Obama: McCain ‘Doesn’t Know What He’s Up Against’

RALEIGH, N.C. — A combative Barack Obama said Tuesday that Republican John McCain “doesn’t know what he’s up against” in this election and challenged his rival to stop questioning his character and patriotism.

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I have to admit, it's been kinda boring the last two weeks. Between Obama's vacation and now. And there hasn't been a lot going on with the man that was interesting enough to talk about in depth IMO. But once again and on the heels of the convention, it appears that Obam has dove back into the pool and started to splash and thrash around a lot in preparation for his VP announcement. The media calls it 'combative.' I call it desperate.

After reading of his latest, I was struck by several remarks that Obama made.

  “Our job in this election is not just ‘win,’ although I’m a big believer in winning,” Obama said during the rally. “I don’t intend to lose this election. John McCain doesn’t know what he’s up against.”

The opening line seems to reflect an underlying tone of realization that the potential of defeat is a very real possibility to Obama. a reality which he quickly tries to bolster and reinforce against with rhetoric. Then comes the bravado and the veiled threats of his own. (on McCain)  (He) "doesn't know what he is up against?" Then he redirects with a visitation to the Britney Spears comparison that McCain made two weeks ago, which obviously remains a stinging reminder of something that scored a direct hit on his campaign and he knows it. Or why else mention it. It's already past present in the minds of most. All except Obama apparently.

These are clear indicators of an immature politician and a person incapable of staking out their own ground and holding it IMO. No more visions of rainbows and change for the moment, just reactionary posturing in preparation for the next big stress in his campaign, which is revealing his pick for VP sometime this week. (Obama's negatives are inching up daily in the polls and he knows it.)

Then Obama returns to the theme that he was against the war and the surge while McCain was for them. No mention of the success of either, just the reaffirmation that he doesn't intend to allow anyone to attack his love of country or patriotism. I see several angles going on in this approach. First, Obama is once again attempting to place his supposed plan into a comparative of relative same and similar vision of value in the eyes of the people. But in doing so, he is completely disregarding the fact that his vision and plan has been proven wrong. We are winning the war in Iraq and the surge was a success. But Barack Obama refuses to let go of the failed rhetoric and the reality that he has lost on those two fronts.

Secondly, Obama is attempting with this political positioning, to attempt to place himself alongside John McCain with equal standing of character and principle. And by doing so he is also attempting to draw a veiled barrier around his positions, by asserting that his visions for America are just as valid as McCain's. On the surface the representation may seem fair, but IMO there is more going on with the words in this speech than meets the casual eye. Obama and his handlers are attempting to set the stage for their next volley of swift boating allegations IMO. While increasing their own tempo of political attacks and rhetoric against McCain, the Obama camp is preparing for anyone that responds to or attempts to refute his representations as nothing more than an unfair attack on Obama. And they are clearly indicating that they will immediately set upon these responses with the straw dog argument and defense/attack that the opposition's criticism is invalid and therefore, a specious swift boat attack by the opposition.

  “Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country,”

And IMO, John McCain's response to the remarks is also telling.

 “Barack Obama has made it clear that unconditional withdrawal in Iraq is more important to him than victory in Iraq. That’s not a criticism of his patriotism, that’s a criticism of his judgment.”

McCain has recognized the tone and tactic of the latest Obama battle plan and responded accordingly by noting precisely what is really in play. Not Obama's patriotism, but his judgment. Which is about to be questioned once again, as soon as he takes the wraps off of his VP selection either today or later this week. And as the polls are showing daily, it's Obama's judgement that remains the stickler with the majority of the American people. Not only has he not closed the deal, but he is losing ground daily and his negativity index with the voters is telling.

 “We failed to head off this conflict and lost leverage in our ability to contain it because our leaders have been distracted, our resources overstretched, and our alliances frayed,” Obama said.

So Obama's new plan is to pontificate about America's weakness (according to him) due to our failed policy in Iraq (according to him) and how this has allowed the Russians to take advantage of our weaknesses. I don't suppose he has considered the purposeful weakening by himself and other democrats of America's standing on the world stage, via their criticisms and intended weakening of America in the eyes of the world through their political rhetoric and partisan attacks, in order to attempt to regain power and control of the White House.

IMO one thing is for sure. The most important decision that Obama will make in the immediate future, is who his number two will be. Hopefully it will be someone with a modicum of common sense and the political savvy to contrast and tone down the rhetoric of political inexperience literally oozing from the Obama star ship daily. And Joe Biden is the only one mentioned who IMO, has those qualities. but there is a danger. Placing a Joe Biden on stage next to Obama, particularly during debates, leaves Obama open to being severely upstaged on international affairs, diplomacy and domestic policy. And it might even cause a backlash, where many Americans look at the two and ask the simple question of themselves, "why did we nominate this guy, when his VP is head and shoulders above his talents and experience?"