McCain's Failure To Communicate

National Review Online: He Could Have Scored On Energy At Debate, Instead He Fumbled

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Max Schulz.

Drudge called it “B-O-R-I-N-G.” Mark Steyn was even more brutal, labeling last night’s presidential debate a “horrible travesty” for the excruciating tedium created by the event’s artificiality. Given the dreariness generated by the two candidates and moderator Tom Brokaw, last evening’s showdown was a travesty for any viewer who stuck it out to the bitter end.

But it was also a travesty for John McCain, who needed to do something to right the listing ship that is his campaign. Unfortunately for the former Navy man, his vessel’s wounds were self-inflicted. His debate performance did nothing to salvage his bid for the White House. If there is any upside for McCain from last night, it lies in the hope that the affair was so mind-numbingly dull that any self-respecting viewer not being paid to tune in was doing something else.

Forget McCain’s answers on the financial crisis (not very good), health care (hardly better), or foreign policy (much better - but, by then, who was watching?). His real problem is that he badly flubbed his chance to score points on the one issue that has captivated voters’ attention all year: energy. Time and again last evening, McCain was inarticulate, unfocused, and seemingly unaware of most Americans’ real concerns on energy and the economy.

In a debate dominated early on by economic issues, McCain never managed to describe his energy agenda as the vote-grabbing pocketbook issue that it undoubtedly is. The sky-high gasoline prices Americans paid all summer were effectively an energy tax, brought to us by policies limiting energy production supported chiefly by Democrats like Nancy Pelosi.

But you wouldn’t have known it listening to McCain. To the extent he spoke of high prices, he decried the wealth transfer of petrodollars to the unsavory regimes in places like the Middle East. Fair enough, and one would hope those considerations would be on any president’s mind. But that’s not what has gotten consumers so upset as the price of oil rose to $150 per barrel and gasoline flirted with $5 per gallon earlier this year. If there was ever a visceral, kitchen-table issue in this election, it’s high gas prices. McCain managed to put it at a remove, relegating it to the arcana of foreign affairs and international diplomacy. Citing a figure like the annual overseas transfer of $700 billion means little in the current environment. It’s an abstraction, hardly different from $500 billion or $900 billion, whereas the difference between $2.50 and $3.50 per gallon of gasoline when filling up is all the difference in the world.

Barack Obama, too, talked up the foreign-policy considerations of dependence on foreign oil. Yet he also made sure to empathize with families for whom $3.80 gas strains the budget. The irony that Senator Obama’s party shoulders much of the responsibility for those high prices was not even hinted at by Senator McCain.

McCain similarly squandered an opportunity to clarify his differences from Obama on nuclear power. It wasn’t for lack of trying. But McCain so garbled his sentiments on nuclear energy that one couldn’t tell what he was saying. The facts are these: Both candidates claim to support nuclear power, but McCain actually seems to mean it. He supports opening the Yucca Mountain waste repository, a critical step in guaranteeing the expansion of nuclear energy.

Obama, meanwhile, vows to shut down Yucca, though provides no alternatives. He’s trying to have it both ways. He can say he supports nuclear, as do increasing numbers of Americans. But he sends an unmistakable signal to the anti-nuclear environmental lobby that, without Yucca Mountain, nuclear power isn’t going to expand on his watch. McCain tried to spit something out on this point, but tripped over his tongue in an answer about climate change. All of which brings to mind the famous line from Cool Hand Luke, starring the recently deceased Paul Newman (himself a proponent of nuclear power): “What we have here is failure to communicate.” Indeed.

Any doubts about who would win the energy portion of last night’s debate were erased when the candidates were asked to identify the highest immediate priority that would face the next president. Was it energy, health care, or social security? McCain answered first, and equivocated. All are critical, he said. You’ve got to handle each. They’re all equal. With his answer, meanwhile, Obama showed why at this late date he is the favorite to win come Election Day. Without any hesitation, Obama stated that we have to prioritize and that energy tops the list. (The fact that Obama said in the first debate that energy would be the first item on his agenda he’d abandon will no doubt be tossed down the memory hole by his cheerleaders in the mainstream media.)

