THANK FUCKING GOD! It's about TIME. I was just a wee thing when the S&L scandal broke (read: too busy studying for my 9th grade algebra test), but I have been appalled that the Dems have held their (our?) tongues about what was heretofore my most lasting impression of John McCain. It is so on, baby. Of course, esoteric banking scandals don't quite have the drama of the word "terrorist", but we have just gotten a national economics lesson and the Keating 5 couldn't be a better illustration of the way John McCain just doesn't get it.

Obama was obviously waiting just for the right time. Now it's on!

the repugs are toast. obama and the people who work for him know what they are doing, they know about timing, they know about sound bites, they know when to bite their tongues and when to let loose. they are smarter than...rove?! omg! smarter than rove! halle-fuckin-luja!

http://images.dailykos.com/images/user/3/electiontrains.jpg

He needs to make this fit into a TV ad. Too many voters are idiots who don't want to spend the time watching a 10 minute video.

I just posted this on The Blank Pages-I apologize for repeating myself. Just wanting this shit to end and getting rid of Karl Rove and all his spinning sewage.

http://wlsam.com/article.asp?id=916933&SPID=17549

the only age group left who supports mccain over obama is oldsters. they don't have internet, let alone the concentration to remember a 13 minute video. it will have to be boiled down to 30 seconds.

and i'd imaging it will be.

I totally called this in the Slog comments a couple weeks ago.

I'm a bit confused...

Is this a preemptive strike against McCain for something big he's about to unveil on Obama? Like something that hasn't leaked yet?

The Keating-Economics thing seems a little over-the-top for Obama considering his current standing and momentum.

Or is this what Dems have wanted from him all along?

Bring. It. On.

The fact that he's gearing up like this means that he's a thousand times the campaigner Kerry was in 2004. I'm pretty damn thankful we don't have a wuss in our corner this time.

Good with one month left to keep the pressure on--just because Obama has a lead in the polls doesn't mean they can coast. The election is too important. Two main things to think about:

1. If Republicans have a nasty smear, it is coming soon.
2. Republicans play dirty tricks with the entire voting process-spoiled ballots, electronic voting machines etc.

Obama needs to control the discussion, the memes, the debate and keep McCain on the defensive.

I've made this comment before, and it still holds true ... back in the day, when James Carville was great, he'd say "when your opponent is drowning, throw the s.o.b. an anvil." this is the first of several anvils, I'd hope.

The timing is perfect, and planned. If you go negative too early, it backfires. Obama goes hard with this after McCain and Palin are too committed to their message. And he seizes the spotlight from the tired/debunked Rev. White/etc. stories.

All those who thought that only Hillary would be tough enough to fight back - watch the next couple weeks, and see how it's done right. This is going to be fun.

Obama and his team didn't just study Kerry and Gore, he studied the winners too. The winners pour it on.

The debate on Tuesday SHALL BE A BLOOD BATH.

And he doesn't have to make anything up to do it.

From a conservative, but one who's no friend of Mr McCain, a blunt recap, using the Senate Ethics Committee's own words:

http://www.nationalreview.com/contributors/levin040501.shtml

As one who followed the story at the time, I'll watch what Mr Obama has to say with interest.

Well, duh... but...
We're not so naive to think that McCain's camp hasn't well-prepared themselves for this most-obvious old-news attack? Anyone/everyone could've seen this one coming from a mile away. If they're not ready for it, then, they're some sorry-ass chumps.

This doesn't feel right to me. Whether he is or not, people believe that Obama is different. This thing could backfire by taking the wind out of that belief.

I don't think this is as perfect a move as the rest of you seem to think.

Timothy, unfortunately for all of us, unilateral disarmament is not "different" at all. Dukakis thought it didn't "feel right." Same with Gore. And Kerry too.

Don't bring a knife to a gunfight. Let's have this.

I'm not sure I believe Obama's going to do this. Anyhow, it would be better to let someone not associated with his campaign do it, and see if it gets any traction.

If McCain made an ad exposing Barack Hussein Obama's homosexual dalliances and drug use, as well as his associations with PLO higher ups (bravely and brilliantly depicted tonight on "Hannity's America") he would turn this around and get a 50 state sweep.

Loyal Americans will reject the treasonous Democrat Party and their perverted homosexual allies.

Quibble, quibble, quibble.

Three words, Obama: Kick his ass.

Why? Because you need to win by a huge margin. Small margins can and will be eliminated via voting fraud as in 2000 and 20004.

So, again: Kick his ass. And don't be mean about it. Just be accurate, honest, and compelling.

Obama doesn't have to put this into a 30 second comercial. Every news station in the country is going to run this as their lead story on Monday. Thus, the last news cycle of before the second debate is going to be all about McCain's connection to the Keating 5 scandal. The thing Palin said is just a good opening-- yes, it will be mentioned in the news stories, but immediatly debunked (see NY Times, CNN)-- and used as an excuse for Obama to go negative

I don't see how this is necessary, nor how it is a net positive item for the Obama campaign to be discussed now, even in today's climate. Obama is 6 points ahead even by a conservative estimate, and has been trending upwards for weeks now. We've already seen that John McCain's negative campaign hurts him at least as much as it hurts Obama, and anything he brings up now is both old, and has been proven ineffective in the primaries.

Even if the Keating Five scandal has some traction with the public, there's no telling whether or not even McCain's poorly run campaign doesn't have a perfect counter ready for this. It's too wide of a swing.

Are you naysayers for real?

The thing that has sunk the dems for 5 of the last 7 cycles is that they've let the rethugs set the tone. The Rs attack and the Ds mount a milquetoast defense (not believing the American public would fall for it).

Obama is playing this perfectly. The McCain camp just attacked and instead of defending he ups the ante.

Well played for sure.

People are absolutely convinced that not going for the jugular is the equivalent of sitting on your hands. Every time Obama doesn't lash out at McCain I hear cries of "Gore!" and "Kerry!". The fact is, Obama's campaign is not being run the slightest bit like Gore or Kerry's were, and if you paid attention even a little, you'd realize that. Obama has been forceful in disputing bullshit, and a half a dozen scandals that would have sunk an ordinary candidate have slid off of him with barely a mark.

In addition, McCain's campaign isn't nearly as vicious as Bush's was. There haven't been any commercials showing Christian's holding super secret prayers because the atheists took away their freedom of religion. There haven't been any "The terrorists will kill you and your children if you elect a Democrat" commercials either. It's just been a bunch of shitty "Is he ready to lead?" nonsense.

Regardless of how despicable McCain may have become, he's the one that is losing, and losing badly. Stop pretending that we're playing from behind.

The Obama campaign should listen carefully to the advice of Chris in Tampa, and do exactly the opposite.

We're not running only against McCain, do you get it Chris? We're running against the entire Republican Party and against the entire odious conservative movement.

Here in WA, We're running against Dino Rossi, Rob McKenna, and Doug Sutherland, who embody the same right-wing cancer that McCain and Palin are selling.

We need to turn these bastards out of office at every level of government, and where they are in office, we do need to run like we're behind.

The entire Republican party is already tanking, and it's partly due to the fact that Obama's ground game is something completely unprecedented. The rest is because everyone finally clued in to the outstanding incompetency of the Republicans.

Do you really think exposing the Keating Five scandal is going to do any more damage to the Republican Party than Bush, Iraq, and this financial crisis have already done? Are you that fucking deluded?

I'm not telling anybody to sit around doing nothing. I fully expect Obama and the rest of the Democrats to continue to fight hard in their campaigns. But Obama stands to win in a landslide, there's a fairly decent chance that the Democrats might grab a super majority in the Senate, and gain another 20 seats in the House. Just because your governor ran a lousy campaign doesn't mean everybody else has been sleeping, and it certainly doesn't mean that Obama has to start throwing Hail Marys everywhere.

Sorry, pal, you're flat full of shit. Keating ripped off a lot of old people and today's old people need to get the message. The 60+ demographic is McCain's strength and we need to attack his strength.

Fortunately, we have more ammo than Keating. This Wall Street Journal story reveals that mcCain would pay for his "health care program" by SLASHING MEDICARE!

That's me, pal. I turn 65 this month and just got my Medicare card. If you think I want those motherfuckers coming after my Medicare, and think I don't want to use all the ammo in my clip against them -- including Keating -- you're just plumb loco.

Obama finally got his "And if you are wondering, it was at 'Gee crime, I just don't know' I decided to kick your ass" moment.

You West Wing fans know EXACTLY which episode I am talking about.

BREAK'S OVER!!!

What point are you arguing now? You were just telling me how we need to get all Republicans out of office, and this latest strategy is somehow designed to do just that. You seem to have abandoned that idea, in favor of arguing that we need to need to use everything we have if we ever hope to defeat McCain, which is absolutely ridiculous.

Have you seriously not been paying attention to anything at all this year? I don't know how I can explain this any clearer, but the Democrats are going to control the most of all branches of government since 1932. This sort of attack may tip the scales in Obama's favor, but it's both risky and unnecessary. He's going to win anyway. Nobody is going to steal your fucking medicare, old man.

32:

This kind of attack is neither risky or unnecessary.

And as for whether I have been paying attention, you must be new around here. Silly prat.

Sorry, I didn't know you have Alzheimer's.

Listen...I've been hearing dems tell Obama to "ATTACK!" for months now. I get it, we want revenge, we want to smash the republicans.

All the while, Obama has been steady, and has risen above. And all the while, the polls have been on a continual shift in our direction. The only thing that has worked for McCain was his brief hail mary vp pick; and that is now turning against him.

I am not saying that Obama shouldn't mention the Keating 5; perhaps a debate point here, a 30-second spot there. But I disagree that he should elevate it to THE point of his campaign for the next week. There's no evidence that Ayers of Wright have any sticking power; they didn't work before, and I don't believe they'll stick now. Obama's "turn the page?" message over the weekend was brilliant.

