Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

This blog will pay for itself.

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

Dead end MAGA boomers crying about Talyor Swift being a Dem is my kind of music. Turn it up.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

Giving up is unforgivable. ~Joe Biden

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2008 / Obama TV Open Thread

Reader Interactions

116Comments

  1. 1.

    KRK

    Don’t watch! It’s the final step in Obama’s nefarious plot to hypnotize America into voting for Sharia-socialism.

  5. 5.

    Prematurely Grey

    Weeping upstairs while my daughters work on their homework at the kitchen table. I’m wondering what kind of mother they’ll remember me as. It would be quite amazing if it turned out that, once, I was the kind who believed in someone and was right. Sure hope so.

  9. 9.

    Michael D.

    It was very good. I kinda thought, well, it may come off as a bit pompous – what with it being a 30 minute ad buy and all. But I agree with Cataphract. It was awesome. A bit inspirational. And most of all, it laid out a lot of specifics.

    It was good to see the stories, and good to see respected governors in there as well.

    Well played.

  10. 10.

    raff

    I actually forgot about the damned thing.

    So did I, but I happened to watching Fox (!) — the Atlanta affiliate (!!). It was very good.

    One thing I liked was that Obama called on the American people to make sacrifices & to do their share, to help their neighbour. Obama has made the presidency bigger than himself… something that everyone has a stake in & a part to play.

  11. 11.

    cleter

    It was a masterful example of that sort of thing. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a skillfully run Democratic presidential campaign I’d almost forgotten what it looks like. He’s the anti-Dukakis. It’s a goddamned miracle. He’s like Mozart, and John McCain is a jackass with a kazoo.

  12. 12.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    Pretty much what we expected. We’re just ready to be done with this. We voted on Saturday, and we’re just marking time until it’s official. Listening to Olberman et al. analyze it to death.

  13. 13.

    TheFountainHead

    I was pleasantly surprised. As someone who studies theatre and staging, this was damn near flawless. The pacing and editing were extraordinarily well done.

  14. 14.

    kommrade jakevich

    OT: McPOW concedes defeat –

    Republican presidential candidate John McCain says racism exists in America, but will be trumped by the nation’s economic problems and play virtually no role when voters head to the polls next Tuesday.

    Sorry. Couldn’t resist.

    "You know, I didn’t think she would be so controversial," McCain said. "But I got to tell you, every time I’m around her, I’m uplifted.

    And Cindy reaches for the solid gold rolling pin to quell that "uplift."

  15. 15.

    Sherrell

    Its been settled for me a loooonnnnggg time ago. He could of came out with a 40oz., wearing a bandana, with some jeans around his knees, screaming "vote for me cause my baby momma got a fat ass" and I still would of vote for him…and ironically it still would be more logical than voting for McCain/Palin

  16. 16.

    EMPY

    There could not be a bigger difference between the two candidates.

    The best description I have seen yet of the voter who is still undecided at this point:

    Person on an airplane and the flight attendant with the food cart rolls up and offers them the two choices. "Tonight we have chicken with noodles and dogshit with broken glass."

    The undecided voter asks how the chicken is cooked.

    In the beginning Obama wasn’t my first choice, but I have no regrets for checking his name in the box yesterday.

  17. 17.

    JL

    It was excellent but I’m a sap so who knows how the mainstream audience will feel. One hankie night for me.

  19. 19.

    comrade dsc

    I thought the people they picked to illustrate to whom B HO would like to "spread the wealth" were really effective–familes, old people, all working class, not middle class.
    All of the Govs and Sens and Reps were sincere.
    The bits from town halls and rallies were choice.

    In all, it was very inspiring.

    Rush Limpball’s big fat pumpkin head will explode tomorrow–he will have his "magic negro" hate on big time–what a Halloween treat!

  20. 20.

    Atanarjuat

    I agree, the 30-minute Obama infomercial absolutely convinced me to act now and buy the Ginsu knife set, and any other operators-are-standing-by offer that he was hawking with that Crest Whitestripped smile of his.

