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See the original image at time.com —

TIME: Oh, the Drama! McCain in the Theater of the Absurd

time.com — It was an amazing week of political theater, starring the frenetic, operatic, borderline erratic McCain, who seems to have found his calling as a kamikaze politician. McCain made a strong case as the candidate of adult leadership, if your idea of an adult is Terrell Owens, although Terrell Owens is at least capable of running in a straight line.

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  • voxlisa999, on 09/27/2008, -11/+186What a big waste of time McCain causes the entire country with his antics. What a waste of capital, labor, resources to cover this non-sense. This is exactly what we need to get away from. End the drama- Vote Obama.
    • IphtashuFitz, on 09/29/2008, -2/+30Yeah, but he (and Palin) are providing tons of fodder for the late night comedians, so he's not entirely useless.
    • martalli, on 09/29/2008, -1/+29These days the Daily Show is the best show on television...their source material just gets richer and richer by the day.
      • chadsterrr, on 09/29/2008, -3/+5Are you kidding? Colbert Report ftw
    • jro2280, on 09/29/2008, -1/+13End the Drama - Vote Obama - Nice!!
    • magus_melchior, on 09/29/2008, -0/+9"End the Drama - Vote Obama"

      "Oy, that rhymes, Brain."
    • venom8599, on 09/29/2008, -4/+1Jesse Jackson?
      • JCougar, on 09/29/2008, -3/+1He sure is somebody!
      • venom8599, on 09/30/2008, -1/+2Bah. I was trying to joke about the rhyming. "End the Drama - Vote Obama" seems like something Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton would say.
      • 4HOPE, on 09/30/2008, -1/+1END THE DRAMA, VOTE OBAMA
    • DismantleRepair, on 09/30/2008, -0/+2Just when I thought we'd run out of rhyming campaign slogans...
    • 18InchesOfPain, on 09/30/2008, -1/+1This is like a bad sequel to the Bush administration...

      Think Dumb and Dum... no.. wait. Dumb & Older-er
    • 4HOPE, on 09/30/2008, -1/+1DUMB NOW DUMBER
  • VCubed, on 09/28/2008, -4/+83Y'know, the press corp is the worst culprit of them all. They should cover the issues, domestic and foreign, that impact our lives, and not give any air time to McCain's antics except to analyze how effective he is.
    • Augustine08, on 09/29/2008, -0/+9Oh, I don't know. I rather liked Newsweek's article "The Bull Leaves the China Shop" http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/200 ...
    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -1/+3I'd like to see the press cover why our elected officials are not listening in any capacity to the public's objections to the bailout. They have the polls that show the discontent. But I haven't seen it pushed as an issue in these press conferences. They are taking our money with concern for our opinion and the press has become wrapped up more in the drama than in the details.
    • pintomp3, on 09/29/2008, -0/+4exactly. the press is feigning outrage over his political antics, but they covered every second of it. it's our fault too, for tuning into the nonsense. infotainment is more profitable than information. the media knows the public tunes into garbage, the campaigns know the media wants to air garbage, so they provide garbage. don't be a fiddle if you don't want to get played.
    • grbradsk, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2Oh, I don' tknow -- I think this is a great example, before the candidates are elected, to see how they respond to crisis. McCain failed badly.
  • ginny56, on 09/28/2008, -6/+71McShame on him for wasting everyone's time with all his histronics. If it looks like an idiot, walks like am idiot, and quacks like an idiot then.........
    • socalftw, on 09/29/2008, -0/+15...sadly, other idiots will follow.
    • diggit83, on 09/29/2008, -0/+16Its a duck?

      .....and therefor a witch! Burn him!
      • mizlane, on 09/29/2008, -0/+4Or Drama Queen! Get the smelling salts...
    • kristybear, on 09/29/2008, -3/+1types like am idiot
    • Tenshi12, on 09/30/2008, -0/+1then its gotta be McCain.... or Bush.

      But what's the difference?
  • AverageJane2, on 09/28/2008, -5/+53KAMIKAZE John. Loves it!
    • greyrat, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2He IS a kamikazi. He augered in FIVE aircraft as a Navy pilot...
      • iainc, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1Thought the 5 crashes thing had been discredited by Fact Check. Though I reckon the Kamikaze analogy still fits :o)
  • Augustine08, on 09/29/2008, -4/+41The best characterization of McCain's blustering trip to Washington last week was in Newsweek online:
    "The Bull Leaves the China Shop" http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/200 ...
  • Gnarstache, on 09/29/2008, -5/+19pwned
  • chrissku, on 09/29/2008, -3/+38I'm waiting for his next smoke and mirrors display this week by the McCain camp to try and derail the Palin/Biden debate.
    • gothsquirrel, on 09/29/2008, -0/+19I'm getting some popcorn for that one. I'm thinking funniest debate of all time.
      • Moetownslick, on 09/29/2008, -0/+15trust me...they'll "earpiece" her like they did dubya.

        watch for the telling pregnant pauses before each Palin answer.
      • mizlane, on 09/29/2008, -0/+3Also McCain!! He could not even string a sentence together, and remember who was fighting in Iraq earlier this year.

