You know why the French did so badly in WW2? They were preparing to fight the previous war.

[Bucky]

American generals in Vietnam were accused of planning to fight WW2 all over again in a theatre where entirely different tactics were needed. As a result, "our" side pressed on a grand scale advantages we didn't really have (air power, jungle defoliation, massed fortifications) and thus successfully accomplished a lot of objectives that didn't matter. In the meantime, our efforts failed to achieve the one goal that might have made a difference: politically separating the enemy from their popular base.

What does this have to do with GDP? Well, although none of us are "generals" per se (possible exception: California Peggy), it seems to me that a lot of posters in this forum are really geared up for "fighting the last war" too. A good deal of energy is being expended on attacking Senator Clinton or defending her. Altho I opposed her efforts, she's not the enemy. She's finished. Excoriating her illberality would be like attacking Italy in 1946. It would be like railing against slavery in 1920 and ignoring Jim Crowism. She's over with, whether she acknowledges this or not. Clinton vs Obama was the last war; but it's over now.

We have a new opponent. Apollo is down and all us little Rockys needs to slit our eyes open and get ready for Mr T. I pity the fool who doesn't recognize this. But in case you have missed the point, it is this: Obama's tactics may have won him the nomination, but the fall campaign will not just have a different opponent. It will be a different kind of fight, fought on different terrain, and needing different tactics. We'll need a big crew and as many allies as we can muster. Quit fighting the last war. Strap in, put on your game face, and get ready to rumble.

[hobbit709]

1. "Every military is fully prepared to fight the last war"

[JimGinPA]

2. It's Hard Concentrating On The Enemy In Front When You Keep Getting Shot In The Back By HRC et al