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

[Bobrobert]

WOW

Common sense dictates an entire article.

My hat is off to you sir.

:-)

Obama / Biden 08

[blueshift]

"Obama seeks to inspire and raise us as a nation. McCain's people want to reduce us to infants."
Of course, most American consumers (we're not 'citizens' anymore) want to be treated as children. just gimme my toys and let me play.

Obama asks us to be deep. And courageous.
Tough. See above. The wwii folks may have been the greatest generation, but they were followed by the boomers - the worst generation. cowards. and incurious. just gimme my toys and let me play.

McCain prays that we're simple. And cowardly.
He's right. Which is how we got Reagan, Clinton (Bubba) and Bushwhacker.

[altovuelo]

"... but they were followed by the boomers - the worst generation. cowards. and incurious. just gimme my toys and let me play."

Sorry, but that kind of stereotyping is not only dead wrong, and completely irrelevant, but it's the kind of stuff that gives Karl Rove's a hard on. Get them fighting amongst themselves as to who is more of a patsy, and nobody is talking about stuff like: THE WAR, THE ECONOMY, THE PLANET, you know, little stuff like that.

BTW, I'm one of your cowardly, incurious boomers. I'm also one of the people whose taxes will go up if Obama wins, because I worked hard to get one of those elite educations that are now so out of fashion, and I worked hard all my life. And I couldn't possibly be more anxious to actually pay my fair share.

Let's stop pointing fingers at each other, and work to take back America. We MUST elect Obama.

[sinhan]

You are absolutely right. However, the only thing bullies understand is getting hit back hard (not polite arguments). Don't expect media to fight your campaign for you.

So, Obama campaign has to hit back, not by lying and using McCain-Palin tactics but use McCain and Palin's own words and call them who they are- "HABITUAL LIARS'. Follow it up with- "If you want people that will always lie to you, elect McCain-Palin". If you want to Bomb Iran and go to war with Russia, vote McCain-Palin. If you like Bush, you will love McCain-Palin.

If you want TRUTH in your leaders and thoughtful responses to international crisis and NO UN-NECESSARY WARS, elect Obama-Biden.

[Boboday555]

Well put Mr. Reiser!
Sadly though, it’s not Palin’s or McCain’s fault.
The blame has to be placed with those who let this kind of grade school behavior go unchecked; namely the neo-conservative, Evangelical Fundementalcase base of children!
During the Gibson interview, I watched in horror as another republican, vying for the White House, mispronounced the word 'NUCLEAR' over and over.
I searched but have not heard or read one word from the far-right about how a republican Vice Presidential candidate can’t correctly pronounce an English word...and a pretty important English word at that!
Neo-con children celebrate stupidity and mock education.
Is it any wonder this nation is in the trouble it’s in!

[Olive]

She should have memorized her answers phonetically, like she did with her speech.

[princessofnowt]

Obama is right. They are just out and out lying and making it up.
He should keep saying so, and so should we.

They also have little rules they always follow , for example:

always have the last word, even if it makes no sense or is utterly irrelevant.
keep repeating their own point, whatever the question was.
Derisive dismissive laugh, as if to idiotic comment
Roll right over whoever else is talking if they are making sense- talk louder- the other person will give way (cos they are humans with a sense of decency)

[Stanley]

What we have here is a failure to communicate. This is a battle of "why do they believe the lies?" The answer is that they talk the lies every day. Closed minded angry people are joining the McCain camp as a last ditch bitter effort to claw at power in direct denial of their pending doom and irrelevance. They know it's over and they have corrupted one of their worst critics, John McCain in a desperate joint effort to cling on to power any way they can. Polls are going up because the desperate are finally believing McCain is now just as desperate as they are and are finally willing to join the man they have long despised. This is a match made in hell and will be shortlived at best. Can they win? I suppose it is possible. Will they win? Only if we keep arguing with the bitter morons instead of appealing to the better nature of the greater electorate. We need to call a lie a lie and then move on to actually presenting a plan to fix the country. The bitter few have held everyone who disagrees with anything they say with such contempt that getting bitter about their beligerance only makes us more like them. Inspiring young people, disenfranchised minorities, women and the folks hurt by years of bad governance is the higher road. It will win or we all will lose.

