William Katz: Urgent Agenda
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2008
10:41 P.M. ET - MORE ON BIAS: From Investors Business Daily: The biggest surprise of the Democratic convention? The spectacle of journalists applauding Barack Obama's acceptance speech. OK, maybe not the biggest surprise. But certainly one of the biggest disgraces. Andy Barr reported on The Hill's blog that "several members of the media were seen cheering and clapping for" Obama as he accepted the Democratic nomination Thursday.
10:32 P.M. - IN RECORD TIME: Well, let's see. Governor Palin has been John McCain's announced choice for v.p. for, oh, ten hours, and already the Washington Post is out with a story quoting some guy who has an ethics complaint against her. Do you recall how long it took the media to "discover" Barack Obama's relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr? Do you remember how long it took "leading journalists" to report the circumstances of Obama's strange real-estate deal with a Chicago criminal? Months? Years? But Sarah Palin? They're out with a story in ten hours. No bias here, they tell us. Nothing to see, nothing to see.
UPDATE AT 9:01 P.M. ET: I've been monitoring the cable news programs, and it seems to me that the Dems have taken a body blow with McCain's selection of Sarah Palin. Their responses are either too harsh or anemic. They don't know how to handle this. They didn't know there are women in the Republican Party. They don't know about this Alaska place - nowhere near Manhattan or Beverly Hills. Someone should explain to them that there's snow in Alaska, just like the snow in Aspen, or at the Swiss resorts.
Some Dem analysts point out Palin's experience level - which only calls attention to the experience deficit at the top of their own ticket. At least Sarah is a governor. She runs something besides her mouth.
Karl Rove thinks the GOP will have a great five days ahead because of this pick. I agree.
BARACK WHO?
Posted at 7:34 p.m. ET
Do you remember Barack Obama? You know, from last night? B.S? (That means, before Sarah.) He's out there, and, as often happens, it's the British press that has the sharpest comments on him. For example, there's Gerald Warner in London's Telegraph:
"This election has never been about me - it's about you!" Shucks, and there were we thinking maybe it was about the guy stepping out through the Pearl & Dean Corinthian gate to stand in front of a mock-up of the West Wing. But no, this multi-million-dollar razzmatazz is not about Barack Obama, it's about li'l ole Joe Public. Or so he will have persuaded that section of the American electorate that is in the market to buy the Brooklyn Bridge or watermelon mines in Argentina.
Wonderful.
Obama knew that he could not get away with just a rehash of his all too familiar Story, another dollop of sub-Kennedy rhetoric and an appeal to Democrat core prejudices last night. This time he had to go into policy specifics. By November 4 or earlier he may wish he had not. The specifics were actually strikingly non-specific, except for one thing: the mind-boggling expense of even the most minimalist construction that could be put upon the wish list he passed off as a programme.
In 10 minutes he spent $250bn. He plans to end US dependence on Middle East oil in 10 years. Sceptics will note that target is two years after the latest date at which he could constitutionally end his putative term of office. Over that same decade he will invest $150bn in "renewables" ("Y'all stock up on candles, now, Gran'ma"...), the modish, non-substitutes for effective energy with which we have already fiddled unproductively in this country. And he is into biofuels in a big way, which means more rumbling bellies in the Third World.
I detect that this man has doubts. May they be shared by more than half the American electorate.
As always with Obama, the rhetoric was smoothly delivered. It will be surprising if the impressionist images on television do not give him a significant poll bounce.
Already happening. We hope that the Palin selection will blunt Obama's rise.
Western pseudo-democracy is fuelled by politicians' speeches: the cynical manipulation of public emotion through the confection of ever more meaningless patterns of words. It is the few relatively factual passages that may now scupper Obama. But he will not mind because, as he said, this election is not about him.
The British writers get right to the point.
And I like the point Gerald Warner got to.
