I think it's because he didn't want the force of the attack to wear off before Nov. 4th. We already learned how attacks launched early (ie, Rev. Wright) lose their power after overuse. Obama waited until under a month to the election, AND--in the face of threats that McCain is going negative--he shot first, consigning the McCain camp to damage control.

With the TRUTH!

Wow. Talk about a disciplined campaign.

Posted at October 6, 2008 4:30 AM in response to Obama Camp Hits Back At McCain's "Keating Economics"

Not only was most of middle America able to witness his 'stunt' about suspending his campaign, and his attempt to get out of the debate. Apparently McCain's campaign will only say he "hopes" to make Wednesday's vote on the bailout. HOPES? The man who mere days ago was (allegedly) willing to suspend an entire campaign, his AND Obama's if he had his way?

Sometimes the cynic in me isn't so sure, when the Obama/Biden campaign keeps noting that "Americans are smarter than that." But I'm really beginning to believe that McCain is whacking them over the head enough that even the stupid ones--at least, those who aren't die-hard McCain voters--will notice.

Posted at September 29, 2008 1:13 PM in response to McCain jumps the shark, loses cool amongst white males

LOL! Good point about an insult to Faust. Faust was intelligent, even if he (as McCain) wasn't enough of a big-picture thinker.

Posted at September 29, 2008 1:10 PM in response to McCain jumps the shark, loses cool amongst white males

I am so appalled--at the bigots and the MSM--that I can barely comment. This is not a reflection of the America I love. May the terrorists, and I'm talking the ones who gassed the mosque, suffer swift and LEGAL retribution.

Posted at September 29, 2008 1:08 PM in response to Muslim Children Gassed at Dayton Mosque After Obsession DVD Hits Ohio

Excellent piece. I would like to note, however, that Obama DOES seem to say "Bring 'em on." However, he's also able to do it in a calm, measured way, and to handle "'em," when they arrive, without degenerating into taunts and out-of-balance attacks. And yes, the Independents in particular LOVE that. I just got a note from an undecided friend, that she appreciated Obama's "informative" commercials which didn't even mention McCain.

This guy isn't just book smart (which he is). He's people smart. And he's the tortoise. McCain--and the pundits--thinks it's going to take one Big Thing to "seal the deal," one big sprint, one big moment. While whatever moment hits mid October sure can affect things, I think Obama's done an incredible job at proving that what we want more than anything else is consistency. And he's got a darn good amount of that, especially when you consider that he's a politician.

Posted at September 29, 2008 12:59 PM in response to Letting Obama Be Obama

Good point, especially about the narrative! That seems to be what they've done w/Palin, too -- they loved the "narrative" so much that they didn't check to see if there would be substance behind it. McCain seems to think that just because he says or hopes something will be, it will be... including the bahavior of others.

Schadenfreude or not, that's one place where I particularly enjoy seeing him proven wrong. BEFORE the election. Because when he starts telling our allies what to do, they'll react in the exact same way. In the meantime, Obama will INVITE our allies to join him, rather than commanding them to obey him.

Still, let's hope the McCain folks stick to their "Obama can't string two sentences together" meme, to keep the expectations low so that Obama continues to blow them out of the water.

Posted at September 27, 2008 1:55 PM in response to McCain Supporters Have Only Themselves to Blame for Obama's Peceived Victory

Add me to the echo chamber. I thought: There's McCain, saying he's bipartisan, saying he can talk to other country's leaders, and he won't even look at or address his own colleague in the senate and in the election. Has he so little respect for Obama, for the citizens who've elected Obama to this position?

And there's Obama, DEMONSTRATING that he can play "nice" while holding his own, looking at McCain, calling him "John," rarely going on the attack.

I loved the "nice." We need more "nice."

Posted at September 27, 2008 1:49 PM in response to Senator Obama, Please Do Not Stop Being "Nice"

Of course she's ready. Hadn't you heard? The woman doesn't blink!

Posted at September 25, 2008 2:08 AM in response to If McCain can't handle pressure of two things at once, he's unfit for President

Excellent point. I hope Obama makes it to McCain.

At one of the scheduled debates.

Posted at September 25, 2008 1:48 AM in response to McCain Chickens Out

Absolutely. Obama's got to be careful not to look like a bully. If McCain actually pulls his ads, Obama can also pull his... certainly the most negative. These debates, though, must go on, and McCain will look like a coward if he doesn't show up.

Posted at September 24, 2008 6:10 PM in response to Obama Rejects McCain's Call For Suspension Of Debate; Says He Was Blindsided