McCain clawed his way back into the race this summer by riding the wave of outrage over the offshore-drilling ban. He further helped his cause by picking a running mate from one of the most important energy-producing states in the Union. How ironic that he is giving back those gains by failing to appreciate that the 2008 contest will go down as the Energy Election.

[lhwrites]

"The irony that Senator Obama%u2019s party shoulders much of the responsibility for those high prices was not even hinted at by Senator McCain."
Is this guy joking? The Democrats responsible for high gas prices? Bush and Cheney have done nothing to develop alternative energies and have taken great care of all their cronies in the oil industry. In addition, they further destabilized the Middle East Puleeeze!!!

[usclimey]

Wow, even the NRO thought McCain sucked. That really leaves Faux as the only faithful mouthpieces the GOP has.

[superdem]

Consider the source - this is a right wing rag. Off-shore drilling is a red herring. The Republicans controlled the House, Senate and White House for most of the last eight years. Did they say one single thing about off-shore drilling when they had power ? NO. Did they pass one bill concerning off-shore drilling ? NO. Did the oil companies cry and whine about off-shore drilling ? NO. Did John McCain or Jeb Bush support off-shore drilling ? NO. Did the oil companies have plenty of off-shore leases to drill ? YES. Did they use any of them ? NO. Were the oil companies using their outrageous profits to develop alternate energy ? NO. But the House and Senate change hands, and SUDDENLY off-shore drilling is the only thing that will save America !!!!The Democrats have blocked our vital energy supplies !!!!McCain supports off-shore drilling !!!! Typical Republican LIES.

[Razzl]

I think anyone not listening through the filter of ideology would remember 2 things said last night: McCain enthusing about building nuclear plants and Obama mentioning his mother''s cancer struggle against insurers. Which of those issues would you want to be remembered for?

Last night''s debate was a triumph of Obama''s sharp intellect over McCain''s hour-long "senior moment" and Brokaw''s embarassing evidence that not all anchors are journalists or intellectuals...

[nor-one]

So Max Schulz and McCodger want to open Yucca and start dumping nuclear waste in it? It''s not ready and won''t be before 2013+ whatever construction still remains to be done. It still isn''t safe, never was and can''t be made safe. I can see why McBlame wants it to open, he''s got two dump sites in his own state he''d like to load off on Nevada. The dump site in Yucca is only 80 miles from Vegas, anybody want to make a bet on how leak prof that fault zone it''s in is? The republicon''s are going to lose Nevada anyway so they figure "Let ''em glow in the dark".

[taxguydave]

Gee, didn''t oil prices start skyrocketing shortly after we invaded Iraq, and have stayed up there ever since?

If anyone owns high gas prices, it''s the Republicans.

Even if we doubled our oil production (not remotely likely), we''d still need another 9 million bbl/day. Plus, the oil would be sold on the commodities market, just like it is now. It could be sold to anyone, anywhere, and the price wouldn''t move much, if any.

[presjfk]

"Truth: Since both McCain and Obama voted FOR the $700 billion taxpayer ripoff, why should I (or anyone else) think that they have any meaningful differences when it comes to listening to the voters? Public opinion was clear and the records from those messages to both the US House and Senate are public record; the majority was very much against it. sincity"

You should read up on the history of the depression and you might then understand why the rescue plan was voted for by both candidates. The plan may not work but at least they are trying.

[eggy1620]

Nuclear is the ONLY currently available alternative to oil. U-238 can be reprocessed, so it is renewable. Nuclear has 0 carbon emmissions if nuclear powered electricity is used exclusively in the extraction process. And it can fuel the process by which fuel cells are powered in cars, getting us off gasoline.

[creeper00]

Another day and three more stories negative toward John McCain in your "Politics" section.

I gotta hand it to you, CBS. You''ve got b@lls. Most news organizations would attempt at least the appearance of objectivity. You don''t even bother with that any more.

[tallyman2008]

Tried to get through all this article

But had to turn away

Even on a good day is tough to stomach NRO

No way can watch them eat their own children

"Another day and three more stories negative toward John McCain in your "Politics" section."
The NRO is a staunchly conservative publication. Read the article. If you can''t read, have a liberal help you.
Typical conservative knee-jerk response. Typical citizen of the United Stupid of America.