    Indeed, PT Barnum was right, and it seems you suckers were all born just minutes apart. Nice.

    Country First.

  21. 21.

    Bob

    The undecided voter asks how the chicken is cooked.

    Hysterical. Absolutely hysterical. I am telling that joke to everyone who will listen tomorrow.

    I was really concerned about this infomercial. I was concerned that people would be pissed he invaded their TVs. There still may be some pissed off people, but the actual video was top notch.

    I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Obama’s team has created the best-run campaign in history.

  22. 22.

    Laura W

    Technically, it was fast moving and nearly flawless. I couldn’t believe how fast the half hour went.
    Emotionally, I was very moved. To tears a time or two.
    And then angry…that a 72-yr-old retiree has to return to work at Wal-Mart so he can keep his wife in medications.
    And then I had the frightening thought: "This is too good to be true. Something horrible is gonna happen and fuck this all up."
    Must be the Ketel One talking.

  23. 23.

    Not Sleeping

    Awesome. Made me proud to support him. His look to the future and his desire to engage the world again is what I have wanted in a President. McCain’s desire to hold onto the past is what is wrong with this election. I hope it is an utter blow out. I hope it is so resounding that the conservatives re-think their desire to shut out the rest of us. This is our country, not just theirs. Conservatives are free to live how they want, just don’t impose it on me and stay out of our way as we move forward. Good Luck everyone on Tuesday. It has been a fun, interesting and inspirational ride. Let’s get this done.

  25. 25.

    Brian J

    I was pleasantly surprised. As someone who studies theatre and staging, this was damn near flawless. The pacing and editing were extraordinarily well done.

    Richard Wolfe of Newsweek was on Olbermann’s show afterwards and said how the guys who made this were known for their attention to detail and production capabilities. Then he and Chris Matthews, who was on after him, said how there were very subtle but intentional connections to show that, well, Obama isn’t the scary black man you might think he is because some say he is. (They didn’t say that, but that’s what they meant.) For instance, they talked about him reading to his daughters, and then showed the white guy from Kentucky reading to his daughter. I didn’t really notice that, but then, I guess it wasn’t meant for me.

    Chris Matthews also had some insightful comments. He said that Obama has done everything anybody, but especially whites, can ask of a black person to live a "normal" life. He’s been a good father and family man, a good husband, and a good citizen who’s work his tail off to get where he is. He’s been involved in his community and has tried to help people. Matthews said that if this isn’t good enough, what else can you ask of a black man?*

    *I’m not being nearly as simple and eloquent as Matthews was, but I think I’m getting his point across.

  29. 29.

    Ming

    I thought it was brilliant. It gave the audience a view of America through Barack’s eyes, so that all the standard phrases we’ve heard before — about fighting for the middle class, educational opportunity, blah blah blah — no longer felt just like obligatory political verbiage, but took on real meaning. And his message of unity could not stand in greater contrast to Mc/P’s message of the last few weeks.

    Maybe I was imagining it, but at the end, it seemed to me he looked heavy-hearted. I think he is living with ongoing loss of his grandma.

  30. 30.

    Bob

    …it seems you suckers were all born just minutes apart. Nice.

    As if you haven’t bought into a whole line of shit, hook, line and sinker.

    That is, unless you happen to be a 50-something CEO, with millions in an off shore bank account and nothing to care about except your own fat ass staying in that leather chair.

  31. 31.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    I liked it. I hope it convinces some of those undecided voters to finally make up their minds.

  32. 32.

    Comrade Jake

    Personally I thought Ross Perot’s was a lot more entertaining. I guess I was pretty far out on the limb when I suggested otherwise.

  33. 33.

    Colonel Danite

    Does anyone know if there is any validity to this "damning" anti-Israel tape starring Obama that the L.A. Times supposedly has and refuses to release?

