Obama's Rock Star popularity

[Cali Coug]

By the way, the Daily Show ran a hilarious clip of Wolf Blitzer on the topic of Obama. Blitzer was interviewing some "experts" on whether or not the media loves Obama. One of the "experts" was in the middle of answering the question when Blitzer stopped him in the middle of a sentence, flashed a graphic on screen that said "Breaking News" and then reported that "Obama has just now boarded his airplane." Priceless.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Tex

Triplet doesn't believe you.

Can I adjust my position on this issue?

I made that post two days ago, well before I learned that BYU71 talked to someone yesterday who is tired of Obama's popularity. That changes everything.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Adam

It is funny that depending on the context, according to Republicans, Obama is either the most liberal member of the Senate who will go crazy radical socialist on America. . . or. . . Nobody knows what Obama will do as president and you can't trust his rhetoric and record to predict what he will do. Which is it?

What little we know of Obama's record is extremely liberal, but there's certainly not enough material to start comparing him the transformative political power or Ronald Reagan.

Originally Posted by Adam

Certainly you will admit that the country hasn't been this excited about a presidential candidate since Reagan in 80 or maybe even JFK in 60.

I don't deny he has created excitement in certain quarters. Just look at Cali's Obamagasms. But you're comparing the men's governance, not the irrational exuberance of their following.

But to that point, let's note that whatever the country's "excitement," it's also true that he's not even crossed the 50% threshold in polling. Then again, Democrat presidents rarely do. According to National Review, no Democrat president has exceeded 50.1% of the vote in 34 years, so perhaps he'll be our leader after all.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by YOhio

I wonder if this will ever begin to work against him. Right now there is little question that a decent portion of his popularity is due to people who are excited by his popularity itself.

We actually did see this storyline at the height of the tension between Hillary and Barack...you started to see a lot of commentators question just how healthy this religious fervor is, and you started to see quite a bit of poking fun at Baracks frequent self-referential rhetoric. "We are the ones we've been waiting for!!!" <crowd erupts in cheers> Some even suggested there's something sinister about it.

I'd imagine you'll see this story gain momentum again as the general election picks up. The first time around, this coverage coincided with a (caused a?) slide in his support. I think with enough attention that could happen again. All you have to do is plant doubt in the minds of the disciples. McCain would be wise to drop subtle references to Obama's cult status here and there, but I'm not sure McCain is a polished enough speaker to pull it off. He'll more likely overdo it and just look like a crotchety old man jealous of the young guy getting all the attention.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Adam

It is funny that depending on the context, according to Republicans, Obama is either the most liberal member of the Senate who will go crazy radical socialist on America. . . or. . . Nobody knows what Obama will do as president and you can't trust his rhetoric and record to predict what he will do. Which is it?

This is the critical error of the GOP over the last six months. By painting Obama in all kinds of contradictory colors, they missed their chance to define him. Instead he gets to define himself.

They played with arguments that he's a Christian who goes to the wrong church with heretical teachings, but also that he's secretly a Muslim. Well, which is it? They toyed with arguments that he's a naive, inexperienced youngster, and that he's a clever, slick-talking ivy-leaguer who knows how to manipulate the people. Which is it? He's got no knowledge of or proposals for foreign affairs, yet he hates Israel and is working with Hamaas and is pro-appeasement. It goes on and on. So many contradictions. They should have decided long ago which Obama they wanted to caricature and gone with it. As it is they've lost their chance to define him and they seem confused as to what their overall strategy toward Obama is.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

This is the critical error of the GOP over the last six months. By painting Obama in all kinds of contradictory colors, they missed their chance to define him. Instead he gets to define himself.

They played with arguments that he's a Christian who goes to the wrong church with heretical teachings, but also that he's secretly a Muslim. Well, which is it? They toyed with arguments that he's a naive, inexperienced youngster, and that he's a clever, slick-talking ivy-leaguer who knows how to manipulate the people. Which is it? He's got no knowledge of or proposals for foreign affairs, yet he hates Israel and is working with Hamaas and is pro-appeasement. It goes on and on. So many contradictions. They should have decided long ago which Obama they wanted to caricature and gone with it. As it is they've lost their chance to define him and they seem confused as to what their overall strategy toward Obama is.

They are running out of time. Barring a huge gaffe or major world event in the next month outside of the Olympics, neither candidate will accomplish much of anything while the media is covering China for August. Then you get into the conventions with a very short window to change public opinion about two people who have already received more media attention than any candidates in history. McCain's time is almost up, and he looks like he knows it. On the day that Obama spoke to 200,000 Germans, McCain oddly decided to visit a German sausage restaurant for a photo op (with almost nobody there). The contrast was stark, and it made him look needy and pathetic. His subsequent visit to a grocery store where someone awkwardly tipped over an entire row of pickle jars while he was trying to make a point just added to the look of confusion and hopelessness.

Obama just bought media time on the major networks during the Olympics, and he is fighting a 50 state battle (which legitimately looks like it could get many states that have previously been Republican into the Democratic camp, like Georgia, Virginia, Mississippi, Nevada, Colorado (great choice for the Democratic convention), Florida, Indiana, Montana, Alaska, and others). McCain just looks confused, and, fairly or not, each gaffe by McCain makes one wonder whether his age is a factor. McCain has not been able to use his age as a positive like Reagan once did. Instead, this is looking more like JFK-Nixon.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

The contrast was stark, and it made him look needy and pathetic. His subsequent visit to a grocery store where someone awkwardly tipped over an entire row of pickle jars while he was trying to make a point just added to the look of confusion and hopelessness.

Exactly. The only image they're succeeding in creating is McCain's caricature of himself.

[SeattleUte]

What democrats do best is create these rock star presidents. See Roosevelt, Kennedy and Clinton. Marital fidelity tends to be a weakness.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

What democrats do best is create these rock star presidents. See Roosevelt, Kennedy and Clinton. Marital fidelity tends to be a weakness.

unlike with McCain? **rolls eyes**

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

unlike with McCain? **rolls eyes**

That woman was pretty attractive, for a politician affair.

McCain married an SC song girl, so I still may vote for him.

Come to think of it, have any of the high profile political affairs been with hot women? Is Donna Rice the best one so far?