[skysoldier75]

The NRO believes that simply opening up off-shore drilling will miraculously solve our energy problems. What a pipe dream.

Plumbing every US oil field at full-bore won''t increase domestic production enough to reduce the cost of gas at the pump by more than a penny per gallon. Since much of that new oil will surely be sold on the open markets, the actual benefit to US consumers will be measured in mere fractions of a cent per gallon, at best. The total of ALL US domestic oil reserves only amounts to 3% of our current needs, after all.

Gas prices at the pump fluctuate by as much as .30-.40 cents a week sometimes, so what''s another measly penny more or less?

Even if we began drilling today, it will be another decade or more before we see that gas at the pump.

Both candidates support an increase in nuclear power, but Obama wisely favors factoring that in with other new energy initiatives.

McCain, in his ever-impulsive way, wants to simply build 100 new reactors immediately, at an estimated cost of at least $5 billion each -- for another half-Trillion dollar budget outlay that he has absolutely no idea how to pay for.

Suggesting that opening up offshore drilling is going to drop the price of gas at the pump by a dollar a gallon ("the difference between $2.50 and $3.50 per gallon" according to this article) is sheer fantasy, and McCain was wise to avoid making any such foolish claim in public.

[noloyalisti]

When you are a narrow minded conservative who has backed the worst pResident of all time like McCain, and have no plan, what can you do. When all you hear the moron like the NRO chant is drill, baby, drill like some kind of mindless cult, it get''s old. As Obama has said; Enough. Time for someone with a brain to be in charge.

[noloyalisti]

Note that it is the extremist right wingers like Drudge and Steyn who think it was boring or a bad debate. They have backed Bushoccio and now McSame.

Their biased, unjournalistic propaganda has been exposed for what it is: narrow minded conservative thinking, now known to be a complete failure. Again.

[skysoldier75]

I also have to take exception to the NRO''s assertion that McCain did well on foreign policy issues: "much better - but, by then, who was watching?"

McCain scolded Obama like a child in both debates for "telegraphing his intent" regarding attacking Bin Laden in Pakistan -- then McCain went right ahead and very clearly telegraphed all HIS intentions as well, and didn''t even bother to confine his threats to just Pakistan. What exactly is McCain''s point?

Even more disturbing was listening to McCain mumble furtively that he knew where Bin Laden was, and he knew how to get rid of him. He sounded very hush-hush -- just like Bush has always been very hush-hush with his intentions, like invading Iraq on the basis of cherry-picked intelligence, and keeping the American people totally in the dark about what was really going on the whole time.

The American people obviously want more transparency in foreign affairs, not more secrecy. Allowing our current president to hide behind a veil of lies and silence has taught us all a very hard lesson about the dangers of that sort of foolishness.

In the foreign policy department, I honestly can''t see any difference between Bush and McCain at all.

[sameerwadhwa]

As a curious onlooker from Singapore, I wish to know why so many Americans are obsessed with drilling for oil. Isn''t it better to use your huge financial resources to invent new technologies or improve existing ones? Anyway, drilling more now will only result in higher production in a decades time.

The Japanese are constantly improving on electric engines for cars while American carmakers struggle. Europeans have improved the fuel efficiency of their vehicles by so much that American carmakers are considered relics from the past in other parts of the world.

I thought when Obama mentions that he wishes to invest big time in alternative energy options to generate new jobs and create new technologies, its a good thing. That sure sounds progressive to me.

[elz523]

Maybe McCain didn''t want it pointed out that by putting Palin in charge of energy he would be doing exactly what George Bush did... putting a vice president in charge of energy policy who has a stake in the price of oil increasing.

You know that Alaska residents are paid by the state from the oil royalties they receive. Palins friends and relatives are all Alaskan citizens, as is Palin herself. If the price of oil increases, Palin and her friends and relatives will receive fatter royalty checks. THAT is a classic conflict of interest.

Look what happened with Cheney as the person responsible for energy policy. Prices have tripled on his watch.

[toby2958]

Another day and three more stories negative toward John McCain in your "Politics" section.

I gotta hand it to you, CBS. You''''ve got b@lls. Most news organizations would attempt at least the appearance of objectivity. You don''''t even bother with that any more.

