This sort of wimpy passive-aggressive campaigning didn't work for Madame Clinton, and it damn sure won't work for you.

"Of course he's a patriot. As far as I know."

McCain has to do as much as possible to distract the American voters away from his policies- which are nothing more than a continuation of the massive failures perpetuated by the Bush administration.

Therefore, he has to try and hit Obama on what he feels he is weakest on - national security ("heroism") and the right wing version of "patriotism".

But he's failing at it. Obama's tactics have been absolutely brilliant. They have defused the situation in a neutral way. McCain? He's a hero. End of story. We don't get into an argument about service or heroism. By acknowledging McCain's heroism, Obama takes the topic out of play. There's no disagreement there.

Then there's patriotism. Obama states that he won't question anyone's patriotism. We're all patriots then. The topic is out of play. There's no argument there, either.

It leaves McCain with the ball in his court. If he makes attacks based on patriotism, it will be clearly coming from the McCain camp, not Obama.

Obama's tactics take two emotionally charged issues out of play - and leave us to focus on the issues. The issues are not McCain's strong suit. He doesn't have a prayer.

Republicans have been pushing the personal attacks since the "Obama went to a Muslim School" stories of last year.

What made anyone think that a Republican could run any other kind of campaign?

The attacks that will be coming from the Right in October will make these attacks seem tame.

...when a Democratic presidential candidate is willing to say that to win Republicans must get the voters to believe Things That Just Aren't True.

And I'm not going to hamstring my own critique with a perfunctory nod to his military service. I can think of plenty of people who served in combat who were also consummately unethical and incompetent. How did we arrive at this fraudulent conclusion that military service automatically entitles the veteran to any leadership role? That's counterfactual and dangerous.

Obama's critics call him an opportunist, but I have yet to see anything BUT political opportunism coming out of McCain's mouth. The guy is a farce, and personifies today's GOP: morally, intellectually, and ethically bankrupt.

I'm truly stunned by the hypocrisy and disengenous McCain has displayed so far in the campaign. He questions whether Obama can be believed while yesterday he touted (and Bush gave him credit for) the GI Bill which they both fought against. McCain has changed positions on almost everything he previously stood for -while I can understand policy changes his turnaround on waterboarding and torture gives alot of insight into how low he's willing to go. Thank goodness there are former soldiers who are truly willing to help their fellow GI's - Jim Webb, John Warner, Chuck Hagel - McCain should be ashmed of himself - it's almost as bad as Bush wrapping himself in 9-11 all the while failing to offer relief to the rescue workers and others who are now ill from their heroic actions that day. Hero is an overused word - and McCain is proving that each day.

While I agree with your statement that McCain's best strategy is to take down Obama, I'm not sure I agree with your assessment that Obama's tactics have been brilliant lately. The centerpiece of McCain's pitch for president is that (apart from smearing Obama) is that he is a war hero who has the experience necessary for president, and the Obama doesn't. Military experience is a big part of this, and I question the wisdom of not taking this issue on as Wesley Clark recently did. While it does pose the danger of provoking the type of reaction that it did, is that really worse than letting McCain put forth his narrative unchallenged? Policy is important, but people are looking deeper than that, and personality and background are key considerations. What do you think?

It's not gonna be pretty. The underbelly of this nation is gonna be rolled over into the sunlight. Get ready.

Re: "How did we arrive at this fraudulent conclusion that military service automatically entitles the veteran to any leadership role? That's counterfactual and dangerous."

When the Bush White House turned the Pentagon into an arm of the Republican National Committee.

That is seemingly the right's (Republicans') strategy. McCain didn't even refer to him as an American, only that he and his 'family' have done well in America. He used the term 'family' twice. It seems his handlers have something in mind there, maybe reminding people of a black wife and rainbow ancestry? Very sad. I am ashamed of the politics as played in my country.

Which is that he is someone who announces how he thinks others should behave, but expects to no one to notice how often and flagrantly he violates his own rules -- McCain's hypocrisy is a them that everyone should hammer home with example after example.

Campaign finance, McCain demands high standard of other, but sneakily inserts a clause in his own bill allowing himself to use his wife's company's plane without reporting it.

McCain calls for a respectful campaign, but makes endless personal attacks on Obama and Obama's patriotism.

McCain says don't attack families, but then hides behind Cindy's [pencil] skirts when she attacks Obama's.

McCain condemns Swift-Boating one minute, but then uses one of the sleazy swiftboaters the next.

McCain decries lobbying, but has endless lobbyists in his campaign and lots of questions about lobbying.

McCain decries corruption, but what about the Keating 5.

The republicans led by McCain make an issue of Michelle Obama's income, but won't release Cindy McCain's tax returns.

Democrats need to pount home, McCain thinks he is special, that he should be able to attack people left and right, but "get a by" when he does what he condemns. Make it a drumbeat, another example of:

* "one rule for everybody else, but a different rule for John McCain."

* "McCain's rules are not for him to follow, just Obama"

* "a classic McCainism, accusing someone else of violating the rule McCain just broke"

* "John special that way you know, always the exception to his own rule"

* "John McCain always has a get-out clause for John (and Cindy) McCain"

* "McCain thinks Obama should do as McCain says, not as McCain does"

* "when Obama does it it's a sin, when McCain does it, he's just being a maverick"

* "every rule McCain announces has an exception with only John/McCain's name on it"

Pound the meme home, again and again.