2008 USP(G)ET pt. II: counting the days to 2012 primary thread 1

you guys HE RECUSED HIMSELF FROM THE DEALINGS!!

...and last night, HE WAS FLEEIN' THA INNERVIEW!

and that's PARAMOUNT, OK?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/tracerhand/EjectEjectEject.jpg

Letterman Misses the Point: This is an Emergency Situation

I don’t think that Hollywood celebrities, academics, or media pundits - like the recently demoted Olbermann - grasp the reality of the serious situation we are facing in the fiancial markets. Most of these people, generally Democratic party supporters, live remote from the ups and downs of the market and the real world.

In contrast, those of us who own our own businesses, put our lives on the line for others, or who work in the most productive sectors of the economy are quicker to react to a real crisis.

I’m pleased that Sen. McCain “ditched” Letterman. I don’t think Letterman appreciated the fact that this is an emergency situation. As for Olbermann, he has mental problems that make it difficult for him to control his childish outbursts. I’m glad NBC clipped his goofy wings.
— John D.

moonlighting on us?

Haha, I am without internet for 36 hours and this happens. Jesus.

the palin interview is incredible

I almost don't want to see her interviewed again

I didn't catch it, did rick davis recuse himself?

Caek, this suspension/debate shellgaming seemed to unfold in the time it took me to go out last night and grab a take-away. You are not alone in your WTF?

Somewhere in MN my mom's gotta be dining on deep fried CROW on a stick.

the palin interview was horrible. like watching chris morris beat up on dumb celebrities.

this needs posting some more

http://dailyrepublic.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/19/obama_ready_to_ko_mccain.jpg

oh my God big hoos there are other people whose names are John and whose last names begin with D? fuck dude I'm gonna have to rethink my whole strategy now, thanks 4 heads up

Note multitasking possibility here: Barack's got left TFJ all fired up and ready to go. xpost

I’m pleased that Sen. McCain “ditched” Letterman. I don’t think Letterman appreciated the fact that this is an emergency situation.

Didn't catch the part where McCain was shown, live, getting made up for another TV broadcast during what would have been the taping of his interview, apparently.

Palin interview, wow.

REPORTER: "I just wondered if, you could give us an example of a major idea of [Nixon's] that you had adopted in that role as the decider and the final, uh.."
EISENHOWER: "If you give me a week I might think of one; I don't remember."

That was classic. A grab of the event was on YouTube well before TX time; rumour has it Dave placed it there himself.

lol go drink yr fuckin coffee dude damn

xp to j0hn

Barney Frank has reasons to chuckle: he's partly responsible for the fix we're in, and he's getting us out of it.

Anyway, James Fallows:

Candidates have made a lot of unforced errors over the years. Richard Nixon promising to campaign in all 50 states when running against John Kennedy in 1960 -- and getting sick, tired, and cadaver-looking as a result. Nixon again thinking he had to get those crucial Democratic National Committee records from the Watergate building in 1972. (He obviously made it through the election, but then....) Dukakis getting into the tank in 1988.

But compared with John McCain "suspending" his campaign and trying to postpone the debates? Puh-leeze. None of the reasons below is original, but it's worth adding them up to see how risky McCain's proposal is, in giving people impressions he doesn't want to convey.

The senator with (understandably) one of the lowest actual-attendance rates at the Capitol in the last two years, and who has played little role in crafting legislation recently, suddenly needs to be nowhere but Washington -- exactly now?

The candidate whose strongest claim to office is his experience, mastery, and understanding of foreign policy, cannot handle a debate on that topic, against a rookie, when he has other things on his mind?

The candidate who wants to quash any suspicion that he is not quick enough, not vigorous enough, or not multi-tasking enough to handle a job that poses a new challenge every minute, is essentially asking for everyone to take things a little slower so he can concentrate?

The candidate whose first response to the financial crisis was to propose firing the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and whose second response was to run ads linking his opponent (hazily) to former Fannie Mae officials (before news came out that his own campaign manager was still on the Freddie Mac payroll), now wants us to believe that statesmanship and love of country govern his every move on this issue?

The most famously stoic candidate of recent times is willing to have it look as if he's running away from a confrontation WHILE HE'S BEHIND.

"essentially asking for everyone to take things a little slower so he can concentrate?"

haha

So I return from a day of teaching and discover that John McCain has decided to suspend his campaign and return to Washington DC, the better to deal with our nation's urgent problems. Goody! It might have been even better had he bothered to show up for even a single one of the 108 Senate votes that have been taken between April 8, when he last showed up, and today. Who knows how many problems might have been averted had John McCain managed to show up before today?

