BBC NEWS | The Reporters

McCain loses it

Matthew Price
23 Oct 08, 04:09 AM GMT

This has now happened too many times not to mention it.

John McCain lost it again today. There is a part of his speech near the end that my producer Kevin calls the "Born To Run" moment. The bit where true believers cheer, clap and BELIEVE.

The bit where John McCain repeats perhaps ten times that he will "Fight... Fight for ..." and then he mentions several things that he will - you've guessed it - fight for.

It's the rousing end, the bit that lifts the crowd, the bit they all love.

The bit that I would have thought John McCain would not be reading, but be feeling. This is his pitch about what he wants to do, what he believes needs to be done for this country.

Today, the autocue went down.

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Now yes, John McCain doesn't like the autocue, he's not particularly good at reading from it.

And yes, it is hard to speak flawlessly for 20 minutes or so to a crowd of thousands.

And yes, the campaign trail is grueling, he must be tired, I don't know how he does it.

And yes, he's up against one of the best orators the modern world has seen.

BUT, surely he should be able to busk the end of his speech, the part that he should speak from the heart if the teleprompter goes down?

As the Republican pollster Frank Luntz put it in an interview recently (less charitably than me): "Stevie Wonder reads the teleprompter better than John McCain."

Today John McCain stumbled, repeated phrases, read from the page, then looked up to the screen and re-read them.

Maybe I'm being unfair, but this is a man who is running for the top job in the country, one of the most important jobs in the world.

Does his inability to think on his feet, to go off the page, count against him?

This is his pitch to the US electorate about why they should vote for him. He's less than two weeks from the election. Surely he should be able to deliver it without notes?

Frankly today, I cringed when he stumbled, and felt embarrassed for him.

Comments

1. At 05:18am on 23 Oct 2008, Merthyrmiddleeast wrote:
A bumbling speech, forgotten words and staccato delivery. Obama is right, McCain is Bush's natural heir.

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2. At 06:23am on 23 Oct 2008, vivaelcid wrote:
As opposed to Obama's "spread the wealth around gaffes" ?

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3. At 06:51am on 23 Oct 2008, SydneySD-6 wrote:
I had always liked McCain. I really did. Something terribly went wrong when he changed what he was all about for so many years. He apparently must have thought gaining the acceptance of the hardcore GOP elite might be the surest bet to win the presidency. Palin was the absolute wrong choice. I saw his stumbling at today's rally, heard Palin's $150,000 wardrobe fiasco, and the response she gave to the question of what she thought the vp's job is. More than embarrassment, I felt sorry for McCain.

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4. At 07:49am on 23 Oct 2008, carpii wrote:
McCain is increasingly coming across as someone desperate for power, for all the wrong reasons.

At the start of the elections I was undecided between McCain and Obama, but having watched them both intently, Obama appears more than equipped to be presidential material. McCain now seems like a doddery old man just clutching at straws, and Palin has done nothing but prove the critics right.

McCain is reading from the 1970 Book of Politics, and Obama from 2008.

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5. At 07:51am on 23 Oct 2008, Brooks A. Batson wrote:
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6. At 07:56am on 23 Oct 2008, Brooks A. Batson wrote:
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
7. At 07:57am on 23 Oct 2008, saultsage wrote:
Both McCain and Obama are politicians. That being said, the leadership vacuum in the US demands someone who can coherently address the people.

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8. At 08:25am on 23 Oct 2008, tokando wrote:
Hello everyone,
Can somebody please provide a link for this Mccain speech. I am at work and quite bored, so I need something to laugh at for 10 minutes. Has Palin been on today to?

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9. At 08:36am on 23 Oct 2008, sfinfer wrote:
I too feel sorry for McCain, I feel he is a decent man taken hostage by the political process. If you are going to lose (which I hope he does because the thought of Sarah Palin anywhere near the levers of power is truly scary, actually not scary more like terrifying) I believe you should lose by sticking to your principles. As my mother use to say "Unto thine ownself be true".

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10. At 08:52am on 23 Oct 2008, RealisticJimmy wrote:
#2, vivaelcid. "Spreading the wealth" wasn't a gaffe. Correct me if I'm wrong but McCain isn't proposing a flat income tax, so McCain's proposed tax plan is definately redistributive taxation as well (McCain is a socialist...?). So McCain is intending to "spread the wealth" through the tax code just as Obama is intending to. He's just spreading it differently (favouring the wealthy).

Arguably, of course, all taxation is "spreading the wealth", flat rate or not. At least Obama can be intellectually honest about what his proposals do, rather than hide behind smoke and mirrors as McCain does.

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11. At 08:52am on 23 Oct 2008, SpeleoKarst wrote:
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12. At 08:57am on 23 Oct 2008, smileytm303 wrote:
McCain makes me nervous.

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13. At 09:00am on 23 Oct 2008, b4mutton wrote:
I don't know whether McCain is losing the plot but I'm pretty sure that everybody else is. It has never before been so clear that media influence on public opinion is becoming dominant. The qualitiies that are being demanded here are irrelevant but they constitute minus points for McCain and as such are made to seem important

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14. At 09:10am on 23 Oct 2008, FinMember wrote:
The campaigning will stop soon. Mcain is his own worst enemy. Poor judgement (choosing sp); lying attacks; wondering economic policies; now this stumbling speech at a rally.
Americans how can you think of supporting such an obvious incompetent. Even if you don't like Obama can't you see the reality and lost respect from the rest of the world if you elect another bush. I forgot, you have already lost all the world respect Bill Clinton gained for you.

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15. At 09:19am on 23 Oct 2008, aberdeencynic wrote:
Brooks A. Batson, you forgot to mention the influence of the 'MSM'!

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16. At 09:33am on 23 Oct 2008, Vivokin wrote:
Good morning,
Is McCain really the best the republicans can put forward? There has to be someone better, am I wrong? But I would imagine that reading the teleprompter is not essential when one looks for a new president.

*points to picture of George W. Bush*

I guess any 'old' man will do.

Vivokin, The Netherlands

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17. At 09:33am on 23 Oct 2008, sortalikenathan wrote:

To Brooks A. Batson:

Have you been channeling the ghost of Kipling?

This statement of yours is particularly rich: "Mr Obama is not a master debater, contrary to BBC's over-optimistic view of him; he is a demogigic showman, like Musolini, but pandering to an effeminate rather than a virile minded folk."

An effeminate folk? I will assume you wrote these lines after a bit too much gin. Calling a 47 year old man, a US Senator, an "immature and shallow minded boy" has, of course, certain connotations. Apparently in your mind, Senator Obama is too big for his britches--and I assume you are aware that calling a grown African American man a "boy" in the United States carries the weight of this nation's traumatic racial history. In this case, you would be the inheritor of the language used by racist whites.

And ah, the fear of "former communists and weirdos." Could you please be more creative? How utterly pedestrian to stoke the fear of communism and "weirdos" (nice word-choice!) in our post-communist area. Perhaps you meant "socialist"...but then again, by that token, the entire US government is now socialist, so that wouldn't quite work either.

Your writing is, what are the words I'm looking for...utter rubbish!

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18. At 09:39am on 23 Oct 2008, beatch_uk wrote:
Clip from youtube for those who want a giggle.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u-vaCnjFQhA

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19. At 09:44am on 23 Oct 2008, Cocteau8 wrote:
Quote from Brooks Baston, with reference to Obama: 'pandering to an effeminate rather than a virile minded folk.'

I must admit I was amused by this contribution, rather than angered, as it is generally representative of the loony neo-cons, whose understanding of the ideologies of communism and socialism tend to be somewhat distant from those found in numerous texts/dictionaries. Americans must vote for McCain to 'save the republic from a potential madman and the hordes of former communists'. I bet that's got all of the intellectuals amongst them convinced!

To add to my amusement I thought I'd look up an internet dictionary definition of 'virile' and I found the following:

1. Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an adult male.
2. Having or showing masculine spirit, strength, vigor, or power. See Synonyms at male.
3. Capable of performing sexually as a male; potent.

Yep, that's what the US and the rest of the world needs now, a nation of John Waynes, (wither womenfolk?)!

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20. At 09:44am on 23 Oct 2008, BillTyrone wrote:
5. Brooks A. Batson

Many thanks for that insightful and illuminating analysis of the situation ....... a real game changer for all and one that is going to send voters out this very day to put a tick in the correct box to ensure the continuum of the USA as the world's No 1 economic and military power.

Have a good day.

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21. At 09:56am on 23 Oct 2008, APbbforum wrote:
I almost feel sorry for McCain. This is his last campaign and he's not been able to fight in the way he would ideally have wanted. He's been given bad advice throughout on the basis that it's the only way he could possibly win. Has he sold his soul to the devil? Some might say so but i think it more tragic than that.

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22. At 10:15am on 23 Oct 2008, Merthyrmiddleeast wrote:
#2

As RealisticJimmy (10) pointed out, that's hardly a gaffe.

Obama articulates and explains, McCain bumbles and stutters. We need a capable man at the helm in the US, not someone who's lost sight of himself and his principles, not someone who chose an airhead as his running mate. That alone speaks volumes about his complete lack of judgement.