      • Kerrigore, on 09/29/2008, -0/+10@Moetownslick

        I don't know, I think the Palin family has probably already endured enough pregnant pauses recently.
      • orbitaldiamonds, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1@Kerrigore: I wish I could digg your comment a dozen more times! ^_^
    • bemenaker, on 09/29/2008, -0/+10The GOP already asked for and got a change of format to lessen Palin's stupidity.
      • carpespasm, on 09/30/2008, -0/+1It doesn't lessen it, it'll just cover it up some.
    • sindex, on 09/29/2008, -0/+10They've already changed the rules so Biden can't just school her in direct responses. I think the VP debate will be a sad farce of repeating talking points with little to no substance. Kind of like the Presidential debates, come to think of it. Never in my life have I witnessed two men use so many words to say so very little.
      • ulmedas, on 09/29/2008, -0/+4You must never have watched a presidential debate. I must say, Obama put forth quite a bit more information that is standard. Of course, that is not really saying much.
    • wastelander, on 09/29/2008, -0/+3Moetownslick: I hope the Obama camp insists the moderator check the debater's ears before they go on.

      http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/10/08 ...
    • 4HOPE, on 09/30/2008, -0/+0WHAT IF PALIN COMES OUT HARD AND SWINGING?
  • MikeMitchell, on 09/29/2008, -5/+27I cant wait till he ***** his pants on stage.

    It will be the icing on the poop cake that is John McCains recent life.
    • whit4brains, on 09/30/2008, -0/+1A couple times during the debate when he was squinting it looked like that was what he was doing...thank God for Depends. LOL!
  • HarryRag, on 09/29/2008, -3/+16McCain not getting a game-changer means Obama wins. A game-changer seems very unlikely, especially with the first debate past us. And with the upcoming VP debate, it can only get worse.

    Obama/Biden 2008, President Obama 2009
  • br0ck, on 09/29/2008, -4/+15A fellow digger posted a great timeline, including video, of most of the zigs and zags McCain has taken over the last few weeks at http://johnhummel.blogspot.com/2008/09/timeline-of ...
  • giddytonk, on 09/29/2008, -3/+36McCain in the membrane...MCCAIN IN THA BRAIN!
  • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -34/+0McCain is not a complete repeat of Bush - but he's crazy. Can we have a redo on the primaries?

    And consider what we get from the Dem nominee:

    Body count - in the last six months 292 murdered in Chicago, 221 killed in Iraq.

    Our leadership in Illinois...

    Sens. Barack Obama & Dick Durbin, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Gov. Rod Blogojevich, House leader Mike Madigan, Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike), Mayor Richard M. Daley (son of Mayor Richard J. Daley)

    .....all Democrats.

    Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago. Of course they're all blaming each other. Can't blame Republicans, they're aren't any!

    State pension fund $44 Billion in debt - worst in country. Cook County sales tax 10.25% - highest in country. Chicago school system - one of the worst in country.

    This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois. He's going to 'fix' Washington politics?
    • MikeMitchell, on 09/29/2008, -0/+13Have you ever lived in Chicago? If there were any more police, there would be ***** gridlock. Theres like 17 gangs, and a failed projects system which is being torn down and replaced with mixed income housing. I lived there a couple years and the city has made amazing progress, but still has a long ways to go.

      If you want to get into why there is so many murders in Chicago, you can thank your NRA lobbyists, and your GOP candidates who let things like the ban on assault weapons expire. There is 15,000 gun murders in the US every year. Are those Obamas fault too?

      Chicago has had a history of crime long before Obama was even born, but I am sure thats his fault too. Get a ***** grip.
      • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -4/+0Actually I lived on the North Side for 3 years, worked in the city for 5. My wife on the South Side for 21 years. We lived in Cook County until 1997 but moved to get our soon to go to school son into a better school system.

        As for the "amazing progress", it depends on the neighborhood. Yes the mayor that loves trees has cleaned up many, many areas. But in many others, crime has increased resulting in community organizers starting rallies and the (soon-to-be-indicted) governor to consider sending in the National Guard to patrol the neighborhoods. Imagine that... Daley refused but for people to consider the offer might not be a bad deal is scary.

        And those torn down projects turned into mixed income housing? Check the bankruptcy rates.

        Gun crime? Let's look for the statistics that show these guns were legally bought by NRA advocates. More likely distribution is the same as the drug channels regardless of whatever the law currently is.

