Thoughts on this:

1. I hate the first Obama ad. They really suck at the snide attacks, and this is just lame. Not only are half the accusations going to get no traction, the way they are presented is the same ridiculous low-budget sarcasm of McCain's ads.

2. The second Obama ad is great. I really do think he should do more of these "talking to the camera" ads. It tells people he's not afraid to tell them directly. I think he should do more of these, with a little more hard-hitting content.

3. The McCain ad is ridiculous. Far worse than the Obama ad I saw. For one thing... its all lies. Again. And its more of this ridiculous "any criticism of Palin is not fair" crap. They take great umbrage at the fact that they are calling them "liars" when virtually every news source has revealed them as liars? And the "how disrespectful" line... I'm flabbergasted.

My only hope is that -- except for the wingnuts for whom (lets face it) Bush/McCain/Palin could eat a baby on live TV and they'd still support it -- this will backfire hard.

It has that potential, as I think the fact of them lying is out there enough in the ether that taking fake outrage at being called liars may just make them look like buffoons. Also, the "poor widdle Sarah Palin" angle might be wearing thin for the media and the people. There's evidence that the media's patience is stretched thin for him, and if McCain loses the media, he's f-ed.

I hope McCain spends a lot of money with this ad. The more the word "Palin" and "lie" are used together the better.

And she is lying, well, she is reading a script filled with lies. Every reputable news source has agreed on this.

By all means McCain, put this ad out everywhere.

So how many smear ads have McCain put out now THIS WEEK? Five? Ten? Forty-seven? McCain seems to think that he can only win through a Coulter-smelling smear campaign - and the current electoral vote numbers is giving him the upper hand.

Amazing that Sarah Palin - on the anniversary of 9/11 - talks about bombing Russia as part of "God's plan", by the way.

Maybe the wolves are going to their head. I'm noticing a definite "300" graphic tone to the McCain ads lately. As bad as they are, it is visually effective by showing Obama against a dark, blood-red background in this stark black and white, with this 300-esque music playing.

I like the 1st Obama ad. "Liar, Krugman of NYT, blasts McCain With the Truth"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/12/01115/6334/278/595686

Republicans Hijacked 911, by Keith Olberman, Courage to Speak Truth!

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/09/special-commen...

How many more Journalists & Reporters will show courage and begin to do their duty and Inform the public as to truth and falsity? We should never again be lied into a False & Phony war by a President you want to have a beer with! Republicans strong on National Security? I don't think so, after all 911 happened on their watch, but they have been allowed to distort the facts and public perception that it is the Democrats who are weak on national security! They have failed to properly enact the 911 Commissions recommendations which would make us a lot safer! Politicans who willfully and intentionally lie to the public are engaged in a betrayal of the public trust and such distortion should be deemed unethical and in some cases, criminal! We need a Media to be the third-wheel of democracy again and not a parrot of those who are corrupt, unless they are corrupt too!

Republicans are just as dismal on economics. It is an outrage or should be that the government can give millions of dollars to CEO’s from the failed Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac and yet, cannot give a second stimulus check to American citizens in these hard economic times? Republicans say No to a second stimulus while the Democrats say Yes to a second stimulus! Is the Republican Congress working for CEO’s or are they working for you, the people? We need a Government and a Congress to work for the People, not lie to the people, not bail out their own special interest groups and leave the people hanging. We need a government to put the burden of taxes on the rich where they belong and stop putting the tax burdens on the middle class and poor, those who can least afford it. We need a government who will put money into education and make that a national priority again, both lower and higher education and give more Pell Grants and less loans so that young people can once again achieve a higher education, get a good job and lift everybody up out of poverty. We need action and not more spin, talk and lies. We need a Congress who will vote Yes to bridges, roads, schools, health care. Who will invest in America and not in Iraq and in themselves and their special interest groups. America is dying. We need Change!

