Election Central Morning Roundup
Obama Ad: We Can't Afford Another President In Big Oil's Pocket
The Obama campaign has announced this new TV ad, which ties John McCain to both the oil companies and to George W. Bush. "After one president in the pocket of Big Oil, we can't afford another," the announcer says:
McCain Camp: "Celebrity" Obama Is The One With Bush On Energy
The McCain campaign is quick out the gate with a statement responding to Obama's new ad: "Barack Obama's latest negative attack ad shows his celebrity is matched only by his hypocrisy, after all it was Senator Obama, not John McCain, who voted for the Bush-Cheney energy bill that was a sweetheart deal for oil companies. Also not mentioned is the $400,000 from big oil contributors that Barack Obama has already pocketed in this election."
Obama Giving Energy Speech Today In Michigan
Barack Obama is giving a speech scheduled for 11 a.m. today in Lansing, Michigan, where he'll lay out his energy plan -- an important step in maintaining his rapport with voters on economic issues. His plan will call for a windfall profits tax on oil companies, a $500 per individual energy rebate, higher fuel-efficiency standards, and investments in alternative energy sources.
McCain Attending Biker Rally In South Dakota
John McCain will be on hand for today's annual Sturgis Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, a mega-gathering of motorcyclists. McCain might spend his time there discussing his call for a gas tax holiday and more oil drilling, in contrast to Obama's energy speech today.
McCain Supporters Ready To Heckle Obama Today
McCain supporters will reportedly hand out tire gauges at Barack Obama's speech today, in mockery of Barack Obama's call for motorists to take little steps like checking tire pressure in order to improve efficiency.
Report: McCain Will Wait For Obama To Pick Veep First
Jonathan Martin reports this morning that McCain advisers think the candidate will wait for Barack Obama to pick his running mate first before choosing his own. "We'd be stupid to pick before they do," said an anonymous McCain adviser. "If they go first, you have more information."
Obama: Give A Full Vote To Michigan And Florida Delegates
With the Democratic primaries over and done with, Barack Obama has now called upon the DNC to give a full vote to delegates from Michigan and Florida -- as opposed to the half-votes awarded in a tense compromise. "I believe party unity calls for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be able to participate fully alongside the delegates from the other states and territories," Obama said in a letter to the credentials committee.
Very happy to see Obama go on the attack, especially with an ad tying in McCain to Bush. Let's hope that every ad now is an offensive one, and every statement they put out pivots to attack. No more defense.
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 4, 2008 9:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Again with the virtually content-free first-in-line self promotion?
August 4, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
To get a little nitpicky, the image of Bush and McSame is a mirror image. The lump on McSame's face is on the wrong side.
(Hey, gimme a break. This is the first tactful way I've been able to think of to bring up the lump!)
August 4, 2008 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's the way you attack, on issues. Avoid, like the plague, any attempt to fall in the GOP mud fight.
Great ad. The Bush-McCain images should be mandatory for all policy ads. I wonder if there will be special ads for the olympics.
Great news on the Post poll on low-wage workers. The unions will continue to matter in November.
Happy birthday, Barack!
August 4, 2008 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
damn i love the ad. yes attack his ass.... ima give a little more money for his b-day..........
August 4, 2008 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Herbert took over on Mornin Joe today -- he backed up his claims that the celebrity ad from John McCain’s campaign was indeed racist.
There's a great diary about it on DKos...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/4/8276/84373/287/562132
August 4, 2008 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
We've Got Them Right Where They Want Us...
On the ongoing racial theme being played (by the GOP) as we've come to discover the Dollar Story was conceived and contrived to goad Obama into a reply of some kind - as noted elsewhere in several posts. Next up the Celeb taunt, to bring in the elitist liberal label. Of course that keeps the discussion away from Policy as well.
Now I think this was actually a set-up for yet another reason, Obama's Democratic Convention speech will be on the 45th anniversary of the MLK I Have A Dream Speech - we need to be very aware that these themes they've already set up will be the "brackets" they'll use to take down whatever Obama says there.
It is Vital for the Democrats and the Obama Team to have the ground prepped - Who is and Who Is Not Fighting for the Average American?? This needs to be a theme set Before the Convention!!
Might be Time to dig out that Bush Clip where he Joked about the Haves and the Have Mores - and make McCain wear Bush like Tuckers discarded Bow Tie...