Posted by creeper00 at 03:33 PM

Did it ever occur to you that it is McSame''s poor performance on all levels that caused the negative articles?

No, I didn''t think it did.

[truthspeake2]

The only thing I do credit GW with is the Dumbing Down of America has stopped, and for Republicans, that is the real problem and the Karl Rove Playbook isn''t envogue or transparent anymore!

[ofbyfor2]

Another day and three more stories negative toward John McCain in your "Politics" section.

I gotta hand it to you, CBS. You''''ve got b@lls. Most news organizations would attempt at least the appearance of objectivity. You don''''t even bother with that any more.

Posted by creeper00 at 03:33 PM : Oct 08, 2008

Buddy, it''s NOT CBS--it''s just the way it is. McCain is getting negative press because he''s running a lousy campaign and even the National Review (about as conservative as it gets) knows it! There''s NO WAY you can blame this article on the so-called ''liberal'' media!

[idnnsg]

Have you heard the latest from McCain? Today, campaigning in Pennsylvannia, he said:

"Across this country, this is the agenda I have set before MY FELLOW PRISONERS, and the same standards of clarity and candor must now be applied to my opponent!"

It seems that senility is really taking its toll on Johnny McSame.

Clarity? Candor? "My fellow prisoners"? Is McCain on DRUGS, or what?

[walt1944-2009]

Things must be going pretty bad for the neocon Fascist Nazi Republicans for the NRO to openly CRITICIZE John McBush McCain''s performance at the 2nd debate!

Acknowledging that McBush was "dropping the ball" on almost every issue, and when he did hold onto the ball, he didn''t know what to do with it, the propoganda mill at the NRO still blames Obama for everything, but I got the impression they were very grudgingly admitting that Obama won the debate and for all practical purposes, the election.

My personal observations were that McCain looked OLD, worn-out, somewhat confused, and really MAD, though he tried really hard not to show it. He insulted Obama, a fellow Senator, by calling him "that one!", and never gave a "straight", honest answer to any of the questions, even though Brokaw gave more time for McCain to answer questions than Obama.

Looks like the NRO had better accept that we are going to have our first black president ever, and maybe send Grandpa McCain to the nearest retirement home and his Caribeau Barbie VP back to Alaska.

SIG HEIL, LET''S GIVE MORE MONEY TO AIG!!!, BUSH!!!
sig heil, MY FRIENDS???, McBush!!!
sig heil, INDEPENDANCE FOR ALASKA!!!, Palin!!!

[tallyman2008]

creeper00 writes:

Another day and three more stories negative toward John McCain in your "Politics" section.



creeper00 - Sorry for piling on, but ...

This ''negative'' story is from National Review

Doubt you will find many who consider them ''liberal''



Now, that being said

Always remember this rule of driving

3 rights does make a left



You Betcha

[b0ludo]

Obama''s pal, from his heyday: "Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents%u2014that''s where it''s really at."
Ignorant rebel-without-a-clue Americans will vote Barack Hussein Obama into office. Nothing can change that outcome, so I will repeat what has been said many, many times before: Nations deserve the leaders they elect. Once the taxation of the "wealthy" begins and corp America leaves, I guess we can all go back to farming or something, because there won''t be a job for you brain surgeons about to graduate... You think it''s bad now? This one is artificially nursed to ensure Democrat full control of Congress and the executive branch, to wit, the economy started to unravel two years ago... About the same time congress became Democrat. Have fun and enjoy your upcoming four years of Carter, Part Deux...

[b0ludo]

Obama''s pal, from his heyday: "Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents%u2014that''s where it''s really at."
Ignorant rebel-without-a-clue Americans will vote Barack Hussein Obama into office. Nothing can change that outcome, so I will repeat what has been said many, many times before: Nations deserve the leaders they elect. Once the taxation of the "wealthy" begins and corp America leaves, I guess we can all go back to farming or something, because there won''t be a job for you brain surgeons about to graduate... You think it''s bad now? This one is artificially nursed to ensure Democrat full control of Congress and the executive branch, to wit, the economy started to unravel two years ago... About the same time congress went Democrat. Have fun and enjoy your upcoming four years of Carter, Part Deux...

