First Door on the Left

This is going to be short and to the point because it’s been a long day and it’s late and I’m kind of sleepy.

Tonight’s debate between Barack Obama and John McCain: basically a draw. I think both candidates did a good job of playing to their respective bases. If you ask an Obama supporter, they will tell you Obama won the night. Ditto for McCain. I really don’t think either of them did a very good job of reaching out to the undecided voters out there. That is something they both definitely need to work on for the two remaining debates.

One thing that kind of bothered me throughout the evening, though… Senator Obama is noticeably taller than Senator McCain but you sure couldn’t tell it from the telecast tonight. I kept flashing back to the 2004 debates where the networks persisted in showing George W. Bush and John Kerry to be the same height. They aren’t. Senator Kerry is quite a bit taller. Perhaps nitpicking on my part, but it bothered me nonetheless.

Also, Senator McCain came off several times as being the cranky old man down the street who is constantly yelling at the neighborhood kids to get off his lawn. Something else for him to work on. He has to realize that Senator Obama is the presidential nominee of his party and not some kid to be lectured or ridiculed. We’ve had eight years of “my way or no way.” That’s not, I believe, the attitude that Americans are going to go for this time around.

Other than that, like I said, the evening was a draw. I know the Republicans are going to insist that McCain won and the Democrats are going to insist that Obama won. Realistically, I don’t either took the game tonight. I honestly did not expect that either of them would.

Two quick shout outs to Mr. McCain and then I’m done for tonight: 1) Thanks for showing up; 2) We get it, John, you’re old.

The vice presidential debate is next week. Joe Biden vs. Sarah Palin. That one I’m looking forward to! (Joe Biden was all over the post-debate shows tonight. Sarah Palin was nowhere to be seen. Where was Sarah Palin?)

[Friday night cartoons are in the post preceding this one and the rules for tonight's presidential debate drinking game are in the post prior to that.]

As you may be aware, Johnny McCain had committed to appearing as a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman night before last. At the last minute he called and canceled, giving the excuse that he had to fly immediately to Washington, D.C. to handle the nation’s economic crisis. His excuse turned out to be lie, however, as Johnny did not fly immediately to Washington, D.C. Instead, he went across town and did an interview with Katie Couric at the exact same time that the Letterman show (on which he had committed to appear) was taping. In fact, he did not fly to Washington, D.C. until the following morning, after he had given his campaign stump speech to the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting.

Mr. Letterman was, I believe, justifiably pissed. Planning and producing a 60 minute television show five nights a week is no easy task and when one of your high profile guests cancels on you at the last minute it becomes even more difficult. Video of Mr. Letterman’s reaction on Wednesday evening is in a previous post.

It seems that David Letterman and I may share at least one personality trait. We both are able to hold a grudge. If you give me a valid reason to be angry with you, chances are I am going to be angry with you for a while. Mr. Letterman’s anger with Mr. McCain carried over into last night’s show…

Good stuff, don’t you think?

Somehow, I doubt that Johnny McCain will ditch David Letterman again… provided he is even given the opportunity to do so.

(Can you not imagine the screams of indignation and rage that would be emanating from the right had Barack Obama pulled a stunt like this? I can. Wanna hear some?)

It’s Friday night. All indications are that we have survived another week. As a tribute to that accomplishment, here are your Friday night cartoons. Enjoy! (The drinking rules for tonight’s presidential debate may be found in the previous post.)

As always, our thanks go to the talented and observant cartoonists who, each week, help us smile through the pain.

Saturday morning additions:

Nedra Pickler is reporting that the first presidential debate will go forward as scheduled, despite Johnny McCain’s attempts at getting out of it…

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republican John McCain agreed to attend the first presidential debate Friday night even though Congress doesn’t have a bailout deal, reversing an earlier decision to delay the forum until Washington had addressed the financial crisis.

With less than 10 hours until the debate was scheduled to start, the McCain campaign announced that the Arizona senator would travel to the University of Mississippi.

I guess somebody in the McCain camp finally cornered the old dude and explained to him how much damage would be done to his campaign and his candidacy if he did not show up.

