gdubs's Blog

Stop Going After Palin

2008-08-30T08:43:19Z

Stop. Stop right now. The only way this is a positive for the McCain campaign is if Democrats cede the moral high ground.

This was an incredibly telling selection and I think it betrays a sense of absolute fear. How?

1. EXPERIENCE. The only way this is beneficial to Republicans is if Democrats continue to argue that Palin is inexperienced, which ultimately results in a comparison of Obama's experience to Palin's -- engaging the conversation is a validation of the comparison. Stop doing it. Now. Let the conversation take its own course.

2. FOREIGN POLICY. In seeking to neutralize Biden's strengths, the Republicans have effectively given up on any argument about the philosophy of America's role in the world. Obama laid out a very clear philosophy -- Biden was intended to be the experienced executor and point man for the Obama philosophy abroad, but Palin's complete lack of knowledge and experience makes the argument completely unnecessary. Obama should continue to make the case in direct, positive terms in the abstract. There is absolutely no reason to showcase Biden's experience here. It's only a loss if Democrats actually allow themselves to validate the simplicity of Palin's views by equating them as a counterargument to an Obama presidency. Let them stand on their own without rebuttal.

3. DIVERSITY. The Republicans have telegraphed somethng here -- their shallow attempt to take advantage of the Clinton (and Obama) phenomenon will backfire on its merits UNLESS Democrats are perceived as bullies and attack dogs. Stop thinking that you need to point out flaws in Palin's philosophies, experience, and views that women are smart enough to uncover themselves. In other words, let Clinton supporters and women in general come to their own decisons based on the actual merits and facts of the argument. This pick betrays an absolute lack of understanding of feminism -- the only way Democrats can subvert the mistake is again, by being bullies, and attacking unnecessarily, which effectively changes the discussion away from Palin's views to an analysis of the interaction between Obama supporters and McCain supporters. In other words, we're on the right side of every single issue and there is absolutely no reason to point this out or even counter McCain / Palin arguments.

OVERALL. I think the pick is astounding in what it telegraphs. The McCain campaign has abandoned every single argument and strategy it was attempting to execute prior to the convention. They've banked ENTIRELY on stealing women voters and secondarily, working class folks through a shallow misunderstanding of the actual concerns of those voters. The only thing that was successful about this strategy was the fact that it neutralized Biden's strengths by making them unnecessary. If he comes out swinging, he looks like a bully. However, there are absolutely NO NET POSITIVES. The obvious strategy here is that the Republicans think that a female VP candidate will peel off Hillary supporters. After this week's convention, I think that's absolutely impossible UNLESS Democrats create a sympathetic persona in Palin.

Ultimately, what we need here is the EXACT opposite of what we needed going into the convention. Obama needs to lay out the case in a positive manner for what an Obama/Biden presidency will look like, refuse to attack Palin in any matter whatsoever, and basically behave like a gentleman. There is no positive result from attacking. I think this choice telegraphs that the Republicans have effectively given up, and anything contrary to that attitude will evoke public sympathy.

Unless we ruin it for ourselves, the election is over.

John Kerry Speech -- YouTube

2008-08-28T03:08:51Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1yri5CXDZg

Stop Helping the Republicans

2008-08-25T23:52:38Z

I keep seeing several of you in the comments of several threads attempting to quell all of this he-said / she-said garbage that seems to be exploding over the last few days all over these boards, all over other boards, and all over the media. This post is not directed at you -- it's directed at the many supporters on both sides who are allowing themselves to do the bidding of the GOP.

I hate to have to point this out, but if you haven't already figured it out, the Republicans are DESPERATELY trying to push the narrative of disarray in the Democratic party and MANY OF YOU ARE HELPING. They've got every operative on every show today pushing the idea that they've got thousands and thousands of Democrats that are now going to vote for McCain, that Clinton was snubbed (oh, now they RESPECT Hillary?), that our party is in disarray, etc. They're even buying ad space to enforce the message. It's their strategy to torpedo our convention by dividing us.

So, I'm appealing to you all of you not to "come together" but to stop and think for a moment about whether or not you're doing exactly what the GOP wants you to do. And if so, is that what you want?

