Bob Scheiffer on CBS The Early Show: Rumor is McCain wants debate date changed - Palin not ready

[Bigleaf]

He just said it. He said the rumor around town is that the McCain campaign wants the Presidential debate rescheduled to take place next Thursday so that Palin doesn't have to debate Biden. They are worried.

[dkf]

1. YES!

:)

She's not ready to debate and they say she's ready to be President?

BWAHAHAHA!

[MindMatter]

70. Obma -- Please call this guy out

He agreed to the debates. First McCain is trying to duck his now Palin is trying to duck hers.

It isn't our fault that he names such an unqualified VP candidate. If he had named Romney, would he be ducking? Hell no. I don't like Romney's positions, but he is certainly qualified and certainly capable of holding his own in a debate.

If McCain had names Olympia Snowe, would she be ducking?

If McCain had named Kay Hutchinson, would she be turning tail?

I don't think so.

McCain and Palin are so full of crap it is unreal. Make them pay. Call them out. It is showdown time.

[Colobo]

2. Finally someone is saying it.

[DangerousRhythm]

3. YES!! Thank you Scheiffer!

Someone had to say it!

:woohoo:

[msongs]

4. Palin needs to be called out for a coward - not FIT to be VP or Prez nt

[iceman66]

22. Yes!

If they don't think she's ready to debate, they shouldn't have picked her in the first place!

Look what this says about Palin - they've had a month to coach her for this debate, and expectations are low. Biben is almost certain to go easy on her as well because he is not going to want to look like a bully. If she's not ready now, she never will be!

McCain might as well have picked a random person off the street!

[quispquake]

27. Actually, look what is says about McCain...

His first major decision, and he picks Palin...It shows that he will do ANYTHING politically to get elected, even if it's HORRIBLE for the country...

[Raschel]

60. Why did he pick Palin

I'm sure most of us knew that he was going to choose a woman to try to secure Hillary voters, and to not have two white men on his ticket.

He had plenty of time to vet people. What was the reason for Palin?

My opinion is that John McCain has such a low view of the average (not rich) Joe that he really thought he could get away with this. After all, he does get the uneducated vote.

Sarah is McCain's arrogance on display.

[yardwork]

101. Palin was chosen by the Christian fundamentalists who are bankrolling McCain's campaign.

The fundies picked Palin. They insisted on an anti-choice fundamentalist Christian VP. And they're calling the shots because they're bankrolling McCain's campaign, along with the corporatists. That's why it couldn't be Lieberman. He's Jewish. It couldn't be the female Republican leaders because they're pro-choice. It couldn't be Romney, because he's Mormon and has flip-flopped on the choice question.

It had to be an extremist fundamentalist Christian with impeccably anti-abortion, anti-women's rights, anti-progressive views who would go along with the corporatist agenda. It had to be someone just like Sarah Palin.

It couldn't be Mike Huckabee because he's a genuine Christian who won't do the corporatistss bidding. He really believes in giving to the poor.

They don't care that she's stupid. They expect women to be stupid. As far as they're concerned, she's perfect. Plus - added bonus - she's in the pockets of the oil companies.

[iceman66]

116. Because she's a fundie nutcase.

If he had picked a moderate woman, like one of the senators from Maine, we'd be in bigger trouble, IMO.

[central scrutinizer]

63. Bingo! What you said!

[ginnyinWI]

28. all Biden has to do is show up.

And be himself. He can basically just talk about the issues and ignore her, except to courteously correct her inept statements. Could probably do this with no debate prep whatsoever. It'll be a rout. :)

[verges]

46. Wait----

you mean he didn't?

[Bette Noir]

56. A random person off the street would be better.

Most people are honest, good-hearted, and of average intelligence. Sarah has the "average intelligence" part down, but she has *serious* flaws in the honest and good-hearted departments.

[Tesla]

87. she'll have to say "I'll get back with you" on all the questions!!

I bet they HATED that line spewing out of her mouth!

[central scrutinizer]

66. Biden " caved" and gave her the format she wanted

turns out to be a great move - makes her stalling now look even weaker (if that is even possible)

[nycmjkfan]

5. any link? n/t

[Bigleaf]

7. Not yet. I just watched him say it.

[BklynChick]

6. but of course.

[Submariner]

8. But she has LIEberman as her foreign affairs trainer

Not working out too well I expect eh Joe?

[TornadoTN]

13. Why the hell would a VP need a "TRAINER" in the first place?

That should be a major red flag to anyone - the woman is not ready. Period. That's to mention her baggage either!

[GinaMaria]

85. She's more bush than bush

and he has 'handlers'. If he wasn't needed to run the current bailout scam, maybe his handlers could have handled Palin?

[ladywnch]

105. heck, when she was elected mayor of Wasilla she needed to hire a city manager becuase

she wasnt' ready to be mayor. they had never had one before - or since to my knowledge. I expect that's why her husband is always around in the gov office.....she's not ready for that job either!

[TornadoTN]

9. If Scheiffer is saying it, holy shit, this thing has legs

Bob is a pretty good guy and an apt reporter, but he doesn't like going after Republicans (he's a close friend of G.H.W. Bush). But if he's out with this, then something is up and its a major - I cant stress it enough - MAJOR issue shaping up.

[sickinohio]

16. I Hope So!!

Maybe that would put their campaign to a halt and maybe the Sheeple will realize what a joke their whole campaign is.

[ginnyinWI]

32. I think they do realize it, but

their rightwing talkers have them focused very hard on other things, like racism. I got an email from one this morning which was an article by Ann Coulter about how the problem with the economic system is that minorities were given bank loans they couldn't handle! Yep it's all the fault of them minorities.

[TornadoTN]

36. The people that buy into that nonsense were McCain voters to begin with

Probably part of the 19% that still support Bush. These people are already in their camp - the people that matter are the folks who don't pay attention to politics but they know for damn sure that their pocketbooks are being pinched, their homes are being foreclosed upon, barely can afford a tank of gas, and their jobs are all in jeopardy. It's to these people we have to deliver our message to and connect the dots that lead squarely back to the GOP and what they've done to our country.

[louis-t]

107. That is the latest talking point.

They say "60% of sub prime loans were given to minorities." All the Dems fault.

[ginnyinWI]

121. yes and don't forget it is all Bill Clinton's fault.

He said that today too.

"Bill Clinton got rid of the regulations and all these people got loans that shouldn't have. The banks had no choice--they had to give them the loans!"

And just think, over eight years of Bush and a Repub
Congress, there wasn't one thing any of them could do about it!! :sarcasm:

[GinaMaria]

84. Damage control

Stop McSame campaign now and surrender 4 years of Exec branch or let him run free and ruin the repub party for 20 years? :shrug: Just wondering what they are thinking.

[TornadoTN]

88. Interesting thought: I think there's a lot of merit to it as well

I have found in my own day to day life that many former die-hard Republicans are less than enthusiastic about McCain/Palin - some even going as far as to support Obama for a variety of reasons, some as simple as "he would give us a reason to make some changes in our party, we can't win like this".

Lets pay attention and see how many more people like this step out of line and start distancing themselves from McCain's sinking ship.

[DinahMoeHum]

10. Obama and Biden should bring rubber chickens to their debates

to toss on their opponents' podiums.

:evilgrin:

[norepubsin08]

92. No two real chickens

and have them walk around the stage. Name one Sarah and the other Dennis!

[wvbygod]

11. Good to have Scheiffer on our team

I think we have most major networks now and FOX can go suck air.

[ginnyinWI]

34. CBS has been doing a stand up job.

They've been debunking lies every day. Couric hammered Palin, and Schieffer is telling it like it is. :) They also have some good commenters like Jeff Greenwald who give good insights.

[wryter2000]

109. I'm going to have to switch back

I went to ABC when LaCouric took over at CBS. Sounds as if I need to go back.

[ginnyinWI]

120. I know how you feel--

I deserted CBS when Couric came onboard too. I watched NBC for a while, but it kind of replicated the same people that Keith would use on his show. Then I tried ABC, until I saw some kid-glove treatment of the chimp, then that awful debate with Gibson and Stephy. So I went grudgingly back to CBS, found Couric not there that week and got interested in the network again. When she came back I tolerated her better than I thought I would. She's lost her "chirp".

[MindMatter]

71. Even Faux has been putting some distance

between them and the Bimbo & Hothead duo. There comes a time that you can't support these people in good conscience, even if your conscience is only 10% of normal human size.

[Jennicut]

12. Ha! Mooseburgers is scared of Joe!

She better be and McLiar better be nervous. I could debate Phalin at this point.

[HeraldSquare212]

14. wow. This despearate gambit is the gift that just keeps giving.

[City Lights]

15. McPalin is a joke.

He should be laughed out of Washington for choosing someone so woefully unprepared for the office she seeks.

Glad the truth is getting out on this. :-)

[mscuedawg]

17. KO said the same thing on Letterman last night....n/t

[sufrommich]

18. I can't wait to see the post election breakdown of what is really

going on here. I have a feeling Palin is balking at debating Biden and would back out of this election if she could find a way to do it without ruining her political career back in Alaska. There was a moment in the Couric interview when they were walking down the street,Couric asked her a question that she obviously couldn't answer,she looked down to the ground,furrowed her brow and there was a long awkward pause.My first thought was that she looks like she would literally like to run away. SHe's in over her head and she knows it.

[Chloroplast]

31. She's backed into a corner as far as her career is concerned.

The people of Alaska are holding a nonpartisan rally on Saturday and the word 'recall' is getting to be more than a whisper. She really fucked herself over taking the VP slot; the only way out is for McCain to win and that's not going to happen. I'd pity her if it weren't for her unmitigated gall.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

43. The interference with the Troopergate investigation doesn't help her cause, I imagine, either.

You just couldn't make up the stuff that is going on in this campaign (and the rip-off of the economy).

[tilsammans]

62. Wow, that's a hot one!

Do you have any links about that? Please post if you do -- thanks!

Sarah Palin, unfit for America, unfit for Alaska, . . . yadda yadda.

[Chloroplast]

69. Absolutely!

This particular blogger is based in Alaska and has been wonderful about keeping us Lower 48ers up on AK political happenings as they break:
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/alaskans-for-truth-are-hopping-mad/

[Submariner]

35. When she paused I could almost feel her saying

she didn't want to be there. She probably senses, albeit too late, that she is a few cubes short of a full tray, and is way out of her Wasilla-like league.

[dbmk]

39. I agree

As I wrote in another thread yesterday, I think she must be stressed out. Big time. She MUST know that she is in over her head.
Not that it makes me feel bad for her. People like her need a solid wakeup knock.

[Bake]

104. Or maybe a knock-down. Or a knock-OUT

I have no sympathy for Palin. She's out of her league and she knew it going in. She's a power-hungry fundie without the acument to be on the big stage. She deserves whatever humiliation is heaped on her by the press and the voters. She got what she asked for.

Bake

[Egnever]

49. I dont know if she knows it yet

But I think its beginning to dawn on her.

[madaboutharry]

98. I also think that it is dawning on her.

I don't think she had any idea what this was going to be like. She probably thought it was going to no different than Alaska politics.

I agree that she really had a lot of gall taking this on.

[verges]

50. Actually, backing out

might be the only way TO salvage her career in Alaska! After she loses in November, she won't be able to get elected dogcatcher in Nome. If she were to go hame now, she might be able to repair some of her mess in Alaska without the National microscope looking at her.

[barbtries]

61. last night on KUDO

one caller said since the campaign has been suspended, she needs to get her butt back to Alaska NOW and govern as she was elected to do. many, many alaskans are disgusted and FED UP.

[intheflow]

81. Self-delete - accidental dupe. n/t

[intheflow]

82. No, I think she's done in Alaska already.

Troopergate is a big story nationally but it's HUGE in Alaska. She fired and smeared the reputation of a well-respected law enforcement officer when he tried to go directly to Washington for money for a rape prevention program in the state with the highest number of rapes per capita. She said she'd cooperate with the investigation, but then allowed the McCain-Palin political machine to interfere with a bi-partisan state internal investigation to the extent that she'll now only allow herself to be investigated by her own politically appointed lackeys. Both Alaskan Dem and Republicans are angry and frustrated with her and the national campaign. Conservative Alaskans are cut from the Libertarian/States' Rights cloth, and having federal elections people meddling in their states' affairs is pissing off even the least political among Alaskans.

And beyond Troopergate, there are various other scandals that have come to light in the past month about Palin that aren't helping he popularity up there:

-- Bankrupting Wasilla;
-- Making rape victims pay for their rape kits;
-- Witch Doctor minister;
-- Buying a tanning bed and redecorating the Governor's mansion on the tax payer's dollar;
-- Rarely being at the state capital, working from her Wasilla home mostly (for which she charged the taxpayers to pay her "travel" expenses;
-- Trying to fire a popular librarian and inquiring about book banning.

She's fucked herself over in Alaska, but good.

[kestrel91316]

77. Wrong. Palin WANTS to be president. So she can be the one to

personally assist her lord Jesus in launching Armageddon by pushing the red button.

She just seems to have figured out that it's not as simple as she had assumed.

[yardwork]

102. I don't think she has any idea that there's a problem. She's really, really stupid.

I think that Sarah Palin is probably developmentally disabled. I'm quite serious. She talks like she has a serious learning disability. I wouldn't be surprised if she has difficulty reading and writing, and not because of dyslexia.

I suspect that her IQ is well below 100. She has no idea what's going in.

[kestrel91316]

108. I think she's a spoiled pretty bimbo who never had to learn to use the

brain she was born with and it suffers from disuse atrophy.

[Lorien]

19. So much for "she's ready on day one"

if she can't stand up to Biden, how will she ever stand up to Ahmadinejad?

[faithfulcitizen]

30. but, but , but she said "I have that confidence, I have that readiness".

time to step up to the plate or forfeit. ...Oh wait, I think McCan't just did. lol

[TransitJohn]

99. "I don't blink."

:rofl:

[glitch]

44. Republicans finally learning that saying it don't make it so?

Nah, they'll be back to creating their own reality any minute now.

[GinaMaria]

86. Has she blinked yet?

This sounds like a lot of blinking.

[RichGirl]

20. Oh how I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall...

...when the insiders of the McCain campaign discuss Palin. That will make a great movie some day. Tina Fey will win the Oscar.

[PCIntern]

21. there's nothing to worry about..

she's quite rady to assume that mantle of VeeeeeePeeeeee.

[Hamlette]

23. don't fall for it, they are lowering expectations so that if Sarah doesn't drool, they can say she

performed brilliantly and won the debate.

They also want to make sure Gwen doesn't ask hard and mean questions like that mean Katie Couric.

See, if you don't play nice, we won't play at all.

[jberryhill]

24. Yellow-Bellied, Surrender-Monkey, Craven, Panicked COWARDS!

What the hell is this team going to do in office when they have to face a crisis? Go hide?

I'm not interested in seeing this country surrender and be held captive for four years so that this unhinged knee-trembling coward can get some kind of twisted revenge.

McCain's entire life story is one of surrender and betrayal. From Vietnam, to his first marriage, to the Keating 5 mess, and finally having no one else to betray he turned on his own professed principles.

He is a craven shell of a man with nothing else left but pointless ambition.

