The Scary John McCain

Watching John McCain at this week’s town hall meeting was like watching the emperor from “Empire Strikes Back” or a smiling cadavour.

Slouched or upright, teeth strained and blinky-eyed, the war hero looked more like an uncomfortable soriority girl hit by a bout of ADD and rigor mortis than a world leader in-waiting. 

And what’s more, his roll-the-eyes, don’t-forget-to-wink-at-the-audience debate strategy was so badly acted out it wouldn’t make the cut at a high school play. 

He wasn’t smarter than the other guy, so he elevated his chin, puffed out his chest and pretended to know-it-all. 

It was almost sad to watch.

Economists Support Obama over McCain

According to a study, a majority of leading U.S. economists prefer Barack Obama.

The Economist magazine sent the questionaire to 683 researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research. 163 responded. Out of 72 unaffliated with a political party, 71% believed Obama had a clearer scope of the U.S. economy.

“Even among Republicans Mr Obama has the edge: 46% versus 23% say Mr Obama has the better grasp of the subject,” according to the survey. 

A majority also preferred Obama’s tax plan.

Link: Examining the Candidates

Who Won the Debate?

McCain or Obama?

If you watched the opinion tracker on CNN.com that charted real-time feedback from viewers, the answer is Obama.

For more legitimate polling, visit the gallup polls

(and while we’re at it: who’s got the better teeth?)

The John McCain Campaign, The Debate – Review

John McCain, giving a thumbs-up to his campaign manager

In case you didn’t read the news on-line, John McCain did what everybody expected.

He smiled, boarded a plane, and headed to Mississippi after all.

His altruistic publicity stunt didn’t help legislators complete the bailout, but it did help his campaign–sort of.

It portrayed McCain as a man (a Leader if you will) so indebted to his country, he’d let his own future go in jeopardy.

Though the story is no story—”Make no mistake: John McCain did not ‘suspend’ his campaign,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton—it was the lead everywhere—the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN and NPR to name a few.

McCain said he suspended his campaign—mind you not off-the-cuff, out-of-breath running to a helicopter, but rather from a carefully penned script off a teleprompter aimed to squeeze as much sweaty drama from his political socks as possible—but really what did he suspended?

Fundraising?

He took 84 million in public financing and the Republic National Committee donates money to his campaign. Not a big sacrifice there.

Advertising?

Is there any better advertising than free advertising? Some news stories even hinted at ideas his commercials trumpet: John McCain: Patriotic, Unselfish, Great Leader.

(I’ll add: Politician).

But you have to give it to him. He snagged a great campaign manager: both stunts—this one and the Sarah Palin hiring—really wooed voters. Or at least tried to.

Rock Stars Hate Republicans

Heart, not so impressed with Sarah Palin

First George Bush, now John McCain.

For the second time in two elections a rock star is threatening the Republican Presidential candidate with a lawsuit for piggybacking their tunes.

Last election, it was Tom Petty—upset with Bush for playing “I Won’t Back Down”. This election, it’s Heart—angry at McCain for using “Barracuda” as his campaign sing-along. 

Neither had the go-ahead.

“The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission,” said the duo in a statement.

http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/39537537