Photos: McCain's Week Of Horrible Images

The images from Barack Obama's trip abroad have been, one might say, picture perfect. From the stern shot of Obama with Gen. David Petraeus to the somber photos from Israel's Holocaust Museum, one guesses that Obama's campaign couldn't be more pleased.

As for John McCain -- well, that's another story:

MONDAY

McCain in a golf cart with George H. W. Bush at Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine:

TUESDAY

As oil companies announce their massive quarterly profits, McCain makes a campaign stop at Buxton Oil Inc.:

Story continues below

WEDNESDAY

McCain takes questions from reporters about a range of domestic and foreign policy issues -- in front of an aisle of cheese:

Then, via Jed Report, McCain holds an event in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and 900 of the 1600 seats in the auditorium remain empty:

Comments

[Mr Grey]

From the green wall speech to the wall of cheese press conference! Mr McCain's campaign seems to be one sanfu after another, yet he is still doing well in the polls? Wake up America!

[GeoLee]

I bet Bush 41 told him to go find out about those new scanners and to check the price of eggs to be prepared for the debates.

[Kenji]

snafu?

[bikerdude]

Its a grown up thing...

[AgentMacGyver]

Is he really doing well in the polls? Media withhold the most lopsided ones.

[the964kid]

I'm beginning to wonder if we're looking at the worst modern campaign ever. Is somebody high-up in his campaign trying to make sure McCain loses badly?? This is getting embarrassing...

[bikerdude]

It will be interesting if the RNC will replace him at their convention. Someone has to be coming up with such a plan...Gingrich? Jebby?

[VSamuels]

I disagree!

There maybe a plurality here who can see McCain and his weaknessess, but for those who are harden in their opinion of Obama, nothing will change or damage their view that McCain isn't well suited to hold the office of President. Yes, a few will be depressed and simply stay home in November, but many more will rally behind the sentiments sown by Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Coulter, Novak and the various black bootlickers of Thos. Sowell and Armstrong Williams who use various emotional invectives like 'scary' and 'troublesome' to invoke the memories of all of those things throughout American history which drove racial fear and pandering.

Many more folks are simply not watching or following each and every aspect of this campaign, nor do they take the time to watch U tube or the other mediums which would give them a broad view of the issues. Such folks will simply go into the booth after asking a spouse or friend to confirm if "Obama' is that guy who sat in Rev. Wright's church' or the guy who is a 'Muslim" and pick McCain. They will step out of the booth having bent to unconscious racism, while consciously believing they have saved the country from a 'radical' inexperienced exotic guy, and go on about their day.

There still is a very excellent chance that McCain wins in November.

[AzCat]

HuffPost's Pick

McCain: "Our Free Trade agreements with our North American trading partners are working. Take cheese for example. Americans pay less for American Cheese when it's made in Matamoros Mexico, and that's good for everyone. It's good for American's who like American Cheese and good for Mexican workers who are able to provide for their families. They don't eat American Cheese as far as I know ... I think they prefer that runny white stuff that taste a bit like cottage cheese, but without the curds. Me, I like that Country Crock Smokie Chedder stuff with a box of Ritz. I could eat that for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. My opponent on the other hand, opposes NAFTA and likes that snooty, smelly French toe cheese."

[timothyi]

"But the important thing is that we wore an onion on our belt, which was the style at the time..."

[SirReal1]

McCain: "What do you mean "American Cheese" isn't REAL CHEESE? Why, it's as REAL as I AM!"

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

The picture of him in front of the dairy products couldn't get any worst, then if they would have stopped him in the feminine products isle. I kept thinking why cheese, are the late night comedians on his payroll, he just writing the jokes for them. Bright side is he might not be able to write a good opt-ed or tell a good joke but, he give damn good material for a monlog.

[DrFitz]

The only thing worse than the cheese visual was McCain's tortured nonsensical explanation of the surge actually being the counter-insurgency. Now that was truly cringe worthy.

[Dianekkdi]

Indeed! That convoluted explanation was amazing. mccain is whining about lack of media coverage...
He's lucky they don't cover this crap of his.
His redefining of words and tortured explanation had me cringing too.

[GeoLee]

Couldn't get any worse is what should have been typed. Lately several posters seem to have not learned when to use worst and when to use worse and since the t and e keys are two apart, I suspect you dont' know. Also aisle for a store, isle for what is in an ocean. OP-Ed (short for opposite the editorial page--opt is short for option) and monologue. So much for TAAS tests, huh? Looks like George left some children behind when he moved to DC. and then inflicted the same on a whole generation of youngsters nationwide.

[filo]

What's next? The fertilizer aisle at the local garden center???

[IraqVet04]

And what exactly is wrong with cheese and wine?

