McCain Again Flubs Highlighted Attack Lines

I had some respect for McCain because of his courage to reject war and injustices in a very humble way. Now he is even sounding and acting racist and xenophobic.

Not to mention he is getting too close with the extreme-right bunch that he was well known for disagreeing with in a fair and impartial way, always on the side of justice and common sense.

I really miss the old McCain. Too bad he sold his soul to the extreme right.

Sir,

I am a Vietnam Veteran, who spent two and a half years in the friggin jungles of Vietnam in a Marine Recon unit. I learned a great lesson in war...that war is not about who is right...only who is left. Apparently you do not know McCain as well as those who were in the POW camp with him. Do your homework. Once you know the truth...perhaps you will comprehend more. We will never promote 'democracy' thru firepower. We cannot nuke away the ideals of others. We cannot swap steel with those who have a differing idea of the world and be the 'winners.' There are no winners in war. There are only mothers who have lost their sons or daughters and only wives or hsubands who sleep alone and tell their children what a great person their father was. John McCain supports the EXACT same ideas if George Bush. 'If we don't agree I will not even talk to you. And if you press your opinions on me, I will bomb you into non-existence.' I, sir, have a pretty box on the wall with a lot more medals and ribbons than John McCain has...and it don't mean a darn thing to anybody but me, and to all those friends who I left behind in Vietnam. Do some homework and study the words of those who spent time in the same POW camp with Mr. McCain. It may open your eyes.

To 'A Simple Voter'

'...though things have improved somewhat I believe.'

Fascinating what having a few of them doing time in prison does for keeping the rest of them on their toes, eh? :)

This may not be taken very well by the person who suggested outlawing lobbying. However, as I understand it lobbying itself falls under constitutional protection as "the right to petition the government for redress and grievances". I am not certain that is the exact wording, but to petition the government does fall under the title of "lobbying" as well. What we need is reform on how it is conducted, though things have improved somewhat I believe.

The problem with the Senate and congress is they are littered with "money-for-votes" lobbyists. Are elected officials are constantly faced with a delemna... do I press this button (because it's the right one to press) or do I press this one (and get that nice chunky check deposited into my foundation's account? decisions, decisions...)

We need to CLEAN HOUSE, beginning with those corporate lobbyists. Make lobbying illegal and punishible by jail and loss of any professional/business liscensing. That should shift some power back to "We The People".

How bout that?

Well gosh, those pesky teleprompters can be as tough to handle as a fighter plane! Opps.

Dear "moderate"

There is a fundimental difference between truth and fact. Facts are indisputable, truth is relevant.

Here are the facts:

1. He really isn't as smart as Obama,

2. He can't pick a running mate worth a damn.

3. He is ill-tempered ,compulsive and hot headed.

4. He doesn't have a clue about the economy."

5. Being a "Maverick" is costing him the campaign. If elected, it will cost us our country, freedoms, liberties, incomes, health, environment, etc....

These are not opinions, they are facts based on what we've all seen and heard, except for folks like you who hear only what pleases you about your candidates, which should be very little. All McCain & Palin do in interviews, speeches & debates is attack, attack, attack. Well what about some good old-fashioned problem solving? How about some remedies? CONCRETE solutions? There is a reason why McCain's crowds are on average 3,000 to Obama's 20,000 (AND GROWING). Instead of thinking all these people for Obama are wrong, maybe it's time you consider that maybe you are. Another fact is: just because he's your party's candidate doesn't mean he's the right choice. If you don't accept this from me then ask Colin Powell. He'll clear it up for you.

I say all this with love and all due respect because that's how we DEMS roll. We take the high road, until you give us a reason to take the gloves off.

Okay,a few comments.

1. Presidential campaigns are grueling, especially this one, which has been going on forever. Not surprising that McCain is losing his bearings; he's an old guy.

2. The presidency is even more gruelling. Clinton and Bush Jr both came out with a lot more gray in their hair then when they went in. It requires youth and vigour.

3. McCain talks about having been tested during the Cuban Missile Crisis. That was 46 years ago and he wasn't calling the shots himself. Good thing too; He was 26 at the time.

I think the real reason John McCain 2008 is flubbing these lines is that somewhere deep down inside John McCain 2000 is trying to throttle him.

McCain's advisors try to explain the talking points (all negative, it seems), but it seems McCain must not understand the nuances. If he completely understood *how* the talking points turned into benefits for his own campaign, he wouldn't blunder; he would at least get through the (negative) talking points.

McCain's problem since the Palin pick was foisted upon him is that he has become only a puppet of the RNC and his advisors. He has become something *other* than his true self, and he is having a hard time embracing the dark underworld of the *dirtiest* politics.

While McCain might have lost if he had followed his own true wishes; if he had picked Joe Lieberman for a running mate, he would have remained true to his own self, and he would not be flubbing his handlers' talking points. That would have been a "respectable" campaign whether he would have won or lost, and in that sense EVERYONE has lost.

The "wise men" political advisors (and we have seen enough of their antics over the last eight years to last a lifetime) should be tarred, feathered, and run out of the political scene forever.

I don't think one needs to look any further than Gov. Palins' apparent vacuousness to find the most unsettling reason for her fall in approval polls.

Yesterday, she was asked again (for maybe the forth time publicly) what the VPs' reponsibilites include, from a 3rd grader. She repeated the gibberish she's been mistakenly expousing about the VP presiding over the Senate. I bet at least half of the 3rd graders know better.

Is this the type of intellectual we want with the launch codes?

PA Dem,

I'll bite. But I notice that after admonishing us to talk positively about our own candidate rather than run down the other, you turn around and run down John McCain. Double standard, much?

You wrote-- in all caps to get our attention:
"THE ONLY THING McCAINS CAMPAIGN HAS ATTEMPTED TO DO TO DATE IS TELL US WHY (MAYBE) WE SHOULDN'T VOTE FOR HIS OPPONENT - WHAT HAS JOHN McCAIN DONE TO GARNER OUR VOTE ?"

Actually, that is not the only thing McCain talks about, its just the only thing you and the media focus on. He talks about his economic plans (mortgage buyback plan, capital gains cut, IRA/401K rules temporary rules suspensions, business tax rate cuts, need I go on?), his energy plans (strong emphasis on nuclear, offshore drilling, all-of-the-above support, a competition for an improved electric car battery), his foreign policy (modified surge in Afghanistan, etc.), his trade policy (remember how Obama was completely wrong in his statements on COlumbian free trade agreement?), his tax plans (increased child credit, make bush tax cuts permanent, business tax reductions), and on and on. Those well-reasoned, pragmatic proposals are the reason I am voting for him.

Got to respond to this little rant of yours as well:

"He's isn't as smart (fact) as Obama
He can't pick a running mate worth a damn. He is ill-tempered ,compulsive and hot headed. He doesn't have a clue about the economy."

None of these are facts-- they are opinions, and I do not agree with any of them. So, having answered your questions, do I win a prize?

And he can't fly planes too well either.

Why don't people stop blaming the Presidency? Notice I did not say any President's name. It's not the office of the Presidency that spends countless hours and countless taxpayer dollars in the Senate and in the House making the laws and regulations. It's the Senators and the Congressmen/women. What we need is a complete cleansing of the entire House and Senate. They haven't gotten anything done, and now they want us to believe it's all the fault of the Office of the President? Come on! Get Real! What legislation has the Office of the President vetoed that caused the collapse of the Financial System? What legislations has the Office of the President written and forced Congress and the Senate to accept? Yes, the incumbent President hasn't been effective in his leadership. But, why not hold our Senators and Congressmen/women accountable? Why do they get a free pass? Focus!!!!

DDayDawg,

I am voting for Obama. That being said, I think deep down McCain is a good man. I truly believe that part of the reason he is having so many problems is because he is saying, and doing, things he doesn't truly believe in.

Pandering to the religious right is not John McCain. Inciting racism and dissent is not the John McCain we have seen over all these years. Deep down he is a good man. But, he has picked horrible advisers, made horrible decisions, made a disastrous VP pick, and that makes him unqualified to be President. So sad to see the down fall of a good and decent man.
___________________________________

I agree with you one hundred percent. I think McCain is an honorable man who is just having a difficult time expressing his true self amidst the "hate" spewing from his party.

I have two points. (1) How it is that anyone can keep supporting the McCain campaign and/or the Bush presidency. What does it take to actually point out that this stuff is not working? The collapse of the stock market and financial system, incompetent and corrupt management of the government on all levels - why do honest people still support the Republicans? It is beyond me. (2) in a similar vein, with such incompetence in the Republican party, why is the election so close? (I think that it is closer than the polls would have us think). How incompetent and corrupt would the Republicans have to be for their base to really turn away from them? It is amazing to me, but definitely a learning experience about the American public.

So delivery is paramount...and the issue of a VP candidate casting doubt on his choice of commander in chief is secondary to "thoughtful" media pundits. YIKES indeed.

Getting cocky? "Who will count the votes" said the little red hen.

Tracey, excellent workup of the tax diffs. Too bad 0% of us can even understand the tax code.

McCain is all Sound and Fury (signifying nothing)

Todd Palin, this man would be in the White house if McCain wins, we need to know more about this man. He has played a large role in his wife's governership in Alaska--attending meeting, influencing hireing and fireing decisions. The American people still have not been introduced to Todd Palin. We have not even heard the sound of his voice.

McCain won't last the final days--the man is too old. His mistake will get worst as the days go on. I am over 50 and know how hard it can be to try to keep up with the pace of a much younger person. If you notice his wife, daughter or Palin has to always stand by his side, while Obama is often campaigning without his wife or other people, he does not need someone to hold him up and keep him from making a mistake.