August 29, 2008. Permalink 
MORE DAMAGE, AT 6:31 P.M. ET: Leave it to Barbara Boxer, Democratic leftist firebrand from California, not to get the message. Despite Obama's attempt to soften the harsh attacks on Sarah Palin from his own people, Boxer goes at it: "The vice president is a heartbeat away from becoming president, so to choose someone with not one hour’s worth of experience on national issues is a dangerous choice."
In contrast to Barack Obama, her party's candidate for president, whose experience can fit on the head of a pin. Thanks for calling attention to it, Barbara.
DAMAGE CONTROL, AT 6:06 P.M. ET: Apparently, Obama now realizes that his campaign's reaction to Sarah Palin - see next story down titled NOT SMART - was damaging to him: "'I think that, uh, you know, campaigns start getting these, uh, hair triggers and, uh, the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments,' he said, according to the pool report, apparently criticizing his staff for going overboard, as he did occasionally in the primary."
Blame the staff, Barack. After all, a saint is infallible.
NOT SMART
Posted at 6:03 p.m. ET
The Obama campaign's first reaction to Sarah Palin reveals an absence of thought, to put it mildly:
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign on Friday blasted his Republican rival's choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as a running-mate, highlighting her "zero" foreign policy experience.
"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement.
Burton also criticized Palin as a vice presidential pick for her support of oil drilling in the Alaskan wilderness and her anti-abortion stance, referring to the 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the United States.
"Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies. That's not the change we need, it's just more of the same," he said.
Let's see. In one announcement the Obama crowd insulted 1) small-town American, 2) the accomplishments of a woman and 3) their own presidential candidate, who has zero foreign-policy experience.
You'd think, after what they did to Hillary Clinton, that they'd be sensitive about the choice of a woman, and offer gracious congratulations. Bottom line, these guys are coarse Chicago politicians, and that's all they'll ever be.
August 29, 2008. Permalink
TRACKERS
Posted at 1:14 p.m. ET
Both trackers are now out for Friday. They were taken through last night, and do not reflect today's dramatic choice of Sarah Palin as GOP vice-presidential candidate.
The trackers show the expected. As reported earlier here, Rasmussen has Obama up four points.
Gallup has Obama up eight.
Please note that Ras measures likely voters, Gallup registered voters.
The trackers out tomorrow will reflect polling done Wednesday, Thursday and today. The first two days should provide a further boost for Obama. Today's result may or may not show the impact of the Palin pick, depending on when the polling is done.
As I wrote below, I was very impressed with Palin's first time out today. She has that "terrific" quality about her. I think it will play. It has certainly shaken up the race.
August 29, 2008. Permalink
FIRST IMPRESSION: Governor Palin has just spoken for the first time as vice-presidential candidate of the Republican Party. Home run. She is just terrific. She's articulate, firm, clear-thinking, and seems to have the instincts of a first-class candidate. I was very impressed.
Obviously, we'll have more comments later as more is known. But I rarely have seen a candidate give so good a first impression. By the way, she paid tribute to Geraldine Ferraro, who was vice-presidential choice on the Democratic ticket in 1984, and to Hillary Clinton. Palin knows what she's doing, and she knows exactly what voters she's targeting.
Some concerns have been expressed over how she'll do in a debate with Joe Biden. Don't worry about that. Biden, in debate, tends to get very aggressive and demeaning. Palin gave me the impression that she prepares well, will know the material cold, and be able to handle Biden.
So far, very, very good.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS: CNN is already on the attack against Sarah Palin, joyously bringing out all her negatives. (There aren't many.) What else is new?
UPDATE AT 10:54 A.M. ET: Fox reports official confirmation from the McCain campaign that Sarah Palin of Alaska is the choice.
UPDATE AT 10:37 A.M. ET: McCain and Palin will apparently appear publicly very soon, earlier than the time we'd anticipated.
UPDATE AT 10:29 A.M. ET: Unless we're in for a shock, it appears almost certain that Governor Sarah Palin will be the Republican candidate for vice president. By the way, in the early eighties she was first runner-up in the Miss Alaska contest. That is a trap for Democrats. If they bring it up, they'll be accused of demeaning her. Indeed, they've got to be very careful now, considering what was done to Hillary.
