Obama Plans Sharper Tone as Party Frets

Source: NY Times

Senator Barack Obama will intensify his assault against Senator John McCain, with new television advertisements and more forceful attacks by the candidate and surrogates beginning Friday morning, as he confronts an invigorated Republican presidential ticket and increasing nervousness in the Democratic ranks.

Mr. McCain’s choice of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate and the resulting jolt of energy among Republican voters appear to have caught Mr. Obama and his advisers by surprise and added to concern among some Democrats that the Obama campaign was not pushing back hard enough against Republican attacks in a critical phase of the race.

Some Democrats said Mr. Obama needed to move to seize control of the campaign and to block Mr. McCain from snatching away from him the message that he was the best hope to bring change to Washington.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/politics/12obama.html?ref=politics

:grr:

does he have to win before he has a trustworthy record?

He won.

So stop griping already.

The Dukakis / Gore / Kerry playbook doesn't work.

So I would turn the question around. How many time do *WE* have to lose using this "passive, play nice" strategy before we learn our lessons.

Seriously people, unless something dramatic happens, he LOST this election by sitting on his hands the past 10 days. If the election were held today, he would lose, and I am not seeing any recognition of that reality.

It is called HUBRIS.

That was a built-in opportunity to get messages in front of the voters and to discuss them in a somewhat fair, objective format.

Would you like to explain to me why it was a wise move foe Obama to turn down McCain's offer to have 10 town hall style debates?

“We’re sensitive to the fluid dynamics of the campaign, but we have a game plan and a strategy,” said Mr. Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe. “We’re familiar with this. And I’m sure between now and Nov. 4 there will be another period of hand-wringing and bed-wetting. It comes with the territory.”

...I mean c'mon! The old fart and the crazy lady are AHEAD in any poll?!?

That's just absurd...Obama has to crush on election day to shut these right wing mutherfuckers up...for a generation.

The reason why this election is "close," if it *is* in fact close, is because he is black and people won't vote for a black man no matter how much the country suffers!! :(

Oh yeah, from previous campaign managers and consultants who tried what looked like a very similar "strategy."

"One adjustment for the Obama campaign comes as Mr. McCain is seeking to claim the Democrats’ theme of change by pointing to Ms. Palin. For months, advisers to Mr. Obama had assumed that Mr. McCain would play up his experience; Mr. Plouffe said he welcomed what he argued would be a campaign fought out on the issue of change.

“This is a very major development,” Mr. Plouffe said. “John McCain jettisoned his message and his strategy. It is now about change. We’re going to lean into that very, very hard.” "

McSame has gotten some short term mileage out of his crazy switch, but ut will eventually cost him the election.

'Hand-wringing and bed-wetting' sums it up. I notice the majority of the 'concern' comes from people who were against Obama during the primaries, and repeatedly told us he was finished.

Are you suggesting that you don't NEED our votes? If so, I cordially invite you to pucker up and kiss my big ass.

Bake

With the Republicans so whole hog on mail in ballets this election could well be over by mid October. Votes will already have been cast and mailed in. There is no time to delay. Either shit or get off the pot.

Everybody join hands, close our eyes and chant with me, "All is good... All is good ... All is good..."

And, note to Plouffe: please do not refer to Obama's SUPPORTERS as "hand-wringers" and "bed-wetters."

"We have a game plan." Sure you do. But it's fourth quarter now, crunch time. If you're not winning, maybe it's time to change the game plan.

Bake

I don't think Plouffe needed to say that.

I'm concerned, and yet my bed is dry.

He HAS been reading DU! :rofl:

Mr. McCain’s choice of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate and the resulting jolt of energy among Republican voters appear to have caught Mr. Obama and his advisers by surprise

Bullshit propaganda. There was no "jolt of energy" - she's the flavor of the week and it will wear off really soon. That's the reason they've been keeping her under wraps.

need to realize that maybe they're the problem. When you have folks like Harry Reid caving to the Republicans at every turn what the fuck do they expect?

Obama is getting a bumb rap here in my opinion. What does he need to do? The media won't cover him unless it's negative coverage. Is he to hold a gun to all their heads and demand his message get out?

Fuck the whining Democrats on the hill who are pissing their pants. What are they doing? Do they think it helps when the make statements like this?

Obama is doing what Obama does and that's win. And he will win without any help from the whiners on Capitol Hill.

And I realize that the link doesn't mention specific Democrats but I'm guessing that those running for re-election this year are the ones pissing and moaning.

Seriously, give me 3 points you think the average person would remember 2 days after hearing him.

His speeches are all about feeling good and moving forward and getting a new direction. Guess what? So are McCain's.

Why is Obama a better choice? He won't make that case because that involved criticizing McCain and Palin, and he won't do that.

At some point, you have to get real. Palin is a religions fanatic who believes in abstinence-only training and believes it is proper for us to conduct holy wars in the name of god. McCain is a person who has been involved in the most corrupt politics throughout his career. If Obama can't bring himself to mention Abramoff, the Keating-5 or McCain's irrational temper, his campaign has to find some other way to get those messages on the table.

