Good post.
Rove’s column is unsurprising. We’ll see the right-wing message machine looking to tar Obama with negative attributes that they believe voters associate with blacks.
It’s the Southern Strategy in its modern incarnation. Lee Atwater was quite frank about this in an interview in the early 1980s, see his Wikipedia article for the quote.
The “lazy” charge– presented, lazily, without evidence, and in the face of all we know about this senator, community organizer, and former editor of Harvard Law Review– is a mere hint of things to come. Get ready to hear about drug use, and maybe about stealing things somehow. And only God, Rove, and the Shadow know what else.

Elvis, you didn’t hesitate to use the race card. Knee-jerk liberal behavior doesn’t hide the truth anymore. We’ve “progressed” past that now. Obama is a US Senator. He can be judged accordingly no matter his shade of melanin.

Half of the right wing blogs have made certain that we’re aware of Mr. Obama’s middle name…somehow, they feel it creates a shiver of fear up the spines of gullible Americans.

Elvis and maxcat06 are correct in that the Reps will use every dirty trick to win – from race to religion to youthful indiscretions to playing on the fears and ignorance of some of their base.
David is also correct in saying that Obama had better start showing some substance behind the flash and passion. There’s still a long way to go before November.
I don’t like Rove, but grant that he’s smart and shrewd. After all, he got an imbecile elected to the presidency – TWICE! The Dems better listen to what he says….

I’m amazed that David thinks so much of Mr. Rove. The Iraqi venture costs more in real dollars and payment schedule than anything the Democrats have ever proposed (ever). That’s why Mr. Rove’s boss wanted to keep it off the govt. budget books released annually.
What do we have to show for it? The splintered Maliki govt. that has achieved no political reconciliation or oil revenue sharing (are the Iraqi security forces being trained to take over on schedule?). Iranian style Shias control southern Iraq with the Brits gone.
The bin Laden problem festers now in Pakistan (he’s more popular than the de facto leader of Pakistan). Did anyone tell W., who continually beats the war drums for Iran that Pakistan has nukes?
Rove helped Republicans try to get rid of the 40 hr. work week during a period of high unemployment under the auspices of ‘the Family Flexibility Act’ (i.e., a way to get rid of overtime pay).
David you follow people who masquerade as angels of light.
I don’t think Obama is perfect. However I am amazed that Republicans keep listening to the corrupt fools that got us where we are today.
Heck, did Rove tell Bush to express enthusiasm for outsourcing in India?
David, these people are destroying the American Dream for Evangelicals too.

Someone obviously gave Rove “The Prince” instead of “The Little Prince” by mistake when he was a kid.
He’s more Machiavellian than Machiavelli. Does he have an honest bone in his body?

Larry, that was funny. Brian, I agree with Rove on outsourcing and labor regulations. I disagree with him on lying and the constitution. When Rove talks about Democrats it’s a little like when Bush talks about Iraq, he might be telling the truth but not on purpose.

Doug, how can you approve of American corporations sending thousands of jobs overseas leaving workers here either unemployed or under-employed even while these same corporations manage to increase pay and bonuses for management, improve their profit margins, and continue to take advantage of tax breaks? How can you approve of anyone, Rep or Dem or apolitical, reducing pay and benefits to not only the typical American worker but also the US soldiers and their families?
These are measurable trends, not mere anecdotes. How does this bode well for this country? And the notion that lower costs for goods helps the poor, while a true statement in itself, does not answer the question of who will be able to buy these cheap imports when too few of us have a decent-paying job. I’d rather pay twice the price for tennis shoes and blue jeans made here in America.
I’d vote for the candidate who comes out and says he or she will work to eliminate tax breaks and other incentives for corporations that outsource jobs or have done so in the past several years.

Well, Rove has put his finger on a number of the specific weaknesses of the Obama run. He obviously doesn’t quite understand the dynamics of the Democratic primary, though. If he did, he might not want Clinton to become the nominee after all.

Patient Witness, first I don’t approve of reducing pay and benefits to military personnel. Here are reasons I don’t have a problem with outsourcing:
1) I don’t hold American workers to be morally superior to foreign ones.
2) Both economies typically benefit from trade, making people in both country’s wealthier.
3) Our unemployment rate has stayed low in spite of massive immigration and however much outsourcing people are upset about.
4) You are free to pay double for blue jeans and t-shirts made domestically, as am I; and
5) The threats to our economy, to our workforce and to our moral well-being come from
A: Debt
B: Lack of focus on the development of human and intellectual capitol in the work force, and
C: Restrictions on immigration on trade
For all of these last problems, which I would contend are the real ones, protectionism will make them worse and open markets should help.
In summary, the real problem with our economy is that our chief export is grievance and the price for that seems high at current levels.

Thank you for your quick reply, Doug. You and I agree on many things but this (outsourcing) isn’t one of them. I don’t mean to misdirect this thread, but:
1. I agree that American workers are not morally superior, but by the same token neither are we morally inferior. And outsourcing has nothing to do with the morality of workers. It has a lot to do with the immorality and greed of those in charge of the companies.
2. History would agree, at face value; however, it is very possible that there is a limit at which trade is no longer equal or beneficial. Again, this is about jobs leaving this country and not being adequately replaced. This has not historically been the case with our foreign trade.
3. Our unemployment rate is a false metric that takes into account only the first week’s new filings. It fails to account for those who have long-term unemployment or have simply been dropped from the rolls of those receiving benefits.
4. I would gladly pay double for American-made goods if only there were such a thing.
5. I agree with you here with the added caveat that even those with intellectual capital are finding themselves unemployed or under-employed. This is no longer simply a case of laborers being out of work. Indeed, laborers and low-paid service workers are able to find work easier than engineers.
Neither of us have even addressed the quality and safety of foreign made goods, nor the fact that a major reason for the higher cost of goods made in the US (e.g. cars) is the high cost of health care. There are many such interdependent factors. We must therefore insist on people of intelligence, compassion and moral caliber for president and for Congress. On this point I’m sure we can agree. Sadly, I see no one in the Rep race who has these qualities.
Thanks for the discussion!

P-W, if you can look at Mike Huckabee as if he were a vapid Christian like any Democrat candidate, you would see his vision for America is a good one. At least Huck isn’t an agent of humanistic socialism like the Dem Three, or the angel of death like McCain was last night. The high costs of American goods comes from Unions, Lawyers and the EPA looming over every aspect of manufacturing. I’ve owned my own business. If we could really get rid of Leftists in America (and I don’t care how it’s done), we could right this sinking economic ship.

Donny, I don’t dislike Huckabee, though I do dislike some of the things he’s said. I just don’t believe he has the intellect to be the president this country needs at this time in our history.
And you want to get rid of all of us who are further to the left than you? You’re talking about, what, 90% of the population. Wherever shall we go? Whatever shall we do?

Only 90%, PW?
I’d say more like Ivory Soap — 99.44% And Ivory might be a good metaphor of the political goals of any of the 0.56% actually to the right of Donny …

Good point, Larry. Wish I’d thought of that