August 4, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Or dig up the quote about McCain being at a mansion and joking to the effect "So this is what housing projects look like"...
August 4, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
No need to panic. . .the Preznit still needs to make his prime time address to the GOP convention. Won't be able to separate the sitting Prez and the GOP nominee then.
August 4, 2008 9:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Attack commercial 2:
Background music: Bomb bomb bomb Iran (McCain's song) ala Barbara Ann.
Image of McCain's face with image of quickly escalating numbers (financial costs of more war)
Fade to soup lines, etc., images showing the threat of the economic spiral as the war-costs counter keeps mounting, speeding up more and more.
Close up of McCain's face with the words: the more war president.
The choice is yours America. Take it back.
August 4, 2008 9:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is speaking at the Buffalo Chip Campground in Sturgis.
Here's their events list...
#2 - "John McCain will participate in Tribute to American Veterans and Active Duty Servicemen on Aug. 4"
#4 - "Lady Victoria and 3 other professional women wrestlers will conduct twice daily oil wrestling matches."
Is he promoting oil drilling or oil wrestling?
http://www.buffalochip.com/
August 4, 2008 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
According to Drudge, McCain has taken a lead in the daily Rasmussen Poll. Obama needs more attack ads like this.
August 4, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
As I predicted Obama is giving back the Michigan votes the minute it didn't matter.
Anybody know why he voted for the Bush-Cheney Energy bill and why McCain presumptively didn't?
By energy alternatives in the Michigan Ad does Obama mean the coal slurry project he fell or just corn ethanol which Hillary saw through?
McCain has a decent global warming proposal and is more likely to get it through congress than Obama is to get his through without folding. Obama has a tendency to fold in trying to please everyone.
Further after the telecom fiasco we know precisely what an Obama pledge is worth --- really really read the fine print.
August 4, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do the Rovettes pay you union scale?
August 4, 2008 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think McCain's voted for any bills recently, but let's see. That's the bill where there was a net increase in taxes on oil companies and that tax revenue was directed to investments in renewable energy right?
Gee, I can't imagine why Obama would vote for something like that and McCain wouldn't. I mean if it's called the Bush=Cheney Energy bill (I don't think it was really called that by the way) then it's gotta be bad. Just look at the name. Congress would never ever have an ironic name for a bill that does the exactly opposite of what the name implies. That would just be silly.
August 4, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
RIGHT!!!
mcCain refused to vote for the tax INCREASE on the oil conglomerates
August 4, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
- Good attack on McCain. We need more. And where are the surrogates??? I thought Hillary and others would be campaigning for Obama??
- McCain's Biker rally involves topless dancers and strippers. Where's the MSM on this sleazeball?? How about the total hypocrites at the religious right?
- Finally, McCain shows some great "Followship" in waiting until Obama picks his VP. Talk about cowardly and weak. Will McCain govern by waiting to see what other world leaders do and react to it?? It also shows a VP process going nowhere. A good candidate is a good candidate, period. The fact that they only see value in VP as a tit for tat, shows a lack of good choices.
August 4, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Finally a great attack ad. It seems that the Obama campaign has had enough.
It appears that "Slick Barry" has taken over for "Obambi".
McCain=Bush=Big oil (the 3 amigo villians)
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
This is the message of the week. Now Obama needs some great surrogates that say this daily this week.
It's on!!!
August 4, 2008 9:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
So true. As you say, repeat and repeat.
August 4, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, Politico keeps being cited. I just want to mention that the Politico is a rightwing spin machine. They present themselves as inside baseball, or inside the belt way, but CSPAN they are not. At key moments they will pour on the Obama-loathing or McCain-love. I wouldn't trust the rightwing hacks at the politico.
August 4, 2008 9:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh my god, Axelrod Obama lost it.
He has a fresh and stinky "celebrity" label hanging around his neck and he responds with the stale Bush/McCain thing.
And on top of this, gives John Voldemort an open invitation to attack him as flip-flopper on energy.
Great start, Obama. Where's your positive uplifting "hope" magic to contrast with senile futile McCain?
August 4, 2008 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
At least we can forget Bill Clinton as a surrogate. All ABC could talk about with Bill Clinton last night (during a short feature of his Africa trip) was what he thought of the charges that he was a racist. The bobbing, erudite head, finger wagging sternly: "Know this, I am not a racist." But the media loves the possibility of it, they're digging it in further and further. The establishment democrats have largely left Obama out on his own, as if to say, OK jackass, so you've won the primaries, let's see what else you're so hot at. Sometimes I think Obama must be the loneliest man out there.
