Enough, Again

Call it Mudsling Monday. What a disgusting display of desperation we're seeing from the McCain-Palin campaign. As their poll numbers sink, out comes every sleazy, dishonest, and offensive attack against Obama and Biden, no matter how tangential, outdated, or just plain stupid. Palin started complaining today about that doggone "filter of the mainstream media," which has apparently kept her from discussing the issues ... and yet when given the chance, she offers up nothing but her usual policy platitudes before launching into more attacks on Barack Obama. Neither McCain nor Palin talked much about what voters say is their new top concern (the economy), or about any other real issues at all, for that matter. They just attacked. They're trying to change the subject, and I hope every voter sees this ploy for the transparent scheme it is.

Obama and Biden ought to stay out of the dirt, hitting back without diving into the muck themselves. Stick with ads like this one, and keep pointing out the obviousness of the bait-and-switch McCain and Palin are trying to pull.

James Fallows, an eminently sensible writer, had this to say about the new strategy: "Grow up. If John McCain has a better set of plans to deal with the immediate crisis, and the medium-term real-economy fallout, and the real global problems of the era -- fine, let him win on those. But it is beneath the dignity he had as a Naval officer to wallow in this mindless BS. I will say nothing about the dignity of a candidate who repeatedly winks at the public, Hooters-waitress style. A great country acts great when it matters. This is a time when it matters -- for politicians in the points they raise, for journalists in the subjects they write about and the questions they ask of candidates. And, yes, for voters."

This is, indeed, one of those times. If you're not registered to vote, register. If you're not sure, check. Every vote, in every state, is going to matter on 4 November. The stakes are too high for you to stay home.