Everyone once in a while you read a bid of punditry that makes you yell at the computer screen, YES! YES! Why doesn’t everybody see this??
I had one of those moments today when I read the Anchoress when she wrote this:
The GOP, for the GOP Punditry and the GOP ticket all keep acting like the political and media rules today are the same rules by which the games were played 50 years ago, and that if they just sit on the curb saying, “hey, guys, play fair! Hey guys, here’s the rulebook, play fair!” the left and the press will suddenly pull back and say, “hey, wow, you’re right! We haven’t been holding to the precepts of honest governance or ethical journalism! Thanks for pointing that out, and by Jove, we’re going to do better! We’re going to stop lying about Sarah Palin and those rape kits! We’re going to go ahead and ask those questions about Bill Ayers and we’re going to report on those Obama’s questionable tolerance of free speech! We’re going to demand for accountability from the Democrats and even be fair once in a while!
It’s not going to happen. It’s time for the GOP and people on the right to realize that – for now – the rules have changed. There is a whole ‘nother rulebook being used, and sitting around flapping the old rule book and whining “c’mon, guys, c’mmmmmmon,” is not going to get the game back on track.
John McCain needs to realize it today. So does Palin. We need to recognise it and begin to compete under these new rules, or just concede the game. John McCain needs to stop trying to act like a referee and start acting like the quarterback.
Exactly! Stop trying to be a mediator and stop complaining about the tactics of the left. Be the Quaterback and not just any quarterback, be a Phil Simms kind of quarterback. Sure, you have taken more than your fair share of hits in the game and there is blood on your jersey (mostly your own) but don’t worry about that right now. It is two minute offense time and the game is still within reach.
Now listen to me, there is only a month to go. There is no more time to sell the American public on who you are and your story. They either know it by now or don’t care. Forget about selling yourself, you need to focus all your efforts on making sure that everyone knows why electing Obama is a really terrible idea. The ammunition is there, Obama has been leaving it all over the place and youare ignoring it all thinking that we can just talk this out like reasonable people. The time for that tactic is over. Pick up the ammo, lock, load, and come out blazing.
Mr. McCain, you can still win this, but only if you listen to the Anchoress and stop playing referee. You are the quarterback and there is two minutes left in the game. A real leader knows how to win the big games, this is your turn to show what you can do. Get it done.
October 2, 2008 at 2:46 am
I am certainly not bounding with sunny optimism about McCain-Palin, but I remember only too well that at this time of year in 2000 and 2004, we were assured by the great deodorized MSM of the upcoming joy that would soon be the nation’s in the administrations of President Al Gore and, later, President John Kerry. I recall some conservative wags biting their nails over the accuracy (supposed) of the Zogby polls that predicted that GW was going down in flame. The Anchoress is a wonderful lady with often fine observations albeit a bit rambling, yet she, like so many, forget the past races.
All hail, President Michael Dukakis! Second termer, James Carter. All hail!!
October 2, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I thought the same exact thing yesterday when I heard what McCain said of Gwen Ifill moderating the debate tonight. He said, “It’s not an issue.” Oh, John. Come on!
October 2, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I’m joining the Anchoress’ fast! It is not coincidence that yesterday October 1st I had the same thinking as she did and had decided to make devotions to Our Lady of Guadalupe and dedicate myself to her. My Church has a full stained glass wall of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady’s feast day is also my birthday and when McCain visited her church in Mexico City I took that as a very significant sign.
“There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is,
that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.” -Sister Lucia
October 2, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I was, prior to the convention, going to, as the aptly named blog notes, “get drunk and vote for McCain.” After the convention, with the Palin choice, I actually donated to the campaign, and got a bumper sticker.
But then, McCain started being McCain again, and I am beginning to reach for the Gin bottle again!
This guy is going to snatch Defeat from the jaws of Victory…
October 2, 2008 at 4:03 pm
To John Hetman, I would say “yeah, but…”
We’ve got the double whammy of an extremely unpopular war and an economy in serious danger of collapse. Either of those factors alone would make this an uphill climb for the candidate of the incumbent party, but sheesh.
Combine that with other factors such as the vitriol coming from the left toward Palin, the gotcha journalism from the MSM, and it’s not looking too good right now.
That said, I hope once this bailout bill passes that McCain REALLY starts kicking butt and naming names, such as Ayers, Raines, etc. etc. I don’t really understand why his campaign haven’t hammered Obama on the radical left record and persona that lies beneath that smooth and downright phglematic exterior.
October 2, 2008 at 6:09 pm
It time the Republicans start asking the TOUGH questions since the media won’t. Being Mr. Nice Guy is not working, only Reagan could pull that off and still get his way. This double standard is killing conservatives because they play the game but the opposition doesn’t. All dirty tactic awards go to BO and his demon crats.
It is overdue that McCain go for broke because his chance to win is slipping away. GET ON THE FRIGGING STICK!!
October 2, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Honestly, I think it’s a bit naive to think the US media is better or worse than it was in the past. If you had read the things that were written about politicians in the time say of the founding fathers, you’d probably flip your powdered wig. The reality is that there have been times when the media has self-censured (i.e. in the 50’s and 60’s due to various pressures like the McCarthy hearings or government evoking “matters of security”). But overall, it’s the same tactics, different election.
October 2, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Deusdonat …
Yes, BUT in the days of the pwdered wig, there was not pretense of objectivity. MSM folks like to pretend that their objective. This was not the case then. Whigs read whig papers, Tories read Tory papers. And, of course there was the era of Yellow Journalism, that got us in to the Spanish American War.
After the era of the “Lost Generation” (i.e., Hemingway, et. al.) that was the time of the beginning of the concept of “objective” journalism, and we have it today.
I don’t care if your “in the satchel” for one side or the other; just be intellectually honest about it!