Comments on: The Town-Hall Debate Liveblogging Thread http://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/10/07/6009/ Delivering the Best of the New Media Since 2004. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:08:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: fostert http://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/10/07/6009/comment-page-1/#comment-670303 fostert Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:08:31 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=6009#comment-670303 "He made me feel more comfortable with him." I guess I should note that I met McCain back in 1986. And he was a jerk. He gave a great speech about torture, and I went up to him to congratulate him. And he said: "Yeah thanks, you little jerk." He was probably trying to be funny, but I really didn't see it that way. And this was at an Eagle Scout recognition dinner. I was wearing my Boy Scout uniform with my Eagle Scout patch on it, and the medal to boot. And I'm a jerk to him? The 'little' part was especially weird, given that I was six inches taller than him at the time (8 inches now). But I think he erased some of that dislike I had for him in this appearance. "He made me feel more comfortable with him."

I guess I should note that I met McCain back in 1986. And he was a jerk. He gave a great speech about torture, and I went up to him to congratulate him. And he said: "Yeah thanks, you little jerk." He was probably trying to be funny, but I really didn't see it that way. And this was at an Eagle Scout recognition dinner. I was wearing my Boy Scout uniform with my Eagle Scout patch on it, and the medal to boot. And I'm a jerk to him? The 'little' part was especially weird, given that I was six inches taller than him at the time (8 inches now).

But I think he erased some of that dislike I had for him in this appearance.

]]> By: fostert http://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/10/07/6009/comment-page-1/#comment-670298 fostert Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:22:39 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=6009#comment-670298 And just in case you were thinking about notifying the local authorities, trust me, they already know. They know I'm harmless, and are quite frankly a little tired of busting me. It's kind of sad when you know the judge on a first name basis. "Tom, when are going to learn?" Never. And just in case you were thinking about notifying the local authorities, trust me, they already know. They know I'm harmless, and are quite frankly a little tired of busting me. It's kind of sad when you know the judge on a first name basis. "Tom, when are going to learn?" Never.

]]> By: fostert http://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/10/07/6009/comment-page-1/#comment-670297 fostert Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:14:30 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=6009#comment-670297 "In fact, I’m an underpaid state public safety employee." Are you a cop? No wonder I have a love/hate relationship with you. I'm a nonviolent habitual lawbreaker. I only get arrested for hurting myself. And the solution seems to be to hurt me more. Go figure. But hey, everyone should spend some time in jail. It's a real eye opener. "In fact, I’m an underpaid state public safety employee."

Are you a cop? No wonder I have a love/hate relationship with you. I'm a nonviolent habitual lawbreaker. I only get arrested for hurting myself. And the solution seems to be to hurt me more. Go figure. But hey, everyone should spend some time in jail. It's a real eye opener.

]]> By: fostert http://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/10/07/6009/comment-page-1/#comment-670295 fostert Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:58:31 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=6009#comment-670295 First, I think it's a little unfair to criticize Tom Brokaw. Both campaigns set the rules so rigid that he didn't have much leeway. Yes, I would have liked to see him break those rules, but he agreed to them from the start. Asking him to break a promise is unfair. Blame both campaigns instead. They deserve it. Overall, I was impressed with both candidates. To put it in gambling terms, I think McCain beat the spread. His problem is that he needed a win and didn't get it. But McCain's most recent bad rap is that he's erratic and grumpy. He looked a little uncomfortable, but he still kept his cool. I thought he explained most things pretty well. Although he did lay some traps for himself and Obama was pretty good at springing them. But overall, no grumpiness, and a general calm demeanor. He made me feel more comfortable with him. Obama's real question is: Is this guy really ready? I don't think he fully answered that, but he came across as a statesman. He made me feel more confident that he's ready. Basically, I think both candidates made us feel better about the possibility that our guy won't win. You'll notice I haven't mentioned policy. That's because neither candidate hit a home run in that category. Neither really got on base. But both were doing a sacrifice bunt anyway. I don't think it's over yet for McCain. If he goes into the next debate with a mindset that he will just crush Obama on policy, I think he can win. Obama suffers from the fact that he thinks when he talks. Because of that, you get the impression that he's unsure of what he's saying. McCain can say things more forcefully, even when he's dead wrong. But the problem for McCain is that he's at bat in the next debate with bases loaded, down by four, and two outs in the ninth. He needs a grand slam to tie it. And then he needs a surprise. I don't see it happening, but anything's possible. As for Obama, he's basically been playing a prevent defense since May. It's worked so far, and probably still will. But it leaves him open to the loss. But it will take an epic Hail Mary for McCain to pull it off. And Palin doesn't have it in her. First, I think it's a little unfair to criticize Tom Brokaw. Both campaigns set the rules so rigid that he didn't have much leeway. Yes, I would have liked to see him break those rules, but he agreed to them from the start. Asking him to break a promise is unfair. Blame both campaigns instead. They deserve it.

Overall, I was impressed with both candidates. To put it in gambling terms, I think McCain beat the spread. His problem is that he needed a win and didn't get it. But McCain's most recent bad rap is that he's erratic and grumpy. He looked a little uncomfortable, but he still kept his cool. I thought he explained most things pretty well. Although he did lay some traps for himself and Obama was pretty good at springing them. But overall, no grumpiness, and a general calm demeanor. He made me feel more comfortable with him.

Obama's real question is: Is this guy really ready? I don't think he fully answered that, but he came across as a statesman. He made me feel more confident that he's ready. Basically, I think both candidates made us feel better about the possibility that our guy won't win.

You'll notice I haven't mentioned policy. That's because neither candidate hit a home run in that category. Neither really got on base. But both were doing a sacrifice bunt anyway.

I don't think it's over yet for McCain. If he goes into the next debate with a mindset that he will just crush Obama on policy, I think he can win. Obama suffers from the fact that he thinks when he talks. Because of that, you get the impression that he's unsure of what he's saying. McCain can say things more forcefully, even when he's dead wrong. But the problem for McCain is that he's at bat in the next debate with bases loaded, down by four, and two outs in the ninth. He needs a grand slam to tie it. And then he needs a surprise. I don't see it happening, but anything's possible.

As for Obama, he's basically been playing a prevent defense since May. It's worked so far, and probably still will. But it leaves him open to the loss. But it will take an epic Hail Mary for McCain to pull it off. And Palin doesn't have it in her.

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