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23. At 10:23am on 23 Oct 2008, ViennaGas wrote:
Let's get real. This election is about either
a) letting the Neocons and the Christian fundamentalsits continue their ludicrous attempts to bring about the 'rapture' by messing with the middle east in the hope Israel will one day cover its original landmass, thus opening the way for Jesus to come back and take all believers with him to a higher place.
or
b) getting back to reality

I say we need to get back to reality. It may not be a great reality under Obama, but at least the lives of millions of Americans and others around the world will not be negatively affected due to the insane beliefs of a hard line few.

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24. At 10:23am on 23 Oct 2008, The Midland 20 wrote:
As opposed to Obama's "spread the wealth around" gaffes?

--------

erm... gaffes?

What, exactly, is wrong with spreading the wealth around?

Those that have, should help those that have not.

Is that wrong?

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25. At 10:23am on 23 Oct 2008, steve081974 wrote:
#5... gosh. I'm not really sure what to say! If only we were all as wise as you...

Suddenly I feel such a sandal-wearing tree-hugging free-loving pink-o liberal hippy fool... :o/

Suddenly I see what is wrong with my own country - we need more uncontrolled guns, many times the murder rate per capita, much less health care for the nasty poor people, more thinly veiled racial hatred, more laughably mindless and misdescribed patriotism, and an imbecilic deputy-leader! I've been blind... but now I can seeeeeeeee!!

Praise the Lord.

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26. At 10:34am on 23 Oct 2008, steve081974 wrote:
#18 - thanks! That was even more extraordinarily pathetic than I had anticipated - someone should put that poor old dude out of his misery!

Clearly the words coming out of his head are as much a surprise to him as to the rest of us. Cringetastic!

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27. At 10:38am on 23 Oct 2008, AmericanSportFan wrote:
I have to say, McCain seems out of his depth. I'm sure if you meet him he is a nice guy, but unfortunately a nice guy isn't what this country needs. This entire thing with a teleprompter is scary, what is he going to do when he has to adress the nation from the oval office? It is going to be a disaster.

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28. At 10:55am on 23 Oct 2008, FinMember wrote:
Re #5
This is the kind of stupidity that has destroyed the American dream. gwb has run the country into the ground by being what this idiot espouces. Give to the rich and keep the rest poorer.

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29. At 10:56am on 23 Oct 2008, schnide wrote:
Despite endless goading from the Republicans, the Democrats have ignored it and stayed true to their message. Decency seems to have prevailed in the end.

Have no doubt, the Republicans will redouble their efforts (even possibly seeing Palin on a four year crash course in politics) so it is up to all of us who now feel vindicated to educate people who haven't yet strayed too far to the right about the world we live in today - not the one we lived in ten years ago.

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30. At 11:01am on 23 Oct 2008, ColettePioline wrote:
Can we finally acknowledge that we need to administer cognitive tests to candidates to ensure that we're not electing people suffering from senile dementia? Anyone who remembers Reagan's second term knows that this is a legitimate issue when it comes to presidential elections. We encourage the average person to retire in their mid sixties, and yet seem to think nothing of electing people in their seventies to the most stressful job in the world.

So as not to be accused of ageism, we should administer the tests across the board.

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31. At 11:12am on 23 Oct 2008, RomeStu wrote:
#18 - thanks for that vid-clip.

Although I'm a little past laughing at the man now. He's such a sad parody of his former self - I actually quite liked him at the beginning. Now I feel only sorrow for what he has become at the hands of the GOP campaign managers.

And for whoever said that reading the teleprompter isn't important for a president .... you know other countries look and laugh, and when they laugh it is really over.

America is at risk of becoming a global laughing stock, and the supporters of McCain/Palin are so introspective that they neither know nor care.

When I think of all the good that the USA could do (and has done) for the world .. and its own people......

Peace and hope

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32. At 11:15am on 23 Oct 2008, RomeStu wrote:
Cid #2 --- given that ALL taxation is effectively redistribution of wealth please clarify your position.

Do you believe that there should be no tax?

And therefore that every citizen should send his kids to public school with a few bucks for the teacher each day.

... that people who feel threatened by Iraq can send money direct to the volunteer soldiers.

... that your trash collector knocks on your door each week to charge you.

... that your street lighting is coin-operated.

and so on ad infinitum.

Please make a real point.

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33. At 11:17am on 23 Oct 2008, RomeStu wrote:
#2 ... Cid, and another thing....

in what sort of civilised society would the wealthy not want to help the less fortunate?

Don't sound to "Christian" to me.

Peace and socialised medecin.

ps if you're an atheist you're off the hook - just selfish!!!!

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34. At 11:25am on 23 Oct 2008, FinMember wrote:
Macain loses it!! He lost it along time ago. How could he choose someone like sp, who the National Review says "can't decide if she is stupid, incompetent, unqualified, or corupt or all of the above". That is the most salient reason to prevent him from becoming president. He would probably become incapable or die in office and America would have sp as president a very,very scary thought.

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35. At 11:26am on 23 Oct 2008, deeperwell42 wrote:
Like several people above, I now feel more sorry than anything else for McCain - if/when he loses, this will go down as one of the great wastes of talent and goodwill in modern history.

Someone once said of Anthony Eden (Churchill's successor as Prime Minister) that he was like a thoroughbred racehorse trained to perfection for the 1938 Grand National, but not actually let out of the traps until 1955, by which time he was well past his prime. I think the same thing could be true of John McCain (and Gordon Brown, actually, but this is the wrong part of the site).

Maybe if he'd won the 2000 GOP nomination and fought that election on his own terms (and at the substantially younger age of 64), America and the world would be much better for it. Eight years of President McCain rather than President Bush certainly sounds like an improvement to me. As it is, however, he inherited a deeply unpopular party forcing its defensive agenda on him and, to be quite frank, every one of his 72 years are showing.

I'm not saying age should be a bar to political success, but it should be an issue. Most countries require people to reapply for their driving license at a certain age, for instance, and McCain is asking to sit behind a rather bigger wheel.

In any case, if he does pull it out of the fire somehow and win the election, I won't be feeling sorry for him then. I'll be too busy finding a good deal on nuclear bunkers in readiness for the succession of President Sarah Palin.

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36. At 11:41am on 23 Oct 2008, clueduprock wrote:
18 beatch_uk

Thanks so much. You've made my day.

What is the difference between words like "agree" and "disagree" anyway?

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37. At 11:43am on 23 Oct 2008, clueduprock wrote:
#33 RomeStu

I'm atheist, and would describe myself as a democratic socialist.

Atheists are nice people too!

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38. At 11:51am on 23 Oct 2008, selfevidenttruths wrote:
maybe the penny is dropping, poll just released:
Quinnipiac
Ohio
Obama 52
McCain 38 !!!!!!

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39. At 11:54am on 23 Oct 2008, selfevidenttruths wrote:
probably what the pollsters call an outlier but all you commie wierdo haters should be getting worried ....

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40. At 12:01pm on 23 Oct 2008, hairyairey wrote:
You know what I think might happen? The press report so much that Obama is going to win that his voters stay home and McCain then wins by default. This has happened before. Frankly I don't care whether he can give a good speech, I do care whether he is capable of doing a good job which is principally a management role. Is he a good manager or not?

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41. At 12:11pm on 23 Oct 2008, RomeStu wrote:
#37 clueduprock wrote:

"#33 RomeStu
I'm atheist, and would describe myself as a democratic socialist.

Atheists are nice people too!"

I know atheists are nice. I am one (see several of my posts on other topics).
The use of "Christian" was ironic. The atheist line was just to give Cid a get-out clause .... because I'm nice. Your point is proven.

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42. At 12:13pm on 23 Oct 2008, ghanimah wrote:
Funny how you could change the word McCain to Obama and it would still be an accurate report of this:

http://www.youtube.com/v/2ek5aVYNi5U&hl=cs&fs=1

I wonder why the BBC continue to highlight McCain's gaffes and not Obama's?

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43. At 12:15pm on 23 Oct 2008, Y_K_Hui wrote:
Mathew, would you have a moment to read this?

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081017light.html

Please try to examine your presuppositions. Or think for a second whether your journalism professors are liberal indoctrinators ...

The young are really attracted to the sophists, but this is nothing new. Socrates lamented on this 2500 years ago.

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44. At 12:22pm on 23 Oct 2008, steve081974 wrote:
#40 - I would suggest that two critical determinants of whether someone is a good manager are:

- Can they communicate effectively?
- Can they put together a strong team?

Umm...

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45. At 12:27pm on 23 Oct 2008, Steven Auld wrote:
IF the fact that GWB currently sits as President is anything to go by - we shouldn't expect intellectual capacity, fast wit, or even voter popularity to be pre-requisite criteria to contest for role as President.

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46. At 12:29pm on 23 Oct 2008, MATTDPRESTON wrote:
Can anyone really rationalise having a 72 year old president? For me theres only one candidate for this election.

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47. At 12:29pm on 23 Oct 2008, true_balance wrote:
Amusing, but inconsequential, except for the fact that it is being beat up by the BBC.

