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McCain's Town Hall: Giggles, Crocs
This appearance by McCain at a town-hall today is just weird. Check out our highlight reel...
What's up with that giggle?
One thing that hasn't really entered the media narrative of this race is that McCain just isn't a very good candidate. We've seen a bit of this, but despite the fact that this time around the guy with the candidate skills is the Democrat, and the stiff one is the Republican, there's just no way McCain's stump struggles will ever get nearly the level of attention that Al Gore and John Kerry's deficiencies got.
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Was this supposed to be a trick question?
July 7, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mature and graphic content. Viewer descrition advised.
July 7, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of mature content, did you people know that in 2000 McCain said "I hate the gooks, I will hate them as long as I live."???!:
http://www.thepersonalispolitical.com/2008/07/john-mccain-says-i-hate-gooks-and-media.html
July 7, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
That doesn't compare with him calling his wife a cunt.
July 7, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Discretion (sp.)
July 7, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
This and the green screen speech are worse than Clinton's "change we can Xerox" line which was a stupid line AND delivered poorly. And this was during a "town hall meeting" ... supposedly McCain's strong point.
Wow ... I wondered (briefly) how this guy became the nominee and then I remembered all the other candidates. I wonder what it says about them that this is the best they had to offer!
July 7, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
God, he's seriously painful to watch. I'm actually embarrassed for him.
July 7, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
He is the creepiest damn presidential candidate I've ever seen and that includes Nixon.
That picture that was on the front page of TPM for days - that closeup of McLame where all the folds in his neck were highlighted - creeped me right out. He looked like he has a scarecrow head- a stuffed feed sack.
He's just flat creepy.
July 7, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Makes Bob Dole look like a stud.
July 7, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Definitely creepier, even than Nixon. I'm pretty sure the sorting hat would place him in Slytherin.
July 7, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! This is a dry understatement if there ever was.
July 7, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
While it's clear we've been given the gift of a somewhat weak opposing candidate, complacency is not an option. I really hope to hear Obama hitting back on some of this crap soon.
July 7, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I were the Obama campaign I'd just run ads featuring nothing but snippets like that of McCain talking followed by, "Do you really want this guy to be your President?"
July 7, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I were the Obama campaign, I'd ask for presidential debates to start tomorrow. Seriously. There will be blood on the stage.
July 7, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
What do you think the odds are that McDepends goes nuts on stage and tries to take a swing at Obama?
July 7, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I, fo one, fully expect him to use the N word in one of the debates.
Nigga, how dare ya run for President (wink & smile)...heeee
July 7, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROTFLMAOOOOOOOO!
Good one
July 7, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Saturation. I think this might be one reason he's waiting. Just like people have overdosed on Wright taking away from its usefulness for the Republicans, Obama might want to hold back on McCain right now, as well. He should wait until closer to the election.
July 7, 2008 7:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
That video is hilarious for all the wrong reasons, the same way you might laugh at an extremely low budget slasher flick. The cryptkeeper called, he wants his painfully irritating giggle back. This is why the debates can't come soon enough, Mike Tyson vs. Leon Spinks, the 85' Bears vs. the Patriots, the 92' Dream Team vs The World, Obama vs. McCain. Its not even going to be close.
July 7, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought the 90 Countries Crocs sold to were all in Colorado... not around the world.
What an informative speech.
July 7, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
That giggle of McSames is just weird. It is like he is imitating Jon Stewart immitating Dubya.
And what is up with the crowd. The delay between the lines and the applause looks, well, fabricated. I'm wondering if there isn't some McDepends staffer holding up an "applause" sign.
July 7, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well d'uh.
That's pretty universal, I think. ;)
July 7, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
He seems like a terrible comedian trying to deliver poorly written one liners. I kept waiting to hear the "ba-domp bomp" of the drum.
July 7, 2008 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Situations like these are an excellent opportunity to use the instant rimshot.
July 7, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, I'm now officially sick to my stomach from laughing. Thanks for that link. It will come in handy oh so often.
July 7, 2008 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, very cool link! Where did you find that? Did you make it? Are there more like it??
July 7, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I found it exactly as you did. Somebody on the internet introduced it into a forum thread, right when it was needed. I have no idea who made it. Go ye forth and illuminate punchlines everywhere!
July 7, 2008 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love the Colbert Report's "Green Screen" project which really shows how poor of a speech giver mcFuddle truly is.
McFuddle is as weak as an ice cube in the Gulf Of Mexico during summer.
July 7, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I quite appreciate the delayed applause; it's comforting to know that folks seeing it live are equally confused as us. The less cognitive dissonance, the better.
July 7, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
The last bit is the best. The air quotes, the lame attempt at a witty soundbite, everything.
July 7, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
McDepends has shown he can't deliver a soundbite, hell, even Dubya could deliver a sound bite.
July 7, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You should have included the part at the beginning...
After Cindy introduced him, She gave McCain a kiss on the cheek... He wiped it off and made the weirdest face as if he had been licked by a dog.
I swear. It was totally weird.
July 7, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
He didn't want to look like a trollop like that c**t Cindy.
July 7, 2008 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
What does he bend down and pick up at the end of the speech? It sure looked like a cane.
Are we not supposed to see that he walks with a cane? It might make us think he's "old"? But he IS old! Old is as old does, and no one does old like McCain (except maybe Robert Byrd).
July 7, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, it looks like a hand-held mic, probably for Q&A.
July 7, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Ya know, some economists don't think much of my Gas Tax Holliday..."
I believe that was the high-water mark. Un.Effn.Believable.
July 7, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
But the American people that are dumb enough to believe anything I say... Like the idea.
July 7, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree - it was downhill from there.
LOL!
July 7, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
And his attempt to play with Obama's slogan was truly pathetic. I'm generally not particularly quick with a comeback (I usually think of a great one an hour later) but even I immediately thought of "I'm not saying 'no, we can't', I'm saying 'no, that's a stupid idea.' I think we've all had enough of a president who doesn't want to hear that."
July 7, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't worry, his weird laugh after that line sort of defused it by itself.
"No, we can't, huhuhuhhmmmmm"
July 8, 2008 6:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain wanted to go to the Naval Academy...he did, and dragged the tail end coming out.
McCain wanted to be a real live fighter pilot...he did, and crashed and burned five times.
McCain wanted to be the Republican nominee for President of the United States... he is, and in his little shriveled mean-spirited black heart, he knows he's crashing and burning again.
I'm gonna love watching him auger in for the final time.
July 7, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope McCain gives more of these "jokes" during the debates. Like watching a four-year-old deliver standup. "Obama's your man. Hmummummmmuhhhhh..."
July 7, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone else noticed that C-Span has stopped televising Presidential campaign events?
During the Democratic and Republican primaries, it seemed like they were on three or four times a week, if not daily. Now, nothing.
I wonder why that is.
July 7, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Every time I watch him speak at these town hall events, I wonder where the hell the enthusiasm is. With both him and the crowd. It's like it's nonexistent, and there's a strain to get any sort of applause, cheering or excitement.
July 7, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
And these are the events at which he "excels".
These "highlight" snippets need to come with a warning label.
July 7, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know, seriously.
July 7, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep the MSM may not scrutinize as much as they should but it sure looks like Mccain has lost Drudge...and to me that is likely way more significant especially with headlines like this on Drudge's front-page:
IRAQ MAY SET TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL
July 7, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe there is a reasonable chance we could lose to this guy. How in the world did he get so far with such poor basic campaigning skills?
Did anyone see the speech he gave at the convention in 2004? Cringe-inducing as well, and quite surprising to me, since it was the first time I saw him give a speech.
July 7, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
First answer is POW and second answer is the power of incumbency.
July 7, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
The third reason is his wife's money.
But I don't know if even Rupert Murdoch will pony up this time.
July 7, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I said the same thing. Once in 2000 and again 2004. As bad as this guy is, we have to work hard for Obama.
July 7, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain will be 72 years old on August 29th, 2008. How long before The Grime Reaper sets a McDrawal date?
July 7, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have a question for everyone. I admit, I didn't follow the 2000 Republican primary very closely. Was McCain a similarly charismatic performer in 2000? Does anyone remember?
July 7, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any word on how the owners of Crocs reacted to this depressing endorsement? It is hard to imagine a Boulder-based company actively endorsing John McCain. And it is even harder to believe they'd want their hip, kid-friendly brand associated with old Popeye the grouchy man.
Is Crocs a publicly-traded company? If it is, I'd hate to be holding that stock today.
July 7, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you kidding me? Unless he said that Crocs caused cancer or some such, any mention is free advertising. You won't find this speech on their website to be sure, but they had to be pleased as punch that they are now in the "American ideal" meme promoted -- because in 1 week no one will remember who introduced that idea. They will just remember that idea.
July 7, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think so at all. Knowing Boulder, and knowing who buys Crocs, it is not an association they want. My kids wear Crocs all the time. One look at this video, and they'll move on to something else.
July 7, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can we get a picture of McCain in shorts and crocs?
::shudder::
July 7, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, nothing goes together as easily as the words "McCain" and "Crock" -- but a picture wouldn't hurt.
July 7, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your kids aren't going to change their views until you are wearing the crocs.
In the meantime, there are a lot of other people that probably haven't heard about crocs -- but now have.
I have had my company espoused by both sides of the aisle -- and I quietly take pride in it's universal appeal. It only increases business.
July 7, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
We'll see. I'm waiting to hear from the company's founders. I bet they quickly distance themselves from McCain and in a few days we hear that the founders have actively supported Obama.
July 7, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry to be pursuing this like a bull dog, but I know Boulder all too well.
Check this out from Huffington Post on April 15: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/15/crocs-shocks-with-massive_n_96713.html
Crocs has had to fire 600 employees and close a Canadian plant because of the lousy economy.
Which news source will be the first to fully track down this inconsistency?
July 7, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now this is hysterical. I can get behind the idea that "McCain can't pick a winner" idea.
One of the reasons why Croc was a poor example to begin with is that it was obviously a fad. Fads are not good long term business models.
July 7, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink