Yeah -- You and Whose Army?

So everyone's talking about the nasty spike of nastiness in the presidential race -- a spike brilliantly orchestrated by the Republican machinery -- and Republican John McCain takes a moment to point out that even this is Barack Obama's fault.

Y'see, all the crap being thrown at Obama -- the fear-mongering, the half-truths, the full lies -- all the character assassination hurling Obama's way, is in fact, his own doing.

"I think the tone of this whole campaign would have been very different if Senator Obama had accepted my request for us to appear in town hall meetings all over America," the Senator from Arizona tells us.

Am I just losing my friggin' mind? Seriously. I keep looking around the room to see if I'm living in some suddenly altered state where everything we know is now called the opposite, and nobody notices. Or can stop it.

"I wish I didn't have to take your lunch money, but you should'nt of hadda brung it."

We're in the 3rd grade again. The skinny, smart kid who just moved in to the neighborhood is getting roughed-up by the asshole bully. The kid who hits you in the head with your hand and says, "Why're you hitting yourself? Why're you hitting yourself?"

"Um, actually I'm not. You're hitting me."

"You calling me a liar?"

"No, I'm just pointing out that..." SMACK!

"Why're you hitting yourself?"

And there seems to be no one to appeal to. There're no grown-ups around when you need 'em. No one to step in and say, "Alright, that's enough now. We don't do that here, fella." And in the absence of any authority, the asshole gets to keep doing it.

"Why're you hitting yourself? SMACK! Why're you hitting yourself?"

From the few minutes of the GOP convention I could stomach watching, all I could think was that Giuliani and Sarah Palin were doing some big-person, lethal version of "I know you are, but what am I?"

America: "Well, respectfully, Governor Palin, it could be argued that you are, in fact, relatively inexperienced."

Her: "I know you are but what am I?"

"Hm? No, perhaps you misunderstood. We are talking about you."

"I know you are but what am I."

"Well, Governor, just listening to your speech, you seem awfully caustic."

"You are."

"And, frankly, a little bitter."

"You're bitter."

"I mean, where's your sense of humility?"

"I'm rubber, you're glue. It bounces off me and sticks to you."

"My God - you're... dangerous."

"I know you are, but what am I?"

Maybe that's the problem. Obama treats us like adults, and McCain's team treats us like children.

Obama seeks to inspire and raise us as a nation. McCain's people want to reduce us to infants.

Obama asks us to be deep. And courageous.

McCain prays that we're simple. And cowardly.

Now everyone is calling for Obama to "get angry." "Get out there and frown this way, curl your lip that way, and clench your fist like so." And, I don't know..... That'd be cool. Sure. But I don't think the fix can come just from him. There's only so much the guy can do. It's going to have to be us. I don't know what exactly we need to do, but I know we'll do it. I have to believe -- I mean I really have to believe we're big enough, strong enough and smart enough to reclaim what's ours. I love my children too much to let the assholes take over the school yard.

Comments

[limocro]

Another strong voice of sanity and reason in the surreal climate we are attempting to navigate!
Thanks. Let's hope we hear many many more adults in the coming weeks and the babies can return to their playpens where they belong.

[Sseb]

I also feel like I woke up in an alternate universe, back in grade school where I'm threatened by bullies because I want what best for the U.S. and the world.

Obama's and our dilemma is that we don't want to sink to that level. Once you adopt the lying and cheating of the gutter tripe neocons, you become one of them.

I wish I knew how to defuse the "win-at-all-costs" mentality of the Republicans. Our country's competitiveness has hard-wired these people to cheer on the Red to beat the snot out of the Blue, even though we're all on the same team. I also don't understand the rejection of the Golden Rule by people who so loudly proclaim their Christianity. It is designed to be counterintuitive, which confuses the rest of us.

I can only tell my Red friends how McSame intends to hit them personally -- with a tax on their employer paid health care. Maybe they'll consider that an additional $1800-$3000 per year in taxes isn't worth supporting their "team" this time. If they insist they'd never vote for Obama because he'll raise their taxes, I congratulate them for making more than $250,000 since those are the people who will see their taxes rise under Obama's plan.

