Roy Sekoff with Dan Abrams on McCain's Jaw-Dropping Desperation, Obama as Euro Rock Star, and More

Segment One: McCain's Holocaust Memorial "Gotcha"

Segment Two: Is Obama Too Popular in Europe?; Can Voters See Him as Commander-in-Chief?

Comments

[sink]

"...he starts to argue with nuance, he looks more indecisive".

Oh noes! Argue with nuance? Think about things in non-black and white, us vs. them, win vs. lose terms? That's crazy! Thinking broadly and with depth?? Heathen!

[neesy08]

i have said it before and i will say it again: it is JULY!! polls mean nothing at this time. people really are not paying too much attention. wait until after labor day.

[skepticfromschenectady]

Sadly, McCain-Rove & Co's personal attacks on Obama are paying off: McCain's numbers are rising in four battleground states - - Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire. Republican smears, innuendos, and lies are once again turning another U.S. election into a freak show.

With the major network's veiled attacks on Obama (a hint here, an aspersion there, a musing which gives McCain the advantage on occasion), the major print media doing the same (does the Washington Post have only conservative commentators on their payroll now?), and an electorate more concerned with Britney Spear's comeback than actual policy differences between the candidates, it looks like it'll be 200 and 2004 all over again. We are toast!

[WineWonkette]

Polls are useless this year.

Why? Ask any pollster how they are getting their sample size, and they'll tell you. They are calling "Likely voters" with land lines. How many of us even answer our land lines anymore? Younger voters don't even HAVE a land line.

That means MOST of the people they are calling are in the McCain demographic, so the results are skewing toward McCain.

This does not mean we need to be complacent, figuring that Obama has it "in the bag." We need to continue our "Get Out the Vote Campaign" registering new voters.

We need to continue block walking for ALL Democratic candidates. And we need to REALLY get busy in September, right after both conventions -- because that's when people are really going to start paying attention.

[MPeter]

Agreed. There is a 5-10% group of new voters who have not voted before who these so-called pollsters can't reach, plus another 1-2% who only use cellphones and have not been polled by anybody. Frankly, considering how often these corporate pollsters and MSM have been wrong, I wouldn't put much stock in what they say.

[bushpresidency4evah]

If you say you're the military expert, I expect you know where you are warring, and if you claim to want energy independence, knowing about those same countries that you are at war or in conflict with, will supply you with valuable information as to who Americans are currently buying their oil from. It's an afternoon of cramming maps and general information that John McCain either can't be bothered to do, or his inflated ego and bad judgment tells him it's better to wing it. Most Americans don't know about these countries and can hardly pronounce their names, and if it wasn't for the wars, would not care about them. They are likely to forgive McCain his utter negligence of knowledge of an important region (Maps, and like, such as..). But the president shouldn't be the average Joe. Politics isn't a reality show, though at times it seems to strive for this ideal. The president should know better, so a presumptive nominee should too, not just because he has advisors that has told him this is going to be important, but because if you state that you want bases around the world and play World Police, then you need to know where your bases are, and more importantly, what purpose they have there, being tax funded and all.

[bushpresidency4evah]

To me it's just amazing to watch those polls and see that McCain is ahead in AGE! I care not for party political affiliation, if you love your country, then as an American you must reach deep down inside yourself before an election and ask, will any of these candidates destroy my country, and rarely will you be able to answer the question: yes. This year, the answer is: yes, McCain will, and we can't have another ignorant president that lies to his people.

[bushpresidency4evah]

I had higher hopes for the US this time around, hoping they'd go for the Jefferson-like candidate, not Bush 3.0. But speaking of a country where there's actually a debate about whether evolution or creationism is correct, and a political campaign is about who is the most patriotic (whatever that means after the last 8 years) instead of the issues, and cheating at elections isn't exposed in order to "maintain belief in democracy", a country I've been dreaming to create a life in since I was a kid (EVEN THOUGH I'M NORWEGIAN!!!), maybe it's time I should retire my engaged involvement in a country to lost in a fog of entertainment, deprived of common sense and an ability for free thought.