In fact, they'd fall all over themselves to cover it. In the primaries, Obama had the EXCITEMENT in his campaign.

We're not seeing that excitement now. So what the hell happened?

Bake

A Democrat actually fighting back against the Republican campaign of lies? What an inventive idea! I knew Obama was a genius!

Because it certainly looks like opinion.

Invigorated? :rofl: :rofl: Please give me a break.

Source: New York Times

Senator Barack Obama will intensify his assault against Senator John McCain, with new television advertisements and more forceful attacks by the candidate and surrogates beginning Friday morning, as he confronts an invigorated Republican presidential ticket and increasing nervousness in the Democratic ranks.

Mr. McCain’s choice of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate and the resulting jolt of energy among Republican voters appear to have caught Mr. Obama and his advisers by surprise and added to concern among some Democrats that the Obama campaign was not pushing back hard enough against Republican attacks in a critical phase of the race.

Some Democrats said Mr. Obama needed to move to seize control of the campaign and to block Mr. McCain from snatching away from him the message that he was the best hope to bring change to Washington.

After back-to-back attack ads by Mr. McCain, including one that misleadingly accused Mr. Obama of endorsing sex education for kindergarten students, the Obama campaign is planning to sharpen attacks on Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin in an effort to counter Mr. McCain’s attempt to present himself as the candidate of change with his choice of Ms. Palin.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/politics/12obama.html?hp

Palin has shown she doesn't know shit.

I feel much better. Barack's got this thing. chill, people : )

Palin did just fine in that interview. She won't lose a single supporter from any of that, and will probably gain some who don't find her answers particularly scary.

This passive bullshit has probably already lost the election for Obama. It didn't work for Dukakis. It didn't work for Gore. It didn't work for Kerry. And it didn't work for Obama. The polls on average have shown McCain gaining 8-10% compared to the same polls pre-convention, and that is not settling in. The electoral map has also gone south with NC and FL completely off the map for Obama now.

We have to hit this woman. All you people who argues that it is wise just to be nice and only address McCain are out of your freakin' minds. SHE IS THE CANDIDATE. Get that through your think skulls. People are not supporting McCain. They are supporting PALIN.

As a person who has supported Obama with several thousand of dollars of contributions and some legwork in registration centers, I am really pissed at how this campaign has folded. I;m not sending another penny down that rathole. The rest of my contributions are going to people who know how to deal with these GOP bastards: MoveOn.org

nt

Hit them hard and keep punching even after they fall.

I think that helps change the narrative as well. Appearances on Letterman and SNL will help...

but that's how Obama looks on all his TV appearances. This passive bullshit does not work. He is losing. We are already under the Diebold margin. His approach with Palin has been completely ineffective. There was a moment to lay out the case against her, and that moment is slipping away. Coming after her 3 weeks later won't be nearly as effective. They needed to hammer her big problem areas immediately -- especially her worldview about abstinence education and holy wars.

SHE is the candidate, not McCain. Anybody who doesn't get that is going to lose.

That should be the strategy. We should use that speech as a model.


The key difference here is that we actually have some DEVASTATING substance to hit them on (I'm thinking particularly about McCain's flip-flops, her inexperience, and her record as mayor and governor). They just distorted and/or made shit up, but we have the truth on our side.

Hit hard and often, Obama!

GOP with its 1000 radio stations mocking,lying and demoning liberals everyday all day,forget polite you better get mad and fight back.

GOP with its 1000 radio stations mocking,lying and demonizing liberals everyday all day,forget polite you better get mad and fight back.

on listing all the bills Mccain voted against like cutting spending to returning Iraq nets!

Every time you attack her you give her votes. Marginalize her by ignoring her.

A lie is a lie and a pig is still a pig. Republicans aren't good at thinking beyond the obvious. We need to cut through the nuances and complications and just be clear about the fact that they're corrupt and criminal and say whatever they need to to win and here are the videos to prove it. Wake up!!

IGNORE Palin.

much like Joe Klein did this morning in Time on McCain's ignoble plan to tax our employer-provided health care benefits.


http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/mccains_health_care_tax_increa.html

SHE is the candidate. McCain is nowhere. People are not going to vote for McCain. They are voting for Palin. McCain understands this and has accepted it. She will be at his side at almost every appearance now because if she isn't there, it will become obvious that people don't care about him.

This is unprecedented. You cannot use conventional wisdom in this situation. You have to take her out.

At this point, our best hope is that Putin takes care of the problem for us. (Just kidding on that one. I don't wish any physical harm on her.)

three weeks!

Benefits, and the fact that he receives a disability check but wants to have an all-out assault on Social Security.

He cannot do this alone, however. Where is the DNC? Where is the Democratic leadership? Where are the Democrats?

The Democrats, DNC, 527's every single progressive organization needs to come out swinging...

