One Question About The Debate
My colleagues noticed it in our liveblogging before I did, but I think it’s a question that needs some answering.
Why didn’t McCain look at Obama in the eye? From what I noticed, McCain didn’t even look Obama in the eye when they shook hands at the end of the debate, but I admit that at that point, the video feed wasn’t very good.
The question remains; why didn’t McCain look Obama in the eye during the debate?
Sphere: Related ContentLiveblogging the First Presidential Debate!
I know I said I wouldn’t drop the post until 8:30, but I’m getting restless, and figured I could ramble on through the online internet pregame show as well (oh why not?). Go ahead and hit the jump to see how this all works!
Sphere: Related ContentJohn McCain Blinks
So, let’s get this straight. In the forty-eight hours leading up to John McCain announcing the “suspension” of his campaign, the only thing that had changed was his polling numbers. The needle gauging the health of the economy hadn’t moved dramatically in either direction, no, the only needle moving was the public’s opinion of who should take over as the next President of the United States.
Thus the “suspension” was announced. It really wasn’t a suspension, though; the only two things McCain actually did was take down ads for a day and try his hardest to postpone the debate. And on this last point, McCain failed.
Sphere: Related ContentMore Evidence That McCain’s “Suspension” Was Anything But
It is becoming ever clearer that not only was John McCain’s campaign “suspension” a political stunt intended to provide the Arizona Senator the opportunity to get some grandstanding in; it’s also a big fat lie.
Sphere: Related ContentThe Thing About Stunts
The thing about stunts is that they are, to a degree fake. I’m not talking about stunt exhibitions of course, where the focal point is specifically to show off the performance of death defying stunts, but I am talking about when you go to watch a movie and you see the main character leap off of an eighty story building onto the back of a dinosaur, or watch the half man half robot ride a motorcycle out of a mushroom cloud inducing explosion.
There are mechanics at play that are themselves real, but overall, the stunt is a choreographed series of events structured to make something that is fake look startlingly real.
Sphere: Related ContentGhost Writers
If you are spelunking the murky depths of the McCain campaign for instances of moral depravity, you’re likely to find plenty to go around. There has been no shortage of lies, distortions, and sleaze coming from the man the press once adored as a Maverick and Straight Talker.
But, any hardened political cynic would likely be surprised by the shenanigans that have permeated to the top of national press coverage. Much of what we’ve seen can be found in the annals of political operations; it’s just that much of it is particularly dirty. And then there are the ghost writers.
Sphere: Related ContentMcCain vs. Letterman
You know, I thought something was missing from the campaign proceedings of the day.
Three Hail Marys
Joe Klein is spot on when he calls out John McCain for what he rightfully sees as a “gimmick”. Rep. Barney Frank, who is actually leading the way in negotiating a bailout deal with the administration joins Klein in calling John McCain out on yet another hail mary pass.
But will it work? Good question, and one that nobody can rightly predict, but considering that this is actually the third hail mary that the McCain campaign has thrown, I believe we can take a look at how things shaped up in the past to predict the effectiveness of this long shot in the present.
Sphere: Related ContentIt’s Always The Media’s Fault
At least, that’s how Michael Goldfarb is calling it on his latest call for the WHAMBULANCE based off of a NYT story that details McCain campaign manger Rick Davis’ role as owner of a consulting firm for the now infamous Fannie and Freddie entities.
Sphere: Related ContentIt Really Is The Economy Stupid (Or Is It?)
Steve Benen produces the kinds of polling numbers that Obama supporters have been eagerly awaiting ever since the combination of Sarah Palin’s selection and the Republican convention shook up the state of the race. Of chief significance in my mind is the breaking of historical precedent; whoever is holds the lead following the second convention typically holds onto that lead for a month or longer. Not so in this case.
Sphere: Related ContentJohn McCain: Queen of Hearts
In what is the must read of the day, George Will positively eviscerates John McCain and his knee jerk reactions in the wake of the Wall Street catastrophe.
Sphere: Related ContentAnd You Wonder Why They Call You Liars?
I just had to laugh; even when the McCain campaign tries to fight back against being labeled as liars, they simply can’t help but actually lie as they do it.
Sphere: Related ContentIt’s Awful Hard To Run From Bush When…
I know that I’ve never been a big fan of the whole “paint McCain as another Bush” strategy; I remain concerned that such a strategy fails if McCain manages to worm his way out from under Bush’s shadow. Still, you have to admit, it’s real difficult for McCain to claim he’s not another Bush when the parts of his campaign not ran by lobbyists are being run by former Bush campaign staffers (note: please allow that some of the former Bush staffers could ALSO serve as lobbyists).
Sphere: Related ContentA Couple More Lies To Kick Off Your Weekend
At some point, you would think the McCain Palin team would stop to breathe between lies…
Cafferty Gets it Right
C&L has video up of Jack Cafferty putting the recent Wall Street developments in the context of what Bush tried to do, and what John McCain wants to do to Social Security.
Sphere: Related Content“The Foundations of US Capitalism Have Shattered.”
Hat tip to local Vancouver celeb buzzbishop via Twitter.
Analysis to come later…
Sphere: Related ContentWhere’s Spain, McCain?
I have to admit, after reading quite a few articles regarding an interview John McCain gave to a Spanish-speaking radio station based in Miami, I’m still a little confused.
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