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LIGHTNING ROUND: R.I.P. SWIFTBOATING (2004-2008).
- A deal struck between the Obama and Clinton camps has resulted in Hillary Clinton's name being put on the ballot at the Democratic Convention. It seems to mainly be a formality designed to salve the remaining wounds of Hillary's more ardent supporters, who want one last chance to "have their voices heard."
- The Wall Street Journal has published an op-ed by Obama economic advisers Jason Furman and Austan Goolsbee detailing the senator's tax plan. Significantly, the piece drives home the point that Obama's plan targets the middle classes for tax cuts while McCain's offers the usual Republican breaks for the super-wealthy and bankrupting the federal government.
- Open Secrets reports that U.S. soldiers deployed overseas gave more campaign contributions to Barack Obama than John McCain at a 6-1 ratio. In fact, McCain came in third, behind Ron Paul.
- Eric Kleefield has a compiled a chart that nicely illustrates that the lion's share of John McCain's attacks against Barack Obama have been recycled from Hillary Clinton circa the Democratic primaries.
- Ed Kilgore has some thoughts on why this election year's would-be swiftboating of Barack Obama won't work but that hasn't stopped the Obama campaign from launching an aggressive rapid response team designed to stay one step ahead of Jerome Corsi as he stinks up network studios peddling his compilation of lies. Even if the swiftboating is ultimately ineffective, I'm always in favor of putting right-wingers on the defensive.
- Nate Silver argues that Obama needs to move the economic conversation away from the issue of gas prices and toward a broader discussion of Democratic competence on the economy. Social Security, in particular, could hurt McCain.
- James Fallows takes on the unenviable task of watching all 47 primary season debates and writes about them in the Atlantic. Best debate advice: "For Obama the key is: look at John McCain, and see Alan Keyes."
- Amanda Terkel writes in Salon on McCain's poor record on tech and Internet policy. Humor aside, the next president will be one who needs to formulate some sort of national broadband policy, among other things: "McCain has not released a tech platform, although he may do so this week. On this front, he lags behind Barack Obama, who unveiled his last year."
- And finally, yesterday might have witnessed the world's shortest-lived political rumor as Bill Kristol suggested Colin Powell will not only endorse Barack Obama, but play a role at the Democratic National Convention. The ink was still fresh on this one when a Powell spokesperson emphatically denied it. Steve Clemons speculates -- convincingly, I think -- that this is simply an effort by neocons like Kristol to purge saner foreign policy voices from McCain's neoconservative foreign policy inner circle.
--Mori Dinauer
COMMENTS (12)
I felt all along that Hillary's name should be put up for nomination. It is an honor and historically significant all by itself.
Posted by: Dan | August 14, 2008 6:27 PM
It seems to mainly be a formality designed to salve the remaining wounds of Hillary's more ardent supporters, who want one last chance to "have their voices heard."
It ain't working
Posted by: Davis X. Machina | August 15, 2008 1:27 AM
It ain't working
Yes, Obama, tremble at the power of a few dozen people on a blog few amongst the public have heard of before! Tremble, Obama, tremble!
Posted by: Josh R. | August 15, 2008 10:46 AM
Tremble about doing crappy with older women voters, a demographic that is usually strongly Democratic.
If the Obama campaign would get off it's high horse that might change.
Posted by: John Petty | August 15, 2008 11:28 AM
Tremble about doing crappy with older women voters, a demographic that is usually strongly Democratic.
If the Obama campaign would get off it's high horse that might change.
Get off its high horse and do what exactly? To continue with the height/power dynamics you're implying: must he bow down and scrape before the mighty Clinton to get their support?
Posted by: Josh R. | August 15, 2008 11:48 AM
The most obvious thing--the one that would work and cinch the election--is to pick Hillary for VP.
Try this: Instead of wowing the European glitterati, why not spend some time with older women voters, or perhaps working class voters in general.
Posted by: John Petty | August 15, 2008 11:59 AM
The most obvious thing--the one that would work and cinch the election--is to pick Hillary for VP.
So, Hillary's supporters would prefer that she serve as a largely powerless figurehead for eight years than become one of the most powerful and influential Senators in the Senate? Makes sense to me!
Well, it makes sense in the context of a cult of personality rather than any adherance to the goals and ideals Senator Clinton's platform and race was geared to.
Try this: Instead of wowing the European glitterati, why not spend some time with older women voters, or perhaps working class voters in general.
Damned if you, damned if you don't. You don't go overseas, you get crushed for not being "experienced" and for being all show. You do and you still get glammed for being all show ("glitterati") and for something else as well.
Face it, nothing he can do will warm the hearts of the tiny majority of Hillary dead-enders who still remain besides simply getting out of the way for their chosen one.
Posted by: Josh R. | August 15, 2008 12:29 PM
That should probably read "tiny minority."
Posted by: Josh R. | August 15, 2008 2:16 PM
No, actually, as a Hillary supporter, I don't think she should be vice president. I'm saying she should be picked because it would help Obama.
Doing the European tour thing doesn't do anything as far as "experience" goes. Besides, why should Obama try to meet "old white guy" expectations? He should stay away from white men in suits, and spend time with working class people.
Posted by: John Petty | August 15, 2008 3:14 PM
Yeah, and he should have stayed home for vacation to watch the Olympics and give press interviews on his front stoop about, you know, the US basketball team and how great Michael Phelps is, while Sasha and Malia duck in and out of the house and wave to the press.
Duh. What is wrong with you people? Where is JFK's PR team?
Ooh, ooh, we're an oppressed Party of the People, persecuted by the MSM. Give me a break.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 15, 2008 3:55 PM
"Tremble about doing crappy with older women voters, a demographic that is usually strongly Democratic."
We breathlessly await your evidence that Obama is "doing crappy with older women voters," and that this "crappiness" will cause him to lose the election. Don't worry; we'll wait.
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