Nice. :)

We're just saying "don't smear them." The Republicans' own records -- if we bring them to the forefront of public awareness and keep them there -- are more damaging than any smear we could ever put together.

http://quest.cjonline.com/stories/100900/gen_1009006246.shtml">Monday, October 9, 2000 --- Gore stepped up his assault on Bush, dispatching running mate Joseph Lieberman to Texas for a "failed leadership tour"...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article489807.ece">Sunday, October 3, 2004 --- Kerry stepped up his attacks on the president, accusing Bush of being “plain stubborn, out of touch and unwilling to change course”...

ONLY Impeachment can "change the game" -- "make it real" -- project the right "optics."

It remains our only moral, patriotic option.

---

that they finally figured it out way too late. October is too late. The election may already have been decided in the past 10 days. If you aren't running strong at Labor Day, you are on course to losing.

Yep, that ought to do it.

The years of http://talkingimpeachment.com/blog/Hall-of-Shame-Inductee----Barak-Obama.html">cowering from bushcheney and tolerance of ongoing torture are just details in the scheme of things I suppose.

But wait! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2917-2004Sep7.html">Wednesday, September 8, 2004 --- Kerry aides are promising a major new front in Kerry's stepped-up attack on Bush's policies beginning Wednesday...

Well, I'm sure Obama's rhetorical skills can make up for a few days.

On the other hand...

http://www.npr.org/news/national/election2000/coverage/regions/midatlantic.html">All Things Considered, May 3, 2000 --- In New Jersey, Vice President Al Gore today stepped up his attacks on his GOP rival for the White House, accusing Texas Governor George Bush...

Oh dear. Maybe actually ACTING to defend the Constitution and confront the war criminals in the WH is worth another look?

And BTW, he wasn't "running strong at Labor Day." That's why they're frantically rolling out the "stepped up attacks." Next we'll hear Abramoff insinuations, and a Keating Five reprise, with more issues wonkery -- none of which will resonate with the public/electorate because you can't "teach" your way to the WH.

Then comes the lament that "we didn't get our message out." Which means we ran the same old top-down, manipulative campaign and can't understand why it didn't work because we had more media money than the last 2 times it didn't work.

Hopefully the election reformers have been successful enough to carry him over like a bag of cement.

-----

Is that McCain and his keating 5 bullshit is not out there circulating. His airforce airborn tanker refueling influence isnt being pushed. His wifes drug addiction got a little play. Palins ineptitude not hit yet. Sarah Please esplain the Bush Doctrine. (Gibson to his credit on that one question). the "lobbyists on mccains campaign" commercial did not show the people they lobbied for . general accusations suck. Need to name them individually even if it takes 2 or 3 commercials, then finish with do your really think these guys care about the working stiffs. then hit him with if your house is being foreclosed will John McCain let you live in one of his many places? Then Why let him live in our whitehouse!

There are so many opportunities to provide CONCRETE examples of what these GOP jackasses have done. Why is the campaign not talking about this.

And go over the top a little. Make the GOP come back to argue that we are over the top and it wasn't quite as bad as we said. That just creates more attention on the issue. That is the way the game works. The Obama people are getting their clocks cleaned here.

This video sums up why there is only one choice in November.

link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLgJVBoR_zs

Harold Wittcomb

She dug her own grave dammit!!!

She didn't have any problem in that interview. Gibson lobbed softballs and she swatted them out of the park. The only difficult moment was the "Bush Doctrine", but the average voter would not have known what the "Bush Doctrine" meant. In a sense it was an unfair question because the Bush administration has had all sorts of doctrines, such as approving warrentless wiretaps, supporting renditions, in favor of torture. Which of these is the true "Bush Doctrine"

If you think that is going to bring her down, you are completely out of touch with the electorate.

Hell, I found myself being sympathetic with her at that moment, and I loathe her.

I have to say she did a pretty good job of coming up with a plausible answer when Gibson made her guess what he was talking about. The lady is smart on that level. Don't underestimate her.

That clip alone - with some kind of mushroom cloud at the end would be all it would take

I am not delusional

I just know hardly anyone wants a war with Russia

You may not like that, but it is a fact. Given a choice between a tough-talker and a calm, reasoned speaker, Americans will choose the tough-talker 99 times out of 100 if he or she is not totally off the map, such as Kucinich, Gravel, or Nader.

She won that round.

Ask any boomer or Xer who went through the Cold War and ask them if they want to go through with that again, except without the 'cold' part that saved our asses.

Unless they're dumbass cowboys who want to go out in a blaze of glory, they would say no.

The only thing I'm worried about is that they'll STEAL the election again, and I'm not fretting about that, fret doesn't quite cover my concern about that.

This article tries to make it look like McCain is gaining in popularity and he is NOT. Trust me on this - Obama's got the moves and they know it. The bump they got from adding a fun patch (thank you Samanatha Beebe) to the ticket wouldn't be significant in an honest election.

n/t

n/t

Folks.. this happens in EVERY election. it's what the Rove people do every election.

We are NOT fretting.

We are NOT struggling.

We are NOT worried.

Fuck that.