09-12-2008, 10:18 PM
Quote:Just another example of the Dem circular firing squad.;)
Even if the Democrats win the White House, the ability to turn a landslide into a close race is an amazing display of ineptitude.
True, the Democrats have done this habitually. Gore lost in significant part because of Bill Clinton's self-destruction (I guess a case example of small things affecting large ones -- we'd all be so much better off now had Gore won). And Kerry's campaign was not the best (even if the damage caused by Bush at that point was irreparable, and the contrast between Kerry's swift-boating and McCain's war-hero status is not entirely consistent with circular fire).
But I'm not so sure this election is another example (not yet, anyway). A democratic landslide in the presidential race, unlike congress, has never been a forgone conclusion, and whether or not Clinton would've been a stronger candidate than Obama is pretty unclear.
Despite his relative inexperience, Obama is an impressive and thoughtful guy in my opinion. Palin, on the other hand, is a ridiculous vice-presidential candidate (not to mention one who presumably has a higher-than-average chance of becoming president should McCain get elected). I'm amazed at how fast the Republican talking points get networked ("Palin has executive experience. Obama doesn't"). Maybe some of the people here can clue me in on how it's done. Does the RNC slip little notes under your door in the middle of the night?
Anyway, it was fun to watch McCain run against his own party during the Republican Convention. It reminded me of the black sheriff in blazing saddles who escaped from the angry mob of white townsfolk by holding himself hostage and threatening to blow his own head off. It worked for the sheriff; and, who knows, it may work for McCain.