John McCain and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week(s)

Hurricane Dean as photographed from the Space Shuttle Endeavor

John McCain is having a bad week. A bad couple of weeks actually. Not only did the Obama Campaign manage dominate political news in the month of August, but the Democrats chose their week-long media extravaganza of a convention to go on the offensive against McCain for the first time. The highly divisive convention that the GOP had hoped for simply never materialized and even naming the controversial Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate failed to squelch the impressive footage of the 84,000 strong crowd at Obama's acceptance speech.

Meanwhile, hurricane Gustav bears down on New Orleans as residents are urged to evacuate, causing several high-profile cancellations from the already lack-luster RNC. Half a world away in South Ossetia it is becoming increasingly clear that McCain, who counts foreign policy as his sole issue advantage, may have picked the wrong side to back in the war there.

And today the Republican National Convention will kick off in the second largest venue in Minneapolis/St Paul; Ron Paul is expecting more people and bigger crowds at his little get-together.

Palin

It certainly seemed like a good idea at the time. Sarah Palin lets McCain make a play for the 18,000,000 Clinton votes, diversifies the ticket, and adds a touch of badly needed youth and grace. But in the cold, harsh light of day, an altogether different political reality shows itself.

Since McCain tapped Palin as his running mate the reality of her candidacy has begun to sink in. Her radical views on abortion and contraception make her an unlikely choice among feminist Clinton voters and the tinge of scandal in the form of "Troopergate" and her rumored nude photos threatens to permanently stain her candidacy.

Indeed, it has become very clear that the McCain campaign vetted Palin little if at all and that the decision to name her had more to do with diverting the news cycle from the Democratic National Convention than any principled stand on McCain's part. Such a calculated gamble with the office of the Vice Presidency risks casting Palin as yet another example of the GOP pandering to a voting block it doesn't understand and highlights exactly how damaging the image of Obama's acceptance speech is to the McCain campaign.

Gustav

As if that weren't bad enough, Hurricane Gustav steams towards the Gulf Coast. Expected to make landfall as a Category 2 or 3, it seems that New Orleans has been spared the brunt of the blow, but all eyes are focused on the storm and not – as McCain would no doubt like – on the RNC in St Paul.

Perhaps more frustrating than his continued poor luck with the news cycle is the symbolism of it all. Evangelical leaders spent the run-up to Obama's acceptance speech praying for rain of biblical proportions. Let it never be said that the Lord does not work in mysterious ways. That rain, it seems, is coming. Wrong city, and wrong convention... but coming nonetheless.

Gustav will make landfall sometime today: Monday, September 1^st, the same day President Bush is scheduled to speak to the Convention. One can not help but note Bush's placement in the speaking order. Higher profile and more popular speakers are generally billed later in the convention proceedings: the Democrats had Hillary speak on Tuesday, President Clinton and Senator Kerry speak on Wednesday, and Vice President Gore speak on Thursday. The conventions get more viewers later in the week and so the parties back-load their best speakers to get the most bang for the proverbial buck and front-load those they'd rather not talk about. Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy, by way of example, were slotted for Monday night of the DNC.

If President Bush does speak to the convention, Gustav and the echos of Katrina will draw unwanted attention to his address and conjure some of the darkest moments of the Bush Administration; it's a hell of a way to start a convention: with an address by the man your opponent most wishes to tie you to.

Georgia

McCain needs a solid convention. He trails Obama in virtually every issue save for foreign policy. Now though, even that lead is under siege. Naming Biden for his VP slot allowed Obama to narrow the foreign policy gap but McCain isn't doing himself any favors on that front either.

Following the outbreak of hostilities in South Ossetia, Senator McCain, ever the consummate statesman, decided to take sides. We should all become Georgians the presumptive GOP nominee exclaimed.

Now it's looking like he may have picked the wrong horse in the race. McCain has consistently portrayed the Georgians as the victims in the war, but as new information comes to light it seems that this may not be the case. "Experience" indeed.