For all these years I've thought of America as a place where great things happen those who have great dreams, when it's really a place where a dream is all you have, because no way in hell will it ever be real.
For those patriotic Americans who got offended, SUCK IT. My ambition, devotion and love for what has been, and I hope someday far into the future, will be one great nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, is as valid as yours.

[robjh1]

Can McCain not do anything write? Why is it that he is criticized for everything? You would think this man is our pariah _ everything bad. Obama on the otherhand goes to another country, where he isn't running for for President, and we are ready to give him the Presidency. This is ridiculous. I am not saying Obama isn't a good man or smooth politician, but please let's judge a book by it's true color. Let's question the candidate and make certain we know what we are getting. Both candidates have their negatives and positives, but it should be clearly seen. In June the media covered Obama 114 minutes and McCain 48 minutes. Obama appeared on 6 covers of Newsweek and Time 3 covers. McCain 2 covers for Newsweek and maybe ones for Time, if that.

[nomobull]

not the best speller but write is not right.

[j.gold]

McCain should be happy at the low coverage. If they covered him as much as they do Obama all those gaffes he makes and the CBS edit thing would be running 24-7. Obama has had lots of bad press as well as good press, McCain only complains about Obama getting a lot of press when Obama is getting good press.

[afgail]

Let's get some clarity here. Obama was right on the war in Iraq. We never should have started it. McCain gets points for supporting the "surge" which is a tactic of the war. Of the two positions Obama shows the better judgement one would expect from a Commander in Chief and far more consequential. A tactic in prosecuting the war is better made by the military. In fact one of the problems in Viet Nam is the interference by politicians in the prosecution of the war. McCain is running like he is applying for the position of General not president.

[Passenger57]

Freudian Slip Alert! Wheet wheet wheet! "Let's not judge a book by its COLOR? Yoinks! You mean COVER there, dontcha, rob?
And the questioning will come - that's what the debates are for. And you can't blame either candidate for what coverage they get-or don't get.
McCain isn't criticized for everything. In the beginning, he was bulletproof. He was Teflon.Now,he's putting holes in his own boat-wait,that should be wings,not boat. Obama's trip is a prime example. He criticized Obama for not going to Iraq. Well...off he goes to Iraq-and other places-and he's looking mighty presidential. What did McCain expect? Obama was going to upchuck on some dignitary? Flub his lines and cause an international incident? Show up in Israel pleasantly high?
His ads blaming Obama for high gas prices? Saying that Obama has no military experience (would he have said that if Clinton was the candidate)? They sound like they're coming from a campaign that is just throwing anything against the wall and hope something sticks.

[Bluesue]

It's McCain who refers to the press as his base so why is he whining? Yes, Obama got more press but it wasn't all positive. Meanwhile, McCain got big passes on the underreporting of his numerous gaffes.

He got coverage this week - in the cheese aisle at the grocery store and in a German restaurant. I just hope his campaign continues to run such a professional operation. People should be concerned that this poorly run campaign is indicative of a McCain White House.

While Obama has been presidential (and not just on this trip), McCain has been auditioning for the sequel to Grumpy Old Men.

[confuseddemocrat]

The reason McCain is being criticizes is because he is not arguing about policies, he is attacking Obama on personal issues such as being "unpatriotic" and not putting the nation first. He is using fearmongering, truly nasty and vulgar comments to demean Obama

It is obvious that the Bush operatives have taken over McCain campaign and the campaign is becoming a mud slinging affair.

The straight talk express has been derailed, abandoned and blown up.

[Law35]

McCain's campaign is a joke. How any intelligent person could consider voting for this man is beyond me. He can't even answer a simple question. Wow!!! The Republican party has to pick at every little thing, real or imagined, that Obama does, cause they have nothing else. McCain's camp and those who support him are running scared. Desperate seems to be a good description. Maybe he'll get more of those "low information voters"

[knighthowl]

Sadly, that is the danger. McCain could win due to low information voters, die-hard Republicans and bigots. That combination could keep us once again from putting the best man in the White House.

[hw]

Whether or not you support Obama that was a positive moment and good speech.

