Patriotism

A reader of Andrew Sullivan's "Daily Dish" blog comments on the patriotism of the Obama campaign.

I'd like to add a thought to your post "The Winner," about the Will.I.Am video. You mentioned that it resonated because of eight long years of shame and drift and failure - and no one could disagree with that. But I would add to that reason another - one that may seem hokey to some, but one that is central to the success of this campaign: patriotism.

The McCain campaign and far right detractors have questioned the patriotism of Obama and his supporters from the very beginning, when in fact, patriotism is the very basis for his success.

Obama's campaign simply could not function without an abiding, strident belief in the American people, the American dream, the American way. With two ongoing wars and a coming economic crisis that rivals the Great Depression, what can explain this fervor, this pure optimism, if not patriotism?

Without patriotism, where is the passion, the determination, the conviction that we, in fact, can? Without patriotism, we are left with only fear and cynicism. That video resonated because millions of people (young, disadvantaged - those with more reasons for despair and cynicism than hope and optimism) believe strongly enough in what their country stands for to stand up for it.

Well put.

Clint Still Rules

Brief break from politics today so that I can state that Clint Eastwood is still bad ass.

I'd go see Gran Torino just based on this poster alone:



But now the trailer has been released and I'm even more excited.

Anti-American Update - Part 2

Michele Bachmann has been cut off by the RNC!

Two sources aware of ad buys in Minnesota say that the National Republican Congressional Committee is pulling its media purchases from Bachmann's race.

Ouch.

Anti-American Update

Michele Bachmann, who I featured a couple of posts ago expressing her fear that Obama is "anti-American" is now trying to deny that she said what she said. Man, it's tough to deny things in the internet age.



In other Bachmann news, her appearance on Hardball a few days back has resulted in a flood of donations to her opponent.

McCain's Independent Appeal

With Republicans feeling so disaffected this year and with the generic Republican brand in the sewer, McCain was the smartest choice to be their presidential nominee. Well...the McCain of a few years ago, I should say. McCain has always had a strong following among independents, and he should have been able to attract a significant amount of them in this campaign.

And then...he pivoted hard towards the base by choosing a hopelessly unqualified and extremely right-wing running mate.

How's that working out for him with independents?

Not great.

They were and are the core base of his appeal. As a "maverick" Republican, his fundamental gamble was that he could appeal to enough of them and win over enough Clinton Democrats to beat the odds this year. And yet, no group has responded more negatively to McCain these past seven weeks than independents. McCain's unfavorables among independents have soared from 24 percent to 44 percent in seven weeks. Palin has also turned them off, after a promising start. Her unfavorables among independents have jumped 14 points since she started campaigning.

Why I Can't Help But Love Chris Matthews

I can't help it. I love me some Chris Matthews. Sure, he's imperfect. Sure, he's insecure. Sure, he runs off at the mouth. But his passion for politics and for this country is unrivaled. And, most importantly, his B.S. detector is finely tuned. He really cuts through the crap here as clearly nutty Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann waxes nostalgic for the quaint days of Joe McCarthy.

Powell Endorses Obama

For those who missed this, Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama was surprisingly poignant and thoughtful.



My favorite quote:

I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say, and it is permitted to be said. Such things as, 'Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.' Well, the correct answer is he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some 7-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the association: he's a Muslim and he might be associated with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America.

Wow. General Powell has earned my respect.