Remember the GI bill and how easily McCain was able to get out of that one? Obama should have strung 'em up by that rope. Instead the bill passed, and McCain tried to get away with saying he supported the bill all along.

Ooh or better yet, where is Obama on the latest flap about how nations don't invade other nations?

Time to throw the book of his own quotations at McCain. If the media won't do it, it's going to have to be Obama's job.

Today at a townhall meeting, an audience member praised Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) for his vow to "follow bin Laden to the gates of hell." After a long question about veterans' care, the questioner said she believed we needed to reinstate the draft, to which McCain seemed to readily agree:

QUESTIONER: If we don't reenact the draft, I don't think we'll have anyone to chase Bin Laden to the gates of hell.

[Appaluse]

MCCAIN: Ma'am, let me say that I don't disagree with anything you said.

**************************************

This war-mongering horse's ass likes the idea of a draft and there are a pack of idiots out there who want to give him the keys to the WH? I hope that the Obama campaign unleashes a rhetorical shitstorm on that carcass and makes him wish he never revived his campaign.

It doesn't matter. If you look at electoral trends over the decades since electronic electioneering first appeared, few are paying any attention and even fewer have come to an irrevocable decision. That process starts after the conventions and after Labor Day. Americans are habitually short-timers when it comes to voting. A trend you can believe in starts to emerge in October and the race either tightens (the usual scenario) or the trend gains momentum (in transformational elections) as we approach the big day. My advice: enjoy the last two weeks of the summer and chill out. There's still plenty of time to freak out when it really means something.

Until Obama realizes he's in the fight of his life and acts accordingly, he will continue to be behind the proverbial 8-ball. Presidential elections are about picking a winner, not a person who is "stronger on the issues." That involves combat, not just debate. And whatever you might say about McCain, he has shown an ability and willingness to be as rough as necessary to win. His opponent had better do the same.

There's a way to fight hard and still keep the moral high ground. use McCain's own inconsistencies and pro-Bush voting record against him. It's possible to point up his nasty campaign methods without ever telling a lie against him. Concentrate on McCain, and don't victimize his wife or family. There's a lot of nasty truths that can be told about McCain without ever having to delve into a Rovian pit of sleaziness.

But Obama should be aggressive and clear that he won't take smears passively.

Melissa

I am sad that the only way to win a campaign in America seems to be by becoming ruthlessly slimy! And, even sadder that I think this reflects the low IQ and lack of intellectual curiousity of our voting citizenry! They are mush brained and easily manipulated thanks to our 24/7 media--which endlessly repeats banal sound bites! Most of our candidates are vapid and shallow, and resort to blaming the other rather than defining self! Barack Obama is the exception--an intellectual and thoughtful man with the ability to (yes!) listen carefully and think through decisions! But, he is not given to trite soundbite or venal accusations, nor is he nasty or hot-headed. So our silly, shallow country will probably not have the sense to elect him! If, by some quirk of fate, Obama manages to squeak out a victory, there will be celebrations on the streets of America and Europe not seen since 1960!

These polling numbers indicate clearly that the (presumed) voters who are being polled are a disconnected, ignorant, gullible, fog-headed, and distressingly STUPID lot who obviously cannot be trusted with a trustworthy role in a democratic society. Are we in for another round of an administration that wants to take over the world with its armies and corporations, even though these boobs answering polling questions have presumably rejected the criminals they placed in the White House for the past eight years ? It's appalling !

First negative is attack your oppenet and not talking about what you offer. Any old critcism is not going negative.

Second these things work. Duh.

Third, what those telling Obama to go negative fail to take into account is the double standard in the media and the public- republicans are allowed, nay expected to be nasty. Dems have to place nice. That is what this whol meme is about- getting Obama into the bind of responding to the idea that he is soft. Then they can turn around and attack him for falling into McCain's trap. These basic narratives capture people's imagination and make good copy. obviously taking the high road and ignorig it plays right into this theme too. See Gore and Kerry.

Obama must strike a middle path. He seems to understand and be working toward doing that. Whatever he does will have to be new - so the greatest danger is people won't like it because they don't get it but it is the only way.

My god! That poor woman has been featured on your Salon personals for months. I know she is not exactly Christie Brinkley attractive, but she does have her attributes. Obviously, from her repeated features she is desperate. Someone please, please contact her and ask her out.

Just saying.

The debates will be a do or die for both candidates.

If McCain can bully Obama its over.

If Obama can make McCain loose it on live TV its over.

Personally I think the latter has a higher probability. McCain is famous for it, and has already done it with reporters. He will try to stick to specific sentences, not concepts or ideas, watch for "exact sentences from previous speeches". If the moderator cares and actually presses him on specifics, he will be noticeably uncomfortable.

P.S. Watch for giant square devices attached to his back, and no they are not from his war wounds. I still can't believe Bush cheated on live TV miserably, got busted, and laughed it off.

He was wearing a freaking laptop under his jacket.

Excuse given and accepted by Major news, it was a bad tailor.

Lol fading to crying.