the difficulty of running a substantive, policy oriented campaign as juxtaposed with one of vague “hope” for “change.”

I think you're mistaken on this, James. The popularity of "change" as a rallying cry is another signifier of just how fed up this country is with pretty much everything Bush has done. This shows the difficulty of McCain's trying to bring a rep as a 'maverick' into a primary where, in order to collect the GOP base, he's got to pledge to continue every one of Bush's most obviously-failed policies. The only room McCain has to maneuver is in areas Bush has completely forgotten about, like immigration. Of course, anything less than summary execution for brown people will only further enrage the GOP base, so I expect him to showcase positions next on Medicare and exploring Mars any day now...

A video of someone making tough choices wouldn't really be all that funny. A video of someone who's gone totally crazy, though, is funny, and that's what this is.

Your "hope" vs. "policy" argument is a false dichotomy. The most successful politicians will run on both. Was Reagan's "Morning in America" hope or policy? Unfortunately, our last three Presidents have been such poor national leaders that one tends to forget the importance of that skill in a President. Policy positions are important but without the leadership that will provide the political ability to get things done, they tend to be less relevant.

("brown" people, legion? What a racist you are!)

That video...I don't get it. What's so funny about it??? What's really funny is how you liberals berate the Republicans on the war, yet it is the libs in congress who
A) Voted for the war
B) Keep funding the war and
C) None of the lib candidates for prez will commit to stopping the war.

What's that make you liberals? The biggest hypocrites since...since...well, EVER!