Obama's just doing what he has to do

He's not John Kerry redux.

And he's not Al Gore redux either.

While I admire both of them, neither was the most charismatic candidate or good hardball strategist.

Obama is a natural born politician who comes across on tv as an authentic and earnest human being.

We haven't had a Democratic politician with inborn strategic instincts in a long, long time.

You either have them or you don't.

He's got them and we should let him map his own course this fall.

Sure, it's ok to get pissed off when he disses whatever sacred cow you might have (and each one of has them, just different ones.)

But, don't forget the big picture.

He's doing what he's doing to get elected.

You might disagree with 10% or 20% or even 40% of what he's doing. But isn't that better than disagreeing with the 99% of what the Republicans do?

When he's elected, he will govern in a diametrically opposite fashion to what we have gotten the last eight years.

And those future Supreme Court justices. When you get pissed off, just think about those future Supreme Court justices.

Isn't that enough to put a grin on your face?

Obama however needed to stay away from the statement, or Obama would become the focus...and the focus must remain McCain and what Clark said about his service.

to get so outraged at Wes Clark. He's an experienced, high-ranking military officer and is entitled to feel the way he does. I never served in the military but I also don't think his vet/POW status entitle John McCain to a free ride to the WH nor do I see it giving him leadership ability, regardless of my respect for what he endured. I do see a man who cannot control his temper and for that reason alone, people should not want him in control of us all. As a matter of fact, I see John McCain as a candidate with little qualifications to be the leader of the free world.

altho, curiously, they don't play it when it's a democratic soldier getting the treatment.

Go after a Republican's service, however, and the world comes to a stop.

with the political process in this country and that is one of the changes needed to be made. Not to mention, wouldn't it be nice if journalism actually *was* journalism once again?

himself on the 2nd ammendment and the death penalty.

I disagree with both but couldn't be happier that he took the positions he did.

My initial response is to be pissed off because it appears that Obama is accepting RW arguments and caving to pressure about Clark. And then I find other compelling arguments on here that this thing has played out exactly as it was supposed to--that Clark was supposed to repeat what he'd said previously about McCain, Obama was supposed to distance himself from it, and that this is a game of chess where I don't see the board.

I can accept the second scenario, but I just know I'm not really happy about it right now.

when the swiftboaters attacked Kerry and Bush was asked about it and he disowned them in no uncertain terms. It made him seem presidential. Above the fray. All the things WE know he isn't, but the independents bought it, hook line and sinker.

And the swiftboat message still resonated. And it hurt Kerry.

I'm obviously not comparing Wes Clark to the swiftboaters, he is a patriot and a good man, and the swiftboaters are evil scum.

But the chess game is the same. Let the surrogates do the heavy lifting and then come out with a message of reconciliation that lets the public see you as magnanimous and generous.

:thumbsup:

Of Obama vs. Clark

it is the best thing that can happen. Clark is voter repellent. Having Clark on his side will not gain Obama one more vote than those he has already and it may well cost him votes among moderate Republicans who would not go for McCain.

Right now many Republicans are disgusted with McCain and are looking for any excuse to vote for Obama and Clark is not a reason that will swing them over.

I am not saying anything against Clark or his military service, but Clark has involved himself in campaigns before and results have not been positive.

here lately.

He has to get us inside the walls of Troy, but once there, we can bring down the corrupt fatcat establishment.

.... But isn't that better than disagreeing with the 99% of what the Republicans do?"

I LIKE that! K & R!

pnorman

Too much quarterbacking around here when we are not the one with the ball.