August 4, 2008 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Glad to see Obama is for "counting every vote" when they don't matter anymore.
August 4, 2008 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, he won either way. The difference is, back in the spring, the Clinton School of Subjective Mathematics was still handing out degrees and some people thought that because if FL and MI were counted and she was therefore losing by a slightly smaller margin, she deserved to cagefight Obama at the convention.
August 4, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I want a free tire gauge.
August 4, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I actually needed one yesterday. No joke.
August 4, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
i wonder if they would mail them out?
August 4, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Me too, esp if it's one of the good ones with the round pressure gauge...but it's probably the cheap, plastic pen-style...not even the decent metal one. Where are they giving them out?
August 4, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I do hope Obama calls them out and ask them to pass out more tire gauges and gives them a simple lesson in economics.
For the clueless trolls; To bring down the price you either have to bring down demand or increase supply. It requires far less capital to increase efficiency and thus reduce demand than to invest in drilling to increase supply. Which is why oil companies haven't drilled on the leases that they already have, they know that demand is relatively elastic because until now there has been little incentive to use energy efficiently. But wingnuts would rather haul their fat asses around in SUVs and scream for more drilling. They could all do us a favor by blowing their hot air into their flat tires.
August 4, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd say that until recently, demand has been relatively inelastic. Huge price jumps have resulted in only small decreases in consumption. But now that prices have started to really pinch, consumers are starting to cut back.
The elasticity of supply and demand is at 1.0 when a 1% (inc/dec)rease in price results in a 1% (dec/inc)rease in consumption (measured in commodity units, not dollars). Below 1.0, there is incentive for suppliers to raise prices because the reduced consumption is not enough to reduce gross revenue. When you take into account the costs of production, an elasticity point somewhere above 1.0 is where net revenue is maximized.
/* click! */
In all the talk of more drilling and increased supply of crude oil, I've noticed that the issue of refining capacity has been mostly forgotten. What's up with that? There are plenty of examples of oil companies acting to limit refining capacity. What's the point of having more crude available if it won't affect the amount of gasoline available? Hmmm.
August 4, 2008 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice pairing of Bush and McCain.
Better pairing? McCain hugging Bush.
That image needs to be out there.
August 4, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Or listen to Sheryl Crow wail about free gasoline on good morning america.
August 4, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Putting this here because there is no way to respond to Josh Marshall directly --- I almost bought your apologia for Obama's plane until I learned that he had his name embroidered on his seat with President underneath. It's of a piece with the false seal. It's as though Obama was saying if I show you the trappings of the Presidency you'll believe I'm for real.
August 4, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
How dare he paint his airplane!
August 4, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
There's a link on he top of the front page to send comments.
Also, I think you're slightly misrepresenting the embroidery. It doesn't say "Barack Obama, President" as you imply. It has his logo, "Obama '08", and then President underneath. Previous campaigns have also used that notation for their bumperstickers.
August 4, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is a very serious issue after all.
August 4, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
So it probably burns your ass that McCain is selling buttons that say McCain/President?
http://store.johnmccain.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BTR3011
Or that he had an ad saying that he is the "American president that America has been waiting for"
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15042.html
August 4, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good to see an ad to fight back at McCain and Rovian side kicks . . . need to saturate the network which in turn will get it to MSM.
As for the Clintons . . . they are sore losers and I, for one, did not expect to see open, obvious support for Obama. Bill can't believe that Hillary loss to a black man!
August 4, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Commercial:
McCain.
image of Sturgis beer hall.
Does.
image of buxomly women approaching ring.
Oil.
the women slather themselves and wrestle.
August 4, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Two things to start off the day - if the Britney ad was about energy as McCain and his campaign profess then why was it called "Celebrity"? Furthermore if it was about energy then why does his campaign have to work in a celebrity dig every time they talk about Obama? It's just McCain having fun ? He wants to have fun with his campaign?
Proper tire pressure does effect fuel efficiency, and over the summer probably just as much as McCain's gas tax savings would have. So they can joke about it all they like because ask any car professional and they will tell you he's right. And it's not like Obama said this is all you need to do, it was a list of little things you could do right now in an "every little bit helps" sort of way.