[newhouse1]

You used a very telling phrase in your comment: "... the better nature of the general electorate." For most Obama or change supporters, this is a prevalent attitude, and a faulty one I'm afraid. The 'better nature' of the general electorate is a myth. The slight of hand of what are being termed "blue collar" voters are white people. Clearly that is who is referred to when that expression is used, and everyone knows it; but everyone is afraid to say it out loud. Minorities are also blue collar workers, more so as a percentage of population vs. white collar types. America is now confronting its past, looking in the mirror, and for some not liking the reflection, but for many others, liking the reflections a helluva lot. Rudy Guillani calling Obama cosmopolitan, and getting roars is a joke. But he's speaking to the heart of the matter. White people in the majority of America's locales do not have the 'better nature' and will vote against their better interests rather than vote for a mixed-race person, given a choice. It's in some ways disgraceful, and psychotic. Imagine not wanting a blood transfusion if you knew the donor was black. Stupid. But there's no doubt that if a white person needed a blood transfusion, and was given a choice, they'd opt "in-race." Hannity and Limbaugh types know this. Americans are marketed as a righteous, open and determined lot. We're not. Reality bites.

[piperflyer]

But why is Obama always called black. He is as white as he is black. Why? This is not a racist question. I was raised next door to blacks and they are still my best friends. My sister was married to a black man---he was a best friend while my sister lived. But I don't understand why Barack Obama is never called a white man. Mysterious.

[TruepatriotinRI]

The "parents" who should stop it are the media, but they all seem to be passed out drunk in another room! What good is a free press if it is comatose?

[jaydfl]

Dear Paul,
You are absolutely right, but aren’t you one of those “Celebrities” that we have been told over and over during this campaign that we are not to listen to? We have been told that being a celebrity is bad, very bad! And that you have no right in this country to express your opinion. Even when you are so right.

Unless of course you are Chuck Norris.

[TruepatriotinRI]

Or Charlton Heston, or Ronald Regan, or Arnold Schwarzenegger, or James Woods or Elisabeth Hasselbeck, or the surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd!

[jaydfl]

I don't think we'll hear much from Chuck and Ronnie. They're Dead.

[goldnchyl]

Celebrity is only bad until the rethugs create their own. Then its the best thing since sliced bread

[Hofstra]

Obama does represent change for the better and McCain does not. Obama represents the beginning of gradual change for the better and it will be okay as long as Americans spend time each day helping him, e mailing, writing letters, talking to people etc.. and not being afraid. People also cannot expect everything to go their way but just some things. People have to be flexible.

[Goodmom08]

That is an excellent point, people cannot expect everything to go their way. I doubt that anyone agrees 100% or approves of 100% of the actions or statements of any one candidate. You choose your battles in politics, as in anything else.

[Verybusydad]

Hurray Paul! This is the kind of discourse we need to get those on the 'fence' to think more of their choice. Those of us who have decided are not going to change as the direction we need to follow is clear. And there is nothing better than humor to break though certain ideological barriers and get ideas across. As strange a comment it may be on our society today, it make be up to our humorists to help get across all the issues at hand.

[jcahill]

brilliant paul

let's stay focused_stay on the high road_keep registering young voters

we've got a generational advantage here_young voters_bottom up not top down

let's keep our balance and then WE CAN push the bad guys (and this scary strange chick) out of the playground
focus_register_get out that young vote_the angels in us must rise_

it is, as you say paul_up to us_so let's get it done_great blog paul

[sciphy]

Nation, stop whining. Obama will win if you all stop complaining and stay focused on the mission. Get voters registered and let's be sure their votes count (yes, I am talking about you Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida).

[tdaniel39]

I agree! We have to focus on our own mission and not get distracted by the slimy attacks from the McCain campaign. The tide was starting to turn on Friday and I think the Democrats will have a nice comeback this week. Forget the "wildlife murdering hockey mom" and concentrate on the man they call, "The Maverick".

[mema01]

Part of Obama's problems stem from the Press. Watching "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer, he aske Gov. Pawlenty about McCains statement against Mit Romney that he was just a mayor and governor for just a short time, and that the country couldnt have 'on the job training." Pawlenty did not even come close to anwereing the charge but instead dove into the McCain talking point. Blitzer didn't even call him on it, just let him go on and on.

Maybe the liberal pundits need to get a talking point and just say it over and over again regardless of the question. It would not only be funny, but might make a point.

[crayola 08]

i just saw that myself and it was so apparent that pawlenty went directly to talking points instead of answering the question i just sat there stunned at wolf blitzer's utter incompetence. wow.

[Cherlesq]

The thought that the McCain/Palin ticket could possibly get in the White House along with all the rest of the bullies will be a monumental tradgedy for the American people and no one will be blamed but ourselves.

[Goodmom08]

Paul, in my opinion, debate and discouse devolves into "I know you are but what am I?" when opinions are being slung, rather than facts. If you want to defeat Mrs. Palin, you will need much, much more than "But you're kind of inexperienced, aren't you?" and "You seem awfully caustic" as talking points in your argument. Stick to facts, not opinions, because facts can't be answered with "I know you are but what am I?" (Hint: "You seem kind of caustic" and "Where is your sense of humility?" are not facts.)