Redstate

His actions seem to indicate that he doesn't believe that Obama would be a disaster. Otherwise he would be hitting a lot harder on all of Obama's bad ideas.

He just seems too interested in not going negative, he's already being accused of by Obama so let him have it. I don't understand, it seems like McCain is too worried about being called a racist or something.

Btw finally got called racist for my McCain sign in my window quote while some aa's walking by my house, "McCain sign, theys racists here." It was my first note of (besides negative looks towards me re my hat in the less than stellar Philly cityspots), Hillary supporters got it way worse I know.

McCain may never hit Obama with the force I'd like to see, but I have high hopes for the eventual VP nominee. We need to get down to brass knuckles here. Obama is a slick, but (I believe) dirty Chicago pol, and he's willing to do and say anything to be elected. I've lived in Illinois for almost 30 years, and Obama has never done anything here, except get elected and associate with some pretty shady characters.

We need to fight him on exactly those terms. There is a lot of good dirt to be dug up on his Illinois politic past. McCain's opposition research team has a gold mine here, so start digging.

And the only one that can answer it is John McCain, and he's not talking. John McCain, with all due respect to his military record, is a disastrous candidate for us. Most of us on the right are beside ourselves with what we are seeing and hearing from Obama, and desperately want our candidate to attack the record and proposed policies of Mr. Obama. Yet, he appears almost comatose in comparison to Obama, despite some very good opportunities to land some well deserved political punches. This does not bode well for us. From where I stand, John McCain has now wasted five months, since he won the nomination, and has shown very little progress in his efforts to win. If he doesn't improve his campaign strategy and execution over the next several weeks, we're not going to have to worry about what he believes about Obama, nor his final push to Election Day. The electorate will already have made their choice and it won't be him.

"...a left-wing extremist with no experience, horrible, tried-and-proven-failure ideas and terrible judgment in friends, supporters and staff. That ought to frighten moderates and conservatives alike when they contemplate giving him the car keys."

Disaster, disaster, fear fear fear!

Um, that line of argument hasn't worked since 2004. People are sick of it. Do you actually WANT people to think of this as Bush 3?

That comity crap is way out of hand. However, WE are here to take care of spreading the message about the Macho Bambi. Us, 527's, Rush Limbaugh, and the gang.

We got it covered.

Impeach the 5 usurpers

to trash Obama. It is his job to talk about Obama's policies, contrasted with his own. Let McCain take the high road.

There will be others to take care of the nitty gritty of pointing out Sen. Obama's failings (policy, judgment, inexperience, etc.). And I think its still a little early too go full bore at that. You don't want to wear out your welcome, so to speak.

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Drill...Drill...Drill!!!

While I hope to be proved wrong, it has seemed McCain has just gone through the motions in the general election. In other words, he sometimes appears to have positioned himself to crawl back to those who have abused him after November (and ridicule those who supported him), or in the alternative, issue an apology to his detractors upon his victory. I certainly must be mistaken, but that is how he has come across to me. I hope he, deep down, grasps how dangerous Obama would be. You are right. It is time he reassured us he understands the stakes.

Obama should be easy to put away. It is time for it to happen.

as evidenced by his "green background" speech in New Orleans, where he went after Obama for not opposing the lunatic rhetoric of his supporters on the left.

Slash-and-burn attacks are not McCain's style, nor should they be for a presidential candidate.

Of course, the most enjoyable attacks on Obama are coming from the left these days, so McCain's emphasis on a class act has a practical side!

a lot you are foaming at the mouth to go Jesse Jackson on Obama and cut his balls out, but this isn't McCain's style.

We're going to have to live or die with classy, respectable attacks on Obama's policies, which he is doing more forcefully of late.

He's not a George W. Bush in terms of campaign viciousness or in any other way, and that's part of the reason we are only down right now 2-6 points.

McCain is in a good spot considering Obama just wrapped up being the first African American nominee.

Obama also is an overall "rock star" both in terms of popularity and a lack of brain cells due to both drug abuse and from listening to Rev Wrights BS for so many years.

that phone rings. Who do you want to answer it?

McCain's views on Obama are less important than McCain's conviction that John McCain should be the one picking up the phone.

Sizzling attacks on Obama don't fit in with the message that we need a statesman in the White House, with extensive foreign policy, domestic policy and military experience.

My current impression is that McCain feels Obama is a nice fellow, just terribly misguided. This "above the fray of politics" approach could cost McCain the election.

