Dear Friends: I'm hoping this blog becomes one of the most fascinating -- and useful -- ones in the political blogosphere. You can help me achieve that end by taking various steps: (1) bookmarking the site; (2) visiting regularly; (3) sharing your own thoughts about the various articles (either through the "comments" or by writing me at TalkTop65@aol.com); and (4) telling your friends and political allies about this site and providing them links to it. Thanks for your support. On my Pennsylvania blog, I have a piece about two congressional candidates whom I'm urging to link themselves closely to John McCain's presidential bid. It's a strategy I believe is applicable to most Republican congressional candidates across the nation. If you agree, please forward it to your own favorite congressional candidate. Thanks.
One key question that hasn't been answered yet is whether Hillary supporters should support John McCain -- and if so, why? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Another critical matter is how Hillary should endorse Obama. If she believes he would be a bad President, should she endorse him at all -- or perhaps rest her wounded spirit incommunicado in Hawaii? If she has to choose between Party and country, won't she choose country?
If you're looking for "Hatchets Hacking Away at Hillary," it's the column beneath this one. It's a defense of Mrs. Clinton against some of the ridiculous accusation flying around. As always, your comments are welcome.
Mothers Day weekend and politics: what a combination! The following is by Seattle’s own Jean Avery, a super-smart analyst (and mom) who founded http://moms4mccain.blogspot.com/. Go and bookmark it; heck, tell your mom to bookmark it. The following piece originally appeared on http://www.mccainnow.com/, a group I urge you to visit and join.
As Jean says: “The pundit chorus has enjoyed picking over the carcass of our former First Lady's campaign. While I take no pleasure in kicking her when she's down, her mistakes provide some 'teachable moments for the McCain campaign.
Internet fundraising and activism matters.
Obama and Ron Paul have siphoned undecided voters by being *everywhere*, ready with an accusatory link or fabrications any time their candidate is mentioned. Hillary has a professional site for Moms (ahem ahem) but significantly less visibility on the web. I'm not advising McCain supporters to stoop, lie, stalk, troll, or flame, but being present and speaking up will matter. A new wave of undecided voters will be looking for answers, and we have to be available to provide the RIGHT answers and information they need to choose McCain. There ARE reasonable people out there, and they ARE more likely to be swayed by ‘here is McCain's actual voting record' rather than ‘Wooo! Obama forever sucka!'
Demographics matter less than values.
We heard a litany of experts explain Hillary's supremacy among Catholics, blue-collar workers, women, and other 'slices' of American pie. But in real life, many Catholics are uncompromisingly pro-life, blue-collar; Midwesterners desperately need the tax cuts, and women vote their heads and not their hormones. The more Hillary's campaign relied on forced ‘friendship' from each slice, the more voters resisted her. McCain's one-on-one style rises above stereotypes and allows voters to judge for themselves. McCain is rated higher than Clinton and Obama for ‘sharing voters' values' - undecided voters will see that in action when McCain takes the high road during his campaign.
Change is gonna come.
Other pundits criticized Hillary for running 'as an incumbent' and emphasizing her experience. One thing Obama has right (please hold your rotten tomatoes) is the legitimate need for change in the government and the people's expectations for each other. The antidote to the "Change we Can Believe In" argument is McCain's proven record of "Change we have seen" - on finance reform, judicial appointments, bipartisan progress, and more. Change is needed in all branches of government, but it will take finesse and diplomacy to make that happen. McCain is the candidate with proven results on his record.
The truth is more persuasive than you think.
Hillary could have made a perfectly valid point about her foreign policy credentials by saying "I've traveled more than Obama" or "I've met more world leaders." But in her efforts to paint a 'more persuasive' picture, what should have been a compelling advantage became a sniper-fire tall tale punch line. McCain's greatest strength (and yes, occasional weakness) is sticking to the truth. Voters picked up on this months ago, rating him as the most trustworthy candidate. At town hall meetings he greeted friends and adversaries alike, without benefit of a mouth full of waffle. While it's sometimes tempting as supporters to sugar-coat or selectively edit McCain, it's better to make the let the man and his policies speak for themselves. Hundreds of thousands of Hillary supporters will become undecided voters if and when Obama is named as the nominee. I encourage all Moms who support McCain to take action today - tell a friend or a stranger, in person or online, who John McCain is and what kind of President he will be.
Steve adds: Jean Avery is really, really good. She’s one reason fewer people are reading the Washington Post and New York Times and turning to the Internet for great insight. As you may have noted, CNN, MSNBC, and even (sob) FOX basically show us one commercial after another for the candidates (almost invariably, the Democrat candidates). They don’t present real analysis because they don’t truly understand what’s going on around them. There’s some evidence that about the one-hundredth time people see Barack Obama’s “stump speech,” they start putting him the category of bill collectors and used-car salesmen.
As Jean suggests, Hillary Clinton has done many things well – and a good number not so well. She’s a better candidate for President than Obama, but somehow she never quite got that across to enough voters. She's a fighter, but when she occasionally tried to be someone she was not, her campaign floundered. She found her style in Pennsylvania, but it may have been a day late and many delegates short.
Thanks to Jean for producing such a great column. In fact, she’s truly a member of “one of the best political teams” on the Net. Keep up the great work, Jean. If you want to see more of Jean's analyses, visit her site at http://www.moms4mccain.blogspot.com/.
Visitors, take a look at http://www.mccainnow.com/ and join up. It’s a site for serious “McCain-iacs.”
QUESTION: HOW CAN MAKE SURE THIS WEB SITE IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AROUND. ONE WAY YOU CAN DO SO IS BY PASSING ALONG A LINK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND URGING THEM TO VISIT. THEY REALLY DO HAVE TO STOP WASTING THEIR TIME LOOKING AT CNN & MSNBC. Thanks!
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