Consultants speak

Garry South, although it is obvious what motivated Gray Davis to attempt to conceal the fact that his grandfather was William Rhodes Davis,. financed by the Reichsbank at the urging of Hitler, himself in the building of Davis' Eurotank oil refinery in Hamburg, and described in US Asst. Atty Gen. O. John Rogge's "Official Nazi Report" (1961) as "Nazi Abwehr Agent C-80", financier with Nazi provided money, of Wendell Willkie's 1940 campaign against FDR, what is not so obvious is why republican opponents and the media did not dig into, and or not disclose any details about Davis' grandfather in any of his three Calif. gubernatorial campaigns.

Ed Lefevre @ 12:00 AM PDT, Aug 21, 2008

I believe that a campaign should be 100% positive on the sides of each candidate. However, in case no one has noticed, BOTH sides of the campaign are running negative attack ads. It just happens that McCain is running better ones and that is what people remember and slam him for. BOTH parties, however, are guilty.

Suzanne @ 11:25 AM PDT, Aug 20, 2008

Both, reading these guys chatting makes me realize why the Republlican slime machine works. None of the guys has any ethical standards whatsoever. Ultimately the blame rests with the American people. The campaigns will do what they perceive as effective. That McCain is close despite the abject failure of his party's policies demonstrates the American people are fundamentally incapable of making rational electoral choices. In a word, they're morons.

Dave @ 12:05 AM PDT, Aug 20, 2008

In my opinion the worst side effect of negative attack campaign tactics is that it shuts down the exchange and discussion of ideas on how to solve the nations problems. To effectively explore the feasibility of a concept, refine it and build the necessary coalition to implement it requires that we discuss it. If we keep allowing the messenger to be shot we might as well accept the beauty contest for what it is and accept the results. Four more years of an imperial presidency anyone?

Pete @ 3:52 PM PDT, Aug 19, 2008

I cant belive that we americans think this ugly campaing that McCain is doning is alright. Canidates should focus 100% on what there proposeing to do for this country, not point out the faults of the other. I don't know why the media is not slamming McCain for this poor stradegy. I thought we were better than that, but the people are liking it and that's sad. Something that should be taken seriously is not, and that's why our country is going down, because your stupid enough to let Bush get away with what he did. United Satets Of The Stupid!

Wake up people @ 1:06 PM PDT, Aug 19, 2008

Modern politics seem little more than snake oil merchants shilling bunkum bottles with bright labels. The best campaign strategy is a capable candidate whose powerful policies auger the greatest common good for the most people. And it's a duty, not a strategy, to expose every candidate's negatives. Any honest campaign's goal should be a public knowledgeable about all candidates. Informed choice is otherwise impossible. But preventing informed choice seems the real goal. Ends don't justify means, and nothing honorable results from a dishonorable process.. This--and apathy and ignorance--is politics' Achilles heel.

Michael Grable @ 9:54 AM PDT, Aug 19, 2008

There is nothing like a down in the gutter political campaign. American history is littered with them. With the age of the internet and You Tube, look out at how the messages get spread. Even Paris is now a candidate. What's new? This campaign ad injected humor into a negative message. On or around the same time, a new real-time poll launched at http://www.bop-o-rama.com. While this is open polling the numbers offer an interesting perspective on how cyberspace is viewing the campaigns. Below is a recent look at the Bop Count for the candidates. McCain 177,395 Bops Obama 378,300 Bops

acarponzo @ 8:56 AM PDT, Aug 19, 2008

I find it fascinating that of the three participants in this forum, the one Democrat is the one who completely misses the moral and ethical dimension. His entire message is "no fingerprints." They really are a far more ruthless, negative and destructive party.

Jeff @ 5:19 AM PDT, Aug 19, 2008