Or.......do you want to direct your fire and your fury at the party that's legalized torture, ruined our standing in the world, given ridiculous tax cuts to the most well-off among us, mismanaged our economy to the brink of ruin, gotten thousands of soldiers unnecessary killed to follow the whims of a few well-connected assholes who are now making millions off the chaos, attempted to destroy the concept of equal justice under the law by politicizng the U.S. Attorney's office, and oh yeah, KARL ROVE.

These are the people we need to fight -- not each other. So let's do it.

Hannity Submitted the Ayers Question -- Please Get This Out

2008-04-17T17:55:56Z

I know most of you are probably aware of this, but I would really like to make sure everyone hears this. The question about Ayers was submitted to Stephanopolous by Hannity and some other right-wing blowhard, while George was on his radio show.

From Kos:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/16/13329/3501/457/496866

Obviously, this is beyond ridiculous. Please get the word out on this one. TPM, care to do throw this one out there (please)?

White Haired Women for Obama

2008-04-16T12:57:52Z

This one made me smile. For all of you elitist literature buffs out there, it's also a decent poem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpDTvlSd0x4

Enjoy.

Please stop saying the following things. They are incredibly stupid.

2008-03-26T17:06:38Z

We're Democrats and left-leaning independents. Saying these things makes you sound like an idiot. You don't want to sound like an idiot, do you? Seriously. Just stop.

Drink the Kool-aid

Obama cult

Hillbot

Pied piper

Snake charmer

Under the bus

Obamaista (as a general rule, if you can't even pronounce it, don't type it.)

Clintonista

Lewinsky

Bitch

Obama is a sexist

Clinton is a racist

Obama is a racist

Race card / playing the race card / dealing the race card / who played the race card / blah blah -- this is the dumbest extended metaphor in the modern age. It is so dumb. So unbelievably dumb.

Add more below, but seriously, stop saying these things. Please.

Chicago Tribune: No Obama/Rezko Wrongdoing

2008-03-16T16:37:30Z

The Chicago Tribune has been selling papers for the last 16 months by repeatedly publishing different versions of the same Obama Rezko story, usually characterized by an inflammatory or inquisitve headline, something like "Obama and Rezko: Any Wrongdoing?" The story itself was always a tease, basically concluding nothing untoward known AS OF YET.

Obama sat down with 36 Tribune reporters for 90 minutes on Friday. As a result, the paper finally declares that there is NO WRONGDOING.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0316edit1mar16,0,2616801.story

I think what the Tribune has done is essentially fair. As an ex-Chicagoan, I know that 9 times out of 10 in these cases, where there's smoke there's fire. However, I do think the Tribune has been a bit tabloid about the whole thing, and I think certainly that a cursory review of Obama's critics shows that there are alot of people out there pretending that there was a crime.

I was thinking this weekend that it's hugely important that Obama supporters counter this smear, and every other one already introduced or yet to come. This kind of thing is going to keep happening. If you truly believe that Obama represents real change, then you must intelligently conclude that there are elements of the established political and media structure that will fight him with everything they've got. Let's remember that this is about people-powered politics. There are plenty of people out there smearing and spreading misinformation and outright lies. Personally, I'd like to do whatever I can to fight against that sort of thing; however, I don't quite know what that means apart from posting on message boards. If you're like-minded and you've got ideas or advice, please post them here, and please get this story out.

Great Op-Ed Today Titled "the Obama I Know"

2008-03-14T23:15:36Z

For those of you who are deathly sick of the manufactured controversies, here's something to add a little pep in your step and remind you why you supported Obama in the first place.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0314obamamar14,0,7185898.story

This was a pretty amazing conversation, not only because of Obama's mastery of the legal details, but also because many prominent Democratic leaders had already blasted the Bush initiative as blatantly illegal. He did not want to take a public position until he had listened to, and explored, what might be said on the other side.

This is the Barack Obama I have known for nearly 15 years -- a careful and evenhanded analyst of law and policy, unusually attentive to multiple points of view.

The REAL Sinbad Speaks (with apologies to our Real Sinbad)

2008-03-11T18:01:04Z

And he's still hilarious. See below for excerpt and link:

In an interview with the Sleuth Monday, he said the "scariest" part of the trip was wondering where he'd eat next. "I think the only 'red-phone' moment was: 'Do we eat here or at the next place.'"

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/03/sinbad_unloads_on_hillary_clin.html