Heed these words. IT will be NECK AND NECK one week before the Election

[symbolman]

You heard it here first.

In my life I recall elections that looked a lot like this one does now, and in the end the actual winner WON the election.

But in the past thirty years (and Kennedy was said to have lost, Nixon COULD had challenged those results) or so, every election of ANY Importance has been hailed as "neck and neck", "Too Close to Call", "Within the Margin of Error" by the Media.

I predict that this one will be NO DIFFERENT. The Media are already making excuses, not covering, or covering up the ETHICS VIOLATIONS of Palin, they may even have Chuckie T come out with some ridiculous "Sympathy Bounce" for Palin in the next few days. McCain will somehow again gain the trust of the electorate - probably because the Media will play the clip of him BEGGING for his People to "RESPECT OBAMA" over and over, ALL will be forgiven.

The Media will Hammer Obama with ACORN, AYERS, and god knows what else Rove can pull out of his ass in the coming weeks. There will be Revelations, Bizarre Logic, Skewed Polling, maybe even a military option, god forbid.

But they will NOT let this advance by Obama STAND. They control the airwaves, Markets, and Corporations who ALL have too much to lose.

I hope to god I am WRONG, but I can see it trending that way already.

Cue the Psyops, the people will fall in line, and those who cheat on the local level will walk away clean, the machines are still rigged as ever, the caging continues, the Felon Lists are being purged, the Tricks of the Trade are in place.

Meanwhile we MUST be Constantly Vigilant, we MUST Hammer the Media with Letters, Appeal to Congress, DEMAND ANSWERS in Real TIME, Go Door to Door, and MAN THE PHONES as we DONATE, DONATE, DONATE to the man who SHOULD BE PRESIDENT.

Again, Dear GOD, but I hope I am wrong.

DO NOT FADE, DO NOT FAIL, With so much at Stake, We MUST WIN.

[liberal N proud]

1. If the media has their way it will

[BeFree]

90. They won't

Have you ever seen so many new voters show up wanting an Obama sticker or signs? How about all the people who never even voted before coming in to register to vote?

DU was divided in 2004, I see no division now.

Ever seen the media tell even half the truths about republicans as they have on McCain?

The only way Obama loses now is to make big changes in his campaign. Does anybody think Obama is gonna start screwing up now?

So, short of the election being stolen, Obama is going to be elected. It is congress that will be stolen, leaving Obama facing the angry republicans who will fight him hard. Gridlock.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[iceman66]

3. I fear you may be right.

The MSM coverage of late seems carefully crafted to subtly build up McCain and tear down Obama.

[symbolman]

6. Yep

Doesn't mean we CANNOT WIN, but man oh man, we shouldn't sit back and enjoy what looks like a ROUT by Obama.. we have to fight ten times as hard.

[iceman66]

16. I think the media slightly underestimates Obama's popularity

and that MAY be our saving grace, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I am 'concerned'.

[Justyce]

4. I'm worrying right there with you. Another thing I worry about is

that people will be so confident of a landslide that too many will think they don't need to bother to vote, so maybe the media pushing the neck-and-neck thing might benefit us in that respect at least.

[symbolman]

11. I'm with you there too

Just because McCain's campaign is a total clusterfuck, doesn't mean we can assume it's in the bag..

But the media will LIE and LIE and LIE..

Look at CNN, the minute the Palin Ethics charge came out, BEFORE THEY HAD A CHANCE to READ IT.. They'd already pushed NO CRIME WAS COMMITTED..

That means to me that there's a SCRIPT to be followed by those bastards. They only turned it around because other stations were claiming a major Violation..

[jezebel]

5. Wow, and I thought I was nervous about this election ;) nt

[Barack_America]

7. The election has already begun...

In Georgia, Virginia, Ohio...

[DainBramaged]

8. No

just no. Epic Fail on the part of the McCranky campaign, epic.


No

[high density]

9. Ayers has had no useful effect for McCain in the campaign

So far it has only made the right wingers even more nutty than they were before, to the point that McCain is getting booed by his own supporters when he taps down the craziness.

As for ACORN, outside of DU I don't think anybody knows who they are. Has the Obama campaign even coordinated with them? Ayers is guilt by association, ACORN is guilt because the GOP says so.

