If We Don't Puncture Obama's Balloon, He Will Float Right Out of Our Hands --- McCain campaign

The polls are going back and forth, but the political pros ---- and the betting odds -- are convinced that Obama is going to win.

McCain is getting really desperate. He must not think he is going to win, if things stay as they are.

It is way too early for the heavy negative ads that have been coming from McCain's camp this week - - -usually, the nasty ads are saved for the latter part of the campaign, and the negative stuff should come from surrogates, instead of the candidate himself.

But McCain still remembers too well how Bush's negative ads destroyed him in the 2000 South Carolina Presidential Primary. The ads and rumors questioned McCain's military service and claimed he had fathered a black baby.

Which is why McCain is calling Obama a blond bimbo --- like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Political pros know that these negative "defining" tactics are tried and true. The Dark Arts of Campaign Munchkins mandate that you take the opponent's best qualities and twist them in the opposite direction.

Rock Star like popularity has been Obama's undeniable strength. It feeds on itself, finances his campaign, and energizes the media. Images --- of 200,000 Germans screaming their lungs out in Berlin for Obama --- flash across every television screen in the world.

How do you counter that? You try and define Obama as the "Pop Prince" and link him to popular, but flawed, celebrity addicts ---- Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

See, popularity isn't good. You can be an addict and be wildly popular. Don't you need something more to be President?

In the future, when the news media shows pictures of large, adoring Obama crowds, McCain's people hope that the voters will equate mass popularity as a bad thing.

Political jujitsu at its best.

You take the opponent's biggest strength and flip it. ......When you see the force coming at you, you redirect your opponent's momentum. His best issues are heartbreakingly turned against him. It takes the wind out of a campaign.

It's kind of a weird and counter intuitive to try and define popularity as bad.... But it is one of several narratives that the Republicans are trying to develop over the next few months. The other story line --- that the Britney Spears commercial is pushing --- is that Obama is an unpatriotic, starry-eyed political novice, who won't protect Americans in troubled times.

Once a promising story line is identified, according to Craig Crawford, every day you look for something - anything, no matter how minor or misleading, that might support it -- even stretching the truth, or worse, if it fits into a narrative that voters already believe about your opponent.

In 2000 the Republicans managed to tag Al Gore as a serial exaggerator with charges that he claimed to invent the Internet. The charges fit a pattern that Republicans hammered at again and again.

In 2004 The Republicans crippled John Kerry by discrediting his strengths ---his patriotism, Catholicism, character and well-documented war hero record --- with innuendos and falsehoods --- a classic Rovian Republican tactic.

Kerry's biggest strength was that he was a genuine decorated war hero. The scurrilous Swift Boat ads and false charges managed to dent that perception, and cast doubts on Kerry's war service --- his biggest asset, against a proven slacker, Bush.

Obama's camp has the opposite task.

When McCain calls Obama arrogant and cocky, (for saying that his chances look good) you can't convince people that Obama is not arrogant. Obama has to turn that around to his advantage, i.e. he's arrogant and tough enough to deal with terrorists, and greedy banks, the oil industry and other special interests.

Strong enough not to let nasty attack ads bother him.

Make no mistake about it, before the November election there will be an October Surprise: a serious act of terrorism on American soil, the bombing of Iran, or an Israel-Iran war.

Obama is going to have to convince the independent swing voters that he is tough enough, and wise enough to protect Americans whatever happens.

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Comments

[PacificGatePost]

IT’S NOT JUST BECAUSE CAMPAIGN ADS ARE NEGATIVE THAT THEY ARE A PROBLEM ---

McCain’s campaign may be getting torpedoed by Republicans in his own support system.

[NewArtz]

I remember that old saying. "It's not about winning or losing; it's about how you play the game". Well, we know from history that Republican's cheat, and we, the people, are the one's being cheated.

