Hang onto your donkey hats, kiddies, we're hitting turbulence!

[bklyncowgirl]

This is getting scary.

Two weeks ago it looked like Obama was going to cruise to victory over the man of many houses. That was then this is now.

The right wing of the GOP laid down the law to Straight Talk Johnny (AKA the wrinkly white haired dude) and he quickly threw the Veep choice of his heart, Joe Lieberman, overboard. Sarah Palin has energized the GOP base like nothing I've ever seen. In a twinkling, instead of experience (a losing proposition this year--ask Hillary Clinton) the GOP is selling CHANGE! Huge rallies full of starry eyed evangelicals screaming their support for the pit bull hockey mom--oh yeah and that wrinkled old dude with him.

Democrats ask "Can Americans be so stupid?"

The answer is, yes.

I'm not talking about the loony wing of the religious right--they're a lost cause. I'm talking about ten to twenty percent of ordinary Americans who don't pay a whole lot of attention to politics until right before the election and then vote primarily on emotional issues. They may have been pissing and moaning about the economy, or about the war giving us hope that they might for once behave in what we see in a rational manner. Of course in many cases that is just an illusion. Time and again these people vote for the most basic reason of all. Call it Identity Politics, call it Tribal Politics. The Republicans pull this out every year and the Democrats still have no answer for it.

Sarah Palin is a living personification of GOP tribal politics and makes inroads into one major Democratic tribe as well. She's a gun totin' hunter who wants to cut down on the wolf population in order to increase the caribou and moose herd for the benefit of hunters. Animal rights activists and environmental activists complain to your heart's content--this is gold in deer country. She's an evangelical conservative who speaks the language and more excitingly walks the walk of the religious right brandishing baby Trig as her living symbol of her commitment to Life. She comes from an oil rich state and is happy to tell you how if the lilly livered environmentalists would allow us to drill here drill now we could all afford to drive Hummers and Suburbans until the next millennium. It's a fantasy, you say, well selling fantasy works--have you never seen an SUV commercial? She appears to be about as smart as the people who she's appealing too--and they love that. George Bush played a redneck on TV for eight years. Palin doesn't have to act, she's one of them. Hell she's got a family that any low life trailer park dweller could identify with, pregnant teen and all. Moreover she's a working mom. BUT SHE'S NOT HILLARY! You say. That doesn't matter. To some women the fact that she appears to share their live experiences will be enough--issues schmissues.

How can Obama compete against this myth.

1. Tell the truth about McCain and Palin. He's a tool and she's an extremist. Pound it home.
2. Tell the truth about the economy and his plans for it--especially taxes. Dumb it down. Pictures help--remember Ross Perot's flip charts?
3. Get out there and fight for these voters.
4. The media is not the Democrats friend. Right now they're in love with Palin. Get over it--and don't be afraid to point this out--it works for the Republicans.
6. Play basketball. Lots of it. Everyone loves an athlete.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. Good post - realistic without being depressing or alarming

Nice desciption of her appeal as well and I like your counterpoints.

[bklyncowgirl]

4. Thanks, she's a media sensation but it's a bit disheartening to see how easily people move. nt

[EstimatedProphet]

2. It's early yet

She's only been the pick for a week and a half. The news cycle hasn't even started to catch up. And when it gets down to it, the only groups she has heavily energized have been the fundies and the media - and us.

[bklyncowgirl]

3. That's my hope too

She's the shiny new toy. I think that the people who can be persuaded with facts will come around--if they have access to the facts in a form that they can digest. Problem is this stuff is complicated. Many people are involved in their own lives to the extent that they know nothing--nothing about the issues that are shaping their lives.

They ain't watching Countdown, they ain't reading the New York Times. They catch a glimpse of the political news between putting dinner on the table and the sports reports.

It has to be simple, straightforward and eyecatching.

[Az]

5. How you can help

Get out there. Volunteer for your local campaign groups. Man the phones. Pound the pavement. Make a difference. Get the vote out. That is how we win this. We have got to turn out the vote. No matter how things are polling its who turns out the most people that is going to win this thing. Even if the rethugs are trending high its the number of them that turn up that makes the real difference. And they are not as pissed and angry as we are. So make that count for something. Get the vote out and turn this thing around.

[bklyncowgirl]

6. Good point. Donate, volunteer and just talk to people. nt

[graywarrior]

7. Great post.

And yeah, number 3. Get out and fight for voters. Volunteer. Even if it's only one hour out of your life.

[bklyncowgirl]

8. Hopefully we'll get through this bumpety part. The debates are coming. nt

[mwb970]

19. This reliance on the debates sounds kind of desperate.

Remember the debates in 2004? Kerry won every single one hands down, and the public elected the oafish bush instead because they'd rather have a beer with him. This will be the exact same thing! Obama will run rings around the future president.

I don't see how good ideas and good policies can even begin to compete with the rootin'-tootin' pistol packer from Alaska. Haven't you heard? She's "America's sweetheart" now.

As a democracy, America lacks only two things: a free press and an informed electorate. The final descent into fascism will come even quicker than anyone here believes.

Yes, I'll watch the debates, but thinking they matter is a fool's game.

[GCP]

23. Well said

I agree with you entirely. This country is lost.

[chapel hill dem]

9. I recommend that we stop running against Bush and run against McCain.

The undecideds know McCain was a pain in Bush's butt for 8 years and talking about Bush so much simply reminds folks that McCain was one of the few R's to challenge Bush.

Also, running against Palin looks like we are changing the topic away from Obama vs. McCain because of McCain's experience advantage.

Let's focus on the POTUS race and defeat the R's diversion/shell game with Palin.

