McCain's Losing Strategy: Double Down on the Anger

John McCain scored the zinger of the night with, "I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago."

But his performance in the third debate was, in fact, incredibly Bush-like, mirroring Bush's signature stubbornness -- especially on Iraq -- by doubling down on a failed strategy.

McCain's reliance on angry, negative, personal attacks on Obama -- including the pathetic Ayers smear and ACORN "destroying the fabric of democracy" -- has been an unequivocal failure, with the poll numbers to prove it. But instead of course-correcting, McCain doubled down tonight -- coming across as angrier and meaner than ever before.

This debate wasn't decided on the arguments being made. It was won on the reaction shots. Every time Obama spoke, McCain grimaced, sneered, rapidly blinked, or rolled his eyes. "He looked like Captain Ahab, again and again going after Moby Dick," John Cusack told me. "Or an animal caught in a bear trap. He even seemed pissed at Joe the Plumber."

McCain's contemptuous reactions were so intense and frequent, they've already been turned into a YouTube video. The disdain McCain feels for Obama was unmistakable. It's as if Obama is not just blocking his way to the White House, but robbing him of his destiny.

By contrast, every time McCain was on the attack, Obama was smiling. And the nastier McCain got, the brighter Obama's smile became. It was the non-verbal equivalent of Reagan's disarming "There you go again" -- and it served to underline McCain's need for anger management. The angrier McCain got, the more unruffled Obama appeared.

It was like watching a split-screen double feature -- Grumpy Old Men playing side by side with Cool Hand Luke.

McCain was frantic -- as though he was running out of time, which he is -- throwing everything he had at Obama, logical connection between thoughts be damned. In one memorable answer, he brought up Colombia, quickly jumping from free trade, to drugs killing young Americans, to hostages freed from Colombian rebels, to job creation.

Colombia also brought out one of McCain's most sneering reactions, chiding Obama for never having "traveled south of our border" -- a jaw-dropping line of attack from the man who chose Sarah "Just Got My Passport" Palin as his No. 2.

Another head-scratcher: McCain's claim that "talking about a positive plan of action to restore this economy" is "what my campaign is all about." Really?

This is another way in which McCain's campaign mirrors Bush's handling of the Iraq war: not only doubling down on a failed strategy but also engaging in an endless search for an underlying rationale.

McCain's campaign was all about experience -- until he picked Palin. It was all about putting country first -- until he picked Palin. It was all about the success of the surge -- until everyone from General Petraeus and the authors of the latest NIE made it clear that victory in Iraq exists only in McCain's and Palin's stump speeches. It was all about William Ayers -- until voters rejected that line of attack. It was all about national security -- until the economy collapsed.

Now it looks like it's going to be all about Joe the Plumber -- and Sarah Palin's "expertise" on autism. Note to Sen. McCain, check out Palin's record as an advocate for special needs kids. She may understand their problems "better than almost any American that I know," but she sure isn't making their life easier in her state. (Is it any wonder McCain choked on the words as he referred to Palin as a "bresh of freth air"?)

Another note to McCain: If your mentioning Hillary Clinton three times in the debate was an attempt to win the hearts of women, putting women's "health" in air quotes and labeling it the concern only of "extreme" pro-abortionists was not a very good way to close the deal. He can kiss those women -- and those pro-choice swing voters -- good-bye.

McCain's spirit at the beginning of the debate quickly curdled into a desperate rage. And looking at the post-debate insta-polls, one thing became crystal: for voters, a lot of anger doesn't go a long way.

Obama closed by promising to "work every single day, tirelessly, on your behalf." McCain closed by just sounding tired -- exhausted by all the unleashed fury.

Read more reactions to the Obama-McCain Presidential Debate from HuffPost bloggers

Comments

[TakeSake]

Captain McCain as Captain Ahab, chasing Barack Obama as the, as it were, White Whale, Leviathan, Moby Dick - cast aside like a pipe into the ocean his integrity and experience when he allowed his quest to outweigh everything else.

His unreasoned decisions don't even provide the drunken palliative as would a bottle of rum - all that remains is a bitter, seething fury towards the object of his quest.

Now the United States is in the position of the Pequod when it met the Rachel - the last decision could be made, whether to rescue those in need and save the crew from its inevitable destruction, or to continue in a direction that is destined to fail.

For want of a doubloon, are we going to lose the ship, with nothing but a coffin for a lifeboat?

[skippypicasso]

Wouldn't the Presidency be the 'white whale'?

[TakeSake]

I think that McCain is taking Obama's success personally - it's an affront to him, an insult. Perhaps the Presidency could be likened to the whaling voyage in general. However, it turned from being a whaling voyage to an obsession towards only one specific object - in this case, for McCain it's Barack Obama.

Who's to say. Analogies are never exact.

A sea of blue will wash away the stain of red.

[Dustee]

I think this was the BEST video from Jeanne Moos of CNN. About Obama using his smile like a sword!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Uw0ZlIrTxo

Here Ms Moos tells about the facial reactions between Obama and McCain.

[aioannac]

When will Arianna be back on Real Time with Bill Maher? I keep looking for her name to appear every week.

[RRG64]

Can someone tell me what the State of Alaska is working on while their Governor is on the "supposed campaign trail"

As Palin assails Russia, Gazprom meets with Alaskan officials.

