I am quite possibly Glenzilla's biggest fan but I have to agree with what someone else said above, "other than that?". I don't think its as simple and as self-conscious as media-hates-Democrats-therefore-biases-reports but I think there is no doubt that the prevailing confluence of interests and influences results in the media systematically beating up on Democrats much more than Republicans.

Character questions are much more influential politically than issue questions anyway. Once you've beaten Clinton into the ground on Whitewater, Travelgate, Lewinsky, haircuts, FBI files, draft dodging (which they never did to Bush), etc. etc. etc. then you don't need to attack him on issues anyway.

And notice what they did right after Clinton: they assassinated Democrat Al Gore's presidential candidacy both during the campaign and in the recount debacle. Did they do it on issues in addition to character? You bet they did. They've never covered supply-side economics fairly. Although they branded Gore a liar, they've never covered actual liars in a fair and balanced manner.

That is a weak ad. Sorry but it is. In fact, I think the McCain team's response to it might be more damaging for Barack than the ad is for McCain in the first place.

McCain and the Repubs, unlike Obama, have been laying the ground for what Kovars calls the association game. Obama, Mr. Hope and Change, has not. Plus, the Repubs just play that game much more wholeheartedly.

Hey Barack: there was this little thing called the Iraq War debacle that McCain is associated with 100% and its really unpopular? Why the fuck don't you use the Iraq War nuke instead of the Abramoff (who?) BB gun? But don't pick Biden as VP because then your only option is BB gun.

Iconoclast = weaselly backstabbing Vichy DINO contrarian stalking horse for crypto-neoconservatism.

Fuck the New Republic. That rag started sucking ass at least back in the early 80's. Does anyone even read it anymore?

Great post dude. You are 100% correct.

Biden's claim to fame is his supposed deep knowledge of foreign policy but:

1) he wasn't smart enough to oppose the Iraq War

2) he tried to expand NATO right up to Russia's borders and if he had gotten his way we would be at war right now with Russia over the non-vital country of Georgia

Not only is Biden a failure at foreign policy he is a huge blowhard who rubs people the wrong way.

Worst of all, Biden is one of the worst when it comes to trying to show how tough he is by sucking up to Republicans. He is a coward.

Lame, lame, lame.

Considering that the Bush Administration perpetrated a WMD hoax and lied us into a disastrous war that cost 4000+ American lives, up to a million Iraqi lives, and will cost us $3 trillion, while practicing torture and wiping their ass with the Constitution, to me the most remarkable thing was how WEAK the Democratic attacks were.

Because they don't mention that there was a WMD hoax or that Bush got a million Iraqis killed or that he practices torture or that he wipes his ass with the Constitution. All that just went down the memory hole.

Ouroboros is right: Biden's pathetic tough guy posturing on Georgia is a recipe for disaster. I'll vote for Obama/Biden because McCain is far worse, but those guys are lame as hell.

We have no business getting into WWIII with Russia over a tiny new little country that for most of my life was part of the Soviet Union. Confronting Russia over a country that is literally in their backyard is insane.

Its particularly insane under the circumstances. What are the circumstances? Its hard to tell from reading the MSM, but Georgia attacked ethnic Russian separatists in South Ossetia and killed Russian soldiers in the process. Right in Russia's back yard. Taunting the Russian Bear like that is insane in the extreme.

And for Biden to talk about Georgia the way he did last night is just further evidence that Obama has shitty judgment.

Thanks for the millionth time, Glenn. I've been posting similar thoughts all over the intertubes since last night but not nearly as well expressed or documented.

There was a commenter named Gary in Fla on Eschaton last night who put it very well: these are the knockout punches the Democrats are too afraid to throw.

This is a key point I have been arguing for years and which Glenn makes all the time in this post and others: you don't just argue against their policy but continue to treat them as honorable people who reasonably disagree. You have to go one step further and draw the conclusions about what their politices mean about their character. People will forget the policy specifics but they will remember the character attributions.

Fortunately -- or unfortunately depending on you look at it -- Democrats can go whole hog against Republicans on policy-based character attacks without having to lie or exaggerate. They really are evil and incompetent.

Finaly, it shouldn't have to be argued but there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with HONEST negative campaigning. In fact, far from being wrong, it is a candidte's DUTY to point out what is wrong with his or her opponent -- otherwise your just another job applicant competing for the same job.

You don't have to scream and yell -- just tell it like it is. It worked for FDR and he seemed to get a few things done.

Also there's no question that it works for the Republicans. They may hate government but they get a lot of government policies passed using scorched earth tactics. We could too.

Most importantly, if you've just been raped you don't wait a few months, stroll down to the police station, and tell them you know Jow Blow is a fine fellow but I disagree with his policy of raping me.

The more we ACT like there's nothing particularly bad about the Republicans the more acceptable they and their behavior seems in the public's eye.