On Friday morning, Tim Pawlenty may be standing at John McCain's side in Dayton, Ohio, getting named the Republicans vice-presidential candidate. On Thursday, though, he was here in Denver, engaging in some preemptive spin of Barack Obama's presidential acceptance speech.
Basically the pitch was this: The Obama show tonight will be full of glitz, glamor and spectacle. The man himself is a gifted orator. But voters shouldn't get all wrapped up in the showmanship. Pawlenty even talked about the set on the floor of Invesco Field, which the Republicans and some others have likened to a Greek Temple. (I haven't seen it yet. I'll blog again later when I get over there.) This, he said, "is symbolic or iconic or methaphoric" for the fact that the Obama campaign knows how to mount an impressive production "but behind it, there's not much there."
Arizona Sen. John Kyl, who stood with Pawlenty yesterday, put it this way: "When the stadium is empty and all the speeches are finally done, Barack Obama still will not be ready to be president."
"Not ready" has been the theme of the Republican response efforts in Denver this week. It will be fascinating to see how the Democrats respond to the Republicans in St. Paul next week.
It's 8:30 and the telephone in the White House is ringing, will anyone hear it?— Ed_Tilton- Yes, they will and if anyone in this country has any intelligence whatsoever, it will be John McCain...... Go MCCAIN '08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— Mike S.
- This guys Tim lloks like tiny tim and won't be able to keep the dems from winning his state when election time comes. He's strickly a hatchetboy for John i'm too old Mc Cain— artaxx1
- Funny how the Repubs are pushing this "not ready" theme. As if anyone is ever "ready". Bush looked like he might be "ready"; son of a president, governor of a large state, etc...in retrospect, could the guy have been any less "ready" for the job? The proof is ultimately in the pudding, and the historical pudding says that those who seem to be the least "ready" (Lincoln, Truman, Clinton to name a few) may be most inclined to take a more pragmatic approach to governance, rather than an ideological one. While McCain certainly won't be as bad as Bush, in that one cannot imagine him trying to overcome the "structural disadvantage" of the Republicans (due to immigration) by politicizing the entire machinery of government (nor would he seem to have that much energy to set his entire first term agenda on getting reelected), but what would the point of even be in electing such a milquetoast president (aside from the obvious point that if anyone deserves our admiration, he might). Isn't that the sort of the leadership criteria that assisted in the demise of any regime since Rome?— bobcitydoc
- the spin process is so corrupt. nothing is more irresponsible right now then to lazily accept these sound bytes as having some basis in reality. watch the speeches. research what each candidate has to say. it really isn't that difficult to find information on Obama's presidential plans. Whether or not he'll stick to these and see them through if elected is another story, but the idea that he is light on substance is a lie. what's worse is that the republican pundits and political figures are going to continue to robotically contradict the facts in order to manipulate the public - and you bet a bunch of people are going to buy it. so, really, what does that say about how they perceive the public. they think that the public is lazy, foolish and unable to find the motivation to make their own way to discovering what's truly accurate info. it's sad that these tactics win elections and it's very telling about the state of this country.— gare44
- Obama is clearly smarter than McCain, younger and more energetic than McCain, doesn't have the temper of McCain, and doesn't have the problem of being tied to Bush on 95% of his votes. What else could the Republicans do but attack Obama's greatest strengths- his outside DC rep and his ability to speak to the people. They have nothing else.— MacMike
- The Neoconvicts are up next week. Will they mention McShames stellar grades at the academy (894 out of 899) or just keep with the war hero POW, they beat me for 5 years so I am a truer American than that young fella story line? Maybe it will be he's a Celebrity while I appear in movies etc but can't seem to remember how many houses me and Ms. Moneybags own. I wonder if Rove will make time for the RNC when he clearly doesn't have time for Congressional Subpeonas.— kcruel
- Glad to see Joe Biden saying what I have for several weeks. That McCain has been wrong on foreign policy. Obama said we shold send more troops to Afghanistan and what happened? Mopre troops to Afghanistan. He said he's attack OBL and al-qaida in Pakistan if that country didn't for all the taxpayer money we've sent it. McCain ridiculed him as naive. Shortly after he said it a US drone bombed a terrorist camp and killed an al-qaida leader. Obama said we should have a 16-month timetable to remove the troops. Al-Maliki said the Iraqis wanted a 16-month timetable. McCain's response to Wolf Blitzer about Maliki? "He woiuldn't say that." When he just had. And now we are about to sign off on a timetable to get us out. So much for all of mccain's foreign policy experience. The "Rookie" has beaten him every time.— mike l
The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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