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McCain To Supporter: No Ma'am, Obama Is Not An Arab
As noted below, today's McCain event was awfully surreal, and here's some video of the best moment -- McCain grabbing the mic away from a woman who says she's scared of Obama because he's an "Arab"...
One thing that's intriguing: How quickly the crowd goes from booing McCain's demand that his supporters respect Obama to cheering his claim that that's how politics should be conducted in America. The crowd swung from booing the sentiment to cheering it in seconds.
Also: It's hard to see how his current appearance today doesn't cut against him, should his campaign amp up the attacks on Ayers (and, potentially, Wright) in the home stretch. But he was boxed in and had no choice but to do this.
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October 10, 2008 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm only speculating but I have a feeling that the people shouting hateful threatening comments regarding Barrack Obama during the recent McCain/ Palin rallies were planted by the McCain campaign . It would get their scare tactic message out without the candidate saying a word then looking like the good cop telling the folks "Well he's not an Arab plus he's a decent guy" . Wouldn't be surprising with the kind of campaign they are running.
October 10, 2008 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
The "Obama is an Arab" meme came straight from Rush Limbaugh.
I think many Dittoheads go to McCain/Palin rallies and repeat Limbaugh's blatherings there; and in this case, one did so to McCain's face, and got rebutted, much to her shock and disbelief.
October 12, 2008 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I never realized there was a distinction between "Arabs" and "decent family men". Who knew?
October 10, 2008 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Duh. It's in the Bible.
October 10, 2008 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Guess he never was counting on the Arab-American vote. But way to go and dis a huge part of the world...
October 10, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, I keep waiting for him to say: "Well, ma'am, what if he IS an Arab? The Arabs a noble race that even gave you bases of our mathematics and so much more. And, ma'am, do you know that the oldest Christian communities in the world today are made up of Arabs, even though you use the racial label as though it were the opposite of "Christian"? Mr. Obama, unfortunately, is not an Arab but a Democrat, and that's why I oppose him."
That would be the honest way to get support, and he knows it.
October 10, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was actually waiting for him to preface it with "not that there is anything wrong with that."
October 10, 2008 11:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
YES! Ironically, Jesus was a Jewish-Arab. Silly people.
October 11, 2008 12:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus Hussein Christ, I didn't know that!
October 11, 2008 3:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
I did notice he did NOT tell his mob that Obama is an *American*.
October 11, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
The hope here is that the supporters start to get angry at McCain for not getting appropriately angry at Obama. Then you would see some shouting between McCain and the town hall people, and that would be embarrassing, and we would all like that very much.
October 10, 2008 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Billy, I think that is very likely to happen at this point.
McCain clearly realizes that he's dug himself a deep, deep hole, and that there is no way out.
October 10, 2008 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, thats not out of the realm of possiblity. The older man who got the standing O yesterday (day before?) sounded like he was gonna get in McCain's face there for a second if he didn't kowtow to this anger demographic...
October 10, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It must make McCain so proud to see the quality of people who support him.
October 10, 2008 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Too true. On the other hand, his attempt to cultivate PUMAs already demonstrated that he is willing to hang out with mouth-breathing wierdos.
As I see it, there are two straightforward explanations for this 180 degree reversal on McCain's part:
1) he really does have a sense of honor buried under all that ambition and the mounting shame finally grew larger than the drive to win. This would be the charitable interpretation, and I always like to interpret human behavior in the most charitable fashion plausible, so for the moment I am going with this one. If tomorrow's headlines make this reading implausible, however, then the next most obvious explanation is that...
2) ... part of being "erratic" is that one becomes totally unpredictable. Maybe this is just another living instance of his recent penchant for the totally mercurial. I guess we will see.
Meanwhile, it is in his own best interests as well as Obama's that he is trying to cool things off some. Mobs have a tendency to turn on their instigators.
October 10, 2008 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't even think those are PUMAs, those are just the fringe right-wingers, which are the only group that's still attending McCain's rallies.
Funny that this whole situation with McCain putting out the fires he started is so reminiscent of what Hillary Clinton had to do in June when she began to realized that maybe her own campaigning contributed to the behavior of her supporters.
October 10, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those people are decidedly the bottom of the barrel.
October 10, 2008 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I were McCain, I would start thinking about the history books now. He's not likely to win, but does he really want to go down as someone who flamed out ugly, and god forbid, incited supporters to do something to Obama? He was able to denounce Fallwell and the agents of intolerance back when he was feeling a little bit mavericky. He needs to do this again, and say, wingnuts, get a life.
October 10, 2008 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah...this is like "show me your supporters and I'll tell you what kind of person you are".
But let's remember, many of these folks listen to people like Rush Limbaugh. No respect. McCain is definately shooting himself in the foot.
Can this undo his political career?
October 11, 2008 12:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
His career is over anyway. Running for President seems like a pro-forma task to McLame, he's just going through the motions because this campaign is what he's expected to do.
October 11, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like how McCain says "No he's not [an Arab]" as if being one is a bad thing, but I guess to wingnuts it is.
October 10, 2008 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain was taking issue with the speaker who was saying that being Arab is a bad thing. McCain is fairly inept, so he correct one part of the statmenet -- that he's not Arabic, and not the second part of it, that in any case that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. I don't see anything sinister there, although I am sure the room wouldn't agree with the second point.
I am glad that McCain did what he did. Also, I think the way he did it -- the shaking of the head, the talking of the microphone, etc. --- shows some recognition of the ugliness with which his campaign has become associated, and a need to distance himself from it quickly. McCain is a guys who cares what people think about him, and a lot of people (myself included) think a whole lot less of him after the past couple of months.
October 10, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry about the typos. Geez. Proofread, Deluxe. Proofread.
October 10, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Typos? They happen buddy.
I have had my fair share of embarrassing posts with bad spelling skipped words or alphabets e.t.c.
I empathize.
October 10, 2008 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they end the smear guilt-by-association ads and Palin stops using the same fiery attacks in her stump, then maybe there's a possibility he did it for the right moral reasons. Otherwise, I'm assuming he's doing it to distance himself from those attacks, which probably isn't sitting too well with independents and undecideds.
October 10, 2008 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. They need to cut out the attacks. We'll see. FWIW, in addition to being racist, xenophobic, etc. and therefore immoral, the attacks strike me as exceedingly shitty politics. Outside of places like West Virginia, you don't win elections by courting the racist vote... Most people really don't like that stuff.
October 10, 2008 8:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
At what point is Fox News held accountable? How far can they go in inciting this fear and hate against Obama?
October 10, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
They will not be held complicit (by whom would they be judged anyway? certainly not our judiciary) until they begin passing out directions to the arms caches and providing transportation to Obama's victory speech.
October 11, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
FOX will follow the majority to ensure viewership. FOX is a business, not a news organization. They aren't going to waste their time preaching to what is going to be the smallest choir in the country. There's no profit in that.
After Obama wins the election in a landslide it will be the end of Limbaugh/Hannity/etc. Fox will shift all the way to the whacko side of the left. Limbaugh will go on for a while but then retire as his audience shrivels. That's their schtick.
October 11, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
FOX will follow the majority to ensure viewership. FOX is a business, not a news organization. They aren't going to waste their time preaching to what is going to be the smallest choir in the country. There's no profit in that.
After Obama wins the election in a landslide it will be the end of Limbaugh/Hannity/etc. Fox will shift all the way to the whacko side of the left. Limbaugh will go on for a while but then retire as his audience shrivels. That's their schtick.
October 11, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are you kidding?
If McCain had said there was nothing wrong with being of Arab descent in front of that crowd, half those animals would have started throwing campaign buttons at his head (the rest would have shouted themselves hoarse).
All one need do, however, is watch how McCain starts visibly working his jaws (grinding them teeth, no doubt) and casting his eyes to the ground as he tell these boobs there's no cause to fear a President Obama. That's the garbage heap he chose to stand in, and I only hope the backlash for him (and Gov. Pitiful, if she chooses to sign on . . . which she won't) gets worse.
October 10, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I got the impression that he was saying, "No, He's not an Arab, and that really sucks".
October 10, 2008 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha! As if he might have said "Cripes, I wish it were true, lady, but I'm afraid it's not."
October 10, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
12-0 to release the Troopergate report (no details on report itself yet.)
October 10, 2008 8:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://download1.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf
"I find that Governor Sarah Palin has abused her power.."
October 10, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not that it really makes a difference, but posted separately too:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/10/troopergate-report-released-12.php
October 10, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, she abused her power but she didn't broke any law and, ergo, she won't be accountable for it.
So, all this was for nothing? Yes, she's been called for it but... she still walks away with it?
And some still wonder why confidence in the political system is so low...
Well, that's another challenge for Obama to take after November 4th.
October 10, 2008 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
An Abuse of Power rap is only effective insofar as the official who committed the abuse feels any sense of shame at having disgraced their elected post.
Other words, don't hold your breath expecting a resignation letter from Gov. Sarah Palin.
October 10, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's allowed to fire the guy. She didn't break a law by firing the guy.
That doesn't mean that she didn't break any law.
Let's nip this incorrect "she didn't break any law" meme in the bud. The fact is that the report directly states that Sarah Palin broke the law.
October 10, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if she broke a law after all, then she must be held responsible for that. It's not about asking her resignation or serving jail time, it's about accountability, a basic principle of any democracy.
If you're elected to public office and then you abuse of your position, by action or by omission, there's a break of trust with the citizens that you serve. We don't have to look far to see the consequences of a situation lake that: Just look what Bush and Cheney have done.
October 10, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dr Frankenstein McCain created a monster and he only now just realized it's going berserk. And he can't stop it. And if he tries to stop it it's going to get angry at him. I must have seen this movie a thousand times.
What a monumental fucking asshole he is to have let it come to this.
October 10, 2008 8:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
No doubt, they've created a monster. While it's good he's trying to calm the crowds now, these hateful people clearly want none of it. They are out for blood and you can't put this toothpaste back in the tube.
Notice how they boo McCain for telling them to chill the f@ck out. What the hell did they expect when they embarked on their quest to paint Obama as an enemy of the state?
There is no excuse for what they've done. It's like an arsonist loading a house up with gasoline, lighting it on fire, then, realizing he's not that bad of a person, trying to put it out with a garden hose. Oops, sorry about that!
October 10, 2008 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
For some reason I'm thinking of the name Abby Normal.
October 10, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
That wuld be the maiden name. Married name: Abby Normal Palin.
October 10, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Incidentally, you are an excellent straight man.
October 10, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why thank you. And you sir are quite the card.
October 10, 2008 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
12-0 vote to release troopergate report tonight!!!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/10/161820/29/827/626672
October 10, 2008 8:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I notice McCain didn't say, "He's an American," but rather, "He's a citizen," which trailed off for a moment until he launched into the "decent family man" bit. I don't believe McCain truly thinks of Obama as an American.
October 10, 2008 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Irony. McCain is now spending time clearing myths (Arab) and smears(scared) about Obama. Seems like McCain is forced to campaign for Obama, and on his watch and dime.
October 10, 2008 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
seriously. i'm LOL'ing my ass off at this.
i mean, obama's campaign is genius. but it really helps when your opponent is one of the most inept campaigns in history, if not THE most inept.
it's like a major league team playing a little league team. not only can the major leaguers hit the shit out of the ball, but even the routine ground balls go between the infielder's legs.
mismatch.
October 10, 2008 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I find myself resorting to laughter much more today as well, as opposed to the discouragement and amazement I've felt most of the week.
Everything McCain tries turns to shit. All of it.
October 10, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am too.
October 10, 2008 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, I rather wonder whether it is fair to say "it really helps when your opponent is... inept." After all, McCain is not the only inept opponent that Obama has faced. Moreover, McCain has not always been an inept campaigner. He has run several capable senate campaigns and his 2000 presidential run, while ultimately not successful, was hardly inept. Come to that, his primary bid was actually pretty good (at least the second half, after he was reduced to bankruptcy).
Likewise, Hillary & Bill Clinton, once skilled campaigners of the first rate, were reduced to looking like inept rookies during the primaries. Surely we all remember the constant barrage of Penn vs Solis-Doyle vs Wolfson stories that emerged throughout Feb and Mar.
In other words, it seems that Obama's opponents always end up looking inept and off-kilter. Is that because Obama is just the luckiest bastard ever to run for President? Or is it because Obama is really good at a sort of political jujitsu that gets inside one's opponent's head and knocks them so off-kilter that ineptitude is what results? In other words, is this luck, or skill? I am not so sure that "luck" is the right answer to that question.
October 10, 2008 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent point and right on in my opinion. Seems like every campaign Obama runs against mysteriously turns to crap. Not a coincidence.
October 10, 2008 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
great points, but there's no way he could have foreseen troopergate 19 months ago. nor could he have imagined that the financial meltdown would occur when it did.
that said, you make very good points -- the "jujitsu" may very well account for the mccain campaign's completely spastic reactions to everything, making everything much worse for them than if they had just chilled the hell out.
October 10, 2008 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
"but there's no way he could have foreseen troopergate 19 months ago."
No, but Obama did run the campaign that caused McCain to do the boneheadedly desperate act of choosing someone already enmeshed in Troopergate.
Brilliant.
October 11, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Could it be old politics v new politics? Or does Obama just help us SEE things differently. I was thinking just the other day that Obama has to thank McCain for being such a lame opponant but maybe not. Senator Clinton's campaign ran over the same ground - much lighter of course - with the same results. What would we be seeing if Clinton was running against Romney?
October 10, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
The brilliant aspect about Obama and his perspective is that he carries bullshit in his smallest pocket. Pussyfooting around with typical beaurocratic nonsense and dodging questions are the road to nowhere.
Had he kept his drug use in his youth a secret it would have demolished him now. He is open and straightforward with what matters, it's no coincidence, it's confidence. People know Obama's bullshit detecter is keen and if they've got a swagger of bullshit it starts to stink.
October 11, 2008 12:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. He said that he was going to change the way politics is played in Washington. And that's what he's doing. He just doesn't play by their rules. And they end up looking foolish. He's forcing them to run on issues and when they try to pull the agenda elsewhere, it becomes painfully apparent.
October 11, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's the jujitsu. Obama is a fantastic candidate and leader.
October 10, 2008 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
With their campaign in total freefall, Jonathan Alter says that the only way McSame can save his campaign is to pull a Hubert Humphrey 1968 and totally break not only with Bush but with the entire discredited GOP Raygun thing
Either that or pump the character assassination racist thing in the hopes that there is a "mother lode of racism in America"
Alter's not entirely convinced that there isn't
The two aren't mutually exclusive IMO..he can cut the crap, do an HHH happy warrior turnabout and try to reframe but I think it's too late..
October 10, 2008 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the past I have gauged the "mother lode" of racism by Bush's poll numbers, I put it at 27 to 33 %.
October 10, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish he would make that turnaround but we'll see.
Re:HHH- we still got Nixon because no Democrat except perhaps RFK could've won that year, IMO. Too much baggage with them and Nixon was running against that-same as Obama.
October 10, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Humphrey strategy MIGHT have worked for McCain if he had done this from Day One. With 3 weeks to go, and the disgraceful campaign that he's run, it's two late for that. He's done. Start polishing the forks.
October 11, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
the question is: has he lost control of the message his campaign has spent the last week legitimizing? can John McCain quash the memes he and his VP candidate perpetrated? or do these people already KNOW, having been led to the smears by his campaign, and now won't believe anything else?
that's why these kinds of political tricks are so disgusting and dangerous.
October 10, 2008 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The stuff that's been said at these rallies are things that these people have believed from the start. They believe them, because they confirm their prejudices. Palin getting up at those rallies and validating those beliefs simply gave them permission to give voice to them in a more public setting.
But, I think that was a tactical error on McCain's part. The power of the whisper campaign is that the rumors and inuendos never have to be brought out for examination. Once Palin started trumpeting this stuff from the platform and the audience started reacting and it was all projected to a national audience, McCain was then forced to either validate or invalidate what was being said.
By allowing his campaign to give voice to the whisper campaign, he neutralized it. Really stupid campaign move. I think they just overplayed their last hand.
October 11, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
The crowd is made up of individuals with different point of views on the "obama is a terrorist" nonsense. You can support McCain and disagreee with his tactics. So some applaud the "obama is a arab" nonsense and some applaud McCain's honest assessment, that Obama is a decent man.
BTW, beside the polls, there are political and maybe even legal ramifications to Palin and McCain's behavior this week. If anyone acts out because of the tone they adopted this week, they could be blamed for inciting a riot.
October 10, 2008 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that is one plausible explanation. On the other hand, I would remind you that in 1988 the Republicans made a great deal of the fact that Vice President Bush had foreign policy experience while Governor Michael Dukakis had none; foreign policy experience, you see, was something very, very important, the Republicans solemnly assured us. By 2000, however, when Vice President Gore was running against Governor Bush, these same people were waving away any concerns about the need for foreign policy experience because the president has advisors for that sort of thing.
Similarly, in 1996 the Republicans bewailed the fact that a decorated military veteran could lose to a draft dodger. Surely something was wrong, they told us, with a country where that state of affairs could prevail. Somehow, however, by 2004 when Bush the draft dodger was running against Kerry the decorated veteran, it was in poor taste to raise such concerns.
Throughout all of these twists and turns, my republican neighbors dutifully rehearsed the party approved talking-points, oblivious to the inconsistencies of their ever changing rationales. In other words, the Republican party is unusually enriched in people who can mindlessly follow along with whatever their party leaders tell them, in insoucient ignorance of the contradictions that emerge from minute-to-minute. I would not, therefore, be surprised if more than a few of those who jeered were among the same contingent that applauded a few minutes later.
October 10, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
We've always been at war with Eurasia...
October 11, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
OT, but I just watched this vid from the Obama camp. Another great counter against McCain smears.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCeNPAaGVVY
October 10, 2008 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
"He's a decent family man...that as my commercial today points out...is a friend of terrorists."
Way to go, Johnny!
October 10, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
*sigh*
I wish the left wouldn't as consistently underestimate Americans as the right has done.
October 10, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, are you watchin' Countdown too?
October 10, 2008 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes but it's still that breaking news report - from McCain to Palin now.
October 10, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously. Were these pundits not alive during the Primaries?
There was no fucking Bradley effect. Obama overperformed in lily white Iowa, Oregon, Indiana, Maine, Wisconsin, MO.
Even in supposedly "racist" podunk TN, the margin Harold Ford lost by was the exact same margin shown in all the polls.
October 10, 2008 8:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word.
I'm really tired of that damn polisci myth.
October 10, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not Americans. Traitors. The first rally or two with this crap, you might argue the audiance were blameless; but at this point, they knew what to expect, ie a proto-Kristallnacht rally.* And this above and beyond the fact that Republicans have been anti-Constitution, anti-Enlightenment, anti-American traitors for at least 30 years. I have complete faith in Americans - it's the anti-American traitor Republicans I don't trust.
* And McCain trying to act like he's not the little treasonous Il Duce we have all seen the last week is absurdist. The only thing I can blame the North Koreans for is keeping his sorry ass alive for 5 years - the cage and torture were too good for him.
October 10, 2008 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
They are anti-American.
They hate us for our freedoms, guys!
October 10, 2008 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed on this subject as always, Tena. The Republican Party is paying (and will be paying for a long time) the price of marginalizing certain groups, notably the intellectuals who "think they're so goddamn smart."
It would be a shame if the left continued this trend when we're in power, by saying certain groups are stupid or uneducated.
Americans aren't all that stupid. Look at Bush's approval rates.
October 10, 2008 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
O my god - you have no idea what that did to me - I melted.
thank you so much -
October 10, 2008 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I can make just one person melt a night, then it's all worthwhile....
October 10, 2008 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
"So, when after 8 years of continuous skull-bashing the man stopped hitting himself in the head with the hammer, one observer remarked: 'hey, maybe he is not that stupid after all.'"
October 10, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
O come on.
People who insist on this bullshit invariably leave out 2006 like it just never happened cause it just doesn't fit.
'
And nevermind Bush's numbers or any of the circumstances leading up to the 2000 election.
It's the worst fucking thing liberals do because it is agreeing with the Republicans, who campaign to the lowest common denominator on purpose. And this just actually all but gives them a blessing to do so because what you are saying is "Americans are too stupid to care."
Which means the Republicans are right.
October 10, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I do not understand your argument. Does a Democratic victory in 2006 mean that people were not, in fact, stupid to vote GOP in--recently--2000, 2002, 2004 (or 2006, those who still did)? Does a Democratic victory in 2006 exonerate those who still in 2008 vote GOP?
Being stupid does not make one unable to learn. It just happens more slowly.
October 10, 2008 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
If this is going to be McCain's new line, then someone should ask his spokesman Brian Rogers if that means that McCain "just doesn't understand regular people and the issues they care about." And why they are "attacking average Americans at McCain rallies who are angry at Washington, Wall Street and the status quo."
October 10, 2008 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
BREAKING: According to MSNBC, the Troopergate report is in and it has found that Gov Plain has abused her power.when i get the link i will post it.
October 10, 2008 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
See a couple posts up :)
October 10, 2008 8:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also, isn't this further proof of McCain's erratic nature? Obama can't be a despicable, terrorist sympathizer who we know nothing about and a decent, family man at the same time.
Which is it McCain?
Kinda hard for McCain to pull the Ayer's card with much effect at the next debate now. Though, cowardly as he is, that may be a relief to him.
October 10, 2008 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
No problem! He could take a Basic Erratics course from McQueeg.
October 11, 2008 3:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, 73-year-old candidate, Bob Dole.
Kang: Abortions for all.
[crowd boos]
Very well, no abortions for anyone.
[crowd boos]
Hmm... Abortions for some, miniature American flags for
others.
[crowd cheers and waves miniature flags]
October 10, 2008 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
YES!!!!
I have been playing that reel in my head all week.
October 10, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Breaking News 8:21 PM ET: Panel Finds Palin Abused Power in Firing of Public Safety Commissioner, A.P. Reports
October 10, 2008 8:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes fuckin yes!
October 10, 2008 8:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
But the McCain campaign panel already cleared her name!
October 10, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain campaign entered bizzaro world a few weeks ago when he "suspended" his campaign. Since then, McCain has lurched back and forth between positions, trying to find something that would work for him. If the Ayers smear was gaining any traction, he'd still be pushing it. But, like everything else he's tried, it's gone nowhere.
The other possibility is that he's finally accepted the idea that he's going to lose and has decided to work on getting his reputation for honor and integrity back. I don't know that this attempt will work either.
October 10, 2008 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It will work with some, but after the election he'll retire to back bench, and soon be forgotten. I wouldn't be surprised if, because medical reasons(?), he didn't finish out his senate term.
October 10, 2008 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree.
October 10, 2008 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here is the link to the Troopergate report.
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/10/10/16/Branchflowerreport.source.prod_affiliate.7.pdf
October 10, 2008 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
He didn't give them red meat but he gave them pitchforks and torches.
I will give him credit for cooling the rhetoric but at the same rally he repeated the BS about Fannie and Freddie being the reason for the financial crisis and the BS about ACORN being a means for Democratic vote fraud.
In other words he told them to cool the hate speech but they could blame Democrats for the financial collapse because they gave blacks mortgages they couldn't afford. And he told them that Obama was fixing the election via vote fraud making him illigitimate in their eyes.
Only the real wingnuts buy this crap but it does insure that militias will thrive after the election and the Secret Service will have its hands full.
If he can't win then he will be content to tear the country apart. When he says "Country First" you eventually learn that he is a country unto himself.
October 10, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or perhaps those soft cuddly folks at the Secret Service gave him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Or maybe some kinky videos have surfaced of Ole Johnny Mac having a ripping good time with an underage black boy,,,, hey, ya never know.
October 10, 2008 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hahaahahahaha!!! ToOOO funNnNy!
October 10, 2008 9:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmm...dunno. But, one thing is certain. It was excrutiating for him to say that there was no reason to fear an Obama presidency. He was clearly forced to say this. He was screwing up his face and forcing the words out like a man with severe constipation.
October 11, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fox isnt even mentioning That Gov Plain was found to have abused her powers. I guess to them if they dont mention it, it never happened.
When will the conservative talk radio and tv folks realize that they dont control the narrative anymore?
October 10, 2008 8:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, and conversely if they repeat 100 times things become fact.
October 10, 2008 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can see Gov Plain now, blaming the MSM for her being found guilty.
October 10, 2008 8:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
MSNBC is all over this and all over her with barely concealed contempt for her in their voices.
October 10, 2008 8:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
so, does the crowd bring their own sheets, torches and pitchforks or are they handed out at the door?
October 10, 2008 8:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course. And I'm sure McSleazy 'admitting' that Obama is not an Arab [terrorist] will get a lot of play from the balance crowd.
October 10, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you'd join the Palin-Abuse of Power thread:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/lawmakers_to_release_trooperga.php
It's not linked to the TPM Election central for some reason.
October 10, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I mean if you'd like to join...
October 10, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you saw this in a movie, this routine would create great laughter....
McCain's roll continues unabated: Palin abused her power by trying to fire her former brother in law, and McCain suddenly finds religion without Hagee to explain to his supporters that Obama is a nice man and not an Arab. Late Friday release cannot help, this is really too precious. Only in America folks,only in America; the Republican's part of America I am talking about, the shrinking and stinking parts.
Seriously, could Steve Martin have done any better?
October 10, 2008 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is GREAT news for McCain!
October 10, 2008 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
There have more than one thread on Palin-Abuse of Power.
Click-TPMMuckracker
October 10, 2008 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just looked out my window, and I can see the end of Palin's political career.
October 10, 2008 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's easy to see it from the part of Russia that can see part of Alaska.
October 11, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was just chuckling at those skinny legs and thinking that I shouldn't taunt someone I don't know. But, then I saw that it's the new avi for Dirk, so...Dude, you had some skinny legs.
But, I love your cute new avi! :)
October 11, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, there's something funny going on. My avatar keeps switching back and forth between a kid with a water-ring and a guy in a tux. And I'm not doing anything!
October 11, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gremlins in the new server.
October 11, 2008 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I watched the video and got the impression the crowd was booing not because they disagreed, but because they thought McCain was capitulating. They're upset that McCain is throwing in the towel.
October 10, 2008 10:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll take McCain over that crowd any day. I don't think anyone really knows why "this" John McCain showed up at this rally, but I do think that, if this John McCain was around a lot more during the campaign the race would be a lot closer now. Over and over it's been said, "where's the John McCain we used to know?" The John McCain who jettisoned his original campaign staff (remember back then?). The McCain who would have told the RNC "stick it..." and would have chosen either Lieberman or Guiliani as his VP. The McCain I used to respect. I think (hope) he'll come back, but I don't think it will be until after the election. While ultimately he has been responsible for his own fate, it's still a shame.
October 10, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
YES!!!!
I have been playing that reel in my head all week.
October 10, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right now Mary Shelley is rolling in her grave because John McCain's campaign owes her estate A LOT of money!!
This entire week for McCain has been a classic case of Frankenstein's Monster!
McCain is Dr. Frankenstein and the Monster are his supporters that, for the last two weeks, he's allowed to say and express themselves in the most vile and disgusting ways at his rallies. These supporters are his monsters...his creation...his fault!
NOW, this is all blowing up in his face and the McCain Monster he's built out of these supporters are coming back to wipe out his chances at the White House and, potentially, the remainder of his political career! This will be the tragic downfall of Dr. Frankenstein.
Some of you may have had the same comparison in mind, but I dare someone to read what I wrote above and not agree.
This is contemporary Frankenstein being written right before our eyes!
October 10, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with everything you said except the part about wiping out his chances at the White House. His chances were down to slim and none, and none just walked out the door.
October 10, 2008 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course he's not an Arab. The email I got says he's an Iranian.
October 10, 2008 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
What? Iranians aren't Ay-rabs? Who knew...
October 11, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grandpa K5 McCain has been writing some very big verbal checks to Obama this week that he can't pay. Today's change of heart is just his realization that there is still one more debate and he has to pay the final bill in person. He better make it small one.
October 10, 2008 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well.. all this hating going on with McCain doesn't seem to be working too well.. did everyone see that Georgia Poll for President? McCain with only a 3% lead? in Georgia?
Ouch
October 10, 2008 10:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man, McCain's base is about as ignorant as his running mate.
He really should have been more careful about how he ran this campaign. Shameful.
http://thetruthburns.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/maybe-i-aint-no-genius-but-is-sure-is-smartern-her/
October 10, 2008 10:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, my god... What's this? Is this the ultimate marketing philosophy? Create fire so you can turn it off? If that's the case, it's a terrible strategy just 25 days from election day. And if it's not, I don't think McCain deserves it. Senator McCain, you've proven to be much more honest than this. Come on...
October 10, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously? Read the article in Rolling Stone and get back to us...
October 10, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't be fooled by McCain's apparent capitulation today. While he was attempting to play nice, his "soul mate" was out there spewing vitriol. Today was the "good cop, bad cop" scenario.
October 10, 2008 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
This doesn't let him off the hook by any stretch.
October 10, 2008 11:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word.
October 11, 2008 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Boy, McCain's campaign makes Kerry's campaign look absolutely brilliant by comparison. I've never seen such a collection of clowns. We're seeing this campaign implode right before our eyes. At the rate he's going, by Nov 4 the only state he'll win is Oklahoma.
October 10, 2008 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
You reap what you sow.
Now Troopersgate abuse of power.
Say "G'night," Grampy & Vampy.
It's O-V-E-R.
October 10, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Today is the day that McCain conceded the election in a last ditch effort to salvage his reputation.
October 10, 2008 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
So in John McCain's book the opposite of "Arab" is "decent"? Wow.
October 10, 2008 11:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just when you think that hole he's digging couldn't get any deeper...
October 10, 2008 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is one of the most amazing political clips I have ever seen - in 40 years of watching politics. Amazing. This campaign is the most fascinating twisted journey ever.
October 10, 2008 11:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
What if McCain endorsed Obama and withdrew his candidacy? Wouldn't that make him a true maverick?
That's the only thing left for McCain to save his so-called "honor," whatever fuck that is?
October 11, 2008 12:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well I for one would be willing to forgive him if he withdrew and said he was sorry for the campaign he has run.
October 11, 2008 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, just saying "Sorry" wouldn't be enough. He said he was sorry for the Keating stuff back then, and look what he has actually done since then.
He might really lose everything, as Josh said. He'd deserve it if that happens.
October 11, 2008 12:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I understand some of best friends are Arab.
October 11, 2008 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll forgive him if he donates his houses to Habitat for Humanity, shaves his head, gets nipple rings, buys one hour of air time so he can thoroughly explain the nature of his wrongdoings, withdraws from the race, and asks all of America to vote for Obama. The haircut and piercings are negotiable.
October 11, 2008 12:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought they were the best part.
October 11, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Troopergate report: Just in time for SNL!
October 11, 2008 12:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I think McCain is trying to do the right thing. The handwriting is on the wall regarding the outcome of this election. I think he's trying to salvage some dignity and recover the lost respect of his peers.
Perhaps the Republicans are falling back to regroup and run again another year.
October 11, 2008 1:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
NRCC cutting back ad buys
We’re starting to see the first tangible impact of the financial deficit that House Republicans are facing.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1008/NRCC_cutting_back_ad_buys.html
October 11, 2008 2:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
People talk about the man McCain used to be but I'm not buying it. McCain has shown himself to be a self-centered opportunist. Instead of improving the republican party's damaged image, McCain has possibly placed the last nail in its coffin by running such a shockingly nasty/divisive campaign.