The media ignores most things, but picks up other, often trivial events, and pushes them as "news" to create a totally distorted picture of the world.

Check this out:

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=oDvpw10PYlg&NR=1

Where was your "dismay" written up after this event then, Mathew Price?

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48. At 12:34pm on 23 Oct 2008, RomeStu wrote:
#37 clueduprock - re-reading my post I realise I was still not 100% clear.

"If YOU're an atheist you're off the hook" The "YOU" is for Cid specifically. It was meant to imply that atheism, without it's inherent "Christian moral high ground" would give Cid an excuse for his lamentable comments.

In no would would I imply that either atheists in general are selfish, or that Christians have a monopoly on caring for others.

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49. At 12:34pm on 23 Oct 2008, AndyW35 wrote:
The youtube clip was amusing, not for what he did but the expression on the faces behind.

I think McCain has been slipped a kipper by his advisors. He's gone towards the right to make sure he has the Christian Republicans on board but he'll just end up with a VP who has different views to his own if he gets elected; presumably they will not be working as a team.

Unfortunately though making a grab for the right of the party has made him lose a lot of the left and centre, plus the so called "elites" over his VP nomination.

If he does fail to become President then there will be a lot of thinking, recrimination and soul searching to be done in the GOP.

They are looking like Labour under Kinnock at the moment, remember that Election ..

Regards

Andy

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50. At 12:45pm on 23 Oct 2008, DNAtheist wrote:
I refer to the superb Post by TijuanaDonkey (No.95 in the Justin Webb blog "Palin disaster, Powell endorsement"):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2008/10/palin_disaster_powell_endorsem.html

Written for comedic effect it may have been, but it had struck me days before reading that excellent piece of wit that there may be some truth behind the notion that John McCain is reluctant in his role.

I haven't done a massive amount of research around McCain, but my impression has been that he is a decent human being and personally possessed of at least some ideas of quality. Certainly, he has been labelled a 'moderate' Republican and certainly he has appeared, at least in the past, to be a more amenable class of Republican.

Unfortunately, he, and I would argue Colin Powell to an extent, have become victims of a palpable sickness present in the Republican political machine. Equally arguable, of course, is the tenet that they have 'allowed' themselves to become victims, and one could certainly question their character and moral fibre from that point of view.

Ultimately though, my overriding impression is of a man whose heart is not really in it anymore, who perhaps finds himself lacking the energy to stand against the more extreme elements of his chosen party, indeed heavy of heart knowing that those elements are guaranteed votes and yet not the sort of votes that a wise and judicious potential leader should want or feel obliged to seek.

Perhaps these are factors contributing to stumbling over speeches when parts of said speeches don't ring true in the mind of the speaker.

I hope there is an element of truth to this, because otherwise John McCain is just becoming another George W Bush and America, and indeed the world, desperately does not need another Dubya.

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51. At 12:51pm on 23 Oct 2008, clueduprock wrote:
#42 ghanimah

Fair enough, both candidates make gaffes on the trail - as Obama says you don't get much sleep doing it. However, some small but important points:

- Obama is not reading from autocue. He is talking from memory and knowledge.

- In the clip, Obama is friendly and jokes about his mistake. Compare with the clip in #18 where McCain makes quite a significant error of words, and continues as though nothing has happened.

- Matthew Price is covering John McCain's campaign, not Obama's. If Obama made such regular and significant mistakes, we would hope Gavin Hewitt would mention it. On the subject of bias, it sounds like you'd want to speak to Justin Webb.

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52. At 12:53pm on 23 Oct 2008, true_balance wrote:

YK Hui,

many thanks for the excellent contribution:

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081017light.html

A very profound and insightful article, that should be read by every citizen.

It explain very well how a couple of stumbled sentences ends up becoming world news.

Have several journalist friends, and I know the media avoids reporting key facts and substance, and activetly betrays it's loudly professed "duty" of informing the public.

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53. At 12:53pm on 23 Oct 2008, deeperwell42 wrote:
#42 - actually, I think that proves the point even further. On the rare occasions he does slip up, Obama is able to skillfully parley it into a self-deprecating joke. McCain, on the other hand, always looks like he's actually struggling to make it to the end of the speech.
As for there being no coverage of his gaffes as opposed to McCain's, what about a) "we've been to 57 states" or b) much worse, the "bitterly clinging to guns and religion" debacle? Matthew opens his entry today with "This has now happened too many times not to mention it", the point being that McCain's failures as a communicator AREN'T really being talked about much in the media.

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54. At 12:57pm on 23 Oct 2008, DarkAgeDad wrote:
What happened to the BBC .It used to be the unbiased news of the world. Now for the US elections it just repeats the Democratic news releases like it was the truth. Today’s front page story was about Sarah Palin’s Wardrobe price. What happened to the BBC .It used to be the unbiased news of the world. It is a sad loss of information to me.

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55. At 1:05pm on 23 Oct 2008, albobo wrote:
No 13 b4mutton - couldn't disagree with you more.

One of the big Mccain attacks on Obama has been to criticise his ability with words and his eloquence. And you clearly agree.

But what no one seems to have pointed out (even in the media that you claim is so oposed to him) is that surely one of the roles of the modern President IS to articulate the mood of the country. To be able to speak to the people of America clearly and eloquently about the problems and challenges facing them. And also to be the face and voice of America that speaks to the rest of the world.

People seem to be suggesting that eloquence is a shallow skill that is unneeded as a President. Actually it is of vital importance to the role, especially in a time when Americas stock is so low around the world (and, if opinion polls showing 91% of Americans believe the US is on the wrong track are to be believed, in the US as well).

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56. At 1:26pm on 23 Oct 2008, GMTrevelyan wrote:
Yes, at least Obama can read from a teleprompter. The fact he keeps threatening to invade Pakistan isn't an issue.

Once again with the BBC on the US election it's style over substance....

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57. At 1:29pm on 23 Oct 2008, Lallythimes wrote:
It should be a one horse race, and that horse is a dark horse.
Reading the bulk of the earlier comments has reaffirmed my faith (that's the atheist type by the way) in the American people's power of reason, reaching an obvious conclusion, despite journalistic bias and "story" seeking.
Well done!

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58. At 1:41pm on 23 Oct 2008, usdeeper wrote:
Something we have learned this last couple of weeks. Most people have no clue what socialism is.. and 2) Most people have no clue that most US domestic policies are socialist in nature.

The comments this week by someone stating that Obama policies are socialist like Cuba's was the biggest laugh of the week.

As to McCain. You have to go back to 2000 and what happened to him to understand how he changed. He was destroyed by the Bush henchman and has been bitter and resentful every day since...

..and now, after forcing himself to reconcile with Bush in 2004 and supporting the Bush policies for 4 years, he is seeing his dream slip away from him by some young upstart.

After all, the presidency his, it's his turn dammit and no one is going to get in his way..

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59. At 1:56pm on 23 Oct 2008, piphow wrote:
Apart from his age and obvious ill health I feel that McCain would make a reasonable President. McCains key problem is Palin. I still laugh everytime I see, hear our read about her. How on earth could anybody think that she has the ability to run a superpower?!?! The woman doesnt even belive that dinosaurs existed!!

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60. At 1:56pm on 23 Oct 2008, Cartponybefore wrote:
Nice to see you getting lots more comments now, Matt! Justin Webb bores the bej... out of me I must say. Is there a Youtube link for this speech?

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61. At 2:24pm on 23 Oct 2008, Guzzie wrote:
Jesus preached that those who have two coats should give one to the person who does not own any. That is a form of the dreaded "spreading the wealth around" and a demonstration of socialism that McCain and Palin accuse Obama of preaching.

McCain and especially Palin should have a long hard look in the mirror and try to explain how they can claim to have a fundamental belief in Jesus yet at the same time be so opposed to the basic principles of his life's teaching.

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62. At 2:29pm on 23 Oct 2008, RealisticJimmy wrote:

Oh and with regard to the "socialist", "spreading the wealth" problems I present the following quote:

"The necessaries of life occasion the great expense of the poor. . . . The luxuries and vanities of life occasion the principal expense of the rich. . . It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion."

Lenin maybe? Mao?

...

It's from “The Wealth of Nations”. By Adam Smith. And in case you don't know who he was (try google), he wasn't a communist or even a socialist.

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63. At 2:30pm on 23 Oct 2008, Deep_Eddie wrote:
So, not so much McCain as McCan't?

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64. At 2:35pm on 23 Oct 2008, icetayoa wrote:
Most pundits seem to have written Mcain off in this election. Most are infact bullish enough to predict a landslide for Obama. I have studied and tried to analyze the latest AP survey and it just leaves me more confused as to how Obama could be leading Mcain in the polls when the indices employed show that the reverse is the case. I have thus come to the conclusion that any of my following assertions must be correct.
1. The polls must be faulty and aimed at deceiving Mcain.
2. Obama’s camp and democrats must believe that if you tell a lie long enough it will become truth. I believe that they have become a victim of their own spin.
3. It must be, that there is a grand conspiracy to deceive Obama into believing he is going to win the elections only to humiliate him at the polls.
Lets analyze the data as released by AP again
Since the last AP-GfK survey in late September, McCain also has:

_Posted big gains among likely voters earning under $50,000 a year; he now trails Obama by just 4 percentage points compared with 26 earlier.