After enduring the severe degradation of our country and it's reputation by the Bush admin. it's a pleasure to see Obama welcomed abroad.

Instead of intelligently discussing Obama in Berlin, MSNBC dithers on about a doll and some bogus poll....but they're not at all biased, right?

[presto]

Actually - they are extremely biased. They have been blatantly supporting Obama all year. Do you seriously not know that? Are you familiar with Chris Matthews? Or Keith Olbermann?

[Bluesue]

Evidently you aren't familiar with David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell, or Pat Buchanan. Gregory and Mitchell are both supposed to be reporters but they have both been transparently supportive of McCain

[mnash]

Since McCain was the one who told Obama to go see the world, I don't think McCain should be opening his mouth about any of it.

[RobertAndropolis]

On the contrary, due to karmic default McCain continues to prove himself by far the most effective Obama surrogate with nearly every opening of his mouth.

[cdub1991]

Not sure its in Obama's best interest to be compared to Hasselhoff.

[RobertAndropolis]

That Kevin Madden knows the Hasselhoff character's car is named Kit is telling.

[cdub1991]

The McCain campaign is just stunningly inept. They should have just given Obama the week and moved on afterwards--same way each camp concedes the other's convention week.

[presto]

I totally agree with that. The images speak for themselves. Obama's hubris is self-defeating and when McCain butts in he just gets Obama's base riled up. He is actually better off in the cheese aisle because that is where the rest of us are.

[RobertAndropolis]

Hubris is by definition self-defeating/destroying, therefore your sentence scores as both redundant and defamatory.

[lvrplfc4l]

Mr Abrams of course it's alright to attack his statement, if this was such a solemn moment why is there video coverage of the visit and a release of his written entry? Why because it's good press and not a solemn moment that gives the McCain campaign all the reason they need to question his comments. I would expect the Obama campaign to do the same. As for his rock star status in Europe that maybe a double edge sword good for the press but lots of fodder for the McCain campaign to use later-Barack Obama France's candidate for President!! On the whole I think Mr Obama has done a good job on this trip of tamping down overseas expectations while still exciting people which will make it harder for Mr McCain to use the European candidate tag on Mr Obama. The other thing Mr Obama has done is look Presidental something Mr McCain is looking less and less like. To be honest Mr McCain would have been better served to let Mr Obama have is trip, stay out of sight and then spoken out after Mr Obama got back.

[RobertAndropolis]

Your generosity is astounding. McCain is not looking "less and less" presidential; he's looking more and more foolish.

[lvrplfc4l]

It is not generosity it is called civility. I find it mildly amusing how so many complain of the loss of civil discourse in politics yet the personal and derogatory attacks on Mr McCain on the HP are unending. I thought progressives were for something better than the status quo, that we were trying to rise about the Rovian personal attack and that we would offer ideas and solutions. Everyday this site offers more and more from people almost ravenous with desire for the personal invective, the cheap slight and the down right mean. If this is the best that progressives have than you are no better than those you demean, indeed you have become those that you hate. This is the foul lasting legacy of Atwater and Rove they have forced their opposition to behave like them. You don't have to like McCain, to vote for McCain or even respect McCain but you should respect the office he is running for, to demean him demeans it. Personally I respect Mr McCain's service to country in the Navy and the Senate but he is not someone I would vote for as we differ on so many issues but I respect the office so I respect the man. Yes I know the argument they don't respect us why respect them, I would have thought that was self evident, we are people of ideas, dignity and belief in the democratic system.

[JayInDallas]

It seems to me that McSame talks only about what is. Obama talks about what can and will be. Americans are tired of the status quo. What's next? What benefits can we salvage from Iraq? How do we overcome the Wall Street profiteering that is the economy? If the old guy can say something meaningful about how we can find a solution to ANYTHING he might avoid Obama's tsunami.

[RobertAndropolis]

Myopia is as myopia does.

[GuyRC]

The part I noticed was that Obama was "using nuance" when discussing the surge. I guess that is the kiss of death. We can't have any of that french kinda governing here in America!