        Never blamed Obama for the history of crime in Chicago. But his mentors and counterparts obviously have not done much to even slow the increase of taxes, failed services and egregious crimes. And nothing of note occurred under his watch other than he knew how to work with "The Machine" to get elected in the first place, stay there and advance his ambitions.


        And again - I don't want McCain/Palin either. Just saying none of the choices are promising. Wait. Obama does. He has promised "Hope". He didn't learn that in the gritty Chicago politics...
      • MikeMitchell, on 09/29/2008, -0/+5"Gun crime? Let's look for the statistics that show these guns were legally bought by NRA advocates. More likely distribution is the same as the drug channels regardless of whatever the law currently is."

        The majority of illegal guns are legally purchased, and then stolen. look it up! its something like 450,000 guns are stolen every year that were purchased legally. They aren't trafficked into the country like drugs. At least the majority aren't.
      • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -1/+0Good point. Since they can successfully track they were stolen, the original owner should be charged with involuntary manslaughter by not securing the weapon. Much like bar owners are charged and sued for letting a drunk go out and kill someone on the road. Own a gun? Take responsibility for it.

        Personally I don't own a gun and don't want to. But gun laws haven't done much good where passed. And the only way to 100% prevent guns from being stolen would be to confiscate all of them. That will never happen and certainly would bring true that only criminals have guns.
    • fadeddragon, on 09/29/2008, -1/+0You forgot civilian casualties also how many of those murders were done by gangs.
      • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -0/+0And what have the politicians done to handle the gangs? Nothing to effect change...
      • orbitaldiamonds, on 09/29/2008, -0/+0@evilpoliticians: I agree. I'd love to see the politicians take on DOMESTIC TERRORISM. Gangs, hate groups, cults that abuse children...
    • martalli, on 09/29/2008, -0/+6Its easy to rip on Illinois when many of its problems are shared with its neighbors. The softening economy has led to falling tax revenues and a tighter purse. Unlike Bush's federal government, Illinois and other states can't print money, or build up staggering debts.
      • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -0/+0These problems happened even through the best of economic times.
    • razor150, on 09/29/2008, -0/+10How many Iraqis have died? How many in Baghdad alone? Suddenly your comparison sounds really stupid.
      • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -1/+0Not to the families that lost a loved one. The reactions are the same on TV. But the same politicians here railing against the losses in Baghdad have done little to handle the situation in their jurisdiction.

        My point is, make sure your own house is in order before pointing fingers. No politician from Chicago can honestly do so.
      • MikeMitchell, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1"My point is, make sure your own house is in order before pointing fingers."

        I totally agree with that, but you're making an unfair comparison of Chicago to Iraq, and putting the sole blame on one person amongst many other politicians.
      • razor150, on 09/30/2008, -0/+1You are comparing our soldiers to the citizens of Chicago. Sorry, if anything our soldiers would be more akin to the Police of Chicago. Chicago doesn't loose near as many police officers.

        Plus if you take all of Chicago gave them a uniform you have what? 4 million soldiers. By population numbers it is far more dangerous to be a US soldier in Iraq.
    • xilduq, on 09/29/2008, -0/+3What has McCain done in his 26 years? I'd like to see the exhaustive list of his accomplishments.

      We know he has repeatedly voted against regulation and for deregulation, so he has that going for him (on his list of failures)

    • CSheikh, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2You realize that Barack is a federal government representative, and that he has not had any jurisdiction over state policy since 2004. You also realize that as a State Senator in Illinois he was responsible for legislation, not execution.

      Furthermore, if you know anything about Chicago then you would know that the crime rate today is much lower then it has been in the past. Do yourself a favor and watch the History Channel. They have a good program talking about Chicago gangs, which are a predominant cause of the violent crimes. The murder rate per 100,000 is 5.9 is 2007 compared to 11.7 in 1994.

      That all aside look at the per capita GDP of Illinois, it is in the top 20 of the nation (higher then Arizona). You want to know the lowest? It is Mississippi, a Republican state. By your reasoning that means that Republicans are responsible for a ***** economy in Mississippi and should not be allowed to run our economy on a national level.
  • AlphaNeonic, on 09/29/2008, -1/+32I like to believe that McCain is still that badass warhero from back in the day. He knows Barack will be the better president so he's doing everything in his power to make sure his own campaign just blows up, giving Obama the presidency. It could be McCain's last act of good for the country.

    McCain on his death bead: "They can never know Barack.... they can never know...."
    • jezsik, on 09/29/2008, -0/+6Wouldn't be easier if he just crashed another plane already?
    • AmazingA, on 09/29/2008, -0/+12Wouldn't that be awful if you were running for President and TRYING to throw the elections, but people kept supporting you? That's my new theory, nothing else explains his actions.
  • allengeer, on 09/29/2008, -4/+48Seriously, did anyone see any similarities between these two interview questions:

    Miss Teen USA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
    Sarah Palin with Katie Couric: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npUMUASwaec
    • fishbeef33, on 09/29/2008, -5/+3Congratulations, you're the last person on earth to recognize the similarity. At least, I hope you are because I don't think I can stand seeing another one of these links posted.
    • TheR3dMenace, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1http://www.mooseinheadlights.com/
    • Haecceity, on 09/29/2008, -0/+4Many other people have, but keep making the connection. One thing politicians rarely recover from is ridicule.
    • boombume, on 09/29/2008, -0/+3We also all heard Howard this morning when he played the clips back to back.
  • Wryly, on 09/29/2008, -4/+15Obama *doesn't understand* drama.
    • brendanrivers, on 09/29/2008, -0/+3he just doesn't get it.
      • csw1342, on 09/30/2008, -0/+1I've been in the Senate for thir . z..z.zzzzzzzzz
  • nick1971, on 09/29/2008, -1/+21OK to summarize. He is old, he has been sick, there is a 1/3 chance that he dies in the 1st 4 years. His vice president is an idiot, Having studied politics she has qualified as asinine a point which after months of work she has obtained the skills of the hebetudinous. She would have the nuclear launch codes is this good I think not.
    • Coffeedemon, on 09/29/2008, -0/+9Dugg for the juxtaposition of a term like hebetudinous in a paragraph full of grammar errors. :)
    • nick1971, on 09/29/2008, -0/+4I'm currently paying 55 Euro per week for English lessons. Any help is more than welcome.
      • Coffeedemon, on 09/29/2008, -0/+6Sounded snide but I was kidding. A couple of commas is no big whoop. I'd suggest using more but shorter sentences if you're in doubt of where to put punctuation. Really I just needed an excuse to thank you for the awesome 'new' word.
      • nick1971, on 09/29/2008, -0/+4Thank you for your compliment.
        I will try to do better with my comma rules.
        Nick
  • plimpton777, on 09/29/2008, -1/+18This guy is an absolute trainwreck.
  • oscenester, on 09/29/2008, -3/+36What happened Rightards? Where's the crazy defense of your lunatic candidate?

    I am loving every minute of this...
    • fishbeef33, on 09/29/2008, -0/+20Rightards? God, and I though "Libtards" sounded stupid.

      Whatever side of the aisle you're on, adding "tard" to a word as an insult is just...retarded.
    • bemenaker, on 09/29/2008, -0/+4I'm a free-thinkatard
    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -0/+3That would be like the far left defending Lieberman - it's not possible...
    • thegrantman, on 09/30/2008, -0/+1Then Republicans are Re-tards?
  • darkmachina, on 09/29/2008, -2/+20The scariest part is that after 8 years of Bush, we as a nation find it amusing when a presidential candidate makes a complete fool of himself and embarasses himself and the nation. We should be mortified by the fact that a presidential candidate can conduct himself in such a pathetically comical matter that I can't tell the difference between CNN and Comedy Central.

    I mean its funny, but isn't it a bit depressing that we are so used to our president acting like a complete idiot that we aren't even surprised by it anymore. Can you imagine a leader of a foreign superpower acting like a cartoon charater or in McCain's case an actor on a poorly rated soap opera.

    It really would be nice to go on vacation and not have to say I'm from Russia and I just happen to speak very good English anymore.
    • mrraven200, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2"Can you imagine a leader of a foreign superpower acting like a cartoon charater ..."

      Yes Kim Jong-il It's sad though that it's starting to become possible to say such names in the same sentence as American Presidents:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il
    • carpespasm, on 09/30/2008, -0/+1You should read more Douglas Adams. He makes a good case that it's almost a president's duty to show his ass depending on whether he weilds real power or just helps people with circus so they don't look at where the requests for action come from.
      • darkmachina, on 09/30/2008, -0/+0I love Douglas Adams, but I don't know how happy I would be with my reality turning into a science fiction satire of itself...or has it already? hmm...now I'm a bit sad..I feel like Marvin
  • kirtap, on 09/29/2008, -1/+17If you ask me, I'd rather have someone with less experience in there asking tough questions than an old, "experienced" good ol' boy like McCain pumping the same B.S. out of the white house for another 4 years.
    • bemenaker, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2That was one of Reagan's strongest selling points.
    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -3/+1I don't want McCain's temper and Palin's inexperience in the White House either. But trusting someone just because he asks "tough questions" is risky.