_Mcain has Surged among rural voters; he has an 18-point advantage, up from 4.

Mcain has Doubled his advantage among whites who haven't finished college and now leads by 20 points. McCain and Obama are running about even among white college graduates, no change from earlier.

Mcain has Made modest gains among whites of both genders, now leading by 22 points among white men and by 7 among white women.

Mcain has Improved slightly among whites who are married, now with a 24-point lead.

Mcain has Narrowed a gap among unmarried whites, though he still trails by 8 points
McCain has cut into Obama's advantage on the questions of whom voters trust to handle the economy and the financial crisis. On both, the Democrat now leads by just 6 points, compared with 15 in the previous survey.

Obama still has a larger advantage on other economic measures, with 44 percent saying they think the economy will have improved a year from now if he is elected compared with 34 percent for McCain.

Intensity has increased among McCain's supporters.

A month ago, Obama had more strong supporters than McCain did. Now, the number of excited supporters is about even.

Eight of 10 Democrats are supporting Obama, while nine in 10 Republicans are backing McCain. Independents are about evenly split.

Some 24 percent of likely voters were deemed still persuadable, meaning they were either undecided or said they might switch candidates. Those up-for-grabs voters came about equally from the three categories: undecideds, McCain supporters and Obama backers.

Can someone please enlighten me as to where Obama’s landslide is going to come from, pleassssss

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65. At 2:36pm on 23 Oct 2008, Yarmot wrote:
I have been saying to American friends for many months now that the vote is not between Obama and Mcain but between Obam and Mcain's running mate. The reason is quite simply one of age. Mcain will not last as President and therefore his running mate (now SP) will become President so who do you want America Obama or Palin? No choice in my book.

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66. At 2:39pm on 23 Oct 2008, DNAtheist wrote:
No.55 albobo - couldn't agree with you more.

I've watched hours and hours of footage of Obama speaking (whilst heavily scrutinising it, because it is imperative that the orations of potential world leaders are subjected to intense scrutiny) and, contrary to the ridiculous and lamentable assertion that Obama's oratory gift is something to be feared and questioned, I find it utterly compelling.

It speaks volumes for the man, and indeed the comments from detractors speak far more about the detractors themselves than they do about Obama.

Those who profess anxiety when witnessing intelligence, who mistake dignity for smugness, who deride eloquence as somehow a lack of humility have failed to listen without prejudice and failed in any attempt to overcome their own ignorance.

And, if anyone ever needed proof of what a lack of eloquence can accomplish, one need look no further than the president incumbent.

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67. At 2:40pm on 23 Oct 2008, lobeydosser1 wrote:
Bruce A. Batson,

The trouble with democracy is that even you have a vote. Clearly, you have decided to cast it in favour of McCain, which is your right, but don't insult our intelligence with your logic. Why not just admit that your beliefs make you so narrow as not to be able to see another side of the argument? If you listen to both sides, you can ususally see merits in both sides and select from the most important of the differences. You sem to see no merit in Obama and only merit in McCain. I don't think you are listening very hard. Of course, that is what fascism does to you, hence your knowledge of Mussolini, perhaps?

As for all this talk about virility and effemeninate, do you think you may be suppressing something?

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68. At 2:48pm on 23 Oct 2008, Reiner_Torheit wrote:
Although I disagree with McCain's war-monger policies 100%, he seemed to me to be sincere in his nutty beliefs.

He signed his own resignation from politics when he invited the airheaded Alaskan nincompoop to be his VP Candidate.

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69. At 2:50pm on 23 Oct 2008, temperx2 wrote:
Is there a video link out there of this?

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70. At 2:54pm on 23 Oct 2008, Dennis Junior wrote:
It is sad that McCain is loses it again!

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71. At 2:59pm on 23 Oct 2008, moderate_observer wrote:
#23 vienna said
"Let's get real. This election is about either
a) letting the Neocons and the Christian fundamentalsits continue their ludicrous attempts to bring about the 'rapture' by messing with the middle east in the hope Israel will one day cover its original landmass, thus opening the way for Jesus to come back and take all believers with him to a higher place.
or
"

and thats the underlying logic driving republican foreign policy.

They believe military positions in the middle east is gods plan as stated by Sarah Palin. YOu have the likes of Pat Buchanan influencing foreign policy, this is their exact objective because they believe that they have a role to play in bringing about the predictions of the bible.

This explains why they dont break a sweat when lives are are lost or when the american economy goes in the tank because of the expenses incurred by the military adventures. to them its a small price to pay for their faith based aspirations. (sounds like something from a certain group in the middle east doesnt it? )

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72. At 3:01pm on 23 Oct 2008, Ads_21 wrote:
Dear me, how biased does the BBC want to be in this election. If we wanting a good speaker for President just go down the Havard debating society and pick somebody. If you want somebody with the character jusdgement and experience for the job, then pick John McCain.

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73. At 3:02pm on 23 Oct 2008, welsh_nimby wrote:
If Brooks A. Batson was that important the cameras would be pointed at him.
Muppet!

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74. At 3:14pm on 23 Oct 2008, rhysgp wrote:
What I don't understand about the American, religious right is that charity is something that for 2000 years has been valued by Christians. Rich men entering the Kingdom of Heaven is, according the the text they hold be be the absolute truth, somewhat difficult. Also, love of money, so they have it, is the root of all evil.

Shouldn't they, then, be in favour of high, progressive taxation?

Their fear of socialism and communism would be such a good joke were it not that the travesty of American foreign policy for years wasted the lives of good, hard-working, ordinary non-Americans. Americans, it seems, don't care about human suffering unless those humans are Americans themselves.

And what is it to be un-American? What a useful, meaningless label! In the UK we say "it's not British" in a jokey kind of way to mean that it it's not fair-play. At least it has meaning. But un-American? That could mean absolutely anything! It's a sort of meaning-inflation: it appears to have value, but when you "de-leverage" it you find the asset is worthless.

As far as I'm concerned, any leader who is elected for such nationalist reasons is as scary as Mussolini, Hitler or Stalin. But scarier, because the US has shown itself to be highly aggressive and has overwhelming force at its disposal.

If McCain needs such nationalistic tactics to be elected, then maybe it's better that he isn't.

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75. At 3:15pm on 23 Oct 2008, NEARPOSTHEADER wrote:
I'm sure McCain is an able person in many ways, but his Thunderbird Puppet-style movements and his stumbling, bumbling deliveries perhaps betray a deep-rooted problem in his character. Also, his choice of running mate should, alone, disqualify him from the presidency; although I have to say, I'd love to be a fly on the wall of a meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and 'President' Sarah Palin.
I think this election has confirmed just how dangerous some of the US people can be; e.g. two senators today having to apologise over comments about Obama being "anti-American" and liberals being, basically, traitorous atheists. Sometimes I wonder who is more dangerous; Islamic or Christian extremists? If Obama is elected, the Secret Service will have its work cut out.
And, the 's' word rears its ugly head. Have Republicans forgotten that their staunchest ally, the one which has sent troops to fight and die in Iraq and Afghanistan, is governed by the Labour Party and that all the G8 nations are primarily socialist? Welfare, healthcare, the simple idea of a nation - are these not socialist concepts?
Once again, out of a country of 300m, someone from the ultra-right party is squared up against someone from the not-so-quite-so-ultra-right party so the semblance of democracy is maintained. I have to wonder; do people really believe that the US president is the most powerful person in the world? Surely any TRULY powerful person would not be dumb enough to subject him/herself to the whims of an intrisically ignorant and ill-informed electorate every 4 years...or an assassin's bullet. George W. Bush's election and re-election proved, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that the election of a president is NOT decided by the people.

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76. At 3:16pm on 23 Oct 2008, lulumoretti wrote:
Hey guys!

In every modern country it is imperative that the wealth be 'spread around'. Obama is correct. Right now we in the US are suffering because 2% of our population have 21% of our wealth and it's caused a devastating imbalance in our economy. Our unions are busted, our workers' earnings are down, and the CEOs are taking millions whether their companies are thriving or in bankruptcy. A healthy society willingly spreads its wealth around knowing that it's important our teachers and firemen and nurses and all our workers are appropriately rewarded for their contributions.

lulu
Sonoma County, CA - USA

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77. At 3:17pm on 23 Oct 2008, RomeStu wrote:
#56 GMTrevelyan wrote:
"Yes, at least Obama can read from a teleprompter. The fact he keeps threatening to invade Pakistan isn't an issue."

Yes, but does he keep threatening to invade Pakistan? I must have missed something.

And anyway ..... it appears from the news headlines today ("US missiles hit Pakistan school") that Bush may be trying to beat him to it.

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78. At 3:24pm on 23 Oct 2008, daylightsaving wrote:
The BBC's partial attitude against McCain makes me root for him to win. Stupid BBC.

