Everyone stands in judgement

At this point in the campaign we're witnessing the classic Republican dirty trick playbook in action. It's one of the main reasons why I would have liked to have seen Wes Clark on the ticket - even after the Bob Schieffer nonsense. Obama has to take the high road; it's who he is and how he got to where he is today. Joe Biden is hampered by his friendship with and prior effusive praise of McCain (not to mention his criticisms of Barack Obama, which probably should have disqualified him from the position, but 'nuff said on that), as well as the handcuffs that are on him to keep him from saying something stupid (see prior parenthetical). Not to rehash, but along with helping bring a peace with the Clinton camp, which is still somewhat shaky, Wes Clark would not have been restrained, would have called it like it is, and would have controlled the conversation.

During the whole Wes Clark-Schieffer-"being shot down is not a qualification" fiasco, I did a number of posts about the ridiculous media reactions, including those of Andrew Sullivan, indicating my annoyance at their "unrepentant" criticism of Clark, with Sully calling him "ham-fisted," and their failure to apply equal standards to the McCain campaign's tactics and insistence that there is a "good McCain".

Water under the bridge, I know.

But the Obama campaign is now in a position that it needs to do something to shake things up, take control of the conversation back from McCain and his enablers, and do it while not changing the character of Barack Obama or Joe Biden themselves.

At this point, I think the Obama campaign needs a game changer. The best way I can see to do this is for the campaign to move forward and leak out some shadow cabinet picks, and, most important, leak Wes Clark's name as pick for Secretary of Defense or State. Give them a reason to get General Clark out there, so he can attack McCain on honor and duty. The campaign doesn't even need to make any official statement about cabinet picks, so that the inevitable attacks on Wes shouldn't impact Obama as much as if Clark were on the ticket. But Clark owes nothing to McCain and isn't restrained by a past with McCain. Get him on Countdown and Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper, sure, but also on Meet the Press and back onto Face the Nation to directly confront Schieffer's previous ridiculous treatment of him, putting the issue of McCain's character back on the table.

(It also would have the effect of putting McCain back on the defensive, and possibly counter with his shadow cabinet, which I can only imagine would be scary or even more scary, take your pick. It would, of course, help if Obama could secure Colin Powell on his side or at least get assurances that Powell stays on the sidelines.)

It's time to turn this campaign into high gear, and it's not going to happen unless somebody is willing to take out John McCain at the knees. Despite the desire for change, the nation is still easily manipulated by fear.

The media might question some of Palin's comments or give some lip service to McCain's deceptive ads, but they're not going to take McCain down themselves. Someone like Wes Clark is needed to erase the myth of John McCain the hero. So long as Democrats concede that myth, McCain can - and probably will - win this election, because he'll scorch the earth to get there. It may be painful, but McCain's tenure as a hero must end. Others may not understand the importance of this strategy, but General Clark certainly does, and is the perfect person to lead that battle.