If you ignore the obvious straining by the New York Times to suggest Karl Rove’s evil influence is somehow permeating the John McCain camp, this account of the expected changes and reasons behind the elevation of Steve Schmidt to effective campaign chief is illuminating. It suggests that, as he did when his campaign ran aground after immigration reform, McCain can assess a situation (e.g. the campaign was adrift) and readjust. He is not so isolated or impervious to input as some might have portrayed him to be.
Moreover, Schmidt seems focused on the right things: establishing a credible economic message and fighting like heck to get the campaign’s version of Barack Obama’s flaws before the voters. Goodness knows, they have a ton of material to work with.
For all the griping McCain could be much worse situated than he already is. His national poll numbers are within the margin of error. And purely because of his opponent’s errors (and the Obama team’s overestimation of the media’s tolerance for its candidate’s hypocrisy), Obama has done a darn good job starting several adverse storylines: arrogance, phoniness and lack of appreciation or understanding of military service.
Obama has not only initiated some self-destructive narratives, he has considerably damaged his standing with the mainstream media. I’m not talking about Left-leaning blogs or cable show partisans (who will never lose faith in the Agent of Change), but the political reporters who cover the campaigns on a daily basis and the center/liberal pundits for news networks and major newspapers. It is the latter group — those not impervious to evidence and reason — who have become more sober-minded, aggressive and skeptical of the Obama campaign and the entire pretense that he is a New Politician. The coverage has become increasingly more harsh and critical as Obama has stumbled, bumbled and fumbled through reversals on campaign financing and a host of issues and elevated Wesley Clark to the first major blunder of the general election.
What does this have to do with Schmidt? He’s been around long enough to know that public whining about the mainstream media — the favorite excuse and pastime of much of the McCain team to date — is utterly counterproductive. McCain, more than any other candidate, gives the mainstream media what they crave and what Obama does not: access, authenticity and candor. (And if this is correct, getting McCain into the political fight of his life would be an added benefit from Schmidt’s promotion.) Schmidt should figure out how to make the most of that and to re-establish the media’s respect, if not affection, for McCain. While Obama is at low ebb with the media, the opportunity is ripe. McCain need not become the darling of the media –but he can recalibrate the relationship which once was, and again can be, an advantage.
..all i can say is that if i didn’t report $80+K income in 2007, i doubt the IRS would be this low-key with me…
…talk about a double standard…
this is a very good ‘red meat’ populist issue….it’s one thing to dispute the amount of tax you’re being asked/told to pay – it’s another thing not to declare…let’s see whether daschle skates even prettier than geithner
And the crook wants to design our healthcare system. wonderful.
#2 rk: It’s not as bad as putting the other guy in charge of the IRS!
Actually, being a kickback recipient or tax cheat seems to be the first hurdle to receiving an Obama nomination for high office. Change we can believe in, indeed!
This is what happens when your lying, incompetent, corrupt, floor-crawling drunkard of a Republican former fake president spent eight years ignoring the law. Now you’re surprised?
So, John… what you’re saying is Democrats acting criminally, is all Bush’s fault?
That doesn’t even pass the giggle test.
John, What are you saying? You were always talking of the highest morals when it comes to the Republicans. Maybe Barry isn’t all that. Remember how I had to fight you tooth and nail to get you go come home from the Reverend Jones Guyana vacation? You said he was like a God. And goodness knows if I hadn’t hidden you purple robes that morning when the Heaven’s Gaters went you would have been up to your eyeballs in vodka and phenobarbital. Why it was just two years ago that I finally was able to throw away your naked Marshall Applewhite signed before and after pictures. It just woudn’t sell at the yard sale – -even Bernadine and Bill thought it cut too close to the bone. Speaking of which, I know you have done all the taxes again, but don’t you think it is a bit suspicious that you have deducted all your time spent posting on the Contentions forum as charitable contribution? Most recipients of charity generally are appreciative. I get the impression that you are, if I may borrow a phrase from the only good Republican other the Judd Gregg, like a t*rd in a punch bowl.