[ubrew12]

B0lud said: "Obama''s pal, from his heyday: "Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents%u2014that''s where it''s really at.""

Gosh. Someone better tell McCain supporter (and sponser of the panel they both sat on) Annenberg.

Unfortunately, if you''re going to work on education in Chicago, you''re going to work with Ayers. That goes for both Democrats and Republicans. Obama knew this, so did Annenberg. Their commitment to the children was more important than their feelings about what should or shouldn''t have been done 40 years ago about people protesting the Vietnam War.

[ausus-2009]

leestrain,

You attacked the citizens of the USA. I take it you are some kind of European, paying $10 a gallon for gasoline and lighting your house with nuclear power. I suppose your hope is that Obama will introduce European-style enforced mediocrity.

[ausus-2009]

SameerWadhwa,

Please convert the price Singaporeans pay for gasoline to US dollars and US gallons. Is it still a crime for a resident of Singapore to return from Malaysia with a tank more than half full?

[samthetvcat]

---"But you wouldn%u2019t have known it listening to McCain. To the extent he spoke of high prices, he decried the wealth transfer of petrodollars to the unsavory regimes in places like the Middle East."---

LOL That''s his true passion, foreign policy - I guess he couldn''t help himself LOL

McCain missed triangulating on the new housing plan too - like I guess he sort of had to vote for the bailout bill . . . so rather than making it sound like in addition to voting for the bill he wanted to add bailouts for at-risk mortgate lenders, McCain could have instead perhaps argued that the bailout bill could be made more fair and efficient by spreading the money around to Main St. as well as Wall St., which would also satisfy the goal of minimizing the need for further bailouts by killing two birds with one stone (?)

Because you just know there''s going to be more bailouts. Then McCain could decry future bailouts to satisfy the Conservatives, while at the same time applauding the bailouts benefitting homeowners to satisfy Liberals (?)

[brianbwb-2009]

"Please convert the price Singaporeans pay for gasoline to US dollars and US gallons. Is it still a crime for a resident of Singapore to return from Malaysia with a tank more than half full?" Posted by ausus

I can help, at the Esso station next door gas prices are about $3.10 per gallon.

Singaporeans were driving across the causeway to take advantage of subsidized prices meant for Malaysians. It was never illegal to enter with less half a tank, it was just Malaysian policy to discourage it.

In practice, no one would check every one of thousands of cars every day. The half-tank tactic was only used as justification for the new system. but the Malaysian government has instituted a separate pump system, charging Singapore prices for cars with Singapore plates.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by B0ludo

So young. The economy started to unravel in August of 1972. Check the stats, the dollar has devalued to 22% of the 1972 value.

Corporations will leave?

Son, that also started back in 1972, now the few crooked organizations still here do more harm than good, jobs pay less, outsource, or use illegal and barely legal slave labor, 60% of the Fortune 500 pay no taxes, and when their theft brings the company to the brink of collapse, they beg the small remaining middle class for "bailouts", which they spend at posh spas in California. It is time they were replaced.

Based on your post, which cites nonsensical ravings, it is clear what your true fear is,

"He rode a blazing saddle
He wore a shining star
His job, to walk the battle
To bad men near and far" - Mel Brooks

[floridamom31]

CHRISTIANS SHOULD BOYCOTT THE LIBERAL MEDIA AND ALL OF HOLLYWOOD UNTIL THEY CAN RESPECT BOTH SIDES. IF YOU CARE FOR THIS COUNTRY AT ALL, ACT NOW. THIS IS NOT A ONE-SIDES CAMPAIGN. OBAMA HAS THE MONEY AND THE BACKING OF LIBERALS WITH NOTHING ELSE TO GO ON TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY. BOYCOTT UNTIL IT HURTS THE POCKET BOOK, WHICH IS THE ONLY CONCERN WITH THE LIBERALS.

