Travel agents often gull tourists into trips like the one Barack Obama just took; nine countries in nine days; each stop just long enough to snap a few pictures, ask a few questions and lose your luggage. Obama's gaffe-free jaunt shows he has two traits tourists and presidents need: discipline and an iron constitution.
As the press waited to pounce on rookie errors, Obama's grizzled opponent was stateside blithely claiming that our first war after 9/11 was Iraq -- that would be Afghanistan, actually -- that the "surge" inspired the so called Anbar Awakening -- Anbar was first by about six months -- and that Iraq borders Pakistan. (Nope)
Obama pictures were great: in a helicopter with Petraeus; at dawn by the Wailing Wall; mobbed in Berlin. Back home McCain walked around like a guy in a grocery store who forgot his list. His age is his enemy, yet there he was in Maine sharing a golf cart with George H.W. Bush. At 84, Bush drove. It made Dukakis in a tank look like Washington crossing the Delaware.
McCain then meandered down to Wilkes-Barre for a listless appearance before a half empty auditorium, then to Columbus where, as Berliners showed Obama the love, McCain lunched at Schmidt's Restaurant Und Sausage Haus, also half empty.
After lunch, McCain praised the cream puffs and riffed on life's injustice: "Well I'd love to give a speech in Germany too ....a political speech ....but I would much prefer to do it as president ...." More and more, McCain speeches sound as if he's muttering to himself.
So why at week's end was McCain within four points nationally and closer in key states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio? There are many theories: Americans aren't that in to the rest of the world, we're a nation of gloms set to flunk a third straight quadrennial I.Q. test, and of course, race.
The last Democratic presidential candidate to hold this many cards was LBJ -- after Dallas and before Vietnam, running in a strong economy against a perceived extremist. Obama's high cards include a foolish war, a broken economy, a reviled president, an opponent too old for the job. He may win a landslide. He may also lose. Berlin shows how that might happen.
It was some sight, all those Europeans waving our flag, Obama calmly surveying them from above. The speech, aimed squarely at America's foreign policy establishment, was less riveting: the Atlantic Alliance is great; the cold war's just like the war on terror; please Germany, help us out of Afghanistan.
Political speech writers pay great deference to foreign policy advisors, three hundred of whom now advise Obama. Doubtless every last one tells him to be tough and thoroughly conventional. His pollsters and political consultants no doubt concur. Why take chances?
If it sounds familiar, it's the advice Al Gore and John Kerry got. Maybe this time it works. But maybe America won't switch direction without a better explanation; about how the war on terror isn't like the cold war; or how our future lies in fixing and strengthening multilateral relationships and institutions.
If we want America to adopt a new strategy, we must lay it out in fearless detail. That means not spending most of a big speech, or a campaign, validating the false premises of the opposition.
Obama's also spent much of last week quibbling with McCain over the surge, but seldom arguing specifics. Violence has ebbed in Iraq for lots of reasons, including the ethnic cleansing of neighborhoods, the realization that America might not stick around forever, and sheer exhaustion. For all that plus the surge, violence is as bad now as in year two of the war.
McCain has trouble telling Sunni's from Shiites. It's easy. Their big dispute is over a matter of succession following the death of Mohammed. Fourteen hundred years later the fighting's fiercer than ever. If you think it won't be resolved soon, or that we have little to add to the discussion, you probably want our kids home sooner, not later.
Of course the real issue isn't the surge but the decision to go to war in the first place. The reason McCain can't be president isn't that he cast the wrong vote back then; it's that he still thinks it was the right vote. America's unsure of how to get out of this quagmire, hence the word, but it is sure it wants to avoid the next one. McCain isn't at all sure. That's a deal breaker.
Democrats blow presidential elections by shrinking from their best arguments, avoiding specifics and generally pitching woo to the status quo. It's not what transformational leaders do. It's not what a 'party of change' does. It's not what the country wants.
In his Berlin closing Obama envisioned a world working as one to tear down walls of oppression. If the speech's early and middle passages were short on audacity, at least the end was long on hope.
