Three Questions that Bob Schieffer Probably Won't Ask John McCain, But He Should
"Senator McCain, you used to say that the main thing you were looking for in a running mate was the ability to take over as president, if necessary, on Day One. Given how many people there are in government that clearly meet that criterion, how do you justify picking someone who so many of the most intelligent and respected members of your own party believe clearly does not? Your campaign slogan is Country First, sir. Can you tell the American people exactly how you were putting Country First when you chose a congenitally dishonest, proudly ignorant, cold-blooded demagogue with no presidential qualifications whatsoever to sit just one of your 72-year-old cancer-ridden heartbeats away from running the country in these spectacularly perilous times of almost unprecedented economic and international crises?"
"Senator McCain, your campaign has spent the last ten days impugning your opponent's character. We've seen Sarah Palin doing it, we've seen your wife Cindy doing it, and we've even seen you doing it yourself. Well, there he is right across the table from you. Is there anything you want to say to Senator Obama about Bill Ayers or Reverend Wright or Tony Rezko? Because it would be nice if he could respond to these allegations and insinuations and put this utter bullshit behind us so you could spend the next twenty days explaining to the American people why they should vote for you instead of scaring them about why they shouldn't vote for him."
"Senator McCain, your campaign rallies lately have become forums for foaming-at-the-mouth cretins who are so certain that your opponent is a terrorist that some have actually shouted out, "Kill him!" and "Off with his head!" Given the nation's history of intolerance against those perceived to be somehow different - be it by virtue of sexual orientation, religion, or race - can you tell the American people how you're putting Country First by fanning the fires of hatred and why they shouldn't hold you and your rabid running mate personally responsible if those fires explode into violence?"
Okay, I know Bob Schieffer's not going to say any of the above, but I urge anyone who knows him to press him to find some less prosecutorial way to ask these questions, because John McCain's efforts to make Barack Obama's character the deciding factor in the election have served only to shine a spotlight on his own galaxies-beyond-shame cravenness, and he deserves to be called out on it to his face. I'd be more than happy to do it but no one's going to let me near him, so I'm dependent on Bob.
Oh, and here's a campaign haiku:
Was that a dust mote?
No, merely the remains of
John McCain's "honor."
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Senator McCain, what you do speaks so loud I can't hear what you're saying. You campaign reminds me of the dirty dish rag two days after is was used and left without rinsing. JUST SOUR
One more question I'd like to see asked of both candidates:
Recognizing that there is a nuclear power in the Mid-East, what would you do if Israel nuked Iran?
But it will be another unasked question...
Great question.
What would they do?
What would be the proper response?
Drill drill drill
Drill drill Iran.
Christians don't (or shouldn't) lie, slander, bear false witness, abuse their power, incite hate and bigotry or stand by and let others do so.
So far - McCain and Palin have all of the above. With no remorse or one inkling of conscience. Palin especially can lie to your face - with a wink and a smile. She is one scary lady.
Christians are NOT immune to sin - which is why Jesus came into the world. But John McCain and Sarah Palin are using the name of Christ to further their own ambitions. They don't care about God or the good news of Jesus - they just care about themselves.
I'm an evangelical christian and I am sick to my stomach every time those 2 spout their "faith" as if it's real. I pray that they don't get elected.
You sound like a real Chirstian instead of those who call themselves Christians and spout hatred and lies.
you are a shining example of what makes a true christian.
"When Facism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"
Sinclair Lewis
Facism is here, and it's called the Republican Party.
Seen any blacks at McCain Palin rallies lately????
Of course, not...
I hope you speak on behalf of Obama at your church!
Mc Cain / Palin give faith a bad name...its not Faith at all its all Hate based on their own fears !
So much for McCain's new tone! In a speech today he said" I'm an American, and I choose to fight" ...An "American"! ...As opposed to his opponent? Not only is that deeply insulting to his Senate colleague and a fellow American citizen, but is an arrogant, unnecessarily incendiary remark. When has a candidate for the Presidency ever contrasted himself with his opponent is such a manner?
his campaign is all about fighting and being angry. dangerous combination and a sign of bad leadership.
