Conventional Wisdom on the Presidential Race

Let me see if I get this straight. John McCain and/or Republicans in general honestly believe that:

• Barack Obama hates America, for various reasons

• Michelle Obama hates America and isn't proud of it

• Obama hates the troops

• Obama wants to lose the war

• Obama wants to kill babies

• Obama is scary

• Obama used to be a drug user, and we can't trust that he's stopped

• Obama was born in the US, to a US parent, but he's not a citizen

• We don't know anything about Obama (despite more than one autobiographical book)

• Obama is simultaneously a covert Muslim, and a scary Afro-centric Christian

• John McCain's status as a war hero and POW absolves him from questions about virtually everything

• Bad stuff done by McCain or his wife are "old news" or "in the past"

• McCain's 25-year legislative history (the good parts) absolve him of any current gaffes

• Obama flip flops

• McCain "changes position according to conditions on the ground"

• UPDATED TO ADD: You honestly believe that Obama doesn't know how many states there are. But McCain not knowing how many houses he owns is not newsworthy.

Did I miss anything?

Oh, and a word on the polls. Apparently, McCain has nudged up a bit today, and the political world is all atwitter. Calm down, everybody. I don't like it either, but the VP choices, conventions and debates have not yet even begun. Comparing the current timeline to previous years doesn't hold much water either. People who put a lot of stock into that line of thinking are ignoring other historical facts, namely, when a hugely unpopular President exits his term--particularly when times are tough--the opposing party almost always wins.