Now that he's home he'll stress domestic policy but he needn't switch topics altogether. In matters foreign and domestic, the country wants to hear more about the nature of the change. He should stop looking back over his shoulder at a dying establishment and tell us.
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What if the polls are all lies paid for by the MSM to make the stealing of the election believable?
Bill I guess you watched the Edited version of the magic "O"venture. Uh . .. Uh . Uh . Uh . .
Uh . not the one the rest of US saw.
Elections here have been a redo since Vietnam. Trivial, inconsequential wedges like gay marriage, lapel pins, patriotism (false) and drinking beers swing the uneducated voters who have equal power to the Rhodes Scholars. Swap out repubble talking points-communist to Al quaida, Vietnam to Iraq, defeat to victory. etc. We end up voting for the lesser of two evils because the best of the two candidates is never a topic of conversation. I wrecked a car and went to jail, should I be a mayor or councilman?
Many comments focus on what Obama must do to affect how he is perceived. Perhaps there is some merit to trying to refine how much of a centrist/leftist/whateverist he is perceived to be. But that is only of limited worth, as those that are not enamored of him, what he stands for, his character, etc., are unlikely to change their VOTE based on the subtle nuances of his personality, psyche, etc.
Rather, what needs to be emphasized more -- MUCH more -- is the weak policies and ideologies of McCain, as well as the certain continuation of the failure of Bush doctrine, should McCain become President. Too many of those that would vote for McCain are not going to take the time to examine the details (if they did, I can't believe they'd still vote for him, unless it was just a matter of taxation). Thus they need to be shown, in brusque, unambiguous broad strokes, that McCain is a man who not only has no moral compass, no policy he won't sell out, no group or individual he won't pander to, and certainly no plans or ideas that will help anyone but the rich. Lastly, Obama must equally take a similarly bold stance in his own defense, shining a light on the absurd, almost even libelous claims McCain has made against Obama.
And if I sound partisan (albeit, I am), there is plenty of evidence to back all of this up, from news clips to voting records.
Obama used to be an inspiring candidate, then he got advice from the experts. Now he is just insipid. He comes across as a wimpy liberal democrat. He does not come across as a "transformational" candidate and, unless he gets his act together pretty soon, he may well lose this election. It looks like he is getting set to choose the "safe" VP candidate, probably Biden (or Bayh, or Kaine). So he doesn't feel he needs to go for the Clinton vote, well good for him, but why not step out of the shadows of the DNC and pick somebody who can get people's blood going? What we have here is a candidate trying to put us to sleep. As Jerry Jones keeps saying "WAKE UP PEOPLE"
"Obama used to be an inspiring candidate, . . . . Now he is just insipid."
He picked the place where Bush clearly turned victory into defeat, Afghanistan, to embrace the Bush-defined '!ar on Terrorism,' without even thinking about the baggage he just loaded on his back.
He's blowing it!!!
Americans don't want to be at war with the world. The intelligent folks around the world have marginalized terrorists as out of place in any organized society. We could do that, too! But that means calling this behavior criminal and turning it into a police problem that's handle cooperatively by policemen around the world. It also means not turning whole societies into our enemies.
This election should be a gimme! The opposition wants more of the same from people who have lost three or four wars. Obama should be quoting the Winograd Report on the war in Lebanon, the GAO report on the surge, and our own intelligence on Afghanistan & Iran.
All the yardsticks favor Obama. The dollar has lost half its value under Bush. Gas at the pump has tripled. Homes are being foreclosed at record rates, And good jobs are going overseas.
This election should be a slam-dunk! Just stick with reality and pin the tail of factual info on the dunkey!!!
not fooling anyone except yourself
The thoughtfulness of tmany hese comments is incredibly refreshing. So many comment sections are full of bombastic drivel coming from all sides. These comments make me hope Huffpo readers may indeed be a class apart. I think Obama's presentation of himself is unique because what he is offering is unique. While we have had many types of leaders in the presidency, I do believe he is first of a new generation of leaders that is emerging in many organizations to be on a national stage. His leadership style will be much closer to a Bill Gates than a Bill Clinton: providing the vision rthat ceates an opportunity for the creativity and energy of people to be harnessed and developing the strategic plan that will use that human capital in highly effective ways to advance the American Dream. There is no playbook for selling this kind of leader to the American public, but it appears that a vast portion of us get it or are getting it anyway, because he is plugged in to a deep change that has been unfolding well within organizational culture that many of us from all walks of life have been experiencing.
