AMERICAblog: Josh Marshall on McCain's "dangerous trait"
jescot
· 1 year ago
As long as the media acts as if this is just a contest and they can't be themselves "Americans First" , the recklessness of the RNC will once again change a reality in plain site. Years from now after a possible McCain win they will report on the clusterfuck that happens to the country (ie Iraq war) and then wring their hands and proclaim that they failed again to be the 4th estate. Boo hoo.
John I tried to find the link but didn't. I read that he characterizes himself as an instant decision maker. He went on to say that he makes snap decisions and if they are wrong he lives with them. How about the prospect of his cabinet appointments are they lobbyists or religious fanatics. If his criteria for VP is any gauge then the appointees just have to be breathing. I know a lot is going to be made of Palin being a female, and anyone who criticizes her will be pilloried, but qualifications and experience are required. You truly don't see any corporations taking the loading dock foreman and making him CFO. You don't see the military taking a bosun and putting him in the cockpit of a B-2 bomber. You don't see a homeless guy being asked to perform brain surgery. You don't someone who has faced no crisis and make them a step away from the red button. Someone needs to ask Olympia Snow, Susan Collins, and the other GOP females how they feel now that they have been shown to not measure up to Palin. One would only guess however they will endorse her and shut up cause it is all about the Republicans.
(It's absurd to even being discussing Palin seriously but) Palin has same economic policy as Bush and the same foreign policy as Bush.
She's a loyal Bushie.
dad
· 1 year ago
McCain, as far as anyone can tell, met Palin only once before considering her for vice president, and once more before settling on her, which is to say he barely knows her. For the purpose of courting disaffected Hillary Clinton voters and satisfying the social conservatives, McCain is willing to place someone he knows mostly from press clippings and, okay, what his staff insists was thorough vetting, in the direct line of succession to the presidency. There is a breathtaking recklessness about this choice.
mgardener
· 1 year ago
As much as we now all know haw unprepared Palin is for the job and how old/demented/etc. etc. McCain is, I have not heard anything NEW on the pair for 24 hours.
Barack and Joe are the people we should be talking about and pushing for what they stand for.
Now that we have a TEAM and they have a team let's show the differences so the American people can see them too. Make Palin a 3 day wonder. She will crash and burn when Troopergate gets started.
tbhull
· 1 year ago
Somewhat OT -
Did Pailin's daughter roll the dice with unprotected and unmarried sex, and crapped out with fundie mommy covering the bet with fibt?
Even her mother-in-law, Faye Palin, who said she was still thinking of voting for Mr Obama, sounded sceptical. She said "I'm not sure what she brings to the ticket, other than she's a woman and a conservative."
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 1 year ago
Craps shooters, like McCain, get off on the highs and lows of the gambling rush by being the center of attention as they roll 'em. McCain is an attention whore. Obama is the quintessential cool poker player.
scottandscott
· 1 year ago
I had a nightmare in which I penned myself in as an Independent Presidential Nominee with Kathy Lee as my running mate. No ceremony required.
That was after I heard Cindy McCain touting Sarah's foriegn policy credentials -because she governs a state closest to the Russian Border.
I have to congradulate the ^#$& -hey that's John McCain's pronoun -not mine. At least she knows where Alaska is. I wonder if she can pronounce ANWR? I wonder if she can spell it?
I also wonder if she knows that we are a Republic of States, and the as Governer, Palin is really displaced from foriegn policy -despite the fact that her state is so close to Russia? I wonder if would blow her hair back if she knew that Alaska has only been a member state for 141 years after the U.S. purchased it from Russia.
I hope Cindy keeps up her comments. Then again, maybe not. It was after my nightmare that I awoke after running through the hallway screaming and ran into the partition between the living room and the hallway.
Idiocy does that to me.
JustAnOldLady
· 1 year ago
A McCain Presidency could make us long for George W. Bush.......... I am convinced he (McCain) is displaying signs of early onset dementia but with a temperment that makes it doubly scarey............
loona_c
· 1 year ago
With regard to McCains "not insignificant chance" of dying while in office. Let's not forget that yes, he was a POW for 5 1/2 years. (Really? Who knew?) Factor in his untreated injuries, physical and emotional abuse he received as well as malnutrition and I would say he has a more significant chance of dying sooner--or at least having more (mental and physical) disabilities as he ages. No one talks about that as they continue to brag about his POW years.
Indigo
· 1 year ago
Setting international issues aside along with mature economic analyses, it's clear that the American Idol rewrite of the Presidential Election is on track. Dark omens prevail. How unlikely is a 52% sweep of the electoral college for Mr. McGoo/Miss Caraboo?
eebanks
· 1 year ago
What about Carl Rove's involvement here? Are we forgetting that the Bush Administration has thrown its weight behind McCain with the same cunning ploys that got GW Bush into the presidency?
grandma
· 1 year ago
Rovian all the way.
Get the meme out there: 'Country First'......the fact that it's not true is irrelevant.
'Liars First' should be their motto.
grandma
· 1 year ago
I had heard that also, on CNN, last week that McCain had cancer 4 times. It struck me because previously I had always heard two times.
I can't believe these evangelical nutsos that think having a Downs Syndrome baby qualifies one to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Apparently being a POW and having a Downs Syndrome baby meet the criteria for the highest offices in the land.
AdrianBrowne
· 1 year ago
from the NYT:
“I make them as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can,” Mr. McCain wrote, with his top adviser Mark Salter, in his 2002 book, Worth the Fighting For. “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”
grandma
· 1 year ago
Yes, the consequences of brainless decisions.....like we've had under Bush.
tlsintx
· 1 year ago
i'm ready for Obama to go after Karl Rove in addition to McCain.
Palin was not only a dangerous pick, but a cynical, sexist one. Rove and McCain think she'll be a lot easier to freeze out and control than a male, plus she's eye candy for them. And the fundies won't see one thing wrong with that.
There must be a way to swamp the fundie vote.
DCinDC
· 1 year ago
It seems Palin has a BS in journalism and worked as a sports reporter for some small town Newspaper before becoming mayor of a small town.Anyone know which school she graduated from and what was her grad point average? How about some college transcripts? Did she get a GED?
JustAnOldLady
· 1 year ago
Sarah Heath Palin received a bachelor of science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987.
AdrianBrowne
· 1 year ago
Right now Palin is a Cash Cow -- but that'll only go so far and won't last long.
tlsintx
· 1 year ago
this is interesting...Palin as elitism (7 houses) bait?
Looks like McCain took a big gamble on this one. Unfortunately, he's gambling with the future of our country. I really think he ought to stick with gambling his own money instead of our futures.
bacalove
· 1 year ago
The bottom line is McCain is 72 year old and has health problems and could die today or tomorrow! When this sinks in and people start to reflect and consider what a President Palin REALLY means due to her very real lack and inexperience of national and international issues, policies and procedures, and her intellectual capacity or incapacity, people in all good conscience — whether she is good looking or not, whether they like her personally or not — for the safety and welfare of this country, will be unable to and will not vote for McCain. He has made a colossal mistake in judgment.
Media claim they no nothing of Barack Obama — however, they Really know nothing about Sarah Palin; let the vetting begin since John McCain did not vet her before he picked her! Great Judgment John.
lynchie
· 1 year ago
They voted for Regan and Chimpy did they not? The right wing voters now have a reason to vote Republican. they close their eyes when they smell horseshit. The average American does not have the sense to put their own well being ahead of voting for the same Party their daddy did, and that applies to Democrats as well. It is almost impossible to get close enough to a candidate in any but a local election to determine what it is they believe in. The town hall concept is pure bullshit since all the questioners are hand picked. i think the Dems need to get an ad out shouting that finally McCain agrees with the Dems change is necessary in Washington.
grandma
· 1 year ago
Media claim they no nothing of Barack Obama — however, they Really know nothing about Sarah Palin; let the vetting begin since John McCain did not vet her before he picked her! Great Judgment John. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And the people have had the opportunity to vote for Obama.....and they approved.
aquarius2
· 1 year ago
We can talk all we want about the recklessness and poor judgment of McCain BUT until national ads come forth from the Obama campaign none of our internet complaints receive any kind a validity with the public.
It is, after all, the public opinion where campaigns are won or lost. People listen to TV ads, remember how effect it was to place doubt on Obama's patriotism. The same thing is happening now, negative ads are flooding the TV.
McCain has "swiftboated" Obama in a manner the same as what happened to Kerry. It doesn't matter just how this is accomplished but what matters is the general perception created about the opposing candidate. We all know what perception McCain has pinned on Obama--not patriotic, not experienced, rock star, empty suit. But what perception has Obama created for McCain??? Really, think about it. McCain should be painted NOT as a maverick but rather as ahot headed, reckless, poor judgment candidate with disregard for the second highest office in the USA. Honestly, do you think any of those accurate adjectives are sticking to McCain? I don't because I do not see any effort outside of Obama's acceptance speech to define McCain in those terms.
mikeyDe
· 1 year ago
I don't see what's different about Palin. We've already enjoyed (I use the term loosely) nearly eight years under reckless and not-ready-for-the-presidency leadership. I wish I could agree with some that Palin will sink McCain's election. This is not McCain's election. It's the Party's. So long as Obama continues to pledge rolling back the Bush tax cuts and plugging up the loopholes that corporations use to pay zero taxes, they cannot lose. The Republicans know exactly which precincts they must win and they will do what it takes.
The really interesting question is what would happen if McCain's health goes south *before* the election.
grandma
· 1 year ago
they will do what it takes. ----------------------------------------------------
That they will.....they will lie, cheat and connive and manipulate.
They are NOT about change or 'Country First'......yet that is the bill of goods they are selling.
grandma
· 1 year ago
Judgement was a huge issue as far as the current administration is concerned.
McHypeTheHurricane has demonstrated his poor judgement in choosing Palin.
scottandscott
· 1 year ago
Oh -and while I'm at it - lets' see how many members of the -Straight Jacket Express- abandon ship after Palins' selection as running mate.
Who the heck would select anyone with as little experience -and under an ethics investigation -as a running mate at this pivotal time?
Well, I guess he's true to the name they call him --the Maverick. I guess that's good news to us aging guys. Even at 72, testosterone is still present.
aquarius2
· 1 year ago
One more thing, McCain is jumping on "I am a reformer, Sarah is a reformer". Where are all the ads that should be shouting IF YOU ARE A REFORMER THEN WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING FOR 30 YEARS IN CONGRESS.
cowboyneok
· 1 year ago
GAMBLER is right, and we've had enough GAMBLING by Republicans that has absolutely reeked havoc with our nation! Yea, lets just GAMBLE on another war, and GAMBLE with offshore drilling in the path of hurricanes. Just what our country DOES NOT need for another four years.
munjoyfan
· 1 year ago
I am shocked SHOCKED to learn that McCain gambles. Can we please have some photos of him at the table or cranking the lever, preferably with a single malt scotch in hand? This just adds to the moral failings list that can be used to drive a wedge with evangelical women.
I really really hope Obama's strategists are carving out a good campaign. They have plenty of raw material. And once they start hammering, McCain will lose it (preferably around debate time) and go down like a stone. We must remember, however, that there are a lot of party faithful republicans in the US, just as faithful as Dems, and they turn out well at the polls.
What are YOU doing for your candidate today?
missmarple
· 1 year ago
I was stunned when he told Chris Wallace that "She is my soulmate and I've been watching her for many years"! How many years has she been in Politics with the experience to lead 300 million people at a very dangerous time for the Country? To have passed over many qualified women to select her truly makes me question his judgment. Even Lieberman would have been a better pick - even though I utterly loathe the man.
TomJoad
· 1 year ago
So he's a stalker?
Lolis
· 1 year ago
It's the economy, stupid.
This idea of winning an election on the pledge to eliminate pork barrel is laughable. This is going to be the McCain/Palin. People are seriously upset about the economy and two wars in Iraq. I encourage them to keep talking about the bridge to nowhere, they will be taking it in November.
Think about it. Obama/Biden is out there campaigning on the economy state by state. That is how you win an election. John McCain has been running a national strategy because he has to. In order for this strategy to work, the whole country has to become convinced that Obama is unfit to lead. That wasn't going to happen and it is impossible that'll happen now. While John McCain wasted time in Lousiana (a state he will win in a landslide) trying to look presidential and caring, Obama's ground game has been registering voters in all 50 states this weekend.
Palin will not be an attack dog, and people may find her likable but that doesn't mean they'll vote for McCain just because of her. She has enthused some of the base but also alienated independents and even a lot of non-extremist Christians. She is at best a wash for John McCain. She brings a lot of focus to his campaign so the expectations for the ticket are now higher. She changed the narrative in a good way. It is no longer just a referendum on Barack Obama.
AdmNaismith
· 1 year ago
A high-stakes gambler who mostly loses? loses... Someone needs to make an ad out that little nugget and tie it to Palin as a losing gamble.
RobertSanDimas
· 1 year ago
Yes, we keep hearing about McCain, "the maverick gambler." What has he won with all this gambling? So far I see a young heiress, a few houses and a broken body. He needs to seek out Gamblers Anonymous and stop his destructive behavior before it affects the rest of us Americans.
houstonray
· 1 year ago
Saw this great line in an article: ~~~ Aides said there were candidates even less known than Palin under consideration at points in the process. And, they argued, Palin is more experienced and capable than critics of the choice know. "She's got an ability that far exceeds her tenure in office." ~~~
So that's all we have to say now about Obama, apparently that negates all questions of experience. Obama has an ability that far exceeds his tenure in office. Period. End of story. Nice when the Republicans give us their own rebuttals.
I would wholeheartedly agree with that for Obama, and add that his 18 months as a candidate have also proven he has an ability far exceeding any other tenure questions. But for them to use this as the reason she is qualified is laughable.
Here we are, day 4 of McCain/WTF08, and I'm still bewildered by the pick...
aquarius2
· 1 year ago
For the past 8 years this nation has been ruled, yes ruled, by an ex-drunk (or so he says) SO I guess the thought of being ruled by a gambler is just fine with the Republicans.
TomJoad
· 1 year ago
McCain wasn't ALLOWED to pick his choice...Lieberman. This was a compromise. How does that fit into the "Maverick" image? Not well. A maverick says "listen here bud, I'm running MY campaign and I want Lieberman. I'm calling the shots"
A Maverick doesn't get dictated to by his campaign, or the GOP...on matters like that.¨
ydthin
· 1 year ago
You got to know when to vett them know when to forget them know when to walk away know when to run
You never count trimesters when you're accepting nominations they'll be time enough for countin' when the baby comes...
All Comments
She's a loyal Bushie.
Barack and Joe are the people we should be talking about and pushing for what they stand for.
Now that we have a TEAM and they have a team let's show the differences so the American people can see them too.
Make Palin a 3 day wonder. She will crash and burn when Troopergate gets started.
Did Pailin's daughter roll the dice with unprotected and unmarried sex, and crapped out with fundie mommy covering the bet with fibt?
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/30/121350/...
That was after I heard Cindy McCain touting Sarah's foriegn policy credentials -because she governs a state closest to the Russian Border.
I have to congradulate the ^#$& -hey that's John McCain's pronoun -not mine. At least she knows where Alaska is. I wonder if she can pronounce ANWR? I wonder if she can spell it?
I also wonder if she knows that we are a Republic of States, and the as Governer, Palin is really displaced from foriegn policy -despite the fact that her state is so close to Russia? I wonder if would blow her hair back if she knew that Alaska has only been a member state for 141 years after the U.S. purchased it from Russia.
I hope Cindy keeps up her comments. Then again, maybe not. It was after my nightmare that I awoke after running through the hallway screaming and ran into the partition between the living room and the hallway.
Idiocy does that to me.
Get the meme out there: 'Country First'......the fact that it's not true is irrelevant.
'Liars First' should be their motto.
It struck me because previously I had always heard two times.