McCain needs to distinguish himself. This can not solely be achieved via policy. It requires a constant drumbeat on Obama's sophmoric opines, tidal position shifts, lack of experience and dangerous proclivities (not just via press release and the website; get off your behinds guys).

Nobody is asking McCain to get on camera and talk about Reverend Wright or Bill Ayers. That will be done elsewhere and remains a burning issue with voters. However, McCain needs to stoke the fires of disbelief which ignite ever time Obama opens his mouth. Otherwise he risks making a crucial connection with voters and reinforcing his own image as a more capabable alternative to the very junior, media created enigma that is Obama.

He should take a lesson from Rudy. I frankly can't get enough of his opinions lately which are factually based, articulate in expression and purposeful in a sense they focus on the very overt weakness of Obama as a potential POTUS. Perhaps it's the former prosecutorial experience but my advice to McCain; spend more time with Rudy, watch and learn. Forget the speech coaching and other nonsense.

"Nec Aspera Terrent"
bene ambula et redambula
Contributor to The Minority Report

The MSM has given the left side of the Democratic party a free ride since the start of the Iraq war, letting them successfully use the Big Lie principal* on a number of issues("Bush lied", "Quagmire", "Predatory Lending", "Gitmo Tortue").

This would be bad enough on it's own, but the Republicans have swallowed the MSM's own Big Lie that "the country's never been so polarized", and refuse to fight back. It looks to me like the President and the Republicans in Congress have basically surrendered the field. It's been infuriating watching the President basically allow the Dems to blame every problem since the Lincoln assasination on the Republican party, without raising a hand. I understand that a leader has to look at more than approval ratings, but you need to spend SOME time defending your reputation, explaining your actions, and exposing the other side's outrageous lies.

Now I see McCain going down the same road, and while it's not tempting me to vote for the Marxist Messiah, it doesn't fill me with enthusiasm for the campaign.

Personally, I've never been too fond of the "turn the other cheek" philosophy, and when it comes to the future of my country, I expect a candidate to swallow his pride, get down in the mud, and roll around with the pigs if that's what needs to be done. I can understand a politician wanting to take the high road, wanting to refuse to dignify obvious calumny with a response, and wanting to stay above the fray. Unfortunately, that kind of pride is a luxury that neither a president nor a successful presidential candidate can afford. Not against a silver-tongued mesmerizer and a complicit media determined to see America humbled.

So, here's a thought, Senator McCain; if you're too much of a gentleman to act like a politician, quit the Senate and get a job as a valet. If you want to get the job of president, take the fight to the enemy and kick some a$$. But make your decision soon, because, as Dan says, a Presiden Obama is going to be a disaster for this country.

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*The big lie principal: get enough people to repeat a big lie often enough, and people will assume it's "got to be" the truth.
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"You can't save the Earth unless you're willing to make other people sacrifice" - Scott Adams (speaking through Dogbert)

McCain has built himself a "maverick" reputation. But let's not forget the guy VOLUNTEERED to fight the communists several times. Then he was given 6 years of finding out just how great communism can be.

I would doubt that in his heart he has much sympathy for Obama's plans to take over the country.

Also, Obama has personally insulted McCain on that issue about two years ago with some kind of Senate procedure where Mccain was p!ssed at him, and I don't think McCain likes liars and flip flop artists and phonies. I think personally McCain does in fact believe he is the better CINC.

At least I sure hope he does!!

"Small town folks get bitter after which they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment"- Barack Carter Obama

I think that a lot of the frustration with McCain is coming from the faction that feels that he is not agressive enough, and not "taking it to" Obama.

However, I am wondering if McCain is waiting for the inevitable end of the MSM/Obama honeymoon period. Eventually, even the MSM will tire of the Obama love in, and begin to ask some difficult questions. As time goes on, and selling the story becomes more and more difficult, the MSM will have no choice but to devour their own.

Obama's outright flight to the center has already caused stirrings of discontent in the formerly tranquil waters. In the meantime, I like the latest McCain commercials. They remind me a lot of the Reagan commercials from the early 80's. Professionally produced, patriotic and stressing the most obvious strength of McCain - experience.

I may be swimming against the current with this observation, but I think Obama's lustre is beginning to wear off. The flight to the center, blatant flip-flops and a few good gaffes are already having a negative impact. When the debates come, I believe the entire complexion of the race will have changed, and the race will truly open up. That is when McCain needs to hit hard. I just hope his debate prep team is on the ball, and get McCain ready for some good verbal jabs and to press hard to crack Obama's eloquent shell, and force him to show just how inexperienced he is.

Maybe wistful thinking, but something to think about.