Wow, I never realized Obama was such an effective senator while being useless at the same time.  Glad McLiar pointed that out to me.

Of course I agree with Slugger that this new McCain effort is lame. What I sense, from the great story on that Salter dude and from other McCain comments is an "inartful" sense of resentment and near inferiority on the part of the Old Man. It is really clear to me at least that Obama gets under McCain's thin skin. I know that the nat'l polls currently have it close but once the campaign season starts (you can tell that I am older because I still define that as after the conventions) the gap will grow and what we will see and hear from McCain will be very painful to witness: An old bull trying to hold off the young bull. Classic case but still, played upon a national electioin canvas, very painful to see...

Did the spirit of John Kerry's campaign somehow manage to take possession of John McCain's? I thought McCain ran a decent primary but since he won the nomination has gone completely off the rails. The only reason I can see that Obama is not up by 20 points is that too many Amreicans are just racist bastards or completely oblivious to the campaign thus far.

Perhaps if McCain had been elected in 2001, he might well have been a smart, effective president. But seven years dragging himself to the right appears to have compromised his ability to think and tell the truth. It's hard to blame him, nearly eight years bringing himself into perfect harmony with the Bush Admnstration has got to cause some form of braindamage.

In any event, his loud call to have Obama admit the tactical success of the "Surge," - conditions on the ground as he says - seems a bit hallow when he is claiming that the precise and repeated words of the Iraqi leadership is simply an "inartful statement." if he can't come to terms with actual conditions in Iraq, them asserting their own right to rule, he has no business being president.

blackie, I'd vote strongly for oblivious. The population at large simply refuses to embroil itself in these events as we have done.

This is unfortunately, because it is obvious that the GOP is screaming louder, and more often, which improves their chances at building a positive impression of themselves and a negative impression of Obama basically while no one is looking (rumor, hearsay, gossip, news flashes, etc). Once the fall hits, everyone is going to start out hating Obama, but you would be hard pressed to get anything consistent or coherent out of even the smallest groups.

My response to the McCain gas prices ad was similar to Jason's --that is, I think the "O-ba