      Must the only alternative be someone we don't know what *decisions* he makes after asking those questions? Yes his decision not to invade Iraq is commendable. But how does he end it? Seems he's decided to change opinions on that depending on the election phase (typical of both sides). Besides Iraq, what other decisions show prudence and leadership. Really - sell me to get me off the fence...
      • darkmachina, on 09/29/2008, -0/+6Well, I could stick to talking points, but I will take another approach. Here is why I personally like Obama:
        1. Temperment- Obama is even tempered and does not go purely on knee-jerk reactions. He is cool and calm under pressure and I believe that a president needs this skill. He analyzes situations and does not make impulse decisions.
        2. Intelligence- Obama finished near the top of his class from Harvard and was president of the harvard law review as well as a professor of constitutional law.
        3. Values - Obama gave up a job at a top law firm to become a community organizer (which by the way is at times a very thanksless position without much income attached) showing a genuine caring for people who are down on their luck (emotionaly and financially)
        4. Policies - Tax cuts for middle class, providing access to affortable health care for everyone and lowering premiums for those who already have health care, investing in our failing education system with benefits such as merit pay to bring in better teachers, bringing the Iraq war to an end and putting that money into OUR infrastructure, Investing in alternative energy solutions and in doing so creating a wealth of "green" jobs
        5. Background - Obama comes froma unique background which has given him exposure to different cultures and an understanding of different cultures and problems. He will create a new image of America in the eyes of the world. This is very important in bringing back America's standing in the world.

        Now these are the reasons I am personally voting for Obama, not for talking points, not for party affiliation (because up until this year I was not affilliated with any major party), not for the nonsense I hear on TV. When I hear him speak, he speaks logically, intelligently, and with true understanding of what needs to be done. Hope this helps
      • kitsua, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1@darkmachina - excellently and succinctly put.
      • carpespasm, on 09/30/2008, -0/+1I'm in line with darkmachina, and I really appreciate you asking honestly. It's good to see people openly ask for people's arguments for something or someone.
  • ProUSADigger, on 09/29/2008, -27/+2Dear Mr. Mcain,

    Please remember that if Time, NewsWeek, NYT, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, and CNN are ragging on you, that you are on the right track. When, and if, they ever compliment you or otherwise say anything positive about anything related to you (literally anything), you should reevaluate, because something has gone horribly wrong.

    Sincerely,
    Me
    • fani, on 09/29/2008, -0/+14Dear Mr. ProUSADigger,

      Please remember that if you get lots of negative diggs and diggers are ragging with rational answers on you, it means that you are completely off track in your comment.

      Sincerely,
      Me
    • bamatime, on 09/29/2008, -0/+17That list of "liberal media" getting a little long huh? That could mean only one thing: We're right; You're wrong.
    • wafla, on 09/29/2008, -1/+8Dear "Me": You're only saying this because your candidate can't make a decent decision to save his life. Therefore, you propose, everybody ELSE in the world must be wrong.

      That's ass-backwards. You lose at being American.
      • armakaryk, on 09/29/2008, -2/+2i'm pretty sure you can't lose at being american while freely expressing your opinion.
      • wafla, on 09/29/2008, -1/+3@armakaryk -- You're very charitable to say ProUSADigger was expressing an "opinion." I think it was very, very much less than an opinion. As you've probably been told, merely being able to croak out words in a row doesn't give them value.
      • armakaryk, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2oh i thought you were supporting ProUSADigger and dissenting Fani, little bit of confusion on my part. however, i'm all about "i may not like what you say but i'll defend to the death your right to say it".
    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -5/+0A great leader (or candidate) manages conflicting opinion and opposition. With so much experience and history of "reaching across the aisle", I have seen much in effectively handling the increase negatives being discussed about him. And the debate on/off/show up anyway was a mess.
    • CSheikh, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2That is the good ole Republican spirit. As more people tell you that you are wrong, don't listen to them and keep going. America has been around for 300 years, but that doesn't mean that you can't bring it down in 12 (Bush screwed you over because he only did a half-ass job of screwing over our economy, I bet McCain can do a much better job of ***** us over and finish the job in only 4 more years).
    • Haecceity, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2But of course if they were raving about McCain you'd be citing that as evidence that he's on the right track.
  • fishbeef33, on 09/29/2008, -1/+28The fact that McCain could have a terrible, embarassing week like this and STILL have as much support in the polls as he does is just frightening. It also shows that the past 8 years of Republican disdain for, and degredation of, our education system is benefitting them.
    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -5/+0Don't worry. The Chicago Public School system has educated generations of students to vote straight Democratic. And just look at the excellent results! I guarantee that "The Machine" will adhere to the vote early, vote often for Obama. Just kidding - I do trust the balloting but "The Machine" is ever present there...
  • kigcoopa84, on 09/29/2008, -13/+3I am not sure this author has any grasp of the capital gains tax, much less the economy. I love how educated and seasoned economist have a hard time understand the situation we are in but some journalists think they have every answer. I am also having a hard time understanding who McCain brought presidential politics into his trip back too Washington. I did not see one camera following him into meetings or around Washington. The republicans 700 billion dollar bail out? That's like saying the Dems were pushing for more restrictions on Fannie and Freddy years ago... witch is just not true. (they blocked the republicans efforts)
    • SmartfulDodger, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2Expert economists have a hard time guaranteeing that a bailout will halt this crisis - they do not have a hard time understanding the economy, nor do they not understand capital gains taxes. By definition, failing firms don't have capital gains - so eliminating those taxes will do nothing to cut financial losses.