August 4, 2008 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
They want to use humor because their campaign is a joke... Only time will tell if enough people realize the joke isn't on Obama, but rather on all of us...
August 4, 2008 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good points. I realize the young folk don't like stories about "back in the day" so much, but there really was an energy shortage in the 70s caused by the Arab Oil Embargo (by which the Bush's made a shiteload of money) and people really did propose things like fuel efficient vehicles and mass transit and, yes, keeping your thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer, and checking your air pressure in your tires.
You can see from the progress of the last 35 years or so how that goes over when you have Republicans demanding more drilling and scoffing at fuel conservation and marketing V8s and Hummers. They are the biggest threat to US security and prosperity, with their ignorance and consumptive ways, matched only by their hubris and belligerence.
August 4, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now, one on his voting history, especially when it comes to veteran's benefits.
Another, on his flipflops, (this one will have to be pretty long.)
Just the facts, please. That, should do it.
Today is the sen.'s b-day, 47yrs old. If you can, how about a 47.08 donation to his campaign......we've got to purchase more ads!! ;-)
August 4, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the flipflop list. Updated regularly.
Damn, I wish they'd start making ads from these. The YouTube moments are already mostly there. Just string 'em together.
And at the end of each one:
"Straight Talk?" You Decide.
(Using Faux Noise slogans against them....)
August 5, 2008 3:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Could you imagine if Obama had gone to Sturgis?
We would be seeing non-stop flashes of buxom white women at Sturgis than flashes of Obama.
That would have been a PR nightmare for him.
August 4, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now let's if the MSM(McCain stream media) will run this ad over and over for free like they did for McShit for brains
August 4, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I almost bought your apologia for Obama's plane until I learned that he had his name embroidered on his seat with President underneath."
I can't see Obama saying what he really wanted was his name and the word "President" embroidered on the headrest of his seat. Unfortunately, he can't control the enthusiasm of every individual in his campaign. (I can imagine some young person thinking it would be a neat surprise for him to find that honorific on his seat.) It wouldn't surprise me if Obama has it changed or removed.
August 4, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nah, that's Obama being "presumptuous" again. Of course McCain holding weekly radio shows, and calling himself "President McCain" in early ads was a-ok.
August 4, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
The focus this week is energy and the economy. New attack ad today (yes!) plainly stating McCain's horrible record and alignment with Bush (yes!).
Then a trip to Indiana tomorrow to make Bayh his VP- somehow I think NOT. Energy and Bayh? Doesn't add up.
August 4, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, poop:
http://bayh.senate.gov/issues/issue/?id=31ab607d-0c4d-4f73-9df1-56ebaddeedfa
Please, not Bayh!
August 4, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain's Presidential Agenda:
* Watch what Great Britain does about Iraq and then react to it.
* Watch what other countries do about the energy crisis and then react to it.
* Watch what other countries do about terrorism and then react to it.
* Watch what other countries do about the economic crisis and then react to it.
* Watch what other countries do about NATO-Russia relations and then react to it.
* Watch what other countries do about China and then react to it.
John McCain. Ready to Follow on Day One.
August 4, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Someone needs to turn that into a campaign button. :)
August 4, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Very excited with the new attacking Obama.
Now how his message gets through is if Obama gets surrogates who REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT his message every day this week.
Take the narrative of the week.
Tom Daschle is NOT a good surrogate.
Good surrogates for this issue are Hillary Clinton, Claire McCaskill, and surprising John Kerry. John Kerry has become super tough this year.
August 4, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Kerry is auditioning for the Sec. of State job. He was pretty solid on MTP on Sunday.
Though I wish he would have hammered Lieberman for demonizing Obama for compromising to reach a consensus on off-shore drilling saying he stands for nothing, and not even two minutes later championing McCain for "leaving everything on the table" to negotiate with the Dems to solve the real problems. So when Obama does it it's selling out and standing for nothing, but when McCain does it it's bi-partisan negotiation.
Funny how that works. Too bad Kerry and Brokaw let his get away with it.
August 4, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, he's still boring as hell, though.
August 4, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama should compare McCain's "having fun" with Bush's "having fun" looking all around his Oval Office for Iraq's WMD's.
