Obama Can't Win Against Palin (Karl Rove)

Wall Street Journal ^ | Sept. 11, 2008 | Karl Rove

[Recovering_Democrat]

Let's face it, Octar: there wasn't much in there to begin with.

[freeangel]

Palin is in zer-0s head like some voodoo curse. He can’t rest until she’s destroyed, and in the meantime he’s destroying himself. It’s really rather fun to watch.

[Gamecock]

the most important may be that she has gotten into Barack Obama's head.

Just like Patton was in the German high command's collective minds in the weeks leading up to Normandy.

[The G Man]

[txzman]

Great post - thanks - better than Rove’s article!

[Redleg Duke]

It is an application of the "Tactics of Mistake". Obama has been drawn away from his target, John McCain, and onto McCain's running mate! Now, Obama cannot disengage from his fencing with Sarah Palin without admitting a mistake...and he is too arrogant and proud to admit to any mistake...that is the Muslim in him.

Obama has lost focus and is off his message. McCain-Palin is inside his OODA Loop and he is in full reaction mode.

He has transitioned from fighter to target.

[N. Theknow]

The ultimate American individual, Palin wasn’t ever committed to any collectivity but America itself. She was never “I am Woman, hear me roar.” She was always, “I am Sarah, watch me act.” Palin represents what would have happened to American women without a feminist revolution. For legal and social equity for women was bound to arise organically through political and cultural reform, as more and more women entered university and the work force, a process well underway before feminism became an organized movement.

Very good post.

Palin is the stake in the Feminist movement heart that has seen women become just as crude, rude and vulgar as their worst male counterparts.

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

i wasnt comparing her to him. I was talking about the Electoral college senario.

[TexasNative2000]

Obama's Achilles' Heel, his lack of a sense of humor. Obama cannot stand ridicule

This tactic was used effectively by Lee Atwater in the 1988 campaign of Bush 41 vs. Dukakis.

The story is told that prior to the first debate, all of the major players were standing on opposite sides of the stage. At a moment when Dukakis looked over at the Bush huddle, Atwater leaned over to Bush 41, whispered into his ear and they both erupted laughing.

When asked later what was said, Atwater said "OK. He's looking. Start laughing." Atwater knew that Dukakis would think they were talking about HIM and it would unnerve him, which it did.

Brilliant.

[N. Theknow]

SARAH!

You magnificent woman!

I heard your speech!

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

But the electoral maps I have seen still show Obama ahead. I know, they could be wrong. When they do national polls, I suppose they don’t have enough samples in most states to be statistically reliable, so the state polls are kind of “stale.”

Ohio is a mystery. One poll shows McC ahead and the other shows Obama. It makes me wonder if McC wants to wins in the midwest when he talks about the “jobs that aren’t coming back.”

[syriacus]

Obama is not used to being a leader. He was always the one being mentored; never the mentor.

Barack Obama -- always a bridesmaid, never a bride.