I can't believe these evangelical nutsos that think having a Downs Syndrome baby qualifies one to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Apparently being a POW and having a Downs Syndrome baby meet the criteria for the highest offices in the land.
“I make them as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can,” Mr. McCain wrote, with his top adviser Mark Salter, in his 2002 book, Worth the Fighting For. “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”
Palin was not only a dangerous pick, but a cynical, sexist one. Rove and McCain think she'll be a lot easier to freeze out and control than a male, plus she's eye candy for them. And the fundies won't see one thing wrong with that.
There must be a way to swamp the fundie vote.
http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives...
Media claim they no nothing of Barack Obama — however, they Really know nothing about Sarah Palin; let the vetting begin since John McCain did not vet her before he picked her! Great Judgment John.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And the people have had the opportunity to vote for Obama.....and they approved.
It is, after all, the public opinion where campaigns are won or lost. People listen to TV ads, remember how effect it was to place doubt on Obama's patriotism. The same thing is happening now, negative ads are flooding the TV.
McCain has "swiftboated" Obama in a manner the same as what happened to Kerry. It doesn't matter just how this is accomplished but what matters is the general perception created about the opposing candidate. We all know what perception McCain has pinned on Obama--not patriotic, not experienced, rock star, empty suit. But what perception has Obama created for McCain??? Really, think about it. McCain should be painted NOT as a maverick but rather as ahot headed, reckless, poor judgment candidate with disregard for the second highest office in the USA. Honestly, do you think any of those accurate adjectives are sticking to McCain? I don't because I do not see any effort outside of Obama's acceptance speech to define McCain in those terms.
The really interesting question is what would happen if McCain's health goes south *before* the election.
----------------------------------------------------
That they will.....they will lie, cheat and connive and manipulate.
They are NOT about change or 'Country First'......yet that is the bill of goods they are selling.
McHypeTheHurricane has demonstrated his poor judgement in choosing Palin.
Who the heck would select anyone with as little experience -and under an ethics investigation -as a running mate at this pivotal time?
Well, I guess he's true to the name they call him --the Maverick. I guess that's good news to us aging guys. Even at 72, testosterone is still present.
I really really hope Obama's strategists are carving out a good campaign. They have plenty of raw material. And once they start hammering, McCain will lose it (preferably around debate time) and go down like a stone. We must remember, however, that there are a lot of party faithful republicans in the US, just as faithful as Dems, and they turn out well at the polls.
What are YOU doing for your candidate today?
This idea of winning an election on the pledge to eliminate pork barrel is laughable. This is going to be the McCain/Palin. People are seriously upset about the economy and two wars in Iraq. I encourage them to keep talking about the bridge to nowhere, they will be taking it in November.
Think about it. Obama/Biden is out there campaigning on the economy state by state. That is how you win an election. John McCain has been running a national strategy because he has to. In order for this strategy to work, the whole country has to become convinced that Obama is unfit to lead. That wasn't going to happen and it is impossible that'll happen now. While John McCain wasted time in Lousiana (a state he will win in a landslide) trying to look presidential and caring, Obama's ground game has been registering voters in all 50 states this weekend.
Palin will not be an attack dog, and people may find her likable but that doesn't mean they'll vote for McCain just because of her. She has enthused some of the base but also alienated independents and even a lot of non-extremist Christians. She is at best a wash for John McCain. She brings a lot of focus to his campaign so the expectations for the ticket are now higher. She changed the narrative in a good way. It is no longer just a referendum on Barack Obama.
So that's all we have to say now about Obama, apparently that negates all questions of experience. Obama has an ability that far exceeds his tenure in office. Period. End of story. Nice when the Republicans give us their own rebuttals.
I would wholeheartedly agree with that for Obama, and add that his 18 months as a candidate have also proven he has an ability far exceeding any other tenure questions. But for them to use this as the reason she is qualified is laughable.
Here we are, day 4 of McCain/WTF08, and I'm still bewildered by the pick...
A Maverick doesn't get dictated to by his campaign, or the GOP...on matters like that.¨
know when to forget them
know when to walk away
know when to run
You never count trimesters
when you're accepting nominations
they'll be time enough for countin'
when the baby comes...