""The timing is as interesting as the visit itself," said Chris Weafer, chief strategist at UralSib Financial in Moscow. "Gazprom's entire senior management goes into Sarah Palin's backyard during a contentious election. There's a message there."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/14/business/gazprom.php

[AlaninElkGrove]

"I think we should worry more about the possibilities of a McCain win and martial law. From my reading, either the FIX is in or they're trying very hard to make us think one is. Watch greg palast's BBC video on 'theft 08'"

Perhaps you folks missed this little reported fact from last week that cleared the way for the U.S. military to take up arms in the United States:

http://www.alternet.org/rights/102220/is_posse_comitatus_dead/

[AlaninElkGrove]

If McCain knows how to catch Osama bin Laden, as he states he does, then why doesn't he just come out and say how to do it. It seems incredulous to me that he is all too willing to spill the blood of our young Americans in uniform as well as countless Afghani and Pakistani civilians. To state that he will unlock this secret only if he is elected president and commander-in-chief is the worst type of political extortion in modern times (well, it stands next to the Wall Street Bailout).

[newworldman777]

The Republican anger and desperation is growing at an alarming rate, from McCain down to Joe Sixpack.. After having held the White House for 8 years, they have become accustomed to steering the country toward the direction that they want -- although that direction has taken us straight into the ditch. Now, with defeat looming upon the quickly-approaching horizon, they seem to be unable to handle it, and they are voicing their concerns in troubling -- even violent -- ways.

Many people here in my hometown in Mississippi, even though they may be supporting Obama, believe that if he wins, he will be summarily assassinated. How depressing! We should be celebrating the fact that so many historical stone walls are being hurdled -- the chief among them being that someone other than a rich, old European-descended male is about to win the presidency. Sadly, that celebratory mood is tempered with feelings of impending doom and gloom, resulting from the belief that he will not survive his tenure, due to a predicted act of violence perpetrated by some twisted individual influenced by the climate of fear and hatred upwelling from the extreme right. I can only imagine the damage that such an act would inflict -- not only upon our society, but also upon our standing in the world, since the world denizens are already observing in disbelief at the hatred and vitriol that so many on the right are directing toward Obama, whom most of them are hoping to see

[barriosbabe]

Arianna, great column. Can't you please do a piece on the insanity of those parading around as "undecideds"? How could anybody be undecided at this point. One paper says it is women our age!

OBAMA BIDEN 08

[PT6]

Michelle Bachmann Defends these Ads!

Can you IMAGINE someone like Michelle Bachmann as President?

Sarah Palin is Bachmann in "Sheep's Clothes."

One Heartbeat Away from the President and HOLDING THE SAME BELIEFS AS BACHMANN!

I believe Bachmann motivated McCain to pick Palin!

Bachmann was a FISH CLEANER IN ALASKA when she was young!

Michelle Bachman and PALIN have Three STRONG BELIEFS:

1. Roe v. Wade must be OVERTHR0WN!
2. Creationism/Intelligent Design should be FUNDED by Government and taught in SCHOOLS and sixth grade Math and Science are enough to graduate High School!

[Indie2008]

Arianna is right. McCain's disdain for Obama is obvious. It is this disdain that allows him to justify approving those misleading and incendiary ads and robo-calls. As far as his reaction shots making him look mad, many of his supporters either share the same temperament, or they take their que from his angry example. The candidate sets the tone for the campaign.

[Ogs]

If , indeed, John McCain isn't George Bush then why oh why did he vote so many times with him? His
"maverick" label is a joke. His smug all knowing smirk throughout the debate only reminded of me of
the Dick Cheney sneer, which King George has now learned. Has anyone else noticed this? AND, worse, his condescending tone reminded me of Bush's tone eight years ago. I wonder if there were private lessons given? ( Or, does this come natually to deceptive politicians? )

[PT6]

Arianna, Regarding McCain Pick of PALIN!

Can you IMAGINE someone like Bachmann as President?

Sarah Palin is Bachmann in "Sheep's Clothes."

One Heartbeat Away from the President and HOLDING THE SAME BELIEFS AS BACHMANN!

I believe Bachmann motivated McCain to pick Palin!

Bachmann was a FISH CLEANER IN ALASKA when she was young!

[Dodge512]

REBELLION!!!!!!!! As the McCain campaign goes more and more negative, more and more prominent people and newspapers are coming out backing GOBAMA. It's all in the plan. Colin Powell will endorse tomorrow. He's about to get his pound of flesh. Enjoy!

[Dodge512]

REBELLION! As the McCain campaign goes more and more negative, more and more prominent people and newspapers are coming out backing GOBAMA. It's all in the plan. Colin Powell will endorse tomorrow. He's about to get his pound of flesh. Enjoy!

[JJeff88]

The only thing that's troubling is that, contrary to what the cable news nets are telling us, the national poll numbers have actually narrowed since just before the final debate.

The only thing I can hope is that those narrowing numbers reflect additional crazies who love the "red meat" and are coming out for McCain in bright red states.

[sn]

I think the tightening of the polls is more a manipulation of the assumptions rather than the actual swing in nay direction. For e.g. Zogby samples democrats and republicans equally even though evidence suggests that registered democrats are twice the number of republicans in most states. There was a great article on dailykos some days back on this.