[iceman66]

19. Ayers and Acorn have been ALL OVER CNN and the other news channels.

I agree that these are not legitimate issues, but this is all about the media creating impressions in the minds of people who aren't paying very close attention.

[high density]

36. There's always garbage all over CNN and the news channel about Democrats

I just don't think it matters right now, because voters are concerned about their jobs and their 401k balances.

[iceman66]

78. It matters because

it shows McCain to be a hypocrite when he says he wants to end "abuses of power" and bring "reform" to Washington, and also reinforces Obama's argument that McCain's 'change' is really more of the same.

Precisely the reason why they are not giving it much attention.

[mwb970]

10. You see it trending that way already?

What about Obama's growing margins in national and state polls? Don't they trend the other way?

:shrug:

[iceman66]

22. The election is still 4 weeks away.

A sustained barrage of smears from the McCain campaign, ably assisted by the MSM, will cut into Obama's poll numbers over the course of those weeks.

Look at the election coverage on all the cable channels - are they talking about economic issues?

[stolivodka]

12. Doesn't have to be this way.

Fire off emails. Get on the horn. Get on that stupid twitter thing. Make the mainstream media cover the news and they will.

This whole time, they've resisted calling McCrap on his BS and slowly, they've been forced into covering it. Keep the heat turned up.

[terrya]

13. I don't think so. The stock market lost 18% this week.

The economy will completely dominate the next 3 weeks. It's Obama's to lose at this point. Which he most certainly will not.

[goodboy]

14. My old friend Symbolman...

You're absolutely right...landslides don't make good ratings.

Unfortunately.

[symbolman]

20. Yep

I've spent so many YEARS studying the Media, ROVE, Filming in Congress, Attending Congressional hearings, interviewing Vote Mathmaticians from major universities, having lunch with Palast at his home, going on O'Reilly, Scarborough Twice, Lou Dobbs, making a film about Electronic Voting before ANYONE ELSE, Interviewing Don Siegelman, showing his WORDS on Cable TV when he was in Jail and wasn't allowed to speak, etc, etc..

And then folks who joined us Yesterday get to call me a Pessimist..

Cute :)

[elkston]

15. You are wrong. McCain has lost too much ground and cannot recover.

Your pessimism is over the top.

[endthewar]

18. Agreed. Yesterday was a body blow to McCain.

He doesn't have any foreseeable political strategy left. Almost feels like Rove is tanking McCain's campaign on purpose so that the upcoming economic depression will be blamed on the Democrats.

[symbolman]

24. I'd love for nothing more than or this to be true

and in my heart I've had the feeling that Rove HATES McCain, thinks he's weak, and is screwing with him, ready to let the Dems build back up the grain stores so they can steal it again later..

BUT, the Media WILL make this a HorseRace.

Watch for it.

[endthewar]

27. McCain's campaign has been poorly run

Using a boxing analogy, I think McCain's campaign has a good jab but poor combinations. They never seem to be looking ahead as to what's the next step they should take.

[doc03]

100. I don't know why these people are giving you a hard

time for just being honest about your concerns. I totally agree with you, I don't remember an election that wasn't too close to call a few days before the election. The media whores will pump up McCain and hammer Obama the last few days before the election and it will not be long they will be saying the race is tightening up and McCain has momentum. I hope we are both wrong.

[dzika]

17. I hope you are wrong too

but I fear you called this one correctly.

[five_horizons]

21. I respectfully disagree

It's not over, but it's pretty damn close. History shows that major swings in October are highly unlikely, because folks have basically settled on their pick.

At this point McCain needs a game-changer of epic proportions to win.

[RagAss]

23. I hate to say this, but I agree with you...the MSM needs the criminal regime in power.

[rug]

25. I doubt it but if it did it would be neck and wattle.

[Danger Mouse]

45. omg...McTurkey!

:rofl:

[still_one]

26. You are preaching to the choir to most here, and everything you say is valid

however, it is also up to the Obama campaign to get tougher, not just those at the phone banks and going door to door

Probably the biggest concern I have is people who think they are registered to vote and may not be

I am so pissed at the Democrats for essentially doing NOTHING since 2000 to insure our votes are counted

[symbolman]

28. Exactly!

They've done NOTHING about Election Fraud, and that coupled with the Media trying to at minumum sell soap, allows republicans like Rove to Skim the Margins and STEAL ELECTIONS..

EIGHT YEARS to go after Election Fraud, and NOTHING, ZIP, NADA..

Great point.. thanks :)

[NeoTheo]

29. And let's not forget

The Diebold factor in this equation; it pulled the last two elections for them.

My prediction, which I have been saying for some time, is like yours, it will be neck and neck and then at the last minute, which means sometime late in the night, surprise surprise, McCain pulls it out. Wow, who would of thought it could happen. Just goes to show Americans are patriotic after all. Or so that is what the propaganda spin will be saying for the following week.

[symbolman]

35. Yep

All they need are the excuses.. "Oh, well, the WOMEN Broke for Palin after all.. Gee"

"Guess people LIED about voting for a Black man, who KNEW?"

They'll have a million of them..

My Blood ran cold when Kerry was SURGING ALL DAY, then at 4pm ALL OF THE CHRISTIANS VOTED at the SAME TIME, and the Clocks all RAN BACKWARDS until Bush "WON"..

Computors and local LIARS can do a LOT of damage.. I wonder how many Votes are STILL floating around in Swamps... :)

[NeoTheo]

55. Not to mention a week or so ago

there was an article on CNN that said people were voting early in Ohio for this election. I figured it was to see how many votes were going to be needed to take the state come election day but no one in the press seemed too interested in the story save for the casual mention I saw.

[Zynx]

30. Nope. 1980 was neck and neck and then broke open.

That single handidly disproves your notion.

[ErinBerin84]

31. I agree.

I think that he will win...but the polls will get closer. But that's ok, because I want a high turnout. Heh, turned on Lou Dobbs for a second last night (I really don't watch his show, I was flipping the channels), and I saw Rollins say to Dobbs "Yeah...I think it's over. He's ahead by 11 again today " and Lou interrupted and said "No, he was down 1...it's by ten now"(!) and Rollins said "Yes, but there's a new Newsweek poll that shows he's up by 11...."

[Captiosus]

32. The only things the media are doing recently that is annoying me

Are the following:

a) Basically ignoring the Troopergate report.
b) Spending whole blocks of time discussing the Bradley Effect. CNN, for example, has a show on tonight called "Race within the Race"... :eyes:

However, I don't share the concern that in the next 2 and a half weeks that the media will be able to pull down Obama's momentum and call it "neck and neck". Here's why:

We live in an unprecedented age of communication. Scientific polls about debates are out within half an hour of debates themselves which is forcing media, other than Faux News, to (to ironically quote Anderson Cooper) keep it honest.

Look at the first debate: They tried everything they could to put it in the books as a McCain win. Within 30 minutes they had to change their tune and call it an Obama win because scientific polls came out against McCain. We still have one debate to go. If McCain doesn't "win" it decisively and the scientific polls come out showing Obama as the debate winner, the MSM won't have any foundation to spin.

There are far more interested and active blogs and political websites than in past political seasons, even 2004. The MSM is no longer the only spot to get news or poll results, and they know this. There's no way they can spin a battleground state when very public websites which they, themselves, use in their broadcasts (FiveThirtyEight.com, RealClearPolitics.com, et cetera) are actively refuting the spin with solid facts. They could get away with this during a time of political apathy, but we're not in a time of political apathy.

McCain being booed by his own supporters will be played more than the Obama's "a decent man" comments. CNN and MSNBC have spent more time talking about how McCain's campaign is somewhere between "disconnect" and "free fall" than they have talked about him back peddling on the hate. On some level, I think the MSM enjoys watching and trashing the train wreck that is the McCain campaign at this point because they feel like they've been stabbed in the back by a guy who once loved to cozy up with the media. The media used to be his "base", at least until this election when he blamed the media for being the cause of all his ills, treated them like dirt, and refused to give them access to Palin.

The MSM has been focusing on Obama's gains for so long (VA, WV, NC, MO, et cetera), it would be very hard for them to switch gears and try to say that it's "neck and neck". I don't doubt they'll bring Obama's lead below double digits, but I don't think they're going to be able to pull any spinmasters out who can honestly lead people to believe it's gone from +11 to +/- 0 in 24 days.

