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Last update - 08:20 22/10/2008
They're all Joe the Plumber
By Natasha Mozgovaya
Tags: U.S. Elections, John McCain 

Two-thirds of Americans say they are scared about the way things are going in the United States today, and three-quarters say they are angry, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released yesterday. Such a high level of dissatisfaction has surfaced only three times in the past 40 years, CNN's polling director said - during the Watergate scandal (1973-4), the Iranian hostage crisis (1979-80) and the 1992 recession.

It may seem like the only place to go is up, but quite a few Americans realize that both presidential candidates are expecting citizens to do their part - and not all the voters are happy about that.

Although America is facing serious challenges that demand exceptional leadership, neither leading candidate has offered a comprehensive vision. Instead, each has presented standard platforms and employed utterly conventional weapons: One embraces "Joe the Plumber," the other wins the endorsement of former secretary of state Colin Powell. Until a few weeks ago, Republican candidate John McCain could barely get through a single speech (even a single sentence, some would say) without mentioning Gen. David Petraeus, the former commander of coalition forces in Iraq. Now Petraeus has had his place taken by Joe Wurzelbacher.
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The McCain campaign is taking the slogan "We're all Joe the Plumber" very seriously. The Arizona senator's campaign Web site suggests that voters send in their own 30-second video versions of the Ohio contractor's tale of hard work and pursuit of the American dream. Perhaps another Joe the Plumber is about to win his or her own 30 seconds of fame.

Had the Republican Party not been in such a difficult situation after two terms under President George W. Bush, Joe the Plumber might well have been able to save McCain's campaign. McCain's effort has become sunk in a mire of negative advertising, for which the public has recently expressed its distaste. In a time of economic crisis, the story of "Joe the Plumber" is making no less a contribution to the Republican campaign than the popular Powell is making to the Democratic one, especially since the endorsement of Barack Obama is tainted by the suspicion that it amounts to little more than one prominent African-American supporting another.

Some say Powell's endorsement is nothing but a gimmick, no less cynical than McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running partner, a heartbeat away from the presidency. And some are convinced that talking up Joe the Plumber was a great idea for McCain's campaign, because with all due respect to the war in Iraq, the plight of the working man interests Americans more than the accomplishments of Petraeus, just as Palin's energy and folksy speech genuinely inspire some Republicans.

But on the cusp of the election, it's tough not to conclude that while America yearns for a leader to reshape it or at least give it direction, the voters' expectations are what dictate the behavior of both candidates. Thus the campaign discourse keeps getting stuck on issues like taxes and sewage. Instead of saying, "This is how I want to see America," both are trying to put a mirror in front of the country that will showcase its beauty. The voters, for their part, want to hope, but are scared of being disappointed. They're not sure if they believe in themselves or if they would rather believe in a leader who will do the impossible for them, and quickly - without calling on them to make any more sacrifices.

Americans may be addicted to tear-jerker clips on the Oprah Winfrey Show, but there is nothing trivial about the fear they are experiencing now. Ordinary Americans often add a "but" to statements about the tough times, which is then followed by a patriotic remark. Quite a few Americans are beginning to feel that instead of living the American dream, they are becoming enslaved to it. In order to maintain a large home and an impressive car, they must now count every dollar when it comes to other expenses. Some families carefully limit the amount of food given to each person. There are no extra treats because there is no budget for it, and don't even think about trips abroad. Some have recently given up on vacations altogether.

The Americans are trying to guess what Obama means when he says that the average citizen, not just the government and the corporations, will have to pull his or her weight. Does he mean they should move from the suburbs to the city, maybe live in a small apartment and take the subway to work? Enough. It's preferable to just point the finger at Wall Street greed, as McCain does.

Criticizing the United States might be the fashionable thing to do outside of the country, but as a man from Tennessee put it: We're willing to give our money, but then they say "You're not alright," instead of saying "Thank you." We're not perfect, but America can deal with its problems on its own. We don't need ideas. If the best thing our leaders can suggest is that we take care of our problems on our own, maybe they should stop asking every minute for donations to their campaigns just so they can tell us that.
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  1.   YESTERDAY OBAMA WAS A MUSLIM, NOW HE IS A SOCIALIST 08:38  |  indrajaya 22/10/08
  2.   since johnson the democrats have not had a proficient candidate 08:42  |  victor hardman 22/10/08
  3.   US elections 08:50  |  Ralph 22/10/08
  4.   A FAKE WHITE JOE THE PLUMBER 08:51  |  indrajaya 22/10/08
  5.   Natasha is breathtaking in her misunderstanding of the US... 09:22  |  BBSNews 22/10/08
  6.   Each American citizen should be obliged to pass..... 09:26  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  7.   McCain just has, i repeat has to win 09:33  |  US patriot 22/10/08
  8.   Joe the plumber 09:40  |  Giora Nevo 22/10/08
  9.   By the way, how "dumb" must the average "Redneck-Joe" be.... 09:41  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  10.   The Republican Dream 09:56  |  Clickfool 22/10/08
  11.   McCain Endorsed by Osama 10:00  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/10/08
  12.   Even children learn early that actions have consequences 10:02  |  Natallie Durson 22/10/08
  13.   # 2, RALPH 10:17  |  indrajaya 22/10/08
  14.   I think Colin Powell is sophisticated enough 10:29  |  Yonatan 22/10/08
  15.   #11, Mark of Lewiston 10:57  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/10/08
  16.   #10 very very well said! 11:22  |  Bruni 22/10/08
  17.   #1 11:28  |  Bruni 22/10/08
  18.   Giora, would you vote for . . . 12:06  |  Zev Davis 22/10/08
  19.   A Most Significant Endorsement for Our Barack 12:13  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 22/10/08
  20.   Obama offers the opiate for the masses 12:18  |  lady from USA 22/10/08
  21.   Swiss (Dino) 12:21  |  lady from USA 22/10/08
  22.   Zev Davis 12:24  |  lady from USA 22/10/08
  23.   #19, leeza 12:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/10/08
  24.   Bruni 12:27  |  lady from USA 22/10/08
  25.   Yonatan 12:28  |  lady from USA 22/10/08
  26.   Gender difference in polls 12:34  |  lady from USA 22/10/08
  27.   John McCain`s endorsement by Al Qaida 12:36  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 22/10/08
  28.   US bashers eat your hearts out as the US recovers 12:42  |  PETER SM 22/10/08
  29.   By the way, just to make sure that there is no misunderstanding.. 12:44  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  30.   #19 Leeza - Indeed, a significant endorsement 12:48  |  Yonatan 22/10/08
  31.   SWISS THE USA did not get to world pre-eminence by being ignorant 13:02  |  PETER SM 22/10/08
  32.   #11 Mark of Lewiston....how could you give that 13:07  |  Lynn 22/10/08
  33.   Reply to Swiss Dino (Post No. 6) 13:07  |  Johnny Weintraub 22/10/08
  34.   #6 Swiss...US courts won`t even use IDs 13:10  |  Lynn 22/10/08
  35.   Reply to Yonatan (Post No. 14) 13:14  |  Johnny Weintraub 22/10/08
  36.   NATALIE Set the right example 13:24  |  PETER SM 22/10/08
  37.   Osama bin Ladin - republican 13:28  |  Mark Lincoln 22/10/08
  38.   McCain`s bus window shot out by .22 caliber 13:36  |  Lynn 22/10/08
  39.   Average joe....and the American divide 14:06  |  allang 22/10/08
  40.   Yes, Joe the Plumber is a true Republican 14:18  |  David Teich 22/10/08
  41.   #40 David.....yep, Joe the Plumber has so much power 14:53  |  Lynn 22/10/08
  42.   #41 Hey Lynn, according to CNN & 15:17  |  ballistic 22/10/08
  43.   If things get real bad in America, I`m moving to Ramallah... 15:31  |  Ibrahim 22/10/08
  44.   #5michaelat b/s bad news should get out and about 15:34  |  victor hardman 22/10/08
  45.   Obama/Biden and the Hope Effect 15:39  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 22/10/08
  46.   #4 Indra 15:49  |  John 22/10/08
  47.   #6 Dino, there is a problem with your test 15:51  |  Mark B. 22/10/08
  48.   # 38 Lynn...duck shootings, caught red handed 15:57  |  allang 22/10/08
  49.   #6 Swiss Dino, I couldnot agree more 16:06  |  John 22/10/08
  50.   #8 Giora, HE won`t run because he is too smart! 16:08  |  John 22/10/08
  51.   #21 lady from USA, Eurabia is where you dwell 16:11  |  Mark B. 22/10/08
  52.   #42 Wormwood....isn`t that his perogative? 16:40  |  Lynn 22/10/08
  53.   Powell 16:46  |  American 22/10/08
  54.   # 21 lady from USA and "where is Eurabia ??" (LOL).... 16:47  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  55.   # 31 PETER SM 16:53  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  56.   # 33 Johnny Weintraub 17:00  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  57.   # 34 Lynn 17:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  58.   # 47 Mark B. 17:14  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  59.   15 Cipora Julianna Kohn - Bush Was Tested Too 17:28  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/10/08
  60.   Swiss (Dino) 17:57  |  David Israel 22/10/08
  61.   America, at the crossroad, now what..? 18:07  |  Stephen. 22/10/08
  62.   A Ploy by any ither name... 18:42  |  Zamarah 22/10/08
  63.   #5 BBS...not surprised you don`t recognize it 19:16  |  Lynn 22/10/08
  64.   For Leeza # 45 19:19  |  Clickfool 22/10/08
  65.   Yeah, GOP is the party of Joe the Plumber, right 20:02  |  Mark B. 22/10/08
  66.   #48 allang....will you be just as serious when 20:16  |  Lynn 22/10/08
  67.   Don`t you keep up with the news Lynn? 20:19  |  BBSNews 22/10/08
  68.   Greedy Palin put the bill for kids travel on Alaska State 21:18  |  Mark B. 22/10/08
  69.   Did anyone notice McCain is aging very fast these last few days? 21:20  |  Mark B. 22/10/08
  70.   #56 Right on the spot, Dino 21:45  |  Mark B. 22/10/08
  71.   # 49 John (2nd try) 21:52  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  72.   #64 Ckickfool, I have a bad story on this 22:02  |  Mark B. 22/10/08
  73.   # 60 David Israel 22:02  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/08
  74.   #67 BBS....all it comes down to is this 22:05  |  Lynn 22/10/08
  75.   #52 Say Cupcake, are you really are clueless, or 22:18  |  ballistic 22/10/08
  76.   #28 Peter SM in Australia 22:23  |  ballistic 22/10/08
  77.   Lynn 1 22:41  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/10/08
  78.   Lynn 2 22:47  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/10/08
  79.   32 Lynn - 2nd Try 22:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/10/08
  80.   #20 lady fromUSA-`Obama offers the opiate for the masses` 23:06  |  Roo 22/10/08
  81.   Swiss (Dino) 23:12  |  David Israel 22/10/08
  82.   #40 Lynn -(Joe`s agent) 23:14  |  Roo 22/10/08
  83.   #78 Cipora.....exactly my point 23:15  |  Lynn 22/10/08
  84.   LOL #52 Sam the Plumber did what? 23:19  |  Roo 22/10/08
  85.   Cipora Julianna Kohn-re Buffet 23:34  |  examiner 22/10/08
  86.   #1, Indrajaya 23:38  |  Josh 22/10/08
  87.   #7, US patriot 23:43  |  Josh 22/10/08
  88.   #9, Swiss (Dino) 23:49  |  Josh 22/10/08
  89.   #10, Clickfool 23:54  |  Josh 22/10/08
  90.   Response to "Swiss Dino" 23:59  |  MRS. SWEDE 22/10/08
  91.   #12, Natalie Durson 00:02  |  Josh 23/10/08
  92.   #15, CJKohn/Mark of Lewiston 00:11  |  Josh 23/10/08
  93.   #43, Ibrahim 00:16  |  Josh 23/10/08
  94.   # 80 examiner...you are a genius!! 00:19  |  Lynn 23/10/08
  95.   #75, ballistic 00:19  |  Josh 23/10/08
  96.   #69, Mark B. 00:21  |  Josh 23/10/08
  97.   #79 Mark of Lewiston 00:46  |  Lynn 23/10/08
  98.   I`ve never had Iranian caviar Lynn... - 2nd try 00:53  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  99.   # 86, JOSH 00:57  |  indrajaya 23/10/08
  100.   Joe the Plumber. 01:06  |  Evan Williams 23/10/08
  101.   #99, Indrajaya 01:14  |  Josh 23/10/08
  102.   BO & Joe Shmoe from Ko Ko Mo 01:16  |  PK 23/10/08
  103.   Average plumbers salary is $21.00 in North Carolina... 01:21  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  104.   #27-LCC Al Qaida uses reverse psychology 01:32  |  PK 23/10/08
  105.   Lynn #94 01:33  |  examiner 23/10/08
  106.   #98 BBSNEWS...the point is there is really 01:46  |  Lynn 23/10/08
  107.   #1 Indra. I always ask you for facts not statement 01:52  |  John 23/10/08
  108.   #76 ballistic Peter is right USA will recover this is time to buy 01:56  |  PK 23/10/08
  109.   # 70 Mark B....Off topic 01:57  |  Lynn 23/10/08
  110.   Lynn on the McCain bus shooting myth... - 4th try 02:03  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  111.   #20 lady from the USA 02:11  |  John Allen 23/10/08
  112.   We like our lives Lynn... 02:27  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  113.   #108, PK 02:32  |  Josh 23/10/08
  114.   #40 David, 02:33  |  John Allen 23/10/08
  115.   No 67. McCain/Palin. 02:40  |  Evan Williams 23/10/08
  116.   #43-Ibrahim if things get Radical in USA under BO I might move to 02:55  |  PK 23/10/08
  117.   #112-Josh BO`s dreamer with `somewhere over the rainbow` 03:07  |  PK 23/10/08
  118.   Powell is a Cipher in a Uniform 03:08  |  David Gottfried 23/10/08
  119.   #62 zamarah 03:09  |  John Allen 23/10/08
  120.   SAYBALLISTIC do you think the current situation in the USA 03:16  |  PETER SM 23/10/08
  121.   #45 Leeza. Just had to return to you. 03:19  |  John Allen 23/10/08
  122.   John Allen, wrong on unions... 03:24  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  123.   #117, PK 03:37  |  Josh 23/10/08
  124.   Ibrahim and those who question loyalties 03:48  |  David Israel 23/10/08
  125.   @109 Lynn 04:02  |  Mark B. 23/10/08
  126.   #124, David Israel 04:26  |  Josh 23/10/08
  127.   SDWISS The US is pre-eminent in many fields.That does not 04:38  |  PETER SM 23/10/08
  128.   #121 Obama and hope. 04:42  |  Evan Williams 23/10/08
  129.   You don`t live in the US John Allen? 04:42  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  130.   To Swiss (Dino) (#6) 04:58  |  Morris Valentine 23/10/08
  131.   Evan, the US is not a Christian theocracy... 05:19  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  132.   Evan Williams- we are electing a president not a priest 05:39  |  David Israel 23/10/08
  133.   #132 david is mistaken ! there is no freedom of choice 06:05  |  victor hardman 23/10/08
  134.   Morris I saw Buckley this evening on Jon Stewart... 06:15  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  135.   #130, Morris Valentine 06:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/10/08
  136.   To CJK (#77) 06:23  |  Morris Valentine 23/10/08
  137.   To CJK (#135): Mirror, mirror ... 06:40  |  Morris Valentine 23/10/08
  138.   # 131 and # 132 06:46  |  Evan Williams 23/10/08
  139.   To BBSNews (#134) 06:48  |  Morris Valentine 23/10/08
  140.   Cipora, gloom, dour, and depressing... 06:51  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  141.   Morris Valentine 06:59  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/10/08
  142.   #137, Morris Valentine 07:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/10/08
  143.   #37 - Mark Lincoln, I think you`re confused (2nd Try) 07:13  |  JES 23/10/08
  144.   Leeza Coleman 07:16  |  Connie 23/10/08
  145.   133 Au Contraire Victor 07:27  |  Mark of Lewiston 23/10/08
  146.   136 Morris Valentine - Maslow`s Hierarchy 07:41  |  Mark of Lewiston 23/10/08
  147.   For Ballistic # 75 08:07  |  Clickfool 23/10/08
  148.   Morris Valentine #130 08:35  |  S 23/10/08
  149.   Evan on reading between the lines... 09:01  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  150.   #139, Morris Valentine 09:19  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/10/08
  151.   For Mark of Lewiston, on Maslow # 143 09:23  |  Clickfool 23/10/08
  152.   #140, bbs 09:33  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/10/08
  153.   151 Cipora - No Doubt 09:33  |  Mark of Lewiston 23/10/08
  154.   On Palin 09:39  |  Clickfool 23/10/08
  155.   Connie and honesty... 10:14  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  156.   #153, Mark of Lewiston 10:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/10/08
  157.   #149 BBS News 10:22  |  Evan Williams 23/10/08
  158.   # 130 Morris Valentine 10:25  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/10/08
  159.   What is Happening to the USA? 13:44  |  Ralph 23/10/08
  160.   Victor hardman - the number of selections 14:14  |  David Israel 23/10/08
  161.   #159 Whats happening? 14:24  |  Evan Williams 23/10/08
  162.   #118 David Gottfried 17:41  |  ballistic 23/10/08
  163.   #120 Peter SM 17:43  |  ballistic 23/10/08
  164.   #147 Clickfool 17:58  |  ballistic 23/10/08
  165.   #155 BBS News 18:00  |  ballistic 23/10/08
  166.   Evan and Ralph on what`s happening... 18:05  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
  167.   #166 BBS News 00:56  |  Evan Williams 24/10/08
  168.   Evan, I apologize for offending you... 03:46  |  BBSNews 24/10/08
  169.   To Mark of Lewiston (#146), CJK (various) 04:52  |  Morris Valentine 24/10/08
  170.   To S (#148) 05:00  |  Morris Valentine 24/10/08
  171.   #119 John Allen 09:33  |  Zamarah 24/10/08
  172.   41: Nice meaningless tangent, Lynn, you too (2nd try) 13:27  |  David Teich 24/10/08
  173.   161: Evan Williams, another confused Australian 13:32  |  David Teich 24/10/08
  174.   # Josh iMethinks is an insider dealer for Haaretz 15:37  |  Israeli 24/10/08
  175.   #93 Joshthe arab is endorsing that Ibrahim go to Ramallah?So.. 15:56  |  Israeli 24/10/08
  176.   #164 Hey Clickfool 17:30  |  ballistic 24/10/08
  177.   #126 The Suposed *josh" Think Ibrahim will be .. 20:56  |  True Zionist 24/10/08
  178.   #126 so called josh with no address.here goes (3rd Try) 21:33  |  Real Zionist 24/10/08
  179.   #135 Cipora J.K The Intellectuals and the Media Are Running this 22:03  |  Kathy 24/10/08
  180.   # 159 Ralph..What is Happening in the USA?Read Some Voices,, 23:06  |  Israeli 24/10/08
  181.   # 159 Ralph What is Happening to the USA? Read some Voices(2nd TR 00:21  |  Kathy 25/10/08
  182.   179: As long as you`re clear, Kathy, that they`re 11:15  |  David Teich 25/10/08
  183.   180: Israeli doing the backwards thing again 11:21  |  David Teich 25/10/08
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