Thanks, RaoulM. Not too unlike the programming staff of a radio station's management who send in playlists to the DJ. It does have the feel of something that has been tightly scripted. Anymore, it's why I prefer to call our teevee personalities newsreaders and our quasi-journalists stenographers.

One point I would make is that whenever Democrats make even a vague attempt at this sort of thing, such as when some lightly treaded on bringing up McCain's age, the media FREAKED THE F' OUT, as if they literally went below the belt and punched McCain in his testicles. The Republicans then coordinated their message with the media and preemptively feigned shock and outrage at anything from the Obama camp that even remotely hinted at age (lost bearings anyone?). When the media says that "this can backfire for Obama," the backfire is coming from the beltway establishment, not from popular opinion generally. It amounts to nothing less than a veiled threat of negative coverage if the candidate pursues a strategy that they (and by extension, Karl Rove) deem unacceptable.

Obama draws a crowd of 200,000 in Germany. "Could this backfire for him?" asks Anderson Cooper, before turning to a panel of beltway elites who describe him as "the presumptuous nominee."

McCain camp makes an ad juxtaposing Obama with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. He responds saying McCain doesn't seem to have much to say about himself, going on to say in speech that Republicans are trying to scare voters. "Could this backfire for him?" asks Wolf Blitzer, before turning to a panel of beltway elites who warn him not to play the race card.

How could you forget, you sweet-talking scoundrel? It was in the High Pyrenees and you read me that poem by GK Chesterton as you swore eternal love. The only problem was that you were pie-eyed from drinking all that rioja, mistook my name for Miranda. I knew you had a reputation for taking advantage of women bur you'd gone too far in your cheating ways. The inn was clled "Celosa" and as you staggered towards me with your copa full of red wine and I gave you an almighty push. We were eating out-o-doors within sight of the Picos de Europa, those magnificent mountains. The last I heard from you was "E-eek" but your voice was carried away by the wind as you tumbled down one of the peaks.

The mountain rescue people were never able to find any sign of you, no matter how hard they searched. Truth to tell, I sent them in the wrong direction. We'll have to let bygones be bygones and it's great to hear that you're now a Herr/Frau/Fraulein in Germany and that you might be lucky enough to run into (encounter, I mean) Fahrender who also dwells in bliss in Alemania.

Here's what else that article had to say:

"Obama holds very large leads among voters in the state’s two largest population centers, Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay Area, which collectively comprise a little less than half (44%) of all likely voters statewide."

There are big differences between the preferences of voters living in the state’s coastal counties, who represent 69% of likely voters, and those living in inland counties, which account for the remaining 31%. On the coast, Obama is preferred by a greater than two to one margin, 62% to 24%. By contrast, voters in inland counties prefer McCain 44% to 35%.

The areas I was speaking of are exactly these counties. San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Los Angeles are all coastal areas. I will also note that Arnold Scharzenegger was soundly thrashed in all of the metropolitan areas, and won in the non-coastal rural areas. But that's not really the point. Below you will find my original post. As you'll note, nowhere did I mention that Obama was less popular in California. I only sought to add my anecdotal observations of what many white voters outside of urban centers are like. I write this, not to embarrass you, but just to ask wtf? Why are you always critiquing (frantically and poorly) even the most innocuous things I write. As far as the intellect range goes on this posting space, I may be well below the curve, but you Kitt, make me look like a genius.

"I sadly realized yesterday that this will probably work. I live in the bay area, but outside of Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco, the political reality is really very different. You think that Hardball is bad? People don't even watch it. They listen to some things on radio talk shows on the way to work, the stereotype stuff makes its way around water cooler conversation, and then the most important part--the visceral racism comes in. IMHO, white men are generally threatened by black men. I grew up outside of Oakland, which is known as a 'black' city, and white people (and even Asians and Latinos) are not shy about speaking their mind in any room where there are no black faces. The spectre of a highly educated, dynamic, charismatic and good looking man of color is dangerous, and the threat exists beyond reasons ability to remedy, in the end, they will be compelled to vote against him or not vote for him. McCain and Rove know this, this is dog whistle politics at its best. To us, it may seem quite hamhanded, but there is a large and rapt population just eating it up."

And as usual, the Democratic candidate is always on the defensive, his campaign constantly addressing the GOP/Rovian smears rather than actual issues and policies. It's a tried and true GOP methodology and it works. Mission Accomplished - 2008 edition.

During the primaries some of the biggest criticisms of Obama by Clinton-supporters is that he was arrogant and presumptious by running against her.

Since this critique has already been simmering in the Blogosphere for months, I don't think Rove had to work too hard to come up with this particular attack.

I really don't know what Obama can do to counter this attack. I've found that people read his demeanor as either overbearing and presumptious or he has high self esteem and is confident.

I wish they would just talk about the issues though. I think plenty of people in this country would vote for an arrogant pratt who talks down to them if they knew he could fix the problems we're having.