Seriously, folks this is NOT an “attack” ad, nor is it going “negative”. The Obama people may say that he’s already done a million debates (is that all?), but it’s not the public’s fault the Democrats knocked themselves out with debates back before anyone other than that sliver of political junkies (who’d be watching C-SPAN anyway), were even tuned in.As the contest has heated up, most people admit they don’t really know that much about a lot of the proposals and positions. Anti-debate people shouldn’t tell the public “read the fucking manual”. Oh, sorry, I mean it’s PR equivalent, “Go to the website”. It’s too technocentric and comes off a bit snotty. Remember, the majority of Americans don’t rush to their computer every morningFrankly, I don’t see why Sen. Obama would be reluctant to debate. He is, after all, very telegenic and it would be a good opportunity to offset the charge that he’s weak in terms of policy. (I know, he isn’t. I’ve been to his website, so don’t bother e-mailing me) .

Meanwhile, the RNC has been sharpening it’s knives for Sen. Obama, the main target - in public at least - was still Sen. Hillary Clinton.

“Plenty of lowbrow Hillary Rodham Clinton jokes were tossed around at the three-day event, but of highest concern was the notion of Obama seizing the Oval Office in a contest against presumptive GOP nominee John McCain.

“We all dislike Hillary,” declared Southern California Rep. Ken Calvert, from the Inland Empire east of Los Angeles, echoing thoughts of the roughly 75 attendees at a Sunday morning RNC session.”

Again, unlike others I can see a real plus for Hillary in that. The Republican base none too crazy about McCain in the first place - are at least united in their unabashed grumpy old sexist glory.

Should Hillary Clinton become the nominee, and the Republicans continue their crude, boy’s club humor, it will blow up in their faces like one of those old CIA cigars that were meant to burn Castro’s beard.

The American public are largely reconciled with Hillary as a person, even for those who distrust her. The juvenile attacks of the GOP will be seen as precisely that: crude and unneccessary. Well, while the Obama people keep telling us that America is “post-racial” (Really?) no one has been stupid enough to say it’s “post-sexist”.

If the GOP wants to resurrect Archie Bunker, the public might just cast Hillary in the Jean Stapleton role.

And, if they do, she’ll win in a landslide. (Yes, even if Rob Reiner doesn’t endorse her)

(Off-Topic) I remember when All in the Family first aired. Part of the deal was that Archie represented a fellow who was out of his time. By the 1970s, America was already post-racial and post-sexist - that’s what allowed us to laugh at and with Archie Bunker. (as opposed to being outraged).

The conceit of Archie and Edith were that they were a kind of nostalgia just like the opening song they’d sing, “Those were the Days.”

Instead of being the swan song for a certain kind of 1940s, 1950s working class ethos, Archie Bunker actually helped give the “Angry White Male” before they started using that term. Isn’t Rush Limbaugh, for all intents and purposes, nothing more than an extension of Archie Bunker?

In all fairness to Edith, she was far more human and far smarter than Archie, despite the unfathomable abuse she suffered (Remember “Dingbat”?) and households across America cheered together whenever she would finally snap and and give Archie a piece of her mind. (”If you give me a piece, Edith, there won’t be any left”)

At any rate, perhaps America won’t cast Hillary Clinton as Edith (It is a bit of a stretch)
But there was always Edith’s cousin, Maude….Hmmm.

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