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79. At 3:26pm on 23 Oct 2008, dave_h wrote:
I've recently moved to America through work, although I have absolutely no intention of ever attempting to seek citizenship of the USA (my reasons here are numerous, but I personally believe the US political system is too broken to fix and would prefer to remain affiliated with another country). What worries me so much is that if I was allowed to vote, I wouldn't have anyone who I believe comes close to representing me. The old republican ideals of minimal government fit with my liberal/conservative views. But the republican's have been taken over by the religious right and I can't stand their viewpoints. Furthermore, the current republican party likes to spend. The democrats like to spend as well, and at least aren't controlled by a religious extreme.

If I was forced to choose I would probably have to pick Obama, but he scares me in a way that Tony Blair did back in 97. He is just a little too slick, and you worry about how badly Obama is going to be controlled by spin (ie lies spun to sound better). He still seems a better option than McCain though. What is interesting about this is that in the UK in recent elections I have voted Conservative. My ideal party in the UK was the old Liberal party from 100 years ago, but that doesn't exist any more, and the Lib Dems are as far away from that ideal as possible. Both the US and UK need a genuinely third way party. One which believes in small government, and has it's valued based in liberality.

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80. At 3:36pm on 23 Oct 2008, Pancha_Chandra wrote:
Election campaigns are thoroughly gruelling. For a man in his seventies, John McCain is showing visible signs of stress and strain. His speeches are lack-lustre. He keeps on beating the drum of his war record when he should be talking knowledgeably of the economy. Obama has the gift of the gab and has the economic facts at his finger tips. Obama is poised to win a landslide victory.

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81. At 3:49pm on 23 Oct 2008, riazmb wrote:
does anyone have a link to this speech?

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82. At 4:03pm on 23 Oct 2008, b4mutton wrote:
No 55 albobo.
No, I don't think that anyone, including McCain, sees anything wrong with eloquence and I agree with your list of how advantageous it can be. Nevertheless,
I really do not believe that it can be considered one of the main qualities one would wish a president to have.
My complaint is really against the media. It seems to me that they are taking on a role for themselves in deciding what is for the best and are doing everything possible to
push it through. They might be right - but it is propaganda.

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83. At 4:05pm on 23 Oct 2008, usdeeper wrote:
"_Mcain has Surged among rural voters"

I live in rural Virginia and 2 weeks ago I *knew* that Obama was going to win VA. That is because for every 1 McCain poster, there are 3 for Obama. This is RURAL Virginia. My neighbor is a die hard Rupublican who would not look out of place in a picture of confederate soilders. When I first moved to the area and asked where something was, they told me to go down this road and turn right at the 'colored' church. It was an hour before I realized I was not looking for some red church building.. and yet, they will be voting Democrate for the first time in their lives.

"Eight of 10 Democrats are supporting Obama, while nine in 10 Republicans are backing McCain. Independents are about evenly split."

I have no idea where this has come from, but my experience suggests something different. Many, many people I have spoken to have said the same thing.. "Always voted for Republicans but this year I am voting for Obama". I would doubt that even 6 out of 10 republicans are backing McCain.

Independents by and large are so disgusted by the Bush years that it is unlikely to be an even split.

A landslide would not surprise me at all.

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84. At 4:08pm on 23 Oct 2008, rockSimon1 wrote:
I am convinced that American is by nature a republican country. By that I mean that the essence of what the republican party stands for, conservative with a not too small "C", rest easy with a large swath of the country.

There are so many pointer going against the Republicans at ther moment, a discredited and feeble president, the mismanagement of the Iraq war, the record deficit, economic meltdown, mismanagement for the economy, America's appauling standing in the world, a candidate who is too old, incapable of delivering even the most simple message and who has totally mismanaged his campagn.

Add this to massive questions over his decision making and the quite unbelievably ignorant running mate Sarah Palin and this all adds up to a complete disaster at the polls.

Why then are the polls only saying that Obama has between a 5% and 10% lead? To me its absolutely astounding that McCann is still in with a shout and this really defies explaination.

I heard someone call Obama a left wing marxist the other day. After choking on a cup of tea I then had a convulsive fit of laughter. Please?

Obama is the most elloquent, forward thinking, intelligent individual that the US has produced in many a year and if he is not elected in the current climate then I really do wonder where the hope is.

I do not subscribe to many sniffy Brits view that the majority of Americans are not capable of intelligent assessments of their candidates but when one thinks that this is the country that managed to allow Dubba to spend 8 years in the White House and puts forward someone like Sarah Palin, who quite frankly wouldn't know the difference between foreign policy and an insurance policy, then I seriously start to wonder.

And what does it matter to us who do not have a vote, well I believe that the interconnection of world politics and economics nowdays makes the outcome of the US election probably more important than who is in power in this country.

Someone once said that a country gets the government it derserves, I really hope in this case, for all our sakes, this is not true.

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85. At 4:10pm on 23 Oct 2008, Gary_A_Hill wrote:
Eisenhower was no great public speaker, either, so that alone should not disqualify him. McCain is no Eisenhower in his temperment, and that should disqualify him.

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86. At 4:11pm on 23 Oct 2008, Benji044 wrote:
After several debates and video reports of live speeches it is clear to me, and I hope many others, that McCain might be a nice older man who has a lot of friends but he's not the intelligent, open to new ideas, quick on his feet statesman that I picture as the new US president.

Because McCain and his team lack the imagination, experience and vision required to win this campaign they are now running a campaign focussed on what Obama or Biden said or better yet McCains/Palins version there of.

Examples galore. McCain stated earlier that he won't be tested, in response to his twisted version of Biden's speech, because he has been tested before. During the Cuban missile crisis I believe, flying of a boat. Relevance?

Joe the Plumber - does not earn $250,000, as a matter of fact most Americans and plumbers don't and NEVER will. But McDreamie tries to make us all believe that plumbers, dental hygenists and electricians all make $250K+ so that means that the vast majority pays more taxes. WHAT???

Socialist? Offering people access to healthcare via the same policy as government employees is hardly a move towards socialism. McCain needs to understand European social and healthcare systems before he compares them. By the way, I know this is a hard one to swallow but does any one ever consider that the American dream was good for Henry Ford and such but really hasn't been for 95%+ of the populalation since 1776?

Last, not least, Palin, who claims that the $700B bailout is a move towards socialism, forgets that McCain stopped his campaign to make sure it got through congress and once there actually did nothing because he didn't have a clue what everyone else was talking about.

Palin reminds me a lot of my ex-wife, lots of talk, no real substance but able to scale the ladder, mainly thru lack of fear, loads of unjustified self confidence but I'm convinced that these careers fizzle out because people see through them eventually and I just hope this is the case before this woman ever becomes the leader of the free world.

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87. At 4:15pm on 23 Oct 2008, Cocteau8 wrote:
Icetayoa (64) - the poll to which you are referring seems so out of kilter with every single other poll as to be beyond belief and your reference to the potential for conspiracies amongst the pollsters, whilst amusing, I'm afraid I don't swallow.

Out of curiosity, as well as looking in great detail at the results of these polls, which would suggest a statistical dead heat, have you looked at the population used for the poll? Almost 50% born again/evangelical christians - hardly Obama territory, plus 57% taken from areas likely to favour McCain - South and mid-west. It should be noted that the evangelical/born again constituency made up 23% of the vote in 2004. This would suggest that the poll is discredited before it starts!

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88. At 4:34pm on 23 Oct 2008, moderate_observer wrote:
mccain's health is of serious concern, the mccain who ran in 2000 and the mccain of 2008 appear to be two completely different persons. a total contradiction.

its long been said that roosevelt's bad health is what allowed the soviets to take eastern europe, as he was not sharp enough to notice the plans of Stalin.

I believe that mcCain's own judgement has deteriorated over the years, we keep looking for the old mcCain and he have not showed up as yet, i think its safe to say that the McCain of yesterday is gone, that was 8 years ago.

At this moment , when so much is at stake for the nation I wonder what image it will send to the world about the US when they elect a leader who by the look of things isnt on his best form.

Then his VP is a woman who doesnt even know the constitutional role of a VP yet alone understand foreign issues. She will not command much respect from the US allies, look at how they have reacted to Bush, and look at what it has cost the country.

A nations leader is the reflection of the nation itself. electing the oldest president ever who stumbles through speeches makes gaffes like 'my fellow prisoners' will just make the US seem weak to its allies and enemies and may not be of much help when trying to be influential on the decisions made by other leaders.

Obama may be an eloquent speaker, and somehow it is portrayed as a bad thing.

But in fact that is a good thing because that eloquence is what convinces many to take your side and swings influence n your favour. Its eloquence that gets you the respect of your allies.

I believe image means a lot , so it may be style over substance but style matters, because at the end of the day its the better salesperson who will win.

(mcdonalds does not make the best burgers but they do sell the most)

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89. At 4:41pm on 23 Oct 2008, Cartponybefore wrote:
#78: and you're clearly a very influential chap. I bet Obama's quaking in his boots now!

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90. At 4:53pm on 23 Oct 2008, JanVanBohemen wrote:
I'm starting to feel kinda sorry for McCain, he's giving it all he got but he's struggling because it just ain't enough. I hope these elections are over soon so he can take some rest and get back to his senses, while Obama can get to work.