I hope it will sink in. If someone has better ideas for explaining the obvious to someone who prefers being lied to, I am all ears. I think we all are.

[Novelismo]

America loves its Borrow and Bomb Conservatives. I know it's hard to get used to the notion that quite a lot of America voted for George Bush twice. One hears persistent rumors that Republicans voted for Obama in the Democratic primaries wherever and whenever they could. It's hard to get used to the notion that the Drilla from Wasilla may end up being a heartbeat away from the Presidency. But that's not an alternate universe. It's just America.

[azyuwish]

I am sad to say but I think you are correct. America on the coasts (where I live, SF ) and New York sometimes forget that America is also The Waltons. America is "Deliverance". America is also Beavis and Butthead. America is Dollywood. America is County Fair.

The majority of these people are not at all adverse to wars. They may have been dissatisfied with Bush and his approval ratings show this, but I think Democrats assumed that this meant they would vote Democratic next time. But perhaps their disillusionment with Bush was not that they disliked his policies, but that he couldn't WIN the war in Iraq, decisively like WWII. They blame his ineptness on the high price of gasoline, as if he would have commanded decisive victory in Iraq, we would have $2 gas at the pump.

Why else would they be going for this tough guy bluster from McCain? " I can see victory in Iraq! I know how to get this done." I have a plan to get Bin Laden, I know how to do this!" "There may be wars ahead, many wars ahead." Palin saying that "Perhaps so" we will go to war with Russia. War doesn't really affect the majority of these people; sure some of their kids die but the spin is that it was for a noble cause and they are heroes now. The majority sit back and watch it on TV (the sanitized war news) and pass the popcorn.

[LongTimeLiberal52]

Absolutely, Paul. Hear, hear!

It's distressing that, according to polls, so many citizens continue to swallow this nonsense hook, line and sinker. Like you, I think it's up to We the People to raise our voices against the insidious Republican mantra of evasion, obfuscation, misdirection, and schoolyard bullying.

An earlier commentor wrote "Obama will win if you all...stay focused on the mission. Get voters registered and let's be sure their votes count." In that light, send this video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9pqGxnrM1A ) to anyone and everyone you know; there are over 16 million Americans of voting age who've never taken the plunge before. Their votes could be the difference between a brighter future and one based on intolerance, cronyism, fearmongering, and lies.

[RussellEida]

That was spot on Paul! I cannot stand McCain, Palin, and all of their cronies. They are bullies. They don't care about the better of the country. They just care about making sure that we lose. Even if they have to lose something too. The idea of the decent kids, the smart kids, the minority kids rising up and achieving happiness, sickens them so much. Even more, they cannot tolerate the idea that anyone in another country might be happy if Obama won. They are, after all, the rival team, right? So they have to be miserable too.

I hate them. I hate McCain. I hate Palin even more. And I am just so sad that there are so many people in this country who care so little about others that they would step right on top of us in order to get just a little bit closer to the popular kid.

[greenriver]

Paul,
I'm so glad someone finally brought this up. Two weeks ago when I first heard McCain mention that Obama brought the attacks on by not agreeing to his debate format, I thought "You big freakin' baby!" I couldn't believe I wasn't hearing more about it from the media. McCain is coming across as such a whiner. Couldn't you just see him in the White House? What a disaster. I wonder if he would deal with heads of state that way? Think it would work? Hmmmmmm?

[Tracy Saunders - Huffpost Blogger]

Paul,

It's so true. And it's nice to see Obama trying to rise above the juvenile tactics. It's becoming a teenage drama where Palin is Ms. Popular, McCain is the jock, and Obama is the smart kid. But the smart kid usually wins. Right?

http://beyondthepretty.wordpress.com/

[Questinia]

Didn't happen in 2000.

[venicesurfer]

in a fight, the jock usually wins.

