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How Bill Clinton Did It

John Dickerson of Slate has a good article on how Bill Clinton handled a losing Republican candidate's attempts to change the subject from the economy to the Democratic candidate's "character:"

In 1992, the moment symbolized the disconnect between Bush and the electorate: He wanted to talk about character, while America was pleading for solutions. The president compounded his problem when he inartfully handled a woman's inartful question about how the "national debt" had hurt him personally. (Bush was also caught looking at his wristwatch twice during the evening.) Clinton knew how to take advantage of the moment. "I worked 12 years very hard as a governor on the real problems of real people. I'm just as sick as you are by having to wake up and figure out how to defend myself every day. I never thought I'd ever be involved in anything like this."

(Emphasis supplied.) Of course, as Jack Shafer writes, Bill Clinton was the master of the town hall. And the greatest politician of his generation. But still, something for Obama to draw from.

Steve M. found the video:

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

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  • Display: Sort:
    Wouldn't you like. . . (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by LarryInNYC on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 10:52:42 AM EST
    How Bill Clinton Did It

    to rephrase that?

    The article is about getting of the "character issue".  The headline, even if unintentionally, invokes that very issue.

    Smiling (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Finis Terrae on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 10:53:43 AM EST
    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 10:54:43 AM EST
    How about "If he did it"? :D (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:01:20 AM EST
    nudge nudge wink wink (5.00 / 0) (#28)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:41:35 PM EST
    erm...what was it like?

    Parent
    gee, not hardly. (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by cpinva on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:39:14 AM EST
    Actually Obama's life is a story of struggle

    sorry guy, but sen. obama is not from the "'hood", by any stretch. granted, he had a few bumps, but there was always family to support him.

    i'm not a troll, and i don't play one on tv! besides which, i don't like goat meat.

    unfortunately for sen. obama, he's no bill clinton; he lacks empathy, and hasn't the actual experience clinton brought with him to the fray.

    as well, he isn't nearly as intellectually robust as clinton; no rhodes scholar sen. obama.

    to be blunt, his single greatest political attribute, at this stage of his career, is that he isn't sen. mccain.

    that's probably sufficient to get him to the white house, but don't expect any miraculous evolution as a consequence.

    Feh. . . (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by LarryInNYC on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:25:54 PM EST
    but sen. obama is not from the "'hood" by any stretch. granted, he had a few bumps, but there was always family to support him.

    People from the "hood" (by which I assume you mean some caricature of Black Americans) are generally not orphans.  Indeed, the circumstances of Obama's birth (teenage mother, absent father) are pretty close to the caricature I think you're thinking of.

    as well, he isn't nearly as intellectually robust as clinton; no rhodes scholar sen. obama.

    Obama's intellectual achievements are on a par with Clinton's.  In fact, there are fewer Harvard Law Review Presidents each year than Rhodes scholars.


    Parent

    Although most kids (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:28:45 PM EST
    with single moms struggling to support them don't end up in private secondary schools, unfortunately.

    Parent
    Heh (5.00 / 6) (#32)
    by Steve M on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:52:58 PM EST
    I grew up with just my dad, he was a carpet cleaner.  He didn't make much money, but he really wanted me to go to a certain private school.  So he cleaned the carpets at that school for 8 years to get them to give me a break on the tuition.  He is my hero.

    Parent
    awwww. (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:32:38 PM EST
    He's got a great "life story." (5.00 / 3) (#41)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:35:48 PM EST
    Let's nominate him for Pres.

    Parent
    I nominate you (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:38:26 PM EST
    for "cynic and chief"

    Parent
    Should I invest in (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:43:56 PM EST
    TL goggles?

    AP

    Parent

    ha ha ha (none / 0) (#45)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:48:00 PM EST
    nope. It's all good.

    Parent
    My dad (none / 0) (#52)
    by Steve M on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 02:49:06 PM EST
    would be a fantastic President.

    Parent
    I did (n/t) (4.33 / 3) (#27)
    by sher on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:36:25 PM EST
    I'd rather have both my parents and go (none / 0) (#40)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:33:39 PM EST
    to public school, if I had the choice.