His judgement is sound and he has his finger on the pulse of what needs to be done by him -- and when to do it. He is choosing a partner-Vice President. Clinton Inc. spent millions they did not/do not have to ensure his window to accomplish all he needs to before the Convention in August, would be as short as possible -- knowing McCain would be advantaged by having time to rest, plan, etc. Senator Obama is raising money and building a mighty 50-State Campaign strategy for, what will be a Republican RACIST and brutal process.
As an African-American boomer who has run this gauntlet in business for 30 years in a 'Mad Men' era -- I suggest you wait until the Convention and the last mile. Senator Obama has successfully kept the overall tone low keyed -- and for good reason. When he goes on offense, it will be something to see -- and NOBODY will be able to say McCain didn't ASK for it by the nature of his conduct this Summer.
Hillary Clinton knows something about this...and Barack Obama's playbook. Curious, John McCain is falling into the same trap.
Barack is a STRATEGIST. Please allow him to execute HIS strategy -- his way.
Before impatient Liberals begin applying historical narratives and comparisons to Senator Obama, I ask you to consider not triangulating him as Clinton Inc. did/does -- whereby he has two fronts challenging him simultaneously -- right and left -- disgruntled/hyper critical/sour grapes Democrats and McCain. Thus far, he has done us proud, taken the high road, changed the discourse regarding Iraq, broken Clinton Inc.'s hold on the Democratic Party and, in one trip -- garnered the world's RESPECT and possibly cooperation in solving the world's challenges since we cannot do it alone. That has been a tall order for anyone. For an African-American in America -- or anyone of color in Europe -- a near impossibility.
Senator Obama has run an excellent Campaign, has been and is judicious in his decisionmaking and management. He knows where he is going -- and understands that, as an African-American man -- he has to run this GAUNTLET and be nearly perfect each and every step of the way just to be considered. That is the standard set for 'minorities' and, those of us who are professionals in the business marketplace, well know it. Since the writer and majority of Americans don't have this daily challenge, I ask you to allow Senator Obama to pace himself and choose when he will carefully and judiciously address specifics. He will do so when they can no longer be manipulated, distorted, mangled or lied about buttressed by a biased -- yes, biased -- Constitutionally-protected press-cum-for-profit-MEDIA. The same media who an independent assessment indicated were harder on Senator Obama than Senator McCain, despite the successful manipulation of the MEDIA by McCain to openly state otherwise.
I so agree with this article! The problem with the Dems is that they are always total wusses. If they are criticized, they curl up in a defensive ball. The Repubs are tougher - Phil Gramm defended his "mental recession" remark; he didn't fold - even though he was wrong. The Dems fold when they are right. (I think that's the reason why they are not perceived as "terrorist fighters.") That having been said - Obama, in particular, is a newcomer to the political scene, and somewhat "exotic". If he were too out there, people would be more fearful of taking a chance. Much as I would love for him to lay it all out - maybe this more cautious approach works for him. (Gore and Kerry - better known - should have been more bold.)
As sensible as your advice is, Obama cannot adopt a position consistent with it because his vision of "change" is entirely different.
His history has shown that he is more of a go-along-to-get-along-type politician, one who has been more successful by being ambiguous rather than specific. He views himself as being different from confrontational-type Democrats no matter how few have not sold out.
Some of his most ardent supporters even admire the fact that the change that he seems to envision is one of working with Republicans, although there are those who seem to express the hope that he will provide the leadership and the Republicans will work with him on his terms.
He is locked into his position of being somewhat ambiguous, of being less Democratic-like. He is a skilled speaker and, while he speaks well of JFK, he admires the rhetorical approaches of Reagan and Clinton more than the rhetorical approaches of LBJ, JFK, Truman, or FDR.