So, John… what you’re saying is Democrats acting criminally, is all Bush’s fault?
Well, your guy set such a high tone, right?
Obama said today that he is going to fully back Daschle. This is almost too good to be true for Republicans who should stand, en masse, against his confirmation.
When, by the way, does the full ‘transparency” of the Obama presidency go into effect?
JUST SAY NO. Don’t even try to say only Daschle can do this. It is a lie.
“Well, your guy set such a high tone, right?”
In fact, Bush did. The No Child Left Behind act’s main sponsor and I believe author, was Ted Kennedy. THAT, is called bipartisanship. Bush was always gracious towards the Left, yet he was repaid by crude, and childish behavior towards him. It’s in their DNA to have acted that way.
Keep on telling yourself that, Seth
Maybe President Obama can put a nice wagyu steak on the black eye his ethical credentials are starting to get. Of course, maybe he can just save us all some money and put a porterhouse on it, an american porterhouse from a unionized meatpacking plant that is.
I wrote a piece on Bush’s civility as compared to the Democrat’s incivility, in mid-2006:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/06/bushs_decency_highlights_democ.html
John
For the sake of argument let us assume for a moment that Mr.Bush was, in fact, a lying crook.
Let’s further assume that ALL Republicans are liars and tax cheats.
Is it your opinion that this Republican malfeasance excuses any Democrat criminal behavior?
Is there, in your opinion, any “bridge too far” for Democrats? Just asking………
When will Obama say Daschle is unique and he is the only one that can bring about nationalized health care?
Didn’t they send Capone to prison for less?
Where’s J. Edgar Hoover when you need him?
(Okay, cross-dressing jokes are permitted)
Guys, be reasonable please. Obama is trying his best. Being corrupt himself, having bought a house with the help of criminal Rezko and repaying him with taxpayer money, Obama knows that it is almost impossible to find top Democrat who is not a thief. So no, Daschle is not unique. They all the same.
16: Probably he’ll entrust that to the immensely (and uniquely) talented Gibbs. I understand that Joey Plugs (former colleague of the former Daschle) is already hard at work drafting the statement, w/Dr. Jill doing the proofreading and collections of N. Kinnock’s and D. Patrick’s speeches by the ink-stained legal pad.
Seth,
You make an excellent point about “transparency.” I want to know who those fraudulent “charitable” donations were given to. Why do we just get to hear that the organizations were not “qualified” to receive donations? Why can’t we hear what they were? Where’s the transparency?
Is it your opinion that this Republican malfeasance excuses any Democrat criminal behavior?
Your lying, incompetent, floor-crawling drunk of a Republican war criminal and fake president makes you neocon dual-loyalty traitor Bund sycophants uniquely unqualified to complain about someone’s unpaid taxes. Is that enough of an answer? Keep whining. I’ll be happy to laugh in your face, followed by another 50 million real Americans.
Is there, in your opinion, any “bridge too far” for Democrats?
Caving into Rushbo’s drug-addled crapola would truly be a bridge too far.
I honestly don’t know what’s sadder – that John Hartland is a troll whose idea of fun is impersonating a spittle-flecked BDS caricature, or that he is, in fact, a spittle-flecked BDS caricature whose idea of fun is to spend time on a conservative website for the sole purpose of writing comments that belay the intellectual capacity of a blueberry scone. As someone with 1. a job, 2. a life, and 3. a family, I just feel bad for him.
Caving into Rushbo’s drug-addled crapola would truly be a bridge too far.
So, that’s a “no” John?
Hey John: Your posts really reveal your cut-and-pasting skills. Look how easy it is to repeat the same rant over and over:
“Your lying, incompetent, floor-crawling cocaine-using Democrat pacifist and fake president.” “Your lying, incompetent, floor-crawling cocaine-using Democrat pacifist and fake president.” “Your lying, incompetent, floor-crawling cocaine-using Democrat pacifist and fake president.”