[floridamom31]

Obama can not even answer a plain old question. He has danced with the stars so much, he can''t do anything but dance around the questions. Why can''t he produce a valid birth certificate? Why is he associated with such shady organizations and people such as ACORN, Bill Ayers, Rev.Wright, Luo Raila Odinga (his cousin) which he calls everyday and how about Toni Rezko? These questions need to be answered. If this man is not truly an American citizen, then he needs to be disqualified. He''s all about change alright. He changes from one day to the next like a camillion. It''s all about change...give me your change, I''ll take your pennies, dimes, nickels and quarters. Anything that Hollywood backs has to be corrupt. FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!!!!!!!!! I am tired of the one sided liberal media that makes Obama look like a saint and McCain look like an angry old man. Yes, Obama looks cool, maybe he''s back on the drugs again to come across so cool or maybe he''s just a natural for acting. Who knows? Who knows who Obama really is? The media is a big let down at this time. The average person is having to work as hard as they can to get the word out...they can no longer depend on the media for fair coverage. So, why not just stop supporting the TV stations that are so biased. I AM and so SHOULD you.

[truthspeake2]

Posted by floridamom31 at 07:56 AM : Oct 09, 2008


LOL....keep drinking that Kool-Aid!

[truthspeake2]

BOYCOTT UNTIL IT HURTS THE POCKET BOOK, WHICH IS THE ONLY CONCERN WITH THE LIBERALS.

Posted by floridamom31 at 07:45 AM : Oct 09, 2008


It would seem that YOUR team has already done just that and continues to do so! You''re part of that 25% that still loves GW...

[truthspeake2]

CHRISTIANS SHOULD BOYCOTT THE LIBERAL MEDIA AND ALL OF HOLLYWOOD UNTIL THEY CAN RESPECT BOTH SIDES. IF YOU CARE FOR THIS COUNTRY AT ALL, ACT NOW. THIS IS NOT A ONE-SIDES CAMPAIGN. OBAMA HAS THE MONEY AND THE BACKING OF LIBERALS WITH NOTHING ELSE TO GO ON TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY. BOYCOTT UNTIL IT HURTS THE POCKET BOOK, WHICH IS THE ONLY CONCERN WITH THE LIBERALS.

Posted by floridamom31 at 07:45 AM : Oct 09, 2008




Real Christians should boycott the GOP!

[navyjimfl]

While I think McCain is a good man he is too old to be president now....being President takes a lot of energy and McCain can''t hack it anymore.....how can anyone vote for a party that has started an unnessary war and who has devastated our economy.......

[mswolfestock]

McShame''s arrogance made me want to be ill. The way he pointed his finger at Obama, referring to Obama as "that one," was worse yet. What a pig.

He''s like the cranky old grampa who pouts and gets mad when nobody wants to listen to his babbling.

[irmcvet97]

Why isn''''t there ONE story in CBSNews about what''''s going on with ACORN? Why?

Posted by proisrael at 10:34 AM : Oct 09, 2008

MAYBE because there ARE more pressing issues! Look EVERYONE knows you poor people who have won in the past with Wedge Issues and HATE are still looking for ANYTHING but Come ON!! Obama hasn''t been associated with ACORN in DECADES... Could you PLEASE just VISIT us on THIS planet... you know the one with all the banks FAILING because of Mr. De-REGULATION??

[irmcvet97]

CHRISTIANS SHOULD BOYCOTT THE LIBERAL MEDIA AND ALL OF HOLLYWOOD UNTIL THEY CAN RESPECT BOTH SIDES. IF YOU CARE FOR THIS COUNTRY AT ALL, ACT NOW. THIS IS NOT A ONE-SIDES CAMPAIGN. OBAMA HAS THE MONEY AND THE BACKING OF LIBERALS WITH NOTHING ELSE TO GO ON TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY. BOYCOTT UNTIL IT HURTS THE POCKET BOOK, WHICH IS THE ONLY CONCERN WITH THE LIBERALS.

Posted by floridamom31 at 07:45 AM : Oct 09, 2008

I hate to break this to all you "NON LIBERALS" but I think YOU do have your own Propaganda Channel... WE, those who you call LIBERAL.. You know the ones who WON''T support the Party? Well we can go there if we CHOOSE!! Now at present there are FAR more pressing matters than your Bigotry and Dislike for all who do NOT agree with the "Party"!!

