Eri writes in an e-mail to Fox and me: "I sent the Obama campaign a message today"

"I watched their latest ad video for TV panning McCain on the economy and not knowing he owns 7 homes. At the end they showed a picture of the White House with John McCain's name typed over it toward the bottom. I explained to them that that is a bad thing to do. They do NOT want to associate those two things in people's minds because that associates McCain/White House/Presidency. Psychologically it's suicide. What idiots are writing/vetting Obama's videos? He needs to fire their asses and get someone in there who knows how the hell to do it. Pictures of McCain looking for his house would be funny and get the point across and associate him with being too old to be a leader. Who does not know how many homes they own, fercrissake?

Of course, by the time someone gets around to reading my message (if anyone does), it'll be too late. Sheesh."

Foxs' response: "Y'all know I don't watch TV. Even though Jody gave me a really nice
one, and I pay for cable to it, I use it as a radio -- one of the many
music channels they offer, piped through the second-hand stereo I
bought from a co-worker back in May My latest discovery: the 'Big
Band and Swing' channel. Hotcha :)

Anyway, about the commercial... I doubt it's on in Texas, since we're
not a battleground state. And McCain's gaffe about not knowing how
many houses he owns -- let alone seven of them fer chrissake! --is
only a couple of days old.

In lieu of TV, I listen to a whole lotta NPR. I first heard Obama use
the 'seven houses' thing this morning on the way to work, recorded
last night. That commercial was rushed into production, hence the
sloppiness. Betcha if I saw it, the video quality was probably pretty
slapdash, too.

"I'm ____ _____, and somebody on my staff approved this message."

Besides all that, this is 2008. The first broadband election. People
expect near-instantaneous reaction, no more time than it takes to
write something this long and post it. "Rushed to production" means a
whole lot less time than it used to.

The problem with wanting to change the face of politics in America -
or anywhere else - is that both (or all) sides have to agree to do so
at the same time. And nobody who was around four years ago wants to
be SwiftBoated this time. So when they hit, you hit back. McCain is
getting way too much mileage questioning Obama's motive for running at
all, while holding his up as, you should pardon the expression,
unimpeachable.

Let us not forget: the Republicans must lose across the board in
November. Senate and House as well as the Executive branch. They
have to be beaten at whatever game they press on the proceedings.

And finally -- If Obama's got coattails, they'd sure be useful down
here. We could replace Cornyn with a Demo this time, and HM Kay
Bailey Hutchison is going to be Texas' next governor, mark my words
(she all-but announced, just the other day)... which will give the
Dems a shot at her vacant seat in two years as well as head-to-head
for the governorship. Blue Texas!"

~Fox

I told Fox that this sounded like a posting for the Zone....and he didn't argue...Soooo...:)