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91. At 4:58pm on 23 Oct 2008, Steve_Hurley1 wrote:
The attempt by McCain/Palin to brand anyone who doesn't vote for them as Socialists, Communists and, worst of all, not 'Real Americans', (Right-wing code for 'traitors'), shows that McCain had no integrity nor honor left. How dare he insult 50%* of Americans in such a way.

The Vietcong couldn't morally break him, alas his own desperation to win this election has. He should do the honorable thing and step aside before he brings more shame upon himself and those honorable Republicans still left.

What will get Obama elected will not be the Black vote, the Youth vote or the Woman's vote; it will be those Republicans voting against McCain because they are disgusted with his desperate, dishonorable Dividing-America tactics.

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92. At 5:06pm on 23 Oct 2008, danensis wrote:
but can you get Obama oven chips?

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93. At 5:08pm on 23 Oct 2008, glowpod wrote:
Clip from youtube for those who want a giggle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ek5aVYNi5U

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94. At 6:04pm on 23 Oct 2008, icetayoa wrote:
#87

The poll is from AP. most credible media outfits rely on the AP for breaking news. believe me, it is very credible.

Even they themselves, ignorantly or mischievously said Obama still maintains a commanding lead, despite their own polls, which was quite puzzling for me to grasp.

how can Obama being in a commanding lead, be a sensible conclusion from that poll

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95. At 6:35pm on 23 Oct 2008, icetayoa wrote:
this was culled from fox news..it has some bearing on the election and this laughable belief in a landslide for Obama.

Enjoy!

Rep. John Murtha, who recently called constituents in his western Pennsylvania town "racist" because Barack Obama may not win big there, is 4 points ahead of his Republican challenger, retired Army Lt. Col. William Russell, within the Susquehanna Poll's 4.9-point margin of error.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ordered the poll of 400 likely voters on Tuesday as discussion centered on Murtha's comments. The 18-term Democratic congressman apologized for his initial statement by saying he meant only that skin color will be a factor in the race between Obama and John McCain. Murtha later said many Western Pennsylvanians were "rednecks" until recent years.

Russell, who served in Iraq, is the first challenger to give Murtha a run for his money in years. His campaign told the newspaper it was buoyed by another statistic in the poll -- the 54 percent of voters who said it's time someone else represented them in Congress. Thirty-five percent say Murtha, a Vietnam veteran, should be re-elected.

The poll comes as internal polling leaked from the Obama camp showed the Democratic candidate only 2 points ahead of McCain in the Keystone State, suggesting the race is much closer than the Quinnipiac poll out Thursday that shows Obama with a 13-point lead in the state.

Pennsylvania voted for Democrat John Kerry in the 2004 election, but is seen as one of the few blue states that could swing red this year. McCain has spent considerable time in the state.

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, a McCain supporter, said a lot of eyes are on Pennsylvania because of comments like Murtha's, as well as Obama's remarks about spreading the wealth and redistributing income as a means to prosperity.

"That really riles people up and they are citing that everywhere and they are upset about it," Brownback said of Murtha's remarks. "The politicians say, 'This is what I think about you folks here,' and they don't like it and they are fired up about it, and they're getting involved."

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96. At 7:16pm on 23 Oct 2008, StephenDerry wrote:
McCain's strategy is to preach to the converted, to people who already don't like Obama. He obviously thinks his only chance of winning is to make sure every single Republican gets out and votes in the states he is capable of winning.

This week's mantra "spread the wealth" to my (liberal European) ears sounds like a sensible policy, especially in such economically troubled times. By repeating it, McCain may be recruiting as many voters for Obama as for himself.

His negative campaigning is also only effective against people who are already disinclined to support Obama, and his selection of VP is the conservative base's wet dream. His criticism of Obama's eloquence also just draws attention to his own weaknesses.

McCain is not going for floating voters, undecideds or wavering Democrats, he is going all out to make sure every Republican in the mid-West and the South actually gets out and votes.

The danger of this is, even if by some miracle he wins, how convinced will the rest of the country be that he represents them? If you think America is polarised now, you ain't seen nothing yet.

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97. At 7:49pm on 23 Oct 2008, gntlben wrote:
McCain's clumsiness with speech - not disqualifying to me, age - no. After all, we've had the most criminal, incompetent, bullying, lying, cheating, and arrogant (add your own thoughts here) White House in our history. Living in this country called America, now, makes me vomit. The whole world should vomit. R. Reagan started this. This is all about the status quo and keeping it. Actually, it has moved more $$ to the thieving, lying, cheating bastards to the point that individuals can control whole markets. Our legal system has been corrupted, our financial system raided with no penalty except to the bulk of us who will pay for the excess, and ensure a further status quo. Mindless consumption, destruction of the living planet on which we all depend. America is proving that humans are the stupidest species. Back to the point: most people don't know the evangelicals in this country, even them. They run on auto pilot. They don't doubt. They have no room for alternative thoughts. Believe me, this is the way it is. They will vote for S.P., and that means they will vote for McCain. That is some 34% of the Republican vote. The rest are the rich selfish un-american bastards, most who stole it, the gun lovers and black haters. Local offices where I live are being taken by the Palin types. They do it with stealth. Watch out! They may convince you, but there's not a chance you'll convince them of anythiing.

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98. At 8:04pm on 23 Oct 2008, chrisirmo wrote:
Here's the relevant portion:
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=R-lt2iW3dKc

You can see the full speech here:
http://www.wlwt.com/video/17783680/index.html

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99. At 8:16pm on 23 Oct 2008, chrisirmo wrote:
Here's the relevant portion: http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Gqoi-BzZE

You can see the full speech here: http://www.wlwt.com/video/17783680/index.html

(the Youtube link is wrong in my earlier post)

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100. At 8:18pm on 23 Oct 2008, usdeeper wrote:
"as well as Obama's remarks about spreading the wealth and redistributing income as a means to prosperity.

"That really riles people up and they are citing that everywhere and they are upset about it,"

Does anyone else find it funny that people who have lost their jobs and are struggling to put food on the table, get so upset about redistributing someone else's wealth to them just because it is labeled as socialism?

.. but getting welfare via the government from tax payers money is ok.

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101. At 8:57pm on 23 Oct 2008, RomeStu wrote:
#95 - IceT

Another example of the liberal media praising Obama and vilifying McCain.

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102. At 8:59pm on 23 Oct 2008, pustelnik wrote:
McCain is too old, was past his "sell by date". Why doesn't he just release a report of his brain MRI and let the voters choose?

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103. At 9:58pm on 23 Oct 2008, rawhob wrote:
You can watch the speech on youtube by following this link:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Gqoi-BzZE

It really is worrying if he's not sure what he's "fighting" for.

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104. At 11:25pm on 23 Oct 2008, altheteacher wrote:
Matthew, you are too cruel. The senator from Arizona just needs to return to his Sedona ranch for an energy infusion. He and Cindy picked the spot as it harbors a vortex and magical healing crystals. The recently installed cell phone towers have disrupted energy transferences, but the McCains are looking into satelitte phones instead. Does anybody want the contract?

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105. At 11:50pm on 23 Oct 2008, Cocteau8 wrote:
"The poll is from AP. most credible media outfits rely on the AP for breaking news. believe me, it is very credible." (94) AP might be credible, but a poll based upon a population that has almost 50% of its population as being evangelical christians/born agains is not, and the fact that they themselves refer to the legitimacy of other polls suggest that they are of a similar view. I note that the latest CNN poll of polls has Obama's lead over McCain as being 8%. Given that the AP poll is so different from every other poll the fact that you (icetayoa) prefer to believe the AP poll is fine by me, but would suggest that you are somewhat misguided (then again, having seen your previous comments and your suggestion that Palin is indeed qualified for the role of VP perhaps this is indeed so!).

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106. At 11:53pm on 23 Oct 2008, JackBini wrote:
Its been a long campaign season.

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107. At 00:52am on 24 Oct 2008, kbwong wrote:
@74

"And what is it to be un-American? What a useful, meaningless label! In the UK we say "it's not British" in a jokey kind of way to mean that it it's not fair-play. At least it has meaning. But un-American? That could mean absolutely anything! It's a sort of meaning-inflation: it appears to have value, but when you "de-leverage" it you find the asset is worthless."

Rhys, an American who says "that's un-American" usually means "that's not playing fair", just like a Brit. In fact, when someone says, "that's un-*insert name of your own country here*", that is in fact what they generally mean, or hadn't you noticed?

It's possible, you know, that "it's not British" has the particular meaning you give only for Brits, and a, say, Peruvian might not understand what you mean by it. It only has the value, in fact, that you Brits give it, and is only, in fact, valued as such by yourself. It is, in fact, useless and meaningless in any other context but your own.

Since that fact doesn't matter much to you and you go on to complain that someone else's use of that sort of phrase is useless and meaningless inside your own context, perhaps it's some kind of holdover from the days when the sun never set, and no one's meaning mattered much beyond the meaning of those who led the Empire...

Pot...kettle...? Or is your normal habitat the Grauniad?

