As the old Chinese saying goes, "May you live in interesting times." With that in mind, I do hope that this is the most interesting election in our nation's history. God forbid we should have to go through this again.
McCain can't seem to get out a positive message because it's too late for him to articulate a core issue and define himself with it. To stop Obama, he needs to fuel the doubt that many voters already have about Obama.
Thus the story about the tape being held hostage by the L.A. Times. This is a six-month old story, and probably most of what was said on the tape was in the printed story. If the Times were to release the tape, it would probably defuse the issue. Strange, then, that the Times will not do so.
The timing of McCain's rage against the Times was no accident. It stole some media attention from the Obama infomercial, thus depriving Obama of the benefit of at least some of the millions he paid.
It will probably take a few days for polls to reflect Obama's infomercial. I'd like to think that the public is wise enough to recognize the purpose of the faux oval office trappings but, if that were the case, Obama wouldn't be in the lead.
McCain surrogates are resurrecting Reverend Wright in an ad. Perhaps there's data suggesting that the undecideds didn't really pay attention last summer. If not, then this is one of the worst ad buys I can recall.
The infighting between the old guard and the new social-issue Republicans couldn't wait until after the election, could it? No sooner did Sarah Palin become comfortable unscripted than the likes of George Will, Kathleen Parker and others called into question McCain's judgement in choosing Palin. It's not called The Stupid Party for nothing. What these talking heads seem unwilling to accept is that Palin is the reason that McCain is within a few points of Obama. Yes, her negatives are about the same as her positive ratings. But she's going to be hated by Obama backers no matter what she does. Can seasoned journalists such as these not see that? She draws crowds almost as large as Obama's.
The hair-plugged gaffe machine (Joe Biden) seems to have been spirited off to Dick Cheney's old "undisclosed location." In the last two weeks Biden has probably singlehandedly boosted McCain's numbers by two points or better.
Will there be a Bradley Effect? If there is, it's not reflected in the public polls, but I'm sure both campaign's internal polling have that factored in. Obama's internal polling may be showing some cause for concern, since he's becoming more negative in public about McCain. If he were comfortable in his lead, he'd be above the fray.
It's not surprising at all that a Democrat is in the lead. It was to be expected, given GW's ratings and the public's usual eight-year itch for a change in party. What is surprising is that so many people can be so easily bought off by the promise of free money. Sure, every politician promises goodies in every election, but not on this scale. If the polls are to be believed, nearly half the population thinks that redistribution of wealth is a good idea.
I dread next Tuesday, and fear for our country. This perfect storm may transform the US into a nearly pure socialist country, and decades before I ever thought it would happen.
If that happens, where will those from other countries yearning to be free emigrate to? For that matter, where can we run?