Still, one almost feels sorry for McCain. A victim of circumstances beyond his control and a somewhat mismanaged Presidential run, John McCain is a man direly in need of a vacation. If present circumstances are any indication, he'll get one starting in November.

47 Votes
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6.3

{"commentId":2679033,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

I, on the other hand, am enjoying mine. A week off work for the DNC and now on a corporate retreat to the outer banks, I'm writing this from a (rented) $7,000,000 beach-house over looking the Atlantic Ocean and John McCain is trying not to crater in the polls.

Who's for more schadenfreude?

{"commentId":2679033,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"killfile"}

11 votes

#1 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 10:49 AM EDT

{"commentId":2679621,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

This is my favorite headline you've ever written.

{"commentId":2679621,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

6 votes

#1.1 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 12:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":2679919,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Now it's looking like he may have picked the wrong horse in the race. McCain has consistently portrayed the Georgians as the victims in the war, but as new information comes to light it seems that this may not be the case. "Experience" indeed.

I haven't heard about this...any links?

{"commentId":2679919,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"brianford"}

5 votes

#1.2 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 12:36 PM EDT

{"commentId":2681876,"authorDomain":"belarius"}

Belarius

Recent reports suggest that Georgia allegedly used cluster bombs and then pointed the finger at the Russians, for instance.

{"commentId":2681876,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"belarius"}

5 votes

#1.3 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 2:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":2685261,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Thanks for the link!

{"commentId":2685261,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"killfile"}

#1.4 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 7:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":2688290,"authorDomain":"enygma"}

I'm writing this from a (rented) $7,000,000 beach-house over looking the Atlantic Ocean and John McCain is trying not to crater in the polls.

I would point out that Hurricane Hanna (you know, the second of possibly four hurricanes we're going to get in quick succession) is looking to head up the East Coast later this week.

{"commentId":2688290,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"enygma"}

#1.5 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 11:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":2688505,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Yea, I'm out of here tomorrow.

{"commentId":2688505,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"killfile"}

#1.6 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 11:26 PM EDT

{"commentId":2688728,"authorDomain":"enygma"}

Unfortunately, my wife and I are heading down to Myrtle Beach next week ... assuming the house we are renting is still standing in one piece.

{"commentId":2688728,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"enygma"}

#1.7 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 11:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":2679367,"authorDomain":"gbixler"}

Gene in Mass

On the other hand, McCain managed to kill Obama's convention bounce. But, as I've been arguing, this is really more of a delay. After the dust settles on McCain's odd VP choice and once more Americans become aware of her hard-right positions, the polls will shift more in Obama's favor.

Two weeks from today, I think we'll see Obama back at a 6 point lead, nationally. Then the debates. Those few weeks will rival these as bad, bad weeks for McCain.

By the way, loved the reference to "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" ... Man, that kid's day sucked.

{"commentId":2679367,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"gbixler"}

6 votes

#2 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 11:36 AM EDT

{"commentId":2679841,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Did he manage to kill the bounce? I was hearing about a 6 point bounce last week.

{"commentId":2679841,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"killfile"}

3 votes

#2.1 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 12:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":2680394,"authorDomain":"gbixler"}

Gene in Mass

Yes, but today's CNN poll has Obama only up 2. (Only up 1 if you don't count Nader and Barr.)

{"commentId":2680394,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"gbixler"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 1:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":2686429,"authorDomain":"prosperity2un2000"}

OBAMA HAS OPENED A 13 POINT LEAD!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Gustav, Hanna, Palin!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-01-poll-monday_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

{"commentId":2686429,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"prosperity2un2000"}

#2.3 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 8:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":2687261,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Linkified Version:

The Democratic National Convention significantly boosted Americans' views of Barack Obama as a strong leader who "shares your values" and can manage the economy and Iraq, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Saturday and Sunday finds.

Republican John McCain's advantage in handling terrorism was dramatically reduced, and his "unfavorable" rating ticked up to its highest level this year.

"This is a convention bounce," says Robert Eisinger, a political scientist at Lewis & Clark College and author of The Evolution of Presidential Polling. The results reflect the impact of themes the Democrats hammered at their convention in Denver last week.

{"commentId":2687261,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"killfile"}

2 votes

#2.4 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 9:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":2688309,"authorDomain":"enygma"}

It wouldn't make for a good horse race if we didn't have completely contradictory polls. We definitely need more "no bounce for Obama" polls because that makes the ratings. Oops, did I say that aloud?

{"commentId":2688309,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"enygma"}

#2.5 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 11:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":2689139,"authorDomain":"prosperity2un2000"}

Don't you mean no bounce for McCain? Three hurricanes are coming through this week? His convention has been scaled down! Who is going to see it?

{"commentId":2689139,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"prosperity2un2000"}

1 vote

#2.6 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 12:18 AM EDT

{"commentId":2689222,"authorDomain":"prosperity2un2000"}

Obama had a bounce pre acceptance speech of 8 points. That was by Gallup Poll. He also had a AFTER cceptance speech of 5 more points, apparently. According to the survey, white women, and undecideds do not like the Palin pick.

Lets face it, with Gustav, Hanna, and Ike, McCain is not getting noticed this week. Or last week. Things are not going well. According to the CNN.com website, a 12 man communications team has been dispatched to Alaska. Andrea Mitchell said Palin was not vetted.
The woman is a hot mess! She left the state $20 million in debt! She is being investigated for abuse of power, etc.

{"commentId":2689222,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"prosperity2un2000"}

1 vote

#2.7 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 12:26 AM EDT

{"commentId":2679471,"authorDomain":"ktdid"}

capitalK

Ah, the outer banks in luxury - enjoy.............

"A victim of circumstances beyond his control........" Well, yeah, sort of. But he didn't have to pick another beauty-queen with ultra-conservative credentials to be an important part of his life, nor did he have to send Lieberman and Graham to Georgia as envoys of his campaign and release a statement on the Georgia-Russia situation before the facts were known and before bush got around to it. Olbermann called him 'presumptuous' and I have to agree.

Gustav is truly 'beyond his control' and it appears that he will use the storm and whatever its aftermath may be for political gain. That may get old pretty quick when the latest tropical depression becomes a named storm as is predicted (MSNBC). How much praying for rain did those people do?

{"commentId":2679471,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"ktdid"}

1 vote

#3 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 11:47 AM EDT

{"commentId":2679865,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

A lot.

I don't think it's God's wrath or anything like that, but any God I could get along with wouldn't take kindly to some of his followers praying for him to smite people.

{"commentId":2679865,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"killfile"}

5 votes

#3.1 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 12:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":2682051,"authorDomain":"jade-log"}

jade-log

capitalK,...Even the conservative press note that McCain RNC are using Gustav to get rid of Bush and Cheney. here

{"commentId":2682051,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"jade-log"}

4 votes

#3.2 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 2:59 PM EDT

{"commentId":2679974,"authorDomain":"dannymcgee"}

Danny McGee

Ron Paul is expecting more people and bigger crowds at his little get-together.

Was this a joke, or is Ron Paul running independently and I didn't realize it...?

{"commentId":2679974,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"dannymcgee"}

#4 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 12:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":2680163,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Palin's 17-year-old unmarried daugther is pregnant. The malicious rumors were apparently not *that* far from the mark.

Man, you posted too soon.

{"commentId":2680163,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"brianford"}

6 votes

#5 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 12:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":2682076,"authorDomain":"jade-log"}

jade-log

Palin is beginning to seem more like a conservative grown up Brittany.

{"commentId":2682076,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"jade-log"}

2 votes

#5.1 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 3:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":2687163,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}

Robert Blevins - AB of Seattle

People like Sarah Palin inspire me to do cartoons. (evil laugh)

So I did.

