After all, if McCain has so much substance, how come he doesn't actually know anything?

All day I hear that McCain is Mr. Concrete Proposal, and Obama is the empty suit who gives good speech but doesn’t deign to do detail.

I can wonk with the best of them. Hell, I’ve got an autographed copy of Paul Tsongas’ 1992 A Call to Economic Arms. And the position-paper part of Obama’s site made my eyes glaze over.

What the hell is wrong with this country, and more specifically the media? Are we the Saudi Arabia of stupid? (60% of the world’s proven reserves of stupid and we’ll pump all the light sweet stupid you’ll take…)

This is the Obama that needs to show up not just for the next 4 months , but for his Presidency should he win office. this is the voice of real change. Not the flowery talk, but the principle of calling a duck, a duck. The GOP can not stand this kind of light thrown at it. More than anything, their strategy requires the Democrts to role over like good little dogs to act on command according to the GOP's expectations regarding narrative. This throws all that out fot he window. If you can't tell, I really liked.

Haha... printed tire gauges. That's just great!

It's so funny, and it ridicules the opponent!

It's so funny. I'll never get tired of that. 'Cause it's so funny.

It's funny. Funny.

Don't worry. Next week they'll have another "really funny" thing to throw against Obama. Which makes it even better that he runs right against them so well.

But that tire gauge bit. So funny.

People are way ahead of the the GOP. The Chevy Cobalt XFE (xtra fuel economy) has the lowest lot time of any Cobalt model and is selling more than 2x as many units as GM predicted.

What is the magic technology that gives the Cobalt XFE it's improved fuel economy? Different gear ratios, slightly different programming on the engine management chip and lower rolling resistance tires (higher inflation).

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/22/cobalt-xfe-selling-faster-than-planned/

The same magic technology that existed on the CRX HF in 1988.

It used to be that the Republican theme of taking pride in ignorance was very open, a front-and-center part of their appeal. This was a big theme in 2000 -- that Al Gore was a nerdy little teacher's pet. Now, over the past seven years, Americans have realized that we don't really like ignorance quite as much as we thought we did. (This isn't to say we're any less ignorant than we were in 2000 -- just that we find ignorance less appealing). Republicans desperately need to get rid of proud ignorance (along with many other things) as part of their brand appeal -- yet when Obama makes a nerdy little proposal of the sort Republicans loved to skewer Al Gore for, they go straight to "Goring" him -- but most Americans now probably hold Al Gore in considerably higher esteem than George Bush, and proud ignorance is now a liability, not an asset.

It's something of a microcosm of how the Republicans need to change their message, brand, and substantive policies to appeal to average Americans, yet they so often find themselves unable to do so.

The only thing I'd suggest is switching up that last line to "anybody who knows anything about car maintenance", rather than the faceless "energy experts".

But it's good. I've always loved the way you can here the chuckle welling up in his voice when he starts mocking someone's really stupid political stunt.

"It's something of a microcosm of how the Republicans need to change their message, brand, and substantive policies to appeal to average Americans, yet they so often find themselves unable to do so.

Posted by: Julian Elson | August 6, 2008 2:49 AM"

Very true. This is what happens when you make your party's raison d'etre to be ridiculing Northeastern liberal elitists and proving that government can't work.

Not a bad oneliner but still seems an empty suit.

But I like the schtick of wiping his nose every time he mentions "republicans." Nice!

Here are better "energy experts" for Obama to quote.

Hot Rod Magazine: "20 Fuel Economy Tips: No. 3 Tire Inflation Pressure
HOT ROD—Fuel Economy"

Popular Mechanics: "KEEP ON ROLLING
For optimum fuel efficiency, tire manufacturers must design tires for minimal rolling resistance. That’s on the horizon. Tires may not get any skinnier, but they will have new compounds that maintain wet and dry weather grip and decrease rolling resistance. Designing a tire inflation system that could vary pressure depending on the conditions could essentially allow on-demand changes in rolling resistance. A study by the Transportation Research Board, commissioned by the National Highway Traffic safety Administration, found that cutting resistance by 10 percent yielded a 1- to 2-percent improvement in gas mileage."

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4218266.html

McCain is now admitting Obam was right. And can we get rid of Annon's that are obviously trollish liars? It's one thing to argue with actually arguments, but quite another to just be here to throw out GOP bumper sticker phrases.

yes, even the rejoinders of paris hilton are more intellectually sophisticated than the inanity and poor taste of john mccain
in sturgis!
also, as a woman, i found mccain's comments regarding the buffalo chip contest, and particularly those directed toward his wife to be extremely offensive and degrading, most especially, for someone running for the presidency.
he did himself no favors with women this week.

I agree with those who suggest he lay off the appeal to "Energy Experts" and bring it more with the Everyman/woman who changes their own oil am understands routine auto maintenance. Might be slightly more effective. Otherwise, that's some purified awesome right there. We political junkies often forget what a master of Political Jujitsu Obama is.

This would be a great line of attack except that a depressingly large number of Americans also take pride in being ignorant.

agree with Davis X above, especially about the media, whose performance gets more shameful with each passing year.

agree with Ezra that Obama is very good when he's doing the near chuckling intellectual indignation. I've noticed that when he's doing this, (a) he is clearly communicating paragraph sized thoughts, and not talking points, and (b) his voice takes on the cadences that Bill Cosby used in his 1960s comedy routines, with the sort of "can you believe this?" tone.