McCain doesn't care, obviously, how he plays the game, as long as he thinks it will help him win. Americans will either prove themselves to be dunces duped repeatedly by the same scam, or they will rise up and take back the country being taken from them. If we choose to be duped again, all bets are off...our greatness is gone, who else in the world would love us, trust us or follow us anywhere. But then, the feeble minded won't care, because they have unlimited stupidity with which to entertain themselves in the bread lines.

[barackobama4prez]

"Make no mistake about it, before the November election there will be an October Surprise: a serious act of terrorism on American soil, the bombing of Iran, or an Israel-Iran war. "


Still won't be enough. People will just blame the Rethuglicans for orchestrating it to win an election.

[TimmySlagle]

But here's the other problem:

Outside of his charisma, what does he got? His Federal resume isn't very long since he hasn't been doing much besides campaigning for the past four years.

While in the Illinois Senate, he didn't do much more than vote "present." One might argue that he spent his two terms there, campaigning as well.

When he goes off the teleprompter, he stutters like the current occupant of the White House, which is the reason he has been slow to agree to any debates with McCain.

You had better hope he picks a good VP.

[Doofus]

VP? Looking over to the right (side of the screen),
I'd be going with either Britney Spears or Paris
Hilton. Name recognition is SOOO important!

[barackobama4prez]

Oddly he seems to be proving himself enough for the majority of americans. O has 3 months to improve while JM has 3 months to implode.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

Thanks for illustrating the post's points about republican attacks.

[gulopartisan]

Oh, give it a rest. Obama is older than many men who have been elected President. He has more experience, more intelligence, and more character than... oh, for example let's pick election-thief Benjy Harrison. Millard Fillmore? Harry Truman?

McC*n's "experience " consists of crashing jets, sitting in a POW camp, and doing nothing in the Senate for 25 years. He has never had a job that wasn't handed to him on a platter, including the dowry that came with the trollop he dumped his crippled first wife for. His experience leads him to find mass murder amusing, to take credit for things he opposed....

What's the point? Obama has hundreds of pages of "substance" at his web site. He worked his way up from a single-parent childhood to excellence at Harvard, without two generations of alumni to grease the slicks. He spent a decade in public service while McC*n was getting salty dog from Charles Keating. Obama thinks while McC*n yammers and pounds his sagging chest; thinking is a good thing. Try it.

[luvangelHussein330]

OHH Timmy Timmy willfull ignorance is not bliss...it makes you sad and well...ignorant But let me help bring out out of the Dark Right...but first you must unleash the hannity, o'riley, beck talking points:
Those of us who support him and have reviewed his record know there is no basis to this charge, but just to make sure, I went to the Congressional Record (www.thomas.gov) and did a search for bills sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Obama in his three short years in the US Senate. I searched the 109th and 110th Congresses which cover the years 2005-2007. Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.His record is in fact quite impressive for a junior Senator from Illinois. Also keep in mind that experience doesn't always make for a good president: http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Info/experience.html.
Start thinking for yourself instead of parraoting information from idiots, pawn.

[Doofus]

'Make no mistake about it, before the November election there will be an
October Surprise: a serious act of terrorism on American soil, the
bombing of Iran, or an Israel-Iran war.'

'Make no mistake about it'? What sort of mistake might the voters make,
BEFORE the election? Your point must be: be ready to vote for Mr Repo Man,
so that a 'Plan for Retaliation Just in Case' may be prepared.

Personally, I don't believe there will be any such surprises.

'Obama is going to have to convince the independent swing voters that he
is tough enough, and wise enough to protect Americans whatever happens.'

This is true. It's always true, that Indepos make the final selection, even when
third-party twits get in the way.

[jstwtasec]

"Make no mistake about it, before the November election there will be an October Surprise: a serious act of terrorism on American soil, the bombing of Iran, or an Israel-Iran war.”

This is the single most frightening possibility to me.... Any one of these things could feasibly give bush the right to declare martial law and postpone the election indefinitely....

[gulopartisan]

The three spectres that hang over this election are equally frightening: A terrorist attack arranged by Cheney and his Blackwater thugs, voting machines that reverse exit polls again, and a sniper's bullet ending the threat to corporate fascism. We are a teetering waver from becoming the world's most powerful Third World junta. It will take more than voting to end that.