[Joe the Revelator]

33. Another fucking political clairvoyant

:puke:


Thanks for the concern Edgar Casey. I'll be sure to "mark your words". You should have written them as a quatrain.

[symbolman]

41. So start your own thread genius

Some of the grownups might like to a little thing we call a DISCUSSION, and not engage in driveby shootings to show how fucking ever so COOL we are..

Sheesh.

Whatever.

[Joe the Revelator]

49. Its not discussion, its chicken little reactionism

You back it up with nothing other then your idea of a media conspiracy. There is nothing going on right now that you lead any rational person to conclude that McCain will be able to recover in the polls. If there were evidence of that, then by all means, lets talk about it. But people who say "mark my words" when their words are just bullshit hiding behind fear are not taking part in discussion.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Joe the Revelator]

74. Like McCain, when you realize you have nothing, you resort to personal attacks

Make a flash about that.

[Joe Chi Minh]

73. Why focus on what boils down to Symbolman's warning not be complacent,

instead of the certainty he's reminding you of (it's not a conspiracy theory) that however remote or not their chances of their villainy succeeding, the corporate media's "noise-machine" will be cranked up into overdrive, to pretend that the election result will be a close call. Haven't they done it at the last two elections?

[WeDidIt]

34. Quite frankly, you are full of shit.

Not going to happen.

The fundamental issue is the economy, and that issue has only just begun to be a major issue. We have third quarter earnings reports due out in the coming days and the market reactions to those. If the third quarter is as abysmal as all indicators show, layoffs will begin in earnest this month, within days before the election.

Everybody is going to know somebody who got laid off just days before the election.

This election is not going to get anywhere near close.

[symbolman]

40. Okay

If I'm right then you get to eat a shit sandwich, since you seem to love calling folks out with that kind of SHIT :)

I will definately Look you UP if it gets within the Margin of Error..

Funny, I thought you were a LOT nicer in most of your posts, and looked forward to your threads.. but..

[WeDidIt]

44. Sorry, but when I see shit, I call it shit

and your assertion was, to put it frankly, shit.

[symbolman]

48. I don't think some people realize the inherent stupidity of the American Public

We're talking about Genetically Engineered Meat that BEGS you to EAT IT..

Look at ALL the people that are willing to entertain McCain AT ALL, and extrapolate..

Since Reagan they've been using Psyops (Not to be confused with the "International House of Psyops") on these poor bastards, who are willing to LOSE EVERYTHING and STILL Vote for Republicans..

Frankly I'm amazed that they've allowed Obama this much wriggle room..

We'll see..

[THUNDER HANDS]

37. historically, most elections aren't close

[Danger Mouse]

38. Oh god, more hand wringing.

:puke:

[elfin]

39. I agree -

Fear and Smear do work as tactics, plus vote fraud.

This my yet boil down to an electoral and not popular vote situation with ugliness all around.

Terrified here yet working my heart out.

[Frumious B]

42. I'm not arguing that the media can't slant coverage to favor one candidate or the other.

However, if this quasi-omnipotent power to make it neck in neck a week prior to the election as a prelude to flipping it to McCain actually existed then wouldn't it be far easier and more credible to simply keep it neck in neck or maybe even a narrow McCain lead the whole way?

[Generic Other]

43. Symbolman look at these graphs and numbers

This makes a huge difference. The number of new DEMOCRATIC voters who registered in the past year and VOTED in the recent primaries suggests some good solid gains on our side. These numbers can't be erased. We know HOW they will vote and that they WILL vote. These are the Dems new base!!!

Cheer up! We are NOT gonna be cheated this time.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4211283

[symbolman]

47. Like I said I HOPE SO

just do not trust the media, they'll SKEW it all for the dummies out there..

Hopefully the KIDS and the Florida Jews will pull him over the top :)

[Joe the Revelator]

52. You don't hope so, you've already said that you want to "look people up...

and show them how wrong they are if this gets into the MOE".

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Joe the Revelator]

75. Don't get mad at me for calling you out for your own words

Did you not say you looked forward to looking someone up who diagreed with them so you could rub their faces in how wrong they were if this goes into the MOE? And don't lie like you always do.

