Vero Possumus (yes we can)
Barack Obama stopped using this on seal on podium events in June after being ridiculed in the press for arrogance.
Looking arrogant in the face of double-digit poll leads is bad for Obama. And he's apparently been quite wary of talking up his chances before next week.
However, he's apparently pretty close to working out who'd be in his Cabinet should he win next week. Which is either starting to count chickens or being prepared well in advance - depending what side you fall on.
Obama needs people to avoid thinking that the race is over - at least until after Tuesday when it actually will be over. Otherwise what commentators think will be a landslide might turn out somewhat differently...
Looking arrogant in the face of double-digit poll leads is bad for Obama. And he's apparently been quite wary of talking up his chances before next week.
However, he's apparently pretty close to working out who'd be in his Cabinet should he win next week. Which is either starting to count chickens or being prepared well in advance - depending what side you fall on.
Obama needs people to avoid thinking that the race is over - at least until after Tuesday when it actually will be over. Otherwise what commentators think will be a landslide might turn out somewhat differently...
3 comments:
Is it possible that this approach, the well-prepared/overconfident approach, might have the advantage of makeing him look more statesman-like, professional, heavyweight? While simultaneously by suggesting his opponent has already lost, portraying him as a helpless, inconsequential lightweight?
Probably not, but watching McCain go on about Obama's record breaking fundraising he (McCain) just looks a bit pathetic. Surely he's just highlighting one of Obamas's strengths.
Just a thought.
I'm with you on the first part of that. I think pre-planning makes you look ready to lead etc.
And perhaps McCain does look bad talking about Obama and fundraising. Yes it is a strength for Obama to be able to pull in so much money. But doesn't it also emphasise the ridiculous amount of money spent on the campaign - while "ordinary Americans" are struggling with the credit cruch and economic collapse?
Just a thought...
Ridiculous is right. Over $2 BILLION projected spend is crazy money at the best of times, let alone now.
But in many ways its an untameable beast. It does seem fair enough to allow candidates to raise as much money as they want/can. Given that, its hard to argue its unfair to spend it. No one was forced to give money to Obama, and McCain was an idiot for restricting himself to public financing, which presumably is forced, if its raised through taxes.
Putting my economist hat on, I might think that every donor made a rational cost/benefit analysis resulting in a conclusion that the immediate cost of donating would be recouped in the long-term benefits. Such as keeping/getting a job or whatever.
Ok people aren't rational but its their money to spend. And such massive spending could benefit the economic cycle.
Thinking about it, I've just argued my way round to unlimited private campaign spending on a classical liberal basis.
Must be my lingering streak of a Protestant work ethic that still tells me its stupid.
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