Be sure to tune in. It starts at 9 p.m. Eastern (8 p.m. Central) and will be carried by all the major networks (even Fox). The topic of tonight’s debate was supposed to be foreign policy, but somehow I think the economy will sneak in somewhere.

The Washington Post:

The news that John McCain will debate Barack Obama tonight in Mississippi is a concession by the Arizona senator that his attempt to score a quick political victory on legislation to bail out the financial sector did not pan out as he had hoped.

McCain suspended his presidential campaign with much fanfare on Wednesday, insisting that the crisis in financial markets and the seeming stalemate on Capitol Hill required that politics be set aside for the good of the country.

But, over the intervening 24 hours, McCain saw what at first looked like a brilliant political gambit turn into a nightmare, as an apparent done deal to save the financial industry devolved into a partisan shouting match at the White House that left congressional negotiators back at square one.

Johnny found out he is not quite the leader he thought himself to be.

Here are the rules for tonight’s debate drinking game:

1) Every time Sen. McCain says “my friends,” you take a drink.

2) Every time Sen. McCain grins that deathly (sorry, don’t know how else to describe it) grin of his, you take a drink.

3) Finally, every time Sen. Obama says “and that is why I am running for President of the United States of America,” you take a drink.

Good luck! (And you’re gonna by sloshed, my friend!)

It is so difficult for me to believe, at this moment, that Johnny McCain and Sarah Palin are still considered to be serious contenders for the offices of president and vice president of the United States of America. Be that as it may, it seems that, for some unfathomable reason, they are. Let me just say this: If Mr. McCain fails to show up at the presidential debate tomorrow evening, his campaign will have lost all credibility and his candidacy all validity.

Moving on…

The Democratic presidential nominee, Senator Barack Obama, held a news availability following today’s political grandstanding by Johnny McCain and the House Republicans. Let’s go to the video…

Now we wait to see what tomorrow may bring.

Here’s a bit of news you may have missed today: “Government Seizes WaMu and Sells Some Assets.”

Goodnight, America.

Yesterday, David Letterman posed the question of why Johnny McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, isn’t continuing his presidential campaign while Johnny is in Washington “fixing the economy.”

If you watch this segment from CBS news anchor Katie Couric’s interview with Mrs. Palin yesterday I believe you will understand…

If you missed it, here is the question Katie asked: “Why isn’t it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries? Allow them to spend more, and put more money into the economy, instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?”

Here is Mrs. Palin’s response: “That’s why I say I, like every American I’m speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in. Where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Um, helping, oh, it’s got to be about job creation, too. Shoring up our economy, and getting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade — we have got to see trade as opportunity, not as, uh, competitive, um, scary thing, but one in five jobs created in the trade sector today. We’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation.”

Huh? If you watch the video, you can see the look on Katie Couric’s face. It’s like “What the hell are you talking about, lady?” You’ll also notice that Mrs. Palin is even referring to her notes during her answer. She needed notes to come up with that rambling piece of nonsense?

Sarah Palin is not ready to be let loose in public. She definitely is not fit to be one (apparently increasingly) unhealthy 72-year-old heartbeat removed from the presidency of the United States of America.

Laura Bush says that Sarah Palin is being treated unfairly because she is a woman. Huh-uh. Sarah Palin is being treated as we would expect any candidate for high national office to be treated. She simply is not fit. The biggest favor the voters of America could possibly do for Sarah Palin would be to send her back to her little cabin in the frozen tundra of Alaska.

Really.

(If, for some reason, you feel you want to watch the entire two-part interview, you may do so here and here.)

Continue Reading »

Johnny McCain has been caught lying again and I’m not too sure we should just forgive him for this one.

Yesterday he told us all that he was immediately suspending his presidential campaign so he could rush back to Washington D.C. to “fix the economy.” Pretty noble, right? Except for one thing… He didn’t rush back to Washington D.C. to do anything. He continued campaigning.