    Parent
    First black president (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:54:10 PM EST
    of the Harvard Law Review.

    Constitutionla law prof.

    abandoned by father

    mother dies of cancer

    How disadvantaged do you require him to be, exactly? If he did not have his grandparents to support him he would not be where he is, but that is a triumph for him and them, not something to be used against him.

    What a joke.

    Parent

    The other way is ... (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by Salo on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 04:41:23 PM EST
    ...son of harvard PhD dad and PhD mother, travelled the world as a young man, and had the pat to college smoothed out for him by his parental unit.   I didn't get to have his colourful life. I'd have switched it out for my rather more boring parents.

    Parent
    then you are a fool (none / 0) (#66)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 08:45:52 PM EST
    you would have you dad be out of your life, and eventually your mom.

    Yup. a fool.

    Parent

    Ahem, (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:41:02 AM EST
    What does "the 'hood" have to do with anything?

    Parent
    Ummm (none / 0) (#20)
    by CST on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:01:04 PM EST
    Obama is plenty "intellectually robust".  In fact, one criticism of him is he uses too much "professor-speak" when he talks.  He graduated with high honors from an ivy league school.  No C-student legacy like Bush.  The man is no idiot.

    Also, he grew up not knowing his dad.  I don't care what you say about the rest of his life, but I'm pretty sure that makes life a bit of a struggle.  Not necessarily the financial kind, but certainly the personal kind.

    Parent

    He didn't say O was brainless (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by sj on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:51:58 PM EST
    He said

    he isn't nearly as intellectually robust as clinton

    "Professor-speak" doesn't take him to Clinton levels.  Sorry.

    But I agree that he has had his personal struggles.  As has every other person on the planet.

    Parent

    Professor-speak (none / 0) (#49)
    by CST on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:59:43 PM EST
    Doesn't, but the Magna Cum Laude and Harvard Law Review presidency does.  Professor-speak was just to point out that people criticize him for being TOO intellectual.

    Parent
    There's a difference (5.00 / 3) (#56)
    by Democratic Cat on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:14:44 PM EST
    Between intellectual and brilliant.  Sen. Obama is intellectual -- very smart, and intellectual.  Bill is brilliant, not pointy-headed, just flat out brilliant.

    Parent
    Hood:? (none / 0) (#57)
    by Socraticsilence on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:24:38 PM EST
    Seriously, just because he's not from the "hood" doesn't mean he had an easy life, the whole "mom of Food stamps" thing did happen, the whole "just paid off loans" is true.  

    Parent
    I'd classify his life as that (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by Salo on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 04:42:48 PM EST
    of a child of the academy.  A certain sort of upper middle class (european terminogy) bonhommerie

    Parent
    Bill Clinton was great (5.00 / 0) (#19)
    by votermom on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:50:26 AM EST
    but what worked for him won't work for Obama, imo.
    Two different narratives and personas. Palin is closer to Clinton's style, actually.

    If Obama tries to feel anyone's pain it will come off as horribly fake. He's better off sticking to his own shtick.

    True, Obama has his own thing (none / 0) (#26)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:33:37 PM EST
    I do feel he is capable of connecting with voters emotionally.  Also, he has to go about it a little differently, because a Senator doesn't have that same day to day contact with their constituents as a Governor does.  The stories Obama tells are going to be different.  But here is a good example of the genre "I heard on the campaign trail..." [as posted by coigue]

    from his speech: (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by coigue on Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 10:01:58 PM EST

    In the end, none of this will be easy.  We're up against a powerful, entrenched status quo in Washington that will say anything and do anything and fight with everything they've got to keep things the way they are.  
    But I know that if we come together, and work together, we can do this.  So many people are counting on us.

    A woman named Robyn who I met in Florida, is one of those people.  Back in May, her 16 year old son Devon came to one of our events, and I got to meet him at the airport in Fort Lauderdale.  Later that day, Devon became seriously ill.  His heart started racing, and his lips turned white.  He was rushed to the hospital and almost went into cardiac arrest.  He was later diagnosed with a heart condition and told he needed a procedure that would cost tens of thousands of dollars.  Robyn's insurance company refused to pay -- they said it was a pre-existing condition - and Robyn's family doesn't have that kind of money.  

    But until Devon has that procedure, he has to take medication and stop all physical activity.  No more gym classes.  No more football at school.  No more basketball at the park with his friends.  

    After we met, Robyn sent me an email in which she wrote, "My son deserves all that life has to offer.  Money should NEVER determine the quality of a child's life.  I can't help but feel as if somehow we failed Devon.  Why couldn't we be the rich family that has the great insurance or could whip out 50 grand like it is nothing?"  

    She ended her email with these words, "I ask only this of you - on the days where you feel so tired you can't think of uttering another word to the people, think of us.  On the days when you are playing basketball, think of Devon, who can't.  When those who oppose you have you down, reach deep and fight back harder."

    Today, I want to say to Robyn and Devon and everyone like them across America, you have my word that I will never back down, I will never give up, I will never stop fighting until we have fixed our health care system and no family ever has to go through what you're going through, and my mother went through, and so many people go through every day in this country. That is my promise to you.  
    And if all of you here today will stand with me in this work - if you'll talk to your friends and neighbors, get people to the polls, and give me your vote, then together, we won't just win this election, we will transform this nation.  Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America.

    There's a good line.  "So many people are counting on us."  And even though it doesn't fire me up, this is the guy that brought back "Yes we can" after all.

    Parent

    jinx. (none / 0) (#35)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:58:02 PM EST
    great minds and all.....

    Parent
    It would work just fine (none / 0) (#34)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:56:10 PM EST
    because Mccain is just as out of touch.

    This is the perfect time for O to show his humanity, as he did in this speech:

    In the end, none of this will be easy.  We're up against a powerful, entrenched status quo in Washington that will say anything and do anything and fight with everything they've got to keep things the way they are.  
    But I know that if we come together, and work together, we can do this.  So many people are counting on us.
    A woman named Robyn who I met in Florida, is one of those people.  Back in May, her 16 year old son Devon came to one of our events, and I got to meet him at the airport in Fort Lauderdale.  Later that day, Devon became seriously ill.  His heart started racing, and his lips turned white.  He was rushed to the hospital and almost went into cardiac arrest.  He was later diagnosed with a heart condition and told he needed a procedure that would cost tens of thousands of dollars.  Robyn's insurance company refused to pay -- they said it was a pre-existing condition - and Robyn's family doesn't have that kind of money.  

    But until Devon has that procedure, he has to take medication and stop all physical activity.  No more gym classes.  No more football at school.  No more basketball at the park with his friends.  

    After we met, Robyn sent me an email in which she wrote, "My son deserves all that life has to offer.  Money should NEVER determine the quality of a child's life.  I can't help but feel as if somehow we failed Devon.  Why couldn't we be the rich family that has the great insurance or could whip out 50 grand like it is nothing?"  

    She ended her email with these words, "I ask only this of you - on the days where you feel so tired you can't think of uttering another word to the people, think of us.  On the days when you are playing basketball, think of Devon, who can't.  When those who oppose you have you down, reach deep and fight back harder."

    Today, I want to say to Robyn and Devon and everyone like them across America, you have my word that I will never back down, I will never give up, I will never stop fighting until we have fixed our health care system and no family ever has to go through what you're going through, and my mother went through, and so many people go through every day in this country. That is my promise to you.  And if all of you here today will stand with me in this work - if you'll talk to your friends and neighbors, get people to the polls, and give me your vote, then together, we won't just win this election, we will transform this nation.  Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America.




    Parent
    Gotta underline (none / 0) (#50)
    by kmblue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 02:19:56 PM EST
    the money quote, otherwise it's lost in the blizzard of words.

    As it may have been lost on Obama's audience.

    Darn it, I'm voting for Obama, but I wish he would learn to be short and sharp in his speeches.

    Also wish I could believe he cares about people like me.  But I don't.