I think many of you are just pissed off (as you should be) and want Obama to hit back to make you feel better. That's not based in strategy no matter how much you try to compare Obama to Kerry or Gore.

Tread carefully, Mr. Obama. No need to be throwing hail mary's of your own right now.

Naysayers are idiots. You use what you have. You don't "hold back" because it "might provoke some coutnerreaction".

What a wussy piont of view that is. "He was down, Mamma, but IU didn't want to kick him more -- what if he got mad and hit me back?" Him being one who every year smears you with lies and calls you traitor andhtis year says McC. is the only "man" who will fight for you?

This particualr counterattack by Obama I hope will be used to attack heart of the great big GOP lie that they are for the littel guy -- what a load -- hopefully this line of attack will develop over the next few weeks to:

1. connect S and L dereg. and corruption with the more recent deregulation and finance crisis
2. how this is part and parcel of GOP philosphy, which is
3. designed to rig the "market" and thus screw you, the Average American, in favor of the lying cheating greedy and corrupt rich and pwoerful;
4. whereas the Dems will ensure things work and we have opportunity for all who work hard and play by the rules.
5. To ensure that opprtunity we need a govt. guided greening of the econ., health care, etc.

IOW hopefull Obama uses KEating 5 to destry the entire GOP frame that has been rammed down our throats for the last 50 years, and hopefully this is the year the media, and everyone, gets it.

Now, that would be change.

Unity y'all except Lord Basil and his yellow bellied ilk, who surrender the American ideals of equality, fairness, justice, and liberty and opportunity for all --

I think that this is a valid point and attack to make for the following reasons:

1. Throughout the primary season and into the presidential election season, NO ONE, not even the other Repubican primary candidates, or the press have wanted to remind the American public of a PUBLICALLY known historical event that John McCain was involved in. He needs to continue to answer questions about this scandal. Give the American public a history lesson. Doing some searching on the Net, I see that he was only asked about this once in 2000 by a reporter and quickly gave a generic answer then moved on to the next subject. Obviously, he didn't want this to be a big issue because he knew he'd lose a lot of votes. He can't hide his head in the sand this time.

2. No one's ever dared asked McCain why he decided to leave his first wife, who's disabled, for some younger rich woman. If people say McCain's a "good man", then why would a good man leave his wife and get married to another woman before the divorce is finalized? These fuckers are glossing over Obama's life and making accusations based on hear-say and weak facts, and trying to scare people with that information just to prevent saying "hey don't vote for him b/c he's a BLACK man".

3. Today's economic crisis mirrors the S&L Crisis/Keating 5 Scandal from 20 years ago. The American public needs to be reminded about this. This is a historical event that changed our attitudes towards banking. This is why the FDIC insures accounts to $100K. McCain has been against regulating the banking industry for years. This needs to be known. There were people who lost their savings 20 years ago. It cost the US taxpayers billions of dollars to fix.

By Obama just saying, "Hey people. This man was involved in THIS scandal and he's still able to practice politics?" Had it been a black man involved in the S&L Scandal/Keating 5, you know the McCain campaign would've found some 4th-6th degree of separation between that guy and Obama and made a huge deal about it.

About the "Medicare cuts" mentioned, the story reference says $1.3 trillion--over TEN years--and also shared with Medicaid. So, assuming that a President McCain's plan for it would NOT be gutted in Congress, that would amount to $6.5 billion worth of brakes being put on their growth. Which is what "cut" means. Medicare's never been "cut" in terms of the programme having less money to spend one year than it had the previous year, and it never will.

People are acting like this is the worst thing Obama could have done. It's not. Here's some worse things:
1) Leaving his first wife
2) His vietnam "confessions"
3) His health
4) Which lobbyists did what

Bringing up the candidate's dodgy record on financial regulation (or more appropriately, deregulation) at a moment when the entire country is focused on this issue is entirely appropriate. Before the financial industries meltdown started it was probably deemed too wonky to get any traction with mainstream America. Now it seems entirely germane.

Plus, it's true. This is hardly a Swift Boat campaign, although it's timing indicates it is a preemptive counter to Palin's terrorist-by-association trial balloon over the weekend. Which, by the way, is exactly what Swift Boating looks like.

Running with the Keating Five story isn't sinking to Rove-like levels at all. It's still the high road. Sinking to Rove levels would be a voice-over talking about how Todd Palin was a member of a faction that advocated the overthrow of the U.S. government, played over video of Sarah speaking at the AIP convention, and then her and Todd posing with big-ass guns out on the Tundra. Maybe mention the word "militia" a couple times and show a picture of the Oklahoma city aftermath. With the tagline: "Sarah Palin: In bed with terrorism?"

That would be sinking to their level.

Just watched the "documentary."

Wow. That was boring. :-)

Methinks those in the "hit him hard now!" crowd are going to be disappointed in this.

I'm fine with raising the status of the issue, and agree there is parallel to the current crisis. To that end, and if this is meant to inform the media and strategists that this is a talking point, then I'm happy with it.

But, hard hitting it aint.