November 4th 2008, the end of the world as we know it…

 Open letter to all of my friends..

Dear Friends..

In a few hours you and I will have the opportunity to make a difference. 

We will have the chance to raise our voices in unison in a call for change-a call for a new direction.  

If we succeed it will be the end of the world as we’ve known it and I know that you can’t wait to say goodbye to the past and hello to the future!

I am so ready to wrap my arms around a future where national unity is more important than partisan political bickering, where the health of the individual is more important than a healthy bottom line, where global peace and global security are more important than GDP and GNP  and where national reputation and image are more important than personal or party ideology.

It’s a lot to ask I know but as the most powerful citizenry in the world it’s our responsibility to take those first real steps towards improving our lives and the lives of our brothers and sisters across the world by voting for Barack Obama.

Almost two years ago, we stood with him in Springfield, Illinois as he announced his candidacy. And after eight years of being pushed and kicked around we were ready to hear his message. Today, we start taking the first real steps towards making his vision/our vision a reality.

It’s been a hard and difficult struggle and we almost didn’t get here but you’ve been valiant and vigilant my friends, battered and bruised yes, but we’re here. 

And as we start down that unexplored path with heads held high, proud hearts and the knowledge and belief that anything is possible in this great land remember this day. REMEMBER THIS DAY for this is the day that marks the end of the world as we know it and you know what we’re not scared. We’re not anxious. We’re feeling just WONDERFUL!!!

Now go vote..

CBL..

Mccain should’ve practiced the Karl Rove fundamentals

Now, I’m not willing to say that Obama has it in the bag even though all the polls have him up nationally, there are still three weeks left to this campaign and anything could happen.

Obama is still capable of making a catastrophic misstep and those white working class voters who are still on the sidelines could suddenly jump off and throw their full support behind John Mccain. I don’t think either of these things will happen but they are a possibility.

In the last week, I’ve tried to watch John Mccain’s campaign objectively, (yes, I have..lol) and all I have to say is that his campaign is undisciplined and his messages lack direction and consistency.

One day his campaign is attacking Obama’s character and his past associations vigorously. The next day he’s attacking his record. The next day he’s telling his supporters, he’s not an arab but he’s a decent and good family man. The next day he’s talking about his economic plans.

Now, if  I were a rational, intelligent, Republican leaning independent voter I wouldn’t know which message to listen too. But I do know the message that Obama is an Arab, marxist terrorist with plans to enslave white people would NOT be an effective or persuasive enough argument to get my vote.

And this is and continues to be John Mccain’s problem. His messages are inconsistent and imprecise.
And with only three weeks left to the general election this is a failing strategy.

Yes, the current unfavorable political climate, economic conditions and an unconventional opponent should have caused the Mccain camp to adjust their strategy but not so much so to cause their campaign to appear in disarray and desperate.

Karl Rove and his team would never have allowed this to happen.

For all the reasons we liberals hate Karl Rove we must admit he maintained, practiced and demanded message discipline from the candidate and their supporters and when he found a weakness in his opponents he zeroed in on it, concentrated his resources and exploited it effectively to the benefit of his candidate.

Mccain and his team, and the Republican party in general at the moment, lack these capabilities and although it didn’t work in 2006 it can be argued that it might have worked this time around even with all the obstacles.

Mccain has been trying to replicate some of the plays from past Republican play books and they just aren’t working however,  I do believe if they had practiced the ‘Karl Rove fundamentals 101′ from the very beginning we might be seeing entirely different poll results but we’ll just have to wait a few more days to see if their missteps and misfires were disastrous.

John McCain et al should watch where they throw their mud..

 

 

Faithful reader, how many of you under 30 (it’s not fair if we let the older people play, sorry..lol) have ever heard about The Keating Five? Hint..they was linked to the collapse of one major savings and loan- Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. 

Ok..nobody, nobody at all? Well, that’s not surprising..when the US savings and loan crisis was taking place I was still playing with barbie dolls and listening to  Milli Vanilli  ( you were too so don’t laugh didn’t you just love the braids..lol). 

Ok, so you don’t know about it learn more here and below

 

The Keating Five scandal probably left the biggest blemish on McCain’s career. And McCain obviously shies away from speaking about his role in the entire affair. Wouldn’t you? If you caused or were accused sorry, of causing thousands of people to lose their life savings would you want to shout it from the rooftops or would you want to crawl under a rock and die? I hope you would chose the latter but anway over the years McCain has rebuilt his reputation and standing in the Senate and the community, character attacks on him have seldom succeeded since he’s now seen as a straight shooter.

But in the next few days you will start to see some character assassination attempts on Barack Obama, by members of McCain’s camp. Some of the attacks might even come directly from John McCain, betcha he goes for the jugular on Tuesday at the presidental debate? But believe me you’re going to hear and read about Obama’s link to ‘terrorists‘. His connection to corrupt Chicago business man Tony Rezko and of course, of course Rev.Wright.

Don’t expect a gentleman’s campaign over the next few days. There will be no October surprises but there will be lots and lots of mud and stone throwing.

Instead, if I were them I would throw away the Republican play book and try to follow the old proverb people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones because the stuff that might be thrown back, by the Obama team and a press core trying to appear fair, just might demolish my entire house.