It reminds me of a great quote from a great philosopher... "If you don't like chicken and watermelon... then something is wrong with YOU." - Dave Chappelle

[Rendon76]

I used to follow this stuff everyday, day to day, hour by hour but after the Democratic primary I've had to take a break. I haven't been glued to my TV the way I've been the last few years with politics. It took this years Democratic primary to totally make me stop watching for a while. But now that I haven't been watching as intently I'm amazed at how people in politics and those who follow it stress themselves out with day to day things. It's like I have the perspective of the average joe now but I'm looking in and I can't believe how the day to day game totally consumes those who are in it and those who follow it. John McCain took some pictures in front of a cheese isle in a grocery store and people are following this. I'm enjoying the hurricane weather as I write this and I'm outside the news cycle frenzy, outside looking in amazement. I'm thinking of the McCain campaign how insane this one week has made them and I'm amazed how one week can warp a campaign. It's really not that bad guys Americans aren't really paying attention as much as you think, I know this because I'm in average Joe mode and it's hilarious :)

[recruitgal]

I know what you mean, but I think in this case, we're pointing out the differences in style and campaign management.

BO is on a highly successful trip to the world's troublespots, talking with world leaders, looking uber-presidential and making sense.

JM is being spending his days driving around on golf carts with OAPs, holding press conferences in supermarkets, making factual errors every time he speaks and attending events that are half full. The campaign are trying to throw flamethrowers are ridiculous targets (Obama is pro-genocide?), and making themselves look ridiculous. I'm embarrassed on his behalf. This is not dignified.

How much of this debacle is McCain's fault is debatable, but it's HIS campaign. He needs to take responsibility for it turning into a very slow train wreck.

[SSF]

While Obama is overseas building new alliances, restoring old ones, and creating a new direction for American foreign policy and reestablishing our nations' reputation; Republican John McCain is riding around in a golf cart with an even older has-been Republican relic of the past and then goes shopping for cheese! This election is over! You lose, John! Go home and sit down before you fall down!

[MtDavid]

SSF
Don't underestimate American racism.
Anti-Obama hate email is coming from somewhere, and being received by many with glee.
On the other hand the liberal racists say things like, "he just doesn't have enough experience."

[VSamuels]

Yes, racism within the Democratic party is much more veiled and covered in sub-text. When Ferraro made her comments she was doing what the Hannities and Limbaughs do daily, she was making an emotional appeal. After this election, I hope black Americans abandon the Democrat party and register as independents; as Bill and Hillary Clinton showed while they had no problem being seen in public with black folks and putting some in office; it was them who were to be in charge and power.

To think that Bill Clinton, the same guy who once claimed Ron Brown and Jesse Jackson as his closest allies could so easily abandon the black voters and run around the white blue collar communities pretending it was they who got him in office, was astounding. This election is going to be historic not because of what some think, but because it is finally going to awaken black folks to the reality that neither party has respected them, and thus they must re-think their opinion of keeping all of our eggs in any one basket of political philosophy.

[1differentdrummer]

That's true ONLY if everyone gives and works to the max and then votes absentee ballot while getting others to do so, too. They could still steal the election, one more time.

[zull2]

If someone reading this happens to be considering voting for McCain...

The one thing, if there's nothing you can think of that makes you want to vote for Barack Obama, the one reason you should anyway is that the man is not going to embarrass you or your country. He may certainly not be perfect, but the guy is just way, way too smart to make the sorts of boneheaded mistakes that our last few Presidents have.

McCain, on the other hand...well, it should be really apparent by now what kind of screw-up he is. People didn't know him all that well in 2000, which is why he became a surprise candidate. The thing is, when you put him next to George W. Bush, people felt that Bush was more presidential. Look how that turned out. So you're thinking of voting for a guy who was even MORE of a screw up than Bush? You obviously don't mind being the butt of a joke, then.

[astockton]

In front of an aisle of cheese? Shucks, it could have been worse. At first I thought the packages behind him were tampons.

[buckbuck11]

...or Depends,
...or Prune Juice

[skyreader7]

What a clown! His campaign managers should hide him behind some curtains and a contraption like in the Wizard of Oz and never let his face or voice be heard for the rest of the race. That's his only chance -- don't talk, don't be seen.

[Bitsko]

Is that guy in the last picture picking his nose? Doesn't he know he's in the presence of a true patriot?

Great selection of photos. Best laugh all day.

[hmmmmm]

no. he's propping up for some zzzzzzzzzzzzz's

[DFutureIsNow]

Hey John, nice idea to have some cheese with that WHINE

LOL

[meleon]

Now children, we've studied fossil fuels for a few weeks now and I'm so excited to finally be able to show you exactly what it looks like!

[PuppaX]

Obama looks more and more presidential.

McCain looks more and more inconsequential.

[Snerdgronk]

The golf cart with "Hands Off #41' is a great shot, but what it misses is the "Keep Off the Grass, #42", sign Sr. just drove over ...

And who, on the estate, do you suppose the Golf Cart sign is aimed at, other than the hired help.

Snerd

[xargaw]

Did you notice that McCain looks the same age as Pappa Bush? I think Bush is well into his eighties, and I think he is still mentally sharper.

[alieninvader]

Jon Stewart had a good one about that tonight.