More to the point: We Contentioners apparently didn’t get the memo: Geithner’s and Daschle’s tax frauds were just “boneheaded,” don’t you know.
Come to think of it, I assume a Presidential pardon for Blago is just around the corner — after all, what he did certainly meets the boneheaded test, even in Chicago. Then Blago can head up Nancy’s STD Stimulus Department, whose motto is “What’s in it for me.”
To John Hartland: I can suggest several psychiatrist when you awake from your denial concerning Democratic malfeasance. Your journey will be long and personally painful. In the end a better person arises. This “new” person will be more authentic having discarded the existing coping skills. Hopefully a greater appreciation of others will arise. Just saying……
Doesn’t John Hartland have a Sunday School class to get to? I’m guessing he is a 12 year old whose Uncle is an anti-semitic Keith Olbermann fan.
Marshall, I don’t think making fun of John that way is fair to Joan. You can see how deep her love is—otherwise she would never have called him a t*rd in a punch bowl. You can sense her real anguish over his weakness. Please don’t add to it by treating the matter as a joke.
#7. Joan Hartland: “the only good Republican other the Judd Gregg,”
Other than, you mean. The only reason I am correcting this
typo is that I am a fan of yours, Mrs Hartland, and looking forward
to a book collection of your postings. You are IMO comparable
to Swift, Twain, Thurber.
Johann Reichland,
“I’ll be happy to laugh in your face, followed by another 50 million real Americans.”
Are you saying that another 50 million Americans are also raving lunatics?
Daschle will have no trouble being confirmed. He’s a senator, and the only was the Senate won’t confirm one of their own is, well, I can’t think of many examples.
John wrote in reply to my #15
“Your lying, incompetent, floor-crawling drunk of a Republican war criminal and fake president makes you neocon dual-loyalty traitor Bund sycophants uniquely unqualified to complain about someone’s unpaid taxes. Is that enough of an answer?”
Yes, John. I believe that it is. Your answer is sufficient for purposes of identifying you. Your line of calm, reasonable argument has certainly brought me around to your way of thinking.
BTW, Pesident Bush quit drinking 20 years ago…almost to the same year that Barack quit snorting cocaine and stopped hitting the crack pipe….or so he tells us
James, judging by Obama’s appointments, he lied. Only somebody on crack can do something like that several times in a row.
I wonder of Obama sent his gratitude to Fitzgerald, who stopped trade discussions between Blago and Rahm before Obama’s involvement became undeniable.
Elen, Obama should have sent his gratitude to the Chicago Tribune, which revealed the investigation in spite of Fitzgerald’s pleas, and so ended it. There’s a story there.
For once I agree with John Hartland–I hope every Republican opposes this nomination, even if they can’t block it. And some Democrats too. Paying taxes is the absolute minimum for being a citizen. And by the way, DAschle is not now a Senator, having been rejected by his constituency four years ago.
Isn’t amazing how regardless of the issue under discussion, John Hartland always seems to find reason to attack “dual loyalist traitors” i.e., (in his warped mind) “The Jews”?
John H. simply shows what 8 years of BDS can do. Perhaps someone will preserve his head in formaldahyde so future researchers can use it to teach psychiatrists the physiological affect of long-term BDS.
Daschle is a low-life felon who will be promoted to high office by his (former) fellows in crime in the Senate. Republican Senators don’t have cajones enough to blow out a candle, let enough demonstrate principle. It looks like the next few years will be an entertaining, costly ride.
H.L. Mencken was right. The voters knew what they wanted, and deserve to get it good and hard.
John Hartland is right that the Senate usually confirms one of their own. Yet I”m sure this moron pitched a fit when Senator John Ashcroft was made AG with no tax cheating problem.
bbb