Clearly, McCain is going for the disaffected Hillary Not a bad idea.
UPDATE AT 10:12 A.M. ET: Increasing signs that McCain's v.p. choice will be Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. CNN reports that a plane from Alaska arrived earlier today at an airport near Dayton, where McCain plans to announce his choice. An airport official, according to CNN, said that a woman and two teenagers left the plane and were whisked into a waiting van.
POLL ALERT, AT 9:52 A.M. ET: First tracker of the day is out. Rasmussen has Obama up four. This is the expected bounce, and will probably grow somewhat. Not to worry. McCain hasn't been to bat.
BULLETIN, AT 9:14 A.M. ET: Speculation swirls, but remember that it's only speculation. The name popping up is Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. I have no idea. I'm just passing it on. Apparently, there's a lot of misinformation being given out to keep the secret.
It won't be Hillary.
BULLETIN, AT 8:52 A.M. ET: Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota has just said that he will not be the Republican candidate for vice president.
LAST NIGHT AMONG THE FAITHFUL
Is it over? Can we go out and play again?
The Democrats are leaving Denver after what, thanks to the political shrewdness of the Clintons, was a successful convention. Hillary didn't cause any trouble, and Bill minded his tongue and his manners. They thus got what the actress Joan Crawford used to call "the big okay," the blessing of their industry - politics - to continue. The Clintons are well placed to knock on Democratic doors again if Obama should lose in November. And no one wants him to lose more than the Clintons. As Hillary stood amongst the New York delegates, throwing her support to Obama, you just knew that she wanted the scene recorded by every camera ever manufactured. If she runs again, that photo will be prominently displayed. "Team player" is still a compliment.
Barack Obama spoke well last night. He is an outstanding speaker. Notice that I didn't say that he's an outstanding speechmaker. An outstanding speechmaker has to have an outstanding speech, and that speech, once examined, was far less than outstanding. It was a well-polished Democratic laundry list, the same list we've heard year after year, including those years when Democrats controlled both the White House and Congress. Strange, but items never seem to disappear from that list and go into the "accomplished" column. I guess the list has sentimental value.
I always stress foreign affairs because, as a young person involved in politics, I was taught that you can absorb four years of a bad domestic policy, but that four years of a bad foreign policy can be fatal. For the life of me, I could not figure out Barack Obama's foreign policy from that elegantly delivered address last night. He will be tougher on Iran than the GOP, but how? He will repair our alliances, but never told us how he'll get "allies" to do what they clearly don't want to do. He won't "go it alone." You mean, never? What if England had decided not to "go it alone" in 1940? He'll restore our prestige, but never explained that anti-Americanism is a constant in this world, especially in Europe. You'd think, listening to Obama, that everyone once loved us, but started hating us as soon as we entered Iraq. That is the view of a child or a political snake-oil salesman. It is not the view of a knowledgeable leader.
Obama will get a bounce from the convention. I would not be shocked if he was up ten to twelve points over the weekend. That will settle back, but the degree of settling will depend on how well John McCain and his running mate do next week. McCain must take Obama/Biden on directly and vigorously. He must expose the Democratic ticket as the hollow road show that it is. He must raise doubts, and more doubts. And he must provide his own optimistic, Reaganesque view of the future.
It can be done, but this won't be easy. The Democrats have nominated a superb speaker adored by the press. McCain must, as Reagan did, speak over the heads of the middlemen and directly to the American people.
August 29, 2008. Permalink
NAILING IT
Posted at 8:43 a.m. ET
Charles Krauthammer, among the American commentators, has probably done the best job of nailing Obama's speech. His critique is devastating and brilliant. But, alas, I doubt that it will have any effect on the media love fest. However, for our side, it's a joy to read:
Barack Obama is an immensely talented man whose talents have been largely devoted to crafting, and chronicling, his own life. Not things. Not ideas. Not institutions. But himself.
