In debate jargon, there is a term called a "Turn" where you use an opponents argument against them to effectively prove your point. It's time for Democrats to turn the energy debate in an immediate, simple and effective way.

California Dems should work to ensure the GOP / Schwarzenegger measures don’t make it on the ballot. Timing is everything and could be the significant budget strategy for progressives and democrats IF they take it as their approach.

In a hard-hitting Op-Ed in this morning's Financial Times, Singapore's Kishore Mahbubani writes that The West is strategically wrong on Georgia

... most of the world is bemused by western moralising on Georgia. America would not tolerate Russia intruding into its geopolitical sphere in Latin America. Hence Latin Americans see American double standards clearly. So do all the Muslim commentaries that note that the US invaded Iraq illegally, too. Neither India nor China is moved to protest against Russia. It shows how isolated is the western view on Georgia: that the world should support the underdog, Georgia, against Russia. In reality, most support Russia against the bullying west. The gap between the western narrative and the rest of the world could not be greater.

He extends that diagnosis to our overall approach to the world (as quoted below the fold) and makes a convincing case that the West has an incoherent strategy towards the rest of the world. I would like to suggest, however, that the current 'strategy' has a narrow rationality intimately linked to our current dysfunctional politics.

John McCain talks a big game, but does he have the chops to be commander in chief?

As the media twists itself into knots wondering who Barack Obama will choose as his Vice Presidential running mate (and when), Obama and company are sitting back and enjoying all the attention lavished on their campaign by the endless procession of speculation.  And the media, for its part, is all too happy to oblige.   Monday it was Joe Biden, Tuesday it was Kathleen Sebelius.  Today, it's Caroline Kennedy.  The media needs something new to talk about every day -- so a new person gets suggested daily, and the 24-hour discussion takes root.

In short, it's genius.

Cross Posted at My Site

Well, since it looks like we're finally going to cave - excuse me: since it looks like congressional Democrats are finally going to cave - on this bad joke of an offshore- drilling fiasco, I say let's make the most of it:  Let's turn the table on the Republicans, who have up to this point been making political hay with this inane issue.

Since the logic of the reductio ad absurdum argument of Okay, pal, exactly where do we stop drilling - your backyard? appears to be utterly lost on the majority of the American electorate in its oil-starved fevered panic, I say we turn around and pull a Rove. Let’s attack their strength. Let's get more visceral, more jingoistic, more patriotic, more freakin’ Amrkin than they could ever hope to possibly get:

You wanna drill for oil in America?  Fine – every bit of that oil you drill in America, stays in America, for use by Americans.

A caller named, Dee, on Ed Shultz's show today put into words what I have been thinking these past few weeks.  Barack Obama has been playing McCain's game, submitting to his slow pace.  Other than Berlin, when was the last time Obama had a rally of 10,000 plus people?  I can't think of one.  Why piddle around with small events when he can fill stadiums?

Obama's strength is to inspire and he should be playing to it.  When Obama was drawing big crowds, it drew in the local and national media.  Chris Matthews was feeling thrills go up his legs.  And I was getting goosebumps daily.

It is time to start playing the Obama style of game.  Let McCain call him a celebrity.  He should be one.  I want to see Obama filling baseball and football stadiums around the country.  Do a minor league ballpark tour through the South.  Fill football stadiums in the plains and Southwest.  Bring the excitement back into this campaign.  Inspire the young and old alike.

And bring back the idea of CHANGE!

Has anyone else noticed that the only potential veep pick that Republicans have gone out of their way to slam is Tim Kaine? If they really thought Kaine was such a terrible choice, wouldn't they stay mum instead and secretly hope Obama would end up picking him?

Why then are they trying to scare Dems off of Kaine?

Might it be because they think an Obama / Kaine ticket would win?

In his glory days as heavyweight champ, Muhammed Ali perfected a technique known as the "rope a dope" in which he would allow an opponent to repeatedly punch him in the mid-section while Ali guarded himself against the ropes.  Then, when the opponent tired from punching Ali, the champ would move in for the kill and finish off his winded opponent.  This was a great strategy for boxing.  It is a sure loser in politics.  

This article has a very insightful view of how the Republicans have historically run their campaigns, and how the Democrats could learn a thing or two...

Full article here:

McCain Unhinged: The Must Issue for the Obama Campaign by Guy Reel

Because I live in South Florida, I have been volunteering my time. Several times I have tried to contact the campaign but to no avail. Finally, out of sense of frustration, I contacted my field organizer regarding the direction of the campaign and how can I communicate those concerns to the campaign.  Earlier this morning I had a comment regarding the conversation:

Obama needs to fight back. I just spoke with my field organizer who said that she has been hearing this refrain on the ground. She said that people are getting a bit demoralized because they do not see him fighting back especially against the celebrity meme. People want to see a fighter so they are willing to bat for him. She said that she’s been submitting reports expressing those concerns. From my impression the top people in the campaign are in a bubble. It also my impression that there’s a lot of crap going on within the democratic party that we don’t know about.

If Obama is ever asked: 'Is McCain the best person to deal with Russia?'
He could reply: 'The USSR yes, Russia, no'

So far, every important move made by the Obama campaign has been well thought out and executed with precision. From the quick responses during the primaries, to moving the convention speech to a 75k seat stadium, (we’ll see how the media portrays things) the campaign is operating with purpose and awareness.

Obama has so far been unwilling to touch McCain's POW time or military service, except to praise it.

OK, we all understand why.  Getting into a spitting context on that issue makes him come up the loser every time.

But why not PRAISE McCain's experience... but do so CLEVERLY.

Wow, that's quite a name.  And it is kinda funny sounding, even if it does flow quite nicely.

There has been a lot of gnashing of teeth lately, most recently by Paul Krugman, that Obama has not hit McCain hard enough on the issues.

One diarist recently compared Obama's fighting style to be like aikido.  (I cannot find who it is just now; if any of you know of this diary, please let me know and I will update this entry.) [The diary was by David Kronig, thanks to Bubbanomics in the comments.]  I love that analogy, and would like to add that he also fights like Mohammed Ali.

More below.

Maybe I'm just in concern troll mode, but I really am starting to wonder about Obama's game plan.

George Lakoff used the word "Neo-liberal" to characterize those whose political views were frozen in the mindset of the 18th century Enlightenment.  I'll give a link below to my diary on that topic.  The word comes up again in the Democratic Socialists of America's  Statement on the 2008 Presidential Election.  There are strong parallels between their uses, but DSA is even more forthright about what is wrong with Neo-liberalism.  Lakoff focuses on the failure of Neo-liberals to see the deep significance of our recent understanding of brain function on the framing of issues to arouse reflexive responses in the minds of voters while  DSA is concerned with what Neo-liberals are willing to give away to win an election.  Both are asking questions that demand answers.  Look below for DSA's position on the election and the link to my Lakoff diary.

I am getting a lot of de ja vu lately when I watch the TV coverage of the presidential campaigns.  And I think I know why: we've heard it all before.