I agree with Josh- Obama needs to stop hiding from the crowds- let's fill a stadium. Obama's star isn't fading (perhaps it was momentarily eclipsed when the shooting ball of gaseous hot air and lies named Sarah Palin streaked through the political atmosphere -before burning up). Let's show people how "fired up" Democrats are. McCain can't fill a venue without Palin- Obama can't help but attract the crowds. Embrace the movement- if Obama's campaign is not about him- but about us- let US show up and change the narrative as well.

Look, Obama just isn't that great at assholery. Honestly, it is one of the reasons I like him for President (along with more substantive reasons). I will say, he could probably do with hiring Hillary's negative ad team. They were better at this particular task.

Overall, I'm not sure completely going hard negative is the best approach. George Lakhoff, over at Huffpo, actually has a pretty good article on why the original, non-Wonk Obama works and very specific reasoning and perscription:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/dont-think-of-a-maverick_b_125850.html

Not saying he needs to replace what he's doing. But some of the idea in that article would be helpful to the campaign.

I saw another new one in PA this morning. I think it was new - first time I'd seen it anyway. Tying McCain to all of his lobbyists in some detail. Pretty good.

Also, on the Obama and crowds thing. I saw him in Lancaster, PA a week ago yesterday - the day of McCain's acceptance speech. There were over 10,000 there. It was outdoors, so it didn't feel all that huge, but it was really big for a city the size of Lancaster.

The first ad is an indirect jab at McCain's old age.
The problem is that if he attacks him directly by calling him too old (what he really is) old voters will take it personal and that's something counterproductive. The ad is OK, I like the concept but the execution was not the best. The idea is not just calling him out of touch, but give the impression that McCain's age is a factor that voters should consider (specially young and middle age voters).

The second ad is better. The direct talk helps to create trust between Obama and the voters. But, for me, they should hire the best on this kind of work: Errol Morris.

The GOP ad doesn't even deserved to be mentioned. Slowly the MSM has starting to notice their lies (except you CNN) but the Obama camp should hit them harder on this.

The Obama attack ad looks like a trial balloon for going after McCain's age.

"THE ONE" is losing it quickly! Barry Hussein Obama and the far left loonies (KOS, TPM, ObamaPost, PMSNBC, NYT, LATimes, WashPost) are falling apart. We are entitled to have our savior! WE ARE ENTITLED AND SMARTER THAN AMERICA! Barry is not "THE ONE" but just another Chicago sleazeball politician (The Jesus of Chicago).

Dump Barry, have Hillary as the nominee.

Barry = another Dem loss.

I don't like the first Obama ad. Instead of going backwards, why not focus on how America is losing its technological edge (with the results this has on jobs and the economy), show hordes of busy, enterprising Chinese and Asian people, THEN drive home the point that McCain can't even use a computer, and has admitted to having no knowledge of economics.

Sen. Landrieu is doing an excellent job of staying on issues--which is PISSING off Morning Joe. Every time he tries to talk about the latest bs from McCain, she brings it right back to the issues. Finally!

The first ad is very weak. This does not strike me as being more aggressive. The truth is a McCain/Palin administration would be much, much worse than the last 8 years have been. Why not say this, it's obvious. Continuing the neocon policies of the last 8 years will weaken us further both internationally and domestically.

Interesting narrative setting up this morning.

The press has come around to realizing that the McCain campaign is full of shit. However, they don't know what to do with this realization. They are waiting for instruction.

There is a messaging void right now - but it will close in 24 hours. Obama _must_ jump on the McCain is a liar message - - and fast.

These ads are a total waste of time. If the Obama campaign wants to win - they need to get aggresive. Now. These ads are weak.

I hope that the Obama campaign recognizes that the offensive can't just come with ads but needs to be surrounded by a wall of sound bites coming from lots of surrogates. Goddamnit, but I--and lots of others--have long been shouting about the need to attack attack attack, and for weeks we've seen a fucking milquetoast campaign. Wake up already!

I have a bone to pick with the Obama campaign. Their media people insist on releasing their new ads in a non-youtube format. I am not a Windows user. I will have to wait a few hours until somebody puts them up on youtube to see the darn things.

Don't think I've ever seen an ad for the VICE-presidential candidate. Weird.

I’d like to see a 527 ad labeling McCain as the “pro-war president”. Show how he wanted to attack Iraq immediately after 9/11, wants to keep fighting in Iraq, wants to bomb Iran, and is prepared to go to war with Russia. Attack his perceived strength and scare the crap out of the voters. It also disarms his POW excuse a little and reminds people of Palin’s national security weakness. Obama wins in a landslide.

Perhaps a new name for the show: "Mornin' Joke"
They (Wingnut panel) always skirt the issues... how can one expect these pundits to shift through lies, spin, and truth?

So what is the McSame camp going to do now? Put out an ad that says she's NOT good looking, she doesn't do what she is told, and in the face of insurmountable evidence she always tells the truth?

Obama was right, this stuff is silly.

It's just a damned shame that there seems to be such an appetite for this crap.

I was a little shocked with the amount of people here that actually watch Morning Joe. Talk about silly. Why would anyone want to start their day off listening to that jackass?

Ads, interviews and debates always the demonstrate the truth of the theory of selective perception and retention. Only truly undecided voters know how effective any of the ads from either side are. For us, it's impossible for us to view them objectively. The polling tells the tale.

There is also a new ad about McCain's lobbyist out this morning that I saw in Virginia.

what a joke these McCain ads are becoming.

The "...lying..." on-screen quote was the hilarious. Of course, I'm sure they were careful as ever to put that quote in its proper context, interpreting the full statement fairly.

I imagine the next McCain ad will pull something along these lines, lifted from a 40 minute speech on the Iraq war --

NARRATOR: and Senator Barack Obama, our universe's biggest celebrity talks about
ON-SCREEN: "...I want to...kill American soldiers...that's what this campaign is all about..."
NARRATOR: Can we trust a celebrity that talks about killing American soldiers? How Disrespectful.

Wow. I bet the McCain people are just trembling watching those new Obama ads!

I'd like to see at least half of Obama's ads feature him talking straight to the camera.

factcheck.org has completely dimissed McPOW's new "disrespectful" ad as more dishonesty from the most dishonest and dishonorable campaign in modern political history.

Next we'll see if the MSM keeps playing lap dog to this baloney or calls them out on it like they did with the sex-ed web ad.

Based on MSNBC this AM, I doubt it. As always, they LOOOOOOOOOVED the GOP's ad.

McCain's ad reminds me of Bush's in 2004 for he said at the end "I know exactly where I want to lead this country."

But he never told us where. McCain's ad says that Palin proves the those calling her a liar wrong every day. Yeah, how? In what way?

If Kerry had any stones he would have taken that add and finish it for him: "right down the toilet" or "a banana republic". Democrats are pussy willows. Really, FDR and Truman are rolling in their graves.

That Second Ad is great! I would like to see almost all of Obama's ads just like that one. No bs about age, etc., of the other candidate.

Just Obama talking straight at you about the REAL change.

Go Obama.

It is only a matter of time (perhaps as little as four years at this rate) before the Republicans nominate a chimpanzee as their candidate and run on the platform that the democrat's criticism of the chimpanzee's obvious lack of intelligence (or rudimentary communication skills) shows what an out-of-touch elitist s/he is.

Godfrey Daniels, can this election get any more inane? Please, America, do not prove your critics wrong by voting for these nutcases and vindicating this sort of blithering nonsense.

Uh, McCain Camp? Maybe not the best time to be closing with a shot that so prominently features the teleprompters...

Greg, your post incorrectly says McCain entered the Senate in 1982. He entered the House via the 1982 election, and only entered the Senate (to replace the retiring Barry Goldwater) in January 1987 after winning the 1986 election. Obama's ad is essentially correct, saying McCain came to Washington, not to the Senate, in 1982 (more precisely, he was elected to the House in 1982).

McCain's ad will be effective in the South and Rust Belt - the Rethugs, of course, have nothing to run on except BLACK GUY BEATS UP GOOD CHRISTIAN WHITE WOMAN! Check out the new "wolves" ad - the pic of Palin at the beginning, hands open and looking skyward? The Christian implication, remarkably unremarked upon, is unmistakable.

Any way they can get the BLACK GUY BEATS UP GOOD CHRISTIAN WHITE WOMAN! message out, sadly, is a winning move for them in many states.

I find the third ad quite effective. On the upside, it just screams for another Bridge-to-Nowhere ad. After all, the media gave Obama plenty of ammunition in the past few days.
I'd love something along these lines :

McCain's new attack ad accuses Barack Obama of being, quote, disrespectful. What was his crime ? He pointed out that Sarah Palin lied about the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But Obama is not the only one who failed to show enough respect (insert 4 or 5 quotes from newspapers and anchors about Palin's flip-flop).
What's more disrespectful to the American people : lying about one's record, or pointing out the obvious ? I'm Barack Obama, you know the rest.

I'm debating why so many of you don't like the first ad, but do like the second, whereas the first talks to me and I find the second "nothing new, but OK."

I remember 1982-our family looked like the one at the end of that ad. I remember that silly phone and the old Comodore computers. Times have changed a lot, but so has our family. My infant grandson sports an Obama onesie and our child who was in the first grade in 1982 now represents you and me on behalf of our government in a country that was closed to us in 1982. I participate on this blog. McCain is unclear on the concept of blogs. So's my 90 year old mom. I love her dearly, but I wouldn't put the country in her hands.

Maybe the ad appeals to the nostalgia, but we've moved on portion of the electorate - and many of them are evidently still sitting on the fence. Maybe it will talk to them too and give them a reason to tip over to the side of all that is good and right.

Yeah, that first Obama ad is an embarrassment, I'm sorry. Pathetic. If that's as "aggressive" as he gets, I'm going into the bomb shelter business, because we'll be needing them. The second one is OK.

Find the things that makes the Rethugs squeal, then squeeze it, squeeze it, squeeze it. "Liars." "Dishonorable." "Unfit to lead." Use the accumulating press quotes about how sleazy their campaign is, then say, "how a man campaigns tells you how he'll lead. Do we want four more years of scandals and other bullshit?" And, of course, lipstick, lipstick, lipstick on a pig, pig, PIG.

On the positive front, how about using some of his convention speech in an ad? Remind people of the passion and the crowds? Seems like it could be good.

Yeah, that first Obama ad is an embarrassment, I'm sorry. Pathetic. If that's as "aggressive" as he gets, I'm going into the bomb shelter business, because we'll be needing them. The second one is OK.

Find the things that makes the Rethugs squeal, then squeeze it, squeeze it, squeeze it. "Liars." "Dishonorable." "Unfit to lead." Use the accumulating press quotes about how sleazy their campaign is, then say, "how a man campaigns tells you how he'll lead. Do we want four more years of scandals and other bullshit?" And, of course, lipstick, lipstick, lipstick on a pig, pig, PIG.

On the positive front, how about using some of his convention speech in an ad? Remind people of the passion and the crowds? Seems like it could be good.

Yeah, that first Obama ad is an embarrassment, I'm sorry. Pathetic. If that's as "aggressive" as he gets, I'm going into the bomb shelter business, because we'll be needing them. The second one is OK.

Find the things that makes the Rethugs squeal, then squeeze it, squeeze it, squeeze it. "Liars." "Dishonorable." "Unfit to lead." Use the accumulating press quotes about how sleazy their campaign is, then say, "how a man campaigns tells you how he'll lead. Do we want four more years of scandals and other bullshit?" And, of course, lipstick, lipstick, lipstick on a pig, pig, PIG.

On the positive front, how about using some of his convention speech in an ad? Remind people of the passion and the crowds? Seems like it could be good.

Ad 1. Not so great. I understand what they're after in the ad, but the message is that McCain is out of touch because he's old, not because he's indifferent. I could see some older people resenting the implication. The ad might cause Obama to gain points with younger people, and lose point with older people.

Ad 2. That's more like it. Obama comes off as genuine, sincere, confident, reassuring. You'd love to have him over to dinner with your family. "Fear of a Black Planet" is not a joke with the white middle class in Eastern and Midwestern swing states. Obama comes off as a really nice guy, who, by the way, is black.

Ad 3. I really hate this kind of ad because I know so many people that it will appeal to. It's a 30 second barrage of subliminal messages that effectively builds on the Obama-as-vain-shallow-celebrity meme that trivializes Obama's responses to Palin as being motivated by jealousy (that's how vain people are).

Then there's Leering Obama, which might as well show him whistling at Sarah Palin and saying "hey good lookin', what's cookin'".

Then there's there's Uppity Obama, disprespecting a white lady, which might as well show him telling her to sit down, shut-up, and do as she's told.

Then there's Doubtful Obama, with nothing but the word "lying" next to his face. Hmmm. I don't know about that guy...

How dare this shallow, leering, patronizing, uppity liar (did I mention he was black?) attack noble, virtuous "Governor Sarah Palin". At the end of the ad we see Gentleman John McCain ready to stand up and defend Sarah Palin, just as he'll defend (white)America (just look at the crowd) against the Barack Obama's of the world (he's not like us you know).

McCain is doing this in increments, with the goal being that by the end of October, he'll want older white people to see Barack Obama and think Willie Horton.

I'm cool with Obama running low-key ads now that he's given 527s the go-ahead.

The new spots from Planned Parenthood and Defenders of Wildlife are just brutal.

I think Obama needs an ad solely dedicated to McCain saying he knows nothing about the economy and the fact McCain wants us to be Iraq for the next 100 years

And another ad calling out Palin's total incompetence and lies she is telling. It’s a story created in minds of the folks who brought you the 8 last years

Sadly McWar is winning on the ad again. I am disappointed. I was expecting that the Obama campaign was going to be tough...

What is happening?

I'm not sure what the problem with the first ad is. It's OK, maybe even better than OK. I do think that someone needs to go after Palin though.
McCain's hitched his wagon to that house of cards, let's blow it down.

That last ad by McCain is absolutely shameful. Check out factcheck.org's breakdown of it Here.

Everything about it is a complete fabrication. Why is he approving these ads? John McCain should be confronted about it.

The McCain ad is the kind of thing that makes me nervous about Obama's pledge to hit the Republicans harder, because I think there's just no way we can outslime the other side. It's a great bit of campaign sleaze that doesn't just hit the "uppity Negro" note (are you just gonna stand there while he insults yer wimmin?) but also gets in the same "rude Yankee" charge that was used against John Kerry (Southern voters apparently being ready to turn on a dime from smiling conviviality to offended outrage).

The first ad may be more effective than some here think - it pushes the idea that McCain is old and out of touch without being mean about it. Many seniors are not as computer illiterate as McC and those that are probably don't think that it's a good thing. How can he be expected to lead the country into the 21st Century when
he hasn't even caught up with the innovations of the 20th.

I actually find the second ad less effective - it's the kind of thing no one will remeber having seen at the end of the day.

As to McCain's ad - I see it geared towards weak or potential supporters who may be having second thoughts about Palin - much like their attack on the media - instead of challenging the substance of her negative press, they just complain about condescension and disrespect. Ultimately it is a defensive ad.

The "no change" ad is awful for a number of reasons. First, it ignores the fact that many people find sending email--or using a computer, in general--difficult. So, in a way, it belittles them. Second, by claiming McCain has not changed in 26 years in the Senate, it reinforces McCain's underlying message of him being a "maverick"--if he was a maverick back then, and he has not changed, there is no reason to doubt him now. Third, there has been an obvious decline in McCain's ability to be honest over the past eight years--if he has not changed, we are being asked to ignore this important fact. McCain's response should be, "Yeah, it's he same John McCain you've known for 26 years!"

McCain's ad echoes the fact that printed publications have not been accusing Palin of lying even if they might mention the fact that she's been twisting the truth. Technically, in political circles, a direct accusation of lying has been seen as disrespectful, especially at the national level. Republicans have recognized this for a long time and realized that it gave them a free hand to just make stuff up--if they can't be called liars directly, some of the lies are bound to stick. And if someone breaks the taboo and challenges them on this, they accuse him of breaking the decorum. How much better if they can stick that to an "uppity celebrity".

Dem groups should come out with an ad "What has John McCain learned in the last 8 years?". Forget the email. Nail him on the fact that the only lessons he's carried from the 2000 campaign are 1) that it's better to play dirty and 2) it easier to sell a dumb-ass W than an idea. So, instead of bucking the system that floated a deeply flawed administration at his expense, he decided to be more like them. The Palin selection seals the deal.

My ad:

Open on an idyllic, suburban neighborhood.

ANNCR: John McCain and Sarah Palin will make sure you never have to worry about jobs, or healthcare, or education, or mortgages again. Ever.

CUT TO: Mushroom cloud

Then go to a black screen for several seconds, silent except for the faint sound of wind.

One of the depressing things about this McCain campaign is that the voiceover is provided by Patricia Clarkson, up till now one of the classiest and most intelligent actors in American theater, film and TV. Guess that drive for a paycheck just never abates.

How about a series of ads called "Lies, lies, lies, we're so sick of lies--here's the truth." Then pick any issue and do a quick take on it. This does NOT include repeating the lies.

I don't like the first Obama ad mocking McCain for not being able to use a computer or send email-- it's pretty bad that he can't, but there are a lot of undecided voters who also don't use computers much, and they'll probably take offense at the "elitist" nature of the computer thing. There's so much out there to go after McCain about, there's no point in bothering with the computer thing. I'd rather see them hammer him for flat-out lying to the American public again and again and for just playing political games instead of talking about the issues. Undecided voters always claim that they are sick of that sort of thing, even though they always fall for it.

I'd like to see an Obama ad that flat-out says: "Senator McCain, when will your campaign stop playing the victim... stop playing games... and stop lying? Our future is at stake. Isn't it time for John McCain to finally grow up?"

The second Obama ad is very good. The McCain one is a total joke that will hopefully backfire. It's crazy how they act like poor victims and attack wildly all at the same time. Logic has nothing to do with people's perceptions, unfortunately.

I think ad #1 will backfire as the truth starts to come out. The link is to a Forbes article discussing the use of the Internet in the 2000 primaries. This quote should cause the Obama campaign to open up its mouth and insert foot. Nice going jackarses.

http://www.forbes.com/asap/2000/0529/053_print.html

"In certain ways, McCain was a natural Web candidate. Chairman of the Senate Telecommunications Subcommittee and regarded as the U.S. Senate's savviest technologist, McCain is an inveterate devotee of email. His nightly ritual is to read his email together with his wife, Cindy. The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop. "She's a whiz on the keyboard, and I'm so laborious," McCain admits."

Not only does he know how to use a computer and the impact of the information revolution on our economy, he wants to create jobs based on that revolution. Obama wants to bring back low-skill manufacturing jobs (which by the way have been coming back because of the low dollar anyway).

I think ad #1 will backfire as the truth starts to come out. The link is to a Forbes article discussing the use of the Internet in the 2000 primaries. This quote should cause the Obama campaign to open up its mouth and insert foot. Nice going jackarses.

http://www.forbes.com/asap/2000/0529/053_print.html

"In certain ways, McCain was a natural Web candidate. Chairman of the Senate Telecommunications Subcommittee and regarded as the U.S. Senate's savviest technologist, McCain is an inveterate devotee of email. His nightly ritual is to read his email together with his wife, Cindy. The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop. "She's a whiz on the keyboard, and I'm so laborious," McCain admits."

Not only does he know how to use a computer and the impact of the information revolution on our economy, he wants to create jobs based on that revolution. Obama wants to bring back low-skill manufacturing jobs (which by the way have been coming back because of the low dollar anyway).