McCain is awesomely decisive, folks - it's obvious from the super-decisive answer below:

ACTUAL transcript:

QUESTION: Okay... what about Europe I'm talking about the President of Spain?

MCCAIN: What about me what?

Well, since McLame had TWO distinct POVs on it, and Obama just had ONE, two beats one, so that makes McGramps more decisive... or something.. right?

Some days, I just can't figure out what the McCain campaign is thinking.

Bloom County called it the "Delorean Desperation Defense."

Actually we all missed the announcement that Saturday Night Live and The Comedy Channel had gone 24/7 and were providing free feeds to any network or cable company requesting content. The Onion has a similar agreement with print media. Real news will resume in December.

i actually think that the indecisive attack line is a good one for McCain. It plays into the general negative about obama. Obama is a nuanced guy and like any good lawyer is very careful about his language. The empty suit meme comes into play to. Remember mccain does not care about the press anymore so if he can get this line out there in some crazy ad he might get traction. this is a line that would have been more effective if put in place before the econ crisis though.

Ohioian, that is awesome, I'm sure Gramps hears "What about your up" Perhaps he thought they wanted to make him the President of Spain.

I think there's two things at play here:

1) It's becoming obvious that the protegés of Rove he hired are nowhere nearly as skilled as their master at wallowing in the filth, and coming out looking clean.

2) His campaign was absolutely caught flat-footed by the emergence of the economy as the defining issue of the week. They were preparing for culture war 101 and instead got substantive issue 101.

Perhaps McCain heard "European" and checked his Depends(tm).

... told CBS, "Do I believe in excess government regulation? Yes."

Did he really say _excess_ regulation here?

Talk about getting confused by your own flip-flop.

Indecisive? In what regard, Charlie?

On a more serious note, though, I keep hearing the term bailout, but it sounds to me like AIG merely had its credit limit raised. How does that solve the problem?

We couldn't let AIG fail this week. So we needed to take them over. Be that as it may.

Biden also said that we shouldn't bail out AIG on Monday.

But Biden has a far better understanding of economics than McCain.

If nothing else, Biden didn't graduate in the bottom 1% of his class.

What is the McCain campaign thinking? Does McCain think?

Does Cindy change his diapers, or do they have hired help for that?

I'm telling ya, it's Mel Brooks' "The Producers-Political Edition." The GOP doesn't really want to win this year, though they have to keep acting like they do. They see the writing on the wall, and they'd prefer someone else take the heat for it for 4 years, then they can bounce back and say "Not enough was done, time for some REAL change." It's why McCain's the nominee, despite his reputation of being a hothead and unliked within his party. It's why they did zero vetting on his running mate. It's why they're making this the most incompetent AND the nastiest election in recent memory. But son of a beesting, wouldn't you know it? All thse negatives have been, until recently, turning into a net positive. The base was re-energized with Palin, Obama was thrown off his game, the McCain campaign generated more heat. It literally took a complete economic meltdown, a flurry of Alaskan scandals AND a snub of a NATO ally for people to start thinking maybe a McCain presidency isn't such a good idea.

"Some days, I just can't figure out what the McCain campaign is thinking."

The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind. The answer is blowin' in the wind.

It all dpends on which person is asking McCain the questions. He has a different answer for everyone.

They have no shame, they're Republicans.

I have been saying here since Steve arrived and before at Carpetbagger: McCain is not tracking intellectually. Yes, he lies: it appears to be a kneejerk defense and he's been fudging facts since the Keating Five period. And no, he doesn't understand YouTube gotcha! capabilities, which keep showing his lies to be lies. But specifically, in this present time, he shows signs of losing it cognitively. This seemed clearest to me on the Shia/Sunni mixups early in the summer, when he did not remember the corrections Lieberman gave him. I do not say this with pleasure, although I have in absolute outrage referrred to him once or twice as gaga, but rather fear for the nation should he and his very eager VP selection be elected, and (though they do not seem very nice people) sympathy for his Arizona family. His first family, it goes almost without saying, have always deserved wholehearted sympathy.

mccain should change his campaign slogan from country first to me first

the hell with the economy. the hell with our allies. all mccain wants to do is play commander in chief.

"In what regard, Charlie" is starting to enter into the lexicon.

Good.

"Do I believe in excess government regulation? Yes."

I noticed that too. McCain is either saying he believes in unnecessary regulation or he's saying that he thinks the markets are over-regulated.

I think McCain was right the first time. The government should NOT have bailed out AIG.

It's actual "insurance" businesses (other than insuring default credit swaps, or whatever the hell they are) are fine and would have been bought by other insurers. And you can bet the US WILL sell those businesses, and it will turn out that we (the people) are left holding the bag of bad stuff.

"Do I believe in excess government regulation? Yes."

!!!!!

John McCain--the only person in America who believes in excessive governmental regulation.

"Old age is a shipwreck," as some cheese-eating surrender monkey once said.

Your missing the point by wondering what they were thinking. They demonstrated two things (1) that they did not blink and (2) that they have that readiness. That's all they need.

The dumbest thing he ever did was pick Palin. And it was also the smartest. So that's it for him now. He can retire and live a few more years than if Cindy had pushed him all the way to the White House.
(Or some other house, I forget which.)

McCain wants to send a message to Washington. Since he has been in Washington for 28 years, perhaps he should send an email to himself first.

Maybe Obama should suggest a preliminary debate between McCain and McCain, and he'll debate whichever version of McCain wins.

I'm telling ya, it's Mel Brooks' "The Producers-Political Edition."

Slappy Magoo figured it out. It also fits with Kevin's theory that the nastiness of the repug campaign will make it impossible for Obama to govern.

Otherwise, we're into aliens manipulating the campaign.

I've been saying all along McCain and his campaign are chumps, they can't play politics and they're stupid. Dumb. They have nothing, just nothing.

benen again is spectacularly full of *it... again...
"[McCain] was, literally just days ago, fiercely opposed to regulation [blah blah blah]"

i already referenced in a previous thread that mccain supported 2005 GSE reform legislation, backed up by a fellow poster who cited a cbs report.
the legislation clearly addressed the GSE problem

Sets forth operating, administrative, and regulatory provisions of the Agency, including provisions respecting: (1) assessment authority; (2) authority to limit nonmission-related assets; (3) minimum and critical capital levels; (4) risk-based capital test; (5) capital classifications and undercapitalized enterprises; (6) enforcement actions and penalties; (7) golden parachutes; and (8) reporting.

citing a bunch of obama circle jerking morons who don't know what they're talking about (tapper and la times writers) does not make your underlying point accurate.
benen needs to, first, stop lying, then stop repeating those lies.

can we get kevin drum back here ?

> what the McCain campaign is thinking.

They're asking themselves the same question. When those free-market ideologues huddle in response to the Wall Street crisis, the cognitive dissonance must be thick enough to slice with a knife.

benen again is spectacularly full of *it... again...
"[McCain] was, literally just days ago, fiercely opposed to regulation [blah blah blah]"

i already referenced in a previous thread that mccain supported 2005 GSE reform legislation, backed up by a fellow poster who cited a cbs report about previous gse reform efforts.
the legislation clearly addressed the GSE problem i'll repeat: to deny that legislation is regulation is bogus. it is just not necessarily your type of regulation.

citing a bunch of morons who don't know what they're talking about (tapper and la times writers) does not make your underlying point accurate.
benen needs to first stop lying, then stop repeating those lies.

can we get kevin drum back here ?

Off-topic, but here's one issue where the McCain campaign is acting decisively - shutting down the Alaska State Legislature's investigation of Gov. Palin's role in the firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, and in the attempt to do the same to her former brother-in-law, Mike Wooten:

Anchorage Daily News | September 18, 2008
Editorial: Partisan diversion - "Gov. Sarah Palin’s handling of Troopergate is getting more and more troubling. She has reneged on her pledge, made before becoming the Republican vice-presidential nominee, to cooperate with the Legislature’s investigation. While stonewalling the independent inquiry, she is trying her side of the case in the press. Working on her behalf Monday, McCain-for-president operatives ripped into Walt Monegan and the legislators overseeing the inquiry. Whatever happened to the 'open and transparent' administration she promised Alaskans?"