[LizM]

Nice to see you are also ignoring and dismissing Joe Biden. You do realize, do you not, that without Joe Biden, Barack Obama is going nowhere, fast? Just curious...­have you seen any of Joe Biden's events lately?

[syrupcore]

She's not ignoring Joe Biden. Look around on some news/blogs homepages and you'll see the three characters in the hs drama she cites - not Joe Biden. I mean really, WHERE THE HELL IS BIDEN? VPs have a job to do during the campaign and I can assure you the wit and delivery of "Noun, Verb, 911" was a key factor in him getting the job. Now he just has to do it.

He may, in fact, be doing it. Perhaps we're not seeing it because it's not being covered. Mind, traditionally, not that much attention is payed to the veep but Palin has changed that. Maybe Joe is getting regular VP treatment and Ms Failin' is getting the same sort of attention new kid Obama got back in the primary.

[Bademus]

You don't know what we'll do? I'll tell ya: we'll donate money and time, we'll register voters, we'll make phone calls and we'll canvass. We'll blog and comment and email out facts. We'll make our voices heard in every way we can and everyone can play a role. Do something.

[Jax]

Spot on, Paul. Excellent post!
Many here are advocating that the Dems should ignore these thugs and stay focused on voter reg and GOTV. Nonsense! Our high-profile Dems ought to be serving as the grown-ups in this situation (Biden...C­lintons...­Dem governors and Senators..­.where are you?)
We need to deliver a fierce pushback. This does not mean lying or engaging in dirty tricks. However, it does mean delivering a stern lecture and pummeling McCain/Palin with hard punches. We need to put the McCain campaign on the defensive. They should be responding to OUR challenges.
To do this, Dems need to master the art of the contrived press event. Our lazy press only reacts to shiney new objects that are delivered gift-wrapped, assembled, and ready for the typesetter. There is absolutley no reason we shouldn't be dominating the news cycle. We have the right message, we have smart, smart people running the campaign, and we have lots of money. Let's roll!

[LizM]

If you want to know where Biden is, you're going to have to do some leg work. Actually, he has been doing events (and Dr. Biden, too!), non-stop, since being tapped as running mate and has been literally wowing the crowds wherever he goes!

Of course, the media and blogosphere have continued to ignore and dismiss him as they both so blatently did during the early primary process.

If McCain/Palin win this thing there will be no one to blame but the ignorant masses and the incompetent and inept media - both will contribute to the demise of democracy as we know it.

[Jax]

LizM....Ye­s, I suspected that Biden was busy campaigning. I like Biden a lot. (and Dr. Biden, too!) However, none of his hard work is hitting the airwaves. It's us and the crickets out here. I'm not sure how we crack that barrier, but we've got to do a better job of it.

It is great to hear that Joe is wowing the crowds at the rallys, but if only those attending the rally hear his message, that's not good enough. Those foks are already convinced. We need to get his message to those who don't go to the rallys. If you have any insight on how we out here can help, please let us know! I feel like I am watching this election slip away from us, and I'm feeling that the Obama campaign is just not fighting hard enough. It's very frustrating.

[ThermoChemist]

It truly is unfortunate that Presidential-level politics has turned into the epitome of juvenile antics. I'm sure the whole world, and America, was hoping that they saw the last of immature behavior in America's leadership with Dubya leaving. Unfortunately, the juvenile shenanigans continue..­!

I'm sure everyone remembers a few months ago where a McCain spokesman stated "In fact, Obama's never met with President Uribe in Colombia, AS John McCain HAS. He has still YET to take a trip to Mexico City to have those meetings there..." How friggin juvenile can the McCain camp get with nonsense like this? It's as if McCain was now going to "doube-dog dare" Obama to go to Mexico City? Was Obama then supposed to schedule a trip to Mexico City so he wouldn't be seen as a "scaredy cat"?

Now, McCain's latest: "I think the tone of this whole campaign would have been very different if Senator Obama had accepted my request for us to appear in town hall meetings all over America". This reminds me of the sadistic Captain in "Cool Hand Luke" stating "What we've got here is... failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men."

