RobertEmmet

By Bree Hocking

What a long strange trip it’s been — and I’m just talking about the final week of the 2008 presidential campaign. As the “year of living on the edge of our seats” (to quote a recent New York Times headline) comes to an abrupt conclusion today, let’s look back on its closing hours. As they say, a week is an eternity in politics, and the last seven days certainly felt like one.

Wenesday: The Obama infomercial airs on just about all the major networks. Obama highlights the hard-luck tales of ordinary Americans. This is hardly “morning in America.” The whole country sniffles and worries about the dwindling supplies in the refrigerator, while Obama pontificates on tax credits and clean energy jobs. Then he goes on the “Daily Show,” where he smiles profusely and impresses Jon Stewart with his “Obama magic.” Meanwhile, John McCain sits down with Larry King and concedes that Obama is not a socialist, but he’s still steamed about some tape the LA Times refuses to release (because it loves its sources more than him) showing Obama saying nice things about a Pro-Palestinian activist and professor. This might have been a story but it turns out a group McCain once headed funded organizations linked to this very dude — so much for that October surprise.

Back in Obamaland, the Great O appears at a midnight rally in Florida with Bill Clinton. The tension is palpable. Obama looks profoundly uncomfortable. Clinton waxes rhapsodic about his administration’s past achievements. Do you remember Clinton’s “chicken in every pot?” Obama will give you that. Obama says nice things about Bill Clinton. They are all on tape. Continue reading →