Tuesday night, I diaried how McCain was playing on Obama's playing field in his speech, which as far as I can tell is a sure-fire way to lose. The argument, which is well summed up in George Lakoff's Don't Think of an Elephant is that whoever sets the terms of the debate has a major leg up. McCain is all "change" and "future-looking", which essentially has him doomed the moment he starts. I'd blame his lobbyist-campaign managers, but I think they all quit.

Apparently he's down to interns or something over there, as evidenced by this horrid new website of his. Some free advice, in brief:

Watching the blabbering idiots tonight -- and I'm ashamed to say that even our beloved Rachael Maddow is heading that way  -- are ignoring is that John McCain is playing on Democratic turf!

"This is indeed a change election. The choice is between the right change and the wrong change. Between going forward and going backward." -McCain.

Seriously?! He thinks he's going to win this? Like going toward Obama is going "backwards!"?

If this election becomes about what sort of change is best, how do we reform government, what is the best way to save the environment, how do we best help the economy, or (arguably) how do we draw down Iraq we have won. How none of them noticed that Obama has once again set the terms of the debate is beyond me. This is just what he critiqued Clinton for not doing and applauded Reagan for doing. The terms of the debate have been changed, and tonight, when McCain jumped over to "our side" we won for at least the next 4 months.

more after the jump

With all of the brew ha-ha surrounding Scott McClellan's statement of the obvious, and "Come-to-Jesus" moment, I thought I'd host an open thread of some of his greatest hits.

I know I will never forget how he lied to the American public, and I hope you don't either. Please post your fond memories here.

UPDATE: Helen giving Scott the business on wire tapping. Helen grilling on Iraq. A video of Helen at MIT.

Think he'll issue her an apology?

Which means... "We are all Americans" and is a rallying cry for some in Brazil, or I am told.

I'm surprised it hasn't been covered more here, but Obama made an important speech on American foreign policy in Miami to a group of conservative Cuban-Americans who are strongly anti- Castro. My post is more or less a rehashing of the excellent post and analysis at the field, which also has some background documents from our beloved Al Giordano's Narco News.

For kicks, I signed up to get Hillary's emails a few weeks ago -- just to try and understand what on Earth she might be telling people to make them think that she's still in this race, and so on. Today, I got the following email asking for my support to "count" Michigan and Florida's votes, and asking for me to write the DNC.

Of course, I immediately sent a letter to the DNC asking for just the opposite.

Having watched Olbermann's NBC 5 year anniversary **spoiler alert... stop reading now if you haven't watched***, I can't help but think we're seeing a pilot for a next gen news show.

[UDATED: Now with videos!! Spoiler Alert, formatted, added pew pew sniper sniper analogy.]

Go to the country and build yourself a home. - John Prine.

Obama's historic speech was a challenge to strive to be the best Americans we can be, and to hold ourselves to a higher level of political discourse. We should not accept looped video of Wright -- or Ferraro -- as real discussion about the issues facing this country, but as distractions from the real root causes hurting us.

I'm throwing down as a challenge to myself (and you're welcome to join me) to go the rest of the week without watching the pundits, or reading the "horse race" columns, and instead investing in reading an eco-diary, writing a diary on an issue, doing something good in the world, or just talking to ordinary folks at the neighborhood coffee shop or bar.

I tried taking a day off yesterday, and couldn't believe how much better I felt...