McCain knows he has lost.

[saltpoint]

He likely knew it last fall this time, when his campaign staff was bolting out the door and Giuliani was leading in the polls, then Romney.

One political writier likened the failing McCain campaign to "a bi-plane ablaze, spiralling downward." Note the era-specific airplane.

He survived the primaries because Romney lost huge leads in Iowa and New Hampshire and Giuliani is a manic fool who ran one of the worst primary efforts in modern history.

In the late going, even Huckabee was giving McCain fits in a few states.

He chose Palin to pander to the fundies. Or, if you like, Palin was chosen for him to pander to the fundies, but in either case, it is the fundies who were the panderees.

The junkstore novelty of Sarah Palin bumped McCain's numbers up for something like 2 weeks and now the trendline is tanking. She's gone from refreshing 'maverick' pick to high-maintenance disaster.

In private meetings in hotels around the nation, McCain's staffers are telling him things he doesn't want to hear, such as "Florida is by no means a sure thing, Senator" and "Indiana is surprisingly close, Senator."

McCain doesn't look well. He doesn't sound well. He is contradicting himself on several key issues, this in addition to his legendary and long-standing pandering flip-flops.

He isn't drawing the crowds like the ones Obama/Biden are drawing. At some stops when both McCain and Palin appear, the crowd drifts away after they've experienced the novelty of the Alaskan Governor, leaving lonely McCain to try to inspire them with charisma he doesn't possess.

Even some of the MSM have roughed him up some. That didn't happen with Bush. And high-profile members of his own party skipped the GOP convention in St. Paul. "Scheduling conflicts" was an often-cited excuse for the no-shows, more realistically translated to "No way I want to be photographed with that loser."

Even if they wire McCain up with some gizmo in the debates, the fact remains that Obama doesn't need such a gizmo to begin with. I think McCain is going to be buzz-sawed in that first debate. Ditto Palin versus Joe Biden.

In order for McCain to feel more hopeful he'd have to look the part of a hopeful man, the part of a candidate with a future. He doesn't look that way at all.

[BumRushDaShow]

1. I still believe he had lost when Housegate dealt him a mortal blow

and the repuke party lost at the conclusion of the DNC convention. That's why the Hail McPalin pass and Goebbels-style propaganda the past couple weeks. They figured they had lost anyway.

[saltpoint]

4. Yes. There was John and Cindy with their many, many big houses

trying to paint Obama as an "elitist."

No sale, Senator McCain.

[demwing]

37. In the future, the MSM will drop the Dukakis "Tank and Helmet" reference

and such moments will be referred to as a "Lost Houses Moment."

[Aviation Pro]

2. It's hard to look hopeful for the future when....

....the actuary charts tell you differently. Sarah Pornstar was Shitstain Shoots-Guy-In-Face's pick because the later knows that he will be the most hunted man on the face of the Earth unless he gets another term by proxy.

[featherman]

3. Love your description of Palin having become a "high maintenance disaster"

[begin_within]

5. junkstore novelty

best description yet

[opihimoimoi]

6. McLost is Matt Harrison Brady of Inherit the Wind (1960) losing it in court

when exposed by Spencer Tracey


Babbling Incoherently uttering gibberese about lottsa fish liking those oil rigs...the poor dude was searching for the missing ball bearings someone stole from his pants as he tried to explain Econ 101 in tongues ....while the crowd bolted for the door.

[DefenseLawyer]

10. Someone on his staff took all the strawberries

and no one will rest until the culprit is found.

[Kokonoe]

7. Mccain will have an argument with his ear piece during the debate.

His handlers will say don't worry, its OK, he was a POW.:P

[Overseas]

65. This is an interesting possibility! I really think it could happen.

It would be wonderful. If they covered with the POW thing, we could whisper that it sounded like a mini-stroke, with his words all scrambled like that.

[mwb970]

8. The geezer should speak first at Palin/McCain joint rallies.

They've got the opening act appearing after the headliner, a typical Republican cockup. (They just can't do showbiz.) When Palin goes first, everyone drifts away once the old man starts droning. Wouldn't it make more sense for him to speak while the crowd was still standing there waiting to see the star of the show?

[Cha]

44. Yeeeah..Let the "running mate"

go first.

[mwb970]

46. I wonder what McCain thought when she called him that.

Or is he in a realm beyond thought at this point?

[Cha]

48. I'm thinking mccain is in a

fugue state that says.."what ever gimmick needs to say to get us to the white house". You know she's talkin' to her base ..letting them know, wink wink, that she'll be running the end of times.

[donco6]

9. "McCain looks bad" - yes. The debates will hurt him.

If we know anything, it's that looking good during the debates makes a huge difference (should it? probably not, but it does - think Nixon and the sweaty lip). McCain just looks more frail every day. Very pale and sickly. I'm actually a little worried that he's going to make it through the campaign - can you imagine a sympathy vote for PALIN??? Ugh.

[saltpoint]

18. True. The variables are stacked against both mcCain and Palin

even before either of them opens their mouths to say anything in the coming debates.

I think if McCain thought last week was bad, he's in for a worse one this week.

[mwb970]

47. Maybe he'll do better if he wears his "lucky cap".

Especially if it has a radio receiver inside!

[japple]

79. I don't think he looks very good either. Look at this

picture.

[D23MIURG23]

82. Holy shit its Dr. Evil!!!!

:evilgrin:

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

86. That's what I imagine Glen Quagmire's father to look like

and that is both funny and really unsettling.

[Arugula Latte]

11. Obama has to walk a fine line in the debate.

He has to be on top of his game, articulate, and not mess up -- easy for hi; he's brilliant. But at the same time, he can't be seen as beating up on a frail old POW, which is a little trickier.

[DefenseLawyer]

15. I'm not so sure

I mean yes, Obama doesn't want to come across as mean spirited, but ultimately, is empathy for an old frail POW going to translate into votes for an old frail candidate?

[TankLV]

19. BULL! Obama can't listen to such bullshit - he better go all out NOW or be damned when it's close

enought to steal.

He better not listen to the fools who are preaching to him like they did to Kerry and Gore - "go easy" - "don't want to be seen as beating up the poor schmuck..."

Well - Obama better go FULL THROTTLE! Open up all barrels on the "poor guy".

really - do you think the media whores are gonna like ANYTHING obama does or refrains from doing?!?!

Doyou?

DOYOU?

THE FACT IS: THE MEDIA WHORES WILL COMPLAIN LOUDLY ABOUT OBAMA NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES!!!

I pray and hope nobody pays attention to YOUR "advice"...

[Arugula Latte]

22. Okay, okay, sorry, it was just a thought I had, that the media would be

likely be looking to paint Obama unsympathetically against McCain. I do think there is a way Obama can clean McCain's clock without having sympathy swing over to McCain.

I'm no expert at this stuff, but I recall how the media went after Gore, who, like Obama, was clearly heads and shoulders above his opponent in knowledge. I know we can't cower before the media because they will try to spin it for McCain no matter what Obama does, but I do think he needs to consider that McCain is old and therefore automatically evokes some sympathy in many people (not in me; I think he's quite evil).

[TankLV]

27. Gee - again - "thanks" for your "concern"...

sure way to loose the fight...

you don't bring a knife to a gun fight...

we can begin by putting a STOP to handicapping our candidates and their STRENGTHS...

if this results in the utter fuckup mcINSANE being "beaten-up" so much the better...

[Vincardog]

33. Tank has it right. LEt him have it with both barrels. If he is too old and frail for a "Debate"

scripted and controlled by his supporters, is he up to being CIC?

[Arugula Latte]

35. Um, if you're implying I'm some sort of concern troll, then F.U.

I've been here since 2001. I am anything but -- believe me.

I was just thinking out loud about debate strategy. You don't have to jump down my throat.

[TankLV]

83. Then prove us otherwise and stop posting CRAP...

we all recognize your kind...and longtime membership doesn't mean SHIT...

posts such as this have to be STOPPED COLD...

we don't need you're kind of "help" or "concern"...

and I'm not "implying" anything - I'm STATING it...FU back if you don't "like" it...

[JustAnotherGen]

24. Agree with Tank

I'd rather the meme be a 'tall aggressive Obama throttled McCain' than, "Obama needs to be less reflective and polite to his opponent."

There are two things that Obama has that could hurt him: Polite and Polish.


I think he can be polished and polite but stand right on the line and belligerently bully McCain in a debate. He needs to go back to the debates and pay attention to HOW Clinton/Edwards responded. That's PRECISELY what McCain is going to do. Except he'll have undecideds that never watched the Dem Primary debates.

Us? The Dems? I have to say - he was cool, calm, collected, polished and polite. We listen with different ears than people who are low information voters.

It's those low information voters that are going to need to hear him say:

"Now look John! You just can't make stuff up!"
"I may be you 'friend' but I'm also your OPPONENT!"

In regards to a terrorist - stay on point:

"TAKE HIM OUT!"

[TankLV]

30. Put it to bed NOW.

You can continue to fight in the ring and dance all around your opponent if the goal was to last as many rounds as possible.

But if your goal is to WIN - then you KNOCK HIM OUT at the earliest opportunity.

Just like that fight in Vegas that everyone paid big buck for, got settled in their seats, looked around, and when they looked back - IT WAS ALL OVER!!!

[ForeignSpectator]

94. TOTALLY agree with you! The media is going to try to screw Obama ( and Dems in general )

NO MATTER what they say or do. They'll find ways to spin things but what Obama can avoid is letting himself be guided by such concerns so he will act like "they" want him to so they get the bonus of painting him as weak etc...

Again, the corporate media plays by their rules, NO MATTER what is said, they'll spin it their way so Dems might as well skip that part and go straight to doing/saying what is right.

And yeah, I want Obama and Biden to destroy those motherfuckers!!! They both are utterly corrupt class-A nutjobs, they don't deserve going easy on them and they must be exposed for what they are. No fucking mercy!!! They don't have it for what's left of America so why should we?!

[Kahuna]

61. So true. Obama has to remain presidential throughout and be prepared..

for McCain's many POW references.

[Arugula Latte]

71. Thank you.

I was attacked above for making what I thought was a fairly harmless point.

[Frank Booth]

12. The MSM's very good at propping up inadequate candidates.

So, I wouldn't say he's given up all hope yet. He's probably getting pretty close, though.

[sammytko]

13. when I saw that "the fish,the fish, they love the platforms" clip

it showed how creepy he was. He kept going "heh, heh, heh, the fish, the fish".

He's lost it...

[saltpoint]

17. Yes. I happen to catch that fish-off-the-oil-rig thing.

My god.

[firedupdem]

20. LOL! That was pretty sad.....and funny...... n/t

[kwyjibo]

56. He's pathetic. That's why republicans "love" Palin. They're desperate for someone with charisma.

I think a lot of them see through her too, but that's all they got. Pretty sad.

[grantcart]

14. Not only does he know that he is going to lose I don't think he really wants to win

and then actually have to govern. Now I think he just wants to make it as close to possible and be the top of the party.

What he doesn't realize is that after he loses he is going to be a pariah in the party that he ran a campaign against.

Does he think the Republicans, who never liked him anyway, are really going to embrace him after he called out their culture of coruption?

[saltpoint]

16. Excellent points.

Hi, grantcart. Yes. McCain's standing has been an issue for him for a while and it doesn't look as if it's going to get any easier.

I think Obama will swim dolphin rings around McCain's shark in the debates.

[sammytko]

23. I don't think he wants to win either - its going to be a rough ride for the next POTUS nt

[grantcart]

34. well it would be hell for a Republican - there will be no honeymoon and there will

be investigations.

In his dream time he probably thinks that if wins he can give a nice speech about Obama being a good kid and select a bunch of democrats to run the cabinet and everyone will love him.

The reality is that if he wins there will be tremendous buyers remorse within minutes of his election and that he would become a pariah and no democrats would come to help him.


He would face congress and Senate with huge Democrat majorities and he would have to beg for their help.

[cabluedem]

42. Isn't that the truth? Obama is going to be one busy President cleaning up 8 years of Pug messes..

I don't envy him. The MSM will be complaing about everything that he does, every step of the way too.

[Glimmer of Hope]

51. He doesn't seem too enthused.

[Blue_In_AK]

53. He's not the only one who is going to be a pariah.

Sarah has to come back to Alaska and try to be governor for another two years after all we've learned since August 29. I wouldn't want to be her. The tide has turned.

[JustAnotherGen]

21. K/R

To the greatest page!

[crazy_vanilla]

25. Does he ever !!!!

But he is still going through the motions.

[VolcanoJen]

26. Excellent post.

Just to give you a little home-spun conventional wisdom here in "Battleground Ohio," I was chatting with a couple of off-duty cops at work last night, who double as security guards to make ends meet.

These two are terrific guys; I know them well enough to say they're traditional conservatives and two-time Bush voters.

And last night in no uncertain terms they declared that they're with Obama.

"McCain is clueless on the economy, but mostly I'm worried about his age and that Palin woman," one of them told me. The other declared that cops have become fervently anti-Palin since learning about TrooperGate. This surprised me; it's not just total political junkies paying attention to every possible aspect of this race. The entire nation is transfixed.

They told me they're having trouble talking their wives and their moms off of Palin, but they're getting closer. "Obama is our only choice if we want any kind of future for our kids," one told me. "He's smart and Biden is a good man," the other one added.

I'm encouraged. I really am. The tide is turning.

[saltpoint]

66. Great. Excellent, in fact. I have a feeling you set the table for those two

guards so they could make the case to their wives for Obama/Biden.

You are doin' the right thing and fighting the good fight -- and winning.

Now. Please take my good vibes and do what you can to unseat that lizard-soled cretin Steve Chabot and Mean Jean Schmidt. You live in a great and beautiful part of the country and you deserve some better Congress folks.

Thanks for weighing in from Battleground Ohio, VolcanoJen.

[glitch]

28. If he had any self-awareness at all he'd be scared to death of "winning". He is not fit. nt

[young_at_heart]

29. Cindy never leaves his side---it's weird!

I don't ever recall a campaign where the wife stands right next to the candidate and goes EVERYWHERE with him.

[CoffeeCat]

31. Barack Obama is a really tough campaigner...

...and he's very astute. He seems to be made of teflon sometimes--able to effectively
counteract attacks that McCain counts on to sink Obama.

I think McCain is really frustrated--to the point of despair.

I can't believe this isn't a bigger story. I saw McCain on three major media outlets (CNN with Blitzer, MSNBC's
"Morning Joe" and NBC) revealing that the reason he went ape-shit negative on Obama, was because Obama had
refused to agree to town-hall meetings with McCain.

John McCain is a rage-a-holic. And Barack Obama said no to town-hall meetings. I think McCain thought he would
threaten Obama into these manufactured PR stunts (probably laced with planted questioners). I really think
McCain was counting on these happening--to blunt the impact of the debates. McCain knows that Obama is a stellar
debater who had a great deal of experience with tough debater Hillary Clinton.

McCain has mentioned in two of those three interviews (MSNBC/CNN) that he has "repeatedly" asked Obama for these
town-halls. He mentioned to Mika, "I've asked him time and time again...".

Obama kept telling him 'no' so McCain proceeded with his swath of revolting, lie-based ads (kindergarten sex, etc), and
guess what happened during the last ten days? This is the key: The negative ads backfired on McCain. He began
dropping in the polls.

You can bet that he's fit to be tied.

Also--He didn't want Palin. He wanted Lieberman. Palin was selected for McCain. Now, she's slipping in the polls.
Frankly, she's a side-show joke. He's got to be pissed and I bet you anything he treats her like crap. I bet there's
friction there.

Now, the economy is in the tank and America does not trust Republicans to get us out. That further exacerbates
McCain's troubles.

Look at his campaigning on Thurs and Fri. The man seems like he's on the brink of a breakdown.

McCain does not have the temperament to be President, and that is becoming crystal clear through this election process.

[saltpoint]

69. Yes. As bad a campaigner as McCain is revealing himself to be, there

is corresponding strength to Obama's campaign that deflects the ridiculous "kindergarten sex ed" type ads McCain is slinging from the mud pit.

John McCain's mother should publicly scold him, reminding the old crank that she did not raise him to be a gutless asshole.

I don't actually expect her to put it exactly that way, of course.

But it would draw a few heads her way.

Thank you for your post. It is excellent.

[WinkyDink]

32. Crowds dispersion: Hence, the "my friends" locution, for who likes to walk out on their "friends"?

[samsingh]

36. Obama has a tendency to give some flippant answers or appear to ready to concede

e.g.

'above my pay grade'
'i was wrong about the surge, but right about the original vote against the Iraq war'

he was not wrong about the surge - there are many variables causing the reduction in the violence.

Obama could make mistakes in the debates - i hope he doesn't.


i'm hoping that mccain loses his cool and shows everyone the snarky little bastard on the inside.

[Swamp Rat]

38. We're off on the road to Morocco...

We're off on the road to Morocco
This camel is tough on the spine (hit me with a band-aid, Dad)
Where they're goin', why we're goin', how can we be sure
I'll lay you eight to five that we'll meet Dorothy Lamour (yeah, get in line)

Off on the road to Morocco
Hang on till the end of the line (I like your jockey. Quiet)
I hear this country's where they do the dance of the seven veils
We'd tell you more (uh-ah) but we would have the censor on our tails (good boy)

We certainly do get around
Like Webster's Dictionary we're Morocco bound

We're off on the road to Morocco
Well look out, well clear the way, 'cause here we come
Stand by for a concussion
The men eat fire, sleep on nails and saw their wives in half
It seems to me there should be easier ways to get a laugh
(shall I slip on my big shoes?)

Off on the road to Morocco
Hooray! Well blow a horn, everybody duck
Yeah. it's a green light, come on boys

We may run into vilains but we're not afraid to roam
Because we read the story and we end up safe at home (yeah)
Certainly do get around
Like Webster's Dictionary we're Morocco bound

We certainly do get around
Like a complete set of Shakespeare that you get
in the corner drugstore for a dollar ninety-eight
We're Morocco bound

Or, like a volume of Omar Khayyam that you buy in the
department store at Christmas time for your cousin Julia
We're Morocco bound
(we could be arrested)




:hi:

[Disturbed]

39. Welcome back Swampy.

:hi:

:yourock:

[Swamp Rat]

40. Way'at Disturbed!

:hi:

[Marnieworld]

88. Worth the wait!

Love it! :hi:

[BlooInBloo]

41. (waits for the next poll-downturn to look at all of the GAME OVER WE'VE LOST! posts.)

Nuthin like the DU rollercoaster.

[flowomo]

43. you said it....

history has a shelf-life of about 24 hours around here.

[RooseveltTruman]

45. Don't Count Him Out

Don't underestimate McCain. He's tenacious. Many people were writing similar obituaries in last year--hell, as late as November and early December 2007--that McCain was finished. And he pulled back into the lead.

Barring a major gaffe, he has the all-important conservative base united behind him thanks to Palin, whose pride in her Republican ignorance has the conservative masses going bonkers.

And he is perceived--whether fairly or not--to be a "maverick," sometimes even a "moderate." Independents "scared" of Obama's "exotic" background or the possibly "radical" ideas he could bring forward may lead them to John the "Maverick" and say, "y'know, he's not so bad!"

Republicans nominated their strongest candidate. We can't underestimate him or count him out. Like it or not, the man spent five years in a POW camp. He's tough, he's relentless, he won't quit.

So we can't either.

[FrenchieCat]

80. Palin to normal "Moderate" and "Indie" voters is a "scary" person

and the Palin "Crazy as a bat out of hell" fanatics are not enough for McCain to win anything. The media had to lie about a crowd of 8,000 and turn them into 23,000. That's sad.

He only won the primaries as he was in a field of many...and even there he wasn't that impressive. All of the states that McCain would need to win, his opponents won; nevada, Ohio, Michigan, etc...

The only thing McCain's got going for himself is that he was born White....and to tell the truth even his POW status from 35 years ago has some thinking he might be the Manchurian candidate.

So yeah, McCain has lost.....


Thank God.

[RooseveltTruman]

87. Hmmm...

"All of the states that McCain would need to win, his opponents won; nevada, Ohio, Michigan, etc..."

I hope to god that logic isn't true, or else Obama's gonna have a tough time judging by the states he lost to Clinton. Granted, Obama won a lot of swing states too...but so did McCain.

This race is far from over.

[FrenchieCat]

90. You are such a pub, till it ain't even funny.

Hopefully, you aren't trying to fool anyone.....

[RooseveltTruman]

91. What?

Are you saying I'm a Republican? Christ. I WANT OBAMA TO WIN. I'm just saying that WE CAN'T ASSUME IT WILL BE EASY. We've assumed it would be easy before--in 1988, in 2000, in 2004. We were WRONG all three times. We can't afford to play cocky. We need to fight every state like we're 10 points behind, because lord knows the Repubs will try to steal votes where they can.

This election will likely be a very close one. Acknowledging this FACT does not make me a "Republican" (after all, Republicans don't like facts). Just because I'm not bubbling OMG OBAMA WILL WIN IN A LANDSLIDE MCCAIN HAS NO CHANCE LOL doesn't mean I'm a Republican. It makes me a realist.

Grow up.

[RooseveltTruman]

92. What?

Are you saying I'm a Republican? Christ. I WANT OBAMA TO WIN. I'm just saying that WE CAN'T ASSUME IT WILL BE EASY. We've assumed it would be easy before--in 1988, in 2000, in 2004. We were WRONG all three times. We can't afford to play cocky. We need to fight every state like we're 10 points behind, because lord knows the Repubs will try to steal votes where they can.

This election will likely be a very close one. Acknowledging this FACT does not make me a "Republican" (after all, Republicans don't like facts). Just because I'm not bubbling OMG OBAMA WILL WIN IN A LANDSLIDE MCCAIN HAS NO CHANCE LOL doesn't mean I'm a Republican. It makes me a realist.

Grow up.

[TheKentuckian]

49. I don't think McCain is down for the count

and its actually being set up in the media. Despite the supposed advantage of his "all important" experience in foreign policy he's being given an underdog role so that if he doesn't blow up or come off like a doddering fool then he "wins".

The narrative should be that if Obama can hold his own against McCain's depth of knowledge and experience that he will have acquitted himself well and effectively countered the experience label.

PUSH IT.

[BlackmanX]

50. Let's not get too cocky

don't forget what happened the last 2 times presidential candidates debated. Kerry and Gore clearly won the debate on issues but due to the fact that their standards were set too high and bush's standards were set too low all he had to do was show up and breathe through his nose and they basically said he won. Obama really has to learn to manage expectations so mccain won't just show up and win by default.

