Excellent Rolling Stone piece on the election
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/24375710/requiem_for_a_maverick/print
Showing posts with label McCain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label McCain. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
McCain's best speech
He was eloquent, classy and conciliatory. He silenced the boo-ers and extended what truly seemed to be a sincere olive branch.
While I wish more of this McCain had been in evidence during the race, I am glad he went out on such a good note:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/04/mccain-concession-speech_n_141196.html
While I wish more of this McCain had been in evidence during the race, I am glad he went out on such a good note:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/04/mccain-concession-speech_n_141196.html
Friday, October 24, 2008
B stands for bull
There's not too much to say about the McCain campaign worker's hoax attack. Even Malkin smelled a rat. It didn't make it into my newspaper yesterday because it had HOAX written all over it in my opinion and I didn't think it rated any ink.
Of course it was a hoax, after all, but now it appears some official state-level McCain people were pushing the story: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/mccain_aide_gave_reporters_inc.php
And they wonder why people believe the McCain effort is sleazy.
Of course it was a hoax, after all, but now it appears some official state-level McCain people were pushing the story: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/mccain_aide_gave_reporters_inc.php
And they wonder why people believe the McCain effort is sleazy.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Joe the Plumber or Joe the Plant
So Daily Kos is all a-twitter over the holes in "Joe the Plumber's" story.
Details here: http://www.dailykos.com/
Evidently he's had tax issues.
Evidently he's actually a Republican.
It's even alleged he's got at least a Bill Ayers'-style connection to the Keating folks.
It's also noted that the McCain campaign had his phone number, although they swear they didn't give him "media training."
For the record, it sounds suspiciously like another inept GOP dirty trick.
Someday they will rediscover the value of actual values (you know, the kind you live by, not just talk about). Once (and if) they do, they will start to recover. The Democrats will always be vulnerable on that score.
Meanwhile Drudge has still failed to make note of the Palin abuse-of-power-probe,
Meanwhile PBS is balking at airing a documentary that shows how the Bush torture regime came about.
Oh, and meanwhile the economy is going to absolutely to hell.
Details here: http://www.dailykos.com/
Evidently he's had tax issues.
Evidently he's actually a Republican.
It's even alleged he's got at least a Bill Ayers'-style connection to the Keating folks.
It's also noted that the McCain campaign had his phone number, although they swear they didn't give him "media training."
For the record, it sounds suspiciously like another inept GOP dirty trick.
Someday they will rediscover the value of actual values (you know, the kind you live by, not just talk about). Once (and if) they do, they will start to recover. The Democrats will always be vulnerable on that score.
Meanwhile Drudge has still failed to make note of the Palin abuse-of-power-probe,
Meanwhile PBS is balking at airing a documentary that shows how the Bush torture regime came about.
Oh, and meanwhile the economy is going to absolutely to hell.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Rich Lowry on Obama's "genius"
Rich Lowry (Of Palin "Starbursts" fame) on Obama tonight:
Just got off deadline for a New York Post piece on the debate. I thought McCain was good. It's as passionate and well-informed as he's ever been on domestic policy. His debate briefers did their job well. I think he repeatedly scored points in the first hour, but they were jabs rather then crosses—blows that Obama could absorb. If McCain were running in a year when his party wasn't getting crushed by a series of calamites, he might be winning this race. But tonight obviously wasn't enough. Obama, meanwhile, just has to appear plausible and he did. In fact, he's a kind of genius at appearing plausible. If the Nobel committee had a prize for appearing plausible, he'd win it every time. He carries himself with confidence, he never appears flustered, and he has mastered his material. If he's losing these debates on points (as I think he is), it doesn't matter. Every day the race drifts in the same direction it is now is a day he's closer to becoming president.
My emphasis
Just got off deadline for a New York Post piece on the debate. I thought McCain was good. It's as passionate and well-informed as he's ever been on domestic policy. His debate briefers did their job well. I think he repeatedly scored points in the first hour, but they were jabs rather then crosses—blows that Obama could absorb. If McCain were running in a year when his party wasn't getting crushed by a series of calamites, he might be winning this race. But tonight obviously wasn't enough. Obama, meanwhile, just has to appear plausible and he did. In fact, he's a kind of genius at appearing plausible. If the Nobel committee had a prize for appearing plausible, he'd win it every time. He carries himself with confidence, he never appears flustered, and he has mastered his material. If he's losing these debates on points (as I think he is), it doesn't matter. Every day the race drifts in the same direction it is now is a day he's closer to becoming president.
My emphasis
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Can McCain escape the blame?
I'm sure it's not so simple as this, and there's plenty of blame to go around, (and I'm not even sure that McCain and the Republicans may not be right) but it sure looks like everything was all sort of set for The Big Compromise to be struck and everyone look like did something good (at least until the next shoe drops -- BTW WaMu bit the dust) and then McCain rides into town and screws it all up.
If the market tanks tomorrow because the deal they expected has gone belly up, how does McCain escape the blame?
If the market tanks tomorrow because the deal they expected has gone belly up, how does McCain escape the blame?
McCain's gambit
I'm long past being completely objective about this race. My disappointment with Republicans in general, and McCain in particular is too profound to claim a dispassionate viewpoint.
My observation, however, is that whatever might have been left in the benefit-of-the-doubt reservoir seems to have run dry for the GOP and I doubt that McCain's attempt to get out of Friday's debate will work to his credit.
Likewise, I think Bush's squandered credibility will mean that tonight's address will have little impact.
My observation, however, is that whatever might have been left in the benefit-of-the-doubt reservoir seems to have run dry for the GOP and I doubt that McCain's attempt to get out of Friday's debate will work to his credit.
Likewise, I think Bush's squandered credibility will mean that tonight's address will have little impact.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
George Will on McCain being ill-suited to the presidency
As always, well said:
Conservatives who insist that electing McCain is crucial usually start, and increasingly end, by saying he would make excellent judicial selections. But the more one sees of his impulsive, intensely personal reactions to people and events, the less confidence one has that he would select judges by calm reflection and clear principles, having neither patience nor aptitude for either.
It is arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is not ready for the presidency. It is arguable that McCain, because of his boiling moralism and bottomless reservoir of certitudes, is not suited to the presidency. Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience. Can a dismaying temperament be fixed?
Conservatives who insist that electing McCain is crucial usually start, and increasingly end, by saying he would make excellent judicial selections. But the more one sees of his impulsive, intensely personal reactions to people and events, the less confidence one has that he would select judges by calm reflection and clear principles, having neither patience nor aptitude for either.
It is arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is not ready for the presidency. It is arguable that McCain, because of his boiling moralism and bottomless reservoir of certitudes, is not suited to the presidency. Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience. Can a dismaying temperament be fixed?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
More of the same
Gee, this sounds familiar:
Throughout her political career, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance, according to a review of public records and interviews with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.
and
Interviews show that Ms. Palin runs an administration that puts a premium on loyalty and secrecy. The governor and her top officials sometimes use personal e-mail accounts for state business; dozens of e-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that her staff members studied whether that could allow them to circumvent subpoenas seeking public records.
From the New York Times. The whole story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Throughout her political career, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance, according to a review of public records and interviews with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.
and
Interviews show that Ms. Palin runs an administration that puts a premium on loyalty and secrecy. The governor and her top officials sometimes use personal e-mail accounts for state business; dozens of e-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that her staff members studied whether that could allow them to circumvent subpoenas seeking public records.
From the New York Times. The whole story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
More of the same
Gee, this sounds familiar:
Throughout her political career, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance, according to a review of public records and interviews with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.
and
Throughout her political career, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance, according to a review of public records and interviews with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.
and
More of the same
Gee, this sounds familiar:
Throughout her political career, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance, according to a review of public records and interviews with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.
and
Throughout her political career, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance, according to a review of public records and interviews with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.
and
More of the same
Gee, this sounds familiar:
Throughout her political career, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance, according to a review of public records and interviews with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.
and
Throughout her political career, she has pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance, according to a review of public records and interviews with 60 Republican and Democratic legislators and local officials.
and
Friday, September 12, 2008
Media has had it with the lies
Just read an AP story that spelled out no less than six different untrue or misleading McCain statements. That's six in one story -- and that was a regular campaign story, not some expose.
As a former reporter myself, I know nothing is more aggravating than to have someone lie to you to your face and expect you to print it, even though you know it's a lie, they know it's a lie and they know that you know it's a lie.
It's bad when even the ladies on The View are calling you out as a liar.
As a former reporter myself, I know nothing is more aggravating than to have someone lie to you to your face and expect you to print it, even though you know it's a lie, they know it's a lie and they know that you know it's a lie.
It's bad when even the ladies on The View are calling you out as a liar.
The definitive list of McCain course reversals
76 and counting so far: http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/flipflops
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The disappointment of John McCain
Andrew Sullivan sums it up:
So far, he has let us all down. My guess is he will continue to do so. And that decision, for my part, ends whatever respect I once had for him. On core moral issues, where this man knew what the right thing was, and had to pick between good and evil, he chose evil. When he knew that George W. Bush's war in Iraq was a fiasco and catastrophe, and before Donald Rumsfeld quit, McCain endorsed George W. Bush against his fellow Vietnam vet, John Kerry in 2004. By that decision, McCain lost any credibility that he can ever put country first. He put party first and his own career first ahead of what he knew was best for the country.
And when the Senate and House voted overwhelmingly to condemn and end the torture regime of Bush and Cheney in 2006, McCain again had a clear choice between good and evil, and chose evil.
He capitulated and enshrined torture as the policy of the United States, by allowing the CIA to use techniques as bad as and worse than the torture inflicted on him in Vietnam. He gave the war criminals in the White House retroactive immunity against the prosecution they so richly deserve. The enormity of this moral betrayal, this betrayal of his country's honor, has yet to sink in. But for my part, it now makes much more sense. He is not the man I thought he was.
The rest is here: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/mccains-integri.html
I, too, am disappointed. Of all the GOP candidates I liked John McCain the best. I thought he was a man of honor and I expected, for a change, that we would be treated to an above-board, issues-based campaign between these two men.
Instead we're getting the Rovian politics that have robbed the Republican party of its soul in a Faustian bargain for power. It's evident now that it didn't matter who the GOP picked (with the possible exception of Huckabee), the Republicans no longer even know how to campaign on issues. The Reagan era is dead. Issues no longer matter.
For the good of the party, (not to mention the country) McCain must lose. Perhaps, out of that wreckage someone can rebuild the party based on some authentic conservative values. Maybe it will be Huckabee, with his populist and faith-based but optimistic vision. Maybe it can be Petraeus, who will be a bona fide war hero and is apparently a "Northeastern Republican" (a nearly dead breed, but one that could actually win over independents) in the mold of Eisenhower. Perhaps there is some Obama-like young Republican who can take the party in a new direction.
So far, he has let us all down. My guess is he will continue to do so. And that decision, for my part, ends whatever respect I once had for him. On core moral issues, where this man knew what the right thing was, and had to pick between good and evil, he chose evil. When he knew that George W. Bush's war in Iraq was a fiasco and catastrophe, and before Donald Rumsfeld quit, McCain endorsed George W. Bush against his fellow Vietnam vet, John Kerry in 2004. By that decision, McCain lost any credibility that he can ever put country first. He put party first and his own career first ahead of what he knew was best for the country.
And when the Senate and House voted overwhelmingly to condemn and end the torture regime of Bush and Cheney in 2006, McCain again had a clear choice between good and evil, and chose evil.
He capitulated and enshrined torture as the policy of the United States, by allowing the CIA to use techniques as bad as and worse than the torture inflicted on him in Vietnam. He gave the war criminals in the White House retroactive immunity against the prosecution they so richly deserve. The enormity of this moral betrayal, this betrayal of his country's honor, has yet to sink in. But for my part, it now makes much more sense. He is not the man I thought he was.
The rest is here: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/mccains-integri.html
I, too, am disappointed. Of all the GOP candidates I liked John McCain the best. I thought he was a man of honor and I expected, for a change, that we would be treated to an above-board, issues-based campaign between these two men.
Instead we're getting the Rovian politics that have robbed the Republican party of its soul in a Faustian bargain for power. It's evident now that it didn't matter who the GOP picked (with the possible exception of Huckabee), the Republicans no longer even know how to campaign on issues. The Reagan era is dead. Issues no longer matter.
For the good of the party, (not to mention the country) McCain must lose. Perhaps, out of that wreckage someone can rebuild the party based on some authentic conservative values. Maybe it will be Huckabee, with his populist and faith-based but optimistic vision. Maybe it can be Petraeus, who will be a bona fide war hero and is apparently a "Northeastern Republican" (a nearly dead breed, but one that could actually win over independents) in the mold of Eisenhower. Perhaps there is some Obama-like young Republican who can take the party in a new direction.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
A small point that sums up the GOP's problem
Reality Based Community notes this during McCain's speech:
One of the ordinary people he's going to work for is someone who "lost his real estate investments in the downturn." Not, of course, someone who lost his house.
One of the ordinary people he's going to work for is someone who "lost his real estate investments in the downturn." Not, of course, someone who lost his house.
Some words that are really needed
Roger Simon "apologizes" on behalf of the emdia for daring to do its job this week with Palin: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13143.html
Friday, August 29, 2008
Is it a McCurse?
This whole Sarah Palin choice thing can't help but remind me of 1972 and McGovern's ill-fated choice of Thomas Eagleton.
Will 
the GOP really actaully be satisfied with this pick?
the GOP really actaully be satisfied with this pick?Sure, she'll appeal to those who simply can't bear to actually think and therefore believe that the Bible dictates the answer to every question in life, science and politics, but those folks aren't wanywhere enough to win win.
She appears to be utterly unqualified to be president, and let's face it, the main job of the VP is to be president-in-reserve should anything happen to the president.
And she's going to bring front and center the question of McCain's age.
This is so bad a selection that I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't make it out of the convention on the ticket.McGovern ended up dumping Sen. Thomas Eaglton after reports surfaced that he had undergone mental treatments.
McGovern ended up winning just two "states" -- Massachusetts and D.C.
McCain may pick up just a couple from the deep south, Idaho and Alaska at this rate.
An Alaskan talks about Palin
Reading this I can't help but believe tht McCain has made an epic blunder here by picking Palin for VP.
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/what-is-mccain-thinking-one-alaskans-perspective/
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/what-is-mccain-thinking-one-alaskans-perspective/
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