What follows is an attempt to coalesce a myraid of stories, ideas, and points that have been circulating on this blog in the last couple of days into a concise and forceful statement that we can collectively encourage the campaign to make as soon as possible and in so doing, I think, seal this election.
There is nothing radically new here (and if this has already been done -- I've tried to keep up with the diaries as much as possible -- I'll delete immediately), but the idea is to distill the ridiculousness of the McCain campaign the last couple of days (and by contrast the steady leadership of the Obama campaign) down to its essence. To open it up to everyone to add what is needed. And to harp on these points so Obama attacks and wins this thing once and for all.
It seems to me good ideas from the blogosphere have somehow been finding their way to the campaign and getting implemented. Whether its a coincidence and the result of strong minds thinking alike or whether the campaign pays attention, I don't know. But, follow me after the fold and share with everyone what you think. I think we're a presser away from winning this:
Obama should come out this evening and say:
-He'd be happy to change the focus of tomorrow' debate to THE ECONOMY. He already did say the following but he should repeat it: Now more than ever the American people need to hear our respective visions for the future and how we plan to steer America away from similar crises. If McCain thinks its inappropriate to delve into National Security / Foreign Affairs at this time, that is fine. We'll discuss the economy. Anyone seeking the presidency should be able to debate an issue in depth without preparation. I am ready to do that and I hope McCain is as well.
-He should express confusion over the fact that McCain has, by his own admission, not read the Paulson Plan for the bailout. The three page Paulson plan. "How is that he came out with conditions for a bailout, remarkably similar to my own and a few hours after I came out with my own, without first having read Paulson's plan?" "How is that this economic crisis is serious enough to suspend a campaign but not serious enough to read the central proposal on the table for solving it?"
-He should ask just what suspending a campaign means when you continue to run ads, when your surrogates continue to blast your opponent on TV, when you inject politics into congressional dealings.
-He should stress that what the American people need right now from their presidential candidates is steady leadership: by setting out preconditions for a bailout as Obama did several days ago, by laying out with as much clarity and detail, their economic plans, and by similarly laying out with honesty their economic record. He should remind voters about how he has done that every minute since the crisis broke out. And he should invite McCain to do the same. And the best way he can do that is by agreeing to debate Friday and to debate on the economy.
If he strikes the right tone and comes across as strong and principled but not arrogant, I think this could be check and the debate Friday when he cleans McCain's clock would be checkmate. Can you imagine an UNprepared McCain debating the economy?
Please feel free to add ideas / lines of attack. McCain's ridiculousness the last couple of days needs to be the death blow to his campaign.