I Do Not Like Them, Sam-I-Am (UPDATE)

I have recently noted, on more than one occasion, that no matter what ad Barack Obama puts out, no matter what speech he gives, no matter how much the "number of houses" business takes on a life of its own that keeps John McCain off balance, it is never enough for some people. Liberal concern-trolls will not be content until the Democratic Party resembles the Republican Party in cheap attacks, malicious rumor-mongering, and divisiveness. Whether they're reporters or bloggers, the sad fact is, in the end, they want the Obama campaign to do things their way. For whatever reason (mostly because they believe this is the way to win, since Republicans have been doing the whole divide-and-conquer thing so well for thirty-odd years), there is this belief that Obama has no idea how nasty the Republicans can be (as if he hasn't been paying attention), that he has stupid people running his campaign, and that the only way to win is to destroy, utterly and finally, one's opponent.

Today, there is a general wailing and gnashing of teeth over the fact that there just wasn't enough "Attack!Attack!Attack!" on John McCain last night. The convention lasts for multiple days, serves multiple purposes (as I said, the main ones being keeping hotel revenues up in the host cities, as well as providing escort services with an abundance of clientèle), and we have Sen. Clinton's speech tonight, former Pres. Clinton's speech on Wednesday, Sen. Biden's speech, and, of course, Sen. Obama's speech. Plus the myriad lesser speeches by lesser lights from across the Democratic Party. I fail to see how keeping an up-beat message, a positive framing of the Democratic message and Presidential candidate, and displaying the general enthusiasm of the Party for its nominee is somehow bad.

I thought it was the press that beat up on Democrats, detailing their abject failure in everything they attempt. Apparently, liberal bloggers are right up there with Richard Cohen and the rest of the Village idiots.

For the record, one of the reasons the Democrats don't do rat-fucking well is because it tends to be illegal. Donald Segretti lost his law license and went to federal prison. The Swiftboaters are notorious liars. Yes, both instances changed, or at least played a role in changing, the outcome of an election (although, in Segretti's case, it had as much to do with McGovern's ineptitude as Nixon's chicanery). Yet, I ask a serious question, and want a serious answer: Haven't we had enough of this kind of shit? The only way to end it is to end it. If we emulate it, no matter if we win the election, we lose. Period.

As I said last week, "I trust the American people. It’s called democracy. We should try it sometime."

UPDATE: I really need to read more before I post these things. . .

I'm a little puzzled by some of the hand-wringing about the tone of the convention last night. I've argued that the Democrats need to attack this week, but last night wasn't the time to do it.

Ted Kennedy's seriously ill, and you don't trot him out on that podium to hit McSame with gotchas and zingers. You don't ask Michelle Obama, who right-wing assholes are still caricaturing as an angry America hater, to use her speech to deliver political attacks.

--snip--

So how do I know the Democrats won the night? Look at the lineup that the GOP is trotting out their first night:

* U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.)
* Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Calif.)
* Vice President Richard B. Cheney
* First Lady Laura Bush
* President George W. Bush

I rest my case.

The 70% of Americans who hate George W. Bush and Dick Cheney will tune in and be reminded that John McSame is in the same noxious party as these two losers. And the more Bush and Cheney embrace McSame, the worse a night it will be for him. They're pretty much screwed.