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How Barack Hussein Obama Could Theoretically Beat John Sidney McCain III (And Vice Versa)

June 05, 2008 10:01 AM

In March we made an 8-point list "How John Sidney McCain III Could Theoretically Beat Whomever the Democrats Pick."

We did it for discussion purposes only, and we said when the Democrats made their pick, we'd do a reverse list.

So here it is. How Obama could win this November.

1. Change. Change. Change.

2. People want out of Iraq.

3. Democrats have the wind at their back, they just won three special elections in Republican House seats. And yes, the Democrats in the Mississippi and Louisiana seats were conservative on some issues, but they are largely with the Democrats on economics and Iraq.

4. McCain has some work to do to convince voters he cares about them on issues dealing with the economy, health care, the housing crisis, and education.

5. Obama is about 1,000 times the speechifier than McCain is.

6. McCain has yet to seem to the public like the fiery, bipartisan maverick millions of Americans fell in love with in 2000.

7. Both Obama and McCain are trailblazers. But their trailblazing works in different ways. Electing the first African-American president feeds into something that makes Americans feel good about themselves. Electing the oldest person ever first elected makes many Americans feel uneasy -- especially older Americans.

8. Obama has run the gold standard of American presidential campaigns. McCain, to be charitable, has not and is not currently.

**

I would now update the March post on McCain's advantages like so:

How John Sidney McCain III Could Theoretically Beat Barack Hussein Obama:

1. National security, national security, national security.

2. Record of actually working in a bipartisan way and taking risks to do so, unlike Obama. (Example: immigration reform. McCain nearly sacrificed his presidential campaign to pass that bill. Obama joined the bipartisan coalition but defected when labor-friendly amendments were offered.)

3. Win Latino voters. He has a case to make to them, and many are leery of Obama.

4. Turn traditional media bias on its head by providing reporters far greater access.

5. Be a white man in a country that has only elected white men president.

6. Figure out a way to win Clinton voters -- especially white blue-collar voters in Ohio, seniors in Florida -- who have been driven into a purple hatred of Obama.

7. Push Obama to follow through with his pledge by entering into public financing, thus eliminating money advantage. (He won't do it, but then you can further the impression that he's a poseur.)

8. Don't have any folks with questionable views about the U.S. in your circle of friends and colleagues.

- jpt

June 5, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (118)

User Comments

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toothchipper,
suggestion: watch CNBC so you know why Gas Prices are around $4.

This is not someone fault. The demand is huge in China and India. There are speculators in the Market that bet on stocks... understand????

Posted by: ldv_ca | Jun 7, 2008 12:44:45 AM

His middle name never bothered me....the fact that he has lied so much about his background is scary...and Trinity Church has a history of hate talk and spreading the anti-Isreal teachings of Wright...Who goes to a church for 20 years and then denies they knew what it stood for? Who exposes their children to that if they don't believe it themselves?

Posted by: Jackie | Jun 6, 2008 8:50:04 PM

"Chris - Where have you been lately? He does have a problem with Hispanics.
First, Hispanics in Texas made it a point to say in public that they will never vote for him."

Obama doesn't have a problem with Hispanics, sadly many of them seem to have a problem with him. In Texas, they didn't just state that they wouldn't vote for Obama, the Hispanic rep clearly stated they would not vote for "a black man" so regardless if it is Obama or someone else, the problem lies with those who think along color lines instead of policies.

Posted by: just me | Jun 6, 2008 3:54:55 PM

Didn't your report that Obama lied to you about giving up smoking?

I'd like a follow up on that Issue.

Posted by: fjschmitz | Jun 6, 2008 8:13:17 AM

McSAME will be a slave who will accept LOBBYISTS MONEY.

He is a phony and a Busheeeeeeeeeee!

Posted by: katrina | Jun 5, 2008 10:05:21 PM

McCain might be a nice guy, but the Republican Party is controlled by lobbyists who sell out America, and McCain won't do anything to stop it. I don't wat Karl Rove back in the White House.

Obama has already said that the DNC will no longer accept money from lobbyists, and that sounds good to me.

Furthermore, I don't care what Michelle Obama said on a tape, or about Donna Brazille Nut.

Posted by: Julie | Jun 5, 2008 9:11:10 PM

By the way, you forgot the main way McCain could beat Obama - he could go back to being John McCain. He was an honorable man - who fought against special interests, who did not pander to people at Bob Jones University - and deplored those who did and spoke fiercely against torture. I miss that man.

Posted by: Mara | Jun 5, 2008 8:50:14 PM

The only way John McCain could provide the press greater access is to invite them into bed with him and Cindy.

Posted by: Mara | Jun 5, 2008 8:47:36 PM

Is Obama going to pick Sebilius as Vice President?

If he is going to choose a woman it should be Hillary!!!!

Posted by: Julie | Jun 5, 2008 8:35:01 PM

Obama said today that "everybody needs to settle down" and let the vetting process run its course". In other words, everyone will forget in a few weeks and we can move on united----yes, we are united now with a goal and that goal is to support John McCain---Yes, we can.

Posted by: Anne | Jun 5, 2008 6:48:27 PM

From London
A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November. The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked , are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in West Asia and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country.
But the accord also threatens to provoke a political crisis in the USA. President George W. Bush wants to push it through by the end of next month so he can declare a military victory and claim his 2003 invasion has been vindicated. But by perpetuating the US presence in Iraq, the long-term settlement would undercut pledges by the Democratic presidential nominee Mr Barack Obama to withdraw US troops if he is elected president in November. The timing of the agreement would also boost the Republican candidate Mr John McCain who has claimed the USA is on the verge of victory in Iraq, a victory that he says Mr Obama would throw away by a premature military withdrawal.

Posted by: War Crime | Jun 5, 2008 5:52:54 PM

Wow we can now openly say obama is black but god forbid you should mention his middle name. My the Bots are sensitive, do they think no one knows his middle name?
Silly guys....he will have it on his letter heads! My how silly!

I LOVE ABC!!!

Posted by: HP Boston | Jun 5, 2008 5:34:13 PM

Posted by: HP Boston | Jun 5, 2008 5:35:34 PM

Boma can keep copying Hillary on all her plans and solutions!
He can have her on the trail 24/7 so he can go on vacation.
He can get The mad one to say she LOVES America.
He can challenge Wright to a duel and may the worst one win!

Posted by: HP Boston | Jun 5, 2008 5:29:09 PM

Hey Jake? Any particular reason you felt the need to use middle names? ABC is pathetic.

Posted by: jinkies | Jun 5, 2008 5:21:42 PM

FACT CHECK ON CNN

John McCain is attacking Barack Obama's opposition to the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which (among other things) called for labeling Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. McCain claims that Obama's opposition means that he also opposed calling the IRGC terrorists. We find otherwise.

* Obama cosponsored an earlier bill that also called for designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

* The Kyl-Lieberman amendment did more than just label the IRGC terrorists. Obama stated at the time that he opposed the bill on the grounds that it constituted "saber-rattling."

* McCain claims that Obama must oppose calling the IRGC a terrorist group because Obama's Web site doesn't say anything about the IRGC. McCain's argument is a glaring example of the logical fallacy of argumentum ad ignorantiam.

Posted by: Oretega M | Jun 5, 2008 5:01:22 PM

Boma can keep coping Hillary on all her plans and solutions!
He can have her on the trail 24/7 so he can go on vacation.
He can get The mad one to say she LOVES America.
He can challenge Wright to a duel and may the worst one win!

Posted by: HP Boston | Jun 5, 2008 3:55:44 PM

We can not afford an Barrack Hussein Obama Presidency!! Thats all there is to it!!

Posted by: spock | Jun 5, 2008 3:54:25 PM

I will tell you how JOHN CINDY MCCAIN CAN LOOSE ME AND I AM HIS BASE!!! Obama clearly supports the issues that reflect his BASE, McCain on the other hand has not come out with any strenght to make sure HIS BASE knows where he stands. Think about it, HAVE YOU HEARD McCain say "I AM GOING TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMAGRATION HARD" HE IS AS WEAK ON IMMAGRATION AS GWB, IF NOT WEAKER! HAVE YOU HEARD HIM SAY " I PROMISE YOU I WILL ENSURE I MAKE SURE THAT CONVERSATIVES CAN COUNT ON ME TO APPOINT JUDGES THAT WILL OVERTURN ROE V.WADE" BUSH WAS STRONG ON THIS AND IN 2004 HE WON! I HAVEN'T HEARD THIS KIND OF PASSION COME FROM MCCAIN, AM I SUPPOSED TO ASSUME HE FEELS THIS WAY? IN 04 MY CHURCH EAGARLY ENDORSED BUSH, BUT NOT MCCAIN. WHY BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE THREW HAGEE UNDER THE BUS, AND ROD PARSELY. EVANGELICALS MAY SAY THINGS OTHER DON'T AGREE WITH, BUT OTHER REBULICAN PRESIDENTS STOOD WITH US. IF MCCAIN DOESN'T STOP BEATING A DEAD US OVER THE HEAD WITH THE WRIGHT ISSUE, AND JUST TALKING ABOUT THE WAR HE WILL LOOSE COME NOVEMBER. WE NEED MORE MOTIVATION! UNCOMMITED REPUBLICAN.

Posted by: WendyLou | Jun 5, 2008 3:49:27 PM

Look where this fear has brought this great country to..do you think Obama is going to release the negro militants to violate your 'women folk', apparently some people love to be used by rich republicans who could'nt care less about the common man...use your brains.

Posted by: billyboy | Jun 5, 2008 3:48:28 PM

To list Barack's middle name when it brings up BAD taste in some and reminds people of something Barack is not is very telling about the author and his true intentions towards Barack and his candicy.

Posted by: Angellight | Jun 5, 2008 3:41:34 PM

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