"While Barack Obama is talking about real issues and real solutions John McCain wants to joke around and have fun (queue clip where McCain is claiming as much). Does this remind you of somebody else? (Clip of Bush crawling around his office looking under stuff "No WMDs here")"
August 4, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's the best I've heard here, really really good.
August 4, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like it as an attack ad, but it seems a bit whiny.
Really, the best way to ignore someone and their frivolities is to actually ignore them (although it does probably not hurt to subtly make sure that all the pundits realize this.) But yelling "I am ignoring him" at all passers-by creates the exact opposite illusion.
August 4, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Brilliant. I love it.
August 4, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
There are Many Here Among Us Who Feel That Life Is But A Joke... But You and I We've Been Through That and This is Not Our Fate.
So Let Us Not Talk Softly Now - The Hour is Getting Late!
Since Bob basically endorsed Barack while on tour of late (in the London Press) I wonder if he'd be up to adding his voice to this...
August 4, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Re Intended for Jonze as reply - how it got here I dunno.
August 4, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
What a joke, Barack Oilbama who voted for the Bush-Cheney energy bill and pocketed $400,000 from big oil contributors wants to lecture McCain on Energy. Thank god Hillary and McCain voted against it. That just leaves Oilbama as Dick Cheneys bitch.
August 4, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Still angry huh?
August 4, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it is funny that "Dem" BillC's "response" is almost word-for-word the one McCain's campaign gave :)
August 4, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wait, so $400,000 buys you more influence that over $2 million? Man, I knew republicans were weak on the economy, but to see it in action like that is really quite stunning. You guys really don't know the first thing about the economy do you.
Also, wasn't there a net tax increase in that bill for oil companies, and didn't that increased revenue go to fund alternative energy research? From where I sit, Big Oil is welcome to drop $400,000 to buy that kind of influence all day long.
August 4, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know that you are on the wrong side of an issue when you are arguing FOR waste, and against conservation, by handing out tire guages that mock your opponent.
These guys are like the biggest a-holes you knew in high school, and McCain and the RNC actually pay them.
August 4, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
roo_P - Kerry tried that. You see how well that worked.
Dem BillC - What they're talking about is private contributors who may work for oil-related businesses. By the same token I could be considered "Big Timber Money" because my husband works in the timber industry. A very silly claim. But then, you'd know that if you had contributed to Obama's website. Go troll elsewhere.
I like the ad - Issues vs. personality. Just makes McCain's ads look more childish.
Yes!
August 4, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
mossy1, whether one should ignore the attacks is a separate matter. But if one does, it would be best to not appear like a highschool teenager who is "like, totally over it."
August 4, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml
How much was McCain's gas tax holiday going to save (while laying off tens of thousands of road crew workers and letting the infrastructure crumble as a result)?
August 4, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope McCain takes his main surrogates to the biker rally. Lindsey the bear-hunter will be in hog heaven.
August 4, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
According to HuffPo, Lieberman has pushed the tire inflation idea on his website, as has Schwarzenegger and Crist.
I hope they keep mocking him on this, because news stations will be forced to look into it and will come to the conclusion that it does help.
Obama didn't say no drilling or new energy just properly inflate your tires and that seems to be what those handing out tire gauges are suggestion. Pushing lies to slander an opponent? Who would have thunk it.
August 4, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, his site crashed immediately after, so nobody saw it. Those darn pesky Lamont hackers keep giving him fits.
August 4, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
That new ad's more like it!
Every day we talk about race-baiting and Britney is a good day for McSame
August 4, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wanta see McCain explain to a bunch of dudes and dudettes on hogs that crappy/fucked up blacktop is in their interest . . .
August 4, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Word. Maybe he can make a joke out of it.
August 4, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe we'll get a photo-op of McCain on a Harley. Is that too much to ask?
August 4, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
With his arms too short to reach the handlebars and his legs too short to reach the ground, I see Cindy in control, John with his sickly grin, perched on the back pulling up his shirt to flash his man-boobs.
August 4, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ugh...Obama just announced a reversal on tapping the oil reserves? You have got to be kidding. I was a vehement Obama supported during the primaries, but, damn, it's getting hard to keep watching this train wreck. If his campaign doesn't get it together in the next couple of weeks, it's over. The image the Republicans are painting will be cemented in the minds of the public.
I can't believe how badly his campaign is allowing the Republicans to manhandle him.
I feel sick...
--
theGameHasRules
August 4, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink