Obama Tour

[bmags]

Okay, what was going on in March, hmm, the most hotly contested democratic primary in 28 years

 

 

And, I just don't understand. McCain's trip to South America was getting heavily covered because he made this huge narrative about the Colombian Free Trade bill that Obama opposed.

 

 

 

[Texsox]

Okay, what was going on in March, hmm, the most hotly contested democratic primary in 28 years

 

 

And, I just don't understand. McCain's trip to South America was getting heavily covered because he made this huge narrative about the Colombian Free Trade bill that Obama opposed.

 

It pretty much was the dominate issue here for a couple days. But then this area cares more about Central and South America then the rest of the country. And as I flipped through the spanish language coverage, McCain was huge.

[lostfan]

This is one of those things where the media starts running out of things to talk about and they start saying things just to fill space. I can't think of a single negative about Obama taking a foreign trip (ostensibly in his Senate capacity, and media coverage notwithstanding since that has nothing to do wit him) and getting to know world leaders. That is pretty much what's expected of him as president. If you already don't like him, then sure, you will find any reason you can not to like him, and I dismiss most of those opinions as irrelevant. But to anybody objective, why would you even bring up something like "is Obama getting too popular in Europe? Is he too close to the European governments?" If you were to re-word that, it would say "is he going to make our alliances too strong?" How dumb does that sound? I think we've seen what happens when we neglect our alliances and take them for granted. It isn't fun.

[BigSqwert]

This is one of those things where the media starts running out of things to talk about and they start saying things just to fill space. I can't think of a single negative about Obama taking a foreign trip (ostensibly in his Senate capacity, and media coverage notwithstanding since that has nothing to do wit him) and getting to know world leaders. That is pretty much what's expected of him as president. If you already don't like him, then sure, you will find any reason you can not to like him, and I dismiss most of those opinions as irrelevant. But to anybody objective, why would you even bring up something like "is Obama getting too popular in Europe? Is he too close to the European governments?" If you were to re-word that, it would say "is he going to make our alliances too strong?" How dumb does that sound? I think we've seen what happens when we neglect our alliances and take them for granted. It isn't fun.

I linked a blog post by Arianna Huffington in the Dem thread the other day that pretty much makes that same point.

[lostfan]

And McCain's trips abroad did get coverage. He went to Iraq at the height of the Obama-Clinton drama that was drawing mad ratings, and he had a massive head start on his campaign, so I can't see how that was a bad thing. His trips to Colombia and Canada were also pretty big deals. There' just a general lack of enthusiasm for McCain's campaign and Republicans are going to wear latex gloves when they vote for him... don't blame the media for that. It pretty much offsets the love for him since 2000 anyway.

[lostfan]

I linked a blog post by Arianna Huffington in the Dem thread the other day that pretty much makes that same point.

It's a thoroughly stupid question. I really hate the mentality of that opposite foreign policy approach too. "We'll do what we want and our allies will fall in line." Sure... if they want. And if they even want to stay allies.

[Cknolls]

we'll ignore the 8 years of McCain love then.

 

McCain's tour was pretty heavily covered, that's when the big Colombia hostage rescue happened.

 

 

I guess we missed Gibson, Couric, and Williams' reports then.

[Cknolls]

Perhaps the media is just as enamored with Obama as most of the nation/world is? Lets face it, even polling of Republicans shows little enthusiasm for McCain.

 

 

I bought Sara Lee because I thought with everyone wetting their pants over Obama, the stock can only go higher.

[lostfan]

I guess we missed Gibson, Couric, and Williams' reports then.

He did one before that, and it was covered, but the Democratic primaries were a white-hot news story then. McCain wasn't complaining about it, he actually encouraged it, even joked about it on SNL. In fact, if his campaign wants to act now like they had a problem with it, I'd find it completely laughable.

 

The general tone of the coverage was "While Obama and Clinton are fighting among themselves, McCain is more or less unifying his base quietly, and looking presidential on his foreign tour."

[bmags]

I guess we missed Gibson, Couric, and Williams' reports then.

 

Couric? The same Couric who just edited out a completely false answer from John McCain and replaced it with another, and on the topic of Iraq no less? (And told nobody it was edited)

[lostfan]

McCain (intended as a swipe at Obama):

Well, I'd love to give a speech in Germany ... a political speech or a speech that maybe the German people would be interested in," he said. "But I would much prefer to do it as president of the United States rather than as a candidate for the office of the presidency."

 

Well, no s*** there John. What's your point?

[kapkomet]

McCain (intended as a swipe at Obama):

Well, I'd love to give a speech in Germany ... a political speech or a speech that maybe the German people would be interested in," he said. "But I would much prefer to do it as president of the United States rather than as a candidate for the office of the presidency."

 

Well, no s*** there John. What's your point?

 

I have to agree. But to his point, if McCain were over there giving a speech today, would it be news? Even if it were his best speech ever (I know, I know, oxymoron)? The answer is a resounding no.

[Rex Kickass]

It absolutely would be news and it would absolutely would be covered. The only problem with the disparity of the kind of coverage that Obama gets and McCain gets is that Obama has a really really really really amazing advance team. If you are at all familiar with the technical parts of how a campaign looks, the way that Obama is pulling this off is pretty amazing.

 

The only thing that makes him look at least a little bad is that he cancelled a stop to see wounded veterans because he thought it would be in appropriate to visit as part of a campaign funded tour. (Which might explain why it was never listed as an event for press)

 

The truth is that the bulk of the disparity in coverage so far this summer can be attributed to something, in my honest opinion. Obama stands for something. McCain stands for what Obama isn't and is running a campaign that looks and feels like an anti-Obama campaign instead of a pro-McCain campaign (perfect example is the green screen speech.) When he does introduce new positions and ideas and platforms, they're virtually ignored because McCain can't even get the names right in his speech. (see Project Lexington, Lexington Project or Project Runway 6) McCain is spending the summer trying to define what Obama stands for, but it isn't working because Obama is defining what Obama is standing for. McCain is not defining what McCain stands for. If he could do so, and do so in a way where he doesn't trip all over himself to do it, I think we'd see the campaign coverage disparity even out somewhat.

[kapkomet]

It absolutely would be news and it would absolutely would be covered. The only problem with the disparity of the kind of coverage that Obama gets and McCain gets is that Obama has a really really really really amazing advance team. If you are at all familiar with the technical parts of how a campaign looks, the way that Obama is pulling this off is pretty amazing.

 

The only thing that makes him look at least a little bad is that he cancelled a stop to see wounded veterans because he thought it would be in appropriate to visit as part of a campaign funded tour. (Which might explain why it was never listed as an event for press)

 

The truth is that the bulk of the disparity in coverage so far this summer can be attributed to something, in my honest opinion. Obama stands for something. McCain stands for what Obama isn't and is running a campaign that looks and feels like an anti-Obama campaign instead of a pro-McCain campaign (perfect example is the green screen speech.) When he does introduce new positions and ideas and platforms, they're virtually ignored because McCain can't even get the names right in his speech. (see Project Lexington, Lexington Project or Project Runway 6) McCain is spending the summer trying to define what Obama stands for, but it isn't working because Obama is defining what Obama is standing for. McCain is not defining what McCain stands for. If he could do so, and do so in a way where he doesn't trip all over himself to do it, I think we'd see the campaign coverage disparity even out somewhat.

That much I agree with. McCain is a bumbling idiot, sort of like our current president. He's being outclassed badly. If he would just take a stance on what Obama's policies really means to the average American's pocketbook, he'd win. But, I'm not sure he has that in him.

[bmags]

Someone else would have to take the stance for him, then he could repeat it.

[kapkomet]

Someone else would have to take the stance for him, then he could repeat it.

I'm not so sure he could even do that.

 

[lostfan]

 

I have to agree. But to his point, if McCain were over there giving a speech today, would it be news? Even if it were his best speech ever (I know, I know, oxymoron)? The answer is a resounding no.

Well that's an interesting question that involves some hypotheticals, and I'd have to say the answer is yes. If McCain did an overseas tour and gave a "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech, it absolutely would get significant news coverage. Would it get the same amount as Obama's is getting? No, probably not. But there's several other factors that have to do with that, not least of which is the fact that McCain is really running a lame-assed campaign that just looks boring, and lacks any real direction aside from being anti-Obama, as Rex was saying.

[kapkomet]

Well that's an interesting question that involves some hypotheticals, and I'd have to say the answer is yes. If McCain did an overseas tour and gave a "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech, it absolutely would get significant news coverage. Would it get the same amount as Obama's is getting? No, probably not. But there's several other factors that have to do with that, not least of which is the fact that McCain is really running a lame-assed campaign that just looks boring, and lacks any real direction aside from being anti-Obama, as Rex was saying.

The one common theme I do agree with is John McCain needs to differentiate between himself and Obama. Being the anti (anyone), regardless of party, won't get you elected.

[Rex Kickass]

The one common theme I do agree with is John McCain needs to differentiate between himself and Obama. Being the anti (anyone), regardless of party, won't get you elected.

 

It didn't work for John Kerry. Even though he never intended on that, his supporters kind of brought that portrait on him.

[kapkomet]

It didn't work for John Kerry. Even though he never intended on that, his supporters kind of brought that portrait on him.

And the same thing is happening to John McCain. Then again, we're not even to the conventions yet.

[Rex Kickass]

And the same thing is happening to John McCain. Then again, we're not even to the conventions yet.

I wouldn't say its "happening" to John McCain. It just seems like every statement he makes is about what's wrong with Obama, not what's right with McCain.

[HuskyCaucasian]

TV's Craig Furguson:

Barack Obama gave a speech in Germany today in from of 200,000 German people. They were shouting and screaming. Apparently France surrendered just in case.

[mr_genius]

Barack Obama gave a speech in Germany today in from of 200,000 German people.

 

 

American Idol 2008 election ! woo hoo!

 

Edited July 25, 2008 by mr_genius

[bmags]

you should thank your lucky stars this isn't american idol. All those McCain supporters having to figure out text messaging, it'd be a disaster.

[mr_genius]

you should thank your lucky stars this isn't american idol. All those McCain supporters having to figure out text messaging, it'd be a disaster.

 

Oh I know. But really, if you can't text your vote in it's not worth casting.