Who the hell knows what Brokaw will do -

thanks for getting this thing working again. I hate to say a thing - I don't want to jinx it [looks nervously from side to side]

Doesn't Brokaw get to select the questions that come in by email and who to call on from the audience? he smells of bias and is in the McShame camp to "even" coverage. Really can't stand Brokaw...

Brokaw won't bring up Ayers. He'll have one of the town hall questioners do it. (He does, after all, get to pick which questions get asked.)

Gamble? I think McCain is the "Gamble" candidate, in more ways than one.

His health, rather than his craps jones, is the most urgent in my book. And then of course, there's the fact that this guy has been dishonest with his wives, dishonest with Charles Keating and the country. He chose for his highly possible successor a nasty, petty, stupid fool.

I'll take my chances with Obama. I think the odds are far better in my favor with him.

I got two words to Mr. Brokaw: Try it.

Don't complain later if what's left of your credibility goes down and crash into the ground.

These are difficult times, Mr. Brokaw and the people wants proposals, not smears.

If Brokaw asks about his association with Ayers, too bad he can't respond asking Brokaw about his association with Joe McCarthy. (Murrow he ain't.)

Yeah, but I don't think many but those on the hard right will truly believe that line of bull.

If they do, and associations matter, shouldn't it be more significant that Governor Palin's husband belonged to a party that has as it's chief goal secession from the US? Wouldn't marriage trump sitting on an educational board?

Or does McCain sitting on a council of Anti-Semites beat Obama sitting on an educational council with Ayers?

Guilt by association can get really tough.

Yes, Brokow will allow it.
The Keating Five is old news. McCain said he was sorry. I mean, really, he said he was sorry. The same type of sorry when he left his poor first wife.

I think that's what McCain's Campaign theme should be: John McCain: He's Sorry.

Brokaw is not impartial, he's with the old men.
He's made his lack of respect for Obama evident a number of times...with it's issue based, or, the fact that he resents his youth.

He'll do his best to slant for McCain whatever questions he asks.

Is this news? Seems like it to me. If tenuous relationships to bad people determines the outcome of presidential elections, McCain is in a ton of trouble...

http://www.annistonstar.com/breaking/2008/as-localupdate-1006-jflemingcol-8j06o5456.htm

Some debate predictions.

1. McCain will be more soft-spoken than his red-meat supporters (including Ms. Palin) want. He's got to temper his desire to "take the gloves off" with a need to not look like just an angry old man. He will try to raise questions like "What kind of man is Barack Obama" in a quiet, reasonable way. Hey, I'm not attacking! Just asking!

2. This won't work too well. His contempt for Obama will be palpable.

3. Brokaw will do better than everybody here expects. I'm not absolving him of all his sins, but I've been watching him for decades now, and the man is a professional with a sense of history.

4. Tonight's drinking game should not include "My friends." Enough is enough. I'd suggest one shot for "trust" and one beer chaser for "the American people."

5. Barack will be Barack. Which is to say, he'll lay back and act calm and minimize the fisticuffs. Many supporters will complain about his passivity.

6. McCain will land a couple of well-prepared shots. The audience meter will go down when he does, but his crowd will love it.

7. Snap polls will give Obama the win, but not by a knockout.

That's funny, I thought McCain was a Gambling enthusiast, or "addict" if you will.

So, by your logic, if Obama is that much of a "risk" McCain should love the guy!

And as I've posted before, the audience, most of whom will have submited their questions that they deem important enough to be asked, will most likely not remain silent if a "Ayres" or "flagpin" question is asked. If I asked something serious and relevant, like, I don't know, "what are going to do about health care," and Brokaw calls on someone asking a question about Ayres, I'd let my utter dissatisfaction known.

Obama will throw the kitchen sink at - both of them. mccain for being clueless with dozens of ties to corrupt lobbyists and Brokaw for being biased, out of touch, and going off from the message the American people want to hear - The Economy.

Maybe he could even throw in the news that Ebay is cutting 10% of its workforce (Meg Whitman's company). It's stock has dropped 46% this year. More not so great econ advice given to mccain, this time from clueless Whitman.

Katie Couric skewered Palin? Hunter S. Thompson would have skewered Palin. Katie just turned on the stove and let Sarah step in and burn herself. And she gave her burn ointment. Hunter would have left her, flesh in flames, as Shit Slinging Sarah deserves.

Watch Brokaw tonight. Think about Walter Cronkite, Ed Murrow, my beloved Dr. Thompson. The Fourth Estate has gone the way of houses in North Minneapolis. Abandoned, dilapidated, condemned.

Maybe the foundation is still there, though. Katie's performance is a big improvement over her pathetic blatherings in 2004, when she actually gave credence to the Swift Boaters.

Still, if I do think about all that while watching Brokaw, my head will explode. Better go find my helmet...

I wonder if Nash McCracken or whatever the hell her name was will make another appearance. The "I'm not questioning your patriotism, but where's your flag pin?" lady?

Whining? Damn! I was going for "seething with violent rage." Clearly I have to work on my delivery.

That's really very true in many ways and McLame's demeanor in the last debate just killed him - nobody missed it that he wouldn't look at Obama.

By the way, Hunter was a journalist. So the only people he reached were the now endangered species: people who read.

By the way, Hunter was a journalist. So the only people he reached were the now endangered species: people who read.

Whining? Damn! I was going for "seething with violent rage." Clearly, I gotta work on my delivery.

Brokaw has about a month or so with NBC. He's a center right retiree, Yes, he may not want to be infamous for being partial on the last debate he will be conducting, but his selection of questions will not be immune from his ideological stance, which will help McCain a bit.
That's sad for us.
I am sure if there will be questions about Ayers/Keating 5, but there will questions about negative turn of the campaign. And Obama will hammer on McCain for "turning a page on economy," "taking gloves off," "cannot win on economy," etc. And McCain's answer: I asked him for 10 town hall meetings; American people deserve to know "who is the real Obama?"
Someone in the audience, an implanted one, will scream: "Treason, Terrorist." That's the plan they rehearsed earlier in the rallies.

If this happens, this will backfire so badly. Obama will earn more independents.

No, that is false on both counts. And the reasonable, smart people are clearly going with Obama. On January 20th, our eight-year long national nightmare will...be...over! Deal with it.

HANNITY IS THAT YOU?

the best analogy i've seen so far is this:

mccain served in the senate, on the same side of the aisle, as larry craig. i'm guessing he also had LOTS of conversations with him, may have sat on the same committee(s) as craig, and likely either lobbied craig for votes and/or had craig lobby him for votes.

does that make mccain closeted homosexual who goes looking for action in public bathrooms?

(of course, given the keating 5 thing, analogies like this are really superfluous, but still ...)

From:

Head of State

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/fear-and-loathing-in-town-hall.html

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Fear and Loathing in the Town Hall: A Predictive Fantasy

(The camera looks at the hall from above, into the hall, from the POV of the stage. Red meat has been hung from the walls and rafters, along with dollar bills which, upon closer inspection, are Monopoly money.

The crowd is seated. They are strangely quiet. Their manner is that between those who are waiting for their instructions, post-op surgical recoverees, and post-war survivors. They are slightly slumped, in the same posture.

The candidates enter from opposite sides of the rear of the stage and walk to their podiums. The crowd rises as one and cheers with a loud, aggressive fervor reflective of their desperation.
Obama is standing tall in stride, looking a bit overcome by the experience, although genuine. McCain is smiling--his cheerful public grimace, although there is some genuine pleasure. His eyes have the slightest glaze of a gradually oncoming fog.)

MODERATOR: Tonight is a different format--one where you, the public, can ask your questions directly to the candidates. None of the questions have been screened in advance, and the candidates have been given no advance notice of what the questions, or who the questioners, might be. And with that, we begin. Our first question:

CITIZEN 1: My name is Jan, I'm from Murfreesboro? I've been watching the news, and I'm scared. I can't say that I've listened much about the stock market before? But I know that it's going down, and that's bad. I don't know what's going to happen to my job, or my house, or my kids. My question is for Mr. McCain? What will you do to help us understand what is going on, and to make it clear just what you will do about it?

(Crowd applauds vigorously as Jan sits down with a bit of embarrassment).

MCCAIN: (Holding the top of the rostrum with both hands and smiling): Well, first, I want to welcome each of you here tonight. You know, I know what each of you are feeling. I think that each of you must be scared--as I am, of not verifying myself in my father's and my grandfather's eyes. But, that's not so important today--or, at least saying it isn't. What is most important is to appear that I understand an economy that just months ago I said that I had little understanding of at all. I want to win. I need it, frankly, as a way of overcoming my own personal horrors and demons, of overcoming the anger that was bestowed and thrust, unwillingly, upon me. And that's why I'm still willing, even as the sharpest edges of mental function fade, to propel myself through this mass of insult. I understand how to respond to insult. With anger. And impulse. And that's what I'll bring to the White House, come January of 2009.

(Crowd applauds vigorously)

MODERATOR: The next question is for Senator Obama.

CITIZEN 2: Thanks. My name is Ross, from Shreveport. First-time caller, long-time listener. My question is: Senator Obama, it's not an error that you were given the middle name "Barack". We know that that is the same name of the murderous. Communist leader of Iran--and that's no accident. (A slight murmur from the crowd. The moderator looks vaguely stunned, but does not interrupt). Now, when you were going to Russia, with Bill Ayers, and dodging the draft--just like William Jefferson Clinton--(speaking more quickly now, more aggressively, turning to the crowd)--why weren't you here at home, saving our banks from the Liberals and the Socialists who want to take our money away from us and just give it to the terrorists?

SARAH PALIN: (Poking her head out from the wings, with a big smile): You betcha'!

(She withdraws).

OBAMA: Well. First of all, I also want to welcome you all here tonight. You know, I know that this is a difficult time. Many of you are worried about your jobs, your families, your homes. There are times that test a man's soul, and every woman's as well. And I know that this may be one of those times. I can understand why you would be frightened, even angry at what this nation has done. But we are a nation that has risen up in adversity even in the best of times, we found our strength, and honor, and courage, our ability to work as one, when faced with the most difficult situations. And I want to call on each of you, in that spirit of patriotic sacrifice, to join with me in that effort in the days ahead.