[saltpoint]

70. I'm careful not to get too cocky. For cocky, please see under 'Rick

Santorum.'

But I'm in a Not This Time frame of mind and I feel like kicking some red-State fanny.

[Blue_In_AK]

52. Is Palin an Albatross?

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/is-palin-an-albatross/

[saltpoint]

76. Hi, Blue_in_AK, and thank you for that link also.

You are getting it done on back-up info arond this joint. Thank you.

People, check out this link if you haven't yet. It's the right kind of burning wood for our campfire.

[Blue_In_AK]

85. Thanks, OC

After being here since November 2004, it's kind of nice to be able to offer something besides, "Yeah, what he said," or "Hey, look, at my pretty photo." :)

[MasonJar]

54. I certainly hope you are right for the sake of the planet, but I personally

remember all too clearly how Al Gore, the ultimate patrician statesman and environmental mastermind, and John Kerry, an actual war hero and patrician statesman, actually won and yet never got to become president because the GOPers are scum and cheaters and liars. It can and probably will happen again. Contrast the Democratic candidates of 2000, 2004 and 2008 to the PUG ones. How is it possible that we have been shafted so inordinately and thereby the Earth itself? Theft and criminal behavior! The Bushistas cannot afford to let a democrat win.

[mzmolly]

55. Indeed the media is treating McSame differently than they did Bush.

They even dared to call him out on his lies last week. What's gotten into them? Even Faux said McCain lied about Obama's tax plan. It's bizarre.

I wish I were confident that our reasonable candidates would win the election. But, I admit, I'm holding my breath until 11-5-08. ;)

[saltpoint]

74. Good evenin', MzMolly.

It could be on Nov. 5th that we learn the outcome but if we have the luck I'm hoping for real hard, we'll know by 10:30 or so p.m. Eastern time that Obama/Biden has defeated McCain/Palin.

Virginia and Indiana will come in fairly early. Even before the cable news entities project the winners of those states, reporters on the ground and county party people will know who won key districts and by about how much.

If fairly early in the evening those people place calls saying Obama has carried Virginia, you won't have to wait until the 5th to find out!


:hi:

[mzmolly]

78. Good evenin' my friend.

:hi: It would be lovely to win an early, decisive victory. And, when we do, I hope to celebrate right here, with you. I'll even let you say "I told you so." :pals:

[saltpoint]

93. Fair enough.

A victory in Novembeer sounds mighty good, in fact. And we've waited long enough for it!

[Orsino]

57. He never really got started with his campaign, did he?

As with Thompson, the nomination was either going to be handed to him or he would exit. Neither one seemed willing to work up a sweat.

I do pity the man for having to go through the motions saddled with a running mate that's beyond ridiculous, an albatross that he will be identified with for the rest of his political career.

[saltpoint]

72. It's true. There might have to be an Albatross Museum with

full wings dedicated to Dan Quayle and Sarah Palin.

[Samantha]

58. Funny you should post this

That is exactly what I thought when I saw his face yesterday. We are in total agreement. That look said it all. It is over.

I believe he thought the Palin selection might make the difference for him. It has, but not in the way he thought. The more people learn about her, the more his age does make a difference. He should have done the responsible thing, if not for himself, for the Country, and picked someone actually qualified to fill the Presidential shoes should that become necessary at a moment's notice. In some cases, perhaps that part of the base which was reluctantly going to vote for him will now stay at home rather than condone a Palin Vice-Presidency. A few good Americans will cross over and vote for the better qualified candidate.

I am sure the press will continue to represent how close this race is -- the MSM needs to keep its ratings up -- but I feel in my gut the talking heads know it is over as well.

Not that that will prevent the Republicans from still trying to steal the election! It just might spur them on to try harder in that regard.

