National Republicans
McCain Disses Bush
It’s hard to tell if John McCain’s running against Barack Obama or George Bush. First, McCain went down to New Orleans and blasted Bush for his fumbling after Hurricane Katrina; now McCain’s let Bush have it for disagreeing with Al Gore about global warming. It’s beginning to seem like every time Obama says electing McCain…
Read MoreTides
The media’s all but written Hillary’s obituary (for the third time) but this time it looks like they’ll make it stick. But before Hillary rides off over the horizon and disappears under a cloud of super-delegates she’s given Obama one more royal thumping in West Virginia by 67% to 26%. Now this seems like good…
Read MoreMaybe I Was Wrong
A few weeks ago, watching the Obama campaign’s energy, I predicted he would win North Carolina in a blowout, maybe by 20 points. A few months ago, watching the aggressiveness of Richard Moore’s campaign, I thought he might upset Bev Perdue. Today, Primary Day, looks different. It’s a reminder that – being exercises in human…
Read MoreSound Bite Versus Reality
Since the Trojan Horse the divergence between appearance versus reality has been a motif in literature. The beast turns out to be a prince. The three witches tell Macbeth he’s safe until Birnham Wood moves to Dunsaine Hill. Which appears impossible. But happens. Today it could be Sound Bite versus Reality. And Reverend Jeremiah Wright…
Read MoreCorporate America Under Fire
Wachovia Bank just agreed to pay $144 million to settle a fraud case. (According to the newspapers it was alleged they allowed telemarketers to use Wachovia accounts to steal millions of dollars.) The bank did not plead guilty or admit guilt, which, in itself, is a commentary on our legal system. How can anyone agree…
Read MoreTwo Predictions
I’ll make two predictions about this election. One I’m sure about; the other, not so much. Not Sure: This could be a change election like 1960, 1968, 1980 or 1994 – with the impact felt for decades. Sure: The Democratic Party is growing increasingly anti-corporate. Only one thing can keep 2008 from being a watershed:…
Read MoreGOP Shows Its True Colors
That didn’t take long. The party of Lincoln jumped right into Jesse Helms-era race-baiting this week. And we found out just what a tough, strong, effective leader John McCain is. He can’t even get a state Republican Party to take down an ad. Or maybe his demand that the ad be pulled came with a…
Read MoreObama, Race and Jeremiah Wright
The NC GOP has an ad attacking Barack Obama, playing a videotape of Reverend Jeremiah Wright saying, “Goddamn America.” John McCain says he wants the ad pulled. Now. Because, ‘It’s degrading.’ And, no doubt, a lot of people will agree. Because the ad touches racial chords. So, a lot of people will want this debate…
Read MoreNegative, Positive and Accurate
Bev Perdue’s campaign manager is filling Internet Inboxes with messages from people praising Perdue, pounding her on the back, for renouncing negative ads. In one email he quotes Priscilla and Kathy and Donna as gushing, “Way to go… you very well may have earned my vote… Mr. Moore’s negative ads have totally turned me off.”…
Read MoreHillary’s Blues
A political campaign, by nature, is born in chaos. Think of it this way: In twelve months Barack Obama has created the equivalent of a mammoth $200 million corporation, employing hundreds of people who’ve, mostly, never worked together before. Add to that fierce competition and you can see why most campaigns become not well-oiled machines,…
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