{"commentId":2687163,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}

1 vote

#5.2 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 9:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":2680930,"authorDomain":"lisaed"}

lisaed

And yet despite all this obama has got to be disappointed that he didn't obtain the bounce he needed coming out of his coronation in denver....too bad....so sad. Where's your article about that?

{"commentId":2680930,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"lisaed"}

1 vote

#6 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 1:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":2681830,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

lisaed, just as soon as you start posting negative content about McCain, you'll earn the right to criticize other people for their selective interests in content.

{"commentId":2681830,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"brianford"}

8 votes

#6.1 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 2:45 PM EDT

{"commentId":2683168,"authorDomain":"geejay"}

TheJonesGirl

Ah, but Lisa did have plenty of negative things to say about McCain before he became her party's nominee...funny how that all changed.

{"commentId":2683168,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"geejay"}

6 votes

#6.2 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 4:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":2683439,"authorDomain":"spookybf"}

Spooky Boyfriend

One must seize political opportunity when it avails itself; that is simply the way the game is played. BTW, did you hear about Senator Obama hoping the Republican's Vice Presidential candidate's daughter being pregnant and and un-married will be kept "no lo contendre"?

"I have heard some of the news on this and so let me be a clear as possible: I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Governor Palin's performance as governor, or her potential performance as a VP. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories."

"You know my mother had me when she was 18, and how a family deals with issues and you know teenage children, that shouldn't be the topic of our politics and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that's off limits."

{"commentId":2683439,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"spookybf"}

3 votes

#6.3 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 4:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":2684484,"authorDomain":"lisaed"}

lisaed

Brian Ford--given that killfile attended DNC I serioulsy looked forward to his analysis of the lack of obama bounce.....instead I see this.....hmmmmm.....wonder why?

{"commentId":2684484,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"lisaed"}

1 vote

#6.4 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 5:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":2684587,"authorDomain":"politicalcenter"}

politicalcenter

Comment collapsed by the community

{"commentId":2685393,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

What's really astonishing, Political"Center" is that you feel the need to spend you and Lisa spend your entire posts doing nothing but attacking me personally rather than dealing with any of the issues raised.

Try reading Newsvine's COH.

As to my choice of articles: You're expecting to see an article from me on a lack of an "Obama bump" following his acceptance speech when 51% surveyed said the speech and the DNC made them more likely to vote for him and from what I can tell he's gotten about a 2-3% overall bump in the polls?

Why do you want me to write an article based entirely on lies and distortions? I think you must have me confused for a Republican. ;-)

{"commentId":2685393,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"killfile"}

6 votes

#6.6 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 7:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":2686498,"authorDomain":"DirkM"}

Dirk Mandeville

It has no relevance to Governor Palin's performance as governor, or her potential performance as a VP. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories."

Yes, and no. Since Palin is a big proponent of the effectiveness of abstinence-only education programs for our country's youth, I think it has at least some relevance to her stance on that issue.

{"commentId":2686498,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"DirkM"}

2 votes

#6.7 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 8:54 PM EDT

{"commentId":2689204,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Somehow, I think that those who are picked because of their leanings to cover conventions should be prohibited in covering the other party ever again. Just a thought.

Somehow I think those pretending to be for Hillary so they can attack Obama when they are really pro-mccain should be forced to explain a) why they changed their name b) why they refuse to admit they changed their name and c) why they think anyone will take seriously any of their opinions when their articles read like the progosticator's version of the boy who cried wolf

Sorry, killfile, i couldn't resist.

{"commentId":2689204,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

3 votes

#6.8 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 12:24 AM EDT

{"commentId":2689738,"authorDomain":"DirkM"}

Dirk Mandeville

I think the boy who cried wolf fell off a Cliff and landed right in the Center. By the way . . . do we have a Newsvine award for "Least Credible Author"? I think I know who I want to nominate. :~)

{"commentId":2689738,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"DirkM"}

2 votes

#6.9 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 1:10 AM EDT

{"commentId":2698257,"authorDomain":"politicalcenter"}

politicalcenter

Nothing in my post attacks you personally. I did take positions relative to a previous post you made.

And there is no evidence whatsoever that there is nothing but a huge Obama bias here and on MSNBC. But I am glad to listen. I fear, as with my writing, that it is necessary to turn elsewhere, however, because a direct statement regarding facts rather than the rumour of nude photographs is what we have seen and can expect from those whose writings are consistently biased but which only follow the party line.

At least I know that I support things that differ from many of the positions of Republicans. And have written on those issues. I seriously doubt that anyone else has.

Where is that article decrying Helms as a racist and homophobe? Where are those articles about all the homosexuals with whom you were friends who have died? Where are the articles about misogyny and misogynists? Where were you when Obama and others made their attacks against the Clintons that were not only horrible but complete lies?

I think I know.

{"commentId":2698257,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"politicalcenter"}

#6.10 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 1:54 PM EDT

{"commentId":2701830,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

At least I know that I support things that differ from many of the positions of Republicans. And have written on those issues. I seriously doubt that anyone else has.

I too have written many articles on how my views are different from Republicans

Where's my parade?

Where is that article decrying Helms as a racist and homophobe?

What? you know Helms is dead, right? I've written many stories pro-tolerance and criticizing homophobia and racism - way more than you and some of your race-baiting articles about Obama

And there is no evidence whatsoever that there is nothing but a huge Obama bias here and on MSNBC

You need to read this piece about double negatives.

But there I go again trying to make your writing more clear, advice which you will ignore as you insist that you are writing some of the best articles around.

{"commentId":2701830,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#6.11 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 4:29 PM EDT

{"commentId":2773571,"authorDomain":"lisaed"}

lisaed

you and Lisa spend your entire posts doing nothing but attacking me personally r

KF - I can't speak for pc---but where have I ever attacked you personally? I asked you a legitimate question about the obama bounce (or lack thereof) since you were at the DNC and given that with this article you were trying to say things were going so badly for mccain (when there is no evidence of that in the polls)......still waiting for that repsonse not this one that you gave about some false attack I supposedly launched against you. Where's your backbone?

{"commentId":2773571,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"lisaed"}

1 vote

#6.12 - Fri Sep 5, 2008 11:35 AM EDT

{"commentId":2682153,"authorDomain":"kbd"}

dc_123

Since McCain tapped Palin

I can't help but chuckle every time I read this phrase.

{"commentId":2682153,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"kbd"}

8 votes

#7 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 3:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":2683204,"authorDomain":"orfeo-x7"}

orfeo-x7

The irony of all those churchgoers praying for "rain of Biblical proportions" and now hearing all about Gustav is too sweet to ignore. What are these Evangelicals interpreting from such an event? May I suggest the following. God has NOT deigned to grace the forces of good with even a divine nod to indicate His favor for the Republican Party and all those people with Jesus on their lips. Thanks to the Internet people have the option of being so much better informed about these people who want nothing short of a theocracy to protect the interests of the rich and powerful!

{"commentId":2683204,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"orfeo-x7"}

1 vote

#8 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 4:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":2686465,"authorDomain":"prosperity2un2000"}

Neesy08Deleted

{"commentId":2687300,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

You already posted the link before and... I'm not sure it's entirely appropriate to laugh about a hurricane so I'll delete your post if its all the same to you.

{"commentId":2687300,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"killfile"}

#8.2 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 9:59 PM EDT

{"commentId":2687543,"authorDomain":"brianford"}

Pacific Northwest Blogger

To be fair, the only thing in that article which mentioned a 13 point lead was "does he share your values."

{"commentId":2687543,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"brianford"}

2 votes

#8.3 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 10:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":2683703,"authorDomain":"mightyblogger"}

3 Hurricanes now:

Hurricane Gustav
Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Hanna

Hurricane Ike and hurricane Hanna are heading towards Florida.

That's 3 hurricanes in a week...

{"commentId":2683703,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"mightyblogger"}

3 votes

#9 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 4:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":2688399,"authorDomain":"enygma"}

There's a fourth possibly forming off the west coast of Africa as well.

BTW, as of right now, Ike is only a tropical storm.

{"commentId":2688399,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"enygma"}

#9.1 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 11:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":2684890,"authorDomain":"bluecollarbytes"}

bluecollarbytes

When was this actually written? Cause it doesn't jive with what I'm seeing. Obama barely managed a bump, more of a small lump, only to deflate in less than a day with McCain's selection of Sarah Palin.

Trust me, because I think you're out of touch with middle America. This Sarah Palin is now a key element in this election. She identifies with a number of voting groups, from gun owners to unaffiliated females, working families to those "holy rollers", working union stiffs who can't stomach Obama to disaffected Democrat woman-still thoroughly fed up with Obama & "party elites" who anointed him over Hillary. And of course there's the Mainstream {in case I forgot anyone}.

{"commentId":2684890,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"bluecollarbytes"}

#10 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 6:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":2685425,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

When was it written? That depends on what you're reading. I can tell you that whatever it is, it's not the article posted in this thread. I didn't talk at all about an Obama bump or lack thereof, but now that you mention it, my read of the polls is about a 2-3% increase for Obama.

Probably less than hoped, but then again that bump is usually a recognition thing and following the Democratic primary it'd be hard to not know who Barack Obama is.

{"commentId":2685425,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"killfile"}

2 votes

#10.1 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 7:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":2685953,"authorDomain":"RETLAW"}

RETLAW

killfile--thanks for an interesting article and discussion. The thread helps me see the right-wingers here on the 'vine (lisaed, politicalcenter, bluecollarbytes and a few others). They really have a few 'interesting' comments.

Well, anyway, I got this sent to me by a friend ( I hope that it is OK to copy it here) from Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund:

"Senator McCain's choice for a running mate is beyond belief. By choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has clearly made a decision to continue the Bush legacy of destructive environmental policies.

"Sarah Palin, whose husband works for BP (formerly British Petroleum), has repeatedly put special interests first when it comes to the environment. In her scant two years as governor, she has lobbied aggressively to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, pushed for more drilling off of Alaska's coasts, and put special interests above science. Ms. Palin has made it clear through her actions that she is unwilling to do even as much as the Bush administration to address the impacts of global warming. Her most recent effort has been to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list, putting Big Oil before sound science. As unbelievable as this may sound, this actually puts her to the right of the Bush administration.

"This is Senator McCain's first significant choice in building his executive team and it's a bad one. It has to raise serious doubts in the minds of voters about John McCain's commitment to conservation, to addressing the impacts of global warming and to ensuring our country ends its dependency on oil."

I think this shows that Gov. Palin's qualification for VP are not really that attractive.

{"commentId":2685953,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"RETLAW"}

2 votes

#11 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 8:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":2686368,"authorDomain":"geejay"}

TheJonesGirl

Palin also enjoys hunting big game from helicopters. Real sporting of her.

{"commentId":2686368,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"geejay"}

1 vote

#11.1 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 8:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":2693563,"authorDomain":"prosperity2un2000"}

PALIN NOT HELPING MCCAIN. OBAMA LEAD WIDENS MORE!!
TWO NEW POLLS RELEASED TODAY!
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/two_more_polls_show_obamas_lea.php

{"commentId":2693563,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"prosperity2un2000"}

#12 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 10:47 AM EDT

{"commentId":2693864,"authorDomain":"enygma"}

Although I cannot believe I am going to say this, I think Bill Harrison had a good point in a different thread: let's wait a week or two before we say what has helped or hurt each candidate. There is so much going on with the conventions back to back, hurricanes, and the like that I'm not sure we are going to have any clue what has really changed the minds of voters.

{"commentId":2693864,"threadId":"345347","contentId":"1811224","authorDomain":"enygma"}

#12.1 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 11:05 AM EDT

{"commentId":2694764,"authorDomain":"killfile"}