Obama KOs Bush and McCain: Finally, a Democrat Who Knows How to Fight!

Somewhere today George Bush and John McCain are wandering around like two punch-drunk fighters, trying to explain to their dwindling entourages how they got KOed in this week's big fight. "I t'ought I had 'im on the ropes wit' my big 'Appeasement' Punch!" "He shoulda been a sucka for the ol' 'Naive' One-Two!"

Barack Obama, that wily counterpuncher, just shook up their world with a stunning combination.

Bush, of course, is Old News, both literally and figuratively, and McCain will be joining him sooner than he thinks. But at least Bush will be able to brag, in his dotage, that he was once the Heavyweight Champ of the World, even if he didn't win it on merit, but was installed by a kangaroo Supreme Court decision that ranks with boxing's worst mob-fixed fights. McCain will be reduced, in his more-imminent dotage, to doing "I coulda been a contender" monologues in backwoods VFW halls. You can already see the bewildered terror in his eyes . So blissfully convinced, just a few days ago, that foreign policy was a winner for him, he can sense -- like the rest of us -- that the fight's not going according to plan.

Finally -- a Democrat who hits back! And who not only hits back, but kicks serious ass!

"Styles make fights," the promoters say, and the contrast here is stark. Bush and McCain are old -- not in age, but in approach. They're stiff. They're clunky. They're "musclebound" without being strong. Obama's technique is dazzling: he's deft, fast, and blessed with Sugar Ray Robinson skills of improvisation that make Bush and McCain look even clumsier. Imagine: a candidate who's at ease dropping words like "amorphous" and "disingenuous" into one fluid sentence -- and who trusts the intelligence of the American people enough to do so.

But tactical brilliance is only truly worthy in the service of moral integrity -- and Obama earned his title shot by having the guts to speak out against this criminal "war" back when it was considered practically treason. He earned it, too, in the debates, by standing up for the simple proposition that diplomacy is preferable to war. Even when Clinton tried to mock him for it.

So it was good to hear Hillary rally to his defense against the creepiest of the Bush/McCain smears. But what if Clinton herself had been the nominee -- how would she have been able to fight back against that kind of cheap -- but previously lethal -- Republican suckerpunch?

When one candidate is threatening a hundred years of war, and his opponent is promising to obliterate entire populations, then where exactly is the debate? It's only over the details. Who to kill, how many of them to kill, and under what precise conditions to kill them.

A McCain vs. Clinton match-up would've been maddening that way -- a battle over who could show more "testicular fortitude" by threatening more destruction. Maddening -- but dull. With two opponents who both voted for George Bush's war -- and for his self-defeating saber-rattling against Iran -- it wouldn't exactly have been a thrilling battle of opposites. They're both, in a way, holdovers from another era.

This week we saw the first punches landed in a brand-new kind of fight. Obama gave the speech that Hillary Clinton could never have given. The speech that even John Kerry -- similarly hamstrung by his early support for the war in Iraq -- couldn't give. It signals the arrival of an innovative, cagey, and principled warrior in the ring.

Get your bets down now. Should be a helluva fight.

Comments

[flatus]

In thinking about McCain, the word "buffoon" came to mind. That he is, indeed, a buffoon can be seen whenever the guy is separated from his teleprompter. Look for those moments. They are quite amusing.

[mkaren]

NO! NONONONONONONONONO! I cannot disagree with this any MORE! The campaign response was AWFUL!

Sure, Barack did great in message and tone. But where was the REST of the campaign?!?!?! Where were the wall-to-wall surrogates?

I didn't hear ONE person show up in the MSM say that:
- They are cowards for saying he was going to slam Obama, then lying about him, and then saying "I wasn't talking about you!" Childish, and COWARDLY.
- Repeat the very harsh words Obama DID use in his response. "They have to answer for" making Iran stronger. "They have to answer for" making Hamas stronger. "They have to answer for" making terrorists stronger.
- Bush/McCain made us weaker against terrorists, and Bush/McCain made terrorists stronger. They are FAILURES in the foreign policy arena.
- The voters are smarter than this. They are not going to "double down" on a failed policy any more.

Sure, Biden, Clinton, and many Sens. took a pound of flesh -- because they're great politicians. But where were the surrogates? Official and -- perhaps most importantly -- unofficial?

MCCAIN/BUSH: COWARDLY. HYPOCRITICAL. COMPLETE FAILURE.

No, the response was NOT nearly good enough.

-vp

[JohnEskow]

You might want to calm down and cut back on the caffeine and capitol letters, vp. You're attacking a phantom. I didn't discuss the "campaign's" reaction, only Obama's, which you say was "great."
As for "surrogates" and so on...that's a separate conversation, and one that doesn't really interest me. At least you're well-informed; for the dead opposite, see a guy named "Cuban Pete" below.

Thanks for contributing.

John

[mkaren]

Well, thanks. I didn't think I was "attacking" anyone.

The lack of continuing push-back on this issue (not to mention the near-universal supporter's lauding) of this response has my hair on fire.

The thing that makes this a 'win' is (sadly/of course) not just the facts, but the political response.

I'm trying to add on to the conversation, because I think the functioning of the campaign has been severely lacking. This has happened before, but this time it really really counts.

