The biggest mistake that McCain has made with his attacks on Obama has been his choice to focus on issues that are relevant, important, and dignified. Things like that simply do not invigorate the Republican base, which has been trained by the Bush administration to only respond to smears, distortions, lies, and the politics of fear.

McCain has inherited a political system that has perfected the art of getting elected through dirty campaigns. Of course, McCain has famously pledged to run a clean one, and has thus committed himself to talking about boring things like the economy. If the swift-boat campaign hadn't caught fire in 2004, then Kerry would be president now (it was still a close election).

The fact that the SBVT were almost immediately debunked and proven to be liars by nearly every major news organization had little effect over their ability to peel votes off of Kerry. Truth was no object to the Republican base - but McCain isn't willing to dive in. His loss.

Even as the primary was starting up, all the old organs of the conservative smear (talk radio, bloggers, anonymous emails) were gearing up to smash Obama. Almost 1\10 voters still think he's a muslim! And the Reverend Wright issue was solid gold for people who were shocked, shocked that a person might have a spent time around someone who said stupid things. Oh, and lets not forget how serious an issue people are willing to make about a flag pin and a picture of Obama not not putting his hand on his heart.

C'mon McCain, these smear campaigners are getting cold and lonely. Bush and Rove fanned these flames under the table, and were rewarded for it. When are you going to learn that this is how a modern Republican campaign works? People want to hear that Obama is unAmerican. They want you to stand with them when they say that an Obama win would make us more likely to be attacked by al-qaida. Mitt Romney said it: a democratic win would be a "Surrender to Jihad." So stop the straight talk, and start raving. You're voters will thank you for allowing them to once again stop thinking about actual issues come november.

'The fact that the SBVT were almost immediately debunked and proven to be liars by nearly every major news organization had little effect over their ability to peel votes off of Kerry.'

no we haven't. no one debunked anything and we took that backstabbing cocksucker down for 400 grand. soros spent 20 million of his own money.

hahahaha!!!

i get a kick when liberal democrats whine about republican fear mongering. it makes my day!

what do you call the old 'republicans will force old people to eat dog food' 'republicans will take away your socialist security' 'vote for republicans and they will drag black people behind pickemups' etc etc etc etc.

i've been hearing that fear mongering tripe from you sissies since i were a child.

So glad you showed up Irving.... its great to have living proof of what I'm talking about present itself!

always the little helpless victim, huh smitty? you poor little thang.

And c'mon, you know you want to see McCain dig into Obama over patriotism or his wife or whether his dog barks when you say "Jihad." You don't feel just a wee bit slighted that McCain hasn't made enough use of folks like you o whip up a mudstorm? Imagine the rush you would get if McCain were to bring out the big guns and start talking "islamist" or "endorsed by hamas..." or (my favorite) "respect for the flag pin..."

All that pent-up tension must be killing you. Why won't McCain let you guys just get out there and do your worst?

It just ain't fair, eh?

Who's the victim here? In case you hadn't noticed big guy, we're winning this thing. You're stuck wasting your best lines on nobodies like me, because old man McCain hasn't got the guts to unleash the fury.

Remember when you and your peers were headline news on fox? You coulda been a contender. Now, mudslingers would be lucky just to get a shout-out from Sean Hannity. Tough times for swift boaters.

'You don't feel just a wee bit slighted that McCain hasn't made enough use of folks like you o whip up a mudstorm? Imagine the rush you would get if McCain were to bring out the big guns and start talking "islamist" or "endorsed by hamas..." or (my favorite) "respect for the flag pin..."

All that pent-up tension must be killing you. Why won't McCain let you guys just get out there and do your worst?

It just ain't fair, eh?'

it is not really necessary. all we have to do is point to obama's record (all 143 days of it) in opposing the surge. the fact he scrubbed his site of any previous references, the fact that he was demonizing the troops previously to make the nutjob wing of his party (dweebs such as yourself) donate money, the fact that he as much as called you dumbasses when he made that statement about NAFTA to the canuck abassador.

nope, obama's own words and actions (or lack of them) will be enough to swiftboat his sorry ass.

he can't work off script and that is plainly obvious. mccain is gonna eat him alive. listening that that doofus obama speak off script trying not to offend anyone would be like i would imagine edward scissorhands masturbating.

Well, I'm glad to hear you're looking at the glass half full. Me, I'm just looking at the polls.

But I wouldn't give up so easy, Irving. Don't belittle your own efforts. Fearmongers and smear campaigners are a vital part of the system. Don't let McCain's lazy campaign throw you under the bus! Your best days aren't behind you - not when so many people actually think Obama is Muslim.

You've got the ammunition. You've got the fire. Don't sit back and watch as McCain lets it fizzle! Get up, get out there, say something factually incorrect, and win this damn election before Michelle straps on a suicide vest!

that's the beauty part of being a republican. you don't have to say much. just let you dumbasses start running your pathetic yaps, always overplaying your hand, playing the trump victim game, and then repeat what you say.

he was against the surge before he was for it. that type of thing. it makes you so fucking mad you think it's hate speech!

i'd love to sit around making you look like an asshole, but i have a living to make. i've got to walk on the backs of the lazy and stupid to make some money.

see ya!!

fun times, fun times.

irvingchang:

i get a kick when liberal democrats whine about republican fear mongering. it makes my day!

what do you call the old 'republicans will force old people to eat dog food' 'republicans will take away your socialist security' 'vote for republicans and they will drag black people behind pickemups' etc etc etc etc.

i've been hearing that fear mongering tripe from you sissies since i were a child.

maybe if you would have listened our country wouldn't have become a joke

They are either extremely misinformed and dumber than a box of rocks or they are willing to look the other way in order to make money. Its really one or the other. Your normal GOP Christians are both types, dumber than shit and greedy. Guys like WangChung here are just plain stupid.

irvingchang:

that's the beauty part of being a republican. you don't have to say much. just let you dumbasses start running your pathetic yaps, always overplaying your hand, playing the trump victim game, and then repeat what you say.

he was against the surge before he was for it. that type of thing. it makes you so fucking mad you think it's hate speech!

i'd love to sit around making you look like an asshole, but i have a living to make. i've got to walk on the backs of the lazy and stupid to make some money.

see ya!!

Irv:

You're like a baby seal, squirming to get back to the waves. Cute.

So, by your accord, can we hold McCain to his anti, then pro, Bush tax cuts stance? Or the reversal on the agents of intolerance? Or opting out and then back in to campaign financing? Or should we let him keep going about the Iraq-Pakistan border and the Anbar Awakening. I mean, the guy's got all the foregin policy cred, right?

Also, how much money do you make from mopping floors?