Time to Untwist the Knickers

I'm not sure what I'm marveling over more - how the Obama campaign is playing out or the reaction to it.

I'll either be called a pseudo-progressive or an Obamabot (after all, there are no shades of gray anymore), but so far, I've only had one big issue with him - FISA. I really don't see how he has otherwise veered from his game plan. His perceived "move to the middle" is more of an image which was created for him, not one he created himself.

So he's not a 100% progressive. So he's a spiritual guy. So he wants to keep the campaigning on the high road (or more precisely, give the appearance he is). Shocked? It's who he is, folks. Always was. Continues to be. It served him well this far.

So far, Obama's managed to keep himself above the fray. The heat from the right-wing faction has been mostly confined to third-parties (Rev. Wright, Wesley Clark, MoveOn for examples), weak "scandals" like his 2005 mortgage, or email rumors. That's IT. So far, all McCain has been able to muster is fainting-couch indignation on Clark...for three days now. And that replaced the big fat town hall challenge and the time since Obama was in Iraq last. Whooptie-freakin'-do.

Obama's playing this well-tuned violin beautifully. Is he selling himself to the middle? Damn right he is, and damn right he should. Is he doing it at the expense of the progressives? That's up to the progressive. If anyone feels so horrifically betrayed by Obama's methods that they will just throw their hands up and quit, then that's something you'll have to work through. I'm far from there - far enough to not even see it beyond the November horizon.

I know a lot of you disagree, but I'm really enjoying watching how it all plays out. To a great extent, it's McCain doing all the blinking so far. He's feeling harsh discontent from his withering base. He had a free pass for almost three months before Obama won the nod, and he squandered it. His campaign has just gone through yet another overhaul. His whining about being criticized is making him look less and less like the strong national security figure he hoped to be.

A campaign in trouble? It has a name: McCain.

Obama has several touchstone moments coming. The debates. The running mate. And holy crap, that convention speech. Mark our words, each one of those will underscore what much of the GOP knows.

John McCain and the current version of the Republican party have very, very big problems.

Come on. Grab a drink. Untwist those knickers. Enjoy the show.

Comments

[Jedinate]

Don't forget the popcorn:P

[Stitch]

Bbbut...if BHO believed exactly as I believe, and always said exactly as I think he should say, he would win all the votes! (of people who are just like me!)

[BKLN]

Yea verily. And if you're needing a drinking buddy to accompany your freshly untwisted knickers, you could probably find one here: http://livingliberally.org/drinking/

And Hoff, if I'm not mistaken, you could make the following adjustment:
"And holy crap, that convention speech. Delivered on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech no less."

[JasonSTL]

I whole-heartedly agree. Chill-the-freak-out, people. We've got a winner.

When the heck are those debates going to start? Anyone know? Haven't heard a peep from anyone on MSM.

[cage free brown]

once bitten twice shy.
it's true that obama is a much better candidate than Kerry but still, the sense of Deja Vu is bound to give a guy the jitters.

how could John Kerry lose against Bush? Big Media swung the pocket watch and told us that Kerry couldn't win. we bought it. they told us this squeaker was a mandate for Bush and then we were up to our armpits in grumpy evangelicals with "to do" lists.

yeah, obama is better than I had any reason to expect. I still have expectations and I'm still a little skittish about what Big Media is going to spring on the guy. you know, right now, people are sitting in a room thinking up a "dean scream"

it might not work - he's got a strong character. still, things like the voter i.d. law getting the supreme court stamp of approval have me worried. the way this Clark thing played out had me worried. I know a guy who's famous for saying "what, me worry?" maybe that guy has the right idea. me, I'm sleeping with my eyes open - that's my nature.

[Lib4]

I just want this DEM candidate to be proactive with the media narrative. Look we are all political junkies here and we can see the incremental steps that will all eventually lead to an Obama victory. My worry is with the so called low information voter who will mindlessly believe the distortions and half truths the MSM throws their way all day everyday.

So while I am optimistic like I was in 2000 and 2004, I am not taking anything for granted this cycle. Sorry my knickers will untwist after the last vote is counted in Cuyahoga County Ohio sometime in the month of November 2008....I am a "fat lady" Dem per se

[Karen]

I think Obama is moving along at this point rather smoothly. McCain now has a new quarterback for his compaign. We'll just see what kind of mischief they'll get into going forward.
One point about faith based organizations. I'm not slamming Obama for supporting them. The thing that breaks my cookie is the fact that you can be dumped because of your religion or the lack there of. What ever happened to freedom of religion? I don't see how religion or having no religion affects the way you do your job. So not hiring because of religion is WRONG. JMO I really believe in the separation of church and state. Let's keep it that way. Back a few sentences I said dumped. I meant to say not hired for a job because of religion. We all know the American public will fall down on their knees to any politician embracing either the war or patriotism, or religion. Want to win a singing contest. Sing a patriotic song. Want to invoke tears in a crowd? Speak of how God was there to help the little boy after his mom died. The public can't resist.
So I guess Obama is doing what will earn him some votes. Smart politics, but I hope he doesn't get carried away with trying to adopt a lot of right wing ideas. We, those with more progressive ideas can stand a bitter taste once in a while and not lose our whole lunch, we just don't want it to become a habit.

[Lawton Watson]

Obama is our man but I think we underestimate the power of corporate media and the influence the war machine has on helping America decide who will be the next occupant of the White House.
They have the ability to start wars and change the course of American policy and history.
Kerry allowed media and the righteous right to destroy any credibility he had. I hope Obama doesn't blow the opportunity given us by driving the centrist road, maybe just a little too far right. Perception trumps reality and truth when it comes to politics in our country.