      And presidential politics are more than cameras and reporters. McCain wants to be the leader of his party, and our nation. Just his presence will remind our Congressmen of the political world at a time when party bickering will only hurt this country.

      All in all, this article painted a fairly accurate timeline of last weeks circus, with McCain serving as the ringmaster.
      • kigcoopa84, on 09/29/2008, -1/+1Eliminating the tax will encourage private investment. "they do not have a hard time understanding the economy, nor do they not understand capital gains taxes." I was referring to the author
      • SmartfulDodger, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1A capital gains tax is not the reason investors are holding back - they're doing so because investing in these banks is riskier than a roulette table. My point still stands that capital gains taxes are only paid where an investment makes money. The investments you're talking about will likely loose money (See Wachovia, WaMu, IndyMac, or Bear Sterns).

        Additionally, who would front the capital for these private investments? If capital were available, then by definition we wouldn't be experience a "credit crunch", and our crisis would be solved already. Eliminating capital gains taxes is just more circular logic from House Republicans.
      • kigcoopa84, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1The securities causing all this mess are still backed by tangible things, houses. While the securities have lost most of there value, the houses behind them have not. The reason banks and other institutions are having so much trouble is because they are holding these illiquid assets. If they could liquidate these bonds then they could get capital.
        Now if you make these bonds marketable again, even for pennies on the dollar, and suspend the capital gains tax then you could find PRIVATE investors to buy them up and the banks can eat the loss they deserve.
      • SmartfulDodger, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1You're claim that private investors are holding back because of capital gains is false. The reason they're holding back is because the market is turning money into dust at an alarming rate.

        Even if these bonds were for sale at pennies on the dollar, no investor would buy them. Today's rate for 10 year T-bills is around 3.6%, slightly less than inflation. That means these bills are selling for negative pennies on the dollar. Yet investors are pouring money into them, knowing that its a safe place to keep money (even though its a guaranteed negative ROI). Today's investors aren't trying to make a return on their principal investment - they're just trying to not lose anymore ground.

        Lowering capital gains taxes is a nifty tool in times of normalized market conditions. These days, the market is anything but normal. The monetary tools we normally use to effect investment are simply too small for a job this big.
    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -1/+1This journalist is just another person in the world like us. It's his opinion though he gets more eyeballs on his copy than our measly comments on Digg.

      Agreed on McCain injecting presidential level politics - but for a different reason. They both should be there. They are both Senators. That's their job. If the job could be phoned in, they could stay in their districts and sell the Capitol. But that's not the case, Politics requires face-to-face negotiations and deals. And someone running for President should very well be there to show how they will lead in a crisis. Both failed to do that. Lot's of non-committal comments.

      Not sure the Dems blocked the Repubs from more regulations. But both where definitely on the payroll. Barney Frank was the largest recipient from Freddie and Fannie. Check the facts - both sides were heavily corrupted and we are to trust them help us recover.
  • redux2redux, on 09/29/2008, -1/+6Ouch!

    ...but true...
  • mediahaze, on 09/29/2008, -9/+2"There is, of course, a serious point to all this mishigas. The last eight years may have been a geopolitical and economic disaster, but one thing they have not lacked is drama. They've been eight exhausting years, and when Obama talks about change, he's implicitly talking about giving Americans a break, a timeout from grand history."

    LOL!

    I am sorry.

    LOOOOOOOOL!!!!
  • xshare, on 09/29/2008, -3/+1T.O. as an example of an NFL badboy is so outdated.
  • TubeToolbox, on 09/29/2008, -4/+2My desire of a new image and new direction for our country only slightly out-weighs my desire to watch Tina Fey as Sarah Palin for the next 4 years. Seriously, it's a close call. I mean, if the economy goes to *****, at least we'll be able to laugh.
    • EtherGnat, on 09/29/2008, -0/+3How about we vote Obama into the White House and start a new reality show about the Governor of Alaska. It's a win-win for me.
  • Rudegar, on 09/29/2008, -1/+3seems America is very divided about where they get their news from and what those news report..
  • TubeToolbox, on 09/29/2008, -7/+0My desire of a new image and new direction for our country only slightly out-weighs my desire to watch Tina Fey as Sarah Palin for the next 4 years. Seriously, it's a close call. I mean, if the economy goes to *****, at least we'll be able to laugh.
  • Homerr, on 09/29/2008, -1/+7John McCain's 6th crash happened last week.
  • curiousgrge, on 09/29/2008, -1/+6The article states that McCain was a fighter pilot. I believe he was just a bomber pilot. Wouldn't a fighter pilot require you to engage an enemy. I don't think he can just drop bombs on a bogey and call that engaging. I would like to think that being a fighter pilot requires evasive maneuvers. Flying a bomber pretty much requires you fly in a straight line.

