First cut

2004 is not 2008

The media continues to talk about the electoral map as though it's 2004. We hear that Obama is in trouble because he's behind in some polls in Florida or Ohio or Pennsylvania. That's like analyzing the Lakers-Celtics series as though Magic and Larry were still playing. It's a whole new ball game now. To put it even more in perspective, here are some of the other things that were true in 2004.

• Freddy Adu was the man.
  

• No one knew who Barack Obama was.
  

• Kobe Bryant was charged with rape.

• The war was just a year old.
  

"You can't have him"

Sorry about the light posting; my other life has me distracted. I've been meaning to write about the MoveOn ad since I first saw it on Tuesday. In case you haven't seen it, here it is:



I sat in silence for a few moments after watching this initially. The ad is nothing if not powerful. But is it fair? And if it is, is it smart politics? My answer to both questions, after two days of thought, is yes. That probably isn't surprising given my past writings on McCain's "100 years" and "not too important" comments.

The ad is personal, and given the response from others that watched the ad in my presence, it is too personal for some. The idea of a webcam video, filmed in a new mother's bedroom makes it even more effective. The tone, though, is what makes the ad really work. The mother is joyful about her son, not angry at McCain. She is confident, not defensive. She is saying enough is enough.

Those who think McCain's comments have been taken out of context will surely cry foul at the ad, but they will be wrong. MoveOn has used the exact context of McCain's quotes and pushed back. He said that it doesn't matter if troops are in Iraq, so long as they aren't being killed. This ad shows that it clearly does matter; it clearly is "important."

My thoughts on the ad aren't surprising, but I would love to hear other people's views. To me, the ad goes to the heart of what this short general election has been about. It highlights the flawed McCain foreign policy strategy. And it's sure to pull at people's emotions. So, take a minute and give your thoughts. Does the ad work, and if so, why?

A difference of policy

A commenter wrote to say that McCain's "not too important" comment is not "outrageous" when read in context. The commenter went on to say that McCain "was saying that when the troops come home is less important than when hostilities end." This comment, combined with some reactions in the media prompted me to respond.

First of all, I think the commenter is right -- McCain's quote is not "outrageous" on its face. But what it shows is a fundamental disagreement on policy. I watched Susan Rice, Obama's senior foreign policy advisor, respond to McCain's quote. She correctly pointed out that this is the latest example of McCain misunderstanding the situation in Iraq. The word Rice used was "confused." She pointed out that McCain was "confused" about the difference between Sunni and Shia and had to have Joe Lieberman correct him. She noted that McCain was simply wrong when he claimed that the number of troops in Iraq had been "drawn down to pre-surge levels."

McCain's latest comments were not false, but they did demonstrate a lack of understanding. We -- the public and the military -- were told that this war would take a few months. Five years later, we still have 150,000 troops committed there, with no sign that anything is being done to bring them home. Meanwhile our government is banging the drums for more war, and getting further committed to the war we never completed in Afghanistan.

McCain's comments show a difference in policy. The commenter is right that the end to hostilities is important, but that end is no where in sight. After five years of stretching out our military, after four tours of duty, after over 4,000 deaths and no apparent political progress, saying that bringing the troops home is "not too important," may not be outrageous, but it sheds light into McCain's thinking. And when, as Rice described, it is presented along with several "confused" and false statements, it shows that McCain's perceived strength is really just bad policy.

The new "100 years"

This morning on the Today show, "100 years" said that it's "not too important" to bring troops home from Iraq. He said what is important is the decrease in casualties. He went on to justify his comments by saying that American troops are still in Korea, Japan and Germany. This is precisely the argument he tried to make when saying that there might be a military presence in Iraq for "100 years." He said American troops scattered throughout the world is "all fine."

Harry Reid has released a statement condemning the comments. If the Democrats are smart, this clip will become the talk of the political world for the next week.

Obama might be a terrorist

Media Matters picked up on a segment on Fox News in which host E.D. Hill discussed the meaning of the fist bump Barack and Michelle Obama had on Tuesday night. In leading into the discussion, Hill asked if it was a "terrorist fist jab." That's actually what she said.

Out of touch

In the latest example of McCain showing just how out of touch he is with the country, he compared Obama to William Jennings Bryan. Seriously.

Trying to emphasize his experience over Obama's oratorical skill, McCain said, "I believe that people are interested very much in substance." He added, "If it was simply style, William Jennings Bryan would have been president."

Next he's going to say that if the country wanted a basketball player, they would have elected George Gervin.

New Morning

First the Boss came out for Obama and now Bob Dylan has thrown his weight behind the Democratic nominee. What more do you need to know?

Re: What a joke

Even those at Fox News know McCain's speech was lame. Check out this great video Josh Marshall put together:

If nothing else, they're cool