Nothing wrong or even terribly odd about that, except that he is laying claim to the job of crafting the coming history of the United States. A leap of such audacity is odd. The air of unease at the Democratic convention this week was not just a result of the Clinton psychodrama. The deeper anxiety was that the party was nominating a man of many gifts but precious few accomplishments -- bearing even fewer witnesses.
Truth, truth, truth.
Eerily missing at the Democratic convention this year were people of stature who were seriously involved at some point in Obama's life standing up to say: I know Barack Obama. I've been with Barack Obama. We've toiled/endured together. You can trust him. I do.
And...
Who was there to speak about the real Barack Obama? His wife. She could tell you about Barack the father, the husband, the family man in a winning and perfectly sincere way. But that takes you only so far. It doesn't take you to the public man, the national leader.
Who is to testify to that? Hillary's husband on night three did aver that Obama is "ready to lead." However, he offered not a shred of evidence, let alone personal experience with Obama. And although he pulled it off charmingly, everyone knew that, having been suggesting precisely the opposite for months, he meant not a word of it.
Joe Biden weighed in, deceptively:
Obama's vice presidential selection, Joe Biden, naturally advertised his patron's virtues, such as the fact that he had "reached across party lines to . . . keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists." But securing loose nukes is as bipartisan as motherhood and as uncontroversial as apple pie. The measure was so minimal that it passed by voice vote and received near zero media coverage.
That last paragraph shows what a little research can do. But a generation taught to respect only "feelings" has little interest in research.
So where are the colleagues? The buddies? The political or spiritual soul mates? His most important spiritual adviser and mentor was Jeremiah Wright. But he's out. Then there's William Ayers, with whom he served on a board. He's out. Where are the others?
The oddity of this convention is that its central figure is the ultimate self-made man, a dazzling mysterious Gatsby. The palpable apprehension is that the anointed is a stranger -- a deeply engaging, elegant, brilliant stranger with whom the Democrats had a torrid affair. Having slowly woken up, they see the ring and wonder who exactly they married last night.
But they won't care, as long as he wins, as long as he restores the illusions of the sixties. Obama is a man, not of the future, but of the past. He nurtures the adolescence that has taken over the Democratic Party. What we saw last night was a rock concert, a "happening." It was intentional.
August 29, 2008. Permalink
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2008
11:58 p.m. ET: I'm now reviewing the text of Obama's speech. You know, it's like one of those extended warranties from a no-name electronics store. Looks good at first, as long as you don't think about what's been left out. The more I read, the more deceptive and inaccurate it becomes. McCain could take this apart in a debate.
11:27 p.m. ET: I just saw that John McCain ad again, the one where he congratulates Barack Obama on his nomination. Earlier I said I could live without it, and that I thought it came off as contrived. I must say, though, that coming after Obama's attacks on McCain tonight, McCain's gracious congratulations sounded good, and were a solid contrast. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe it was a fine idea, even a masterstroke. You decide.
10:58 p.m. ET: Obama has now ended. He delivered a solid political speech. If you get into details, of course, things get murky. But details were not what this speech was about. I think Obama will get a reasonable bounce from his inspirational speech. Now it will be up to John McCain to answer it, point by point, to deflate the balloon and prove that the emperor-in-waiting has no clothes. McCain's campaign has been very sharp recently. It must get even sharper, and stay that way.
10:42 p.m. ET: Obama turns hokey. "This election has never been about me. It's about you," he says. Oh, please.
10:44 p.m. ET: Obama has gone through a fairly standard laundry list of Democratic programs, but he's stated the case as well as a liberal can. Now he's attacking John McCain on national security, a dangerous course begun by Joe Biden last night. McCain will be able to answer this easily. Many of the statements Obama is making about McCain's positions are misleading.
Now Obama's rhetoric is starting to soar into the stratosphere. He's making foreign-policy promises that are fine, if you're twelve. But anyone with even reasonable familiarity with international affairs will see that many of Obama's promises are simplistic and even silly. He will not heal the world in five minutes, or even ten.
