The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Say it to my face

Re: Say it to my face

Nausicaa — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:51:18 -0000

I agree Shawn. The words just fell into place as they came out. It's so reassuring to hear a candidate speak so clearly and purposefully. Yet, it's equally frightening that so many are still unable to honestly recognize the rambling and incoherence of someone like Palin, who forcefully indulges in the sort of nonsensicality that betrays scheming gears turning behind that warm stare. I don't think the contrast could be more stark. Thankfully, people seem to finally be noticing.

The remaining forces entrenched behind the GOP suggest it's all an act, and that Obama is somehow deceiving us. Of course, this has been the suggestion all along. It started by claiming that he was simply a good, rehearsed public speaker and would fall apart off the cuff. He would be revealed for the empty suit he is, they reassured us, when he is forced to debate and speak with the press. Now, undermined every step of the way, they must resort to vile accusations stemmed from tangental 'associations'. It was insulting then, and more so now. It's insulting every time Obama is accused of something the McCain campaign itself is guilty of. They have eliminated all options as they slowly and steadily transformed into the very thing they claim to hate.

I think, the polls reflect that most people have had enough. Most people can't stand when someone cuts down others for what they see in the mirror.

Re: Say it to my face

Shawn — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:03:29 -0000

"This bit from BO made me think of TNC's observation that so much of how McCain reacts to things seems to be about saying that he ain't no punk. Well, Obama just called him a punk. Now, we'll watch to see how he reacts."

@Scott E.,

This is one of things that Obama does best. When it comes to taking his shot at his opponent, he knows just what to say, when to say, and how to say it. He gets more mileage out one or two sentences than most of his opponents (McCain and Palin included) get from an entire speech.

Put another way, McCain and Palin are raging Barbarians swinging wildly with their axes while Obama's the smooth Rogue scoring crit hits and sneak attack damage stacks with his rapier. His oppenents start bleeding before they even know it.

Re: Say it to my face

frankie d — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:15:41 -0000

btw, i think this message is specifically designed for states like ohio and pennsylvania and indiana and virginia and north carolina, and places where this type of retrograde appeal might work.

i think they believe that most of the electorate is pretty much set - therefore they can't hurt themselves much with extremely negative campaigning - so they are making a strong push, with a message that they believe may appeal to a certain "reagan republican" type of voter in those states. for whatever reason, there appear to be lots of those voters who are still "undecided" and i think they are specifically trying to appeal to those voters.

Re: Say it to my face

James — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:54:25 -0000

frankie,

Agree with you there definitely about stealing.

On a personal level, I'd love for Obama to rip McCain apart; but I'd rather have that warm glow of knowing that toxic scum are out of the running.

I'm hoping that it remains clear who is that one who understands tactics versus strategy.

Doesn't mean some surrogates couldn't go out and get dirty though.

Re: Say it to my face

frankie d — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:51:30 -0000

joel,

sorry, but your history is wrong.

dukakis had a huge lead when they started attacking him.

17 points, according to one poll.

he totally ignored the attacks and ... well,the rest is history.

with kerry, he was either tied or very close to bush when the swiftboating began. and we know what happened to him.

james,

the great thing about all of this is that we'll be able to see how this plays out. i'll be looking at the numbers closely.

btw, i really don't think that mccain ever imagines he can win it legitimately.

his goal is to keep it close enough so that he can steal it.

that is why i do not believe that obama can afford to let the race get close again and plan on winning a close race.

they will steal it if it is close.

Re: Say it to my face

James — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:42:19 -0000

Well, he's 11 points clear today with Gallup, and Ayers didn't pop up yesterday - in a day or two we'll see if this is even remotely working for them.

If it has this amount of impact, then let McCain bitch slap him for the rest of the month, and then Obama can put him down humanely on Nov 4th.

Re: Say it to my face

Joel — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:36:28 -0000

Obama is currently crushing McCain in the polls and on the ground. Why the hell would he do something so rash as going on the full-on attack at this point? The strategy is different for the leading team than it is for the lagging team.

The problem with Kerry's and Dukakis' strategies is that they allowed themselves to get submarined while he was behind. The best way to crush this right-wing insurrection is with kindness.

Re: Say it to my face

frankie d — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:31:08 -0000

"Obama called him out for what McCain is: a Punk.Ass.Bitch."

if obama had told that to mccain's face, i'd agree. saying it to charles gibson, when he had the chance to say it to mccain's face on tuesday, i'm sorry doesn't quite make it.

obama is, as josh marshall says, getting the full republican bitch slap treatment.

Re: Say it to my face

rikyrah — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:15:20 -0000

Obama called him out for what McCain is: a Punk.Ass.Bitch.

Plain and simple.

Re: Say it to my face

James — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:43:36 -0000

should have read:

Obama has far, far more to lose than McCain does at this stage.

Probably obvious, but certainly sloppy.

Re: Say it to my face

James — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:33:15 -0000

frankie,

I can see your point. I'm still not sure what's the best for the result - McCain has far, far more to lose than Obama does at this stage.

That said, if you could get say HRC to say about sending women out to do the dirty work could be huge - I just think it's too high risk for Obama or Biden to say it directly.

McCain is coming increasely close to losing it hugely, and I think there is something timed to push him right over.

