Although it was used against Obama, I think it condemns the blog write, too. The blog is full of the unfair exaggerations, and snide terminology, the kind that helps keep our political processes so polarized.

I have taken the liberty of rewriting the post to lessen those polarizing elements. Parts I would remove are marked [….] and those I would add or substitute are indicated by . I think the point is the same, probably less vociferous, but certainly less divisive. (A clean version of the rewrite is below)

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Barack Obama’s [total] lack of experience [or] legislative accomplishment has forced him to run a very different kind of Presidential campaign, mainly using abstract concepts like hope and change. When he was [finally] pressed to campaign on something concrete, Senator Obama decided to campaign on his [“]judgment[”] which seems to [begin and end with] a speech he gave in 2002. But that’s not the point . Senator Obama has the Judgment to Lead! He even puts it on [spiffy] banners!

Now, you would think that if a candidate wants to run on his judgment, the thin[k]s he says, does, [lies about] and the company he keeps would all be valid topics of discussion.

You’d be wrong, of course.

According to [Team Hope] , anything pertaining to Obama’s friends, pastor, lifestyle, wife, or even his own actions and comments [have nothing to do with] Barack Obama’s judgment . No, they are {manufactured] distractions[, that distract] from the real issue[s, which is
apparently] Barack Obama’s judgment that one [time] and [not] all the other times.

It makes no sense to me, and Theo Caldwell agrees. (quote not repeated)

Barack Obama can continue to dismiss [any] criticism as a distraction. I certainly hope he does. When January comes around, [he can stew over all these distractions with Michelle, Bill and Jeremiah] while John McCain takes the Oath of Office

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Now rewritten without the distracting brackets:

Barack Obama’s relative lack of experience and minimal legislative accomplishment has forced him to run a very different kind of Presidential campaign, mainly using abstract concepts like hope and change. When he was pressed to campaign on something concrete, Senator Obama decided to campaign on his judgment, which seems to be mostly based on a speech he gave in 2002. But that’s not the point according to his supporters. Senator Obama has the Judgment to Lead! He even puts it on his campaign banners!

Now, you would think that if a candidate wants to run on his judgment, the things he says and does, the truth of his statements, and the company he keeps would all be valid topics of discussion.

You’d be wrong, of course.

According to Obama’s staff, anything pertaining to Obama’s friends, pastor, lifestyle, wife, or even his own actions and comments are irrelevant to Barack Obama’s judgment with respect to the larger issues. No, they are distractions from the real issue, how Barack Obama’s judgment will be applied to the big important challenges.. From my perspective, it was just that one instance and he doesn’t want us to look at all the other times.

It makes no sense to me, and Theo Caldwell agrees. (quote not repeated)

Barack Obama can continue to dismiss criticism of his associations and comments as a distraction. I certainly hope he does. The electorate may not agree. When January comes around, he can consider their importance again while John McCain takes the Oath of Office

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Let’s all talk about our opponents with respect and avoid exaggerations and snide terminology. Let’s make this a different kind of election season!

talknice08 at yahoo dot com

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/22/new-york-times-goes-after-mccain-again-with-similar-results/

He apparently is running solely on his speech making skills, as judgement and experience are not holding water.

Donald R. Diamond, a wealthy Arizona real estate developer, was racing to snap up a stretch of virgin California coast freed by the closing of an Army base a decade ago when he turned to an old friend, Senator John McCain.

When Mr. Diamond wanted to buy land at the base, Fort Ord, Mr. McCain assigned an aide who set up a meeting at the Pentagon and later stepped in again to help speed up the sale, according to people involved and a deposition Mr. Diamond gave for a related lawsuit. When he appealed to a nearby city for the right to develop other property at the former base, Mr. Diamond submitted Mr. McCain’s endorsement as “a close personal friend.”

Writing to officials in the city, Seaside, Calif., the senator said, “You will find him as honorable and committed as I have.”
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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/us/politics/22diamond.html?hp