Everybody is in panic mode.

Theda Skocpol also has  some great advice over at TPM

Wake Up, Obama Camp

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On fighting back: For weeks, Obama has ignored or wheedled when McCain and Lieberman attacked his patriotism and judgement. He has repeatedly begged them to stop because, supposedly, they are more honorable than that. He has asked them to discuss the issues dispassionately. What an insipid approach! McCain has NOT been honorable or honest, and Obama and his surrogates need to hammer on that incessantly. Use words like "lying" and "losing himself" or " (better) "forgetting what he is supposed to stand for." Stop focusing on decades ago in the POW camp. Talk about now, about the last years and months. Make the really obvious point that no candidate for President at this time can really be putting country first if he runs a dirty, lying campaign of false smears. That betrays the public trust. Tell it like it is, Obama!

Politics is not just about issues, it is a metaphorical test of strength. If a man will not get immediately -- if quietly -- angry and fight back when his patriotism is attacked, why should we trust him to defend the country? And if he won't punch back by explaining clearly why his approach to foreign policy is actually tougher and smarter, why McCain's is thoughtless and reckless, why would we think he is better to be Commander in Chief?

Ask Kerry, he played nice.

And you can't win an election playing nice. McWar does not keep his word. Hey, he forgets what he said this morning. He's in it to win it.

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

boo, you're gonna break davie brook's little wanker's heart.

l won't elevate his wankery by including a quote, but suffice it to say...it's all obama's and the blogger's fault...it's hall of fame quality.

the revolution will not be televised...

but control the scripts.

I agree with each of your points.  However, message discipline is very important.  We could destroy McCain's lie of a reputation, but it will take a lot of work and a lot of footsoldiers.  Wes Clark on the military thing, that POW who did the OP-ED on McCain's lies about his POW experience (during WWII, POWs were DESPISED by soldiers - why are you a hero if you are stupid enough to lose not one but 2 30 million dollar aircraft?)

Get Kerry out there.  Get all Dem senators.  Get Dem govs.  

Let the dogs out.

i like all your points
number one is so important, not only to discredit McCain but to put the media on defensive.

The sleep of reason begets tyrants. -Goya

Very good advice, BooMan.  Now, will Obama & Co follow it or have the Democrats selected another wuss as their candidate?  Perhaps, Obama should choose a real fighter as his Veep.  Like Biden, or, God forbid, Hillary C.!  To beat McCain and what he represents (WWIII), I think I would vote for the Devil himself.

Bush, Cheney, McCain, Rove are like the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.  Death and destruction ride again into our lives.

Suppose you scrub your ethical skin until it shines, but inside there is no music, then what? Kabir

The biggest strategic blunder of the last two conventions was the failure to attack the Republican candidate and the Republican party. The RNC won't send you to the stage if you don't somehow smear the Democrats in your speech.

I've read that the convention this year will contains "contrasts" with McCain. That can mean one of two things -- a nice way of saying we will smear McCain, or an indication that they will discuss policies in an intelligent and even-handed (read: weak, wimpy) manner.

Hate to say it, but the two most important speeches (other than Barack) are Hillary Clinton and the VP. They MUST slam McCain hard, especially Hillary. Sure, she can talk about her grand place in feminist history, but she must make it clear that McCain is the worst candidate for women in history. She showed a vicious streak against Obama; now it is time to show it against McCain.

2) He's supposed to be a Maverick. Never lose an opportunity to point out how much of an orthodox right-winger McCain is on the issues. Never praise him for some alleged break with his party or independent stance he may have taken in the past.

"He talks the talk, but he doesn't walk the walk".

I see McCain ads here with words like TAXES; ECONOMIC DISASTER superimposed over closeups of Obama! Simple images for simple minds.

I want to see ads of Pictures McCain and GW (together) superimposed over words like LIES: GAS PRICES: WAR PHOTOS: (IRAQ IN RUINS) MILITARY CASKETS WITH OUR FLAG OVER THEM: CLOSED U.S. FACTORIES: HOUSES WITH FOR SALE SIGNS
YOUNG ADULTS WORKING AT MCBURGERS and so forth. Call them on the ongoing disaster that has been the last eight years and KEEP CALLING THEM ON IT!!

Obama is running for President of the U.S.A., not the local homeowners association!

We need to push for Progressive change, now more than ever.