I'M BACK!!!

It's been almost three months since my last posting, and I am sure many are wondering why I've been silent. Well, it's because from July until now, the majority of the discourse has been on substantive issues where the differences between the candidates are more objective and rational. But, I think that these types of campaigns are fought on two separate tracts - one that deals with real issues, and one that deals with pettiness and smear. As it was with the primaries (and it has been historically with all general elections), smear become the weapon of choice when the substantive issues can't tilt the results.

Now we are in the home stretch, and nasty, hateful innuendos and outright lies are starting to be promoted. With 29 nine days to go, the Republican party is desperate to find anything to invalidate Obama. The list is long, laughable, and insulting to anyone with the common-sense to have followed the real issues over the last 9 months. But, some things on the list are divisive and violently catalytic for those who fear an America they've never imagined - one that is led by a Black man.

Examples?
- The JSM campaign admitting they will turn their messaging to character issues instead of substantive issues.
- Explicit guilt by association through the re-emergence of Rev. Wright, Rezko, and the baseless linking of BHO to Ayers.
- Mis-quotes, truncated snippets from BHO that are 100% out of context.

The impact? Shouts of "Kill him!", "Terrorist", and "Treason!" clearly heard from the Republican crowds that have gathered in the last several days. More shocking is that these epithets have gone unchecked by the candidates. You could argue that maybe they didn't hear it, but common-sense says otherwise. You want proof - check out this clip from a rally this week:



The canard about BHO and his so-called anti-American comments abut the Afghanistan war is especially troubling. Esecially when the truth is a US commander had to issue a formal on-air apology to Afghanistan for the high number of civilian casualties. See the proof...

Video length is 2:11


The substantive tract would address the fact that the Afghan efforts are being poorly executed and costing the US credibility in the region. The substantive tract would try to find ways to take BHO to task for not working to get the war back on an strategic path. (Obviously, no Senator can do this independently, but it would focus the argument on the issue.)

Instead, McCain's tract does not bring his own military credentials to bare on the issue. Instead, McCain's tract truncates BHO's comments, and isolates them to make them seem unAmerican. Then, McCain bets on the American peoples' lack of desire to be informed enough to know the ENTIRE context.


I guess the wheels have come off of the "Straight Talk Express", especially when you hear from McCain's own mouth his so-called "position" on negative campaigning....




This whole thing could easily devolve into some tit-for-tat campaign warfare that doesn't do any American any good. But, it's very clear that the baggage that McCain-Palin brings to this arena is very compelling. Past is prologue.

McCain's track record on protecting Americans from malfeasance and corporate greed (like our present-day debacle) : www.keatingeconomics.com

Video length: 8 minutes, but well worth it!



I'm just getting warmed up, so expect to see a lot more from me over the next 4 weeks until election day.

Peace.