October 29, 2008
Wow. Just, wow. I'll admit I didn't pay attention to politics as a kid, but I don't think I've ever seen a presidential campaign fall apart at the seams like this.
So, what did we see last week? Well for starters, Barry Goldwater -- the man John McCain replaced in the Senate, one of the founders of the modern conservative movement and, you could argue, the man McCain has been trying to impress for the last couple decades even though he's now gone -- Barry Goldwater's grandchildren have all endorsed Barack Obama. Simply put, like their grandfather, they object to the religious right's intrusion into people's personal lives. (And just as an FYI, punching "goldwater obama" into Google is kind of an odd experience. Two words you just don't expect to look for together.)
Former members of the Bush administration are also coming out for Obama. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan both endorsed Obama. Now, if McClellan told me it was raining I'd look out the window. And it's obvious to me that this move is meant to be a jab in Bush's (and, by proxy, McCain's) eye. But still, the ultimate loyalist, whose lies helped get us into the Iraq mess, jumping ship is noteworthy even if it isn't particularly useful. Bet it sold him a few more books though.
Colin Powell, however, is a slightly different story. He laid out a well-reasoned argument for Obama on Meet the Press, and some conservatives apparently still trust his judgment. (I don't know why; it was him trading on his good name that got the "coalition of the willing" to help us in this boondoggle. Powell was to the UK and our other allies what Scott McClellan was to us.)
We have prominent Republicans amazed at the number of resumes they're receiving from within the McCain campaign. (Sorry I can't link this one; due to homography, all my Google results focus on "McCain Resumes Campaign".) See also: rats, sinking ship.
There's the well-publicized note about the RNC spending $150,000 on clothes for Caribou Barbie. Yes, candidates dress nice. But it appears that Obama, Joe Biden and McCain all buy their own clothes. Which was kind of the point that people seem to be glossing over. Anyway, it's too bad they couldn't buy her some flash cards as she still drifts off-message pretty readily.
And speaking of, there are rumors that Sarah Palin is throwing McCain under the bus to set herself up for a run in 2012, even as McCain's staff point out that they hid her from the press because she didn't have the first clue what she was talking about. Follow that up with her train wreck of an interview with Katie Couric and her general glassy-eyed-ness (no, really -- look at Palin vs. Tina Fey playing Palin. Which one looks like there's someone home behind those eyes?) and I think Palin may be trying a little too hard to grab that brass ring.
We have an RNC strategist (sorry, forgot the name) going on MSNBC and mocking Obama for spending money to "go see Grandma" in response to a question about Palin's wardrobe. Now, if Obama used campaign funds to fly out to Hawaii that's also inappropriate since that flight was personal in nature. I'm sure most of his contributors won't mind, but that's beside the point. But still: Guy's flying a third of the way across the Pacific to see the woman who helped raise him, possibly for the last time, and this douchebag is making fun of him on-air. To the host's credit, he laughed in the guy's face. Or into the video screen, as it was a remote interview.
A McCain supporter in western Pennsylvania who alleged she was attacked, assaulted, and cut up by a large black man supporting Obama, has admitted it was all a lie. (The fact that the "B" was mirror-imaged was a good early indicator that something was up.) Add to this the somewhat prophetic announcement by John Moody, the executive VP at Fox News: "If the incident turns out to be a hoax, Senator McCain’s quest for the presidency is over, forever linked to race-baiting." I'll let that one stand on its own.
And finally to add insult to multiple injuries, we have Joe McCain, the nominee's brother. While visiting Fake Virginia, Joe McCain got stuck in traffic on the Wilson bridge. Like any upstanding citizen, he called 9-1-1 to see what was up. When called out on his misuse of the emergency system, he replied, "fuck you" and hung up.
Now, the last one isn't honestly that big of a deal -- I'm sure there's at least one idiot a day doing something similar. And as far as unfortunate siblings go, Bill Clinton has John McCain beat by a mile. But still, it seemed like the perfect capper for a week in which absolutely nothing seemed to go right for the Republican nominee. About all they got was minimal mileage out of Joe Biden running off at the mouth (see also: sky blue, Pope Catholic) about the world testing incoming presidents in general, and Obama in particular.
Will this cause a recreation of Reagan's "sea of blue" back in the 80s? (Yes, back in the day, there was no "official" color scheme for elections.) Highly doubtful. But I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the McCain campaign stumble into the finish line and wind up on the wrong side of a 300-238 victory for the Democrats, and a senate that's at the very least 55-45 against him, even after they make Lieberman caucus with the Republicans.
I'm not the only one thinking this way; as a last bit of salt in the wound Elizabeth Dole, wife of 1996 nominee Bob Dole, has put out a campaign ad saying to elect her so the Democrats won't control both the White House and the Congress. In other words, McCain's going to lose, so put me back in office to stop Obama.
I wonder how many other Republican candidates will copy that idea.
