So life and blog both go on. As does the U.S. election, which, after the grueling Democratic primary season, seems to finally be ramping up. Attack ads, silly accusations and attempts to reduce the whole affair into reductive catchphrases. It's on, and I have some early thoughts.
The first is that anyone who expected Obama and McCain to make good on their promise of a high-minded, respectful contest is likely already disappointed. Obama's halo is fading as he shows that he's not above playing politics (surprise!), changing his mind on issues like public campaign financing. And McCain, with his stilted speeches, catering to the far right and outright strange choices of attack issues seems like a shriveled shadow of the candidate that seemed so exciting in 2000.
These are two decent men, I think, but also two competitive and egotistical men. But the early returns suggest that McCain is a little lost, while Obama - though obviously tired - still has a clarity of purpose. And I have to credit him with the line of the election so far, which came in response to Republican ads mocking him for his suggestion that Americans save money on gas by keeping their tires inflated (which actually does save a significant amount of gas).
"It's like they take pride in being ignorant," Obama said, a comment that deserved to be punctuated by the sound of a nail being hit on the head.
As much as it was a "you go, O" moment, I wonder if this kind of pointed commentary could backfire on him. A certain segment of American voters actually does take pride in being ignorant. Or, more accurately, takes pride in being called ignorant by snooty liberals. Obama's had problems shaking the elitist label, and lines like these - while they rally his supporters - could turn off some of the voters he needs to court.
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