HE blames the men for making HIM do the nasty things he does (just like McCain is now doing with Obama).

[LondonTalk]

Great article. It is truly alarming that the Republicans insist on using bullying and fear mongering tactics both at home and internationally. Why can't they focus on their solutions for America's problems? Have they so little respect for the electorate that they are devoting their time to rhetoric and propaganda.

[DereksDontRun]

Great post, Paul. I especially like the part where you call McCain out for hoping that we are simple and cowardly. I hear again and again about this honor and bravery on the right, but all that I ever see is fear mongering and reactionary attacks. I don't like to paint with too broad of a brush, but so many Republicans seem like small minded cowards to me. Who will keep us safe? My country right or wrong. Flag pins as the pinnacle of "patriotism". Patriotism is a word they really have no concept of. Being a patriot is loving your country for more than the flag that is a symbol of it or a neat slogan. The fervor to protect the ideas that created and sustain the values of real liberty of mind, body and spirit, of not just yourself and your inner circle, but of all of your fellow citizens, is patriotism. Silencing voices of dissention in a Joseph McCarthy style witch hunt in order to protect the interests of big oil and big business is not patriotism.

[Nancy84]

Wow, well said. Where are all the smart people? How do we get the "zombies" to listen? They hear nothing but want they want to hear. What can we do?

[DereksDontRun]

The term zombie is so appropriate. I love and abhor zombie movies. I love them because I empathize with the protagonists who are trying to survive and remain individuals and feel abhorrent towards the shambling zombies who en masse want nothing more than to devour your brain and make you just another rotting corpse in their putrid body politic. The smart ones are out there and we can win, but beware the zombies.

[lizaac]

Can some of the independents speak up and let us know how everything is impacting your vote?

Do the lies matter? Are you still undecided? What do you need to hear to make your decision?

[eclub]

I tell ya what: UNDECIDEDS are silly people. Dont do anything based on undecideds. They are usually Racists and liers. You cant be undecided between light and darkness. Good and Evil. McCain and Obama.

And you and I know it. So, why pay them any mind? Frankly, when you ignore the punks, you are better off. Let them vote for who ever they want in the end.

[lizaac]

Sure, but aren't the undecideds the ones that will determine this election? Maybe I misunderstand?

[sandrarita]

I'm presuming you mean the 'good' and the 'light' to be Obama, of course.

[newhouse1]

Americans, no, let's be more PC, blue collar Americans are a pathetic and racist lot. This election hangs in the balance for one reason and one reason only. Blue collar (code for white people) don't like the Democratic messenger because he's black / mixed race. Obama can huuf, and puff, and threaten to blow houses down all he wants. That's singing to the choir. Even "liberal" registered Democrats in battleground states are polling that they're "still undecided" about Obama vs. McCain. STILL FREAKIN UNDECIDED! WTF are you talking about. And white women are making a spectacle of themselves, and making their intelligence suspect, by voicing support for Palin... because she's a woman, because she's a mother, because she's "one of them." How about, because she thinks Jesus should be in every school and government facility in the nation, and she thinks abortion should get you arrested for murder, but the death penalty (state murder) for performing an abortion is swell. I know about Russia because I can see it from Alaska?! And the media does not go on 24/7 about the absolute nuttiness of such a statement??!! This is turning typically stupid, and America gets what it deserves. But we are seeing the direct results of cuts in funding for education and mental health.

[k8k9]

You threw me at first with the racist comment that blue collar (white people) are racist . . . .

But once past that I agree!!

[SouthpawSass]

Thanks Paul, you're "the guy!" Well written.

McCain is a dirty fighter and a dishonorable little man. I'll never again see him as I did in 2000. He's not a maverick as much as he's a cameleon.

Obama has shown more honor and integrity throughout this campaign, but if Obama wants to win, he needs to take off his starched white John Kerry shirt and put on his play clothes... It's not a matter of lowering himself to McCain, but proving he's willing to fight FOR the American people.