10:36 p.m. ET: Obama is now saying what he'll do as president. He introduced this segment by saying he wanted to define exactly what he meant by "change." The audience cheered, a recognition of the fact that lack of specifics has haunted the Obama campaign.
10:27 p.m. ET: Obama speaks. With a prepared speech, he's fine. A gifted speaker. The substance thus far, however, isn't all that compelling. He's now attacking McCain, and some of his comments are over the top. Obama began this campaign by pledging to be a different kind of candidate. As of now, in this speech, he's a conventional attack dog. It isn't all that appealing.
10:11 p.m. ET: The introductory Obama film is on now. Look, it's slick and professional. All these films are pretty much the same. The candidate is perfect, he's the one, he is pure and good, he is your only decent choice. How can you vote against him?
9:55 p.m. ET: Obama will be speaking soon. The stadium is filled. I'm looking at the set, which was the subject of considerable criticism. Some felt it was too grand, too pompous. I'm not sure I agree. I've been in television, as many of you know, and things appear quite different on the screen than they do "in person." This set, viewed on TV, looks within bounds to me.
9:25 p.m. ET: Joe Biden is now making a surprise appearance before the crowd at Invesco Field. His remarks seem like a retread of his remarks last night. This is not good. It's a turnoff, and Joe Biden has made an art of turning off audiences.
9:17 p.m. ET: I've now seen the McCain ad, running tonight, graciously congratulating Barack Obama on his nomination. Okay, it's a classy thing to do, but, frankly, I could have done without it. It looks contrived and staged, and that's not John McCain. It will make no difference.
8:46 p.m. ET: Al Gore is now speaking at Invesco Field. I am not listening. I know the world is burning up, we are all doomed, and the 2000 election was stolen by the Supreme Court, which is controlled by Halliburton. Why should I listen?
8:30 p.m. ET: Obama will speak at 10 p.m. ET. I've read some excerpts from his speech, released by his campaign. It strikes me as a skillful job, more nuts 'n bolts than most of Obama's sermons. But I'll withhold judgment until I hear the words come from Obama's mouth. A speech is spoken, and how it's spoken is often more important than what it says. So stand by.
ALERT, AT 6:11 p.m. ET: Reader Alan Bell alerts us to the fact that the mock-up of Air Force One, pictured below, is actually part of a presidential history exhibit at Invesco Field, and may well have nothing to do with Obama's acceptance speech tonight. London's Daily Mail apparently misinterpreted the photo. At least that's the latest we have.
We're always happy to update and correct reports, and our readers are fantastic in supplying good information. The link to the presidential exhibit is here.
MORE ART
Posted at 3:25 p.m. ET
Such culture we have for you today. Earlier we reported on plans for the artistic design of the set from which the saint will bless the masses tonight in Denver.
Now readers Jean Spik and Katherine Winterer point out that the set designer also designs for Britney Spears. Remember when John McCain compared Barack's celebrity status to that of Spears, and was ridiculed? Apparently John was on to something.
And it doesn't stop there. London's Daily Mail is running this picture, which they say is a mock-up of Air Force One being delivered to Invesco Field, where Obama will accept the nomination. Look, I can't confirm this. But it's too juicy to ignore. The fun factor overwhelms me.
If the Dems are smart, and occasionally they are, they'd fly the plane off to some undisclosed location, and leave it there.
I hope they use it. So tacky, so fun.
August 28, 2008. Permalink
TRACKERS
Posted at 1:26 p.m. ET
Both trackers are now out for today. As reported earlier, Rasmussen has the race tied, but reports a trend toward Obama in the last two nights of polling.
However, Gallup is already reporting a sizable bump for Obama. Gallup had Obama up one yesterday, but has him up six points today.
There is no need to panic. Indeed, I would expect Obama's bump to grow, even to ten or twelve points. This is fairly normal for conventions, and we must cautiously assume that the McCain convention next week will reverse the tide. I stress "assume." It hasn't happened yet.