    If anything, he's being more of a fighter pilot now being a politician by being so evasive.
    • samimnot, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1Not sure if he was a fighter or bomber pilot ;-) I'll have to get back to you on that.

      He did crash 5 planes, though...
    • armakaryk, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2he flew a-4 skyhawks, which were navy light bombers, but they had air-to-air defense capabilities, and were occasionally used as fighters.
    • dzhastin, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1First of all, flying any airplane in combat isn't that easy, even bombers. Second, McCain flew A-4's which are ground-attack aircraft (see also A-10, SU-25) that are mainly used for close air support. That's more fighter than bomber. Also, they're based on CARRIERS. Say what you want about McCain's politics (I probably agree), but it takes mad balls to take off and land on an aircraft carrier.
  • Folksie, on 09/29/2008, -1/+7I LOVE that the author called McCain a "kamikaze politician." That just sums this freaky man better than anything else I've heard. Let the republican party crash and burn along with its wall street fat cat cohorts.

    Time for people to become real patriots: campaignforliberty.org
  • lewhich, on 09/29/2008, -1/+5Excellent article .. especially if you missed the news last week
  • banderwocky, on 09/29/2008, -3/+6I can see it's going to be a bad week for Exxon John and his lipstick wearing dog.
  • pennsykid2000, on 09/29/2008, -1/+7“OBAMA–NO DRAMA” has never been more appropriate than now. Voters should keep this in mind as they watch the flighty, impulsive, mercurial McCain.
    • shauncorleone, on 09/29/2008, -1/+1Keep what in mind? A catchphrase? I guess some people have a limited capacity for what they can keep in mind.
    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -0/+0I agree impulsive McCain is not good. But Obama's lack of substance is a problem too. Other than not voting to invade, what's his experience of decision making and leadership. I want something more than "Hope" and "Change". I rate him on that just above Palin which isn't saying much. Great speeches (but didn't even put McCain away in the first debate) and rallies do not make a President.

      We need another choice!
  • rpupkin77, on 09/29/2008, -10/+1If he is a kamikaze he crashed right onto Obama's ridiculous performance in the FP part of the debate. If McCain is so terrible why is it so close? If you use the American people are stupid argument, then explain why a vast majority blame the republicans for the financial crisis?

    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -1/+0I expected to Obama to unquestionably outshine McCain. Be he looked nervous at first and flat during most of it. He missed a great chance but maybe will learn in time for the next one after watching the tapes.
    • RhoVisions, on 09/29/2008, -0/+0I contest that with this:

      A majority of Americans believe in Creationism over Evolution. Nothing wrong with believing in Creationism in my mind, but to call it a science and to say the facts are in one book, is insulting.
      • rpupkin77, on 09/29/2008, -1/+1Agreed, but not really relevant to the McCain thing is, my point is that the media is wrong. McCain is obviously not that bad of a candidate if it is still this close. I am one of those republicans who dislikes Bush, and I was not a McCain fan when this election started however, I keep finding myself defending the two because, to be honest, they are treated unfairly in the media (the latter much less deservedly so than the former).

        McCain should have been president in 2000. This country would be a much better place if he were elected then.
      • RhoVisions, on 09/29/2008, -0/+0Sorry, my point wasn't really clear. A majority of Americans are willing to believe anything without doing research for themselves (this is not a poke at religion, it is independent of religion). If you present the average American with overrated facts, they will believe it. I agree, both are treated unfairly, but at the same time, I feel McCain is trying out various political tactics. At least when Obama screws up, in my opinion of course, its something that if the average American did we'd laugh it off. We hold both candidates too high, then judge when either falls. The problem/concern is what they fall on.
      • EtherGnat, on 09/29/2008, -0/+2"McCain should have been president in 2000. This country would be a much better place if he were elected then."

        I'll agree with you on that, but McCain2008 is a completely different candidate from McCain2000.
    • CSheikh, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1The reason it is close is for the same reason Bush won in 2000 and 2004 -

      Republicans, because of their history as a party of fiscal responsibility, try to still pretend that they are that former party even though it has been run over with neo-conservatives and fundamentalists that care more about abortion, religion and gay marriage then they do about the economy and foreign policy. For most people that are struggling with money (which is true for about 99% of people), we care more about our next paycheck then we do about whether Jim and John are getting married or if Jill's daughter Jane got pregnant at 14 and wants to have an abortion, or if we place the 10 commandments in Congress (since apparently all of those fundamentalists can't remember all 10).

