Let's give the Republicans credit as first-rate campaigners and propagandists.  Clearly shivering at the policy credentials of Obama's VP pick, the McCain campaign is responding with a slick, Rovian strategy. The strategy is actually very simple: whenever and wherever possible, morph 'good' into 'bad'.  Turn strength into weakness. They did it with Obama's 'celebrity', and they are doing it now with the strength of Obama's VP pick.  McCain's spokeswoman was just on CNN--sadly--emphasizing that the choice of Joe Biden only serves to "showcase" Barack Obama's weakness on foreign policy.  

I suggest we take their cue and, when McCain announces HIS Vice Presidential pick on August 29, we turn the tables.

Now that John Edwards has made his (sort of) confession, so will I.

If there is any lesson to be learned from the Edwards fallout, it's that honesty truly is the best policy in life--whether it be on the national political stage, at the family dinner table, or even in our humble abode here on myDD.  No, I did not lie about an affair of my own, or anything nearly as scandalous.  Mine was instead a lie of omission.

Here goes:  I am a 22 year old recent college graduate who, despite my slew of rabidly pro-Hillary diaries during the primary, was a volunteer and intern on the John Edwards for President campaign for much of last year.  And as some of my fellow interns would attest, I was arguably pro-Hillary even when I was with Edwards.  I was no mole; although today, I can only gleam at the notion that IF I had uncovered the affair myself in '07 and IF I had dutifully forwarded the lurid details to Wolfson then Hillary just might have been the nominee.  Clearly, I have only myself to blame for her loss.  

(Disclaimer: I am no dead-ender.  In fact, I eat PUMAs for breakfast.  I have every intention of getting Barack Obama elected to the White House.  But in this particular diary, I intend to set the record straight on Hillary Clinton (and others) on two fronts.  If no facts, common sense, or reasonable arguments could ever vindicate this woman in your mind, please save yourself some grief and stop reading.  Otherwise, please continue; just prepare to reopen some old wounds.)  

I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it.  That is, I couldn't help but bring a bit of the media's horse-race sensationalism to myDD just one time.  With Obama's possible pick just days away, now is the time to offer up our predictions.

The Democratic and Republican presidential tickets of 2008 (in my book):
Obama/Biden versus McCain/Fiorina.

An explanation below the fold--

...instead of continuing the show of irrational exuberance here in our echo chamber.  Let me say, it's completely understandable why we would be excited about our chances in an election season whose fundamentals are so overwhelmingly in our favor.

But more than a few recommended diaries here make it overwhelmingly clear to me that we are deluding ourselves.

Read on for the simple explanation why.
   

It's great to get wind of this--This is great stuff.  In a special episode of The Office this coming fall, John McCain will be appearing as a substitute for Dwight!  For those who do not watch the show, Dwight is Michael's (Steve Carell's) right-hand man at the Dunder-Mifflin paper company--and these two are like Dumb and Dumber, but only funnier.  See below for the preview!

I've never written a diary, posted a comment, or even uttered a word that attacked Joe Lieberman.

To me, he's always been a bread-and-butter Democrat.  After all, he was our party's well-respected vice presidential nominee eight long years ago.  Even in the past few years, I respected that he transcended 'party' altogether--and I refused to join the bash-Lieberman train, even when I disagreed with him about the war on terror.  Even when I disagreed with him about the Democrats' ability to handle national security issues.  Even when I disagreed with him about the war on terror, the next seventeen times.

I have refused to bash him...until now.

Throughout the primary season, I stood by stunned as my candidate was ridiculed as "more of the same" and "willing to say or do anything to get elected".  She represented the wishy-washy ways of "triangulation", according not only to the blogosophere, but Obama himself.  It was time to turn the page.

Well, we did turn the page.  But the new chapter reads like a political twilight zone.