    Parent

    I thought I did (none / 0) (#60)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:54:37 PM EST
    Clinton's 12 years (1.80 / 5) (#6)
    by OisforOpportunist on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:06:50 AM EST
    Of course, in 1992 Clinton had had 12 years of EXPERIENCE, whereas Obama doesn't have a leg to stand on as far as experience is concerned. Just WHAT has Obama ever done or achieved other than running for the next, higher, available office? When (if) he wins the presidency and gets tired of it, what is he going to run for, Secretary-General of the UN? Ruler of the galaxy? Emperor of the Universe? Obama is a total, thorough OPPORTUNIST and a fraud, to boot. He has used (misused, abused) African Americans; young, naive antiwar activists; liberal, so called "progressive" blogs; the DNC (mutual use/abuse); the corporate media (mutual also); his own family (both white and black) and just about everybody else in his ego driven run for the White House. The man does not have a core of political principles on which to base his existance. Other than political expediency, of course.

    I find it interesting (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by Steve M on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:18:59 AM EST
    that we are seeing more and more comments along these lines from new commentors over the past few days.

    What could be happening to make the pace of negative comments suddenly pick up, I wonder?

    Parent

    Well, it's interesting (5.00 / 3) (#12)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:22:12 AM EST
    that TL is now being targeted by trolls. Personally, I can smell the Republican fear.

    Parent
    I just read the statement in qs after reading (5.00 / 2) (#59)
    by bridget on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:39:13 PM EST
    the above comments re trolls, Republicans, etc.

    Well, IMO this can be easily written by a Dem as well. And it has been until TL decided to take a diff. route and now is a Obamablog.

    I don't post that much anymore and really can't say exactly who is who on the blog. People I knew have left, new ones have arrived. Certainly there has always been trolling going on liberal blogs. Cause I have witnessed it. (Actually, internet trolling is part of life on the net).

    But the primary fights on the internet blogs taught me the nastiest stuff will come from Dems themselves. Most likely 99.99999 %.

    Anyone who as a Hillary supporter had to read the absolute worst stuff about her written by Dems on, well, the A Blogs, knows that words like trolls and Republicans were thrown around at just about every HC supporter ... no matter the post in qs.  

    When John Edward was still the dkos candidate I actually made a very polite comment re his Senate career, his votes, etc. Edwards' fans obviously were appalled cause my comments did criticize JE and that was by that time not allowed anymore (which I didn't know).

    And That was the first time ever on the internet that I was called a troll, a Republican and something else equally nonsensical but unpleasant which by now I forgot. That attack was Written by the v. admired leader of the Edwards dkos gang. I will always remember his name and his over the top attack: troll, Republican, right-winger, et. etc. Then the Obama folks took over and the same thing happened ... but worse. From Dems.

    just saying

    Parent

    It's Quite Pathetic (none / 0) (#64)
    by CDN Ctzn on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 06:34:05 PM EST
    when anyone who criticizes Senator Obama is branded a troll. Many of us are the same people who criticized him during the primaries while we supported the positions of Senator Clinton.

    It's not just that the foul taste of the primaries remains in our mouth. To give ANY candidate carte blanche (a free pass) on the issues is foolish. Now is the time to hold a candidates feet to the fire. Now is the only time we have a say. To say that candidate will come around after they are elected is simply niave.

    Once power is gained, it will not be relinquished. History has repeatedly made that clear!

    Parent

    Actually Obama's life is a story of struggle, (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by befuddledvoter on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:22:58 AM EST
    abandonment and overcoming adversity.  It is an admirable story in many ways. He is no Bill Clinton, but who the heck is anyway?  John McCain rests on his time as POW and the fiction that he is a maverick.  That is it. McCain enjoyed every advantage a privileged life could offer from the craddle to this day.    

    Parent
    Compared to Bill Clinton Obama had a pretty (5.00 / 3) (#54)
    by bridget on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 02:56:09 PM EST
    easy life. At this point I am pretty tired of all that personality talk. Never really interested me except for the basic bits.

    Since Obama marginalized and maligned Bill Clinton throughout the primaries in order to beat down Hillary (and the thrilled Obamafans applauded on the net) -

    for the Obamacans to now dream of a Bill Clinton-like Obama is just too ironic and somewhat pathetic as well. Of course, this kind of stuff is wishful thinking because Obama lacks what it takes.I mean, wasn't that obvious after the first and all those debates he lost to Hillary? The Russerts helped plenty but ... well. He just hasn't got it. Pure and simple.