      The Democrats, for reasons beyond my belief, are too timid or are being bound by some other means that prevent them from showing this inconsistency in Republican policy. In a perfect world, the Democrats should win this election in a landslide. However, I (and we) have to sit on the sidelines and watch the Democrats folly this up.
  • edpapavitch, on 09/29/2008, -3/+0sometimes when people are wrong... they're also right in a twisted way.
    politicians are crazy... i'm all about ending the drama =))))
    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -0/+0And the politics around the economic mess is making them crazier. The drama will continue...
      • edpapavitch, on 09/29/2008, -0/+0we live in a great nation. i'm very confident our trusted elected officials will make the right judgment calls and that it'll work itself out. that is my humble belief. =)
  • jerrycan, on 09/29/2008, -6/+4Ron Paul. He would have been the right president for right now.
    • FreddieD, on 09/29/2008, -1/+6Well for the republicans, Bobo the ***** Clown would be a better nominee for right now. He could at least humor us with his wacky antics and help dull the pain.
      • mcsenget, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1
        Main Entry:
        2humor
        Function:
        transitive verb
        Inflected Form(s):
        hu·mored; hu·mor·ing Listen to the pronunciation of humoring ˈhyüm-riŋ, ˈyüm-, ˈhyü-mə-, ˈyü-
        Date:
        1588

        1 : to soothe or content by indulgence 2 : to adapt oneself to
      • Haecceity, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1That would be, "He could at least amuse us..."
  • ObamAmerican48, on 09/29/2008, -1/+4MacCain. Shakespeare's little known play about an old man with a droopy face who held onto delusions of power and importance long after anyone with a functioning neuron took him seriously.
  • DLB777, on 09/29/2008, -3/+1This illustrates why we need to open up the debates to viable third party candidates.
    • evilpolitians, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1But where are the viable third party candidates? We need some ASAP.
  • pennsykid2000, on 09/29/2008, -1/+15McCain Losing Core Supporters

    WASHINGTON, September 29 – John McCain appears to be losing support among
    a key group of voters who had hitherto stood firmly with him and Governor Palin,
    even as his poll numbers among other groups fell dramatically.

    A new Gallup poll shows that, for the first time, McCain's approval
    rating has fallen below 50% among total ***** morons, and now stands
    at 44%. This represents a dramatic drop compared to a poll taken just
    last July, when 72% of total ***** morons expressed support for
    McCain and his policies.

    Faltering approval ratings for McCain among a group once
    thought to be a reliable source of loyal support gives Republicans one
    more reason to be nervous about the upcoming elections. "If
    we can't depend on the support of total ***** morons," says Sen.
    Mitch McConnell (R-KY), "then we've got a big problem. They're a key
    factor in our electoral strategy, and an important part of today's
    Republican coalition."

    Not all Republican lawmakers are concerned about the poll. While Sen.
    Lamar Alexander (R-TN) agrees that his party should not take total ***** morons
    for granted, they "really don't have anywhere else to go. They're
    never going to be able to understand someone intelligent and articulate like Barack Obama
    who wants to talk about issues. Just try having a conversation with them
    about global warming. They'll say, 'Oh, but Rush says volcanoes
    consume more ozone than humans do.' I mean, they're total
    ***** morons!"

  • cheesegypsy, on 09/29/2008, -1/+8If Kerry was a flip-flopper, what the hell do you call McCain? A crazy-ass old man who will do anything to get the presidency, that's what. It's almost as if he knows he's going to die in a year and is willing to pull any and every stunt so that he can have his name in the history books before he goes.
  • lfrankow, on 09/29/2008, -1/+5Even if John McCain saved a burning baby, and lifted a car off of me as I was drowning in a river, I wouldn't vote for him.

    Why? Because he is old. The person he chose to replace him if he dies? Who is she? I don't remember her distinguishing herself as viable to run the country before the nomination. So...

  • DemiRonin, on 09/29/2008, -1/+6And here's a digg for the writer of that fine article, hooray
  • jayzfans, on 09/29/2008, -1/+7The only reason this man is still in the race is because of racism.
  • metaliq, on 09/29/2008, -1/+3"Oh! That McCain!"

    Sitcom America, here we come.
  • kavaXtreme, on 09/29/2008, -11/+2You say drama, I say look at the stock market today. Maybe, just maybe, McCain was justified in thinking that the good of the country might have been more important than the presidential campaign of any one nominee. Maybe what is going to happen over the next four years should be our only focus; but then again maybe this week will define the next four years. So while Obama was focusing on getting into the Oval Office, McCain was at least doing ALL he could to avoid a huge stock market crash. I live on Main Street, and down here trying to fix things beats talking about fixing them any day.
  • CSheikh, on 09/29/2008, -1/+7Another true article about McCain that isn't positive. I wonder when the neo-idiots will flag this one as inaccurate too.
  • zendez1, on 09/29/2008, -1/+0Camus/Sartre '08
  • Haecceity, on 09/29/2008, -1/+6I was disappointed that he missed the whole Letterman thing. "Hey John! Do you need a ride to the airport?"
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