He was scheduled to appear on Late Night with David Letterman last night. A few minutes before the taping yesterday afternoon, Mr. McCain called Mr. Letterman and told him he would have to cancel the appearance because he had to rush back to Washington D.C. to “fix the economy.” He didn’t. Instead, he rushed over to CBS News and did a softball interview with Katie Couric (during which he recited Senator Obama’s talking points on the Wall Street Bailout Package) at exactly the same time the Letterman show was taping. (See video of Letterman in previous post.)

Here it is Thursday morning, the day after Mr. McCain told us he had to suspend his campaign so he could rush back to Washington D.C. to “fix the economy” and Mr. McCain is still not in Washington D.C. He’s in New York City sucking up to the Clinton voters.

And where is his running mate, his vice presidential candidate, during all this? Nobody knows. Nobody has bothered to explain (or even ask, it seems) why she is not able to carry on the campaign while Johnny is supposedly in Washington, D.C. “fixing the economy.”

Oh, well… George W. Bush is holding a photo-op in Washington, D.C. this afternoon for himself, the presidential candidates and the Congressional leaders. We’re pretty sure Johnny McCain will show up for that. He said he’d be there, after all.

If he can take time out of “fixing the economy” to do all this other stuff, surely he can make time to show up for a very important presidential debate tomorrow evening. Right?

They say you can what kind of a president a man would be by the campaign he runs. Remember that.

P.S. Here’s the real kicker. Johnny McCain has not even read the Paulson plan yet. And he’s going to “fix the economy.” Maybe. He knows how to fix the Paulson plan before he has even read it, and it’s only three pages long.

P.P.S. Chances are looking mighty good that a deal on the bailout package will be reached before the photo-op at the White House this afternoon. Will Johnny McCain still pull a no-show at the first presidential debate?

UPDATE: Well, Johnny-come-lately made it to the photo-op. That’s him way down there on the left side of the picture:

As reports of the meeting at the White House emerge, it is becoming increasingly clear that Johnny McCain’s only motives for attending were 1) to throw a wrench into the works so the talks will drag on and he will have an excuse to not attend tomorrow night’s presidential debate and 2) a desperate attempt to save his dying presidential campaign.

Here is a closer look at the crotchety old dude during the meeting:

Here is video of Barack Obama’s press availability in Clearwater, Florida today. He discusses the economic challenges facing the United States as well as John McCain’s attempt to back out of Friday night’s presidential debate (see previous post)…

The Commission on Presidential Debates issued this statement earlier today:

“The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is moving forward with its plan for the first presidential debate at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. this Friday, Sept. 26. The plans for this forum have been underway for more than a year and a half. The CPD’s mission is to provide a forum in which the American public has an opportunity to hear the leading candidates for the president of the United States debate the critical issues facing the nation. We believe the public will be well served by having all of the debates go forward as scheduled.”

UPDATE: Senator McCain was, as previously mentioned on this blog, scheduled to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman this evening. He canceled that appearance so he could race back to Washington to deal with our current economic situation (though he did make time along the way to stop off for an interview with Katy Couric). Here is how Mr. Letterman filled the time (Spoiler alert: Do not watch this video if you are planning on watching the Letterman show later tonight):

Truth be known, John McCain’s campaign is collapsing around him. It started to implode on the day the Republican power machine made him select Sarah Palin as his running mate. This election, my friends, is, for all practical purposes, over and done with. I’m actually afraid to go to sleep for fear that I will miss Johnny’s concession speech.

P.S. Somewhat off topic but still related… Laura Bush said today that she thinks Sarah Palin is being treated unfairly because she is a woman. She also said that is to be expected. In what way is Sarah Palin being treated unfairly? Why is that to be expected? And, perhaps even more importantly, why should she be treated any differently than any other candidate for high national office? This woman wants to be our vice president, for heavens’ sake… one unhealthy 72-year-old heartbeat away from being our president! Should she really be receiving special treatment? If so, why?

This whole thing would be downright laughable if it weren’t so damned sad.

P.P.S. I hear George W. Bush gave a speech tonight?

Could the desperation in this ploy to avoid Friday night’s debate possibly be more transparent?

Obama rejects McCain’s call to delay debate

Barack Obama

NEW YORK (AP) – Republican John McCain said Wednesday that he wants to postpone Friday’s debate to deal with the nation’s financial problems, but Democrat Barack Obama said “it’s more important than ever” that the country hear from its next president.