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108. At 00:59am on 24 Oct 2008, booloohoom wrote:
Mr Price - this link has already been posted above, but I'd truly value your comment: where can I find a BBC article or blog entry similarly ridiculing Obama's attempts at coherent speech in the following clip? -

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2ek5aVYNi5U

I've been trying to find Mr Hewitt's blog entry on Obama's frequent verbal stumbling during speeches, but without success. Surely it's just as newsworthy as McCain's bumbling? If not, can I ask why not?

After all, you've told us that he is one the modern world's greatest orators, so surely this performance (undeniably far more incompetent and embarrassing than the McCain delivery in the clip you've so relished sharing with us) is at least worthy of comment. Or is it your position that Obama is a "great orator", except when he isn't, and so when he isn't, we don't mention it?

After viewing the Obama clip, Mr Price, I'd love to know your answer to the following question: This is Obama telling voters and the media why they should support him, this is his pitch for the most important job in the world. Doesn't his inability to remember basic facts and figures, to think on his feet, to go off the page, count against him?

If it doesn't, Mr Price, if this truly comic and inept performance from Obama doesn't give you second thoughts about HIS ability to govern, then why have you chosen to apply a different standard to McCain?

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109. At 02:05am on 24 Oct 2008, rwbennett wrote:
McCAIN shows some honest, heart felt emotion during a very difficult ellection, and you say he's "losing it"?
I don't understand what your saying? I think he looks great and is "fighting" for what he believes, many citizens are ready to fight for him too. All the talk of riots if Obama supporters do not get their way is plain old racial and political blackmail. American citizens are saying enough of this stuff, and we are demanding a clean ellection. Why is OK for Obama to stir up a crowd saying nothing of substance but if McCain and his supporters show some fight, it's somehow wrong. You aren't a "racist, bigot" are you?

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110. At 03:44am on 24 Oct 2008, stillangry wrote:
The YouTube record of Obama's punchdrunk moment - he mentions not much sleep in 48 hours - is amusing, but is also most untypical of the man. Either candidate can get to such a state at the end of such a grueling two years' worth of campaigning.
The difference, as you point out, is that McCain _frequently_ can't function at a normal level - as Frank Rich has pointed out in the New York Times also. And that's a huge difference.
Add to this deficit his raging temper, his now-vicious attacks on his opponent (and even worse tolerated under others' names), his insulting choice of a running mate, and his total lack of ideas and serious direction, and you have all the ingredients for a disastrous showing on 4 November.
I almost wish I could feel sorry for the man, but he's truly brought this on himself. And, worse, on us. He richly deserves to lose this election.

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111. At 04:11am on 24 Oct 2008, matthewprice_us wrote:
booloohoom - I'm not sure if there has been a BBC story about Obama and his verbal slip ups. I'd have to check, but I haven't seen one. To be honest my blog is not meant to be about slip ups in general - they can and do happen to all politicians. It's about how I find it strange that as he gets to the key part of his speech, Senator McCain loses his way because the teleprompter goes down. It is my personal opinion that he shouldn't need a teleprompter for this bit. For long complex parts of the rest of the speech perhaps, but not the end, the crowd-pleaser, surely? He's slipped up a number of times now, and this is an end to the speech that never changes. I have heard it day in day out for over a week now.

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112. At 04:30am on 24 Oct 2008, Cartponybefore wrote:
Some more election goofs if you want, booloo.

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113. At 09:52am on 24 Oct 2008, steve081974 wrote:
I was about to reply to 108 and 109, then 110 and 111 came along and did it for me. What they said! :o)

To my mins there's a world of difference between being unable to recall some specific statistics and being able to react naturally and with humour to it, and being unable to differentiate between the concepts of 'agree' and 'disagree', then blundering on regardless because the machine which runs your mouth is no longer located in the space between your ears, but rather is in a box of tricks in front of you and chooses that time to have a hissy fit.

Those who can't see this are simply choosing not to see the unpaletable truth. That's fine and understandable - if I was a moderate, sensible Republican right now I'd have my head in the sand too... the reality would be too cringingly awful to contemplate.

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114. At 09:57am on 24 Oct 2008, tenzone86 wrote:
of course, all taxation is "spreading the wealth", flat rate or not. At least Obama can be intellectually honest about what his proposals do, rather than hide behind smoke and mirrors as McCain does.
___________________________

Thank you, if only a few more observers in this election would point out the obvious. Some of McCains attempts to manipulate the American people are becoming so thinnly vailed I wonder how he is getting away with it among so many in the working and middle classes. He will CUT taxes for 95% of Americans, so when McCain tells a huge crowd of rural people "Ma friends that one will spread your wealth around", what he means is "that one would have good honest rich folk like me helping scum like yall" WOO CHEER!

Seriously tho, any government that rejects socialism in all its forms (or pretends to at least) would be, by definition, as far to the right as you can get. Change, what change? Americans should look to England in the 19th centuary, when children worked unlimited hours or else got sent to the work houses while the rich pottered about indulging in romanticism, before they seek their 'freedom'. Anyone that talkes about the American dream, and uses this to justify their capitolism, is using the fact that you do not understand social mobility to screw you over (or else they don't understand themselves).

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115. At 11:20am on 24 Oct 2008, icetayoa wrote:
This piece of digression is on the news about Obama suspending is Campaign for 2 days to be with his sick grandmother.
It reminds me of the 1st week of the current financial/economic crises, when the Bush administration were trying to hammer out the $700 billion bail-out package. Senator John Mcain opted to suspend his campaign for 2 days and return to Washington to help seal the deal. He also suggested that the 1st presidential debate be moved forward because of the crisis.
He was severely lampooned in the media for this and was heckled by the media into backtracking on the debate. He was labelled erratic by the media, Obama, the democrats and their apologists. I remember Obama himself saying that he was not going to suspend his campaign, and that as President of America, one should be able to deal with various competing issues at the same time. He also said that there was no better time for the electorate to hear from the candidates than during this period of crisis.

Fast forward to present day. I think its rather amusing that Obama did not hesitate at a whim to suspend his campaign in order to be with his sick grandmother. When asked about how he came to making the decision to suspend his campaign, he replied and I quote ‘IT WAS EASY’. I wonder whatever happened to his quote about the president of America having to deal with various competing issues at the same time?? I guess he now remembers, that like Mcain, he is still a Senator and contestant for the presidency and not THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA.

What is most intriguing is that the choice is so easy for Obama. It is so easy for him to make a choice between providing leadership to the American people during this turbulent period and being with a sick relative. I guess Obama has safely come to the conclusion that the hero worshipping news media and the American people are retarded enough to give their deity a slap on the wrist for such bad judgement.

I have no problem with Obama rushing to be with a sick relative. However, what the American people need to remember is that, when the choice of projecting and protecting their interest clashes with Obama’s personal interest, sadly, their interest comes a distant last. Making that decision also comes very easy to him.

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116. At 12:23pm on 24 Oct 2008, icetayoa wrote:
This piece of digression is on the news about Obama suspending is Campaign for 2 days to be with his sick grandmother.
It reminds me of the 1st week of the current financial/economic crises, when the Bush administration were trying to hammer out the $700 billion bail-out package. Senator John Mcain opted to suspend his campaign for 2 days and return to Washington to help seal the deal. He also suggested that the 1st presidential debate be moved forward because of the crisis.

He was severely lampooned in the media for this and was heckled by the media into backtracking on the debate. He was labelled erratic by the media, Obama, the democrats and their apologists. I remember Obama himself saying that he was not going to suspend his campaign, and that as President of America, one should be able to deal with various competing issues at the same time. He also said that there was no better time for the electorate to hear from the candidates than during this period of crisis.
Fast forward to present day. I think its rather amusing that Obama did not hesitate at a whim to suspend his campaign in order to be with his sick grandmother. When asked about how he came to making the decision to suspend his campaign, he replied and I quote ‘IT WAS EASY’. I wonder whatever happened to his quote about the president of America having to deal with various competing issues at the same time?? I guess he now remembers, that like Mcain, he is still a Senator and contestant for the presidency and not THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA.

What is most intriguing is that the choice is so easy for Obama. It is so easy for him to make a choice between providing leadership to the American people during this turbulent period and being with a sick relative. I guess Obama is banking on the over zealous media to do his bidding as usual and give him (their deity) a slap on the wrist for such bad judgement.

I have no problem with Obama rushing to be with a sick relative. However, what the American people need to remember is that, when the choice of projecting and protecting their interest clashes with Obama’s personal interest, sadly, their interest comes a distant last. Making that decision also comes very easy to him.

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117. At 12:52pm on 24 Oct 2008, icetayoa wrote:
I apologize for posting the same comment twice.

since it took so long for the moderators to paste the initial piece, i thot they had censored it, hence the 2nd slightly amended piece.

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118. At 1:00pm on 24 Oct 2008, usdeeper wrote:
icetayoa - Obama is not suspending his campaign. He is/did cancel events to travel to Hawaii. Obama can not campaign whilst he is with a sick person, but McCain could campaign whilst dealing with the rescue bill.

There really is no comparasion in the 2 events.