You have asked him to provide specifics, more details. This makes sense, but it is unlikely that we are going to see it.
There is literally no way for a Democrat to win the White House by not "selling out." Every successful politician--from George Washington to Bill Clinton, via Lincoln, FDR, and JFK--is a master of compromising the principles of his true believers. If Obama loses, it will not be because he sold out (thank God he did!), but because he just doesn't have it in him to be a Hillary attack dog. Hillary showed Obama the way to triangulate the Archie Bunkers perfectly: present yourself as the guy who is FIGHTING for them against their resented enemies, and thus make yourself a personification of their anger. Archie LOVES that in a politician, and Archie, as always since '68, will decide this election with his resentments. Obama will lose if he can't shake the wimp image, as Hillary so successfully shook the feminist "woman" image and almost won with that most attractive of things to the poor, loveless, ever anxious mob: BALLS.
OK, no one can seriously doubt that there is support for your views re Bill Clinton. Even Hillary would agree with you.
But, George Washington was "a master of compromising the principles of his true believers?"
And Lincoln was "a master of compromising the principles of his true believers?"
And FDR was "a master of compromising the principles of his true believers?"
And JFK was "a master of compromising the principles of his true believers?"
I agree that Obama's speech in Berlin was rather vague and lacked detail, but I do not think it was meant to be full of substance. I also don't think that it needed to be. Obama is not running to be president of Germany and as a candidate for President of the United States speaking to 200,000 German citizens, it was probably not the right time or place to be speaking about specific policy details. His broad theme of the need for more mutual partnership between the U.S. and its European allies may have been bland compared to what we usually hear in his stateside speeches, but I think he was saving the more detailed specifics for his convention speech... and that was the right thing to do.
well put!
I felt the same way - the speech was tepid, but it didn't matter - all he wanted to do, I believe, was basically introduce himself and give a summary of what he envisions for the US and the world - and I don't mean that in a messianic way, but in a leadership way - the way the American President should be!
Well said. However, though Obama's election will be transformational, first he has got to get elected. He has to take those steps.
1. He has to get all of his talking heads (surrogates) to speak from the same hymn book - his vision book. Almost all of the dems talking heads on TV are from Clinton's camp where they do not go out aggressively for Obama. That's not good.
2. Obama needs to keep his message out there, all the time. His trip aboard last week was a prime example. Let the opposition take pot shots but don't spend too much time defending the fine points. The opposition likes to waddle in the weeds. The dems need to stay out of the weeds.
3. The dems need to acknowledge what the opposition positions have been for the past 30 years and still is, then smack them down repeatedly what crimes, poverty, and disillusionment their policies have caused.
4. Highlight McBush voting record constantly. He got 25 years of voting record.
5. Punch a hole in McBush service record. It's not as great as the repubs want us to believe.
6. Mr. Curry, keep writing these articles.
7. Obama, go out and stay big picture. Stay out of the weeds, that's where the opposition wants to keep the dems so they can keep it mudded up using right wing infrastruture of radio and TV to spread the slime.
Obama's transformational message is to believe in him. HE is the movement. That is clear from his books, his on-line site, his campaign rhetoric, his visuals, and those speeches. There IS no movement. He is the one.
That's why he's a tough sell to anyone who isn't prepared to write a politician that kind of blank check loyalty.
There will not be much vision in policies or plans for the country. That approach, which seems logical and has been asked for by politicos since the early primaries, will not be forthcoming because it contrasts with HIS message: O is the movement.
Yeah; so far the only "transformational" thing I see him doing are a lot of voter registration drives and bringing young adults directly into the political process.
I would say that's a PRETTY big thing!
Considering young adults are very uninterested in voting because they feel their voices aren't heard.
While voting should be a right everywhere, we are fortunate that we live in a "free" society. Granted our civil liberties have been scratched away every so slightly...but compared to the rest of the world- we've got it good.
Americans who don't vote have no right to complain.
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Posted July 28, 2008 | 04:12 PM (EST)