Gergen: McCain's Performance "An Exercise In Anger Management" (VIDEO)

David Gergen, veteran of Republican and Democratic administrations, put it succinctly just now on CNN: McCain "looked angry. It was an exercise in anger management up there."

Later, Gergen remarked on McCain's visible contempt for Obama, saying "There were times he brought back memories of Bob Dole in 1996" and "The looks and the disdain and the contempt and the anger that he felt was palpable."

Later in CNN's broadcast, after Campbell Brown ran down CNN's poll results (an overall Obama win, a win for Obama among independents, Obama wins on questions about healthcare, and even taxes), Anderson Cooper asked Gergen what he would say to McCain about what the message should be going forward, in light of these results. Gergen replied, "Beats the hell out of me," adding later, "See if you can leave this with your honor in tact."

Comments

[flifishun]

Gergen is right. McCain needs to consider his career after the campaign and what his image will be.
He's got 3 weeks.

[Wilbur]

Career afterwards? Try RETIREMENT­......PLEA­SE!!!!!!!!­!!!

Wilbur

[miamia]

He doesn't care about his image. He will write a tell all book about how he (again) abandoned his principles. He will return to his conservative (not republican but truly conservative) roots and Rethugs will love him for it.

[dreamseeker9837]

suzonne - lol! my 6 year old came in and asked me if McCain was real? I said, "What do you mean, real?" She said he looked like a rubber face.

[miamia]

He looked a little weird. Usually as a person becomes older you expect that they will be wiser. McCain does not fit into that category.

[MissKaren]

I kept thinking he needs to have his thyroid checked. He may be moving into hyperthyroidism, which is common in some elderly people. It leads to agitation, racing thoughts and fidgetyness. It's treatable with chemical ablation of the diseased organ and then thyroid medication to replace the missing hormones and keep the body's level steady.

[hyjanks]

Actually . . .
It was hard for me to keep my concentration on what was being said by all three men since, with every camera shot under harsh lighting, McCain reminded me of either Frosty the Snowman or the Pillsbury Doughboy (especially with those coal-black eyes). How can one take a candidate seriously if one is reminded of a character famous for pop-in-the-oven dinner rolls?
In any event, from what I was able to catch, Frosty nearly melted from red-hot anger as he spew forth the same old lies he's been telling for months.
One candidate is desperate, the other cool and calm. One is grasping at straws (perhaps to line a stove-top hat?) the other thinking of switch grass to be made into bio-fuel.
I'm sure we all have seen enough debates between the top critters to know who represents the future and which one would make a great running mate with Charles Curtis.
I only wish they'd bring back Sarah Palin for another round of Tina Fey impersonations.
Now, that would be entertainment!

[sueno]

I watched this segment live and
I realized that this was the first time I'd seen
anyone do or say that before-

[HeavyHitter]

Gergen is one of the best and least biased commentators out there.

[folksonomy]

The palpable contempt McCain has for Obama is truly disturbing. Obama really amazes me with his Cool Hand Luke approach that he consistently uses. A great PRESIDENTIAL trait, indeed.

[DiBaskin]

Maybe McCain was trying to make Obama angry. After the last debate I told my husband I thought Obama should have fought harder. My husband said he can't afford to look like an angry black man. I have to agree. Obama had to keep his cool. I would have gone off on McCain so long ago.

[EuroAmerican]

Gergen has been brilliant all along.

The race is not over, but McCain has shown that he has simply not the right personality and temperament to be a great leader.

Remember when we he was in Europe a few years ago, yelling at European diplomats for not falling in line behind the Republican administration.

McCain is not making friends and allies, he is making enemies.

[Yarrr]

It's really kinda surprising how much contempt McCain apparently has for Obama. At least he should try losing with dignity. Sadly that ship has sailed.

[rmreddicks]

You think Cindy will divorce him now? No prez = no Cindy. I bet she's got a rock solid pre-nup.

[Prayforchange]

Gergen is right on as usual. McCain scared me. When the camera cut to him he looked about to blow his top, and swore i heard him growl in the mic. Here is a cool political short film/ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KzbJtG9V2E

[Gabbie]

McCain has a breathing problem. When the mike wasn't on him I thought someone was snoring then realized it was McCain. His coloring was terrible. That man is just not healthy. The voters should demand an up-date on his health. There may be more than just his melanoma to be concerned about.

[kewps]

His right eye was all watery all evening.

[kjstjohn]

I heared snoring too. I thought it was my dog.

[kjstjohn]

"heard"

[Airforce-1]

If McCain and Obama were walking side-by-side in a dark alley and McCain had a walking cane, his expression dictated he would with a doubt hit Obama over the head with his cane and walk off. McCain does not like Obama just as he does not like Mitt Romney.

[folksonomy]

L O L

[KeithMayass]

the only strategy now for mccannot : running for the mexican border and never come back

[suzonne]

My children came in the room and watched the debate for a few minutes, their reaction was priceless.­..

"What's wrong with that man (McCain)"?

You can't fool kids but apparently McCain can fool some adults.

[rwt1138]

"Gergen replied, "Beats the hell out of me," adding later, "See if you can leave this with your honor intact." "
Too late.

[Rictracee]

Mccain body language , facial expression tells the tale.

[boing007]

befuddled,

That's a great word to describe Dubya.