Governor Palin and Senator McCain have been showing the tough side I've been looking for... and looking for... and looking for. The gloves will be off tonight if this ad and the speeches McCain and Palin have been giving in the last 2 days are any indication.
I heard a suggestion this morning on Bill Bennett's show from a caller that is priceless ammunition for what seems to be Senator Obama's endless refrain: John, You're just Bush II."
This really should not work if we look at the facts of how McCain does differ with Bush on several key issues as he often lists off in debates. But the game here is that Obama is trying to saddle McCain with the burden of Bush's unpopularity. This is a double edged sword, because who has a popularity even worse than President Bush, especially now in light of the financial situation? Leaders Reid and Pelosi—and their approval numbers have been in the toilet ever since taking charge.
Here should be McCain's approach every time Obama tries the McCain = Bush play:
"So where do you differ with The Democrat lead Senate, Mr. Obama? I differ not only with them, but with the Republican Senate on issues A, B, and C, I have never seen a time when you have challenged the leadership of the most unpopular Senate in history."
"So where do you differ with The Democrat lead House, Mr. Obama? I differ not only with them, but with the Republican House on issues A, B, and C, I have never seen a time when you have challenged the leadership of the most unpopular House in history."
"So where do you differ with The Democrat lead school unions, Mr. Obama? I differ not only with them, on issues A, B, and C, I have never seen a time when you have challenged the leadership of the most unpopular and ineffective public school system in US history."
Pro-abortion groups, the shifty, corrupt Cook county political machine, ACORN, Fill in the blank and repeat. You could do it all night long, Mr. McCain.