October 11, 2008 2:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can give McCain the benefit of doubt here. Not that he was stoking racism or zenophobia purposely. The fault lies in that he didn't realize how stupid and hateful his supporters are and how that has become such a shameful narrative for his campaign. Of course that's what you get when you play with fire.
He didn't realize a seemingly normal line of attack on Obama could turn into such ugly demonstration of rotten hate and ungrounded fear in his supporters.
He grabs that mic as if he is disappointed at that woman not saying the right attack line. Like your singing teacher in school taking over the mic and demonstrating the proper technique when you screwed up the tune.
McCain must be thinking: "You stupid cunt, don't say he's Arab, didn't I teach you to say he's not trustworthy, or he is a radical socialisst from Chicago? Can't believe you pulled this shit about Arab on national TV, you idiot!"
I seriously think that McCain is pissed at the low quality of his supporters showing up at these hate rallies.
But no, for sure, he would put up with them until it is all over.
For he's got neither spine nor balls no more.
October 11, 2008 5:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Darn right McCain was forced to defend Obama. McCain risks being a pariah in the Senate when he returns in January.
Some people were uncomfortably reminded of KKK and neo-Nazi rallies.
Personally, I don't think McCain is a fascist. I think he's desparate. This is his last shot at the big prize, which, despite his claims of "country first", he has sought his entire adult life. McCain is for McCain First. His selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate tells us everything we need to know about him.
October 11, 2008 5:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Before I left for work yesterday, I was posting on a few threads that McCain should be frog-marched into the Senate Chambers for a face-to-face meeting with the Senate Ethics Committee concerning his actions in the state of Alaska, the level of hatred in his campaign, and the disrespect given to a fellow Senate colleague.
Now, 15 hours later, McCain has done a complete 180 about face. I wonder if my idea of frog-marching found its way to his ears?
October 11, 2008 7:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain seems suddenly and regretfully to have witnessed an unintended consequence of "dog whistle" politics: those who best hear and respond to it may be a pack of rabid curs.
October 11, 2008 6:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well put. The 'dog whistle' has resulted in some rabid breeds coming to his rallies and even freaking him out.
I know I shouldn't say this, but I actually feel a little sorry for him at this point. It's akin to watching someone who once had a thriving business scrounging in the dumpster for food. Sad and pathetic.
October 11, 2008 9:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
"[U]nintended consequence of "dog whistle" politics?"
Sir, I beg to differ with you. It was well planned and ill intended from the outset, starting with Palin (her "palling around with terrorists" and other subsequent remarks were written by the campaign and approved by McCain, calculated to ignite the deep-seated HATE within the base), the Ayers commercial, McCain-Palin interview with Hannity, by which time the "consequences" were already resounding. Yes, I agree with you if by "consequence," you mean they did not see the magnitude of the "backlash" coming from a couple of Republicans, media, and Independents, which polls showed further alienated from McCain.
October 11, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Barack Osama for president according to N.Y. absentee ballots!
October 11, 2008 7:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Check out Juan Cole on the Arab slur at http://www.juancole.com/ Very well written, as usual.
So now it appears that McCain is an Anti Semite as well as Palin,,,,, that should play well in the light of public scrutiny. Antisemitic hate speech is always a winner,,,,,,,,, hey, it worked for the Nazi movement,,,, as well as the KKK.
Wonder if Ralph Nader will call them out on this,,,, just think of it, an Arab running for President.
October 11, 2008 8:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Part of me pities poor McCain. Here is his life long quest to become President, and in the finally weeks of the campaign he's forced to defend his opponent.
I don't I can recall anything of this sort. Perhaps back in 1940 when Wendall Wilkie was running against Roosevelt and he basically supported most of Roosevelt's policies, foreign and domestic. I think he eventually defended Roosevelt before congress, but only after the election.
I only have one fear for Obama now, and that is the Bradley effect. Okay two fears, the other is Bush starting another war or Bin Laden bombing the country, again.
The Bradley effect is a very real possibility - we are talking about the Presidency, the senior most prestigious position in the land. The other possibilities: Bush starting a war - not likely the stock market's already being held together by chewing gum and spit, though the nation is vulnerable to an attack of some sort right now from any one and every one who might so be inclined.
October 11, 2008 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: Obama not an A-rab, but an A-hab
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=3901
October 11, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Keep an eye on the media. Today they're acting like McCain did something wonderful yesterday by "defending" Obama. What's being left out is what McCain & Palin have been saying at their rallies & their ads. No one is saying that McCain created this problem. The theme is that this is the "old McCain" & he's really a good, honorable person.
What we may be left with in the media is a story of how much Obama is hated so how could he possibly lead the country & what a great guy McCain is for standing up to these crowds.
Keep reminding the media of the real story or they'll turn McCain into a hero.
October 11, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink