Obama To Deliver Closing Argument Speech Tomorrow
The Obama campaign announces that he will deliver his closing argument speech tomorrow in Canton, Ohio. From the release:
In his speech, Senator Obama will tell voters that after twenty-one months and three debates, Senator McCain still has not been able to tell the American people a single major thing he'd do differently from George Bush when it comes to the economy. Obama will ask Americans to help him change this country, and say that in just one week, they can choose an economy that rewards work and creates new jobs and fuels prosperity from the bottom-up, they can choose to invest in health care for our families and education for our kids and renewable energy for our future, and they can choose hope over fear, unity over division and the promise of change over the power of the status quo.
It's pretty much the same message as it's been all along, a testament to the Democrat's ability to hew to a kind of message discipline that in recent years has been the province of the GOP and has eluded Dems. Not this time.
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I can't help but think the best way to "unity" is to get rid of as many republicans as possible.
October 26, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCAIN has defeated himself on MTP when he finally admitted what we already saw, that he believes in the Ayn Randian philosophy that George W Bush and the Republican party believes in.
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October 26, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're sort of de-legitimizing your own site by spamming every single thread.
October 27, 2008 12:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, it's totally weird to realize that it has been the Democrat in the race who has run the superior campaign and who is now ahead.
October 26, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not this time indeed.
I'm not counting any chickens yet, but there sure seem to be a whole bunch of eggs in the nest!
October 26, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I count at least 270 chickens in that brood.
October 26, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Luck has been on Obama's side. If he repugs had nominated someone else a little more political savvy, this would be another nail-biting who-knows-what-will-happen election.
October 26, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
But who else could they have nominated?
When you run down the list of plausible alternatives -- Romney, Huckabee, Gingrich, Giuliani, et alia -- it's a frigging fool's gallery. Barack would have made mincemeat of any of them, don't you think?
October 26, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I tend to think they nominated the right person, but ran the wrong campaign. Given the dynamics of the 2008 election year, running with a candidate who at least had the appearance of centrism and "maverickness" could have been a smart move.
Why they thought it was smart to take McCain and run a traditional right-left, base-driven campaign is beyond me. Perhaps they thought they could have their cake and eat it too.
October 26, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. By appealing to the base they wrecked the possibility of bringing in the center. They could never see a week ahead at any point in the race.
Remember that when they thought about drafting Romney as VP the whole 7 houses flap came up? If they had any forward thinking people on their team they would have realized that that flap wouldn't have lasted all that long. Romney would have been a much better choice when the financial crisis hit.
But, hell, I'm glad they did what they did!!!!
October 26, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. By appealing to the base they wrecked the possibility of bringing in the center. They could never see a week ahead at any point in the race.
Appealing to the base was how the Repubs won the last two elections. They split the independents down the middle and fired up their base so much that it came out in larger numbers than their opponent's base.
October 26, 2008 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree with you except for one small point that can't go un commented upon... and, Hey, I don't want to sound like History Channel guy, but the Repubs DID'NT win the last two (presidential) elections. There wAS lots of voter disenfranchise in Ohio in 2004, and 2000, well it SHOULD be common knowledge but maybe isn't, that Katherine Harris had purged tens of thousands of voters BEFORE the vote problems in Dade county that were never "recounted" The case went to be decided by the Supreme Court (to NOT recount). Google Gore V Bush case. Thereby ushering in THE. WORST. PRESIDENT. EVER.
October 26, 2008 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't ever stop bringing this up. It is true! And in 2004, Diebold promised Ohio to the republicans. It was close enough that they could "flip" it. It was the only state that the exit polls didn't match the results. What does that say? Two elections stolen!
October 26, 2008 8:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
YYYAAAAAAUUGH! Jesus Jellybean F-f-f-f-flashbacks! Make...it...stop. Oh Gawd No! No-No-No! Aaiyyeeeeeeeeee!
Mentioning 2000..........and...............2004 in the same..............post. Must...remember...to...breathe...
Nevernevernevernevernevernever again. Please. I'll do anything. Annnythththththtiiiiinnnnngggg.
October 26, 2008 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
And it worked out so well for our country, too. You probably should learn to read. It would help your spelling
October 27, 2008 7:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I tend to think that it makes no difference who they nominated. The Republicans would be thrown out of office if their ticket was God and Jesus -- that's how fed up the vast majority is.
The Bushit criminal enterprise stole the election in 2000 -- and everyone knew and knows it. The media settled the election because it got the candidate it wanted. And the electorate -- as if they had a say -- "decided" to give the enterprise a chance.
The enterprise delivered: almost immediately began spying on Americans. About 9 months in they allowed the terrorist murder of 3,000 US citizens. And since then its been faster and faster downhill than it was from 12/12/2000 to 9/11/2001.
The electorate threw them out in 2004, but OH was stolen. This time no amount of effort to steal the election will succeed -- on top of which the REpublican party is going to fight over which faction gets to be the cannibal that eats the others, even while it implodes, collapses and goes down in flames.
October 26, 2008 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think what they may have thought was they could have their cake and "steal" it, too.
October 26, 2008 8:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Consider how different things could have been had McCain nominated Kay Bailey Hutchinson, or Olympia Snow.
October 26, 2008 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Selecting Palin as his VP was the event horizon for McCain. Once selected, his campaign got sucked into a virtual black hole of desperation and hopelessness. But I still wonder if any of the other GOP candidates would have faired better. It just seems strange to see the GOP at a complete loss, loosing their most strongest supporters, and going politically bankrupt.
October 26, 2008 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
They've always been politically bankrupt.
October 26, 2008 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
So one wonders what Friday night is for if this is the closing argument.
Whatever - it is totally weird, CT. It's hard to wrap your brain around it after the abuse we've taken for so long.
October 26, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. Yes.
Do you mean Wednesday?
October 26, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought he had blocked out 30 minutes on Friday - is it Wednesday?
October 26, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes.
Friday is Halloween. Trick or treating, or Halloween parties, or, helping the little ones down from their sugar rush. Who wants to watch a politican on TeeVee?
Thursday is ratings bonanza night for the networks.
Saturday is Saturday.
Sunday is NFL (course, not tonight....).
Monday is too late.
The Obama campaign chose Wednesday. He can start his "closing" speech tomorrow, and reiterate Wednesday.
October 26, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gotcha - thanks. I don't know where I came up with Friday - I know it's Halloween.
October 26, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
It does seem a bit early to me too.
October 26, 2008 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's a news cycle thing. He'll start off the week with this closing argument, and because it is labeled as such it will get a lot of attention and will set the tone for the week. Then on Wednesday he has the network buy which will keep things going. That's my theory anyway.
It also makes sense to make your closing argument before the final deliberation.
October 26, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Friday night is when McNasty is coming out (to scare people). It will be Night of the Living Fossil. Only problem is nobody will be sure if he's wearing a costume.....and where the heck is Vincent Price?
Maybe he can borrow some of those expensive duds from Caribou Barbie. Then he and Rudy9/11 can both go in drag.
October 26, 2008 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am really sick of Ohio.
October 26, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe they will surprise us :)
October 26, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too, and I live here! ;) Seriously, I'm hoping THIS time I won't be embarrassed on election night.
October 26, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like Obama has a plan to knock McCain off message in the final days before the election. I can see McCain scrambling trying to get his pre-recorded hate ads out in all the states he needs in his corner while having to answer Obama's charges and develop appropriate negative response ads. Obama may just run him out of money to defend himself in the final days.
October 26, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
OT, but the Huff has a couple of Denver rally photos. It's spectacular.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/26/obama-draws-100000-at-den_n_137951.html
October 26, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
New Fort Collins Colorado Obama Rally will be on CNN and msnbc Now.
October 26, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oooooo thanks for telling me that!
October 26, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
New question.
How many people can the Washington Mall accommodate?
October 26, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
The last time the Park service has is October 15, 1969 over 500,000 for an Anti-Vietnam War protest!
October 26, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
WOW I remember that. I was a freshman at BC and a lot of people went down.
October 26, 2008 8:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
YES! I was there also - 'course I was a mere baby at the time...
We will definitely be going to DC for the Inagural, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. We need to 'Get Out The Vote' first...
October 26, 2008 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like we have a record to break!
October 26, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nine more days in the longest two weeks I've seen in some time
October 26, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now Tucker Bounds is on MSNBC lying his head off.
October 26, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
What else does he ever do?
October 26, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Should also be on CSPAN.
October 26, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ugh! If he is on C-Span to spout his crap I'd be bummed.
October 26, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
C-Span is carrying the 3d party presidential debate.
October 26, 2008 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
O - Mr. Tena told me today that the phone never stops ringing in Dallas now - apparently, McLame is robocalling the shit out of Dallas.
Mr. Tena will not answer the phone now unless he knows for sure who it is.
October 26, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Robocalling Texas? That's interesting . . .
October 26, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm making a bit of an assumption here, cause he won't pick up the phone. I asked him if it was robocalls and he said he assumed they were - we don't get calls like that in our house. The phone rarely rings, actually.
There could very well be calls from Obama coming in too -
October 26, 2008 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pick up the phone, darn it! I'm at the airport trying to bum a ride into town.
October 26, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're shit out of luck. My husband will not pick me up at the airport.
He sends a car. He won't do it.
October 26, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thinking about robocalling in sick to work tomorrow. "Hello Employer. With just two hours until the start of the workday, I wanted to let you know that . . . " Hopefully it'll keep my desperate absenteeism under the radar.
October 26, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
"FROM THE BOTTOM UP - NOT THE TOP DOWN"
Makes a nice campaign slogan!
October 26, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm extremely restless.
I can't think of anything else.
I keep repeating in my mind: Win Va, Win PA, Win.
October 26, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
You need to do some serious movie watching Kash. Try 'Death at a Funeral', British comedy. Too funny.
October 26, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've plans to watch Leatherheads with couple of friends on DVD tonight. Figers crossed. Thanks Amelie :-)
October 26, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
"A Face in the Crowd" is excellent. And timely.
But not a comedy.
There're also the first three seasons of Bullwinkle on DVD.
October 26, 2008 7:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Honestly, I think I've been quite unproductive at work these days. Am I hopeful? Yes. Am I nervous? Hell yes.
October 26, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of PA, Obama will have rallies on Monday and Tuesday. I think it's a good idea to make a final push in PA given that McScum/Failin will campaign there a lot next week.
October 26, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...a kind of message discipline that in recent years has been the province of the GOP..."
Sure, okay, I guess. If you want to call appealing to the electorates worst selves message discipline, I'm not gonna argue.
This is a whole new sensation, checking the web often to see if the Repubs have shot off another toe. Schadenfreud mixed with anxiety.
October 26, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
McSlime and discipline are antithetical.
October 26, 2008 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
At this point they have to shoot off others' feet because they haven't any of their own left.
October 26, 2008 7:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign - and that's perfectly put - schadenfreude mixed with anxiety.
*sigh* Democrats never get to relax, apparently.
October 26, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eternal vigilance is the price we pay for freedom.
I'm quoting, but you can't see my air quotes...
October 26, 2008 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama will be making this closing argument speech for the rest of the week as he tours swing states one last time.
Here's the Obama/Biden schedule for the first of the week -
Monday October 27th
JB -- NC, FL
BO -- PA, OH
Tuesday October 28th
JB -- FL
BO -- PA, VA
MO -- NM
HRC -- NH
Wednesday October 29th
BO with Bill Clinton -- FL
McCain/Palin -
Monday October 27th
JM -- PA, OH
SP -- VA
Tuesday October 28th
JM -- PA, NC
SP -- PA
It looks like McCain is making his last stand in Pennsylvania. Gotta suck when you're pinning your hopes on racism.
It's interesting that The Obama Camp is running 5-6 speakers (Barack, Michelle, Joe, Jill(mostly college campuses) and The Clintons) whereas the Republican ticket is running two - McCain and Palin. Cindy rarely does any solo stumps, Todd does rare appearances but doesn't stump and there isn't a party big wig that the campaign can lean on for help.
October 26, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right you are. And Lieberman is desperately trying to worm his way back into the good graces of the Democrats. Fat chance of that, the slimy little turd. Even he is no longer whispering sweet nothings into McThuseleh's ear.
October 27, 2008 5:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
To One & All loyal tpm contributors - Texas is in play -I repeat Texas is in play . Why - because we have very nearly gone to a minority majority status this general election cycle. And it looks like we well have nearly perfect voter participation from our very large African American communities across the state. This means we take Harris County , Dallas County - and a large swath of east Texas.
Next is that the Hispanic voting bloc is also well enerigized here- especially in the Valley , San Antonio , & El Paso . Sen Clinton indeed has been here in full "battle rattle" plugging into a network of Hispanic voter organizations that the Clintons first help build for JFK's presidential run -and its a little understood dynamic- but the hispanic voter is now very much in support of Obama. (Look at Ed Henry's piece today on CNN -saying that Obama has co-opted the immigration debate from the GOP - plus many hispanic voters feel very betrayed by W 's neglect!)
Finally there are enough moderate Republicans here in Texas ( think President Eisenhowers grand daugther ) -that will support Obama that Texas is indeed in play . I had one stalwart conservative tell me he is voting straight ticket democrat because "He and Barry Goldwater would never started an illegal war & occupation - and then pay for that whole mess with a Red Chinese issued credit card !"
I have no polling data per se -but Tena the gop is robocalling its own voting strongholds here in Texas - yeah the Lone Star state is in play -
And finally - Noriega will beat Cornyn -just watch the fun Tuesday next !
October 26, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
O MY GOD! I love you!
{{{MWAAH!}}}
I apologize that I have been gone throughout the most crucial months of the campaign in Texas - I honestly feel badly about that. I have done what I could. Thank you so much for that comment!
October 26, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, I hate to admit it, but what does MWAAH stand for?
October 26, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
it's a kiss. It's a kiss sound -
October 26, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you :)
October 26, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
O by the way - I knew we'd take Dallas Co. Kerry took the city in '04 and in '06 the entire county voted almost a perfect straight Democratic ticket.
I know we'll take Dallas County. I expected to take the major metropolitan areas. I was mainly worried about Deep East Texas, and the Panhandle.
If our very large African American communities vote - We will win Texas.
I saw what happened during the primary - I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't been there.
October 26, 2008 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chuck Todd said this morning on Meet the Press that the African-American turnout in early voting is at least 95%, and in some states is 100%.
October 26, 2008 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow.
With numbers like that turning out to vote, voter intimidation gets much harder to pull off.
And with people really determined and fired up to vote, voter suppression gets fought harder, too. I think African American voters have been thoroughly schooled in this election on ways to avoid having their votes suppressed. It's not as if the experience and therefore knowledge, isn't there - not after all these elections and the years and years of suppression, intimidation - and I know there has been a big effort to educate voters on their rights. And this time, everybody cares.
October 26, 2008 6:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, turning Arizona and Texas blue would be the ultimate repudiation of recent Bush administration policies and the McCain-Palin ticket.
October 26, 2008 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Per The Hill.
Former White House adviser Karl Rove, credited with winning two elections for President Bush, on Sunday said GOP nominee John McCain has a “very steep hill to climb” in his quest for the presidency.
Rove, who often puts a positive spin on things for the GOP, on “Fox News Sunday” offered a bleaker assessment of the state of the race from a Republican point of view. In his own electoral map, Rove has Democratic nominee Barack Obama ahead with 317 electoral votes after moving Ohio, Indiana, Colorado and Virginia to the Illinois senator’s column.
October 26, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's the price one has to pay for being a maverick.
October 26, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm highly suspicious of Rove's remarks. After all, he still is a Republican operative. I'm guessing his game here is to keep Democrats away from the polls with a false sense of security.
October 26, 2008 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
My fear also.
October 26, 2008 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Karl is just covering his own ass, i don't think he likes McCain that much. He will most likely blame McCain's lost on not picking the VP Karl wants.
October 26, 2008 6:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
People are not going to blow off voting in this election.
Most of the people voting for Obama cannot wait to vote.
Plus there is a killer GOTV effort.
And what Obama voters watch Karl Rove and pay any attention to him?
Karl Rove is not a genius - quit being scared of him.
October 26, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
October 26, 2008 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
in fact he's a fuckwad please stop thinking anything about him except a strong karmic vibe or ill will so that terrible things happen to him in his life and in the lives of those around him and descending from him (assuming such evil eggs have hatched)
October 26, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he's telling the truth, and accurately.
But who watches him for whether to vote?
October 26, 2008 7:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Only Republicans watch Fox though. So his numbers would just be either rallying them to vote or discouraging them from even bothering...
October 26, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent point, Jonze. But I still don't trust him.
October 26, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I watch Fox sometimes. It is the only news program that is 24-7, and especially on Sundays. There actually is some programming that is informative and not spin. But when the spin starts, I start monitoring my blood pressure. When the diastolic goes above 90 I switch to anything else -- often the nature channel.
October 26, 2008 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is a self proclaimed maverick with no ties to anyone, including Rove. So I suspect Rove is quite happy to see the maverick crash and burn and is more than willing to toss a little gasoline on the wreckage to make sure McCain doesn't rise from the ashes of his own funeral pyre.
October 26, 2008 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come Nov.5th, I anticipate watching Sen. Jobgone McCombover concede defeat as gracelessly as he does everything else as he struggles to contain his incandescent rage...or maybe he won't be able to contain it and his ugly head will explode. A delightful prospect.
Either way, it's a sight that'll put a song in my heart and a spring in my step for the next 12 months at least. Thank you, Repugs...I've been dreaming of your destruction for years.
Excellent piece by Frank Rich in the NYT on why the race-card won't play, read it here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/opinion/26rich.html?hp
I don't want to jinx anything, but it's good news every day.
October 26, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect McCain's maverick days are pretty much numbered. He not only erected a pretty thick and high wall between himself and the Democrats, he also decimated the GOP's chance to hold on to enough seats to check the Democrats ability to push thru legislation unopposed.
October 26, 2008 6:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
So "The Party of Joe Lieberman" will have two members. And they'll rename it "The Party of John McCain" and see if that works.
October 26, 2008 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
BTW, minor thing, but instead of waiting for your post to complete, if you just leave and go back to election central topic, it will show up - already there.
October 26, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Possibly OT for all us nervous nellies here and about,,,,,, what's the word on No on 8 in CA ?? Are there sufficient wackos going out to vote yes to also tip the balance agains Barack and down ticket Dems??
Perhaps if Tena turns TX for us it will dampen the damage,,, should there be any.
October 26, 2008 6:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you talking about CA going red? The last 2 polls in CA were 23 and 24 for Obama.
October 26, 2008 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, he's talking about CA Prop 8, to overturn the CA Supreme Court and outlaw same-sex marriage.
At last look-see, it was too close to call. If BigO has coattails, it should go down.
October 26, 2008 7:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops... sorry... looks like he was worrying about CA going red.
October 26, 2008 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude - there's no way in hell California doesn't vote for Obama -
October 26, 2008 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think there are people voting Republican that will still vote no on 8, as they don't want a state constitutional amendment. This is a very close race, too close to call. Since the Mormons have spent enormous amounts of money to pass this, it has really tightened up. But as far as affecting Obama, no, I don't think that will happen.
I am extremely disappointed in Arnold, as, since he is against amending the constitution, his silence has been deafening.
October 26, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Late responding, but in case anybody's still reading this thread:
There is no way Obama fails to win CA. Strangely enough, there are some commentators who worry that the huge expected PRO Obama turnout of blacks and Hispanics may in fact push YES on 8 (i.e. the banning of gay marriage) over the top, since, it is opined, those groups tend to be significantly more homophobic than the CA population generally.
I love democracy, but amending the constitution should take more than a simple majority.
October 27, 2008 8:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
The worry with 8 in CA is that there are a significant number of socially conservative Obama voters (primarily black and Hispanic) who will vote "Yes on 8" not that it will bring out enough Republicans to give the state to McCain.
October 27, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would dearly fucking love it if Democrats would quit shaking in their shoes over Karl fucking Rove - you give him a chubby doing that.
He is not really working for this election = he was trying to play a little psych on us when he said he was.
Plus McLame is running the worst campaign ever, so if Karl was involved, he should ashamed of himself - he used to pull shit unless he knew for certain he could get away with it - this bunch just charges into any old thing they think up with utter disregard for whether or not they've covered their bases.
October 26, 2008 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
He didn't used to pull shit -
October 26, 2008 7:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was a little annoying hearing commenters go, "McCain's drop in the polls and choice of a mediocre vice presidential candidate are all a trap! Don't you see?!" Seems like most of them have stopped up with that shit by now.
Oh wait, I just looked up a few inches and saw someone worrying about Obama's chances in California.
October 26, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's more than a little annoying.
I swear that for the last 8 years, every piece of good news for any Democrat has been met with just that reaction - o noes! It's a Karl Rove reverse double flip psychology trap!
October 26, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
You got that right, Tena. Rove's hand was always subtle, never direct. But, when he did manipulate a situation, the target was always the one who had to dig himself out from all the crap that fell on him while Rove just looked on innocently with that shit-eating grin of his.
October 26, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
You got that right, Tena. Rove's hand was always subtle, never direct. But, when he did manipulate a situation, the target was always the one who had to dig himself out from all the crap that fell on him while Rove just looked on innocently with that shit-eating grin of his.
October 26, 2008 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've really been struck by one of the things Tena has mentioned -- that this crew operates as though it doesn't matter too much if they keep some distance between the official campaign and the slime.
October 26, 2008 7:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know what Tena, I've come to think of Karl Rove the same way I think about Mike Tyson. Let me explain: Even though Tyson has an impressive highlight reel of detaching peoples skulls from their respective spines - after Buster Douglas exposed him he started to get bullied by no-name journeymen. It made you think, was he ever truly the force of nature that everyone thought - or was it the perception of Tyson that did his opponents in before the actual fighter laid a hand on them? Same with Rove, he's perceived as some sort of evil genius, no one can deny the guys track record of sleaze that has won elections. But with all 2006 Democratic victories that spit in the face of his misguided predictions, and the way Obama has successfully counter-punched Rovian politics this election cycle - has the fear of his tactics defeated Democrats more than the actual man has? Sorry for the rant.
October 26, 2008 7:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
In other words, Rove gets away with his games because people let him as well as expect it of him? Sounds more like a con man than an evil-genius political operative he's been made out to be.
October 26, 2008 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo!
Now you understand Rove. He's a conman.
October 26, 2008 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's a bullshitter.
Less fancy: a liar.
October 26, 2008 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess convincing my Repub brother in AZ to vote for Obama could be more than a moral victory now. :-D
I sent him the WashPost editorial endorsing Obama. Worked like a charm!
October 26, 2008 7:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
What an awesome comment - you rock sweetannie!
October 26, 2008 7:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could you convince my mom in Arizona now? She actually told me I could not talk to her, nor email her anything political, as it upset her and raised her blood pressure. So, I suspect she should not watch television in a week or so. Of course, she only watches Fox, so maybe somehow they will make her feel better. Frankly, I think her BP is up watching Bill O.
October 26, 2008 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the Goldwater clan still carries a whole lotta clout there. They happen to be early pioneers when it was a territory. In fact, Barry himself was born before Arizona was made a state. Anyway, there's been an underground movement against McCain for quite some time and I think it has finally reached a boiling point. The Goldwater's have nothing to do with McCain so their views drive the state politics.
October 26, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have a good friend in Phoenix with old family ties to the state and she tells me the same thing- McLame has not been terribly popular there, really, for some time.
October 26, 2008 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's not pretend Goldwater is some sort of gold standard in sanity. He was wacked; he just didn't live long enough to impose it on us before Reagan got to do it.
But with Greenspan's admission that he was wrong we see the end of the so-called Reagan Revolution. And the repudiation of that Goldwater started.
What Goldwater needed to do was see the film "The Man Who hot Liberty Valance" and accepted the reality: Jimmy Stewart and the rule of law won out over gunslingers and "Libertarians".
October 26, 2008 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Rove is basically a Fox Commentator. He is not god, he does not have a crystal ball, he is a self-serving asshole. He, in my humble opinion, sees the hand writing on the wall, and will just raise the hackles on Fox in the years to come.
October 26, 2008 7:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup yup.
Sarah Palin's decision to handle Troopergate the way she has - declared that only the commission she appointed has the authority to determine whether she abused power, so she files an ethics complaint against herself, thinking they owe her and will let her off.
Very Rovian.
Not Rovian: Not foreseeing the possibility that the commission would hire independent counsel to investigate the ethics complaint.
LMAO! I'm sorry I keep posting this, but I think it's one of the funniest things I've ever encountered.
October 26, 2008 7:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
You think its' possible she thought by the time the investigation would be finalized, she'd be crowned the VP Queen and the investigation would be moot?
October 26, 2008 7:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Possibly.
But what she has accomplished is to fuck herself up when she goes to back to her day job in Alaska.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 26, 2008 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Definitely didn't weigh her options before she took that leap of faith.
October 26, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is freakin' hysterical.
October 26, 2008 7:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rove success was based on his opponents weakness and foul tactics; on the national level the Democrats did not have much of a structure and lived on the past.; it had strength in too few places and conceded a large part of the needed electoral votes. But as Obama and to a lesser extent Dean have said not this time. Rove is a first class idiot; this is the one who claimed that the congress made Bush go into Iraq. Fox will be his home and a fitting hell for him.
October 26, 2008 7:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're totally right about that - that was as much our fault as it was Rove's brilliance.
On another note entirely: I love it that Obama constantly tells you why he wants to be president - and always its about change - but he never fails to say: "And that's why I'm running for president."
I do not recall ever hearing McLame say why he wanted to be president -
Nor do I recall hearing CooCoo Bananas ever say why he was running.
Personal ambition is not a good reason - you need to come up with at least some reasonable reason why you're running, it seems to me. Odd that the Republican candidates don't seem to think that matters - it's just: "Cause I want to."
October 26, 2008 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd always figured that the personal ambition to match or exceed the performances of their fathers, as well as to get the public recognition, was so overwhelmingly dominant for the two other than Obama that it didn't even occur to them there would be other important reasons to run. Palin isn't the only one with crazed motivations.
October 26, 2008 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
McThuseleh made a bucket list and being president was the first item on it. He never thought beyond being inaugurated. Wasn't necessary to have an actual platform. Like everything else in his life, he expected it to be handed to him. And is he pissed!!!!!! To be beaten by an upstart and a librul and a . . . ! The noive! What was rightfully his because he wanted it has been snatched from his grasp. I can't wait for the meltdown so Americans can see how narrowly they avoided yet another disaster.
October 27, 2008 6:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
There's an interesting tidbit about Fox. Seems the owner...Rupert Murdoch ...is quite fond of Obama. He made Roger Ailes work with Obama for the interview a few months back. Also, he's not too happy with the methodology used by Ailes, but as long as it is a profit making business he gives Ailes free rein. Now suppose there is a Reformation in Congress - a landslide of Democrats in both House and Senate that is filibusterer proof and Obama received a huge mandate from the people? I suspect Fox News just may have a change in their reporting format courtesy of Rupert Murdoch. But what the hell do i know.
October 26, 2008 8:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been hearing this, too - what the fuck?
October 26, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe early on there was a rumor going around that FOX News was going to endorse Obama because of Murdoch's closet adoration of Big O.
Prolly just rumor, tho ...
October 26, 2008 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps OT -- the tagline from a local TV campaign ad:
"I'm Barney Frank, and I approved this message, and the chance to talk on TV without interruption."
Barney Frank is both brilliant and hilarious.
October 26, 2008 8:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing like a politician with class!
October 26, 2008 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw this last night during SNL. He's the Rep for my town, among others, and I've met him a couple of times. Funny as hell guy. Unkempt, but hilarious.
He could probably get re-elected for as long as he wishes.
AND (for all of you fans out there) he's going to be introducing legislation to legalize pot.
October 26, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's said that before.
God I love that man.
October 27, 2008 12:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
This'll will irk McCain big time!
The artist plans to create a gigantic face of Obama sculpted from gravel and sand, which will cover nearly 2.5 acres (1 hectare) of Barcelona beachfront before the U.S. elections.
October 26, 2008 8:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we are going to create the next baby boom with all the joyous fucking that will be going on between Nov 4th and Inauguration Day..
October 26, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well that would solve the social security payment problem then wouldn't it!
October 26, 2008 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I'm going to have to try this line on the Mrs. come Nov. 4 ;-)
October 26, 2008 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Predictions:
1. Obama wins 41 States
2. Palin booted out of Governor's mansion before April 1.
3. McCain attempts suicide; Fox runs with the story, quotes Peter Feldman, "We have confirmed Senator Obama is directly involved in the attempt on McBadAim's life." The DesMoines PD later corrects the story, "We were immediately suspicious of McAsshole's story because, you know, he is such a monumental fuckup. We found the weapon he used up Peter Feldman's ass. Using our new shitboarding interrogation techniques, we were able to confirm the exact location of the unregistered firearm in time to get home for the next episode of 24."
October 26, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
You are very funny.
October 26, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus, ever since I got my 1-year medallian last week I've been having these wicked crazy psycho-delic visions. I hope this shit stops after Nov. 4. I wonder if my doctor will write me a prescription for non-stop fucking? (Hats off to MattyRich!) It's bound to help! GObama! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaahahaha!
October 26, 2008 8:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
More AZure Blue news in today's NYTimes article, In Arizona, Democrats Mount Strong Challenge...
October 26, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll need a cigarette if people keep posting awesome news like this...
October 26, 2008 8:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
My kids live with their Mom in West St. Paul. The main road I take to her house has had about 20 McCraPalin yard signs on a 6-block stretch; until today. There's only two left. Maybe they got stolen; or maybe the residents are too embarrased to keep the signs up. I'm going with the latter. Here in Minneapolis we are steady at a 50:1 ration. It's Obamablue, all the time.
October 26, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
In Mass our signs say simply "Who the fuck ya think? Duh!"
October 26, 2008 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now, that there's funny! I don't care who ya are!
October 26, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just want to say, you people are a riot. I love reading TPM when things are good (and hand-wringing is at a minimum). Right now, things are very good.
October 26, 2008 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, my lovelies - True Blood is coming on and I don't miss it. I want me some Bill the Vampire. Mmmm -
October 26, 2008 8:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
There we go with that Heroin Box Office again!
October 26, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
From today's Guardian:
...I'm walkin' on sunshine, whoawhoa, I'm walkin' on sunshine...
McCombover's speeches reminded me of this:
Warren G. and John S...a dead President and a dead duck.
October 26, 2008 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
...that's 'straggling thought',not'sraggling'...
Sorry.
October 26, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Uh... before you guys start counting your chickens or eggs - maybe you should go on npr.org and listen to a repeat of "This American Life" that broadcast tonight. It was not so reassuring to hear how soft Obama's support is in PA - and mainly because of reluctance to vote for a black person (which was the nicest way it was put.)
I certainly hope Obama can pull it off, but this celebrating before we get into the end zone is kind of scary.
October 26, 2008 9:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
He'll be in PA next week, don't be surprised if he drops in to GA on his way to FLA!
October 26, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
He'll carry Pennsylvania - he's way ahead. I don't give a shit what NPR supposedly said about soft support because of racism.
You know, I'll be glad to see a lot of that put to rest, too - these ideas that white people won't vote for him. It's utter bullshit.
They said that o so wisely about Hispanics too. Not only does he have the Hispanic vote, he has the Cuban vote in Florida.
October 26, 2008 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
PA is not a make-or-break state so it wouldn't matter. It'd be nice, but wouldn't matter.
October 27, 2008 7:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Read an article on RealClearPolitics by Karl Rove taking credit for Obama's strategies. I was like hmmm no you barely squeaked a win both times and only won because you stole Florida in 2000 and then Ohio in 2004. Obama is in red states all over the country. Doesn't look like the same strategy to me at all. I don't think this election is going to come down to one state again. I am so hopeful it won't.
October 26, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
That Jack Ass couldn't run a positive campaign if it bit him in the ass.
October 26, 2008 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
O my god!
Too fucking funny!
October 26, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed that it is a crock. Rove is the kind of person who, if hooked up to a lie detector, would give off strange signals only when telling the truth.
October 26, 2008 11:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Saw today on MSNBC that if Obama gets Virginia, N. Carolina, and Colorado he doesn't need Pennsylvania, Ohio or Florida to win.
October 26, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Off topic...Obama had 45,00 to 50,00 at Fort Collins! A Republican stronghold.
October 26, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Colorado loves him. He's going to turn the state blue and bring Udall in on his coattails.
If Marilyn Musgrave gets shitcanned, that will be the icing on the cake.
October 26, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Colorado totally loves him - I'm kind of amazed.
October 26, 2008 11:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, I was there, and it was mayhem. However, I must take issue with your statement that Fort Collins is a 'Republican stronghold'. No! If anything it is a moderately democratic town in a somewhat Republican region. The real point is, this place is pretty 'purple' overall, and is something of a bellwether for the rest of the state.
Bear in mind that the population of the entire Fort Collins-Loveland-Greeley area is around 300K. 45-50K for Obama today is staggering!
October 26, 2008 11:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Scranton,PA newspaper endorsed Obama.
October 26, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's really good news!
October 26, 2008 11:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suppose that means both Scranton liberals endorsed Obama.
:-)
October 27, 2008 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did it say "we endorse THAT ONE"?
October 27, 2008 12:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's some good news - according to the ABQ news, in Bernalillo Co. so far in early voting, almost 34,000 Democrats have voted vs. 15,000 Republicans.
October 27, 2008 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is good news. The new WaPo poll has Obama up +8 (was up +3 in last poll). VA is going BLUE!!!!!
October 27, 2008 1:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great news!! That's the county I was telephoning into over the weekend from CA. I got such warm responses from people, even from some who'd already gotten several phone calls and a door-knock earlier the same day. I imagine I was calling only Dems, but I was quite encouraged by the sense of support, the receptivity to the "vote early" message, etc.
October 27, 2008 9:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Elizabeth Hasselbeck with Palin, what a couple they make. Bimbette and Bimbette II.
October 27, 2008 1:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
And this:
Dumb and Dumber with Joe The Plumber
October 27, 2008 1:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought I saw Naomi Judd with Sarah Palin in a brief TV shot, and it was her, which is quite comical as Ashley Judd cannot stand Sarah Palin :)
October 27, 2008 1:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well it's not particularly difficult to stay on message when 60% of the country think the economy is the #1 issue and 80% think
the country is on the wrong track.
October 27, 2008 2:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
In the last 2 days :
McCain has spoke to 12,500 people in 4 cities and towns.
Obama has spoke to 224,000 people in 5 cities.
October 27, 2008 4:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
But how many "REAL" Americans did Obama speak to?
October 27, 2008 8:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wapo Virginia Poll: Obama 52 McCain 44
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/26/AR2008102602504.html?sub=AR
October 27, 2008 8:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Franken Update:
Poll Franken Coleman Barkley Date
Rassm 41% 37% 17% Oct 23
MPR + 41 37 14 "After Oct 2"
Humprey Institute (whatever the f that means)
Big 10 40.2 34.2 15.1 Oct 23
Link to Humphrey Institute Poll
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/10/08_zdechlikm_senatepoll/senatereport_final.pdf
October 27, 2008 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gaakkk. I gotta figure out that tab thing.
October 27, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink