I think Biden is the most depressing man ever to step before a podium.  Did he have anything positive to say?

If you're running as an upcoming leader that's going to fix all the errors and bring prosperity, being positive really helps.

Regardless of whether or not you agree with what they're saying, Obama/Biden aren't running on how positive the future they'll bring will be, they're running on how awful the last eight years have been.  Key in that is a constant message reminding them of the economic, domestic, and foreign policy disaster that the Bush administration has in their view created.

It's called scaremongering, used by both parties to reclaim power through their portrayal of the other side and the consequences of voting them in again.  And sadly, it works.

One of the most important qualities for a leader is the ability to inspire.  There's nothing inspiring about doom and gloom.

You're seriously getting hung up on someone's pronunciation of a word?

I'm not sure why people keep saying this now, a few months ago it was that Obama was some kind of overly optimistic wild-eyed idealist. Nearly every time he gives a major speech the major theme is future-oriented. Of course Bush and the last 8 years comes up all the time, America is all fucked up, Bush and friends have been a major factor in fucking America up, McCain is a member of "and friends". They would have to be incompetent not to hammer that everywhere they can fit it in, but I really don't see it as what they're running on - if it is what they're running on it doesn't seem to be the primary thing motivating their supporters. You can't talk about change unless you say what it is you want changed.

Anyways, I think what you are missing is that describing how awful the last 8 years have been comes across as identifying the problems that need to be fixed rather than "OMFG we're so fucked up!!!". They aren't saying things people don't know, and they've been pretty damn honest in their efforts at linking McCain to it (too honest if you ask me). So I think that what you are calling scaremonger most people take as Obama showing that he "gets it". Look at how people view the direction of this country, look at Bush's approval ratings, etc. etc. When Obama and Biden talk about this stuff it's always used for contrasting with how they will do things differently. Scaremongering is McCain and Palin continually lying about Obama's tax plan, or that he wants to have tea and crumpets with genocidal maniacs, or he wants our troops to die in Iraq, etc. etc. etc. They're scaremongering isn't quite to the level of Bush '04, but it's pretty damn close.

Um, are you saying that Obama is unable to inspire people?!?!