(Silence. Then applause, as the recognition of actual thought begins to spread through the crowd. It swells, and finally, subsides).

MODERATOR: The next question is for Senator McCain.

CITIZEN 3 (He is a man who appears to be in his early 40's wearing blue jeans that are stiff and obviously brand-new. They are perfectly creased. He is wearing a tight fitting, also obviously new T-Shirt that says "Average American...And Black With Rage!" beneath which is an American flag. He is wearing black wing-tip shoes. ). Senator McCain, I'm just an average American, just an average Joe, just your Average Joe-Sixpack (Blackberry begins ringing)...Oh...
excuse me...just...a...sec...my boss's phone...(whispering tensely into phone:) "No...I said sell. Sell. Yes, the entire portfolio. No, not Ghanan timber, for god's sake, gold, the lot of it. Jesus H....(tucks Blackberry back into pants pocket and then readjusts his stance to that of average Joe, slumping to one side again and changing his voice back to it's original tenor). Like I said, just an average Joe Sixpack. And I'm wonderin'. I heard what Mr. Hussein just said about "rising up", and I'm wonderin' if that's exactly what he wants to do! Oh, sure, he wants us to band together to rise up--where have we heard that before? Socialists! That's what they do! (crowd begins to murmur, and in the rising heat, the smell of the fresh meat begins to waft faintly through the hall). Rise up! That's what he wants to do! Well, we need to rise up! Against those kind of Socialist, Communist, Fascist, Atheist, Marxist policies! (the crowd is talking, some nodding their heads). And so what I want to ask you, Sen. McCain (crowd quiets), as an average everyday American, is this: What is it like, being a fighter pilot and all, when you know that Barack Hussein was out there, palling around with his Communist friends?

MCCAIN: Well, my friend--and by that, I mean that all of you are my friends--I'm glad you asked. Not everyone has had the luxury of gaining an education merely on the basis of their own talent, or the opportunity to travel the world learning how to be separate from important family members without their having significant pull, or to be able to experience the variety of foods that one has the chance to consume when they are paid for by the State. And, I can say that, in that way, I haven't been quiet as lucky. But I will say this--I will not look such fortune in the face and say: 'Fine, I'll work on education with the Bill Ayers of this world', "I'll be at the top of my class at Harvard", when I can be down, down there with you at the bottom! I know what it's like to be at the bottom when I've had all the opportunities--and I want to share that experience with those of you who have had none. You're angry. I'm angry. We have that in common. Let's be angry together, satisfied that, for another for four years, we've put those who have the arrogance to think for extended periods in their place, content in knowing that we're right--even if we're wrong.

CITIZEN 4: Hiya. My name is George, from Midland, altho' some would say Kennebunkport, heh, heh. I have a question for ya, John, and it's this. Listen: I'm goin' to be out of a job soon. Oil futures aren't lookin' that good, and I've got to tell ya', I didn't have too much luck there in the first place. So I'd like to ask ya, one flyin' man to another--what do you think I oughta do?

PALIN: (emerges from wings with purposeful strides to McCain's podium): I've got to take this one, John. Mr. Bush, if you can't figure out what you want to do after you leave and we move in, take a little time off, and then you come right up to Alaska. They love hunting just like you--and you can fly, you can learn to do it from a plane! The pipeline's big enough for any number of mistakes. So you come up here when you're finished--we've got plenty of bars with plenty of bowls of nuts and plenty of televisions right on Wasilla Main street--we'll take care of you right!

(Bush smiles and sits, crowd applauds, Palin, smiling and waving, exits).

CITIZEN 5: Well, look. This is a serious question. I'm John, from Carpenter. It's for both of you. I've got two kids, 4 and 6, a boy and a girl--so sweet. You know. My wife, she was working for the WaMu branch, center of town. It's closing next week. She's been looking in the ads, the newspapers, online--nothing. It's all she can do to keep a smile on her face for the kids. Myself, I built a commerical trucking business from the ground up. Sixteen years. Sweat everyday, grease on my hands, I can never get it out. We were never rich, but I made a good living. I didn't know about investing--who does, you're not born with it! Anyway, I went to an investment advisor, it seemed like the safe thing to do, protect the kids, plan for the future, not use my own dumb head (smiles). Well, he was so smart, and he was so sure, and he had it all planned out. And it looked so impressive on paper. Now--all of a sudden--it's gone. Everything is changing. It's changing so quickly. It seems like nobody--nobody knew. Not even the people who were supposed to! Everybody was talkin', makin noise, thinkin' of one thing: Themselves, themselves, themselves. Never worrying to think about someone else, about the future, about the next moment.

Well, now the next moment is here. And I wanna know--what are the two of you really gonna do about it?

(The room is quiet as his last word echoes in the hall. The raw meat is rocking, slowly in the air, and the paper bills are gently fluttering). You can see Palin in profile, standing in the wings, holding her chin in her hand. The two candidates stare straight ahead, holding the podium. They are silent).

Cite:

Head of State

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/fear-and-loathing-in-town-hall.html