Just a short meta-commentary on tonight's convention: Four years ago, it was the Democrats who ran with an imaginary President Obama in mind: one full of potential, one who could bring the country together, one who could move the dial in a more progressive direction. On many scores in the intervening years, I and we have found our expectations disappointed. Certainly, the most poignant line from Romney of the night, to me at least, was where Romney said that there's something wrong when the best you felt about the President was the day you voted for him in 2008. That unfortunately rings true and hits home for many Obama supporters and former supporters, as noted in the post-speech coverage by MSNBC's Chris Hayes.
But the most illuminating--or at least illustrative--moment of the night was where Clint Eastwood was talking to an imaginary Obama in a chair. I think he showed that in 2012 it is the Republicans who are running against an imaginary Obama, one conjured up in their fevered (cough racist cough) brains. You know the one: The Obama who closed an auto plant down in 2008. The Obama who wasn't born here and/or isn't a "Real American." The Obama who raised middle class taxes. The Obama who was responsible for the country's credit downgrade (despite the credit agency itself blaming the R congress). The Obama who doesn't believe in work requirements in welfare, is a "socialist," and believes individuals didn't build their private businesses. The Obama who apologizes for America overseas. The Obama who coddles Iran/Syria/Russia. The Obama who pals around with terr'ists. The Obama who couldn't bring the country together, despite the Republicans deciding to reflexively oppose everything he did from Day 1.
All of that is wrong. Every piece of that image is about a man who is not the current president of the United States. It is an imaginary Obama, one birthed in their imaginations, the Obama they'd LIKE to be running against.
And, in this imaginary Republican reality, there's also an imaginary Republican party, one that opposes this evil, imagined tyrant, that stands up for the "little guy" (not just the 1%), that stands up for freedom of religion rather than seeking to impose their religion's views on a free America, that is REALLY CONCERNED about the nation's finances, that doesn't believe that some rape isn't "legitimate" rape, that wants to "reform" the safety net rather than gut it entirely, that has some measure of human compassion for women, racial/sexual/ethnic minorities, immigrants, and non-citizens.
But they're not really that party and they're not really running against that guy they wish they were. Their entire party and campaign is a farce and a lie, a mask to show to the country in order hide their true purpose and identity. Their one hope, then, is that a majority of the country buys into their alternate reality by the election and they have the SuperPACs and billionaire donors to help make sure that happens. As such, the surest way to President Obama's re-election is to make sure that their alternate reality bubble gets pricked and popped at every opportunity between now and election day.