by Andrea Cornell Sarvady
Andrea Cornell Sarvady
Wow. The Republican machine clearly finds John McCain utterly uninspiring; their hopes for a win seem to focus solely on tearing down his opponent. Extremists in the party tag Barack Obama as a Muslim, a terrorist and?this just in!?a socialist. Others are simply hoping you?ll see the Democrat as a slick pol with nothing to offer but the gift of gab.
It?s too bad McCain?s team has focused so relentlessly on this approach because it?s just not working. The terrorist/Muslim message is too easily dismantled, and the economy is proving to be an Obama strong suit. Moreover, the only buyer?s remorse so far concerns the pick of Sarah Palin over far more qualified VP candidates.
In effect, McCain has already made two presidential decisions? his choice of a running mate and his response during the recent bailout crisis. Neither action demonstrates sound judgment in the pressure-filled environment faced by presidents. A recent ABC poll shows that over half of all likely voters say the Palin pick makes them less confident in McCain?s judgment. Meanwhile, Obama?s impressive lead post-bailout indicates that an economic meltdown requires thoughtful examination, not a meaningless publicity stunt.
So what now? McCain could try leaping on the issue of checks and balances, to see if he can create fear around a filibuster-proof Democratic majority. Of course, to play that card he?ll have to throw his party under the bus, admitting they?re being trounced on all fronts. Yet what?s he got to lose? If McCain doesn?t win, the GOP bus is all revved up and ready to roll right over him.
A better endgame strategy? McCain could help us envision the diverse group of experts he would surround himself with for the next four years. Real-America Americans?that would be all of us, Gov. Palin? appreciate the bipartisan support Obama receives from Warren Buffet, Paul Volcker and Colin Powell. Conversely, we?ve yet to receive a unifying message from McCain?s increasingly erratic campaign. The man who once thought nothing of reaching across the aisle while slapping down his own party is long gone, losing the very centrists who will probably decide this election.
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read this buttmunch
Palin/McCain :sadwave: