Obama Wins by Six
October 19th, 2008I want the fun of being right or wrong later, so I’ll go ahead and put it in writing.
Despite rumors of the Bradley effect and Obama’s warning that Democrats could still “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory,” McCain’s higher-risk campaign stuck it’s neck out too far.
Error # 1: Demeanor. Contrast Obama’s calm demeanor with McCain. ”The fundamentals of the economy are sound.” and “I know how to get Osama…”
Error # 2: VP Pick. I was initially delighted because of her stance on abortion, but her or her campaign’s failure to present her as qualified for the job have made her a laughingstock outside of conservative circles. (Note focus on presentation- she has more years in elected office than Obama. And Reagan was an actor!)
Error # 3: Coolness. Well, it isn’t really so much error as fact. McCain’s mavericky coolness cannot match up to Obama’s star-power coolness.
I’m mostly resigned to an Obama win, but I do feel a bit bitter that anything substantive didn’t seem matter too much. But I suppose that’s politics…
“but I do feel a bit bitter that anything substantive didn’t seem matter too much”
On the contrary, the dog and pony show is over. We’ve gotten to know Sarah Palin and it appears the enthusiasm was premature. Now it’s back to the substantive questions: Who is going to restore credibility and moral authority to America in the eyes of the world? Who is going to restore habeas corpus to American law? Who is going to step up to our global responsibility and join the Kyoto protocol? Who is going to follow the constitution and end spying on Americans? Who has a better plan for ensuring all Americans have access to health care? Who has a better plan to put our nation’s finances back on track? Who will inspire and lead our nation to a more responsible and honorable future?
That’s a pretty tall order for one or two terms in office.
Actually I think it is possible that we haven’t gotten to know Sarah Palin. Would she really do a worse job than Regan or was he just a better talker?
It is hard for me to picture Obama as a restorer of moral authority given his views on abortion.
Kyoto: I suggest that the earth was not designed to be a permanent system. The world will continue to deteriorate. I agree that we should do what we reasonably can about it, but I don’t think we should expect to fix it.
Is there any conflict between a universal health care plan and putting the our finances back on track? I notice Obama is reluctant to be specific about just what he will cut.
All that said, I certainly see the potential for Obama to inspire the world…maybe Chavez and Ahmadinejad will bash us less…maybe terrorists won’t hate us so much. I would like to see something like that happen.
Does anyone worry about a Democratic supermajority with a Democratic president and that “fairness doctrine” aimed at conservative radio? I don’t know too much about it myself.
Er…maybe an “oops” on Sarah Palin there. Is a president supposed to do more than talk?
And that reminds me that next on my political reading list is the Dick Cheney book.