Dear Barack, Time to Bite the Old Dog Back

July 30, 2008

Dear Barack,

Long time no talk. Congrats on the nomination, the Berlin love, and the spread in US Magazine. I know you got some flak a few weeks back from the left for making some cowardly compromises. I happen to agree with them. But I'll vote for you in the fall - and so will they. Meanwhile, your opponent looks like what he is: an old white guy who ran out of gas two years ago.

But he's got the old Rove Scuzzforce at his disposal now, and they're starting to ramp up the attacks. They have to do this, because there's no way McCan't can compel people to vote for him. Meanwhile, the media needs to make the race appear close, so they're going to whip every bit of insinuation into a giant, news-cycle guzzling Outrage Latte. Sound familiar?

The question is whether you're going to respond more forcefully than you did to Hillary. I implore you to stop using your surrogates to "push back." Think of it this way: McCan't just called you out. Americans want you to be tough. Grab a podium and pop him with this:

"A few months ago, John McCain promised he'd run a civil campaign. But I guess it's true, what they say: You can't teach an old dog new tricks. So now he and his people are running around trying to say I don't care about the troops.

Please remember one thing, as you listen to this garbage: If it were up to me, our troops would never have gone to Iraq. More than 4000 of them wouldn't be dead. Tens of thousands of them wouldn't be injured. Hundreds of thousands of them wouldn't be haunted by memories of a senseless war.

The American people and the Iraqi people have spoken: they want this misadventure over. They're tired of tough talk. It's time for smart policy. That's what this race boils down to - policy that helps us recover as a nation from the mistakes of the past eight years, versus the old politics of fear and smear.

John McCain has no plan to get us out of Iraq. He can't even remember what countries share a border, or who the Sunnis or Shiites. He has no plans for our economy, especially now that he's chief economic advisor, Phil Gramm, has stepped down. Extend tax cuts for the wealthy, drill for oil, close your eyes to those struggling with mortgages, insurance, or lost wages, and hope. That's the McCain prescription.

We need a real set of policies: a sustained effort to create a green economy, a health care plan that protects the needy as well as the rich, an educational policy that invests in our children, a legislature that acts on behalf of citizens, not lobbyists. And an end to a military occupation that makes us no safer and drains our ailing economy of billions of dollars every day.

As you listen to Senator McCain and his surrogates assail me, please ask yourself: how are these attacks going to improve my life? How are they going to help solve the common crises we face?

The country deserves a serious discussion of policy, not more politics. Because politics is what got us into this mess."

Hoping that belly can be fired,

Steve

Comments

[speeddeeps]

Sen O is a product of chicago politicss, he has fought in the trenches and has to use these skills NOW. Time to get your hands dirtyy Sen 0

[MPeter]

Yeah, I like the response you suggest. I agree, it is time to push back on the old dog. It just can't unlearn the old ways. It is time to meet fire with fire.

[babylonandon]

I'd like to know where draining off another $890+ billion of my tax dollars and giving it to the UN bozo's (who are sooo well know for their effective usage of the money stolen from us to date) for "world poverty" is going to be an end to "misadventure".

Trillions for healthcare, trillions for green programs, by the time we are done "redistributing wealth" their isn't going to be any wealth left in the US.

If I owned a business of any sort and heard all of the money-grabbing promises being made, I'd transfer the entire wealth of my business overseas, fire all of my American workers, and follow my money to a safer place to conduct my commerce.

I certainly would have no incentive to stay here. There won't be anyone here left to sell to anyway as everyone is going to be too poor to afford to buy anything and the government is going to mandate and provide their basic needs and living conditions so they won't even have a choice.

Commerce is a part of capitialism. There won't be any of that here so no place for me (outside of probably a prison cell for being a "recidivist, greedy, hate-monger").

At least the illegal immigration problem here will end. Americans will be running to Mexico looking for work.

[CitizenE]

Yeah one thing we can count on when a Republican is President, no debt or deficits. War, war, war, and four more years for oil company corporate welfare, selling off the nation to China or the Saudis--yeah let's hear it for how commerce will prosper under another Republican, let alone the working stiff. There has never been a more incompetent group of ninnies than those on the right when it comes to our economy, and that has been a proven reality for almost a century now. But hey why invest in our nation's health and green production--when bank failure, war profiteerism, pharmaceutical and oil company profits are skyrocketing.

[babylonandon]

I'd rather the money go to big oil (and into my 401K) than for it to go to pay George Soros to promote communism, pay Al Gore's enormous utility costs and private jet flights, or help Michael Moore grow another chin.

I really want the big oil guys to drill here, get our oil here, and have all of the money stay here instead of going into the hands of the stinking Saudi's, Hugo "the thief" Chavez, or Armegeddon-eye-jab in Iran.

No one on my side is happy with the monumental mismanagement of Bush, either, but as much blame can readily be laid at the feet of Sunshine and Moonbats Pelosi and "Gang of Fourteen" 'Cain and the rest of the cabal of liars and thieves in Congress.

[bwilder]

Sure hope you emailed this to Senator Obama and his crew in case they don't read it!

McCain's ads are...,Hell, I cant' even think of a word for them. Stupid, ignorant, untrue, childish,
ridiculous, waste of money, laughable, silly, ??? But not sure they are influential as most Americans
are not really as stupid as he seems to think we are. So in the end, maybe we should not worry too much about his lame advertising and just let him bury himself in negative blabber.

Most of the people I know watch them to get their info rather than the ads. The ads, the media,
all of it is almost too much to listen to and many tune-out because of overload. We are also aware that there is often so little truth in most of it.

The debates will be fun don't you thinK?!

I am so hoping to see McCain blow a gasket during a debate. Get all red-faced and angry
and say someting memorably stupid. Obama can handle him in a one-on-one situation.
Just wish is was tomorrow and that the election was next week and that we could get on
with it. Another five plus months of the current administration just breaks my heart.

[laylahb]

Yes, it is time, and has been for a while. Barack, make sure you bite off the whole leg, and bring reinforcements to get his Rovian crew, too.

[CitizenE]

Yeah, it would be nice. Also to remind him that Dems lost faith in fighting for Kerry cause he wouldn't lead the fight. Obama--which is it, the glitz and glam Lakers, smooth and showy, or the Celts forcing Kobe out of the paint, possession after possession. Passion, you know. You promised elbows; we want to hear, "don't even think about bringing that stuff down here." Depending on 3 pointers is chancy stuff.

[paixa3]

Excellent points, kudos. Sadly, I have to acknowledge that the Democratic party seems to be a party 'lay downs'. Too bad for the USA.