    Given the people pushing the story (nutters at NRO and RedState), I have to believe this is a situation similar to the "whitey" tape, but I haven’t seen anything from the Obama campaign or from the media that quashes the rumor. Any contradictory evidence would certainly help me sleep tonight.

  34. 34.

    comrade dsc

    The undecided voter asks how the chicken is cooked

    .

    Hysterical. Absolutely hysterical. I am telling that joke to everyone who will listen tomorrow

    be sure to credit David Sedaris

  35. 35.

    Sherrell

    @KRK:

    Was this discussed here? Cause I will admit this with shame..sometimes I travel to daytime TV message boards and the fact that Obama has been hypnotizing us through google is a running theme…no kidding!

  36. 36.

    Comrade Jake

    @Colonel Danite:

    The LAT’s decided not to release the tape because they promised the source that they wouldn’t. Full stop.

    All you really need to know is that the Prof. in question, who’s now at Columbia, really isn’t a bad dude. So much so, that McCain once directed significant funding to him. The whole thing’s a fucking joke, just like the "whitey" tape.

  38. 38.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    Jesus! Got bored with the Pushing Daisies show so I decided to go read AmConMag to see what Larison had to say. Whoa!

    What did I find?

    Frances Fukuyama endorsed Obama. This is a little gem from his endorsement:

    While John McCain is trying desperately to pretend that he never had anything to do with the Republican Party, I think it would a travesty to reward the Republicans for failure on such a grand scale.

    Word.

  39. 39.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    @Atanarjuat:

    Indeed, PT Barnum was right, and it seems you suckers were all born just minutes apart. Nice.
    Country First.

    Why do you hate our troops?

  40. 40.

    smiley

    We need to keep Atanarjuat away from the Ginsu knives, or any sharp objects, for the month or so following the election.

    Please don’t feed the trolls. It just encourages them.

  42. 42.

    Laura W

    Maybe I was imagining it, but at the end, it seemed to me he looked heavy-hearted. I think he is living with ongoing loss of his grandma.

    This reminds me of earlier today when I had CNN on (by accident) and Obama had just finished talking. Might have been Leon Harris (some guy with a very annoying, sing-songy, flippant voice) broke into the end of Obama’s speech proclaiming (and I paraphrase) "Obama wrapping up his speech with far less enthusiasm and energy than in the past. We’ve heard that speech before, and usually with far more energy."
    I was so irritated I flipped off immediately, but not only do I wonder about your point (ie, will his Toot at least live until Nov 5? Please?) but for shit’s sake…how long has this man been going full speed 24/7?
    Fucking talking heads.

    One of the things I am most looking forward to once the election is over is checking the news every so often to see what Obama is doing, what he’s done, and how are we moving forward again. I’m about ready to aspirate my own vomit, thanks to non-stop ingesting of "political analysis", both on and offline.

  43. 43.

    Comrade The Other Steve

    Does anyone know if there is any validity to this "damning" anti-Israel tape starring Obama that the L.A. Times supposedly has and refuses to release?

    Of course not. That’s why John McCain keeps using language like… "It may be something perfectly reasonable, but we’ll never know unless they release the tape."

  45. 45.

    KRK

    @Sherrell:

    Yeah, the "theory" that Obama is using hypnosis on his audience was discussed here in the comments a while back, but I don’t recall that it was ever addressed in a post.

  46. 46.

    Dennis - SGMM

    Of course not. That’s why John McCain keeps using language like… "It may be something perfectly reasonable, but we’ll never know unless they release the tape."

    Much like the security camera tape of McCain after hours at the petting zoo.

  47. 47.

    cmohr

    This is the week the GOP/McCain are blowing their remaining wad flooding the media with inflammatory commercials about everything they think is scary-sounding about Obama, throwing everything against the wall hoping something will stick enough to make the race close at the end. How interesting that what we AREN’T seeing from McCain are very many positive presentations about his vision for the country. It’s all along the vein of "vote for us, save the country from this scary inexperiences socialist who hangs out with other scary people".

  50. 50.