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119. At 1:40pm on 24 Oct 2008, Cartponybefore wrote:
icetoy: it's not a suspension of the campaign, though. He's got Jill Biden/Joe Biden/ Michelle Obama/ Hillary Clinton all holding rallies for him. There is a point to be made about the timing of the announcement and the delay to actually go to Hawaii (which has given him a whole week of media lurve at this crucial time in the election), the disconnect between what he has said about not 'making the same mistake he made with his mother' (re:missing her final days) and the reality of him only being there for a day or so.

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120. At 2:29pm on 24 Oct 2008, t_RAV_in_tO wrote:
This story really should be a none issue as far as the election goes. I could care less if my leader can read from a teleprompter or not. If they can run a country well, then who cares. If Bush had of ran the country well would anyone care about the gaffes he's made? They would have been more comic relief than anything else. People still made speeches long before these things existed. Perhaps Politicians should go back to old fashioned speech reading from a sheet of paper. Keep it simple and more genuine. That being said, I agree with the articles point, mainly that as a seasoned politician he should be able to get through a teleprompter glich. That goes for Obama as well.

Unfortunately though, this will likely be an issue to some, thanks to the media. I've been questioning the role of media in elections recently. I don't think people are wrong to question this. People can interpret things quite differently from individual to individual. Unfortunately, I think it is true that a number of people make their decision based on a few sound bits and stories from media, rather than doing any detailed analytical research into policies and ideas. People can sometimes misread articles and come to conclusions that are off the point. I reference something that recently just happened during our election campaign here in Canada. The Liberal leader contending for Prime Minister was shown on TV needing a restart in an interview as he was having a hard time understanding the manner in which the questions being asked(he's French and the interview was being conducted in English). Not an uncommen occurance in interviews, however it was seized on by opponents as him 'not being able to understand important issues, like the economy', which really doesn't have anything to do with it. However, it did not bode well for the Liberal leader in the eyes of the public. And why did the news organisation decide to air this, when this is not uncommen?

News reporters have the obligation to present all sides. I've seen news about Obama gaffes, so McCain supporters shouldn't be upset by this article. It's just one of many about both candidates. It's up to the voter to inform themselves. I know some reporters will write somewhat ambiguously, in order to generate debate and not be perceived as taking sides. Hey, it's not easy to try and report neutrally. However, it could serve them better to be a little more specific on the points trying to be made. Least we get blogs that invariably trail away from the issue at hand and cloud the original topic being discussed.

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121. At 2:37pm on 24 Oct 2008, t_RAV_in_tO wrote:
Oh, and by the way, I don't understand some of the posts complaining about Obama taking the break to see his sick mother. Who wants a leader who wouldn't put their mother first and formost? I think that says everything about someones character. I'd expect McCain to do the same and would be disappointed if he didn't.

I apoligise in advance if the folks who posted these concerns are not Republican (trying not to stereotype a non-Obama supporter here, you could be an independent voter). But I thought one of the big Republican attractions was a focus on strong family values? How can Obama be construed as anything but someone with 'strong family values' because he's willing to take a break during a major campaign? You cannot have it both ways. You have to concede this point at least?

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122. At 2:38pm on 24 Oct 2008, steve081974 wrote:
#116 Ice - surely the obvious point is that McCain did not suspend his campaign to go to Washington - going to Washington WAS his campaign at that time. Unfortunately for him, as you rightly say, it backfired - not least perhaps because at the same time his running mate was demonstrating that she is even more excruciatingly inadequate on this critcally important topic than she is on almost all others (though personally I'm still deeply disturbed by her position on dinosaurs too..!).

I think the average American - or indeed just the average human - can easily and comfortably relate to what Obama is doing at present. It's strange that you choose to interpret it in such a way - it sounds rather desperate. For Obama himself I'm sure it's the right thing to do and for the American people it does them no harm, so why shouldn't he spend a little time with one so close in her last days?

If I had one (now faded) concern about Obama it was that he's seemed at times a little too remote, too slick, too 'unknowable' a person. His unequivocal actions demonstrating his regard for his family are to my mind a positive thing and help to 'humanise' him - personally I feel positive about a future in which America is lead by this man, supported by a wordly, intelligent VP.

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123. At 4:34pm on 24 Oct 2008, sykco53 wrote:
Interesting that McCain is concerned about distributing the wealth when his entire life and career has been supported by public funds. Grandfather an Admiral - position funded by taxes, Father, and Admiral, position funded by taxes, McCain himself went o military academy and then served in hte Navy, all funded or subsidised by taxes, then 25 years in the Senate benefitting from subsidised Health Care, Offices paid for by taxes, Salary and retirement funded by taxes, if he is that concerned about sharing the "wealth" pie, why has he so willing conusmed such large quantities of it?
8 years ago he had some credibility with his Straight Talk Express, but the talk is no longer staight and if he wins, the only express will be the rate at which the USA goes into further decline.

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124. At 10:04pm on 24 Oct 2008, StephenGB wrote:
I said, when Mr Mccain was first selected to run, that he couldn't speak 'off the top of his head' without a prompter. It was obvious in his first speach that his 'ad libs' were being read. I'm glad that it has now become very apparent.

Mr Obama on the other hand seems so at pains to say what he believes (and so careful not to put his foot in it as far as the media are concerned) that he often appears hesitant. He says 'urm' a lot.

I believe everything Mr Obama says is either true or the right lie for the right time.

I believe everything Mr Mccain says is a lie written for him by someone else.

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125. At 05:29am on 25 Oct 2008, sroelofs wrote:
John McCain can't pitch the reasons to vote for him without notes because he doesn't have any reasons. Oh sure, he has a lot of reasons why we should not vote for Obama. But he has yet to articulate one good reason why we should vote for John McCain, except to say he is prepared to be commander-in-chief. (Though I'm sorry, but sitting in the Hanoi Hilton for five years doesn't really impress me as having foreign policy experience.) He claims to be the candidate of change, yet he doesn't give any indication of what direction he wants to lead us. Exactly why is running for president? I have a very clear picture of why Obama is running for president. To restore America's moral standing in the world, reduce our reliance on oil, improve our competitiveness in the global economy, educate our people, create good-paying jobs for Americans and reverse the growing gap between the rich and everyone else, restoring the middle class. That is why I am voting for Obama and I didn't need any teleprompter or notecards or anything to help me articulate it. It's clear why Obama is running for president. Crystal clear. McCain just seems to be running for president as some type of ego trip. Just like George W. Bush. Yeah. Look where that got us.

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126. At 11:34am on 25 Oct 2008, roastedtoe wrote:
Only the other day I watched the documentary "Why We Fight" for the first time...a very scary film all said...

...in that there are several clips of an interview with McCain from 2005 about the military and america etc etc...

In those clips he came across as an honest and courageous figure...when he stated that he thought there was official corruption between the military and govt. in USA and so on.

It's a shame that McCain seems to thoroughly buried by a man that comes across to me as desperate for power and willing to BS and pretty much misrepresent anything he can get his hands on in the hope of winning a vote.

ie. he has lost his integrity in a momumental and saddening way I believe.

No way he and Palin should be in the Oval Office.

Obama would send a global message out from the USA that the last horrific 8 years are to be buried. And the world would be a better place for that of course.

As to is McCain the best the Rep. can manage? Well would you want to be the next President after Bush? OMG.

Good luck Obama, you'll need it.

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127. At 2:38pm on 25 Oct 2008, pustelnik wrote:
He's old. Even older than Ronald Reagan when he ran, and he was diagnosed to have Alzheimer's disease "after" his term was over. He is also at risk for developing metastatic melanoma. I wouldn't even consider voting for McCain unless he released copies of a recent MRI of his brain.

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128. At 3:00pm on 25 Oct 2008, dmrichkt wrote:
Whatever people may say about McCain, he still makes exceedingly good oven chips!:-D

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129. At 02:25am on 26 Oct 2008, StephenDerry wrote:
I hesitated to say it, but having viewed the VT this supposed gaffe wasn't particularly spectacular. The autocue went down, he struggled momentarily, but he got to the end of his speech and I don't think it was any less smooth than his standard oratory (admittedly a low bar).

However, [a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NLVSURlFoQs"]the one from Pennsylvania[/a] that has been played on every satire show ad nauseum - "People have been saying nasty things about Western Pennsylvania lately... and I couldn't agree more..." - now THAT is an impressive gaffe worthy of the name. In fact I think it is the number one gaffe of the campaign so far, without a shadow of a doubt.

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130. At 2:16pm on 26 Oct 2008, harmlessdrudge wrote:
> spread the wealth around gaffes?

C'mon Americans, get over your creepy brainwashing about "socialism" and your special made-in-America demonised version "socialized".

You don't have a problem with "socialised" defense or air traffic control or with the concept of insurance. The sky doesn't fall when societies set basic minimum standards of entitlement to healthcare or education. Get over it. And look up the UN Human Development Index while you're at it.

You're horrified by socialist gaffes? How about the $600 BILLION transfer of wealth from the middle class to the top ONE PERCENT, the rich, in the US, in the last 20 years. That's spreading the wealth in a very special way.

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