I've noticed more and more posts directly attacking Obama's character this week at the same time that John McCain has done the same thing. The attacks from McCain and some posters here do bear an uncanny synchronicity of message: Obama's word cannot be trusted.

Or as McCain put it today: "Obama’s word cannot be trusted."

Are the McCain trolls earning money here? I see some fresh faces here repeating his talking points. And there ARE such things as trolls out to stir trouble for Obama.

Let's be on guard here. Let's stay on paTroll. No, not for FISA opponents, at least not most of them. Reasonable people can disagree with Obama's position on principled grounds without being trolls. Yet I would argue that those who AREN'T trolls would do so without calling Obama's character into question or trying to create mistrust.

I have to wonder about the ones who cross the line from registering displeasure and disagreement into taking up the GOP mantra. Mistrust, after all, is THE oldest page in the GOP playbook.

* Reagan asked "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" meaning "Who do you trust -- me or Carter?"

* Bush I said "Read my lips: no new taxes." meaning "Trust me, not Dukakis." (The full quote from Bush at the 1988 GOP convention is: "And I'm the one who will not raise taxes. My opponent now says he'll raise them as a last resort, or a third resort. But when a politician talks like that, you know that's one resort he'll be checking into. My opponent, my opponent won't rule out raising taxes. But I will. And the Congress will push me to raise taxes and I'll say no. And they'll push, and I'll say no, and they'll push again, and I'll say, to them, ‘Read my lips: no new taxes.’"

* Bush II asked "Who do you trust to keep you safe?" and suggested Kerry wouldn't.

Not everyone who crosses the line is necessarily a McCain troll, but it does make wonder who they're taking their cues from. I suggest a new designation for such suspicious posters: Orcs, for Opinions Ranting on Character.

And you know the cure for Orcs: A little Sting now and then to remind them that tearing Obama down is the same as advertising for McCain.