Mark Blumenthal of Pollster.com makes a keen observation in his discussion of Sen. McCain’s post-convention bounce: “[W]e should remember that the Republican convention dominated the news on Friday and, to a lesser extent, continued to do so for much of the weekend.” He cautions against drawing conclusions too quickly.
My question is this: “Why did the Obama campaign let the Republican convention dominate the news all weekend?” Is this more rope-a-dope or just dope?
Obama could have taken some of the focus off of McPalin in any number of ways — a big endorsement, a major new policy proposal, a great photo-op, etc. Instead, we got nothing, and McPalin was left to bounce all alone all weekend long. It’s political malpractice.
But this morning, there’s some good news. The Obama campaign may be calling in the cavalry. This comes not a moment too soon. But I’m afraid that it may be about four days too late.
Cross-posted from Facebook
On Friday, I breathlessly linked to a post by Andrew Sullivan on an emergency court motion in Alaska by an associate of Todd Palin, Sarah Palin’s husband, asking that his divorce papers be sealed. Like others of my ilk, I assumed the court motion had something to do with Mrs. Palin’s alleged extra-marital affair.
But The Smoking Gun has read the court motion, which was denied, and they tell us there’s a more innocent explanation for the motion: The ex-business partner wanted to protect his and his family’s privacy from intrusive reporters.
I can respect that.
Now, her family life is slightly less similar to that of David Lynch’s creepy characters in his landmark television series “Twin Peaks.”
My friend, Chiara, sent me this note on Thursday, the final day of the Republican National Convention. I managed to miss the note and I’m offering it now for your consideration.
Last night, my sister-in-law, Joyce, a nurse, mother of three, and grandmother of many, wrote to a number of us in the family to express her views about the presidential election. Joyce focused on an aspect of a potential and unthinkable Republican victory that I think few of us — certainly not I — have considered at any length. I believe Joyce’s take on a McCain/Palin administration is worthy of contemplation and so I’d like to share with you the note she sent to us from Santa Rosa last night, at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention.
Yes, we can.
Chiara
Dear Kim, Tami, Erik, Steven, Deena, Todd, Chiara, Lucia, Kathleen and Eddie
As most of you know I am very pro Obama. I had the opportunity to watch all major speeches for the Democratic convention and now I’m giving equal time to the Republicans. Two very different takes on patriotism. I was heartened by Obama, Biden, and Michelle Obama. This week, I watched John McCain become animated over his sudden secret weapon, Sarah Palin. I listened to the speeches last night and heard similar slurs in each one, obviously written by the same team. No lies told, but less than the truth said. The crowd went wild. There are lots more at home who believe and will vote.
Tonight, after listening to Cindy McCain’s profile (she has been an international relief worker!!) and her well delivered speech following Sarah Palin’s rousing rendition of the republican working super mom last night, I know big work must be done if the White House is to stay in the hands of the party that I believe is more fair and balanced.
But my greatest fear is that, if the McCain/Palin ticket wins, my grandsons, Jeff, Brennan, Justin A and Justin C will be registering for the draft before the end of 2009. Devin won’t be far behind. There are simply not enough volunteer bodies to fill the battle needs in the many places our hawk leaders feel we should go. I was a fierce mother against the war in Vietnam when Steven was a child and I can do it again. And be even more involved this time because watching my grandsons go off to war for oil and power doesn’t feel patriotic to me.
I’m calling the local democratic party headquarters tomorrow. I will volunteer however they need me because I now have the time to go with my passion that the charismatic folks running on the republican ticket are defeated in Nov.
John McCain just finished the most compelling speech I’ve ever heard from him. Almost, but not quite eloquent. That the crowd is going wild is an indication of what’s happening in front of millions of American TVs. Scary.
Oh woe, we have lots of work to do. Both parties want change in Washington, but only one party wants to escalate war in several world regions.
Going forward, I’ll keep the grandson faces in front of me to remember why the war mongers cannot win.
With love,
Mom, Joyce
I concluded a post two days ago with a word that I meant to be derogatory:
Next to Sen. Barack Obama, Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani, with their Republican National Convention comments, showed themselves to be pygmies indeed.
Although the term “pygmies” is commonly used to refer to a member of any human group whose adult males grow to less than 4 feet 11 inches in average height, especially tribal groups in Central Africa, I should be sensitive to how destructive my usage of the word is.
I am sorry and I apologize to everyone who read that expression.
Gawd, I hope this isn’t true. There’s a rumor circulating around the internet today that Governor Palin used racist and sexist slurs to refer to Senators Obama and Clinton:
So Sambo beat the bitch.
The rumor is thinly sourced to a woman named “Lucille,” who allegedly overheard the governor make the statement at a diner in Alaska.
I don’t think it’s worth getting hysterical over a thinly sourced rumor, but I do think that this particular rumor is serious enough that questions need to be asked. Here’s hoping that some enterprising journalist tries to find Lucille and gets her story on the record if she exists.
The press also ought to ask the Governor for her side of the story. The problem is that the McCain camp is now saying that Palin might not be available for a press conference for about two weeks. Yikes.
So let’s put this one in the tickler file for September 21. In addition to asking specifically about Lucille’s allegation, I’d like to know what her views are on race more generally. Does anyone have any clue?
Cross-posted from Facebook.
Susan B. Anthony helped guarantee women’s suffrage in the United States.
Sen. Barack Obama defending himself against Republicans
Martin Luther King Jr.’s moral vision led the way in the struggle for civil rights and economic justice
Then this from Daily Kos:
Catholic worker Dorothy Day was fiercely saintly in work for peace and to alleviate poverty
Mohandas Gandhi peacefully led the people of India
Next to Sen. Barack Obama, Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani, with their Republican National Convention comments, showed themselves to be pygmies indeed.
The nation’s backbone
At last week’s Republican convention, I was not surprised to see the Republicans mock community organizing. After all, why would they need organizers in their neighborhoods? They’re all doing well; this economy has obviously worked well for them! Obama said that McCain “doesn’t get it” and that’s true. But in regard to community organizing, the Republicans, as whole, either don’t know what it is, or think it’s a laughable pursuit.
Now, not all of us can be community organizers on the street, but helping organize our family and friends is community organizing, too. And the dissemination of correct information is one way that we can all play a pivotal role in the democratic process in general and this election in particular. Remember how well the email smears against Obama worked, huh? So, again, please watch this, and pass along to your email list.
Thanks,
Gus
