1 - He believed the media was his friend. They’ve adored him as long as he was poking Bush in the eye and dumping on his own party. He was a fool to think they wouldn’t turn on him. Especially since he had warning signs – the way they turned on their former favorite Clintons and the early NYT hit-piece concerning the 10-year old innuendo about the female lobbyist. So it was obvious to everybody – except McCain and his campaign staff – that the Obama campaign and the MSM where one-and-the-same. He realized much to late that they were out to destroy him. If he’s even figured it out by now.
2- The most blatant, disgusting media propaganda campaign since Herr Goebbels (see number 1). In all fairness to McCain, I don’t think Mother Theresa or Gandhi could have overcome such a media crusade in an election against Josef Stalin. Tony Rezko? Bill Ayers? J-Wright? Nothing to see here – but wardrobe-gate! Stop the presses! Hold the front page. Disgusting.
3- He ticked off half of his own party over the last 8 years. You can’t win running against your own party. (immigration, global warming, against the Bush tax cuts, Gang of 14, McCain-Feingold, sucking-up to the NY Times). There was simply no enthusiasm there before Palin, his best and only great move. McCain received 55 million votes. Ten million of those Republicans wouldn’t have crossed the street to shake his hand. Palin made it close. Had he picked some moderate-RINO, acceptable to the MSM, he’d have lost by 20 points instead of 6.
4- He insisted on playing by the Marquis of Queensbury rules against Chicago-thug politics where no shot is too cheap, no blow is too low, no lie to blatant. That worked out well, didn’t it? Now he can go back to the Senate and be a maverick, feed the hand that bites him, and the press will love him again. Up until 2 weeks ago, he criticized George Bush more than he criticized Obama. And if someone criticized Obama on his behalf, he scolded them for doing so. The enemy of my enemy is my enemy. Nice move.
5- He ran the most inept campaign since……….well, forever (see number 4). If he campaigned the last 8 months like he has in the last 8 days, it might have been different. Palin was his best and only great move. A bit of a victim of his own success in all fairness. With Iraq turned around and going so well, it disappeared off the media radar. McCain dropped the ball on the financial mess. McCain had his chance and he blew it. In between suspending his campaign and getting to DC, he had the floor. He should have delivered a speech. Short and concise with bullet items. Spell out the problem—Fannie/Freddie, PC loans to the unqualified….. Name names…... Clinton hacks fleecing F&F for millions. Make the Enron analogy. Context the public understands. You might mention these same Clinton hacks are on Obama’s team. Then quote yourself, show the video of yourself calling attention to this pending mess 3 years ago! Then quote and show videos of Dodd, Frank and other dems blowing it off as no-problem. Then maybe a mention that these 2 buffoons have accepted over $100K from F&F to look the other way. Then perhaps mention Obie – in only 3 years – has accepted nearly as much, over $100K. That’s a good set-up for the clean up DC talk. Would this have worked? Maybe not. The MSM would spin it against him no matter what. But go on offense for crying out loud. Republicans will never learn. As long as they’re more interested in pleasing the media instead of their voters they will continue to lose.
You are so right. Regarding your 4th point, I’ve been wondering whether the people running the campaign were Dems. But ultimately, it’s McCain’s fault.
wow...pretty much nailed it. well done.
A tip o’ my hat to you on a lucid, well conceived post. It was a pleasure to read.
Damned good summary. Thank you.
I was hounded day in day out with O's ads...change, tax cuts...economy. I can't recall a single ad of McLame’s.
McCain was given a softball on the issue of money(his pet peeve), but swung and missed when he tried a bunt.
The only people I knew defending us with any fire, were Rush, Fred Thompson, Sarah and surprise the Arnold.
Special mention to Thomas Sowell, he wrote some brilliant pieces, the Beltway pundits were too busy stroking their egos and protecting their A list invites.
I am disappointed, but not too surprised, because I listened to people(I had given up trying to change them).Their bullet points were the War, the Economy and Oil and they were unshakable in their belief that is was Bush's and the Republician’s fault. They wanted CHANGE and Obama promised that.
Now is a great opportunity for someone on our side to emerge as a spokesman hammering the left.