John_Schwada's Blog

The GOP is not giving the Dems any breather; they’re raining everything they’ve got on the Democratic convention parade.

They’ve set up a “Not Ready in ‘08” office in Denver where they’re churning out press releases and attack ads – two of these now circulating are intended to capitalize on the media attention of Hillary Clinton’s speech tonight at the convention. While Hillary is trying spackle over the unity holes in the Democratic party, the GOP ads are trying to enlarge them, by reminding voters of Clinton’s scathing remarks about her rival Barack Obama during the primaries; at one point, you will recall, she said she had the experience to lead, John McCain had the experience to lead…but Obama wasn’t ready for the White House. Now those words are being resurrected by the GOP attack machine…

Also today here in Denver, a sudden flood of former GOP candidates for president. Probably not a coincidence. Mitt Romney will be here….be doing an event at the GOP headquarters in the Mile High City. Our question, if we get a chance to ask it, will be: Is your visit here and your remarks, Mr. Romney, meant to give us a foretaste of how you’ll be working as McCain’s running mate – or are you still trying out for that job, showing off your talent for playing the pit-bull/vice-presidential role in hopes of getting the nod?

Rudy Guiliani also in Denver today, supposedly looking at convention security issues….huh? Anyway, it would not be surprising if the former candidate, if prodded by churlish (my latest favorite word) reporters, took a few swipes at the Democrats.

This GOP attack campaign is not unprecedented. I remember Ann Lewis, Bill Clinton's campaign media boss, holding court in San Diego in 1996, during the GOP convention there, casting aspersions on the GOP for the benefit of any camera-crew or pencil (print reporter) within earshot.

But the GOP’s current relentless attack on Obama is unusual in its magnitude – no more 100 calorie-attack-snacks, this is a full-on, four-course meal they’re serving of irony, derision, humiliation – and, yes, shocking as it may seem – even naysaying.

In the past, it seems there’s been a kind of unspoken gentleman’s agreement that during the other guy’s convention you don’t fall asleep and turn the other cheek (after all the “other guy” is probably going to be wailing on you in prime-time at his convention) but you ease off a bit – you certainly didn’t go balls-out to flatten the tires of his bandwagon, call down hailstorms on his parade, try to knock the tent-poles out from under his circus big-top….(did I miss any corny metaphors???).

Of course, we can expect the Dems at next week’s GOP convention to return the favor.