thus far?
Please share widely!
Nothing can be done about “white bigots” — we just have to hope that there aren’t really that many of them. Lies about Obama — again, what can be done here about that? That’s up to the party and the campaign’s rapid response team (and oppo research, for that matter). Hillary holdouts? Completely GOP-manufactured, media-enabled bullshit. Hillary has been extraordinary in her leadership in unifying her supporters behind Barack Obama — nothing more could possibly have been done, IMHO. Watch my interview with Martha Coakley; read Bob’s post about Kay Khan and Ruth Balser. They are fired up and ready go, as much as those who’ve been with Obama all along.
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p>Post election, Kerry said of Swiftboat — I didn’t handle that the right way. There were things I could have done differently.
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p>Isn’t it possible that some Dems in Denver are saying — there are things (ad buys, messages, speaker choices, theatrics, etc) that could/should be done differently?
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p>That’s what I’m wondering.
4th quarter, the defense amok, Zogby says go up the middle with the air game, open turf downfield. Receivers open. That, was the Democratic Presidential race, circa election week.
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p>Ah, the days. Polio was more popular than Bush and the dark lord Cheney carved flesh from the poor, selling it cheap to the rich. Ever figure out what WAS the matter with Kansas?
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p>Then, from the East, and a state the Democratic party should compel to withdraw from the U.S. lest it do more political harm with its favorite sons, a hero arose. “Reporting for duty”.
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p>In the great tradition of the Party, the Democrats ran for the goal line, before tripping then stepping on a rake. Receivers ran the wrong way and in the end didn’t fumble before crossing the other guy’s goal line.
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p>History.
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p>Today.
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p>Denver’s pant-suited hordes (I said hordes) of mad, Hillary-ites steal the show; Keith “I squeal like a school girl when you say Obama” Obermann gushes, Bill explains in detail how great he is, how great Obama is “…but sorry guy, I’m busy and can’t hang around for the big speech, because you know, I’m busy”, an Obama speech that is encrusted with change with a Greek pantheon backdrop that hasn’t changed since Hector was a pup, and a coronation platform which his most ardent defenders, defend with ‘well, the republicans did it’.
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p>Meanwhile McCain’s poll numbers close (where’s the bounce?)in and we’re oblivious to any bump.
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p>People bump for a president candidate, but merely enjoy a celebrity concert.
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p>Post Denver concert, Obama will be glowing, basking in his 2 point lead, over-cautious. staring down that open field, playclock ticking down. Take no chances boys and girls.
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p>He is within a few days of losing this election.
How could that be Gary. Didn’t you here Keith at the end of Michelle’s speech when he sighed “Game over… game over” or after Hillary spoke (about herself) when Keith said “Grand slam… grand slam”.
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p>I feel more certain than ever about the $5 bet I have with my wife that BO is going to lose. Tonight’s “chosen speech” by the “chosen one” in front of the replica of Mount Olympus (home of the “chosen one” and all the other Gods) should seal the deal for all the undecided.
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p>I’ll agree with Keith’s words but on a different subject… Game over… game over!!!!
The convention is happening right now, and we’re still digesting what’s going on. I’ve heard about a dozen crappy speeches, and maybe four or five good ones.
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p>You might think that we need to get our message right now (or last week, more accurately), since everyone’s paying attention. But through the sheer volume of rhetoric, one-line zingers, catchphrases, and argumentation, we’re hoping that some of the more resonant stuff will cut through and remain in the Zeitgeist through November. Clinton, Kerry, and Biden had some powerful moments last night; Obama will have some too.
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p>I don’t necessarily agree with Payne’s take, since a lot of the bigotry already represents the bedrock of McCain’s support, not the topsoil.
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p>I don’t smell defeat.
I think Hillary (& Bill too) is still vital on this angle. Not for outright bigots, who are a lost cause, but for scared quasi-bigots. You know the sorts I’m talking about? The ones who love their one or two black friends, but are still quietly unsure of and largely unfamiliar with Black People (other than as portrayed on news about gangland murders). These are the people I think Clinton(s) make some headway with. But the discussion has to start yesterday, and be unrelenting.
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p>And btw, as a Clinton supporter, part of that responsibility devolves to me. “If not me, who?” and all that.