How often in a clash between two titans, such as two boxers, or two football teams, is the defeated fighter or coach bitterly criticized because "he played not to lose". But risks are an inherent factor of life. Sometimes, overcaution can be much worse than not being cautious enough. Just ask John McCain, whose campaign strategists had obviously advised the man to use an ill-conceived strategy of playing not to lose.
When the presidential debate commenced, it was rather apparent McCain was showing unnatural restraint. In boxing parlance, champion McCain chose only to jab in the first half of the fight. And in the latter half of the contest, McCain swung wildly at his bobbing opponent, but failed to land a series of punches. The only time he had Obama on the ropes, his opponent was saved by the final bell.
Too bad Senator McCain. You could've scored an early knockout on your nervous rival, but you had erroneously chose to listen to your incompetent managers, who had cautioned you "not to make any gaffes". But ironically, that was your biggest gaffe...you held back your blows, and your glib, stammering opponent was let off the hook.
It was a scene eerily reminiscent of Rocky I. Obama as Rocky, McCain as Apollo. Rocky Obama knew he "just had to go the distance". He obviously had trained hard, had carefully studied his opponent, and knew where he was vulnerable. His handlers knew he could win by just hanging on till the end, because if their man was still standing, the judges (media) would fix the fight.
In the post fight analysis, the judges agreed that Obama had been bloodied, but awarded him a close decision, only because he hadn't been knocked out. Most of the spectators went along with the verdict, but stunned McCain supporters had every right to cry foul. To an impartial observer, it was apparent that the McCain scorecard was way ahead by the end, despite his "rocky" start.
Well Senator McCain, what do you do, now that you fully realize that you're against a Machiavellian opponent, who's been able to out-clever your campaign at every turn? You're now left to fight alone against a political Mafioso that, like the Al Capone mob, has its origins in south Chicago...an opponent who uses the laws to act in an outlaw manner...an opponent whose disinformation would make the KGB seem amateurish.
Senator McCain; please throw aside your advisors, they naively want to play by the rules, because they understand little of the strategy of ruthlessness. The thuggish enemy against you is playing for keeps. They operate under a guise of 'civic' organization. Even their name seems benign (ACORN). But like a malignant political cancer, once they quietly invade any area, they will subtly eat away at the opposing organism, and weaken and destroy it before it can fight back.
Even you do not realize the extent to which the Acorn cancer has penetrated. It's metastasized into college campuses in all the swing states, employing illegal "instant voter" registration tactics, including same day registration/absentee balloting. If challenged, ACORN will tie up the issue in court, and if the state secretary and state supreme court are pro-democrat, ACORN wins; you lose. ACORN fights for relaxed voter rules that allow early balloting. One no longer need present a reason to justify an absentee ballot. Chicago machine politics has indeed been raised to an art form.
The Acorn malignancy has crept into every major TV newsroom across the country, where staffers mock videos of the Palin-Couric interview, but censor any whiff of an Obama misstep. They spread the cancer of ACORN, but in ways imperceptible to anyone but the closest observer. They lie to the public by omission. They do not seek the truth. They worship only your opponent, because they see him as a rainmaker.
Mr. McCain, take this Reagan-esque advice: "Tear down this wall"...the wall of bi-partisanship and political correctness that your advisors have erected around you. Your maverick status is at stake. You best fight alone now, because that’s how you fight best. The media and the young are in the camp of your opponent. And the remaining voting public has begun to sing that democratic song titled, "You're not in touch". They do not realize they've swallowed the bait.
Forget about Iraq. Your opponent has the right idea...talk about HIM. He speaks mostly of you. You've fallen into their trap. They have you on the defensive. So get aggressive, before the clock runs out. We're in the fourth quarter.
Playing not to lose is costing you the Whitehouse. Is this any way to win an election, trying to dispel your previous reputation? Did it ever occur to you that you're the polar opposite of your glib opponent? And that's just what the undecided people are looking for! Someone with the fire and backbone to run our country. Go ahead, lose your temper...let the public see the real McCain again. Reclaim your respect.
You are a sincere, patriotic, straight-talking, courageous war hero. You have principles. You have always taken a stand for what you believe is right for your country, while you opponent always takes a stand for what is right for only himself and his party. Your country has always come first. Your opponent has always said "I'm first".
You must bluntly counteract your opponent's polished oratory using the very thing that got you here in the first place...straight talk! But here's your challenge, bring back the straight talking, but limit it to one subject; your opponent's credibility. Defeat it in the only way you know how-- by telling the truth. Forget the media criticism, your advisors, the pundits, and start being commander McCain again! What have you got to lose?
Give people the real story. Call it, "the Great Revelation strategy". Leopards don’t change their spots. Start from the beginning, and go forward. Drop all the negative TV commercials. Save the media buys. Use the money for some good old fashioned campaign mailings. We still have freedom of the press. Let loose with a blizzard of straight-talking literature. Let the people read the truth. Unmask the imposter!
Let the the people know of your opponent's political origins in south Chicago. Does the public know of his ties to ACORN? Nope. Does the public know he despises ALL guns? Does the public know he's virulently anti-oil, and is for higher gas prices as a form of forced conservation? Does the public know that in 2005, he earmarked 1 million dollars to his wife's employer, only a few months after the hospital had TRIPLED her salary? How's that for starters? The public is not aware of any of this.
Meanwhile, back at your opponent's ranch, they've been unable to dig up any real dirt on you. So they continue to say that you're out of touch. But that's the best they'll do. So put your advisors on an expedition of their own; let them start mining some dirt on this deeply-flawed candidate. They won't have to go very deep. Call an impromptu series of Town Hall meetings. Talk about how your opponent received $126,000 from Fannie Mae right after he was sworn in as a U.S. Senator. Was this hush money? Let the public decide.
Criticizing your opponent won't tarnish his sacred, media-worshipped image. So, just keep telling the truth about him. Your “great revelation strategy” may go down in election history like the famous Truman "whistle stop" train tour of his last thirty days before the 1948 election. Truman's opponent (Dewey) was a polished eloquent speaker, and was way ahead in the polls. Truman decided to tour the country, and speak from the back of a passenger train.
Even on the election night, the media still had difficulty accepting the fact that Truman could win. But once Truman shucked the political rhetoric, it reinforced his image as a fiery leader who avoided all pretense, and understood the average voter. Truman ultimately won against his elitist and extremely haughty opponent.
Well Senator McCain...time for history to repeat itself. Hop on your bus, get on your soapbox, and make the campaign stops. Trust your own instincts. Be your own campaign strategist. Rise again from the ashes like you did a year ago before the primaries. Make history. Become the next Harry Truman.
But above all, make sure you remind everyone of one thing all will agree: Government by division is always in the public's best interest. A democratic Congress and a Republican president preserves democracy, and portends prosperity. Or vice versa. Remind them of the glory days of the 1990's, when Clinton was held in check by Newt Gingrich. Or the 1980's when Reagan was held in check by Tip O'Neil. Times were good during those years.
Remind the people that a democratic sweep will be four years of reign by those who caused all the problems in the first place. Let them know the real truth about Fannie Mae. You warned it was sinking, but the democrats were the ones who sandbagged the rescue. Clamor loudly that "this won't happen on my watch, but only if the government is divided between the 2 parties!" They'll elect you in a landslide!
Let the great revelation reveal that Pelosi and Reid will reinstate the permanent ban on drilling. You know it's true, so it's your duty to let the people know. Be blunt, tell them point-blank: THEY are ones out of touch with the real story...they are being led by the media into a leftist ambush. You need not speak like Churchill. Just warn them repeatedly that a democratic sweep will subordinate the majority to a leftist agenda of unchecked liberal legislation, and the irreparable transformation of the face of our nation.