Steve wrote:
Some days, I just can't figure out what the McCain campaign is thinking.

It's not about thinking. It's all about visceral reaction, which can change from moment to moment. That's how people with low brain wattage live their lives.

On The Today Show this morning, I watched Meredith Vieira report that Joe Biden stated yesterday that he too opposed the government bailout of AIG. I haven't heard this anyplace else. Is this true?

Steve Benen >"...Some days, I just can't figure out what the McCain campaign is thinking."

Well, assuming they (the third string bench warmers currently "running" things) are actually thinking (a large leap of "faith" indeed), the plan is to lose the election so as to blame it all on the Democrats when things continue to get worse over the next 9-12 months (until all the mortgage resets are done at least) thereby setting up a ReThuglican "victory" in 2010.

Seriously.

Looney indeed they are (no offense to the Canadian currency).

"...This is not a game." - Lorie Van Auken (2001.09.11 widow)

Okay, maybe this is out on a limb, but it's an idea that I had a while back and it still feels possible to me.

Back in the 2000 election, the McCain and Bush teams were at each other, hammer and tongs. There are deep and lasting hatreds on either side of the fence.

Fast forward to 2008, and it's the Bush/Rove team and their acolytes running the show. What if this is all just some under the board scheme to completely destroy John McCain that they've nourished in their hearts since 2000 and been stoked on through campaign finance reform "agents of intolerance" and stem cell research and other such things? What if the entire campaign's goal is to turn their once enemy into the world's biggest candidacy joke?

I know it's outlandish, but sometimes I can't help thinking it fits.

Ouch. The vegetarian line was a total burn.

See people, this is what happens when you try to win every newscycle. You end up saying stupid ass stuff that contradicts what you said the day before. I'd much rather see McCain on top for a few days than see Obama groveling to win acceptance on every issue. Slow and steady wins the race. And in the long run, the house will always beat the gambler.

Some days, I just can't figure out what the McCain campaign is thinking.

They're thinking what the chicken is thinking when it's head has just been cut off...if I flop around enough I'll be okay.

That's Just What I Said

Some days, I just can't figure out what the McCain campaign is thinking.
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Standard repig fare. Accuse the other side of having YOUR weaknesses, even as you display them. Also, attack them on their strengths whenever possible. No Issues? No substance? Who cares? That is what the repigs mean by "Country First". Another empty platitude. If the repigs have a slogan, you can be damn sure they are doing the exact opposite. Get elected at all cost, the country be damned. Change your standards, values and beliefs on the hour, whenever convenient. That's the repig way. "Support the troops" they say, while they start unnecessary wars, send our troops off with 1970's era flak jackets in unarmored Humvees, and then stick them in roach and rat infested mold incubator hospital rooms when they come back with their arms, legs, and brains blown out. Remember when they wanted to cut combat pay for the troops? And McLame kept working against the new GI bill even as our brave men were, and still are dying. Yep, great guys, these repigs.

Again, Rovian campaign tactics. If you have a weakness, accuse your opponent of having it. The goal is not to rise above your opponent, the goal is to make sure your opponent is down to your level, no matter how low your level is.

They'll be accusing Obama of 'flip flopping' on the finance crisis within a week. Mark my words.

What if this is all just some under the board scheme to completely destroy John McCain that they've nourished in their hearts since 2000...

The Critic, I don't think that's quite right. This isn't a scheme tied to this election. They've been playing him ever since 2000, getting him to support Bush in ways that he's completely regretted since then. And as I continue to argue, they have no intent to win this year. They totally want McCain to use all of his credibility to destroy Obama so that Obama starts his presidency crippled and hated by the rightwing base. That's all this is about. They've had McCain's number since 2000 and they've been using it to their advantage whenever they can.