    I didn't pay any serious attention to Obama as a candidate until he was forced to answer questions in front of the camera during the debates. He was not good at explaining the policies, the issues, anything. Speeches serve their purpose but one good speech doesn't make a President.

    If Obama wins this election it will not be due to his self-confidence, knowledge and overall brilliance - something Bill Clinton had in abundance. Ah, BC can do the impossible in politics. Make people understand complex issues in one or two straightforward sentences cause he knows what he is talking about always. Noone else could do that. Ah, forget term limits ....

     

    Parent

    Sooooo true (none / 0) (#67)
    by befuddledvoter on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:03:32 AM EST
    That's a tad of a stretch.. (none / 0) (#15)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:35:04 AM EST
    I doubt anyone would assess spending 5 and 1/2 years as a POW as an advantage stemming from a privileged life.  Well, maybe.  He was probably a "legacy" at Annapolis.  

    Parent
    that's not what he said (none / 0) (#30)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:49:36 PM EST
    it was too separate sentences.

    He uses his time as a POW

    He has had an advantaged life.

    Both are true.

    Parent

    ugh. TWO separate sentences. (none / 0) (#31)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:49:53 PM EST
    gee (none / 0) (#43)
    by connecticut yankee on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:39:54 PM EST
    Doesnt have core convictions? Isnt that the conservative argument against McCain just a year ago?

    Oh how quickly they grow up and forget who they hate and why.

    Parent

    Video (none / 0) (#5)
    by Steve M on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:05:34 AM EST
    Here is the YouTube video of that particular question.  Really a seminal moment from that campaign, and a great "feel your pain" moment for Bill Clinton.

    Honestly, I'm in some sympathy (none / 0) (#8)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:13:37 AM EST
    with George Bush Sr. here. He just didn't have a good answer in him to that question, and up against Bill Clinton he looked like a bumbling idiot.

    If Obama can gives answers anywhere near as good as Clinton's, he'll win a huge landslide.

    Parent

    I know what you mean (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Steve M on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:18:05 AM EST
    "Poor George.  He can't help it!"

    Parent
    sniff (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:46:32 PM EST
    I miss Ann

    Parent
    That was a young BC! (none / 0) (#11)
    by Finis Terrae on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:19:49 AM EST
    Thanks for the link.

    Parent
    Oh MAN (none / 0) (#22)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:19:13 PM EST
    "you oughta be in The White House for a day and hear what I hear and see what I see and read the mail I read..." ...wow, that is one of the most out of touch formulations I have ever heard.  Pity the President?  I hope Obama watches this video before he goes out tonight.

    Parent
    Thanks dude (none / 0) (#36)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:22:15 PM EST
    Added it to the post.

    Parent
    BTW (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:23:41 PM EST
    Tell me that guy was not the best pol of his generation.

    Parent
    I think he was the best pol (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by Democratic Cat on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:29:17 PM EST
    of several generations.  Total fan girl here.

    Parent
    fantastic and flawed (none / 0) (#46)
    by coigue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:48:50 PM EST
    like most of the great ones.

    Parent
    Just perfect (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Cairo Faulkner on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 02:28:06 PM EST
    In every way, his answer is brilliant. He won that question the second he said, 'Tell me how it's affected you again?' The questioner is so surprised that a politician is actually interested in her life, that she can only respond with 'uh huh'. It's just a pitch perfect response (however ludicrous it may actually be...Arkansas is a small state, sure, but it's not so small that the governor knows every worker that's been laid off!)

    Coming after Bush only highlights just how good this answer is. Empathy and intelligence in equal measure. That's damn rare. I'm struggling to think of any politican from any generation that connects with people so well.

    Parent

    Makes me want to vote for BC (none / 0) (#53)
    by votermom on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 02:50:50 PM EST
    all over again. That was a GOOD president.