The White House rivals maneuvered to claim the leadership role on the financial crisis that has overshadowed their campaign, leaving the question of whether they will hold their first debate in doubt. Obama said he would continue ahead with his debate preparations, while McCain said he would stop all advertising, fundraising and other campaign events to return to Washington and work for a bipartisan solution.

“It’s my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess,” Obama said at a news conference in Clearwater, Fla. “It’s going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once.”

Their dueling positions came after the two senators spoke privately, each trying to portray himself as the bipartisan leader at a time of crisis.[..]

Even as McCain said he was putting the good of the country ahead of politics, his surprise announcement was clearly political. It was an attempt to try to out-maneuver Obama on an issue he’s trailing on, the economy, as the Democrat gains in polls. He swiftly went before TV cameras minutes after speaking with Obama and before the two campaigns had hammered out a joint statement expressing that Congress act urgently on the bailout.

And while McCain’s campaign said he would “suspend” his campaign, it simply will move to Washington knowing the spotlight will remain on him no matter where he is.

Obama repeatedly stressed at his news conference that he called McCain first to propose that they issue a joint statement in support of a package to help fix the economy as soon as possible. He said McCain called back several hours later, as Obama was leaving a rally in Florida, and agreed to the idea of a statement but also said he wanted to postpone the debate and hold joint meetings in Washington.

Obama said he suggested they first issue a joint statement showing bipartisanship.

“When I got back to the hotel, he had gone on television to announce what he was going to do,” Obama said.

From The Washington Post…

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said McCain’s move was “the longest ‘Hail Mary’ in the history of either football or Marys.” The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, which was holding a hearing on the bailout, added “I’m not particularly focused on Senator McCain. I guess if I wanted expertise there [from the GOP ticket], I’d ask Sarah Palin.”

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada had a similar reaction. “It would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy,” Reid said. “If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op.”

He added: “If there were ever a time for both candidates to hold a debate before the American people about this serious challenge, it is now.”[..]

Obama campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs was more direct. The scene at the debate site in Oxford, Miss. Friday night, he said, would consist of “a stage, an audience, a moderator, and at least one presidential candidate.”

Sorry, Johnny, looks like you’re gonna have to show up on Friday night after all.

P.S. Senator McCain has canceled his scheduled appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman tonight. There must be a reason he is so reluctant to appear in public these days. This is a man who wants to be our next president. What is he afraid of?

One of the favorite refrains of the right wing Republicans throughout the summer has been “Why can’t Obama put this thing away?” Thanks to the Bush/McCain economic meltdown, I believe (or at least hope) he just has…

Economic Woes Edge Obama Over McCain

The economic turmoil on Wall Street and fear among voters about the nation’s economy has boosted Democrat Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy, giving him his first clear lead over Republican John McCain in the presidential race.

Obama now leads McCain among likely voters by 52 percent to 43 percent, according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.

That is a significant swing from the most recent ABC/Washington Post poll earlier this month that gave McCain a slight 49-47 point edge.

“It is all about the economy,” ABC’s chief Washington correspondent George Stephanopoulos told “Good Morning America” today. “People are angry and shocked and worried about the economy and that is all helping Barack Obama right now.”

The latest poll finding marks the first time that the Illinois senator has surpassed 50 percent support among likely voters in the presidential campaign — a key coup for the Democratic candidate.

“You have to go back to 1948 for the last time when a candidate having this kind of a lead in late September lost,” Stephanopoulos said.

I am not beginning my celebration just yet, however. We still have almost six weeks until the most important poll of all is taken – the one taken on Election Day. There is still a lot that could happen between now and then. We still have the three presidential debates, the first of which is coming up this Friday evening, and the one vice presidential debate.

Nope, I don’t believe I’ll pop the cork on the champagne bottle just yet. I’ll save that for the night of November 4th when this thing is officially called for our next president, Barack Obama.

See also: “FOX News Poll: Obama Reclaims Lead Over McCain, 45% to 39%.” FOX News!