[Freesia2]

You just gave me a chill. My husband said the same thing once, that he believed Bush would find a way to postpone the election. He was tired though, and drinking a Scotch so I thought he was just brooding. But now you mention it, too. (You aren't by any chance tired and having Scotch are you? ;-) )

Let's just hope that Bush-Cheney-Rove have at least one line they wouldn't cross. They've stomped across so many.

[Doofus]

One is reminded, unfortunately, of a novel by Robert Heinlein, 'Stranger in a
Strange Land', VERY famous in the sixties, about a child born on Mars to
astronauts who was raised by Martians (essentially, very large-but-spiritual
cabbages, as I recall), and came to earth to be something of a savior, and
even had a few super-powers. Let's just say, things didn't go so well.

[jfor]

McCain has no positive traits that qualifiy him to be President. What he does have are percieved positive traits instilled by eight years of media love of everything that is John McCain. The media is going to take a big hit for the love they have shown this man. McCain is showing everyone exactly what kind of qualities he has and to be blunt they are not pretty and no amount of whitewashing by the media is going to be able to wash off the negative, race baiting and just plain old awful ads he has been running.
I am JFOR and support this message.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

I heard McCain called Britney and Paris 'stupid little c*nts'...

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

...because he mistook them for his wife!

[RabidRightRebel]

When Republicans say they can win the main stream media considers it positive and optimistic.
When the Democates say the same thing it is presumptuous and arrogant.

Talk about being in the tank for the Republicans.

[Gma11]

Scary thought there at the end.

[Freesia2]

Yes. It is.

I think it's realistic though. I could see it happening from outside, and the Republicans make political hay of it....or they make it happen to harvest some political hay as in the words of McCain, "Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran".

Like Fleetwood said, it's way too early for these kinds of ads. They're desperate.

[plebeianswillrevolt]

Wha?

"Make no mistake about it, before the November election there will be an October Surprise: a serious act of terrorism on American soil, the bombing of Iran, or an Israel-Iran war. "

[Freesia2]

HuffPost's Pick

What a great take on it, Mr. Fleetwood.

Rather than get defensive or try to redefine his character to shield himself - which resulted in 2004 in our watching a former soldier with 3 Purple Hearts running for cover from a little man who barely served his National Guard service - he basically hits the Republicans back with a Cheneyesque..... "So?"

A volley. Calmly handing back what he's served. Giving back as good as he gets. Out Rove-ing Rove. No apologies. Knowing he got this far on that strength, and then using that strength against them when they try to use it against him and cutting them off at the knees.

It's almost like martial arts. Using the opponent's strength against them and whangin' the snot out of them.

Ultimately he'd be doing nothing but continuing to do what he's done all along. Only more so.

It could work.

Ah geez, I want this man to win.

[blaqntelligence]

Freesia2,
You speak for me as well. And doubly in your last sentence......"Ah geez, I want this man to win."

[JohnnyBoyyy]

I agree Freesia2!

Remember the 95 year old Black man giving Obama that big stick early in the campaign? What a great symbolism and a passing on of Theodore Roosevelt's fondness of the West African proverb: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."

USE THAT BIG STICK WELL MR. OBAMA! Our lives and the future of America depends on it.

Johnny

[barackobama4prez]

I think it's tearing the M cCain camp apart because O is taking away his opponents greatest strength...with an assist from the candidate and his surrogates. This is the way he won the state and national senatorships and how he'll win the white house.

[BARRISTER]

Yes, and that will be more the reason why Obama MUST be elected President; to make the Peace!! Not McBushCain, to expand the war and complete the destruction of the U.S.A!!!!

[gulopartisan]

Israel-Iran War -- I can only hope that the Israeli government is not as demented as ours. Iran is not going to launch a nuclear attack on Israel, even if they could. Israel is a Muslim holy land; Muslims don't want to destroy it, they want to take it. Israel, on the other hand, has no stake in the survival of Babylon....