Speaking of audacity . . .
Posted by Nicholas Gruen on Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Speaking of that fine subject, this proposal is not exactly audacious ( HT Kathy G), just a illustration of how Obama might go on the front foot on behalf of issues based politics (as opposed to lipstick based politics) – an illustration of how propitous the times could be for Obama if he has the gumption to seize the day.
Memo to Obama
What do I know, but here’s what I would do if I were you. I would call a press conference tomorrow to discuss the financial crisis. Do it in New York City. Even better, on Wall Street. Begin with a fifteen minute statement outlining why the crisis has occured and what, generally, the government should do about it. Contrast your approach sharply with that of McCain and the Republicans. Take questions for an hour from reporters. Finally, issue a challenge to McCain to debate the issue by week’s end. And offer to allow McCain to bring Sarah Palin and Phil Gramm at his side if he needs them to advise him on the issues.
The trick here is that this is more or less politics as usual, but it’s politics as usual in the dramatic form of street theatre – which is something that seems to be necessary to stir the media and their consumers into actually noticing. It’s not that hard to think up this kind of stuff. Let’s see what happens.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 at 9:03 PM and filed under Politics - international.
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Certainly with the Democrats seeming to have a better record of economic management (in the political sense at least), you would have thought that the Dems could come up with the narrative that in parlous economic times: “Who do you trust to better run the economy?”
Posted on 17-Sep-08 at 6:02 am | PermalinkThat could work, but only if his voting record supports his analysis. Otherwise he’s open to the charge of being wise after the event. His actual statement included this:
and this:
Has he sponsored any bills that put these ‘calls’ into effect? And, speaking of bills, where does he stand on duck shooting?
Posted on 17-Sep-08 at 11:14 am | Permalink‘Stand’ on duck shooting?
I would suspect that from a boat he should sit rather than stand, and if on the bank, adopt the prone position.
Posted on 17-Sep-08 at 11:19 am | PermalinkIIRC, Obama and McCain had agreed to conduct a series of ‘townhalls’ in which the two would debate stuff like this, but Obama eventually demurred.
So maybe he won’t be so keen on your idea after all.
And, besides, he might run into too many advisors and close friends in that part of town.
I didn’t mean that to turn out such a negative comment! Did I mention that I thought his reaction to Palin’s nomination was very impressive and praiseworthy?!
Posted on 17-Sep-08 at 11:22 am | PermalinkApparently in February 2006 Obama “introduced legislation to stop mortgage transactions that promoted fraud, risk or abuse”.
Posted on 17-Sep-08 at 12:43 pm | PermalinkJames, I think your comment about duck shooting is pretty on the money – where the rubber hits the road though of course I’m speaking metaphorically.
Reminds me of two ducks – a duck and a drake – that checked into a hotel for a dirty weekend. The drake rings reception and asks for them to send up a condom. The receptionist replies “Will that go on the bill Sir?” The drake replies “What do you think I am – some kind of pervert?”
Posted on 17-Sep-08 at 2:05 pm | Permalink