I, for one, am hoping that the debates go forward tomorrow if for nothing else but to get the campaign back on track. I think they will. For the record, I do not think McCain's decision to return to Washington this week was a "stunt" as some liberals have insinuated. While there have been lots of votes that both candidates have missed while on the campaign trail, none have been quite as important as this one and I think McCain was right to head to Washington to be a part of it, despite Dingy Harry Reid's "thanks but no thanks" response. Taxpayers are actually paying McCain and Obama a nice senatorial salary and it is in fact their obligation to be there. In the military McCain would have worked by the code "Duty, Honor, Country" so this would be a second-nature response for him. I think Obama's "call me if you need me" response because he was busy studying for the debate was a bad move. For the Obama camp to then come up and say that McCain was scared to debate was laughable as Obama had refused the McCain request for a series of townhall debates earlier. Who was "scared" on that one? Seriously, I'm anxious to see how Obama performs without a teleprompter, so I want to see the debate go forward.
A couple of ads have come out this week that I find reprehensible. One was the McCain skin cancer ad by Howard Dean's brother and friends. The Obama camp, thankfully, had no part in the ad. But still, PACS like this group do not help Mr. Obama; if they really want to help him get elected, they should put their energies into more productive ads.
Another ad that made me nauseous was the Sarah Silverman Great Schlep ad. Words just fail me on this one. It's beyond words. Does she think this will help Obama? Because when I look at it, what I think is "Ohmigod and these freaking loons want to run Washington? God help us."
The more "out there" Obama's supporters get, the more I think it helps the McCain campaign by alienating those undecided voters. When it gets right down to it, I think that people are going for "the safe" bet which is McCain. With Russia and Venezuela pairing up and sharing nukes, and North Korea amping up its own nuclear program, I just don't want to take the chance that Obama is going to ask them to a tea party for the purpose of talking things out. I would prefer a proven leader in my White House, thank you.
So bring on the debates and let's get to the issues. McCain needs to get on the plane and be in Mississippi Friday night!
Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteSarah Silverman is one person I loathe, politics or not!
Last night I watched the interviews Charlie Gibson of ABC did with both candidates concerning the financial crisis.
ReplyDeleteJohn McCain highlighted the interview by hitting three of four points.
Obama? After he said that he had to talk to someone else to get a better understanding of something or other, he finished with ummmm, errrrrrrr, ahhhhhhh.
I've heard the reason he does a lot of ummm, errrr, and ahhhh is because he's a deep thinker with an academic mind.
I'm sorry, I've been around the block way too many times to believe that tripe.
A person who is a deep thinker will eventually come up with words that make sense. This guy never came up with anything coherent.
That's the sign of someone who doesn't know what he's talking about and says the first thing he thinks makes sense regardless of how stupid it sounds.
What he said may not have been stupid. I don't know, because he really didn't say anything at all.
Really??? Do you watch the McCain ads? For months the only thing I knew about McCain was that he hates Obama, because that's pretty much all he said in his SPONSORED ads - and his ads were mostly exaggerated lies about Obama, as pretty much EVERY nonpartisan fact check site will tell you. If you want to talk about someone needing to put more productive energy into his ads, it should be McCain. I'm not saying Obama hasn't gotten nasty, too, but it's funny that you criticize Obama's team for doing the EXACT same thing the McCain team is doing as well. Where do you buy your blinders? I could really use some.
ReplyDeleteI agree the debates should happen. We need to hear what they say now more than ever. I think it's silly for either of them to think their presence in Washington is so critical right now that they can't continue with the debate. I have no problem with them both being in Washington to participate in the discussions, but I don't think it means they should cancel the debates. If they bail I'll be disappointed in both of them.
I think it's laughable to compare Obama's refusal to participate in McCain's town hall debates that were never scheduled to begin with with a major presidential debate during an economic crisis one month before the election.
And Wow, I just saw an interview with Sarah Palin where she talks AGAIN about her proximity to Russia
being a great example of her foreign policy experience. Really?!? She has done NOTHING, NOTHING to show me she is nothing but a complete and utter waste of this country's time.
I think it is unbelievable that McCain believes his presence at a table where every other person in Washington is pooling together, including the top executives to work this out, is that important. Not to mention when he did show up, reports all claim he was nothing but non-participatory. I’m sure he’s afraid to open his mouth on the economy at this point, considering the considerable damage he’s done to his campaign when he has. “The economy is in a good place” his own party shrunk at. Both he and Obama were there yesterday and they are not so important that what they have to offer can’t be communicated or hasn’t already been – to where they have to miss the debates. The debates are for the American people to see them interact on topics so they can choose their next leader – it is of supreme importance as well – and both can be and are going to be accomplished. The townhall debates where dictated by McCain – why would anyone allow the control of that to their opponent when debates were already scheduled as normal? Such sophomoric attempts to bash Obama – you disappoint me Pat! The liberals always choose the Democrats – you can’t blame the candidate for the wacked out fans and I agree the true hardcore extremems on either side hurt their own candidates in the end. Tea party? Really? Those “tea parties” worked for Reagan and Kissinger real well. J This is yet again another desperate ploy for McCain to bash Obama. I hopefully McCain chooses to wuss out - run scared – b/c it will be seen that way – and only mean good things for Obama – no matter how much the closed minded hard right busts their ass to save their candidate who goes lower in the polls by the moment. Keep on making stellar decisions like Palin and skipping the debates McCain – we Obama fans love what it does for your campaign. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd as for Obama and a teleprompter – at least he didn’t insist on a step stool so he can look a little less like a frail old man - or insist on podiums to show he could “stand that long” and hang. LMAO!
please translate.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vh6WDmb-Rc&feature=related
Haha! Nikki, you sure woke up feisty this morning! =) You go girl!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Mrs. Pat!!
I always am entertained reading your posts and comments. Everyone is quite stirred up today. It must be the smell of fresh debate blood in the air. Ha!
GO OBAMA!
I expect both of them to be nasty at this point, but what got me about the PAC ad was the oh so personal nature; attacking someone's cancer is rather below the belt. I'm not blaming Obama for it; it wasn't his campaign that put it out.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I haven't been called "sophomoric" in like, well, years!
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, I'm glad the debate went forward (I expected it would) and thought my candidate did exactly what I wanted him to do; he was specific, to the point, and did not banter about in generalities and book knowledge. He spoke from experience which matters to me.
As far as "tea parties," it is true that Mr. Obama did not specifically say "tea," but he did say (it's on record) that he would sit down "without precondition" and talk to any leader in the world. I heard the comment myself. He's waffling and clarifying that a little bit and at the same time said tonight that as president he would have that right to sit down with whomever he wanted. Yes, it's true. He would. However, it would not be smart. You do NOT legitimize terrorist leaders that way. You do it the right way - through the back door, quietly, with lower level dignitaries paving the way.
Oh, and the reason McCain was "non-participatory" in the meetings on the economic crisis is because he was called in by Treasury Sec. Paulson (through Graham) who needed McCain's Republican influence. He needed Republican support on the project. So McCain goes. Obama goes. In the meeting the president wants everyone to be heard so he defers to Pelosi, Dodd, Frank, etc. all of whom defer to Obama. At that point Obama ripped the Republican plan and then asked Paulson (a Dem.) what he thought (because he didn't know) and the meeting disintegrated from there into a shouting match and the Republicans, feeling sandbagged, pulled back. McCain is quoted as saying "We've got to put these differences behind us" and work together," thereby refusing to get into the shouting match. So if he was non-participatory, it's probably a good thing.
Obama did not defend the Democratic position he just attacked the Republican one. Bob Schieffer of CBS reported most of this and Obama corroborated as much with Britt Hume on Fox when he said, "I think that the way that I've been working over the last week, constantly in contact with the secretary and the congressional leaders, um, uh, eh, you know, may end up creating an environment in which you can actually get somethin' done"; in essence, if I stay out of there then something might get accomplished.
Either way, it doesn't matter now. I'm glad the debate went off as planned and found it very informative. Can't wait for the rest of them!
Honestly, I think they both held their own and did fine. They both were passionate and presidential. Neither really got all that specific, actually. I do think McCain came across as a little condescending at times, but that's really not an issue for me. I don't think this debate is going to change anyone's mind. I think they both did well and showed they know their stuff. A lot of sites I"m reading are calling Obama the winner, but I think they are doing that because he was definitely more cool and collected whereas McCain was clearly riled up on a few things. I personally wouldn't say either "won." I think they both did fine. I do think McCain needs to stop with the "old" jokes. It's nice that he has a sense of humor. I like him as a person. I really do. He's like a sweet old grandpa. I just disagree with so many things about his campaign, but I think he needs to quit the old jokes.
ReplyDeleteI did laugh at McCain's two references to not being Miss Congeniality in the senate. I thought, "No, that's your VP!" Da dum dum! Ha! All in good fun! Have you seen her pageant video that's all over the internet? Gosh how embarrassing! At least she looked good in her swimsuit!
I know you're a Palin fan but I really would gain a lot of respect for McCain if he kicks her to the curb and picks a more respectable VP candidate. She had a disastrous week. She really did. I just don't think she's going to do that campaign any favors in the next six weeks.
I'm with you on the debate. It's funny to me how some pundits are saying one guy one and others that the other guy won. It just shows that it depends on who you ask! I don't think this debate will change anyone's mind either. The Obama moment that made me cringe was when I said "I have a bracelet, too!" and then had to look at it to remember the guy's name, but I can forgive that. I'm sure there were nerves at play and other things at the forefront of his mind!
ReplyDeleteI have seen the pageant video but not watched it; it's not relevant to me. I do think she had an awkward interview with Couric (who I can NOT stand) but again, nerves maybe. These folks are human, after all. All of them. We tend to expect our candidates to be above error sometimes, I think. I'm guilty of that and have to try and watch it. It should be the gross, grievous things that we latch on to, probably.
I'm anxious for the VP debate; I know Biden knows his foreign policy and he is always entertaining. Palin is scrappy and so between the two of them, it should be interesting!
debates - i left thinking "wow - love how McCain never says Senator Obama - only Mr. Obama - never looks at him - and is condescending as hell (his claim to "elitist" Obama). he was specific? what were you watching? yeah - it's all Obama's fault the Republicans voted against the plan. **rolls eyes**
ReplyDeletei thought it was a draw too - no one shined.
Yes, I thought he was specific. Quite so.
ReplyDeleteI thought Obama was as condescending as McCain was; neither was above it. Obama snickered through several of McCain's comments, but not overtly so. I have it on TIVO if you missed it.
i watched it twice myself so you don't need to save it on tivo for myself. :)
ReplyDeletei'm pretty sure we're both hellbent on only seeing the good of our chosen candidates and giving a harsh judge to our opponents.
truly - i'm not the Obama fan Nikki is - i think he lacks in leadership experience. i'm happy Biden balances that out in foreign affairs, where it concerned me - but quite honestly - i know little about Biden. i just know i don't like McCain's party or his VP or his judgment. **shrug**
i'm truly glad you voice your opinion and vote. seriously. it burns me up folks that don't vote (like my husband)