Sunday, September 7, 2008

McCAIN "CHANGES" HIS APPROACH

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. So when John McCain's entire stump speech repertoire has been rewritten to copy Obama's focus on change, one would have to think that he is flattering Barack to the point of being the next Obama girl. But is he really? Check out the first video below to see who he really imitates, almost word for word.....


So, the Democratic observation is, John McCain represents four more years of the eight dismal years of failure under the Bush administration. Change? or more of the same? Republican political shill for McCain Mark Sanford, in an appearance on CNN, was asked for one difference between the McCain economic plan, and the Bush administrations plan, which has racked up eight years of unbalanced budgets, soaring prices, increased unemployment rates, and a record deficit, despite inheriting an economy with a surplus.

Obviously, he could not. In fact almost across the board, McCain is what he always has been, George Bush's number one fan. One way he sought to distance himself from McCain was to proclaim his hatred of earmarks. Remember his speech..."I will veto any pork barrel ear marked bill, and you will know who is responsible?" Great words, but what does it say for his words when he nominates the queen of the pork, Sarah Palin, supporter of the bridge going to nowhere? Requester the following year of the highest dollar amount per capita of any state in the union?
McCain also claims, among many other mistruths, that the Obama tax plan would raise a litany of taxes to everyone. Click on the link here, and get a non-partisan view (http://www.factcheck.org/) on the truth in regards to his plan. The blue box you will see is the GOP half truths and lies. Below it, will be the truth, completely debunking the McCain rhetoric blasting off on the Obama tax plan. Lies and half-truths? Do these represent change, or more of the same? You be the judge and jury on this one....
So why has McCain changed his focus from experience to change? For one thing, his VP choice has no experience, or extremely limited experience to say the least. A college student at 6 different institutions in 5 years, finally earning a bachelors in sports journalism at the University of Idaho didn't help either. Her resume is paper thin, to say the very least.
So can a political inside for two decades plus, claim to be an "agent of change?" McCain is gambling that he could steal the change issue for himself -- a crazy brave, characteristically reckless, inconceivably difficult maneuver -- by picking an authentically independent, tough-minded reformer. With Palin, he may just have a slim chance on change.
The problem is the inherent oddity of the incumbent party running on a desire to change the very government they have controlled for nearly a decade. Here are Republicans, the party that controlled the White House for eight years and both houses of Congress for five, wildly cheering the promise to take on Washington. I don't mean to be impolite, but who's controlled Washington this decade?
Moreover, McCain was giving up his home turf of readiness to challenge Obama on his home turf of change. Can that possibly be pulled off? The calculation was to choose demographics over thematics. Palin's selection negates the theme of readiness. But she does bring important constituencies. She has the unique potential of energizing the base while at the same time appealing to independents. In short, she may pull Clinton supporters and quiet the far right base of the party, and that means evangelicals, "my friends."
The gamble is enormous. In a stroke, McCain gratuitously forfeited his most powerful argument against Obama. And this was even before Palin's inevitable liabilities began to pile up -- inevitable because any previously unvetted neophyte has "issues." The kid. The state trooper investigation.
Palinesque issues seem to be popping up almost daily. The right has responded by keeping Palin away from the press entirely. But, they cannot do this for the entire nine weeks leading up to the general election. McCain's only hope? Palin has to do in 9 weeks what it took Obama a full year...become a "celebrity," and envirgorate the party / ticket.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another great piece, and another thought on the Palin issue with the lack of interviews and public appearances on her own. It seems that the GOP is fearful that she may look poorly or incompetent when actually asked questions and think on her feet. What other explanation can there be. She is being treated unfairly. Does anyone think that a male candidate who is a governor of a state could go this long without independent interviews or comments?? I think not.
If the Democrats don't pick up on this unfair issue very quickly, they will loose the oportunity to publically question her abilities to lead, to expose her political ideas and ideals, and see how she deals with the media. The Dems must become meaner and tougher than the GOP on every issue, including this one, or we will be beaten again by the GOP. Americans seem to go with the simple, tough-sounding leaders, not the intellegent, clever ones. The election so far is too close to call, now is the time for the Dems to come out swinging. They have left this activity to the Rove-GOP, and those tactics seem to work much better with the American marketplace of voters.
I still run into people that believe that Obama is Muslum, the Dems. have a long way to go in the next 60 some days if we want to win this time.
Dave L.

Kim said...

I seriously agree with you, but we may have to wait for the VP debate to expose her. Trouble is, because of her gender, Obama's brain trust may not want to come down too hard on her.

As you say, the margins are very close now, and we cannot afford to push any group away, and it appears we are losing the female vote since Hillary officially called it quits, and Palin could attract them despite her over the top right wing views.

Never underestimate the ignorance of the American electorate.

Do we push the ethics investigation in Alaska (trooper gate)? It is in our hands up there....

I think we are scrambling for dirt on Palin, and we know there is more than we can scoop up with both hands, but 9 weeks is a very short window. She is such a piece of trash.

Anonymous said...

Yes, but a wildly popular piece of trash, and a very loose cannon. Maybe the Obama people think she will loose her appeal soon since she started out so very strong. Perhaps like the American public soon looses interest in a wildly popular movie or TV show, or rock star with one hit.

I still think the Dems. need to rise up and take control of the situation before the GOP does. The GOP is well on its way to take back the control they lost with McBush before the female got in the game. It is the GOP's strong suit after all.
Dave Levy

Lydia said...

Here's a website you might find useful: http://www.factcheck.org/

Lydia