Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin

[Arthur Dent]

When/if the focus ever changes from the circus to the issues

Elections always seem to be covered from the perspective of a campaign strategist. There's is lots of talk about tactics, how events will play to various groups, demographic analysis, etc. If I were a campaign strategist, this is what I'd want to think about too, but it's strange that this is how elections are presented to ordinary citizens, and even stranger that this is the language people very often use in discussions of them.

[BW23]

The Muslim rumor is not something that "could happen". It is something that is already happening.

Not in the way he tried to make people believe it on the interview, although he backed down from that when Stephanopoulos corrected him a couple of times.

[Popeye_Card]

You didn't think his convention speech was a home run?

Admittedly, I'm biased because I'm a commie pinko and whatnot... I thought it was definitely a home run. But I've seen/heard a lot of people say that they were unimpressed by it. I've been surprised by that.

If the idea was to win over moderates, I think he did an excellent job.

People have been praising Palin's speech, but I think it only served to rally the base, and did nothing to win over any moderates.

I did not see Biden's or McCain's speeches to comment on them.

[BW23]

And, for the most part, his speeches have been good. Well, I disagree with just about every word, but he usually delivers well. I haven't seen that consistency though lately...not by a long shot. As I stated earlier, I don't think he's nearly as polished of a speaker as I once thought.

You didn't think his convention speech was a home run?

I think he's avoiding trying to sound "scripted" on the campaign trail. Maybe it's not working for him, but I prefer it over the McCain/Palin strategy of simply repeating their convention speech at every stop on the campaign trail. "I said 'thanks but no thanks'".......... yeah, we got that.

Yeah, for what he was trying to accomplish, his speech at the convention was good. I saw him more as a preacher or motivational speaker rather than a president, but you can't expect that I'd like the content.

After all, I'm not a commie pinko.

[sighyoung]

Really? I'm not all that confident. I think the turn out is going to be key. The turn out by African American's and youth voters are going to be GIGANTIC and those two things will certainly help Obama. But is it going to be enough to offset? Winning 96% or so of African Americans and 18-34 by a good 20 points SHOULD do it. But will it?

The polls also confuse me. Democrat ID is way, way, way higher right now. Unemployment is up. A lot of things as far as plus+ Obama goes.

It's a tough call. I just have a feeling he'll get it done. I'm wondering if the Republican ticket is "peaking" too early. Palin was a huge adrenaline shot, but she'll be brought back to earth when the media gets ahold of her, and the whole "newness" wears off, in my opinion. And when it comes to the debates and the candidates HAVE to talk about policy, I think the Dems will shine.

Of course, I could be way off, too. Call me crazy, but I'm all caught up in "hope".

Geraldine Ferraro bounced Mondale huge. Then it subsided and Reagan won 525-13. Just saying.

Mondale lost mostly because he guaranteed he was going to raise taxes to get his agenda through Congress....and Ferraro got caught up in an ethical problem with her husband and his company. (I forget the details--but it was ugly).

I remember thinking, in 1984, that Mondale really didn't have a prayer. I was right.

Of course, that's the year that put Gary Hart in the "Where Are They Now?" file.

[JL21]

People have been praising Palin's speech, but I think it only served to rally the base, and did nothing to win over any moderates.

Given how much the Republican base dislikes McCain, it may not have been a bad strategery.

[BW23]

You didn't think his convention speech was a home run?

Admittedly, I'm biased because I'm a commie pinko and whatnot... I thought it was definitely a home run. But I've seen/heard a lot of people say that they were unimpressed by it. I've been surprised by that.

If the idea was to win over moderates, I think he did an excellent job.

People have been praising Palin's speech, but I think it only served to rally the base, and did nothing to win over any moderates.

I did not see Biden's or McCain's speeches to comment on them.

McCain's the moderate. Palin is the right-winger to ease the concerns of the base. As if she'll have power or something.

[JL21]

Of course, that's the year that put Gary Hart in the "Where Are They Now?" file.

I thought that was '88?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_Business_Yacht

[Socnorb11]

And, for the most part, his speeches have been good. Well, I disagree with just about every word, but he usually delivers well. I haven't seen that consistency though lately...not by a long shot. As I stated earlier, I don't think he's nearly as polished of a speaker as I once thought.

You didn't think his convention speech was a home run?

I think he's avoiding trying to sound "scripted" on the campaign trail. Maybe it's not working for him, but I prefer it over the McCain/Palin strategy of simply repeating their convention speech at every stop on the campaign trail. "I said 'thanks but no thanks'".......... yeah, we got that.

Yeah, for what he was trying to accomplish, his speech at the convention was good. I saw him more as a preacher or motivational speaker rather than a president, but you can't expect that I'd like the content.

After all, I'm not a commie pinko.

I don't think it would be a bad thing to have a motivator as a president, though. Assuming you like his ideas (which I'm sure you don't), then wouldn't you want him to have the ability to motivate folks to bring them to fruition?

[BW23]

Absolutely. I didn't say it was a bad thing. That's just the role I see for him...because of the difference of opinion I have with his politics.