McCain's Mudslide Continues

The slide continues, but these days it's a mudslide of desperation and deceit -- so blatant that McCain strategists, if you can call them that, announced they were moving to nasty because they can't compete on the issues. The candidate himself chimed in, promising to take the gloves off in the debate, urged on publicly by his running mate as she threw spitballs at every stop.Then tonight McCain was something of a paper tiger, reluctant to live down to the pre-debate promise to be the agent of slime, trying to seem presidential but coming across as largely empty on the big issues.

He won't be elected because he has nothing relevant to offer for an economy in meltdown and a nation in fear. His last resort answer isn't hope, but more fear -- of Obama. But Obama persuasively swatted away the lies about tax increases and health care; McCain lost both arguments. His blame game on Fannie Mae predictably came a cropper when Obama deftly pointed to the lobbying role of McCain's own campaign manager. If the question of the first debate was whether Obama would pass the threshold on national security -- he did then and again tonight -- the reality of this debate is that McCain didn't pass the threshold on the economy. He can't get there with blather about earmarks; the voters aren't dumb. And his tax cuts for the wealthy are hardly appealing in this environment.

Lacking convincing answers, McCain has sent his running mate out to be a rabble-rouser in high heels. But why didn't he take off the gloves tonight, as predicted by his own associates, and swing away wildly with personal attacks -- not on policy, where he happily lied away, but on Obama's character, where McCain mostly shied away? Maybe he thought he had to tread carefully in this arena -- did the country really want to see him with a hatchet in his hand -- and leave the foulest attacks to the commercials, the surrogates and the spots? But there's another reason, even if it doesn't occur to McCain: a small-bore collection of transparently tired and obvious smears is irrelevant to the urgent concerns of people's lives in 2008. Jobs lost, stocks crashing, banks failing; you can't switch subjects by Roving into the old territory of cultural alienation fired by the false, the appeal to stereotypes and yes to racial suspicion and outright intolerance. Right now Americans worry a lot more about paying their bills than about Bill Ayers.

Unbelievably, McCain did violate a cardinal rule and tried the same rhetorical trick for a second debate in a row, charging that Obama doesn't "understand" national security. Obama was ready -- "I'll tell you what I don't understand" -- why McCain wanted to invade a country, Iraq, that had nothing to do with 9/11.

The big story tonight that's central to this contest: Americans are becoming increasingly comfortable with the idea of President Obama. He widened that comfort zone tonight. He was at ease as he responded to individual voters. He was powerful and emotional as he discussed and dominated the very human question of health care. The "other," as the Republicans labored to paint him, now comes across as reassuring, a strong and steady hand in a crisis, possessed of that grace under pressure that Americans prize in a president. Obama had it again tonight. McCain did marginally better than in the last debate, but far, far from good enough. He lost on the issues and Obama won on style. (Why does McCain prefer the town hall format? For understandable reasons, he's awkward wandering around a stage and looks more comfortable at a podium.)

Now it's back to the campaign trail and the mudbath that after tonight the Republicans will see more and more as their only chance. In my view it's not the path to victory but to dishonor. There is some evidence Republicans don't care about that, but some believe that McCain used to. So the next time someone in a crowd she gins up shouts "traitor" at the mention of Obama's name, Palin ought to reach into that studied vernacular vocabulary of hers and tell them to "shut up." She won't of course. She wants this reaction; I guess McCain does too. It's all they've got.

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

Comments

[PT6]

McCain Matches Wall Street Corruption and Fake Justification for War in Iraq

McCAIN MATCHED “WALL STREET CORRUPTION IN HIS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN” BY PULLING A “TRICK” WHICH WALL STREET OF LAST YEAR WOULD BE PROUD!
HIS MOVE ALSO ECHOS BACK TO THE "FALSE JUSTIFICATION FOR ENTERING IRAQ!"

When McCain heard that the Alaska Sureme Court denied the Delay he wanted and knowing that the Alaska Congress is releasing an “Authorized Misuse of Power Investigation Report by a Respected Investigator,” McCain pulls a “TRICK” out of the “Wall Street Hat of Tricks.” No it was not "naked shorts" or "excessive leveraging" or combining "risky loans into "AAA" paper!

McCain had a Bogus Unauthorized Report manufactured which echos back to the Manufactured Justification for Going into Iraq by Bush/Cheney.

So this smacks of both the Current Corruption on Wall Street and the Corruption in the Bush Administration related to “Faking the Need for a War in Iraq stating Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction.”

This brings McCain/Palin into the middle of the Corruption that McCain says he is trying to FIGHT and ELIMINATE!

This will further convince the AMERICAN PEOPLE he is UNFIT to Lead!

McCain could have been free of a VP candidate who is clearly pulling his campaign down and put in FRESH BLOOD!

But instead he decides to jump in the middle of this "Misuse of Power Findings" with both feet and make himself part of the dishonesty!