    Parent
    If only (none / 0) (#7)
    by kmblue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:08:02 AM EST
    Obama had empathy.  He might for some voters, but I don't see it.  I'm voting for him anyway, though. :)

    Great answer from Clinton, but. . . (none / 0) (#14)
    by LarryInNYC on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:32:28 AM EST
    several problems with Obama using it.

    First off, I really don't think Clinton did deflect the character issues.  Certainly they followed him to the White House after his plurality win in 1992.  They formed the basis for the right-wing hate machine in 1990s.  I see McCain repeating the 1992 election -- scorching the earth in such a way as to provide a base level of hatred towards Obama after his victory. (May I just mention, in this context, the extreme classiness of Hillary Clinton during the primary?)

    Secondly, while it was believable in 1992 that Clinton "wasn't expecting" the slime machine, it's considerably less believable in 2008 because 1) Obama has been warning about what would happen and 2) really, we know the Republicans by now.

    Finally I'm not sure the "twelve years of experience" approach would work for Obama because, although he's been working hard for ten years or so in the national and state legislatures the claim might provide an opening for McCain.

    Instead, I'd attack McCain directly:

    You know, when I to the United States Senate I was told I'd meet someone who believed in civility and bipartisanship.  Someone named John McCain.  But if that John McCain ever existed, he was gone before I got here.  Instead, we've been left with the erratic John McCain, the John McCain who offers only insults instead of policies, the John McCain who promises a clean campaign and launches a dirty one, the John McCain who votes 90% of the time with George Bush.

    Too wordy. Obama already (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 11:37:10 AM EST
    has that down.  

    Parent
    lol yes (none / 0) (#61)
    by Salo on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 04:38:54 PM EST
    You know, when I to the United States Senate I was told I'd meet someone who believed in civility and bipartisanship.  Someone named John McCain.  But if that John McCain ever existed, he was gone before I got here.  Instead, we've been left with the erratic John McCain, the John McCain who offers only insults instead of policies, the John McCain who promises a clean campaign and launches a dirty one, the John McCain who votes 90% of the time with George Bush.

    I prefered how he itemized McCain miscalculations:

    Wrong on WMD, wrong on deregulation, wrong on the six month occupation etc.

    Mccain was bewildered.  It also avoid adhom attacks.

    Mccain was silenced by that laundry list of error....even thought might have a better overarching argument in his favour.

    Parent

    Your Dickerson link isn't working (none / 0) (#21)
    by Demi Moaned on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 12:05:54 PM EST
    You're missing the "=" after "href". Here it is corrected:
    John Dickerson of Slate

    Don't short change BTD (none / 0) (#48)
    by koshembos on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 01:56:49 PM EST
    I believe the post implies that Obama must find a comfortable and catchy way to switch the topic. BTD does not believe that Obama should mimic Clinton. That's my understanding.

    There is another Clintonian item missing from Obama's narrative. It would be an ace to say that just 8 years ago, when McCain opposed the president, the US had years of peace and prosperity. Obama does seem to use this card. Obama may not have a third of Bill's intelligence, but he does have a huge vengeance.

    Less than a month until the GE - So if Obama (none / 0) (#55)
    by bridget on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:04:06 PM EST
    hasn't found a way to express himself in a comfortable and catchy way after practically campaigning for 2 years now .... forget it. It's not going to happen. Because It is simply not something he has on the top of his list IMO.

    Btw. Obama himself wants to be Reagan-like, but he is not pulling that one off by a long shot either ...

    Obama has a huge vengeance?

    How? When?
    Explain, please, if you care to do so.

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    May not havbe a third? (none / 0) (#58)
    by Socraticsilence on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:26:50 PM EST
    Seriously, of all the things you can question about Obama, intellect wouldn't be one of them, I think the guy was probably the smartest person in the race on either side of the aisle, and while he probably isn't as smart as Clinton (who along with Nixon and Jefferson was one the three smartest presidents in my opinion) I'd certainly put him up there.

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    Hillary? (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Cairo Faulkner on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 06:43:52 PM EST
    After seeing her talk about sub-prime mortgages on Mad Money, I was just blown away. Obviously I always knew she was intelligent, but that was something else. Obama's a very clever guy, no doubt, but I don't think he'd even know half the words she was using.

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