    Colonel Danite

    @ Ned R., Comrade Jake and others, thank you. I will definitely sleep better tonight. The Larison piece is especially helpful.

  52. 52.

    DIAMOND

    It was like watching the Democratic National Convention for the second time.

    Lost of specifics about waht he’d do as President.

    Masterclass!

  53. 53.

    binzinerator

    He could of came out with a 40oz., wearing a bandana, with some jeans around his knees, screaming "vote for me cause my baby momma got a fat ass" and I still would of vote for him…and ironically it still would be more logical than voting for McCain/Palin

    FTW!

  54. 54.

    sistermoon

    @ Sherrell:

    Its been settled for me a loooonnnnggg time ago. He could of came out with a 40oz., wearing a bandana, with some jeans around his knees, screaming "vote for me cause my baby momma got a fat ass" and I still would of vote for him…and ironically it still would be more logical than voting for McCain/Palin

    All kinds of win.

  55. 55.

    Brian J

    Can anybody figure out where the hell Marc Ambinder gets his numbers when he says

    In ABC News’s tracking, the most volatile "movables" give McCain a 14 point advantage; the least volatile movables (i.e., they’re not likely to change their minds) split their support between the two candidates. In total, this group takes up about 12 percent of the projecting voting universe.

    in this blog post? I went to the original ABC News blog post, but I couldn’t see it.

  57. 57.

    Damned at Random

    The contrast with the Republican campaign was the most interesting aspect to me. He makes McCain look like a flailing fool.

    This guy beat the Clinton machine. I don’t think Bill has figured out yet how that happened. Obama is a strategic thinker. There is no doubt in my mind that he can go up against any world leader and leave table with the pot and a handful of IOUs.

  58. 58.

    Alan

    I also already voted. I did it today right after I saw Dole’s there is no God video. This is the first time I ever voted for a Democrat for President. In fact, I voted a straight Democratic ticket. Though I was sort of embarrassed. The ticket printed out for me to trade for the ballot had my party affiliation, REP, printed prominently on it. I don’t think I was successful at hiding it from the other voters around me. Next time I vote there won’t be REP anywhere near my name.

  59. 59.

    kay

    My 19 old non-political daughter loved it.

    She describes herself as "liberal" but what she really is non-political. The whole thing bores her. She’s just interested….elsewhere.

    She’s already voted absentee for Obama.

    She’ll be the sort of voter who will check in late in the game, and make a quick decision. I badgered her to get the absentee in this round, but once she’s no longer a mail-in, she’ll be drifting around at 7:18, looking for her car keys, and the polls close at 7:30. One of THOSE.

    Maybe that’s who it was for? Those voters? The Deliberately Disengaged?

  60. 60.

    D-Chance.

    Inviting Hazel from the Magic Bullet would have made Obamamerica’s informercial 100% better…

    although it was probably more entertaining than the regular programming the networks had planned.

  62. 62.

    Brian J

    I also already voted. I did it today right after I saw Dole’s there is no God video. This is the first time I ever voted for a Democrat for President. In fact, I voted a straight Democratic ticket. Though I was sort of embarrassed. The ticket printed out for me to trade for the ballot had my party affiliation, REP, printed prominently on it. I don’t think I was successful at hiding it from the other voters around me. Next time I vote there won’t be REP anywhere near my name.

    What prompted the switch?

  63. 63.

    Jules

    Hey, quick question:
    I saw the preview for the Obama movie on TV tonight. It looks like it’s gonna be good. Does anyone have an idea of when it’s opening? I thought the preview was a tad long though…

  64. 64.

    Atanarjuat

    Bob quoted then said:

    …it seems you suckers were all born just minutes apart. Nice.

    As if you haven’t bought into a whole line of shit, hook, line and sinker.

    I haven’t bought into a single thing, Bob, including the presumptuousness of an Obama win on November 4th.

    Ultimately, those legendary Make-Money-Fast schemes could never have made any traction without a willing pool of the very gullible and the easily fooled.

