Would McCain be acting this bizarre if he were certain they'd steal it for him?

[zazen]

I've believed these elections were stolen by Republicans since 2000, but as demonstrated in 2006 and in their state by state pastiche of suppression, computer tampering, absentee-vote tossing, etc., it's not like there's one switch that controls the outcome. I absolutely believe they're doing whatever they can to steal this one, but while I'm terrified that McCain's erratic behavior is an even more dangerous prospect in the WH than Bush, his behavior is making me wonder how sure they are they have this wrapped up.

Is his behavior consistent with someone absolutely convinced that the White House will be his?

At first I wondered if, in addition to his vile temper, the reason why he couldn't look Obama in the eye is that not only is he lying his ass off about his policies and past but that he knows the fix is in. Then again, I thought, he's so aggressive that he'd then enjoy displaying the dominance of looking down an opponent he absolutely knew he was going to defeat.

He's clearly an angry, controlling, resentful, sexually insecure male, who can't ever get enough emotional distance from his own demons to "fake it" very well--hence, the almost saccharine nice-guy vocal cadence that barely contains the rage behind it. The good news, I guess, it that he doesn't appear to be a sociopath. Sociopath's fake it. Or don't even feel it. This guy isn't a sociopath. He's an emotional batterer. I can't speak to how he behaves physically, but he fits the profile of a batterer, and most of their abuse is psychological anyway and simply depends upon the threat of violence as a drumbeat in the background. The John Bolten type. (The DSM should have a classification for this other than "intermittent explosive disorder," but we all know how political that is, so we won't get into that.)

In short, if McCain's sure of something we don't know, he couldn't hide it very well. He's a strutter. He'd have to give it away in little throwaway asides. He'd have to rub it in Obama's face already. Given his psychological makeup, he couldn't help himself. He's a dominance junkie.

I believe he believes he's _entitled_ to the presidency, but that doesn't mean he's sure of it. He's furious he's having to deign to defend himself and go through the motions, but I still don't think if he knew for sure he had this in the bag he'd be acting so enraged. He's enraged because he's having to tolerate the possibility of another male very publicly demonstrating dominance over him, and he's clearly so miserable with that proposition that he'd grab at and telegraph any proof he had that he wasn't going to end up in the lower primate status. I have to conclude he's not sure they'll succeed.

Now, that doesn't mean that Rove et al aren't up to something. Maybe they've set him up to lose. Maybe they're trying to run things and he's taken it from them and is screwing it up.

So, while the McCain /Palin candidacy is terrifying me, McCain's raging, erratic behavior does give me a little comfort.

[willing dwarf]

1. Interesting observations

These unverifiable questions are the ones that keep me up late in the night.

I think your point that McCain seems sexually insecure is a good one. I hadn't thought about it like that before, but that is what comes across. You get the feeling that he's not able to deliver, and is angry about it, and afraid he's going to be ridiculed.

I don't care for it when people use sexual imagery to put other people down. I get awful tired of the stupid names etc that get thrown around here (eg someone on here is trying to get "McDildo" into common parlance. At the same time though, the feeling of impotence that McCain projects is palpable.

If he wins or steals this election, he'll have all the volatility of a kept man.

[stillcool]

2. Their lies are what bothers me...

they are so in your face and incredulous, even after getting caught time and time again. As if their credibility is of no consequence and nothing can touch them. But that's the Republican Party.

[natrat]

3. honesty and integrity is not an issue with the republican base

[Kind of Blue]

4. I think you're right. I think turn out is the key because it's going

to be awfully hard to skew the election if there are just too many states to manipulate and more people in the history of America votes. Plus, I think we Dems are on to their shenanigans in a big way, we're not depending on just get out the vote, belief in fair play, and being nice guys. So I think this will also make it harder to steal (much) but whatever they can steal is just not gonna be enough to make a difference in the overwhelming count for Obama. Keith Olberman gave an interesting analysis the other night. He said McCain's tactic (paraphrasing) is keep the polling as close as possible (I guess keep the country divided), up until election day. I know there's 6 weeks to go but the margin keeps widening and that must make the crotchety one even more insecure.

[enough]

5. Best analysis of the McCain character I've seen.

[dgibby]

6. Excellent analysis!

McCain's explosive temper, by his own account, goes back to his toddler years. He would become so enraged that he would hold his breath until he lost consciousness, and his out of control tantrums prompted his parents to douse him with ice water.

He describes himself as a maverick, someone who marches to the beat of his own drummer, and wears the label as some perverted badge of honor; likewise, he brags that he has never been voted "Miss Congeniality" in the Senate. These are nothing more than pathetic attempts to cover up the fact that he is emotionally incapable of functioning in a civilized manner in his interpersonal interactions. In short, he has failed even the most basic pre-school requirements--he does not play well with others.

Based on his long history of political "bad blood", he has no reason to trust his party or colleagues in Congress. He knows he'd throw them under the bus in a heartbeat, and knows they'd be more than happy to return the favor. He does not trust because he is not trustworthy. He cannot make eye contact with Obama because he sees his own reflection in Obama's eyes, that of an insecure poseur, who is not worthy to be in Obama's presence.

The curtain has parted, the mask has come off, and the Emperor has no clothes.