[14U]

O bama will be the next PRESIDENT, Think about it the last time the media pushed someone to the point of all ya heard was CLITON,CLI­TON,CLITON turn on TV open a NEWSPAPER CLINTON ! ! YEA IT DID GET BETTER W/ CLITON THEN came that LAME DUCK, and I AM BEING WAY MORE NICE THAN I SHOULD, But If I said what the truth is you would not be reading any of this!! Obama, YOU really, believe think, he will be THE ONE? You know the one that can/ and will BE the kind of PRESIDENT that will CHANGE WASHINGTON ? Do you think, BIG MONEY WILL LET THAT HAPPEN, REALLY ? COME ON, WASHINGTON'S BEEN WASHINGTON for ALONG time ! ! I LOVE THIS COUNTRY, IT IS THE BEST COUNTRY EVEN WITH ALL THE GREED AND ALL THE OTHER BS THAT WE NOW HAVE TOO DEAL WITH !! Fact is I think It's gonna take alot more time than any of us think or would like ! !

[bobrobthomas]

It has become obvious from both the debates and the stump that McCain cannot get anybody to listen to him without Sarah P. My question is, if he wins, will he continue to hide behind her skirts through his entire administration or will she give him back his manhood?

[DrYRHead]

Palin already eluded to the idea that she wants to be another Cheney, so we can assume where McCain would be hiding. Right next to Todd.

[brief candle]

How is McSame going to bring together different nations when he is dividing the country? Why would any world leader believe him when he has lied to the american people so many times? Why would they trust him when he has switched positions on almost every issue. The american people already have that now.

[fromero]

McCain’s handlers have served notice that the Senator is going to play hardball by harping on Obama’s ties with the Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, the crooked Tony Rezko, his wife Michele. Etc. But what would prevent the Obama people from countering by dredging up McCain’s involvement in the Keating scandal, his preferential treatment in getting into the Naval Academy, his graduating fifth from the bottom of his class, his marital infidelity, his second-marriage into big money, his wife’s drug addiction, their 7 houses, 13 cars, etc. Then there are Sarah Palin’s negatives: her ties with the secessionist Independence Party, her witchcraft­-protectio­n ritual, her pregnant daughter’s shotgun wedding, Troopergate and other such stains on her record and character that are bound to surface the longer she stays in the spotlight.

But how would this gossipy, demeaning nastiness inform voters regarding the issues impacting on their daily lives? How would it square with McCain’s lofty “Country-First” mantra? The Senator has stated that he would rather lose an election than lose a war. Perhaps he should recall the example set by his hero James Stockdale and instruct his handlers to stick to the substantive issues, that he would rather lose the election than lose his honor.

[redpepper]

Excuse me, but Obama himself was anwering questions that weren't asked too. He slid off into his own world when asked the qestion "What don't you know." It is quite obvious what he doesn't know, he is not qualified, not experienced, and has a tendency to drift away from the questions he was asked and ignoring the ones that were asked. McCain was solid and definitely showed he was our man.
Again I ask "Why is it okay for the Democrats to spew vitriot against the Republicans but its not okay for the Republicans to spew vitriot?
Why is it okay for the Democrats to slam McCain, but its not okay for the Republicans to slam Obama?
I would say bias, prejudice, and whimpering?
McCain is stead fast and true, while Obama is all over the place and less than truthful.

[AuntieKate]

With all due respect, I agree that part of our election system allows for mistruths, exaggerations, and "slamming" on both sides. BUT, to encourage out and out HATE is NOT ok, and NEVER WILL BE!!!
That is total disrespect for a fellow human being, and considering that the republican party is supposedly the "religious" party, encouraging hate is totally anti-God!

Having lived through the assassinations of JFK, Dr. King, And Bobby Kennedy, I remember all too clearly the pain and heartache this country went through during the 60's. After forty years, I would have thought that we had learned our lesson and risen above such disgusting rheteric and actions.

Yes, you have the right to your opinions and to support whomever you want for president. But when those people you support are actively insighting people to yell out "terrorist" and "kill him", THAT is beyond any acceptable behavior. This country does not need a president & vice president who supports an agenda of hate. We need to try to unite this country, not divide it even further.

[DrYRHead]

This reminds me of a couple quotes I have heard; (1) "Jesus was a long haired leftist", so "How would Jesus vote?". I can't recall who said these, but it sure makes me think that Jesus Christ would NOT vote REPUBLICAN.

[Tulka2]

My friend, it is shameful to see McCain send his campaign out to call Obama a liar and then when face to face with the man, McCain is mum. McCain came off as a coward and a weakling. McCain reminded us twice in the debate how a cool/calm hand is needed at the wheel of the ship of state. Anyone with any kind of a cool eye looked at those two men and saw which one could steer through a storm. It was not McCain.

[igotnews]

What "vitriol" are Democrats hurling at McCain? On the campaign trail, I mean, where Palin is whipping up hate by alleging that Obama consorts with domestic terrorists.

[XME]

If you think McCain is steadfast and true then you apprently think it's honorable to run a campaign that is inciting hatemongers to spew threats and hateful comments. I feel sorry for you if you see that as respectful and "true".

