The conventions are over and the real race has just begun. McCain is just beginning to see his convention bounce. As that poll is a rolling three day average, only one-third incorporates Palin’s speech and it doesn’t take into account McCain’s speech at all.
I suspect that by Monday the race will essentially be tied with eight weeks to go.
That said, these are the things I think I think about what we we’ve seen so far and what we can expect to see.
I think I think that…McCain knows his military lessons and lesson number one is “Secure your flanks.” The combination of his performance at Saddleback and the Palin pick secures the Republican base. This frees him to play Maverick for the next eight weeks.
I think I think that…Not coincidentally, the act of McCain securing his base helped Obama solidify his. For all the talk over the last year about postpartisanship, Obamacans and PUMA’s, we’ve found ourselves right back where we should have expected to be: the right and the left fighting over the mushy middle.
I think I think that…I couldn’t tell you if McCain’s speech connected with the middle or not. In years past, I would have been one of those mushy middle people that needed to be convinced one way or another. I would probably vote Obama over every Republican candidate in my lifetime. Except McCain.
I think I think that…I can’t believe I just said that I would vote for a socialist for President. Perhaps I’m deluding myself. Maybe what I mean is that if those candidates were running in the 2008 election and not Obama running in 1988 then I would vote for him.
I think I think that…I am deeply conflicted about Obama. I did a like/dislike poll on the two candidates the other day. On a scale of one to five I gave both McCain and Obama a five on the like. I think I gave McCain a one and Obama a four on the dislike.
I think I think that…I missed Biden’s speech but caught the other three. Objectively, I think you’d have to rank them Palin, Obama, McCain. Personally, I rank them McCain, Obama and Palin, at least if you go by the candidates ability to make me a wee bit misty eyed. I counted seven for McCain and one for Palin. I don’t remember Obama’s count but it was more than Palin’s and less than McCain’s.
I think I think that…What can I say, I’m a sucker for a good USA!!! chant.
I think I think that…I heard something last night that I already knew but had forgotten. Something that pretty much negates the McCain age issue for me. Its not the fact that McCain’s 97 year old mother is still alive. Its the fact that his grandfather, an Admiral in the U.S. Navy during World War II, waited to die until the day after WWII was over. Somehow, he told the grim reaper, “I don’t think I’ll let you kill me today. You’re going to have to wait until I get home and see my family for one day.”How many times have you seen that in a Hollywood blockbuster. Guy with 47 bullet wounds keeps fighting until the castle is secure, only to die immediately after the last bad guy is taken care of. That’s Chuch Norris. That’s Admiral McCain.
I think I think that…We’re gonna see this picture a lot.
I think I think that…We’re gonna see this video a lot.
I think I think that…The people of Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Nevada and Virginia will get to know a little bit about a non-Muslim terrorist named Bill Ayers.
I think I think that…A national spot light will shine upon the Chicago political machine.
I think I think that…Voter turnout might break 60% for the first time since 1968
I think I think that…This might be the last presidential election decided by the Electoral College.
I think I think that…As someone who believes in federalism, that’s not a good thing.
I think I think that…This will be the last Presidential election in which MSM will play a more important role than emerging media.
I think I think that…As an American, that is a good thing.
I think I think that…If McCain is elected the Supreme Court will get not two new Scalias but rather two new Kennedys.
I think I think that…As someone who slept through Con Law II, I think that is a good thing.
I think I think that…If Obama is elected the Supreme Court will get not two new Justices but rather two new legislators.
I think I think that…As someone who slept through Con Law II, I think that is not a good thing.
I think I think that…I might have to throw a party for the vice-presidential debate.
I think I think that…A few PBR’s might be consumed that night.
I think I think that…We’re going to hear how Obama thinks abortion should be legal up until the child enters kindergarten and McCain would impregnate every woman with Hitler’s baby.
I think I think that…The people of America would rather be governed by the first 500 names in the Wasilla, AK phone book than by the editors of The Harvard Law Review.
I think I think that…About three weeks from now Palin is going to make an innocuous foreign policy blunder. The nutroots and MSM are going to go wild dissecting it and calling her unprepared. Her approval ratings will go up.
I think I think that…Palin is less prepared to be Commander-in-Chief than Obama. Way less prepared.
I think I think that…Obama is not prepared to be Commander-in-Chief.
I think I think that…Joe Biden had it right when he said “That’s like saying I played running back in high school so I can do it in the pros!”
I think I think that…McCain made the case for reform better last night than the Republican’s did the night before.
I think I think that…McCain’s biggest weakness is the lack of a true agenda.
I think I think that…McCain’s biggest strength is the ability to do the best he can with the agenda of a Democratic controlled congress.
I think I think that…You know how your friend changes when he gets a new girlfriend and he starts spending all his time with her? Well, I think Lyndsey Graham and Joe Lieberman know how you feel.
I think I think that…Obama will not use the words victory and Iraq in the same sentence even one time over the next eight weeks.
I think I think that…Keith Olberman’s head is going to explode.
I think I think that…I am really not all that agitated about the “earmark” issue. But I did think that McCain’s most effective moment last night was his “and you will know their names!!”
I think I think that…Adam Wolpert is the most disappointed man in the world after hearing that Hart will not allow the McCain campaign to use the song Barracuda any more.