I hope with all my soul Barack Obama is the next President of the United States. It is time we had a "real" President sitting in the Oval Office, one equipped to address this Country's severe problems and legitimately try to solve them. I hope ....

Sam

PS Don't you find it highly amusing how McCain and Palin chronically refer to themselves as "mavericks" as if that is the name of their political party? They are bending over backwards to convince the voting public that is their true mantra, and God help them if the smoke clears and the voters remember they are Republicans.

[saltpoint]

68. Hey there Sam. Good to see ou on the DU boards as always.

Yes. There is that emphasis with McCain and Palin to paint themselves as "mavericks."

I remember -- not fondly -- a very early friend of mine in earlier years. She and I were interested in exactly the same music but we parted ways on politics. Her family liked Nixon. Mine most certainly did not.

The Republican convention in 1972 featured a large red poster of a dancing elephant with the caption, "Get it on -- Join the Republican Part!"

I'm not kidding. They co-opted the "hip" street talk they had siphoned from top-40 radio or somewhere and decided to paint themselves as "hip," much in the way McCain and Palin paint themselves as "mavericks."

"Mavericks" just sounds so much better, I guess, than "Clueless Warmonger" and "Secessionist Oil Whore."

[northernlights]

59. I love Al Gore, but

the only 2 moments I remember from his debates were when he 1. rolled his eyes in feigned exasperation and 2. walked across the stage to physically intimidate dubya.

I believe they may have lost him a lot of votes. They were worse than poppybush looking at his watch. Worse than duke in a tank. totally cringeworthy, juvenile and backfired on him.

Debates are tricky things. One good zinger, one bad face caught when you think the cameras not on you, can make or break.

That said, McLame is far more likely to screw up AND blow up than Obama to make a gaffe, and Palin more likely to screw up and leave our collective ears bleeding than Biden to make a gaffe.

My biggest concern is Biden's potential hearing loss after listening to that fingernails-on-chalkboard voice for an entire debate.

[tabasco]

60. Benjamin Franklin told us that we might become too stupid to keep the republic.

You have a strangely selective memory.

[marlakay]

62. I think he is old and close to the end so thats why he picked

sarah because he really doesn't care what happens to all of us. From everything i have read he is selfish, hates women and has no relationship with his wife, so if he loses I don't think he cares either way.

[asdjrocky]

63. I have to agree with you on this OC....

Now let's hope the rest of America catches up to how enlightened we are.

[saltpoint]

67. LOL! I think the debates will put even more pressure on the Republicans

to defend a series of indefensible positions.

I know a lot of us are keeping an eye on the media these days. The blogsophere is quicker than the MSM, to say the least, in getting the truth out. Our talking points are more potent than Brokaw's, and Brokaw's are (relatively) more fair than Brit Hume's.

Forty-some days to go. I say we run up the score!

[asdjrocky]

73. It would do my heart good

to see us running away with it in the polls.

[saltpoint]

75. Mine, too. We're on the same page.

It wouldn't piss me off one bit either to see voters turn out people like Mean Jean Schmidt, Michelle Bachmann, Steve Buyer, and Vern Buchanan.

They've been on my shit list for quite a while now. Long Obama coattails could end their stay in Washington.

My fingers are crossed!

[JoFerret]

64. I agree

From our keyboards to the electoral gods ears.

[Tutonic]

77. He knew it after the convention. Cheney, Bush no shows--laughing

their asses off at Marble brains Palin. Schuneman, Schnmitd, Davis--three guys to avoid.

[D23MIURG23]

81. I can't wait for the debates.

At best its going to be humiliating for McCain, at worst he might total the straight talk express.

[DCBob]

84. Indeed. He often appears to be just going through the motions. Stiff and dazed...

reading the cue cards with fake passion. He appears to be aging rapidly right before our very eyes -- looks more like a potential resident of a nursing home than of the White House. I wonder if he can keep it up until November.

[Top Cat]

89. He's been looking very sad all week like a defeated man