Stunner: Ben Stein endorses Al Franken --- calls McCain campaign "pathetic" "shockingly poor"

[grantcart]

While Stein identifies himself as a Republican, he certainly does not always march in lockstep with GOP leadership. For example, Stein is backing Al Franken's bid for the Senate. That's right, that Al Franken, the liberal Democratic comedian who is seeking to oust incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in Minnesota.

"He is my pal, and he is a really, really capable smart guy," Stein said of Franken. "I don't agree with all of his positions, but he is a very impressive guy, and I think he should be in the Senate


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Mr. McCain is running the absolute most pathetic campaign I have ever seen in my whole life," Stein said in his unmistakable monotone delivery. "His campaign is just heartbreakingly pathetic. He is a very impressive guy. He is a brave guy, but he is running the most lackluster campaign I have ever seen in my entire life. I would have thought Bob Dole's campaign would have set a record for poor campaigns, but this one is even worse. I mean it is shocking."


Thus Stein's answer to turn it around is Rove -- architect of Bush's back-to-back presidential victories -- who he describes as "about the smartest in the country in terms of politics."

A McCain campaign spokesman politely sidestepped Stein's criticism by saying the campaign is well-equipped to defeat Obama in November.

From Stein's perspective, McCain has been running an uninspiring campaign -- one that lacks a coherent message


edited to add CNN link http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/27/preston.mccain/index.html

[DangerousRhythm]

1. Huh.

This is surprising. Now, if only he'd renounce that awful Expelled movie...

[RNdaSilva]

5. Say yes to..

[kevinmc]

2. = Stein's answer to turn it around is Rove= McCain's NEW team is using Rove Tactics .....

the last couple of weeks since he changed his team ... they have done nothing but put out ads that lie and distort .... that's the Rove way. The patriotism BS is all Rove. Ben Stein is still a jerk even though he likes Al Franken.

[Skittles]

3. he thinks Rove is a smart guy

not a lower than pond scum piece of shit willing to do tactics that would turn any decent person's stomach :thumbsdown:

[Clintonista2]

7. I think Rove is both

[Skittles]

8. I don't think a truly intelligent person has to resort to scummy tactics n/t

[Clintonista2]

9. I don't think that scummy tactics has anything to do with your intelligence

Anyone who can get chimpy into the white house is obviously an intelligent person.

[Skittles]

10. I do

and any truly intelligent person could see GWB was a twit

[Marrah_G]

16. And I think Rove sees him as an easily manipulated twit.

[Political Heretic]

21. That's ridiculous.

Evil people are often brilliant.

Rove is a sociopath. Which is why he uses "scummy tactics" - many (in fact most) sociopaths are highly intelligent.

[annabanana]

14. And it is also smart to bring a gun when you want to steal something.

It is easier to win at chess when you stick a gun in your opponents face...

[sourmilk]

18. It took 5 out of 9 "intelligent people" to get chimpy into the White House.

[YOY]

22. Smart enough to use an effective tactic that works in the short term and backfires in the long.

Not really that smart.

He uses tactics straight our of Macheivelli...the ones that fit him.

He and his masters forgot a few choice quotes.

[SeattleGirl]

4. What??????

Are pigs flying now? :wow:

[politicoFOsho]

6. He also thinks the rich should pay more taxes

He's a bizarre guy, but I cannot take him seriously until he gets over that creationism nonsense.

[davidpdx]

11. Stein's point about McCain's campaign being worse then Dole's

is right on the money. It is the only campaign that it is comparable to.

[slinkerwink]

12. Karl Rove is already an unofficial adviser to the McCain campaign

[MiniMe]

13. CNN's headline now reads : McCain needs Roved says Ferris Buehler actor

:rofl: So much for that message.

[Marrah_G]

15. Can you imagine Franken on the floor of the Senate!

Talk about making Cspan more interesting. I cannot wait!!

Woooo, Go Al!

[DevonRex]

24. He'd certainly liven the place up, wouldn't he? I love Franken.

And there's one thing people don't always acknowledge about comedians like Al Franken. They have to be very smart to do what they do. Good ones, I mean. That dry, quick wit that Franken has is just amazing.

[GalleryGod]

17. PROGRESS.

A Good Day for Al!

[wyldwolf]

19. About this "Rove" thing

Completely overrated.

[ErinBerin84]

20. Rove already is an unofficial advisor, he says that he gives them advice.

Plus, Rove's protege has an official title.

methinks they need a lot more at this point.

[YOY]

23. One person of which I could care less about...even if we agree sometimes.

n.t.

[grantcart]

25. I agree 100% but any little thing that helps Al Franken is fine with me