[Taan]

The Republicans are at a distinct disadvantage for public debating. They cannot honestly address needful social issues because they want to disable them. They could not do successfully through legislation but along comes some disastrous little wars and an economic meltdown bleeding the Treasury dry and they accomplish their goals nonetheless. Greed has become institutionalized and there is nothing to impede the greedy in their determination. Witness the latest fiasco: placing the same people with the same business mechanisms in charge of the billions in bail out money. The foxes get golden keys and round-the-clock entree to the same hen houses they have long been looting. Don't expect significant positive chance in Washington until the money flowing unimpeded into the hands of congresspersons is dammed for good; the elections process cleaned up; and a popular vote for president instituted.

[lstl4]

This is the end of the road for McCain/Palin ticket. They are trying these viscious tactics to discredit Obama and it just isnt going to work.

[Greg285]

Did anyone expect anything other than this garbage from both McCain and Palin? I for one did not! They have nothing to say or add to the discussion at all..The race is over and you two will go down in history as the biggest jokes to ever run for President & VP in the history of the USA...

[SuiginTou7]

We can hope this will end both of their polictcal careers. MCCain, most likely. Pallin, I doubt it. But I would love to see Obama vs. Pallin. She's not in the same league.

[Kay72403]

Hope you are right. They are doing everything to unite the clan for victory. But Palin is beginning to lose her sparkle. She looked very dull today, like Cindy.

[AuntieKate]

Ya know, I think part of the reason McCain acts so grumpy and angry is because the "rules of the game" have changed. For years, the Senate has operated under the prestige of senority. To McCain, Obama is just a "pup", and should be grateful just to be able to be in the same room with a "senoir" member of Congress. NO WAY (in his mind) should a 1st term Senator be challenging HIM for the presidency! It just isn't DONE! How DARE this young "whipper snapper" even TRY! It was supposed to be HIS! After all, he's paid his "dues"; he sold out in 2000 . . . he was next in line!

It's really pathetic. I'm just glad that a lot of the "undeciced" are beginning to "see the light". Obama, for all his "newness", is by far the better choice. We desperately NEED Senator Obama to take over the White House if we want any chance of digging out of this quickmire we've been buried under with Bush! I just hope people are patient . . . it's gonna take more than 4 years to correct everything, so I hope President Obama gets a full 8 years! He is definitely going to need it!!

[Mugzi]

Obama offers hope and future for all Americans, not just a select wealthy few. Yes, President Obama!

[Ironfox]

Eight years will just be the begining. It is going to take a generation to undo the mess and re-establish this country to it's proper place in this world.

[DrYRHead]

Yes, it will take a long time. Look at how long it took to clean up the mess that Reagon left. The mess that GWB has left is even worse, so it will take much longer to clean up this current pig pen.

[Dree58]

You are asolutely correct about the rules of the game changing re McCain's demeanor. I worked for an attorney who practiced until he died at age 86 -- increasingly complained about the rules chainging, new laws, new judges (women, black, jeweish, hispanic, take you pick). I am newly 58 and watch rules change every year, at least, some for the better, some for the worse. I do not want a 72-year-old man and a dimwitted woman to dictate to/for me and my family and friends dor the next four to eight years. And this time he cannot buy his way out of his disjointedness.

[treetracker]

You are so correct. He wouldn't even shake Obama's hand after the debate last night. Just pushed Cindy's hand up to shake Obama's.

McCain has no class, no style, no smarts. He only knows war and how to crash planes. Cindy, too, has no class or she would have dumped him when he called her the "c" word.

And today Cindy was the hypocrite on stage complaining about Obama not voting to fund the war and dare him to step into her shoes. Wonder what she said to John when he voted against the funding bill he didn't like? Based on her statements, she should have taken the shoe to his head.

GOP = the party of hypocrisy.

[lvdragonlady]

If anyone read some of the articles from early in the campaign, the reason JM likes town hall meetings is simple. When he held them, the audience was preselected and filled with 'supporters ONLY', to make himself look good. He did not pick this audience.

[AliLiz]

Isn't there anyone who can quiet McCain? Must we listen to his slander day after day?

I can't turn the TV off because then I will miss the other news The news broadcast must bear some ownership to these lies and bad behavior. Why can't they set higher standards for their own network?

Please stop the nasty talk...it will make the USA weaker not stronger in character and ethics.

[jaxhead]

I think McCain looks tired. Doesn't everyone think the man just looks worn out? I wonder...

[roshni]

O.K. people. Everyone say "Hussein" 3 times. See, nothing to worry about - you are all still standing, right.
Let's take the sting off the rabble rousing rhetoric.
I sincerely hope he takes the oath of office as Barack Hussein Obama - I for one plan to celebrate.

[makegandhismile]

LOL Great idea! Everyone say it 3 times! No problems.

[Mugzi]

Well said!!! President Barack Hussein Obama sounds better!

[Corpsman]

A few months ago John McCain may have been a president that people could have lived with, even if they didn't vote for him. Not now. He made a "WTF" decision on picking Palin. And now he has slipped right into the Rove/Cheney/Bush doctrine of dirty tricks. Shame, shame, shame on you, John.
No class, no style, no hope.

[Groovacious]

A wheel fell off the Straight Talk Express.

[Annoula]

...AND it also appears like it's running out of gas...!