    Obama has just presented all of you the Mother of All MMF schemes, and you can barely wait to "invest" in this thing so that you, too, will be living in grand leisure under the promised wealth-redistributing regime.

    I just bet that you can all see yourselves on those luxury yachts, surrounded by tanned, bikini-clad hardbodies (or Speedo-clad hardbodies, if you swing that way), just as soon as the can’t-fail, no-money-down plan bears all that wonderful financial fruit that’s just yours for the taking. Because after all, liberals are entitled to a good life after eight long and arduous years of hating George W. Bush.

    If Obama had been standing in front of the Brooklyn Bridge during his sappy infomercial with a contract just waiting for your signature, you would have all fallen over yourselves to be the first to close the deal.

    Ponies for everyone! I just love liberal naivete.

    Country First.

  65. 65.

    Brian J

    I also already voted. I did it today right after I saw Dole’s there is no God video. This is the first time I ever voted for a Democrat for President. In fact, I voted a straight Democratic ticket. Though I was sort of embarrassed. The ticket printed out for me to trade for the ballot had my party affiliation, REP, printed prominently on it. I don’t think I was successful at hiding it from the other voters around me. Next time I vote there won’t be REP anywhere near my name.

    What prompted the switch from being a Democrat?

  66. 66.

    JL

    @Brian J: In GA the line was 2 hrs and 50 minutes and that doesn’t include the 20 minutes it took for me to find a parking space. I will admit that I did stand in the booth and reviewed my votes, in awe.

  68. 68.

    sistermoon

    @ Josh Hueco

    We need to keep Atanarjuat away from the Ginsu knives, or any sharp objects, for the month or so following the election.

    No, we don’t.

  69. 69.

    andy

    I have already voted for Obama.

    That said, I don’t think the best example of dire need is to show a family that can barely make ends meet going out to chow down on $25 worth of BBQ at a local restaurant.

    Other than that, I thought the video was more good than bad for the campaign.

  70. 70.

    Brian J

    In GA the line was 2 hrs and 50 minutes and that doesn’t include the 20 minutes it took for me to find a parking space. I will admit that I did stand in the booth and reviewed my votes, in aw

    I’m not sure what this is in reference to, but that’s awesome.

  71. 71.

    gil mann

    I also already voted. I did it today right after I saw Dole’s there is no God video. This is the first time I ever voted for a Democrat for President.

    Assuming I’m not mistaking correlation for causality, I loved reading that.

  72. 72.

    Comrade Jake

    @Damned at Random:

    Obama is a strategic thinker. There is no doubt in my mind that he can go up against any world leader and leave table with the pot and a handful of IOUs.

    The art of diplomacy is telling your opponent to go to hell, and convincing him he wants to go there. Obama can do that. McCain? Not so much.

  73. 73.

    Comrade Jake

    @andy:

    That said, I don’t think the best example of dire need is to show a family that can barely make ends meet going out to chow down on $25 worth of BBQ at a local restaurant.

    Then you would have missed the look on the guy’s face when he realized that suddenly $25 has become a lot of money for them. The point was not that they’re in dire need, the point is how quickly things have changed for them.

  74. 74.

    Comrade Stuck

    Ponies for everyone! I just love liberal naivete.

    Well I guess that means I can trade up from the flea bitten saddle back bucket of glue the GOP has spent the past 8 years telling me is a sure thing for the Derby Crown. Besides, all our ponies are bought and paid for by the Chinese, and Obama likely won’t be able to change that in 4 or 8 years.

    Whatever our fate is, it is worth seeing the conservative movement crawling on all fours while eating it’s own droppings.

  75. 75.

    Brian J

    That said, I don’t think the best example of dire need is to show a family that can barely make ends meet going out to chow down on $25 worth of BBQ at a local restaurant.

    I think the point was that these people aren’t dirt poor–they weren’t in dire need–but rather they were living a middle class life that was under pressure and that as everything becomes more difficult, the simple pleasures, like taking the family out for some BBQ, become more difficult to keep. If this guy was buying a $6,000 flat screen, it’d be ridiculous, but I think everyone can sympathize with the notion of being frustrated about giving up simple consumption items.

  76. 76.

    boonagain

    I just made my hotel reservations for Jan 17-21.

    We’re gonna go to Washington DC , because there’s something I want to see there.

  77. 77.

    Alan

    I was planning to vote for Obama before I saw the Dole video…just not as an early voter. That video galvanized my resolve to see it done.

  79. 79.

    Will Hunting

    O/T – Phils just won the world series. I agree with the comments from a couple of days ago about Fox’s crappy NFL coverage, but they did a really cool thing just now. They had a camera on every position player, the dugout, bullpen, owner’s boxes etc. (probably 14+ cameras) and right after the initial dogpile by the pitchers mound following the final out, they replayed every one of those individual shots right after the final strike was recorded with no voiceover from McCarver or Buck. A video montage of reactions and crowd noise that probably lasted a solid 90 seconds. Just the players reacting to the final pitch and going nuts with each of them running into the infield and leaping onto the dog pile. I hate Philly sports and I got goose bumps watching that.

  81. 81.

    p.a.

    Josh Hueco

    @Atanarjuat:

    We need to keep Atanarjuat away from the Ginsu knives, or any sharp objects, for the month or so following the election.

    Why?
    (I know someone beat me to it just a few post previously, but what the hell…)

  86. 86.

    p.a.

    Can’t understand for the life of me why the Republican brand is in trouble. They haven’t condemned any decent-sized group of Americans for being traitors, Commies, or freaks for at least the last 20 minutes! USA! (not you)…USA! (or you)…USA! (or fuckin’ you)

  88. 88.

    Brian J

    I was planning to vote for Obama before I saw the Dole video…just not as an early voter. That video galvanized my resolve to see it done.

    You have to wonder how many people who are somewhat like you in that they are open to voting for Obama but unlike you in that they weren’t there yet see things like this and then pull the lever for him and other Democrats that are the target of this, like Hagan. Or for everyone that responds to this by being more enthusiastic about McCain or some other Republican, how many people do the same for Democrats?

    Also, what I meant to ask you before was, what made you switch from being a Republican to being a Democrat?

  90. 90.

    Montysano

    OT, but: my son goes to a public liberal arts university here in Alabama. The university hosted a lecture tonight by James Howard Kunstler. The son, who has been raised by liberal eleetists, was already familiar with Kunstler, and is now ready to either:

    A) Slit his wrists, or;

    B) Become a farmer (Kunstler is big on localism, esp. in regards to food). His vision of farming does, I believe, include lithe young women in Indian print dresses.

    But he got to meet Kunstler, have some coffee, ask some questions. His world is rocked.

  91. 91.

    jrg

    McCain is bitching about donations to Obama in "undocumented credit cards". WTF is an "undocumented credit card"? I’d like to know if:

    A) A belief in "undocumented credit" explains the GOP’s idiotic spending habits.

    B) The RNC is trying to steal my credit info so that they can go on a sex junket to Thailand.

  92. 92.

    Comrade Jake

    Ta-Nehisi’s take:

    Uhm, I just finished watching. Wow. Seeng this campaign in the closing days is like watching Tom Brady circa 2004. The ruthless efficiency of it all is bracing. Every time there’s a big moment, they come through. McCain should call his family. Out in the streets, them call it murder.

    I love it.

  93. 93.

    Ed Marshall

    They haven’t condemned any decent-sized group of Americans for being traitors, Commies, or freaks for at least the last 20 minutes!

    Jonathan Haidt wrote a book in the evolutionary psychology field that held that there are five poles of universal humal morals and they went:

    Care for others, protecting them from harm
    Fairness, Justice, treating others equally.
    Loyalty to your group, family, nation
    Respect for tradition and legitimate authority.
    Purity, avoiding disgusting things, foods, actions.

    These are supposed to be like sliders on a stereo where you turn up some more than others. Supposedly liberals tune up the first two and tune down the last three and vice-versa.

    I’ve always been skeptical of this and watching what happens to the Palin wannabe on #3 and #4 should be interesting. I’m betting all the moral sliders go to zero (except maybe #5).

  95. 95.

    Brian J

    Uhm, I just finished watching. Wow. Seeng this campaign in the closing days is like watching Tom Brady circa 2004. The ruthless efficiency of it all is bracing. Every time there’s a big moment, they come through. McCain should call his family. Out in the streets, them call it murder.

    I love it.

    Damn, that’s a spot on statement.

    Perhaps that’s one reason that the Republicans are screaming so hysterically. They see how well the campaign has been run and realize that if he can run his administration half as well, they’re going to be screwed.

  97. 97.

    Jeff Eaton

    I just bet that you can all see yourselves on those luxury yachts, surrounded by tanned, bikini-clad hardbodies (or Speedo-clad hardbodies, if you swing that way), just as soon as the can’t-fail, no-money-down plan bears all that wonderful financial fruit that’s just yours for the taking.

    eh, my dream is to see my taxes going to keep the poor and elderly from dying in the streets. I guess that just goes to show the kind of imagination you’re working with…

  98. 98.

    kommrade jakevich

    @boonagain: I will warn you that if Obama wins, natives of the People’s Socialist Anti-American Republic of D.C. will be so euphoric they will be grabbing complete strangers and dancing with them.

    If one of them is a weedy bloke with no rhythm who steps on your feet a few times, it’s me.

  99. 99.

    dr. luba

    @16: That line appears to be from this David Sedaris piece in the most recent New Yorker. Of course, it might be something that’s been floating around the blogosphere, but it sure sounds like him…..

    Aside: What is it with this formatting? I can’t do more than one bit of html in a comment without everything going screwy!?

  102. 102.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    Whoa. Bill Clinton’s rosacea is getting really bad. Looks like his rhinophyma is accelerating.

  103. 103.

    Brian J

    McCain is bitching about donations to Obama in "undocumented credit cards". WTF is an "undocumented credit card"?

    This is McCain’s garbled way of trying to suggest that Obama’s money is coming from foreign sources. I believe it was sparked because some of the donations were in odd endings, like $500.64 or something not round, like $50. I believe several conservatives suggested that all campaign sources, including those below the disclosure limit, need to be revealed. Why they think that someone would try to curry favor by giving less than $200 is beyond me, but that’s the right these days. I’d suggest that the Obama campaign do it anyway, just to be transparent, but that would (a) likely be a huge hassle and waste of time and (b) giving in to the ridiculous demands of the nut jobs on the right.

  104. 104.

    Matt McIrvin

    Person on an airplane and the flight attendant with the food cart rolls up and offers them the two choices. "Tonight we have chicken with noodles and dogshit with broken glass."

    And the McCain campaign’s closing argument is some idiot amateur-night comic in the seat next to you, nudging you in the ribs and going "Yeah, but considering that airline food… Amirite? Amirite?"

  105. 105.

    gbear

    They haven’t condemned any decent-sized group of Americans for being traitors, Commies, or freaks for at least the last 20 minutes!

    You must have missed Tom Delay on Hardball this evening. He covered it all.

  106. 106.

    Alan

    @Brian J:

    I haven’t switched to being a Democrat yet. I may go Independent.

    You ask what made me change from voting GOP to a straight Democratic ticket? My answer to that question is very convoluted. I’ll have to start my own weblog to answer that. Lets just say my disgust with the Religious Right’s control over the GOP played a major role. But I also like Barack Obama.

  107. 107.

    theturtlemoves

    @Atanarjuat: I’ve been at least lurking at this place since the days of Darrell and have never seen this level of sheer douche-baggery. Either this is an almost Andy Kaufman-like dedication to a character that makes Tony Clifton seem pleasant, or there isn’t a bridge big enough to contain this troll. I’m not sure if I’m impressed or disgusted. Reminds me of what a friend and I used to refer to as "condescending inferiors." You keep using those words. I don’t think they mean what you think they mean…

  108. 108.

    Personal Designation

    The art of diplomacy is telling your opponent to go to hell, and convincing him he wants to go there. Obama can do that. McCain? Not so much.

    Sure sounds like the imagination of a democrat to me. The eternal hard sell shored up by emotionalism and flying monkeys.

  109. 109.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I had school tonight so I watched it on the internet. It was much much better than I imagined it would be.

  110. 110.

    Brian J

    I haven’t switched to being a Democrat yet. I may go Independent.

    You ask what made me change from voting GOP to a straight Democratic ticket? My answer to that question is very convoluted. I’ll have to start my own weblog to answer that. Lets just say my disgust with the Religious Right’s control over the GOP played a major role. But I also like Barack Obama.

    I hear you.

  111. 111.

    jcricket

    There could not be a bigger difference between the two candidates.

    And the supporters and volunteers. I watched that video of the elderly African American volunteer (in CO, I think) and had tears in my eyes. I watch all the hopeful, energized people and they’re spreading a positive message.

    Sure, there are some similarly positive people out there for Palin and McCain, but I see a ton of fear, hatred, etc. motivating those people ("we’ve got to stop Obama – Israel will explode, etc").

    It’s just sad (for the GOP).

  112. 112.

    cynic

    In re "The Ad" … publius over at OW sorta nailed it:

    Remind me to stop doubting the Obama campaign…. Today’s worry was that the ad was overkill, that it was unnecessary, etc. It literally bothered me all day long.
    But then I watched it — and I honestly thought it was great, and even sincerely moving at times … Like everything else they do, it was pitch perfect. It wasn’t focusing on Obama (as I feared it would), but upon the struggles of working families and how an Obama administration would address them. I didn’t hear the word McCain once.
    So I’m done doubting. I’m done saying Axelrod needs to do this or that. My measly pundit powers pale in comparison. I’m like a rope on the Goodyear Blimp.

    Remains to be seen if he can govern this ungovernable country. But they sure have run one hell of a campaign, leaving pundits (of all stripes) in the dust.

  113. 113.

    OriGuy

    I got home from dance class and opened a Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop Ale and watched it online. Quite impressive, but I think the people who should have watched it didn’t. Might have been more effective a week ago, although they got lucky with the World Series timing. I agree with Brian; I caught the expression on the guy’s face at the BBQ place.

    By the way, Libby Dole should be ashamed of herself.

    +2 (It was a big bottle.)

  114. 114.

    oh really

    I’m pretty sure Obama is a communist. There are rumors that he shared his toys in kindergarten. I heard that there is a Super 8 of the whole sordid affair.

    Suspicious, I forced myself to watch his 1/2 hour special. An hour later I came to — naked — on the front lawn and discovered I’d "shared" my entire net worth with his campaign. Lucky I’m poor or I would have broken some laws.

    So, on balance, I’d say it was effective — at least for him. I’ll be living in my car for awhile — unless it turns out I shared that with him too.

  115. 115.

    harlana pepper

    It was brilliant and moving. Yes, it was very Hollywoodie, but if you’re trying to reach the thumb-sucking, blankie-clutching undecideds, I think it’s just the ticket. See, kids, he’s not the boogieman and he’s not going to steal all your toys. He’s actually a pretty nice guy.

  116. 116.

    harlana pepper

    PS, anyone watch Rachel Maddow last nite? I was surprised to hear her ‘talk down’ the euphoria of Obama’s success thus far and she was quite suspicious of a mysterious ‘over confidence’ on McCain’s part in these last days. Given my high regard for her analytical abilities, I wonder what that was all about. Knowing her style, I don’t believe it was some kind of cloaked message to Dems about being too complacent right now, so I was really mystified.

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