It really is a poor idea for McCain to immediately follow Obama when it comes to speeches. The contrast is stark, and it further emphasizes that McCain truly is the Bob Dole candidate of this campaign. It's been said repeatedly that this election is not only a opportunity to get a progressive in the White House, but also to flatly and unequivocally prove that neo-conservatism and Reagan-era politics are dead. They don't work.
First, a glance at McCain's recent economic speech after the jump:
Negativity-palooza. McCain can't get through a single sentence without attacking Obama, and it leads one to wonder, seriously, is McCain paying attention?
Best part: Comparing Obama to Hoover.
He's still on the drilling? "We will start drilling now!" Um, no you won't. Trust me.
Attacking the media, of course.
"Measuring the drapes."
This is just sad.
This is a speech of a man, tired, desperate, and confused, flailing around overboard, trying to find a life preserver.
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Ok, so we've got this out of the way. Now, here's what Obama needs to do. You all remember how after 9/11 Bush came out and said that we're in a new world? That the laws of gravity no longer apply? Up is down, down is up. The laws of thermodynamics no longer apply. We need to start two wars, wiretap domestically without a warrant, torture people, etc., etc. "What, you don't agree with me? Why do you hate America so much?"
Obama, after he wins, should say "Ok, we're in the largest global economic crisis we've ever seen. It's a new world. The rules no longer apply. Here's what we're going to do."
First: We're going to nationalize health care - bam! Everyone gets health care!
Second: We're going to regulate the f*(@ out of corporations. No more nine-bazillion dollar salaries and bonuses.
Third: We're going to completely revamp the tax code. Hell, we don't need to re-write it, just erase a bunch of it. No loopholes. Christ, all we need to do is copy Britain's tax code where you can get in trouble for violating the spirit of the code, not the letter.
Come on, now... truly conservatives don't hate America so much that they'd go against a President with "political capital" in a time of dire crisis?