Re: Say it to my face

frankie d — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:24:47 -0000

"At least no one is saying Obama is another Kerry/Dukakis now, eh?"

sorry.

barack talks a tough game, but does not back it up.

in fact, the whining in his ads is eerily similar to ads that dukakis ran.

the keating 5 pushback?

they put out the documentary and basically left it out there for the media to discover, as they hoped the media would push that message. for whatever reason, they did not actually get behind it and "push" that issue.

he is getting "bitch slapped" - to use josh marshall's parlance - and i'm waiting for him to move outside of dukakis territory in action, and not only words.

let's have him say those words to mccain.

and don't get me wrong. he doesn't have to be a n@gga, about it, puffing up and jumping bad in mccain's face.

that is not what i am talking about.

what i am talking about is obama, firmly, calmly, but resolutely, with a hint of rightous indignation, explaining to mccain that he [obama] thinks that mccain lacks the courage to say those negative things to his face. and while he's at it, he could add, for good measure, a couple of cutting remarks about the fact that mccain has been sending women out to do something that he is unwilling to do.

he could decimate mccain with that line of attack. and i think he needs to do something like that to put a halt to this ayers matter, which is starting to snowball down the mountain.

Re: Say it to my face

Mike P — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:11:03 -0000

This is just like a in recent episode of Entourage when Ari and Davies are playing pranks on each other and Davies took it too far by posting a pic of Ari's wife nude on the internet. Ari rolls right in Davies agency, called him out, straight bitch slapped him in front of all his employees and made him apologize.

This is basically what Obama is setting up with McCain. McCain/Palin keep pushing, pushing and now Obama just clapped back at them...hard. If you want to say it my face, come on and say it to my face then, like a man. You know it's probably burning McCain up that this youngster pretty much called him a punk.

Odds of a McCain meltdown next week are very, very high.

Re: Say it to my face

Zak — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:04:18 -0000

Yep, he nailed it. The whole interview, in fact. In fairness to McCain, though, I don't recall Obama bringing up the Keating Five at the debate either (correct me if I'm wrong, I did sorta tune out near the end). The Ayers attack is bogus, but neither candidate brought their personal attacks to Nashville.

Re: Say it to my face

James — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:04:12 -0000

At least no one is saying Obama is another Kerry/Dukakis now, eh?

McCain is getting set up for a huge meltdown in the final debate.

Re: Say it to my face

Tessa — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:58:51 -0000

So who knows? Maybe accuse Barack of being the 12th cylon model.

LOL, Deborah. Yeah, anything is possible. But Obama is used to these kinds of attacks. And he can always use "While Americans are dealing with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, you're slinging mud" sentiment, which I think plays well...

Re: Say it to my face

Scott E. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:52:39 -0000

This bit from BO made me think of TNC's observation that so much of how McCain reacts to things seems to be about saying that he ain't no punk. Well, Obama just called him a punk. Now, we'll watch to see how he reacts.

Re: Say it to my face

Deborah — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:44:01 -0000

From George Will:

In this context, the McCain-Palin campaign's attempt to get Americans to focus on Obama's Chicago associations seem surreal -- or, as a British politician once said about criticism he was receiving, "like being savaged by a dead sheep."

Will is completely beyond defending McCain and preparing himself to criticize the coming Obama administration, which at least looks less crazy than a Republican one.

Adolphus: It is Alaska. And if things look good I'd love to see him visit in a few weeks, just to watch McCain Palin fulminate.

Re: Say it to my face

Adolphus — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:37:28 -0000

He's campaigned in 49 states?

Which one did he miss?

I assume Alaska.

He should do it.

Re: Say it to my face

Deborah — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:28:08 -0000

From the Rolling Stone article:

"McCain says his life changed while he was in Vietnam, and he is now a different man," Dramesi says today. "But he's still the undisciplined, spoiled brat that he was when he went in."

Dramesi was also imprisoned and tortured in Vietnam. Chickenshit indeed.

Re: Say it to my face

Deborah — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:15:15 -0000

@Tessa,

I actually think McCain will do something unpredictable and wack. So who knows? Maybe accuse Barack of being the 12th cylon model.

Re: Say it to my face

AlexG — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:14:17 -0000

I think Tessa has it right. By passing the chance to say it to his face on Tuesday, we'll all be waiting, as will Obama for him to do it in person. McCain is NOT strong on the attack in person. He can't even look at Obama when he's NOT attacking him.

Re: Say it to my face

Tessa — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:11:25 -0000

Good for Obama. I have a feeling McCain will seize the opportunity to say-it-to-his-face in the upcoming debate. Obama will be prepared. This is a lose-lose proposition for McCain.

Re: Say it to my face

MoeLarryAndJesus — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:02:46 -0000

But at least McCain is man enough to send his pill-popping homewrecking whore Cindy out to do his dirty business for him.

When he made that "my fellow prisoners" screw-up yesterday I think he was just being honest. This campaign is as torturous for him as anything he's ever been through. He's a prisoner of his own bullshit.

Re: Say it to my face

Tyler — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:57:53 -0000

Where most of us come from, there's a word to describe somebody who will talk behind your back, but refuse to tell you in person: Chickenshit.