Rope-a-dope is a poor analogy for the situation. Its popularity is rather due to amusing wording than verisimilitude.

Your description of the situation is apt.

Chess > throwing rocks.

"purposeful"? You mean, like, dliberate? Consciously intended?

I think it has more to do with character, and a cool head, which Obama has shown in instances which would hae driven me up the wall, and across the ceiling, if not through it.

I agree that it was partly purposeful.
I think one of Obama's best qualities as a politician is, to use another boxing metaphor, his amazing ability to pull a punch--that is to not take the cheap shot, even when the opening is right in front of you.

For example, when Hillary cried way back when, they asked Edwards and Obama about it. Edwards snapped, rather eagerly, "Well the commander and chief has to be strong" or something like that, and came across as a total ass. Obama, on the other hand said, "I'm not going to comment on that. This primary has been exhausting and difficult for all of us." And he came across as a classy guy.

And I do think the rope-a-dope analogy is apt. I'm not a boxing fan, but I did finally see the Forman/Ali fight where that term was made famous and I definitely see the parallel. McCain has taken every cheap shot he could, whether true or not, and in the process he's exhausted his huge reserve of good will in the media and the mind of the public, and he's squandered his presumption of honorable and honest behavior. But the attacks barely made a dent in Obama's approval and the media and blogs and factcheckers absorbed this hits for him and sapped the sting from McCain's lies. In fact, of late, McCain really seems confused and exhuasted himself. Now Obama rises off the ropes, full of vigor, with his reputation intact (and even strengthened), and with a few direct and perfectly delivered jabs, he (God willing) knocks McCain flat on his back.

I've long believed that the three meta-themes of this campaign are (1) Change vs. More of the Same; (2) Future vs. Past; and (3) Calmness vs. Recklessness. This rope-a-dope discussion hits on the third theme, and I'd like to see more of it make its way into the campaign's bloodstream. I thought Obama introduced it in his convention speech when he dropped the word "temperament," but we haven't heard much since. In terms of character and personality, however, it is readily apparent that Obama is one level-headed guy. Nothing seems to ruffle him; he remains cool as a cucumber while his opponents look panicky, overly aggressive, and eventually, downright nasty. This comparison is especially salient when the foil is John McCain, and his reckless VP pick -- entrusting his campaign and his country to a person he met exactly once -- is perfect ammo. I hope this temperamental difference gets some play in the final weeks of the campaign, and comes through in the debates.

I have allowed myself a brief exhale. Call it what you will, Obama's campaign seems to have regained its footing, helped along by McCain's dishonest attacks and an assist (if you can call it that) from the financial crisis. Only the most ardent Obamaphile could possibly say that falling behind was an intentional strategy. To his credit, Obama seems to have basically stuck to his strategy, perhaps sharpening his attacks some and focusing more on the economy. While some of us here are focused on the short term, we should also accept that this is part of the ups and downs of a campaign. I anticipate more angst and I'm not ready to bet the proverbial farm. (Flatbush Farm, that is.)

See my comment in response to this thread below on September 10, 2008 10:28 AM

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/obama-has-timed-this-perfectly.php

Nice post.

I agree about the timing. I think Obama has been holding off a little on his spending and waiting for McCain's spending limit to kick in.

If you think about it, McCain's campaign is demonstrating real desperation with their very negative attacks, obvious lies, stealing slogans, crazy mufucka VP selection.

In stark contrast Obama's campaign has shown restraint, grace and a kinda grown-up-ness. And even after all that AND after the Republican convention bounce its still only about even.

Don't y'all see. McCain's campaign has lost its form. Its raggedy and crazy lookin. Obama is looking professional and poised. This gives him so much to work with in the final weeks.

Believe me I feel the pain of watching our guy getting knocked around. I've wanted him to punch back, but I honestly think he wants to win this thing the way he set out to, with truth on his side. I honestly believe he HAS been playing political rope-a-dope.

I ask you, who is in a strong position now? Who has more credibility with the people and the media coming in to the final stretch?


As Mr. Colbert would say - I accept your apology!

;-)

My biggest fear last week was that, once again, a slim majority of my fellow Americans were going to be easily bamboozled.

Obama is strong, skilled, a master at rope-a-McDope and barackarate! That, plus the possibility that people are noting that McCain and Palin are unprincipled liars who stick with a negative campaign and give no real ideas to fix things, gives me enough hope to stay relatively stress-free.

Once Karl Rove's minions took over McCain's campaign, it was pretty clear that they would go after Obama's strength, and lie repeatedly, because history had taught them they could get away with it. Obama's muted responses led them to believe he would be another Kerry. A classic rope-a-dope.

But it appears that Axelrod set them up. Schmidt thought he could get away with a VP pick who's entire speech, and entire life, was a lie, and it has backfired big time. Now, McCain is stuck with the long list of lies his campaign is built on, from "Obama will raise your taxes" to "I said thanks but no thanks to the bridge to nowhere." It took the RNC convention and its all out attack on the media around Palin to get the MSM to start questioning the lies. But once reporters and editors realized they were being used, they finally stood up and started to do their jobs.

The Palin pregnancy thing was a total trap to try to make any questions reporters asked about her look like MSM liberal piling on. But once they started to question her background, the lies became so obvious, even low information voters noticed. Last weekend, the polls began to shift, as voters realized she was none of the things she claimed to be. The economy just turned it into an earthquake.

Now, the theme is set. The once honorable McCain will say or do anything to win, from lie to prop up a totally unqualified cute woman. He dug his own hole. Now lets see if the Dems can bury him in it.

While I agree with most of what Mr. Genghis says, the one clear error, and it is a big one, is that the McCain/Rove Team has run out of mud.

I can virtually guarantee that three days before the election, we will see a whole repeat of the endless loop of Rev. Wright. Schmidt and Co. have made it very clear that they are planning to use this "nu-clear" option when the time is right. And the Wright thing plays exactly on the fears of older voters and white working class voters. Obama will be prepared, but he tends to get wordy when what is needed is a visceral response.

I don't know if I'm totally sold on Rope-a-Dope as a deliberate strategy, I'm more with JNagarya in thinking it's a matter of temperament. McCain's bump was artificial due to initial excitement with Palin, the RNC, and possibly a little Georgia tossed in.

The test of whether Obama's bump back is an artificial reflection of the bad economy or something more enduring will come with the debates. The first one is in 6 days, covering foreign policy -- it might be a game-changer. That's when most voters will start to pay a little attention. I'm optimistic, but there's still no room for overconfidence.

One more thing, Rove is still out there. Anyone who bought his Mac went too far is dreaming, he will just teach him better & more evil ways to lie.

Optimistically a lttle more hopeful, it's better to be up than down.