<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[The Dish]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://dish.andrewsullivan.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Andrew Sullivan]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://dish.andrewsullivan.com/author/sullydish/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Rope-a-Dope?]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[
<p>A reader sees a pattern:</p>
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<p>I have this feeling Obama is holding back for the debates. Rope a dope. </p>
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<div>This convention was about healing the party, activating the team &#8211; don&#8217;t forget his secret weapon, his ground game &#8211; and making himself and his family part of our general cultural consciousness, part of our<em> American</em> family. People fear what they do not know (ever noticed that?). We have to get familiar with Barack &#8211; Barack has to become Barack &#8211; and then we&#8217;ll accept his attacks on McCain. They will be equals. I think Barack knows that, and he&#8217;s playing his game.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div>
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<p>Let McCain and his Rove-dogs bark all they want now. Let them punch themselves silly, until they can&#8217;t manage one more swing&#8230; in the meantime, we fall in love with Barack. Do you remember Ali coming off the ropes in Zaire? Did you see him in the crowd last night? </p>
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