IMHO

[OwnedByFerrets]

10. I agree with everything in your post except this....

"I'm talking about ten to twenty percent of ordinary Americans who don't pay a whole lot of attention to politics until right before the election and then vote primarily on emotional issues."
I believe its more like 45-50% and they mainly vote for a platform from the 80's. Raygun, bless his evil heart, made a huge lasting impression on these people and they still believe in his blessed words. They will vote "R" right down the line because Raygun told them that lubruls were evil.

Yes, there are 18% who vote guns gays and religion, but I think the ghost of raygun is with us still.

[bklyncowgirl]

11. It's not so much Reagan but the myth of Reaganism. On the other hand Palin ain't no Reagan.

Morning in America. Optomism and the excitement of change. An acknowledgement of the goodness of the American people.

I find, and found it at the time rather nauseating myself, but there's no question that he hit a chord in many Americans. They WANT to believe. I think that McCain/Palin, especially Palin resonate in that way.

You can tell them the truth about Reagan 'till you're blue in the face. It won't matter. When people willingly surrender their disbelief it's hard to hit them with the facts.

Obama has his own morning in America moments. He's one of the few Democrats with a bit of poetry in his soul and can convey a sense of a positive future. I hope he continues to do so while at the same time taking it to the bastards.

[OwnedByFerrets]

12. Agreed!

[Doug.Goodall]

13. The Main Stream Media is not the Democrats' friend is 100% correct

The MSM is using this election for its own gain, not for the American people. Obama is at least 10% ahead of McCain, but don't expect any poll to tell the truth.

We will need everyone to vote, even if we are 10% ahead. It will take a good 10% to overcome the DieBold factor and prevent the Republicans from stealing the Presidency for the third time in a row.

[CarbonDate]

14. Palin - lipstick - pig

Easy to remember, easy to digest. And the first two letters of "pitbull" are the same as the first two letters of "pig". Easy to digest.

But he wasn't talking about Palin, of course. Just like Bush never trashed Kerry's service.

[Pachamama]

16. I like "Pork Barrel Palin" - goes real nice with the Pig theme and she adds the Lipstick

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

15. Good job, thanks! K&R n/t

[Waiting For Everyman]

17. Ask Miss Christian why she doesn't mind lying (on camera)

[Pachamama]

18. The problem is too many Americans have become an "American Idol" culture and they treat the election

like an edition of American Idol. I became thoroughly disgusted today when I realized that large (Please, God, not TOO large) segments of this country seem to have confused our Presidential Election with American Idol. That is the only way I can explain voters picking presidential ticket based on likeability.

I would really like someone explain to me how Republican voters can spend months saying Obama isn't experienced enough and then EMBRACE Palin without any questions. Can someone explain that to me? I understand that the GOP elected Representatives and Senators are embracing her to hold onto power. But the regular guy or gal? They like her? She's hot? We're back to "who do you want to have a beer with"? After 8 years of total screw-ups, folks will vote for McCain/Palin because she's perky and she is a MILF? Are you kidding me? The McCain/Palin campaign doesn't just think Americans are stupid...they are counting on it!!!

Meanwhile, I agree that Obama and Biden have to fight...fight like mad and tell the truth about them - that McCain's a tool and that Palin's an Extreme Extremist. I like your Perot Flip charts...use the KISS principle. And you couldn't be more correct about the media...they are not the Dems friend...they are the PR agency for the American Idol campaign of McCain/Palin or rather Palin/McCain....

:hi:

[mwb970]

20. Yes! This is EXACTLY what I suddenly realized last night.

This election is American Idol for most of our benighted citizens. Yes, they will vote for the Palin-McCain ticket because she is "cute" and a "breath of fresh air". No, they don't care (or even know) about the book banning, the abuse of power, the relentless lies, etc. What does that have to do with it? She's so cute!

Given our compliant press and ignorant, star-struck citizens, I would put the chances of a good outcome in the presidential election at approximately zero squared.

[myrna minx]

24. To use you American Idol analogy, while someone may have a good audition, and pass through,

they can't coast by with the one performance, they need to show that they have a well rounded ability to perform more than one genre of song, and have more than a won hit wonder of a performance. This is all Sara Palin is. She had a good audition that the fundies and the media got all worked up over, but even her stump speeches are the EXACT SAME SPEECH as her convention speech. She is running away from the media, like a scared rabbit and I promise that that won't do.

Since she's still performing the same old song, which doesn't carry the punch it did at the convention. McCain is hiding her from the media, therefore he is basically begging the media to actually do their jobs and do some fact checking of her lying boastful claims about her record.

After the faux glitter and sheen of what the media fawned over and the Republicans nearly billed as all things to all people, the American People will realise than she's a one hit wonder like the "Macarana" or "Who Let the Dogs Out" , amusing or fun at first, but tiresome after a while. Combine this with just the most basic of fact checking about her lying, boastful claims about her record, we find her to be Cheney 2, without the experience. She's not ready for prime time and even the McCain campaign knows it.

I'm not saying that this isn't a fight, which it is and we should never underestimate the Republicans and their dirty tricks, but I see her as Sarah "one note". I also expect Charlie Gibson to hand her the most embarrassing softball questions, since we know how unprofessional and biased he his, but even so, beauty pageant question and answers aren't enough, IMHO.

[greymattermom]

21. calculate your Obama tax cut

Can't a link to that site be put everywhere? Sports pages etc? I'd donate to that.

[amborin]

22. and urge

the O campaign to read and implement Lakoff----NOW!

paint palin as the extremist she is

shift voters' attention back to the issues

make sure they know mccain represents 4 more yrs of bush heavy