The Six Things McCain Has to Do Tonight

As a communication strategist, I love to think about how I'd solve really intractable communication challenges. John McCain has one of the most difficult ones I've ever seen in politics so, just for fun, here are the six things I'd suggest he do tonight at the debate and between now and November 4.

1. Bash George Bush tonight. Bash him deeper and more authentically than any Republican has in the past eight years. This is essential. Explain, sincerely (if it is possible to do so) how difficult it has been for you to be a "team player" and support an administration, out of party loyalty, that did not have a clue as to what it was doing or, worse yet, was not representing the real interests of America.

Then you could even begin to call yourself a "maverick" again.

2. Praise Barack Obama. Disappoint all of your little hate-filled supporters and step up to the plate as a class act. You know you have great respect for your colleague. You know how smart and patriotic and honest this guy is. Be real and share this openly, far beyond what you did in that Town Hall meeting on Monday.

3. Admit that the Republican Party is the No-Tax and Spend Party and that that has been worse for America than any Democratic administration in history, and that the entire party has lost its soul.

4. Get Rid of Sarah Palin. You can't win with her. Every day that goes by intelligent independents and moderate Republicans see that she is not capable of holding national office. It is more embarrassing to keep her than to dump her. Take the hit and blame it on new information that has come out of Alaska since you chose her.

5. Ask Robert Rubin or Warren Buffett or Mike Bloomberg or another true master of economics to serve as your running mate since you clearly know nothing about the biggest issue facing the country. And resist the urge to invite Phil Gramm, even though he has a degree in economics.

6. Stop whining about earmarks, stop whining about talking to world leaders without "Pre-conditions" (what confident adult needs those to have a conversation), stop whining about your opponent's "associations" unless and until you apologize and explain all of yours that are far worse, and admit that we can't continue to afford a $10 Billion "Occupation" and that even though your lovely "surge" may have "worked", the entire invasion and occupation has not and will not.

In other words, short of the largest caging operation and electronic voting machine theft in the Republicans' sorry history of stealing elections or a trumped up national security emergency that will paralyze the nation with Reptilian Brain fear, you, Senator McCain, have nothing. You don't have the courage to do any of the things I've listed and that, sadly, is the deepest point. You used to, you used to have courage. You used to be a maverick, but it is so clear that you have sold your soul and lost your way.

Your consolation, however, is that a Barack Obama Administration will truly bring all of the wonderful things to this country that I'm sure you also want. The world will respect us again, we will have sensible and forward thinking policies in all areas of our national life and will have a calm, steady, intelligent leader. It's all good, John, especially if you don't take my advice.

Comments

[tatertots]

Well said, we knew it would never happen, but it was fun to read it all called out by you anyway!
All they have left is lies and trying to steal the election while screaming 'voter fraud'
'voter fraud' how pathetic. 'Tinkle Down' economics is a ruse and we are all paying the
price. Hopefully America will finally wake up to the load of lies we've been sold since 1980!

[Krikkit]

Boy did you call that one wrong! Anyone with even one eye could clearly see that McCain has NO respect for either himself or Obama.

[munki]

Your number 4 should be number 1 - do you know how many women support her?
None that I know... and I am a woman and I belong to many women's organizations...
Women will soon to have more presence than today... because we are WOMEN

[Chansmom]

So far he's done none of that. I finally had to walk away from the tube, I was getting so angry at his pettiness. I still can't believe how he went on and on about Lewis and how Obama should have repudiated, over and over again. Gosh! McCain learns a new word and has make use of it.

[americandiaspora]

#7 put his head between his knees and kiss his ass good bye

[whitegoldwielder]

I think you are on to something. Why not. I would, however, change your list:

1. Admit that Obama is younger and stronger. A given.

2. Admit that Bush has made some mistakes but will probably be treated as well by history as Clinton or Carter.

3. Point out that all candidate plans for the economy went out the window with a close to trillion dollar bailout on top of a deficit.

[Likipedia]

I would be scared to let McCain drive a car let alone the whole country.....

[kellygrrrl]

1 and 6 - maybe

2 through 5 - Wont' happen!

[Danny]

"Get rid of Sarah Palin"! No, no, no, Richard Greene. She is the main reason republicans are ashamed to call themselves republican anymore. She's great for Obama/Biden!

[kozy]

John McCain is a prisoner again. He allowed himself to be imprisoned by the radical right and now has to do what his captors say. He can never be himself again. So, forget the maverick stuff, it won't happen. If he tried to escape from the web of Sarah and the far right (by dumping her) he loses too many far right and pretend-religious votes. He would then be stuck in the middle with some independents and a few Dems and Repubs -- a minority. So he has to remain a captive -- something he probably never thought he would have to go through again.

[TrevorAlan]

I agree that Palin as VP was a huge disaster for McCain, but why do people imagine dumping her now would be a positive. He'd gain a FEW moderate undecideds, but many others would see him as more indecicive and prone to caving to pressure, not very mavericky.

He'd also TOTALLY alienate all those "treason" screamers. They might be repugnant even to him but they're registered voters and they could decide to vote for some 3rd party crazy.

No, McCain is syuck with Plain, like it or not.

[foxbat]

McCain really missed his opportunities to go after Obama in the earlier debates and to set the tone earlier in the race. McCain also missed a HUGE opportunity while Obama and Clinton were still involved in the primary. McCain had the equivalent of a four-month head start to make his case, but sat back on an "entitlement" stance, somewhat like Clinton did.

The debate tonight will be tough for McCain to go on the attack because he's going to be up close and personal with Obama ... the format puts them sitting face-to-face across from each other. McCain won't be able to wander away and throw "that one" from across the stage. If/when he goes on the attack, the camera will be split screen and McCain will look like the angry man yelling at the neighborhood kids to get off of his lawn. Obama's taken PLENTY hits this election cycle from opponents and remains fairly calm/respectful in his response, so there will be a contrast. Also, given that folks have been responding negatively to the attack posture from McCain, each time he goes on the attack, people are going to hear that lady saying Obama is an Arab and the others yelling "kill him" and "terrorist." McCain's late again on his strategy if he decides NOW is the time to take off the gloves. BTW, did I mention that the Dow dropped another 700+ today? Each minute negative = minute off of the economy.

[Indy 44]

Foxbat, your analysis is right on.

McCain, the senior senator in this run to the White House, the war veteran, never did go into this thing fighting. His complacency, perhaps a by-product of his sense of "entitlement" as you put it, has made him the spectator of his own fall. In sports, when you have a great contest, between two deserving competitors, it sometimes just comes down to who wants it more. Obama, fueled by his brilliant upset over Hillary, goes into the general election as the feisty up and comer, taking on the old guard, and just plain wanting it more. McCain, and his poorly run campaign has squandered all of his political assets, wasted valuable time, and so now, late in the game, unable to compete, frustrated, he's reduced to blaming the refs (call it the media), and trash-talking his opponent. It's an unfortunate aspect of the game, but it's not, as some would point out, as dramatic as selling one's soul, it's just poor sportsmanship. This game needs to come to an end, so Obama can get on with leading, and McCain can get on with picking up the pieces of his once solid reputation.

[MsYellowDog]

This article is incredibly witty! Would that the world operated in the manner Mr. Greene describes.­Unfortunat­ely, this conversation will happen only "in our dreams."

[RobinLandseadel]

In other words: Stop being John McCain.

[JodyMcg]

Dear Richard,
Your advice falls on deaf and well dumb ears. Hopefully, the Hate Talk Express will derail on Nov. 4th.