I think Obama should add something to the effect that "when John McCain makes these kinds of ignorant belittling statements about my campaign, he's not ridiculing me, he's ridiculing you and your intelligence.

Wow, the BS in here is deep enough to shovel. So tell me, all you non-ignorant democrats, what do energy experts or economic experts say about the "windfall profits tax". How is that exactly going to increase domestic production or the price of oil? How does limiting the amount of oil drilled affect the price? But wait, Obama the One also wants to sell some 30 million barrels of the SPR. What do the energy experts say about that? Is that a "gimmick" or a hard nosed policy proposal? How about the NOPEC bill, where apparently the democrats will sue Saudi Arabia for raising oil prices? Is that a serious proposal or a gimmick? I can see how that will go over, US court to Saudi Arabia, "you owe us $300 billion for selling us oil to pricey" SA: "Screw you we'll sell it to China." Finally, how are we going to enforce this tire pressure plan? Will the legion of Obamaboids go around checking everyone's tire inflation?

Hey everyone, inflate your tires, I'm all for it, but we need all kinds of solutions. But windfall profits, NOPEC, "oil speculation" legislation, banning ANWAR drilling, coastal drilling and selling the important stategic petroleum reserve for short term political gain, well guess what guys and gals, those are all ignorant gimmicks. And as a man, I'm offended. Oh, am I allowed to call Obama ignorant or is that racist?

"My opponent is stupid" didn't work out too well for Al Gore. I don't think it'll work much better for Obama. But his campaign ought to co-opt McCain's and hand out its own tire gauges - mark them "Obama's Energy Plan, Part One."

"am i allowed to call obama ignorant or is that racist?"

you call him ignorant if you wish.
it is just a glaring misnomer!

Maybe I'm overgeneralizing Ron, but it might also be the case that many right-leaning folks are gear heads who know that Obama was right.

Sorry Scott, but deflecting the thread gets you zero points. Please do come again though.

How is that exactly going to increase domestic production or the price of oil?

It doesn't and thats not what Obama is saying, but naturally that didn't seem to bother you.

How does limiting the amount of oil drilled affect the price?

The amount of oil is already limited dumbass, and more so by your asshole friends in the oil industry in order to keep profits up, oh but that doesn't bother you either does it? And of course, the best way to bring down the price is to USE LESS oil, but you keep on sucking on those pipes and going into la-la land.

Finally, how are we going to enforce this tire pressure plan?

First off, "plan?" It was a suggestion, an appeal if you will, to the American public, not part of a plan, which Obama clearly states in the video. Democrats are for personal responsibility, of which keeping tires properly inflated is part. I thought Republicans were to?

Finally, how are we going to enforce this tire pressure plan?

Scott may not take pride in it, but he certainly is ignorant.

and (b) his voice takes on the cadences that Bill Cosby used in his 1960s comedy routines, with the sort of "can you believe this?" tone.

Thank you, I was worried I was the only one who thought that.

"My opponent is stupid" didn't work out too well for Al Gore. I don't think it'll work much better for Obama.

McCain's the one doing the "my opponent is stupid" stuff. Teasing about tire gauges, calling Obama names, that's the juvenile antics of a failing campaign.

Obama's message isn't "my opponent is stupid," it's "my opponent thinks YOU'RE stupid." And that's why people are turned off by McCain's desperate nonsense.

It's very easy for Republican politicians to argue in favor of ignorance when it comes to things like science, such as evolution or global warming. Who, after all, reads Science or Nature, a biology textbook, or even a book by a science "popularizer"? For many people, these issues are things they only hear of mediated through cable tv talking heads shows.

On the other hand, lots of people read Popular Mechanics and the AAA newsletter. Making hay out of Obama's tire pressure suggestion makes the Republicans seem like people who are completely out of touch, since they clearly don't maintain their own cars or pay for their own gas.

as a woman, i found mccain's comments regarding the buffalo chip contest, and particularly those directed toward his wife to be extremely offensive and degrading

I found them disturbing, as they forced me to think about Cindy McCain naked.

Now, fifteen or so years ago, it would have been a different story. But Mrs. McCain's best years are definitely behind her.

Adrock:

"The amount of oil is already limited dumbass, and more so by your asshole friends in the oil industry in order to keep profits up, oh but that doesn't bother you either does it? And of course, the best way to bring down the price is to USE LESS oil, but you keep on sucking on those pipes and going into la-la land."

OK, so this is what our brilliant Obamaboids are saying. Oil companies (BTW, Exxon drills about 3% of worldwide oil) are limiting supply to deviously keep profits high. Therefore, it is imperative we keep them from drilling in the coasts and in ANWAR because they will then cleverly not drill there to keep the oil prices even higher! Brilliant!

BTW, what's the pipe sucking reference, I'm too ignorant to get it . . .

The guy just behind to his left in the Hilton Head 'cap-sleeved't-shirt.
Never smiled, kept lookin' around, big, macho-ish, dark glasses tipped up...
Cool disguise, security guy.
[Probably shouldn't out him;
assassination for a lot of us is
a genuine anxiety.]

I'd love for him to take a moment to "Sister Souljah" the Republicans abut this:

"In too many black neighborhoods, studying hard is seen as 'acting white.' Now we see John McCain's campaign pushing the same pro-ignorance line: educating yourself makes you an 'elitist' and instead you should be proud of your ignorance. It's wrong in the inner cities and it's wrong in Senator McCain's Aspen condo. Americans did not reach our current greatness by tearing each other down, but by building each other up. That's the America I was raised in, and that's the America I hope to serve as your President."