4 Days that Killed the McCain Campaign

Daniel Gross of Slate writes about 3 days that he says killed McCain’s campaign in an excellent and to-the-point essay last night.  I think he’s exactly right – but I think he left out one very important date that crippled the campaign: August 29th.

On August 29th, John McCain announced his first “presidential” decision – the choice of a running mate.  While the shiny new wrapper was impressive for a couple of weeks, it did not last.  As Gross says of September 15th, this date was also a twin killer.  First, the thought of the uninformed, power-abusing, bible-thumping, ultra-right-winger as the President of the USA hurt the campaign.  Because this decision was John’s, and John’s alone, it also reflects very poorly on his judgement and decision makig process. 

His other 3 dates were also disasterous: Proclaiming the economy is still strong, halting his campaign but accomplishing nothing, and using the 3rd debate to regail voters with the economic insight of Joe Wurzelbacher. 

September 24, 2008
The Day John McCain Lost the Election
http://www.slate.com/id/2203763/?GT1=38001

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Another Downturn – Foreclosures up 70%

WASHINGTON – The number of homeowners ensnared in the foreclosure crisis grew by more than 70 percent in the third quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2007, according to data released Thursday. 

By the end of the year, RealtyTrac expects more than a million bank-owned properties to have piled up on the market, representing around a third of all properties for sale in the U.S.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27329406

 

Palin’s Shopping Sprees & Maintenance

GOP spends $150,000 for Palin’s wardrobe in September

Most of it (over 75%) was spent in 2 massive shopping sprees: The expenses include $75,062 spent at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis Minn., and $41,850 in St. Louis in early September. (That’s $117,000 in 2 shopping trips – that’s the cost of a house).

The GOP spent $4,700 for her makeup and hair styling (just in September).  I wonder if her donors knew they were supporting her makeup requirements when they wrote their checks. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27320899

Conservative Newspapers Publish Endorsements

Today 5 major papers from 5 major US markets announced endorsements for the presidential race.  The papers were from New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.  The Chicago and DC papers are nationally known as “Conservative” papers. I think you can see where this is going:

Knowledge, Learnedness, Insight

The idea of “leadership” must include knowledge, learnedness and insight.
Let’s look at the educational background of your two options:

Obama:
Occidental College – Two years.
Columbia University – B.A. Political Science with a specialization in International Relations.
Harvard – Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
(J.D. is a doctor of law, the legal counterpart to M.D.)

Biden:
University of Delaware – B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law – Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy – Class rank 894 of 899

Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University – 1 semester
North Idaho College – 2 semesters – general study
University of Idaho – 2 semesters – journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College – 1 semester
University of Idaho – 3 semesters – B.A. in journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire ?

Hate Mongering

McCain and the politics of hatred, fear, and prejudice: http://therealmccain.com/mob/ (2 min)

 
And this next one…it’s about a large group of hate mongers being catered to right now….Wow. 
(The 60 seconds is an introduction (a little slow, IMO), but it picks up quickly)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGn9F1Jw24U&NR=1
 
It reminded me of this video from 50 years ago – it’s the exact same group of people, just a generation removed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgH7WgtIU2k  (15 seconds). 
 
 
You can sign a petition to be sent to John McCain after watching the video.  And, if you’ve got $5 you can fight against this political campaign: 
http://my.barackobama.com/page/contribute
 

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
We are the change that we seek.

  — Obama

Joe Biden is Right

We have talked flag pins (McCain hasn’t worn one to a debate, yet) – let’s talk taxes as patriotism.  I fully and completely agree with Joe Biden: It is patently unpatriotic not to pay your taxes and even its most despicable for the ultra-rich, when they already have more than most people could ever want.

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM, Associated Press Writer Mon Oct 13, 12:32 AM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081013/ap_on_el_pr/biden_clintons;_ylt=AmQPSdhxpwQUl_JqvU8ty_9p24cA

In Pennsylvania, Biden defended a comment he made in an ABC interview last month in which he said the wealthiest Americans should show their patriotism by paying more in taxes. The Obama campaign has said it plans to hike taxes on people earning more than $250,000, but would cut taxes for those making less. Republicans have criticized Biden over the remark.

Accusing businesses and wealthy individuals of using “offshore tax loopholes” to hide $100 billion a year in income, Biden told the crowd Sunday, “It is unpatriotic when you earn your money in the United States of America and you hide it offshore to avoid taxes, making sure YOU have to make up the difference.”

His voice rising, the Delaware senator shouted: “It is unpatriotic to take $100 billion offshore and not pay your taxes! That is unpatriotic! So I don’t need a lecture on patriotism! I’ve had it to here!”

He’s Never Seemed Smaller

This is the intro to an essay by Susan Estrich, click the link below to read the whole thing:

Smear Campaigning Should Be Beneath John McCain
Friday, October 10, 2008

By Susan Estrich
FOX NEWS 

Imagine that. We’re in the midst of an international economic crisis and the McCain folks are trying to make hay out of what a guy who hosted a reception for Obama 13 years ago was doing 20 years before that.
 
Is William Ayers the best the McCain camp can do? The ads claim that Obama’s relationship with Ayres is somehow proof of his dangerous ambition. But it’s McCain’s blind ambition, or his campaign’s bad judgment, that is painfully on display in the newest ads.

U.S. Senator John McCain tried to use his influence to help a crook named Charlie Keating, one of the worst of the saving and loan robbers, a man who ripped off everyone in sight, including American taxpayers. That’s OK. Forgive and forget. But serving on a foundation board with a guy who engaged in radical politics decades ago? That’s a voting issue? Desperate. Dumb. You want to convince voters that you’re totally out of touch with their lives, and their fears, this is the way to do it.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,436341,00.html