Anyone else besides me think it's stupid to announce ahead of time that you're going on the attack?

[journalist3072]

So I've been thinking about how Barack Obama has made in known (i.e. in the NY Times) that he's going to go on the attack against Sen. Clinton. John Edwards has also made his intentions know that he's going to start attacking Sen. Clinton outright.

And it got me to thinking: it seems pretty stupid (to me at least) to announce ahead of time that you're going to attack your opponent.

I always thought there were something to be said, for the element of surprise.

Announcing you're going on the attack, is tantamount to a football team leaving their playbook in the locker room of the team they're going to play.

[sandnsea]

1. Everything Obama does is stupid

We've got the message. Okay?

[Debi]

3. yeah, but did you know that everything John Edwards does is stupid too?

that might be new info :rofl:

[Bucky]

11. No, everything Edwards does is wealthy and hypocritical.

Did you know that Edwards flies in his own plane between campaign events in Iowa and New Hampshire? How dare that two-faced lawyer burn ozone-depleting petrofuels when he could be setting an example by driving a corn-fuel hybrid or even peddling a moped from one event to another. Clearly he is unqualified to be our nominee!

[robertpaulsen]

2. Yes. Ever see The Life Aquatic?

Ned Plimpton: I'm gonna fight you, Steve.
(Steve hits Ned in the face)
Steve Zissou: You never say, "I'm gonna fight you, Steve." You just smile and act natural, and then you sucker-punch him.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362270/quotes

[Debi]

4. I loved that movie...

Of course, I had to watch it 3 times to start to 'get' it *sigh* I'm a member of the slow thinkers society.

[robertpaulsen]

6. I've heard that from a lot of people.

It's a tough nut to crack, but now it chokes me up as much as it makes me laugh.

[Forkboy]

5. "Don't point your guns at them..they're unpaid interns."

That movie is awesome. :)

[robertpaulsen]

9. LOL! My favorite exchange:

Ned Plimpton: Klaus?
Klaus Daimler: Ja?
Ned Plimpton: If you ever touch me again, I will kick your goddamn teeth out. Is *that* understood?
Klaus Daimler: Not if I don't see you first, sonny.

[Forkboy]

13. It's one of those movies that gets even better with multiple viewings.

It's so dry and low key that it was tough to know what to make of it at first, but once I got into it I was hooked.I've watched it four times now in the last year or so, and it keeps getting funnier.

And is there anything that Willem Dafoe does where he ISN'T awesome? One of the best actors going, and even in a relatively small role like this he's a scene stealer.

[librechik]

7. man I thought you were talking about Cheney and Iraq.

that's stupid.

[robertpaulsen]

10. Or Cheney and Iran.

Deja vu all over again.

[opihimoimoi]

8. Leaving the playbook in the opponents locker room"? I love it...

[Bucky]

12. So you're implying Obama is sneaking into Hillary's locker room?

heh.

[opihimoimoi]

15. Not at all....its what the OP said...LOL

[0rganism]

14. not if it's already fait accompli that you have to attack the frontrunner

I dunno, seems like common sense that Edwards and Obama have to start going on the offensive eventually to eat into Clinton's 20-point lead. It's pretty much expected at this point in the campaign, information the opposition already has that they can't really use, and it got Obama some coverage that competes with the weird anti-gay campaign association story.
:shrug:

Announcing his intent is not going to hurt his campaign, IMHO -- unless he doesn't follow through. Now THAT could hurt.