I'm trying to raise an alarm about a major shortcoming of the campaign. I'm sorry it doesn't interest you. I hope it does your readers.

Thank you for your article; as you can see, it got me thinking about a related matter.

I wonder if this issue will die after the returns tonight, and the news cycle on those.

[CubanPete]

ROFLMAO! Yeah, it takes a real macho man to take on Bush and McCain, Wright! A two year old can beat them with a battle of the wits. Now Hillary Clinton...yeah, he's scared to have his head handed back to him on a plate again - no more debates with that evil woman again! She might use words that have over 6 letters in them again and without his teleprompter and questions two weeks in advance, Obama would be just a helpless widdle baby..... You Obama people really don't expect much in a Presidential candidate - do you? Since Ron Paul and Hillary Clinton have had the nomination stolen from them - I guess a vote for the war hero it is. Oh, and I am not a racist - if you show me ablack man that has better qualifications for the job than Paul or Clinton - I will gladly vote for him - as for Obama - no thanks, I want someone who isn't afraid to debate a girl.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

Polls are like the big boards in Vegas... full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
Speculation based on heresay. They can be gerrymandered just like everything else.

[austinobserver]

It will be a first-round knockout. McCain can only stay with Obama if the corporate media stands totally behind McCain. I do not see that. Republican incompetence has put the US empire on the brink of bankruptcy, and McCain has demonstrated repeatedly that he is no more competent that Bush. The corporate media is already showing signs of supporting Obama as its masters recognize that the US empire needs a whole new face and new management, or it will soon be kaput.

[flatus]

How sad is it for this country that the polls show a close race between Obama and McSame? But no worries. When the two of them are compared side by side sans the Hillary noise it will quickly become apparent that Obama is fighting a tired old clown.

[MikeDiamond]

The Polls will change if everyone read this site, whyvotedemocratic.blog.com.

[continental]

The boxer and Kung Fu master analogies both apply very well to Obama. The analogy of chess master also comes to mind, since Obama seems to be thinking several moves ahead of his
opponents.

[ThePrisoner]

Love the boxing analogy. Obama has treated his fellow Democratic opponents like sparing partners - hittingthem, but no dirty fighting or knockout punches. He'll hold nothing back from now on. Should be fun.

[desertdweller]

Obama - "float like a butterfly - sting like a bee"

it won't be the Washington weather - it will be the Obama leather

[DennyCrane]

Even if Obama didn't change anyone's minds about how misguided our foreign policy is, it was still a win for him since he was able to link McCain and Bush. If McCain loses, he'll be cursing Bush for the rest of his days. First, Bush cost him the presidency in 2000 and then again in 2008.

[zundra]

Lucky for McCain he doesn't have very many more days left in him.

[Gemma08]

My only concern is... you're preaching to the converted. What of the millions of *idiots* Republicans *idiots* *idiots* Rabid Hillary supporters*idiots* and *idiots* racists *idiots* ... the ones who ACTUALLY need to read this for their own good.

Being as its so clear to the rest of us that Obama is what America needs.... if they dont see it yet, then they are obviously missing a few IQ points... but they are the ones who need to realise the difference between the two candidates... so how do we get this message out to them??

[arkgrfx61]

Love the comparisons!
You've got me picturing McBush as Hans and Frans.

Plus, I think you are absolutely right - with a McCain/Clinton matchup, there would be too much testosterone in that room - it would be utterly boring - like two fighters constantly trying to hit each other but neither one getting that spectacular right hook.

Obama - floats like a butterfly - stings like a bee.

[marymansour]

You are so right on in this article. A president who can string, not only simple sentences together, but soaring ones and believes the American people are smart enough to understand them. This will be such a glorious day in the country and the world when we have a President Obama who will be carrying a clean slate as he deals with our friends and foes in a meaningful way. I can't wait.

[shel3364]

Here's to the possibility of an end to the "dumbing down" of America.

[Binea]

You Misunderstand...Obama is not a boxer.
Obama is a Kung Fu Master ! He is even Built for it...slim and wirey.He has the demeanor of a Kung fu master. He has the skills of a Kung Fu Master .He deflects every blow with ease keeping his energy in store for the Big fights ,which he will calmly and swiftly with intelligence and precision ,Kick arse so badly..there will be no question that he was always the right man.He is...THE KUNG FU MASTER ,coming to washington Nov. 08.
A Kung Fu master Vs punch drunk opponents..no contest .

[gomonkeygo]

YEAH!

"So it was good to hear Hillary rally to his defense against the creepiest of the Bush/McCain smears. But what if Clinton herself had been the nominee -- how would she have been able to fight back against that kind of cheap -- but previously lethal -- Republican suckerpunch?"

One word: Caved. She couldn't have morally or ethically responded at all. But they wouldn't have been attacking her like this. They would have been yelling "What about Bill Clinton - remember Bill Clinton and Lewinsky! Huh, don't you remember! BLUE DRESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!"

Thankfully we won't have to hear that garbage this fall. And I think Obama can take care of himself. I may even register as Democrat if he keeps this up.

Obama '08!

[longislandlol]

The credibility factor would have worked against Hillary as a candidate-- that scary statement she made re: obliterating Iran did her in--made her appear to be perceived as the triplet sister of the McBushes--