[augustman53]

Hey floridamom! Are you better off today than you were 8 years ago? Would you like four more years of the same? If so, vote for McPahlin! Haven''t been on this planet very long huh? Don''t you think that the Democratic Party did a background check on Mr. Obama BEFORE he was nominated or do you think that was the responsibity of Johnny Mac? John is not clean, he''s as duplictious as Bush is. He has been tied to the wrong side of the Iran-Contras, and so was Ron Reagan, but I won''t there. Not to mention this guy has yet to tell the people his economic plans. Can you honestly look at yourself in the mirror and say Sarah Pahlin has the qualifications to hold any federal level office? Come on, she is as dense as Alaska is cold, and she has no more vision for this country than Mac. The only one who actually answers questions is Obama. McCain and Pahlin will kill whatever little is left to this economy by pushing Bushs'' tax package for the rich, and keeping the $10,000,000,000.00 a month war going just to "save face." Sarah is not the hockey, middle class, soccer mom that so many have fallen for and believe. She has assets of over 2 million, and lives in a $550,000.00 home. Middle class, my a--!

[pdchapin]

The problem for McCain (besides being old which really showed at the debate) was that he''s running on the standard Republican (Bush) platform that nobody wants anymore. Unless he''s going to abandon everything he''s stood for for the last twenty years, that''s what he''s got to sell. The smart move would be to say "The policies are fine, it''s just that Bush is an idiot and couldn''t carry them out correctly. I have the experience to do it right. Obama doesn''t have enough experience to do anything so who cares what his policies are." Unfortunately for him, that would annoy the few remaining Bushies who he still needs.

Of course, running around like the proverbial headless chicken during the financial meltdown didn''t help either.

[mswolfestock]

Hey everybody - you absolutely have to read this article. It''s the best evidence that McShame has ALWAYS been crazy, and totally unfit to do more than breathe.

[mswolfestock]

Sorry!

Here is the link -

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

McCain was inarticulate, unfocused, and seemingly unaware of most Americans%u2019 real concerns on energy and the economy.
----
That''s because McCain is sincerely, genuinely and unabashedly inarticulate, unfocused and unaware of most Americans'' real concerns on energy and the economy.

When the famous line from Cool Hand Luke was uttered, and it wasn''t by Paul Newman, someone else was deep in a hole, an unrepentent maverick whose only vision in life was to put distance between himself and his colleagues. It is not surprising that John McCain advocates drilling holes in ANWR, flushing holes in the outer shelf and filling holes with nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain. John McCain has dug himself into a hole from which his only hope of escape is for Obama to contract a case of laryngitis. I understand John and Sarah find that an unacceptable means of acquiring political office, "talking one''s way into the White House," and all. I wonder what they prefer? Maybe MooseGuns and Missiles at 40 paces? Or throwing some of the nuclear waste stored at Yucca Mountain?

[ausus-2009]

brianbwb,

I think you had better have another look at your mathematics. I think you will find that Singapore''s gasoline is more like $6 a gallon US. Malaysia would convert to closer to $3 a gallon.

The US has the lowest gasoline prices in the non-subsidized world. I am sure Obama will correct that and bring US gasoline prices into line with Europe''s $7-10 a gallon.

[yoy91913]

States%u2019 Actions to Block Voters Appear Illegal

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/us/politics/09voting.html?em

WILL YOUR VOTE BE COUNTED????

[ausus-2009]

TrueBlueUSA,

You are typical of the left. You make remarks about the physical appearance of those you dislike. This type of behavior happens too often to be a coincidence. I have seen it repeatedly both in the US and overseas. Perhaps there a link between that and the immaturity of the critic.

[ausus-2009]

ainttaken,

Are you saying it''s okay to criticize a person for their physical characteristics? How does that differ from racism?

[clestes-2009]

What a pathetic attempt to lay the blame for the high gas prices on Nancy Pelosi instead of where they belong, on big oil and the republicans they own.

When Obama is elected he is going to take us off oil. They have been fighting this for decades, but it is finally going to happen.

No offshore drilling, no more raping the west for oil shale, the Alaska pipeline will disinegrate, ANWR will be protected. No more nuke plants or their posionous waste.

Better days are coming. Days without smog, without paying middle east terrorists for our energy, without the ugly sight of nuclear plants, without the danger they present.