We should also note that Gallup polls registered voters, whereas Rasmussen polls likely voters.
Because of the conventions, I don't think the polls will settle down until mid-September. Until then, we'll have to ride the roller coaster.
August 28, 2008. Permalink
ARTISTIC NOTES
Posted at 1:16 p.m. ET
Urgent Agenda readers are cultured, artistic, and sensitive, so I thought you'd like an update on how the aesthetics of tonight's speech by Barack Obama are being handled. The New York Times, which respects our feelings and vulnerabilities, and understands our anxieties, reports:
DENVER — When Senator Barack Obama announced in early July that he would give his nomination address in an outdoor stadium in front of 75,000 people, he wowed members of both parties who saw it as an inspired stroke of campaign image making.
But...
With daunting challenges of logistics, style and substance, the plan was hatched before the Republicans began a concerted drive to paint Mr. Obama as a media sensation lacking the résumé to be president. Now Obama aides are feeling all the more pressure to bring a lofty candidacy to ground level, showing that Mr. Obama grasps the concerns of everyday Americans.
Yes, he feels our pain, like another president, but the setting, the mood, must show it.
On Wednesday, workers were still making changes to Invesco Field, home to the Denver Broncos, so it would feel more intimate, less like the boisterous rallies that served Mr. Obama so well early in the primaries, but also created the celebrity image that dogs him.
They were still testing camera angles, so Mr. Obama would appear among the giant crowd, not above it. They took steps to reduce the echo effect, familiar to football fans, of speaking in such a cavernous space. Planners scrapped their idea to turn the audience of 75,000 into a giant phone bank, in response to fears that the cellphone system would crash (people will instead be asked to text-message friends and neighbors to support the campaign, program aides said would be effective nonetheless.)
Some 75,000 fans will be asked to text message? I'm moved. The sense of discipline. The lockstep thinking. Leni Riefenstahl would be so proud.
And workers put the finishing touches on the backdrop: faux columns intended to suggest a federal building in Washington and create an air of stateliness. (The McCain campaign named it the Temple of Obama, a label repeated by some commentators.)
Well, when the candidate doesn't have an air of stateliness, I guess you do Hollywood sets.
Some aides worried about the setting overwhelming the message. But those closest to the planning said they had no regrets and were sticking to the sort of big-event politics that no other candidate has been able to match this year.
Fellas, you're not running for the nomination anymore. Get that text message?
When a close circle of his top advisers presented Mr. Obama with $6 million plans to move his acceptance speech to the football stadium in early July, the candidate asked one question, said Anita Dunn, a senior strategist: “Will it rain?” The campaign produced a raft of meteorological data showing it had rained on Aug. 28 only once in 20 years. (Aides were alarmed, however, to arrive in Denver on Sunday to news of a nearby tornado.)
It's just like the Obama crowd to try to predict the weather weeks in advance. They seem to feel they have a direct connection somewhere.
...the circular stage in Denver was inspired by Kennedy’s. A Sky Cam above the field will provide bird’s-eye views. Mr. Obama’s family will sit on seats on the floor before him, along with voters from swing states. The goal is to highlight ordinary people, and then mobilize them to work for the campaign.
The Obama campaign dismissed Republican attempts to turn the night against them.
“I know that Senator McCain and his people are shooting barbs on the opulence of our convention from the mountaintop in Sedona from the McCain estate,” said David Axelrod, the campaign’s chief strategist. “I don’t think it warrants a response.”
Especially when you haven't got one.
Why do I think we're about to see an embarrassment?
August 28, 2008. Permalink
BULLETIN: The first tracker is now out (at 9:34 a.m.). Rasmussen, which had McCain up by one yesterday, reports a tie today. Tracking polls are conducted over a three-night period. Rasmussen reports that Obama's numbers have improved in the last two nights, reflecting events at the convention. Rasmussen projects that the convention will give Obama a modest bounce. Of course, the Republicans meet on Monday.
LAST NIGHT IN DENVER
Posted at 7:10 a.m. ET
(Note: An earlier version of this story predicted rain in Denver tonight. The forecast is now for clear weather.)
The Democrats had a good night last night. John Kerry spoke and no one listened, which is good news for the Dems. Bill Clinton gave a solid political speech that inspired the hall, if not the audience at home. His ego, of course, was on full display. He reminded listeners that he, too, just like Obama, was called inexperienced when he ran for president in 1992. The implication was that he'd proved himself wonderful, and that Barack will as well. The problem is that many American didn't think "wonderful" described his tenure in the White House. Most presidents don't get themselves impeached over lying to a grand jury. Most don't respond to terrorism by taking out an aspirin factory and some weed patches in Afghanistan. And most don't sell the Lincoln bedroom to the highest bidder.
Still, Clinton's speech was politically effective. He still knows how to feel our pain, although, at his current astronomical income, he probably feels less of it than before. Or, maybe he just hires someone to feel pain, or describe it to him.
Joe Biden also passed muster with a classic Democratic speech portraying the nation as sinking under the weight of special interests and sinister forces in the White House. But Biden also committed the greatest blunder of the night - going after John McCain on national security. He didn't make the case, and suggesting that Barack Obama has better judgment on securing the nation is not an argument that should be advertised. Also, the viciousness of Biden's attack on his "friend," John McCain, may come back to haunt him. While Biden has some admirable qualities, the fact is that he opposed most of the Reagan policies that led to the successful end of the Cold War, opposed Gulf War I, is incredibly soft on the Iranian mullahs, and actually suggested chopping Iraq into little pieces. The words "Biden" and "visionary" are not usually placed together. By attacking McCain so strongly he opened himself to equally strong attacks.
It's a fact, though, that conventions rarely matter all that much. The soaring speeches and stinging attacks are usually forgotten within a few days. It's only when something goes very wrong that a permanent impact might be felt. The Democratic wreckage in Chicago in 1968, when the convention was surrounded by violent demonstrators and less-than-disciplined police, did not help the party's image. Nor was it polished four years later, when the Dem convention became so disorganized that George McGovern was forced to make his acceptance speech at 3 a.m.
Tonight, though, may count. Barack Obama accepts the nomination in an outdoor setting that already is making some Democrats nervous. Outdoor political rallies are not exactly an American thing. I don't know, maybe he got the idea when he visited Berlin, where that sort of choreography was perfected decades ago. Obama tried to explain yesterday that he wanted the outdoor event in a huge stadium so that all common folk who wanted to attend could do so. That is complete nonsense, of course. You can see it better on TV. The planned rally just reminds us of the grandeur that is The One. He has come to save the world, and a world-sized rally suits his style.
But Obama has to deliver. The public has already tired of the empty rhetoric and grand flourishes. Other speakers at his convention seemed larger than their candidate. Now he gets a chance to reintroduce himself. He has sagged in the polls, and he needs this night.
August 28, 2008. Permalink
UNKIND ASSESSMENT
Posted at 7:07 a.m. ET
The New York Sun, a small, but influential, and decidedly neo-conservative paper, has not taken kindly to the proceedings in Denver, and feelings are not hidden in today's editorial, which is far more harsh than my own appraisal:
You heard it here first: The Democratic Convention in Denver will go down as a disaster the likes of which have not been seen since Patrick Buchanan's 1992 speech to Republicans in Houston. It's hard to know what Senator Obama was thinking. After returning from speaking to a large outdoor rally in Germany, he headed to Hawaii for a vacation. Meanwhile, the candidate of "change" somehow managed to allow the first night of his convention to be dominated by Senator Kennedy, who ran for president in 1980 and who has been in the Senate since 1962.
Mr. Obama allowed the second night to be dominated by the candidate he defeated for the nomination, Senator Clinton, who has been on the national stage since her husband was elected president in 1992. He allowed the third night to be dominated by President Clinton, who has been on the national stage since he gave the convention speech nominating Michael Dukakis in 1988.
Bubba comes in for some tough words:
Mr. Clinton's rousing conclusion was to tell voters that back in 1992, Republicans tried to paint him as "too young and too inexperienced to be commander in chief." "Sound familiar?" Mr. Clinton asked. The suggestion that Mr. Obama might be another Bill Clinton might be appealing to Mr. Clinton — for the Clintons, it is all about them — but it's totally out of tune with Mr. Obama's theme of "change." As out of tune as Mr. Obama's selection of a running mate, in Senator Biden, who has been a senator for 35 years. Mr. Biden was serving as a senator back when Senator McCain was still a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
And...
What's more, there are Clinton-like elements of Mr. Obama that voters may yet find unattractive. Where Mr. Clinton had a real estate deal with felon Jim McDougal, Mr. Obama had one with Tony Rezko. Mr. Clinton stressed that "a President Obama will choose diplomacy first," but Mr. Clinton's aversion to the use of military force allowed Al Qaeda to gather strength to attack America.
Did you feel the knife go in?
Mr. Clinton assured the crowd last night about Mr. Obama that "When he cannot convert adversaries into partners he will stand up to them."
That line got a pathetic response from the leftist crowd that is the party's base. Standing up to dictators isn't their specialty.
Mr. Obama clearly couldn't stand up to the Clintons. Even after he clinched the nomination, he allowed them to dominate the convention. If he can't stand up to the Clintons, how is he going to handle America's enemies around the world? And if he can't run a successful political convention, how can he run the country?
If I were Barack Obama, I wouldn't count on The Sun's endorsement. They seem to be leaning the other way.
August 28, 2008. Permalink
A CHILLING EFFECT
Posted at 7:06 a.m. ET
The Los Angeles Times reports on an outrageous attempt by the Obama campaign to stifle basic American freedoms. There have been several stories like this, and they raise profound questions about the way Obama would see the American Constitution, should he by chance get elected in November:
In a surprising attempt to stifle broadcast criticism of its candidate, the presidential campaign of freshman Illinois senator Barack Obama is organizing supporters to confront Chicago's WGN radio station for having a critic of the Illinois Democrat on its main evening discussion program.
"WGN radio is giving right-wing hatchet man Stanley Kurtz a forum to air his baseless, fear-mongering terrorist smears," Obama's campaign wrote in an e-mail sent to supporters. "He's currently scheduled to spend a solid two-hour block from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. (Wednesday night) pushing lies, distortions, and manipulations about Barack and University of Illinois professor William Ayers."
And...
Obama's campaign is urging supporters to call the radio station to complain. "Tell WGN that....
...by providing Kurtz with airtime, they are legitimizing baseless attacks from a smear-merchant and lowering the standards of political discourse," the note said.
Gee. The sky must be falling.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that WGN would give a slimy character assassin like Kurtz time for his divisive, destructive ranting on our public airwaves," the note continued. "At the very least, they should offer sane, honest rebuttal to every one of Kurtz's lies."
Zack Christenson, executive producer of the long-running interview program "Extension 720 with Milt Rosenberg," said the response from Obama supporters was strong. Rosenberg like Ayres is a college professor.
"I would say this is the biggest response we've ever got from a campaign or a candidate," said Christenson. "This is really unprecedented with the show, the way that people are flooding the calls and our email boxes."
This may be a taste of what we can expect if anyone dares to criticize President Obama.
Christenson also stressed that the Obama campaign was invited to send a representative to appear on the show to balance the discussion of the newly-opened documents. But the campaign headquarters just down Michigan Avenue from the station refused the request. This is not the first time Obama's organization has sought to steer supporters to influence a broadcast outlet airing criticism.
The McCain people should jump on this. Frame it as an example of hack politics at its worst, which it is. The Obama people have an inflated view of themselves and their candidate. Someone has to let the air out of their balloon.
August 28, 2008. Permalink
"What you see is news. What you know is background. What you feel is opinion."
- Lester Markel, late Sunday editor
of The New York Times.
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