Seriously, though, I agree with Steve Benen: this is flailing desperation. It also makes no sense: he's still giving some speeches, but he has stopped airing ads. Does anyone seriously think that airing ads would seriously impair John McCain's ability to address this crisis? Does he usually wind the ad tapes himself? Does he go around to all the TV stations in order to say "I'm John McCain and I approve this message" in person?

not airing ads = saving money while at the same time getting networks to report on the fact that you're not airing ads = free advertising, with money for actual ads later - if it worked it would be brilliant

i'm not sure that it's working -- maybe it will but i doubt it. if he doesn't show at the debate tomorrow it would be the ultimate insult to the press, who have been starved for access to the mccain-palin campaign for weeks. i don't think they're going to withhold criticism if mccain continues to stonewall by ducking out.

it IS dumb that the formatting is so inflexible that this debate can't be about the economy, frankly - it's all anyone wants to hear them talk about

It might have been even better had he bothered to show up for even a single one of the 108 Senate votes that have been taken between April 8, when he last showed up, and today.

Last night Anderson Cooper pointed out that McCain missed more votes than the senator who's recovering from a stroke.

i mean, don't get me wrong, major news orgs are absolutely complicit in packaging and selling the bullshit 'narratives' of this campaign, but the relationship between the campaign press and the campaigns themselves is a symbiotic relationship that's evolved over the last half century. if the mccain camp continues to violate the established (but tacit) ground rules about access and coverage, the press isn't going to just take it and then turn around and heap praise on him.

xxpost

Does he usually wind the ad tapes himself? Does he go around to all the TV stations in order to say "I'm John McCain and I approve this message" in person?

lol

Some unreliable data on whether people want the debate to be on the economy: http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportUC.aspx?g=54d651a7-a62b-4420-bb32-9dd6b2df8c02

Held as scheduled: 50%
Held but on economy: 36%
Postponed: 10%

suspending his advertising is bizarre. Obama isn't going to do it, so McCain is essentially crippling himself. I can't fathom what he is thinking.

at this point, i think tracer hand's estimation of free press might not be too far-fetched

he doesn't want to win, because whomsoever inherits the presidency is fucked either way?

is all i can think...

I saw a McCain ad during The Today Show this morning, so I'm not quite sure what "suspending my campaign" means in a practical sense here beyond "look, I can fake like I care with the best of them" or "oops someone didn't get the memo re: not showing my commercials, lol"

apparently they're still figuring out how to work the telling phone to let networks know the should suspend the ads.

they

i read it will take at least 24 hours from yesterday afternoon to halt all the ad buys in the works, so by the time he relaunches his glorious campaign on friday morning in time for the debate, it'll be basically meaningless yeah

the palin interview is amazing--esp. the finger licking part

The silence on the Corner about the Palin interview is amusing. One verrrrry brief Lopez mention.

Wow, that interview

My favorite part (paraphrasing here):

Palin: You know, what I think is really interesting is that everyone has been waiting to see what John McCain has to say about this financial crisis. People don't care what Barack Obama thinks.

Couric (incredulous and barely containing her contempt): Well, actually, Barack Obama's poll numbers have gone up sharply since attention has turned to the economy, so on what basis do you say that?

Palin: Well, I don't pay attention to polls.

Yes! -- Certitude unencumbered by pesky facts! That's worked GREAT these last 8 years.

John McCain, campaigning about how he's going to halt his campaign because there is no deal immediately forthcoming and they need him. What happens when a deal comes forth tomorrow, or whenever?

Assuming the debate is on, all this suspension stunt has done is raise the bar perilously high for his performance there -- if he can't come away from the debate looking like the hands-down winner, it's going to look he was running scared.

Intrade numbers:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/caek/chart1217595790701726634.png
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/caek/chart1217595790701726643.png

someone fucking w/intrade maybe http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/intrade-betting-is-suspcious.html

Yah

Relative trends seem OK, but absolute values and short terms are off.

Couric: [McCain] has been in Congress for 26 years and been head of the Commerce committee. When has he ever pushed for more oversight or regulation?

Palin: He's known as The Maverick.

He's sucked dick all over the world.

joke from letterman:(paraphrased)

McCain said he'll not only cancel today's appearance, but friday's debate. So, you know, Obama will now have to debate Regis.

meanwhile on bbc news site, US economy and presidential race sonned by magicians and rappers, followed on quickly by irish economy and boring weather

MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW
1. Blaine back on feet after stunt
2. Rapper Rhymes detained at airport
3. US rivals in economy crisis talks
4. Irish economy goes into recession
5. Milder and drier winter predicted

sarah palin is like a malfunctioning campaignbot now

hey, you know what, fuck you, bill:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/25/happening-now-mccain-at-clinton-global-initiative/

"John Mccain said Thursday now is not the time to engage in presidential politics, in a speech at the Clinton Global Initiative."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/politicalinsider/2008/09/is-mccain-preparing-to-vote-ag.html

i wonder if sarah palin (or any GOP surrogate for that matter) knows or cares that the word "maverick" is not, uh, wholly positive in its connotations

hey, remember when everyone described Palin as "smart"?