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Generic Other]

61. It's not unreasonable for Symbolman to be nervous

We have two elections worth of lying cheating shit that should clue us in that any fears are grounded in reality. Symbolman has merely pointed out that we can't be complacent and we have to expect them to throw anything they can at us.

To attack the messenger for warning us to be vigilant is ridiculous!

Symbolman and me go back a long way. We are old war horses. I don't like hearing his concerns, but I sure as hell have learned from past experience not to dismiss them!!!

[symbolman]

67. I still think of you as a Youngish War Horse :)

Thanks for getting my back, there's plenty of evidence to show that they'll pull whatever they can get away with, all I'm saying is be VIGILANT, like you said.. :)

Remember when people used to post about what someone SAID in a thread instead of what they WISH was fulfilling their personal angst, fueling an attack?

I think some of these folks don't even read the thread before the driveby snark.. we used to SOLVE problems here, with discussion, doesn't mean you have to agree, that's the beauty of free speech, which I have Fought and Died for :)

You rock!

[Howler]

46. I don't think so......

I really think Obama is going to win by a landslide.It will be a double digit lead or a very high single digit lead Right up to nov 4th.
Next week we have the debate, Then the Half hour block of time The Obama campaign has bought on the networks a week before the election.

[slackmaster]

50. I think you are correct, symbolman

K&R

[progressivebydesign]

51. Hey Symbolman. You speak the truth, and have street cred here at DU.

Are you still making those amazing Flash presentations???

Of course the media does not want a runaway victory, they will push this as a horse race, even if it means using internal polling (which they're already using in some cases) by the repubs. We have three weeks to go, and the attacks on Obama are getting more vicious, and I expect the media to get worse as well.

Obama's been accused of being a terrorist sympathizer, un-American, a baby-killer, and more... and the election is going to tighten (even if it's only in the minds of the people that have to sell ads for their campaign coverage.)

Remember folks, the media is ONLY there now to sell advertising. They will do whatever it takes to keep people fixated on campaign coverage.

[Joe the Revelator]

53. Yes, that spoooooky media.

Keep checking for boogymen under your closet.

[symbolman]

70. Hey Thanks!

I'm afraid my flash work isn't so amazing anymore, got put out of business by websites like YouTube, video killed the Flash "star" :)

Yep, all those negatives you listed there, baby-killer is the latest I think, are what the media uses to SELL SOAP, or whatever.. they do what they NEED to do..

Notice that most of the media didn't make any demands that McCain stop INCITING PEOPLE.. they reported on it, but made no moves to end it..

I've always said I could be wrong, but I guess that's not enough of a disclaimer to expect some folks to stay civil when it's just a discussion :)

THanks for getting my back, good to hear from you :)

[GalleryGod]

54. You'll be wrong,NOT to worry.

BTW...I just hid this thread. No need for this shiite. Do something constructive.
EOM:kick:

[Overseas]

57. Have Republicans managed to hack into polling data too? //eom

[Quixote1818]

59. People are alreay voting in 23 states. It won't matter if it gets close again. Obama has already won

nt

[Honeycombe8]

60. I think you may be right, Symbolman. As long as he wins...and EVERYONE votes, so he'll...

have the popular vote, too!

[Uzybone]

62. The media has stocks too

They cannot ignore the economy. Acorn and Ayers have only solidified Obamas lead in the polls. I totally agree that we cannot get complacent and we should not just keep our boots on the GOP neck, we should keeps stomping down.

Keep donating, keep canvassing.

[lady lib]

63. The media are owned by corporations that are also not doing well

in this Republican produced economy. Is there any chance that they would want a change of direction to help their own bottom line?

[corkhead]

64. I think you forgot, "It's the economy, stupid!"

Under normal circumstances, what you are saying might be true, but these are not normal circumstances. They are not going to be able to put the economic Humpty Dumpty back together in time. The 401K quarterly statements are just starting to hit the mailboxes. There is absolutely NO positive economic news on the horizon. Just wait till the October durable goods and auto sales numbers come in.

[CakeGrrl]

65. It bears repeating: The Corporate-Owned Media is, and will always be,

in the tank for the Republicans until ownership doesn't buy a stake in how the news is "reported".

It never fails...things that WOULD be all over the air if they happened to a Democrat are swept under the rug or minimized when they happen to Republicans.

This year is no different. Obama is fighting the McCain campaign, the Republicans, and the media, which does the bidding of its corporate owners at the end of the day.

Until the ownership changes or the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated, this will not change, no matter how good the news seems to be for the Democrats.

If people don't want to be shocked, frustrated, or angered by the lapdog media, they'd best reduce their viewing time until that change occurs.

In the meantime, the best help to give Obama is money and/or time advancing the ground game and the GOTV efforts.

[Enrique]

66. it's not like that

"the media" is not out to get Obama.

[annabanana]

72. the media's OWNERS are the problem here....

remember that we are the product and the advertisers are the customer . . . .

[AlinPA]

68. The media controls everything. They will do their part to narrow the poll lead.

[annabanana]

69. symbolman, my dear, this time I disagree. .

I honestly think that, even with the media on their side, they don't have the necessary personnel to steal this one. I honestly think they don't have the number of operatives required to keep the lid on in so many States and precincts at once.

I think the 50 state strategy has defeated them.

[symbolman]

95. My Dear? That's the best post I've seen all day, keep it coming

I like people that talk like that, we should ALL be Stroking each other here, because WE are the Best Friends We've GOT :)

Oddly enough I'm of two minds, VERY WARY, and THRILLED, hoping he beats McCain like a circus Donkey.. but at the same time, the media is INSIDIOUS..

Seen them Screw with the people, and get away with it too many times now, Pimping that War for one, that was so over the top, and then when Kerry was BANGING away, and all of a sudden the Pie Charts started making like CLOCKS going backwards, the Christians had ARRIVED in DROVES, apparently the Media decided to tell us, as they were baffled before, that the Christians had decided that Bush just HAD to be pResident, again..

I could FEEL the GRAFT as those pie charts STOPPED at exactly 4PM and started going the other way, like a command from GOD.

MUCH of what I've seen in the past few elections has been Statistically, INSANELY IMPOSSIBLE.. Bush "WON" by 550 VOTES OUT OF 300 MILLION PEOPLE?

NAW.. that's like putting a coffee cup in New Jersey somewhere, then throwing a Penny off the Empire State building and having it land in the Cup :)

Total bullshit, and what did the public, the PEOPLE DO? Went home and watched TV and complained to the DOG..

I suspect that if they pull that shit THIS TIME, I'll have LOTS of company IN THE STREET. NEVER AGAIN, NEVER!!

THanks, My Dear :)

[Jawja]

71. Well if the Corporate Media

helps to ensure another GOP Presidency, then they will reap the consequences when their parent companies crash and burn along with the rest of America.

[HughMoran]

76. LOL - "you heard it here first"

Anybody who's been here for a while knows that this will be the case. I am not sure why some get angry when you tell them not to get overconfident - this is reality and it will come to pass as you have stated.

[Enrique]

79. I don't know it

I've been here for a while and I don't think it will be like that.

But we'll see. :shrug:

[HughMoran]

81. 2004 was devastating

If you were here, you would never-ever get even the least bit overconfident.

Quiet confidence is the limit for me - I'd never lure other DUers into a false sense of security.

[Lorentz]

87. If you were here, you should know that Obama is not Kerry. Not even close.

You apparently don't understand Obama's impact.

[Blue_Roses]

106. that may be very true--

Obama does have a different appeal than Kerry, BUT this isn't about Obama OR Kerry--it's about the spin of the media and how they can affect the turnout. With that said, things are very different this year, but we still have some odds against us.

[Leopolds Ghost]

115. Do you have some problem with Kerry?

[Blue_Roses]

105. exactly!

2004 sent me into a spiraling depression for a about a week. I don't think I could go through that again:(

[Bucky]

77. I think you're right. It always seems to tighten up toward the end.

I don't mean that in a crude way.

North Carolina, West Virginia, and probably Virginia will stay red this year, altho by tighter margins than last time. The flipable states are New Mexico, Ohio, and Iowa. And don't count on Ohio... or Nevada.

This will be a close one. Woman the phones. Man the phones, too.

[quaker bill]

80. I disagree

I think these powers have seen the real McCain and have decided to cut their losses. The powerbrokers in our local JEB machine started coming our for Barack last week. They are not by any means done with us and will be back, but I think they see how attempting to hold and push McCain will destroy their party and have decided to sell short.

I think they would like to maintain 41 seats in the senate for now, get as much government largesse as they can to clean up their economic mess, and attempt a comeback in 2010 and 2012. None of this is a reason to stop donating and working. We need the Whitehouse and 61 seats in the senate, three new liberal, young, and healthy SCOTUS justices (4 or 5 would be even better), a whole raft of liberal federal judges. The only way we get there is to press all the advantages now in our possession home.

It is not that we must win, it is that we must WIN BIG, VERY BIG.

[tpi10d]

82. I'm not predicting the future

I've been burned too many times in the past.

But I will say holding all our lead during the "pallin around" phase of the McCain campaign is a VERY good sign.

[riona]

83. I hope it will not be close.

The voter application fraud scare is setting us up for a huge mess.

[Phredicles]

85. I'm as pessimistic as they come, and I just don't see it. Even in '92 (a

classic case of an election tightening up) was Clinton ever this far ahead? I'm relying just on memory, but I don't think he was.

I believe the margin has grown beyond the magin of fuckwithability. And Obama has shown time and time and time again that he knows what the hell he's doing. Even if we don't win by 11%, we will indisputably win. Mark my words:D.

[BlackmanX]

86. Wake up nobody gives a damn about what the media says

if you look at the polls from this whole year it's obvious that the average person isn't paying to the talking heads who only want to speak about the latest political stunt by mccain instead of how average people are suffering from the economy. their reporting doesn't reflect the times. so in reality what the fuck do they know about what's going on in the real world? that's why they're resorted to all this junk technology (be it the cafferty file, cnn using twitter,or msnbc using text messaging instapolls ) to make the audience feel like they get it when it's clear that they don't. they only try to explain things after they happen for all their talk and grandeous sense of self importance, the pundits don't know shit

[Chichiri]

88. Where can I find the polling data for the last dozen or so elections?

Gallup has something like that, doesn't it? I can't find it.

[NV Whino]

89. The only way Obama can lose the race at this point

is if it is perceived--let me repeat that--perceived as a close race at which time the election can once again be stolen for the GOP.

The media will take care of that perception.

I share your concern, Symbolman.

[BrainStorm]

91. Symbolman, I'm worried about this too. I remember Kerry being so far ahead

and suddenly we ended up with the criminal Shrub "winning"--don't tell me the damned thing wasn't stolen, I won't believe it.

So here we are again, about 3 weeks from election day, and Obama is kicking butt, McCain is behind and it looks like a sure thing. I don't know if I can stand watching this happen again.

[Jennicut]

93. Kerry was losing right before the election. Its was even before that.

I just don't see it this time. Obama is really aware of what has happened in the past as well. I know he will be on top of any funny business. Poor Gore never knew what was coming but we all know better now.

[BrainStorm]

116. True about Gore

But I understand the trepidation.

[BlooInBloo]

92. I know. Being ahead obviously means we're doomed.

[IsItJustMe]

94. After the last two elections, with Florida and then Ohio, Diebold and the rest of it, you would have

to be a damn fool not to be concerned.

[Yukari Yakumo]

96. Oh joy... yet another chicken little

Repeat after me...

"MSM is not in the tank for McInsane."

They don't like him since he's been giving them the middle finger. Rare interviews, hamhanded treatment of reporters, etc.
Well, except for Fox Noise Channel, but that's expected.

[crankychatter]

97. what amazes me and fills me with hope is the insurgence of Obama despite these horrific MSM smears

Folks are wising up

You haven't said anything untrue... but there are some true things you haven't said

take heart

of COURSE we will keep working...

:-)

[Ozma]

98. Heed THESE WORDS...............given the performance of McCain/Palin in five short weeks ....

since the Republican Convention... remember THAT fiasco?

McCain and Palin were polling SLIGHTLY AHEAD of Obama...


Now.. Where are they? 10 points DOWN, and sinking further every week...