[Chloroplast]

25. They've dumbed down the debate and now she can't even participate?

I don't know how people could vote for McCain-Palin; if their campaign is indicative of how they'd run the country, we should be VERY afraid.

[faithfulcitizen]

26. She won't be ready by January 20th either.

[Barack_America]

29. Then replace her on the ticket.

The debate is part of the job description, as far as I'm concerned.

I don't care who debates Joe Biden on Oct. 2, but I expect the McCain campaign to send someone.

[yellowcanine]

33. To be fair, she didn't blink when she saw Russia from Alaska!

[MaryEllen9399]

37. Tough Shit

She calls herself a pitbull with lipstick...She needs to put her big girl panties on if she wants to play with the big boys.

[FatDave]

38. If only there was a way to succinctly express my desire to sit and watch the ensuing train wreck...

Oh, here it is: :popcorn:

[deadparrot]

40. Mmm, yeah....too damn bad.

Perhaps you should have picked someone who was, you know, qualified.

[uponit7771]

41. Palin is NOT a politico, she knows less than the average blogger.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

42. They could spend two years "preparing" Mooselini

and it wouldn't help a bit. She's dumber than a sack of ball-peen hammers.

[Claire Beth]

45. Yep - and they know she is NOT ready....

she is clearly NOT qualified. I hope she makes a fool out of herself for the world to see.

[progressoid]

47. Sorry Johnny, you can stop the S. S. Palin from hitting that iceberg!

[Froward69]

48. What is she so afraid of

she is a barracuda after all... :sarcasm: Joe is only Nicknamed SHARK!

the GOP is alot of things and a few of them are not stupid. so it is in their best interest for sarah phalin to run run run away!

AS they (and us) know Joe will slice her to itty bitty little pieces. so much so the janitor will have to sponge her up.


However ducking Debate, is NOT presidential behavior. and we here at DU should do a petition or something to keep the VP debate to go off as scheduled...

Damn it!

[firedupdem]

51. There is no amount of preparation available to have her ready

for anything political! I don't know how she has managed as governor...well I guess she hasn't done that well either. I really think McCain made a quick choice...just find an attractive woman and "they will come"...well too bad asshole! American's are not that stupid!

[pleah]

52. Glad someone besides us said it.n/t

[Bette Noir]

53. No changes.

The debates go on as scheduled.

What, are crises going to be set according to McCain's convenience, if he were to be elected?

[Arugula Latte]

54. They can delay this from now until the caribou come home, but she'll NEVER be ready.

Never.

Ever.

[chieftain]

55. Holy cow, Schieffer committed journalism. I did not think he

still had it in him.

[VWolf]

74. LOL @ "committed journalism"

I'm gonna steal that.

:rofl:

[chieftain]

114. Happy to share it with you. GOBAMA !!

[DirtyDawg]

57. They're afraid of a Junior Miss South Carolina moment...

...I can just hear it now. Sarah, under pressure, will resort to 'speaking in tongues' in response to a critical series of questions and it'll come across as a bunch of gibberish connected with a few 'such-ases'.

Fact is the worst case has happened to them...they picked an incompetent knowing that their base would be thrilled and wouldn't care about that fundamental competence, and that they could dodge the rest of the country long enough for her to say 'the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain'. Guess what, it ain't happnin' and no amount of grand-standing on the part of McLame will change it.

[Wizard777]

58. When has a woman ever been ready for anything on time?

:blush: Ooooookay I'm going to hell for that one. :spank:

[barbtries]

59. she ain't gonna be ready

in this lifetime.

[Mabus]

64. As The Media Turns

I think this is the name of the drama we've been watching.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

65. McCluck and Sarah Poultry.

[blm]

94. no, no...she's GUTSY and REAL....Bill told us so last night.

.

[Onlooker]

67. Or is it just a ploy to lower expectations for her?

It may well be a ploy and nothing more. She may not win the debate, but she doesn't have to if everyone expecting her to make a fool of herself and she doesn't.

[Phx_Dem]

68. McCain should have thought about "readiness" when

he chose his VP. He didn't. His bad judgement is his own fucking problem. Suck it up old man.

He Office of President of the United States, isn't some college test that you can cram for in a few weeks. If she isn't ready now, she won't be ready by Nov. 4.

[AngryOldDem]

72. Tough shit, John.

That is all.

[workinclasszero]

73. McBush and Failin are afraid to face a righteously pissed off

American public! They need a time out to work on their lies!

[miriamvinnick]

75. McCain's age is an issue

It is becoming clearer and clearer that Palin is all lipstick, no content. Scary, especially considering that McCain will be oldest first-term president in history.

BTW, a nice little game that pokes fun at McCains' age and makes scores some nice political points in the process: olderthanmccain.com. Funny stuff.

[frylock]

76. no shoot, sherlock..

guess they figured that "let me find ya some and bring em back to ya" ain't gonna fly at the debates.

[intheflow]

78. OMG!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Good Lord, I needed that laugh today! :D

[Bubbha Jo]

79. Good. That tells the public she's not ready for the Vice Presidency either...

But most of us already knew that ; )

[rvablue]

80. There still trying to teach her that sentences contain and noun and a verb. n/t

[NYC_SKP]

83. How about MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY or FRIDAY???

Fuck McCain.

[TexasObserver]

89. Thanks, but no thanks!! --- America after hearing Palin "debate"

[K8-EEE]

90. He should put Palin in his place TOMORROW

Is she ready to step in for him (on this, on anything) or not??

[Supersedeas]

91. and the Corp Advertising Bucks that drive the Corp Media will go quietly along with it

[Bigleaf]

93. Here is the video: Just go right to the 5:13 mark of this video. Thanks Bob!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Y8Y1uBNPM

[Pattib]

95. Well, we all saw that one coming...she's obviously not ready, nor will she ever be...

Thanks Bob, at least he had the balls to say it. Everyone else is just whispering about it. We know it's true though!

[Lord Helmet]

96. that rumor is correctamundo

[Eurobabe]

97. She won't ever be ready, that's the point.

Not now, not ever. She is a dunce, a lightweight, a political hack.

[glitch]

100. Palin ain't the only one -- McCain isn't ready either. And neither ever will be. nt

[AlCzervik]

103. Scheiffer will be on The Daily show tonight.

[gingersnaps1]

106. Sweet!!!!

But, wait, didn't Laura Bush say she was a quick study?

[BattyDem]

110. "Palin not ready"

Well, tough shit! You chose her, Johnny. If she's not ready for a freakin' debate, then how can she possibly be ready to be vice-president? Country First, my ass! Your choice of VP proves that you don't give a damn about the well-being of your country. Barack Obama selected someone who is more than qualified and perfectly capable of leading this nation TODAY, if necessary. You chose a moose hunter. 'Nuff said!

[Javaman]

111. reality is: she will never be ready. nt

[ronnykmarshall]

112. It's a TRAP!

[suffragette]

113. Olbermann predicted this yesterday during his show

He totally called it.

[Eurobabe]

115. She's shitting in her Depends now.

After her little I'll find it and get back to you PR remark. :rofl:

[Born_A_Truman]

117. Barack & Joe should just debate dummies

Just so the chairs won't be totally empty.

[Cass]

118. But she is ready on Day One!! She is unblinkingly ready!

She can see Russia from her house for crying out loud!! :crazy:

They should be worried, she is way out of her league. Light years out of her league. She does not have the knowledge, experience or qualifications for this job and it is painfully obvious to anyone who looks at this objectively. Biden will chew her up and spit her out. Won't be pretty.

[greyghost]

119. At first they fought to restrict their response time. I guess they

realized just letting her participate would be liability enough.

That's what happens when your nominee is as dumb as a box of rocks!