The Dice Thrower Vs. The Poker Player

Barack Obama, earlier today in Colorado, raising John McCain's penchant for casino gambling for the first time:

I read the other day that Senator McCain likes to gamble. He likes to roll those dice. And that's okay, I enjoy -- making a confession here, I enjoy a little friendly game of poker myself once in a while, but the one thing I know is this: we can't afford to gamble on four more years of the same disastrous economic polices that we've had had the last eight.

Here's video, with a couple of extras thrown in:

Something tells me McCain's staff ought to let him go back to playing craps -- I think they'd rather have him gamble with Cindy McCain's money than what he's doing, which is gambling with his chances of getting elected president.

Comments

[Girlforaction]

I am definitely planning to take off January 18-25 to go back to my hometown - Washington,D.C. Because there is going to be a lot of partying during that week. Yes We Can, Yes We Can.

After the election I will pay for Palin's one way trip to Alaska and pay for McCain's tour of Arizona nursing homes.

Go Obama/Biden 2008.

[rose london]

THE GOP GAMBLE ON MCCAIN..MCCAIN WAS NOMINATED...THEN MCAIN GAMBLE ON PALIN.. PALIN WAS NOMINATED ..THEN THE CITIZENS ROLED THE DICE AND OBAMA WON THE DAY.

[TXfemmom]

That is a good analogy. I have read that Obama's poker partners say he is cautious, intense, and deliberate in his poker playing and rarely leaves money on the table at the end of the night. McCain loves to play craps, which is something which is always against the players, an he does a lot of it. Personally, I don't want someone who has to have the adrenalin rush of taking great chances in order to have a good time. After all, his adrenalin rushes may come at the expense of the country.

[nhplanner]

I think that was a good comparison. McCain has been running his campaign like he's sitting at the craps table rolling the dice. How will he run the country?

[NURREDIN]

WASN'T "MAVERICK" A GAMBLER?

[Fenice888]

This is a few months old, but has always been one of my favorites.
A comparison of gambling preferences & styles of Our Guy & Theirs. Enjoy:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1819898-1,00.html

[paulbehrman]

About 4-5 years ago, I saw John McCain (who was my favorite Republican at the time) at the craps table at the Bellagio. So I strolled over and joined the table as close as I could to him -- surprised that he was playing craps in Vegas. However, I was REALLY surprised that he was doing so with a very attractive young woman. I thought to myself -- Damn! It looks like this guy is not only throwing dice in Vegas -- but he must be cheating as well -- Wow! And he doesn't seem to care people are seeing him!? Maybe it is his niece or something? She looked 40.

I played dice with them both for about 20 minutes (JM, the girl, and then me) -- I chatted them up a bit -- shook their hands -- told him I was a fan (which wasn't much of a stretch at the time). I was just getting a kick out of throwing dice with such a political figure.

A few days later I was in Arizona on biz and told the story to a friend there -- he said -- yep he likes his dice, but that must have been his wife -- she's quite young and attractive. So I never thought about it again...

UNTIL the Vicki Iseman stuff came out -- and yep -- sure enough -- that was her. 100%. She looked better in person by the way than in all the pics on the Internet.

[DocJerome]

Well, it appears that you've got the scoop. The media however, will not touch this with a 100 foot pole.

[faithfully]

I still wonder what happened to Vicki Iseman. I just would like to know if she is alive.

[thromulese]

“gambling with his chances of getting elected president.”

More importantly, he is gambling with the American economy, millions of Americans finances, and their retirement. All of which is vastly more important than him getting elected. And if he does get elected, we might as well all move to mexico because we will be a third world country if that happens.

[tds1273]

Awesome!

Obama knows how to pick his spots too apparently; Denver does love them some Hold 'em. You can find a free texas hold'em tournament at one sports bar or another for almost every night of the week in the Mile High City.

[drec1500Madrid]

At what point is a gambler considered a "degenerate"?

[ElectricSlim]

That's not the point. Do we want someone with a gambling mentality making critical decisions about our future and safety? It's about judgement. Pete Rose can't even be in the Hall of Fame and some want to make John McCain president? Mac's erratic behavior over the course of this campaign, especially last week, should make everyone VERY frightened.

[candlepower]

thanks for this

the truth is out there and now it's on the Huff

Go O!

[JJeff88]

A little bit of "wild psychoanalysis (based on personal observation and not theory).

Many gamblers (especially those who like to roll dice) do so "because they like to be part of the action." (It makes them feel more upbeat). They like to hear the sound of the dice being rolled and the crowd around the table ooh'ing and ah'ing.

This may explain McCain's inclination to frequently make sudden changes in course and go for the drama.

It keeps him in the limelight (where all the action is).

It might explain why he tried to push his way into the bail-out negotiations and continues trying to hog the limelight.

This also may explain why you don't see very much of Sarah Palin these days - she's an attention-magnet who, through no fault of her own, steals face-time from McCain.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I get more than a little bit nervous when contemplating having a gambler in the White House. These uncertain, tricky and perilous times call for someone more balanced and sure-footed.

[DavidGMills1959]

In 2004, Democrats Reject Regulations by Republicans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN31-nKndg8



Fannie Mae Freddie & Mac Democrats Say Are Fundamentally Sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QBRIsCkGQ0

[SPENCER]

I guess you forgot about the Commodity Futures Restoration Act of 2000, with the Enron loophole, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which repealed the Glass-Steagel Act, and deregulated the banking industry. If anybody is to blame, it's Phil Gramm.

[thromulese]

and Gramm's wife helped too.

[mmerose]

There is a huge difference between the psychological payoffs of craps and poker. In the context of presidential qualities, the emphasis in poker on shrewd observation of the opponent for "tells" about strength or weakness is something completely absent from craps, which is about a totally self-involved, fleeting thrill based on a purely random event. Poker is also highly reality-based in terms of odds on decisions and draws.

McCain has been in the cocoon of Cindy's wealth for a long time. It could be very hard for him to differentiate between the motives and sensations of being reckless with his money, always with a bailout at hand, and being reckless with our money.

[JustAProgressive]

Yeah, poker is a social event, and dice are individualistic. It's not unlike John Kerry's miltary service as an infantryman, vs. McCain's solo flyboy experiences. Drop that payload, then turn and head home. Collateral damage? Incidental casualties? What are they?

[newshawk14]

I majored in physics and minored in mathematics, and I regard gamblers as low grade morons.
In regards gambling, I've never wanted to donate my resources, or take anyone else's money so
that I might come out ahead. I think that one of the most immoral and dishonest actions, that
states have ever done, is to promote gambling, with the promise that it will support schools.

[brandanomousse]

100% agree, newshawk14.

[Purobi]

I have a Ph.D. in Physics and I am with you 100% too.