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The Faces of John McCain
Man, those relentless close-ups were cruel. And the split screen was killer. If you only heard the debate on the radio, you missed the show of the century.
Ninety minutes of John McCain making faces was more than enough for a lifetime. He smirked. He grimaced. He sneered. He fake-smiled. It's hard to imagine anyone willingly inviting that antic lemon-sucking grinfest into their homes for the next four years.
His face was a way better read-out of how the debate was going than the CNN seismograph of independents. The more rage he felt, the more weirdly pixillated his expressions. It's ironic that McCain more than once warned debate-watchers to beware Obama's eloquence, because if you ignored the words, there was nothing left to do but be mesmerized by the flamenco being done by his cheeks, his lips, his eyebrows, his eyes.
At least he didn't wink.
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I was so saddened and repulsed by McCain's smirk that my wife and I were sorely tempted to turn off the TV. It was a smug look that we shall never forget. What a turn off. John McBush will never get our vote. I wonder if he learned it from "W" or Dick(the dick) Cheney?
Poor John McCain! He's probably blinking to keep from losing it. I believe that he's stressed, and very, very angry! That damned Bushwhacker cheated him out of what he wanted in 2000,and now here comes this "young whippersnapper' attempting to win "his" office!
The blinking may be medical,or maybe, it is just what the "experts" say that constant blinking is about. After seeing his ads I'd have to go with the experts: LIAR!!
I noticed that he did not blink while looking down to make notes. It was only when he was looking up that he was blinking. At least that is what I saw. So, if that is true, then the blinking was not due to some medical condition, although I have no doubt it was involuntary/unconscious on his part. It's not a good sign and would make him a laughing stock before other world leaders, which would then surely tick him off and lead to a nuclear holocaust.
Please, someone, please send this man back to Arizona. I'm sick of him. Enough already.
It would serve McCain well to get to the root of his anger, which is undoubtedly towards himself.
The pic where he is poking his tongue out and hands flexed:
I was thinking Sen McCain was about to perform a Maori Haka. (War challenge).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GpTsPNwwms&NR=1
All Blacks doing their Haka.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVlGDa5mx28
Aussies taking the mickey out of the Kiwi Haka.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL9ThdmZkFs
Aussie Rugby Propaganda and their handbag haka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaJSGky4F4U
Even the blimin Scots get in on the act.
A wee bit of cultural exchange.
This is downright bizarre that this man is even allowed to run for the highest office in our country.
it this what passes for insightful commentary? "hey, John McCain looks old and cranky" I guess you guys are comfortable with this? Sort of like how they always made fun of Lincoln for the way he looked and spoke.
Why don't you just read a transcript of the debate and decide based on what the candidates say. You may still think Obama won but at least you'd be judging it by what the say and think and not on the superficiality of looks.
Wow, you think his facial expressions are superficial and you question our insight? Well, I guess Obama won substantively and superifcially.
If it makes you feel better to willfully misunderstand the article, that's fine and dandy. I'd prefer to think that it's a deliberate effort, because surely you're not so lacking in insight that you can confuse a commentary on someone's reactions to a commentary on looks.
His reactions were those of a 10 year old, not a man who should be responsible for running a country.
It isn't that John McCain is old and cranky (even though he is senior citizen and known for his temper). It's that he's rude. Rolling your eyes, guffawing, clacking your tongue when someone else speaks is rude. When he does this or when he wanders around the stage as in Debate 2, he doesn't appear Presidential. So while what he is saying may be substantive, he comes off looking like an inconsiderate 3rd grader when it's his turn to listen. Unfortunately if one were only to read the transcript, one would miss out on the fact that he was often disrespectful.
You're right that appearance is not insightful commentary. The visual, and the way he speaks,does show a disdain for his opponent.And the text alone shows that Mc Cain is no Abe Lincoln.
But alas, he did wink, too. And, another thing: isn't mad blinking a sign of lying???
What is it about that left thumb that sticks up . . . he needs to back home and get back to sitting on it again.
I've decided those shots of McCain and the hand raise sitting at that table were wayyyyy too much like watching mini me...In fact, I think I'll post it on youtube presently.
It's the result of an injury, and he can't help it. He can, however, control hateful remarks and a disdainful attitude toward his opponent.
After last nights "performance", McCain almost (now I said "almost") made Sarah look smart!
Did anyone notice he kept saying "your wife" instead of Michelle's name? Maybe he forgot iher name, but he kept saying it, particularly during the education part.
Well, at least he didn't say "that one." I just saw a new bumper sticker - I'm voting for That One '08.
Either he was being condescending or he actually couldn't recall that her name was Michelle.
I know that the focus has been on McCain's facial expressions which were so scary and incredible, but did anyone notice his hands? They trembled throughout the whole debate. And those thumbs stuck up in the air. And those fingernails. When he first sat down, he started writing furiously - like he had talking points he was supposed to remember and if he didn't get them down, he would forget them. I think McCain missed the first couple of minutes of the debate due to his frantic writing. He continued to do it throughout the debate. And, kept grabbing that damn pen like it was an anchor for his sinking ship...
I don't know...when you add everything to his confusion at the end, has anyone considered that he might be experiencing a bit of dementia? Same symptoms.
I noticed about 2 years ago when he was on with Bob Schieffer that his hands shook. At the time I was a McCain supporter but I wondered if he could really be nervous on a program that he's been on so frequently or if there was a problem.
You know, I thought that maybe it was nervousness too, but when you think of how many years and how many campaigns he has run as a senator, plus all the appearances for this campaign, it just doesn't add up. I think it has to do with physical condition or medication. Either way, I'd like to know if it also affects his mind/behavior.
oh my god. You just made my day. I have not laughed outlound like this in a long time. By the way did anyone pick up on grunts and tisks that came screeching through the TV. I thought for sure McCain was going to have a heart attack. This would suck only because people would vote for Palin out of sympathy. I think one of his depends burst when he growled that he was not bush.
Something is definitely wrong. This is scary.
I was mesmerized by McCain last night. Obama looked his usual dignified presidential self, but McCain -- sheeesh what a disaster. Watching on a split screen was bizarre. At one point I thought McCain was going to deck Obama. His jaw got so tight I thought it would crack. Blinking, squinting, rolling his eyes, smiling, smirking, sneering, raising his eyebrows. Thank god I didn't have to watch it in hi-def.
I thought he was going to deck Obama too. I wonder what Obama would have done?
I never thought we would see another Bush smirk - McCain must be his twin brother!
I got to the point that I couldn't hear McCain - I muted him. He made me very nervous.
Is that how you choose to view a debate? ....by muting one side of the argument? LOL.
Very open-minded of you.
McCain made me nervous during the debate. He seemed just on the brink of exploding. And he did have a couple of Palin-esque moments, similar to Sarah's now infamous interviews with Couric - a stream of frantic patchwork soundbites which reflects a rattled, perturbed, even desperate mind. Nonsensical prattle.
And I just watched a video replay on CNN of the end of the debate when the candidates stood and shook hands. Clearly McCain was rattled and in a panic. He didn't know which way to go. He stuck his tongue and seemed so uncomfortable. I almost feel sorry for him. But not quite. He's done and he knows it.
Did you also notice that the moderator, Bob Schieffer, walked over to McCain and hugged him, while he just walked right past Obama.?
I think what bothered me the most -- aside from his politics and demeaner -- was his incessant licking! He sticks his tongue out so much and sometimes makes a little noise when he does it! yuck!
aaguilar27 - he may have dry mouth from medications. Oops, maybe not. As Nora Ephron noted, he may be off them.
I just kept trying to picture McCain sitting down with foreign leaders in an effort to persuade them to support our interests. Look at a split screen and replace Obama with Putin, Zapatera, Zardari, Hu Jintau, etc. and you have a frightening vision of a foreign policy that could invite fond memories of the leadership of George Bush.
My thoughts exactly. Along those lines, for the last 8 yrs. I have had to endure George W. going on television, with the whole world watching, and we're telling them, "This is it. This is the best we can do". I'm afraid that a President John McCain would be even worse.
One would think that George W. would have worked harder at getting Senator McCain elected. Its his only chance in hell of not going down as the worst American President ever.
From an apolitical, nonpartisan and objective evaluation, this decision is a no-brainer. Senator McCain was just pathetic last night; even I was embarrassed for him. I had to take a couple of breaks, it was so painful.
You can make with a split screen with a Mr. Bergin's dummy and it will be the same.
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