It's NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.........America has many many many people smarter than Sarah Palin...and they KNOW they are NOT WILLING to risk THIS nation to a genuine borderline "moran"!!!!!!!!!!

[CarbonDate]

99. My analysis is a bit different....

...although I agree with your ultimate conclusion.

For the first time in a very long time, we finally have our foot on their their throat, and many of us, being the liberals we are, might be inclined to declare victory and let them back up. No, we need to run them through with our sword and make sure they never get back up. They aren't defeated until we finish them off. We shouldn't be satisfied with a 10 point lead: we should shoot for a 20 point lead until they're completely destroyed.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

We are winning. If we stay the course we will win. But you're right, we CAN still lose this one if we start declaring defeat or let McCain call a mulligan, or whatever. We have to stay on top of them and never let them back up.

Your concern is justified, my friend. But so too is our optimism, I think.

[symbolman]

103. Totally agree

Paste.. I want to see PASTE where they were, Metaphorically Speaking of course (HI AGENT MIKE!)..

That's one thing I learned about fighting as a kid in Catholic school.. PASTE..

You just don't STOP.. maybe like Golf, it's all in the Follow Through, eh? :)

I WANT us to beat that old man, and seriously, there shouldn't even be a competition, THAT ONE is Senile, doddering, jokes suck, Erratic, out of Touch, represents all that's BAD.. REFORMING what? HIMSELF? I love how they are Running against THEMSELVES, and my Irony Meter is broken, they broke it :)

NEVER STOP, NEVER will we let them STEAL it again. I Know they'll TRY, and that's what I'm basically saying, Watch for THAT..

THanks, good post, I feel better already :)

[BlooInBloo]

101. Define, SPECIFICALLY, "neck and neck", else you're uttering a lot of words...

but not saying anything at all.

[quakerboy]

102. I hope you are wrong

but it would not surprise me. At this point very little would surprise me.

[Waiting For Everyman]

104. I wouldn't be surprised if it's neck-and-neck either, symbolman.

I hope not. A landslide would be much better on my frayed nerves.

Even so, I'd still worry about Obama and Biden's safety. And Dem workers'. This is a time when concern is justified, and to take nothing for granted.

It might also be possible that the Corporatists might secretly have a reason to WANT Obama to win. Maybe so he can save what's left of the financial system without a Repub violating their "principles"?

Anything is possible, that's the point, so you are right about being vigilant and assuming it'll be close anyway. Extra votes from pushing harder could never hurt. In fact, it would give Obama more of a mandate to make changes.

[Blue_Roses]

107. we have to win!

I don't think I could go through another 2000 or 2004:cry:

[TheKentuckian]

108. They've been trying

and its not helping McHoover and Obama is still growing legs. I'm starting to see signs in highly unlikely places that McCain is hemorrhaging for W voters. I understand the valid concerns but conditions on the ground indicate that if we can maintain our push that we are in no worse shape than 96.

[Fire1]

109. I think we've forgotten the third party segment that won't vote at all.

The newly registered democrats will replace those third party votes to Obama.

[amborin]

110. we need to fight as if we're 10 down

no celebrations or complacency until nov 5

[LibertyorDeath]

111. Agree 100% ......but..........

I think people are looking past the Media beyond the Media

to each other. The media has diminished it's impact and ability to sway the

American public by so obviously turning into a propaganda arm of Corporate America

and the Powers that be.

People will vote with this Shit economy front and center on their minds

and that's where we'll win this! Lou Dobbs be Damned!!

[RBInMaine]

112. Chill out. At this time next week we'll know who the next Prez will be.

The last debate will be over, and with 2 and a half weeks before election day the final deciders will decide. The remainder of the electorate breaks one way or the other, it gels, and that's it.
I think by next week we can say, "Stick a fork in McLAME and Failin' Palin."

[Imagevision]

113. IT will be NECK AND NECK one week before the Election, in which state...?

[RBInMaine]

114. WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR THIS NEGATIVE SHIT !! CUT THE CRAP !

[cui bono]

117. They already put out the exit polls are not accurate meme, and this week is

Bradley effect week. I agree with you, they will find a way to make it seem plausible that McCain won as they steal a third presidential election in a row. If we don't get out in the streets immediately and in huge numbers if that happens then we deserve it.