“In tough fight with Romney…
…Obama longs for McCain,” says the Washington Examiner headline.
The above photo was presciently supplied by Vanderleun at American Digest back on Dec. 2, 2011. But he was joking about the Republican primaries; who knew it would be Obama who’d be missing McCain come June?
McCain just wasn’t a good candidate against Obama. And he had some bad luck as well. Part of his problem was that he wasn’t telegenic: he looked stiff, awkward, and old, and couldn’t seem to muster up much energy for the fight. Some speculated that he didn’t even want the office, although I disagree on that.
But I think many of McCain’s problems in countering Obama were involved with the newness of the opponent. Without a track record, Obama was much, much more difficult to fight; that “blank screen” quality Obama himself noted, on which people could—and did—project whatever they wished him to be. And of course there was great appeal for many people in the novelty and symbolism of the first black president.
And even then, McCain was ahead in the polls almost till the end. The coup de grace was administered by the financial crisis. McCain was seen as the wrong man for the wrong time.
Unfortunately, Obama the winner was even wronger.
McCain was just too much of a Gentleman.
He took Obama at his word on public financing, Obama reneged on their agreement.
McCain wanted to be liked by the MSM. He wanted to be invited to all of the cocktail parties within the Beltway. McCain was a fool to believe he was the ‘republican’ darling of the media. And, he left Palin to twist in the wind. I have nothing positive to say about McCain.
“The coup de grace was administered by the financial crisis.”
This. McCain did not run a great campaign but once the financial crisis struck there was no way he, or any Republican, could have won.
We really need Romney to make a Forthright Defense of the American way: individual liberty and the rule of law, as impartial as we can darn well make it. Both of which, I hope he points out, led to our nation’s becoming the most powerful and wealthiest nation on the planet, or indeed, in history, in just over a century and a half.
Why, oh why don’t the Republicans beat that drum like Gene Krupa? It’s the biggest tom-tom we have. “You want prosperity? Try the American plan, peeps.”
>>> Unfortunately, Obama the winner was even wronger.
Indeed, voting for Obama was, inarguably, Wronger than wrong.
In fact, Obama is the POSTER BOY for the cause.
To paraphrase Asimov:
.
When people thought Obama was better than McCain, they were wrong.
When people thought Obama was a viable choice, they were wrong.
But if you think that Obama is still a vaguely rational choice, then your view is wronger than both of them put together.
.
.
Unfortunately, Obama the winner was even wronger.
Is this this sentence intentional? As far as I know the word wronger doesn’t exist.
Steve D.:
Yes, it is is intentional (as was the double “is” just now—see your comment :-)).
McCain, despite having a temper, was a typical squishy moderate. He didn’t get the media, the left, or Obama. So, together, they crushed his campaign.
There was ammo; he just didn’t use it.
For the record; I’m not saying fight fire with fire. Telling the truth is typically all it takes to throw sand in the left’s gears. But McCain didn’t care throw down and speak it.
Gary Rosen Says:
“This. McCain did not run a great campaign but once the financial crisis struck there was no way he, or any Republican, could have won.”
not so sure. To the left that seems obvious from inside their bubble. Outside; no one was really sure who to blame and democrats seem to be involved in the various major mistakes that had been identified (even harped on by the left, like repealing Glass-Steagall).
It seemed, even at the time, most of the left’s argument that the republicans were to blame were based on innuendo. Quick example (governing while republican):
Republicans are corrupt tools of business and/or do not watch the businesses they need to regulate as they should.
Republicans were running the exec branch
Ergo; Republicans caused the financial crisis
80% of the electorate would look at that as a poor argument… Needs facts to back it up. Years later, they are still lacking.
80% of the electorate would look at that as a poor argument…
I find that hard to believe since 53% of the electorate voted for Obama.
I would suggest that 80% of the electorate doesn’t pay any closer attention than to receive and parrot MSM talking points, which are still mostly left-wing talking points, but right-wing as well.
Most people just repeat what they hear, and they don’t hear much and often can’t back it up. We all do it to some extent… it’s the nature of being overwhelmed with low signal-to-noise information. Smart people, however, go to multiple sources and try to synthesize an understanding what’s really going on instead of just taking the first thing they hear at face value.
Try talking politics on Facebook if you think otherwise. I’m not trying to imply that everyone on Facebook is dumb… they’re not… it’s just a broader range of people than you see around here. People around here are much more informed than average. Especially Artfldgr… he’s got Tourette’s Syndrome for facts. 😉