McCain's judgment has already been impugned by the Senate Ethics committee, a decade ago at the climax of the Keating scandal. Check with Mrs. Hilton for the improvement he has shown since

...than you were four years ago when I helped convince you to "re"-elect the guy who's made you a lot worse off?

It's hard for even a "straight talker" to bullshit that many people, that much of the time.

McCain picked four years ago because he also wants the Democratic take over of congress in 2006 to share much of the blame for today's problems. That's one of the reasons House Republican's are staying in session, to protray the Dems as 'do nothing' obstructionists (and yes I know the 60+ majority requirement in Senate is the bigger roadblock but who said reality matters in a smear campaign).

To be delivered by an appropriate Obama surrogate:

“It is interesting to note the ways in which Senator McCain is choosing to remain associated with President Bush.

“Senator McCain did not distance himself from the kind of dishonest and destructive campaigning that Americans associate with President Bush. He did not distance himself from the Bush-team tactic of questioning the patriotism of the administration’s critics. Senator McCain followed President Bush’s economic policy; he followed President Bush’s lead by hiring many of the President’s former consultants on his campaign, he followed the President in embracing the very people Senator McCain once called 'agents of intolerance.'

“Senator McCain has established himself as quite a follower. Even when President Bush displayed a maverick’s disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law, John McCain followed.

“Senator Obama understands and respects the Constitution and the rule of law. Senator Obama understands that America is safer and more prosperous when the rule of law and the Constitution are respected, and when America is a leader in the world because of this.

"American leadership in the world came about because the world saw that we respected the rule of law, and the world respected us because of that fact. That respect encouraged other countries to make alliances with us, to invest money in America, to give us the benefit of the doubt. That respect made America stronger. President Bush and his followers have abandoned that respect. And this makes us less safe, and less prosperous.

“On these important issues; on economic policy, on respecting the Constitution and regaining the respect of the world, on fighting for the middle class, Senator McCain had ample opportunity to lead. Instead, he followed President Bush when it was popular in the polls, and now, when Americans are unhappy with the President and his policies, Senator McCain is trying to create some artificial distance.

“America needed Senator McCain 4 years ago, when a true maverick would have stood up for the Constitution. Where was he? Following President Bush.”

Yep, somebody needs to create a "McCain is not really a Maverick" meme-of-the-week.

There isn't anybody McCain won't stab in the back, or throw under the bus if he thinks it'll help get him elected. Nice character.

It's also worth noting that one of the biggest mistakes McCain made in his career -- not that he'll ever admit that it was a mistake -- happened in 2002/2003.

To whatever extent voters think of Iraq, he wants them to concentrate on the ending, not on the fact that there shouldn't have been a beginning.

No one (except the most right-wing Pollyannas) thinks things are going well right now--war, the economy, wages, fuel prices and the housing crisis. McCain at least has the good sense to admit things are tough right now (even if his economic advisor Phil Gramm says otherwise).

To be even slightly believable, McCain has to admit we're worse off than we were four years ago. It also separates him slightly from an unpopular president.

But McCain can't say we were better off eight years ago, because--GASP--a Democrat was president then.

McClown would be better for this chiseling war "hero" and great "leader". Afterall he barely graduated from the USNA, (both his father and grandfather were admirals, that helped) was shot down shortly after deployment and spent five year as a POW in Vietnam. Word has it that he cooperated with his captors. He claimed that he knows how to fight and win wars. Leaves one to wonder when and where. As to leadership, helping to reelect the Bushit and his Dick to the White House is a lousy qualifaction for that title. Counting does not seem to be his forte, Bush started to wreck the country almost 8 years ago, that is when the "worse off" really started. Anyone who wants a continuing decline for the next four years has to vote for him, sane people definitely wont! His whole BS propaganda makes McClown more suitable than McCain.

Obama's been sitting on his hands since he came back from Europe and I don't understand why. He is in danger of making the same mistake Kerry made by taking August off and allowing his opponent to control the news cycle.

Obama needs to hit McCain hard and often with quotes of McCain supporting Bush's failed policies, votes where he supported Bush's failed policies, juxtapositions of flip-flops, quotes of him defending the president's mistakes.

Obama needs to make the case to the American people that Republicans are the problem, not just Bush. Voters will be unwilling to take a risk with Obama unless they are convinced that McCain is a continuation of Bush.

The clips are out there. The Obama campaign needs to start showing them on tv.

Out of spite. Because they're pissed. Pitiful.

They'll find a way to blame this one on Obama too before it's over.

to increasingly play the fear card as he realizes that Obama is likely to win.

McCain is so linked to Bush, they may as well be twins. No way Little Johnny can erase that stigma this late in his campaign. And, yes, it began almost eight years ago--not four--when this country started sliding into the muck and mire. So, what does that say? McCain can't count either?