MAYBE IT WAS A REPLY TO THE LADY WHO CALLED OBAMA AN ARAB. YOU NOTICE MCCAIN DID NOT SAY NO MAM HE IS AN AMERICAN, LEAVING IT OPEN
MaCain also said "No, Senator Obama is not an Arab, he's a decent, family man". I guess you can't be both?
"Senator McCain, What's you favorite foreign-made car, based on personal experience?"
that's good one!
I think McCain has fallen off his rocker and his campaign managers are all betting each other who can get him to say/do the most outlandish stuff.
Ditto with Palin. Only she was never on her rocker to begin with.
Excellent post, Mr. Slansky.
If somebody would ask these kinds of questions, we might have a real debate on our hands. I'm not holding out much hope for this last exercise in tedium on Wednesday evening, though. Bob Schieffer will go easy, I'm afraid, just as Brokaw and Ifill did.
We need a pitbull journalist to moderate presidential debates, i.e., someone who will ask the toughest questions of the candidates and demand real answers (even if that means embarrassing a U.S. Senator on national television) rather than just accepting the usual circular nonsense that passes for an answer these days.
If only...
You & me both, bean! We need Keith O up there!
Actually, Rachel instead of Keith. She's less combative, and able to smile charmingly as she skewers the right-wing.
Oh right, he would be fair.
Christina Amanpour?
Tim Russert...bless him
McCain has given so many different plans and ideas for running or saving our country, how would anyone know which he truely stands for? If he is really honest and wants what is good for our country, like putting our country first, he should be confronted about his Republican Party's purging and caging voter lists and their many ways of intimidating voters. If McCain didn't want these criminal actions to be done, we certainly would have heard him speak about it by now.
Expect at least 20 different books written by people "behind the scenes" of the campaign of McCain after McCain has lost.
"How to Lose an Election and Alienate People"
"Profiles in Viciousness"
"Gone With the Windbag"
and
"When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth With Palin's Ancestors"
Good ones! :-)
Don't forget to ask how in the hell they can accuse the Democrats of only look back (at the last 8 years and how jacked up they have been for our country) when their faltering campaign is making its last stand on the actions of a guy that Obama only knows casually who broke the law over 40 years ago and went on to be a respected education reformer.
McCain is palin' around with domestic terrorists--G. Gordon Liddy, his VP candidate and her husband. Spread the word.
This is my question..."Senator you claimed the fundementals of the economy were strong then felt the need to quailify that statement by saying you meant that the American workers were the stongest and most productive force in the world. Can you explain why, if you truly believe that statement, American manufacturing jobs are going over seas?" For a follow up I would ask what you would do, besides offering more of the same Bush policies (tax cuts) to get and keep jobs here in the US?
I just watched Obama and McCain (and Palin) giving speeches on Cspan. It was night and day. Obama had a clear, concise, detailed plan to help middle class Americans. Palin and McCain shouted platitudes with no plans, no details. Plus McCain said the word "fight" at least a dozen times. All he wants to do is fight. Its time to heal.
It IS time to heal. McCain/Palin has been so TOXIC they are literally sucking the life and dignity out of our country.
Have you ever had a friend that every time they call or come over your house, you are LITERALLY DRAINED of all energy? That friend who you realize just doesn't bring anything good or helpful to the table? That is the effect McCain/Palin has had on the country at a time when WE ARE ALREADY SUFFERING. Not good leadership at all in my opinion.
Obama/Biden '08
Keep HOPE alive
New debate drinking game -- now we drink on "my friends," "maverick," "POW," and now "fight." Man, I'm about to get hammered on Wednesday. I'd better stock up.
You'd better drink lots of water and eat something first.
This is a brilliant post. I'd love to hear the responses that McCain might give...
I agree with the comments of "MajorBarbara" . I might add, do Christians consider it a sin to harbor hate, prejudice and bigotry in their hearts? Some may respond that it is not them harboring those throughts but others are. Vote Obama/Biden in 08.
THEY ARE NOT CHRISTIANS. These fools are so far away from following Jesus Christ it is simply silly to assert such.
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