Obama Up, McCain Down: It's Gonna Get Ugly

Obama keeps gaining momentum. McCain, in desperation, decides to go completely negative between now and election day. In fact, 100% of McCain's ad expenditures are now going to negative spots. Batten down the hatches, a whole lot of shit is about to be slung by the Rethugs. Expect to see the abortion card, the "he's the most liberal senator" card, the "tax and spend" card, the guilt by association card (Bill Ayers, Rezko, Rev. Wright, etc.), and, of course, the race card all played in the worst way. Let's hope that the American people have learned a thing or two from the last couple of elections and will repudiate this slime barrage. Gross.

Whatever credibility and honor McCain might have had at one time in his career, it is all gone now as he shows a willingness to sink to any depth to win office. In actuality, an article by Tim Dickinson in the latest issue of Rolling Stone makes clear that McCain's "maverick" reputation has always been a bunch of horseshit. In an essay titled, "Make-Believe Maverick," Dickinson writes, "A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty." He goes on,

This is the story of the real John McCain, the one who has been hiding in plain sight. It is the story of a man who has consistently put his own advancement above all else, a man willing to say and do anything to achieve his ultimate ambition: to become commander in chief, ascending to the one position that would finally enable him to outrank his four-star father and grandfather.

In its broad strokes, McCain's life story is oddly similar to that of the current occupant of the White House. John Sidney McCain III and George Walker Bush both represent the third generation of American dynasties. Both were born into positions of privilege against which they rebelled into mediocrity. Both developed an uncanny social intelligence that allowed them to skate by with a minimum of mental exertion. Both struggled with booze and loutish behavior. At each step, with the aid of their fathers' powerful friends, both failed upward. And both shed their skins as Episcopalian members of the Washington elite to build political careers as self-styled, ranch-inhabiting Westerners who pray to Jesus in their wives' evangelical churches.

This is a must-read. Pass it on...

If you want to read a full-length book debunking McCain's Maverick image, click here. In it, the author points out, "that McCain has no problem whatsoever being a nasty if not a devious s.o.b. when he sees doing so as necessary to serve or accomplish a greater cause." Hell, even Republican and former Nixon administration official, John Dean, calls McCain a "kleptocratic opportunist."

The prospect of McCain/Palin in the White House is scary. Seriously. Spread the word...

Pants on Fire!

Another punch thrown by filmmaker Robert Greenwald. Take a look:

As it says at the very end, pass this video along to 10 of your friends, neighbors, relatives or acquaintances and tell them to pass it on to ten more... "psssstt... do something!"

UPDATE: Paul Krugman skewers the McCain/Palin "blizzard of lies."

WTF??!!?!?!!?

This description appeared several times at the bottom of the screen on a segment of Fox News yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. The segment was dedicated to liberal reaction to reported Right-wing smears of Michelle Obama. It featured FOX anchor, Megyn Kelly, and conservative nut-job, Michelle Malkin.

Seriously. "Obama's Baby Mama"? WTF.

If there weren't zillions of people out there primed and ready to be swayed by this type of racist and sexist crap, it would be laughable...

Hillary's Xerox Moment

Much hay has been made about Hillary Clinton's zinger-line in the Austin debate calling Obama's rhetoric a "xerox copy." It has been widely noted that the crowd roundly booed Clinton for this attack, but the more interesting and important dynamic has not been reported on as extensively: that wasn't Hillary's line. Clearly a speechwriter came up with it. Isn't it kind of weird to slam a guy for "plagiarism" with a line that is so clearly scripted it isn't even funny? See the irony here?

I'll also note the very ugly turn the Clinton campaign has taken since supposeduly playing nice the other night. Let me make it clear: that was all a part of the strategy. Show "nice Hillary" on the nationally televised debate, but keep on smearing and slamming, keep on with the negativity, the misrepresentation and the innuendo on the campaign trail. It is the Jekyll and Hyde approach. She essentially challenged Obama to a schoolyard fight in Ohio earlier today. It is very ugly and not very presidential. It is clearly the result of the desperate situation the campaign finds itself in, but it is no less unsavory. Shame on you, Mrs. Clinton.

And there is some bizarre psychological projection going on. Hillary charges Obama's campaign with Rovian tactics. Meanwhile, it has been her campaign that has engaged in the slimy stuff. These people really are lunatics...

As far as I am concerned, I hope Obama comes out with both barrels blazing in Ohio on Tuesday night. I had hopes that she might go quietly into the night, or at least have some class, but now her campaign needs to be put out of its misery before she takes the whole party with her. I will shed no tears on the day she is finally forced to eat that huge humble pie that is hurling her way...