But spending other people's credibility is what Rove always does. Just ask Colin Powell, who spent most of his in just one day at the UN. They use you up and then find somebody else with a good reputation to burn. McCain's rep will be dirt by the time this is over.

Isn't this the old Rovian "attack yr opponent on yr own weak points" strategy?

(As the earlier "Celebrity" attack was -- hasnt McCain been on the Sunday talk shows more than ANYBODY else? Hasn't he been on the Daily SHow more than ANYBODY else? Didn't he appear in the sitcom "Friends" and the movie "The Wedding Crashers"? Isn't he a jet setter who flies around on a private plane, spends 200,000 a year or more on servants staffing his 7 or 11 homes?)

the plan is to lose the election so as to blame it all on the Democrats when things continue to get worse over the next 9-12 months...
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In that vein, didn't the Dillweed Decider announce a draw down in troops, that begins AFTER he's out of office? No matter what, the violence is going to temporarily increase as we pull out. The economy continues to tank, Iraq bloodshed worsens, more people die, Republicans hit the roof, and they blame it all on Obama and the Democrats. KKKarl, Mephistopheles would be proud....Country First fellas.

The problem is the republican fetish with the proverbial 'memory hole'. They've been masterful in it's use until fairly recently. Before Bush, it was assumed that whatever they were on about 3 months prior could be safely considered 'forgotten'.

Bush pushed the envelope to it's breaking point by demanding we forget what he said last week.

McCain has really taken it over the cliff by assuming we've forgotten what he said 10 hours ago. It's pathetic.

I'm officially calling for a 9/11 commision on John McCain's decision processing. Who, what, when and where?!

To expand upon Avi's thought:

McCain is clearly more decisive. He looks at the economic situation and makes a different decision every day!

...meanwhile, George Will is still a hilarious weasel.

Just a thought someone needs to writr an article calling McCain Miserable Looser amd make sure it goes out on rss and is ptcked up by the blogs. Just like 4 yrs ago when you typed in to miserable looser on google because there were links to gw's website in those articles gw had first spot in google. In addition you link it to one of the late night hosts that if you type in miserable kooser mccains site will come up. its all timing it should take 3 or 4 days from the original article to get enough bak links to hit page 1 then maybe a day or 2 for the comedian to use it that will wind up on you tube then a whole group of links will be added wala ist place on google for miserable looser.

The next thing I would do is get a you tube video of the sen from conn.'s(sorry forgot his name he is the independant that didn't speak at the GOPC)speech on the floor wed. iTS MASTERFUL HE HAS BEEN PRACTICING PARTS OF IT ALL YR BUT THIS ONE EFFECTIVLY BLAMES BUSH MCCAIN for every economic problem under the sun and sounds realistic.

Rather that worrying about what McCain is thinking, we really should be worrying about whether he thinks at all.

Here's what the McCain campaign is thinking. Both CNN and MSNBC broadcast his speech this morning lambasting Obama for "having no plan".

McCain ISN'T thinking. He has let other people do his thinking for him, which is why he has been hiding from town hall meetings and can't answer questions coherently. He was told, "Don't think for yourself," and he agreed. He sounds totally confused. I would be, too, if I couldn't think for myself.

He needs to change is slogan from "County First" to "Who? When?"

The McCain campaign is not thinking at all. They just mindlessly lash out with whatever drivel comes to mind. It just seems like they don't even care anymore, doesn't it?

This is what the excessive consumption of Cindy McCain's obscene excuse for "beer" will do to a person; it's rots one's synaptic connections, reducing massive areas of the brain to the consistency of a spongy geriatric dietary supplement. We know it as "spongiformus septuagenaria"---commonly referred to as "Mad Metamucil Disease."

>>He needs to change is slogan from "County First" to "Who? When?"

I like this one better:

>>MCCAIN: What about me what?